Author: News Editor

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) has been expanded to include all of London’s boroughs. Drivers must pay a charge of £12.50 per day to drive a non-compliant vehicle anywhere in the zone under the controversial clean-air plan. A £160m scrappage scheme is still available for all Londoners to claim from, with a maximum of £2,000 being offered per vehicle. Small businesses, sole traders and charities are included in the scheme. To monitor the new zone, Transport for London (TfL) said it would install 2,750 cameras across outer London. As of mid-August 1,900 cameras had been erected, almost 70% of…

The UK may be perilously close to a recession, businesses may be closing and the city may be deep in the doldrums, but there is one segment of the finance industry that’s still booming. No matter the economic headwinds, the Bank of Mum and Dad seems to do booming business nonetheless. According to statistics released this week, relatives are funding a higher proportion of property purchases than ever before. This year, the total amount of such lending is expected to reach £8bn, and then grow again to £10bn by 2025. At this rate, I wouldn’t blink if it reached £20bn…

Four weeks after its seven-day ultimatum issued to the leaders of the Niger junta to restore constitutional order, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has further explained some phrases in its communique. President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, during a press conference at the ECOWAS Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja, assured citizens of Niger that ECOWAS is very interested in their economic prosperity and social welfare and believes that their aspirations can only be met through democratic means and participatory governance. President Touray emphasised that ECOWAS is working towards an amicable solution to restore constitutional order in…

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was a remarkable aircraft that could fly at speeds over Mach 3.2 and at altitudes up to 85,000 feet. It was the fastest manned aircraft ever flown and still holds many speed, altitude, and distance records for a manned aircraft. Flying in such an extreme environment required special training and equipment for the pilots. The pilots of the SR-71 wore full-pressure suits that resembled those worn by astronauts. The suits protected them from low pressure, low temperature, and lack of oxygen at high altitudes. They also provided protection in case of an emergency ejection. The pilots…

Macron has insisted that France would not change position in condemning the coup and offered support to Mohamed Bazoum and ECOWAS. Niamey and Paris’ differences seem irreconcilable. During a major foreign policy speech to ambassadors in Paris, Monday (Aug. 28), French president Emmanuel Macron doubled down on his government’s line regarding the junta. “Our policy is the right one. It depends on the courage of President Mohamed Bazoum, the commitment of our diplomats, of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite pressure,” Macron told a gathering of French ambassadors in the capital on Monday. French Ambassador Sylvain Itte…

The expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) has been a point of contention amongst both politicians and the public. The High Court has now ruled that expansion of the zone is lawful, after five Conservative-run councils had challenged the Labour mayor of London’s plans. It was also a big issue in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. What is Ulez and why is it controversial? A £12.50 daily charge applies for driving in the Ultra Low Emission Zone, commonly referred to as Ulez, if the vehicle doesn’t meet certain emission standards. Boris Johnson decided to introduce it…

The streets of West London were awash with colour as dancers made the most of the fine weather for the Children’s Day Parade. The Notting Hill event, held over the August Bank Holiday is Europe’s largest street carnival and celebrates Caribbean culture and history. One group of dancers wore Phoenix-like wings on their backs, while another group were decked out in all-red outfits and third group wore eye-catching flamboyant dresses. Those who had come to watch and soak up the party atmosphere were soon covered in paint and flour as they took part in J’ouvert, the traditional opening to the…

South Korean restaurants are using AI robots to cope with labor shortages. Robots made in China are vastly cheaper than those from South Korea. There are fears that the cut-price competition could hit Korea’s robotics industry. Tech executives in South Korea are concerned that a flood of cheap Chinese robots is undermining their own attempts to sell their own devices, a report says. South Korea has embraced robot waiters in restaurants as a response to labor shortages caused in part by a demographic crisis. Data from the Korean Association of Robot Industry shared with the Financial Times showed there were…

Veterans Affairs investigators discovered that thousands of American pilots may have falsified their medical history.sharrocks/Getty Images Federal officials are probing roughly 5,000 pilots suspected of withholding major health issues, per The Washington Post. Veterans Affairs investigators stumbled on the health record inconsistencies over two years ago. Some veterans who have been temporarily grounded feel as though they’re being singled out. Federal authorities have been probing roughly 5,000 pilots who officials believe may have falsified their medical records to hide that they were earning benefits for significant health issues that could imperil their ability to fly safely, The Washington Post reported.…

A revolutionary satellite that will reveal celestial objects in a new light and the “Moon Sniper” lunar lander are expected to lift off Sunday night. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launch, already rescheduled twice due to bad weather, will occur aboard an H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at 8:26 p.m. ET Sunday, or 9:26 a.m. Japan Standard Time on Monday. The event will stream live on JAXA’s YouTube channel, offering a broadcast in both English and Japanese. The live stream will begin at 7:55 p.m. ET Sunday. The XRISM satellite (pronounced “crism”), also called the X-Ray Imaging and…