Category: World

Bangkok

We are currently on the way to NZ.

This time via a new city. A layover for a couple of days which for the most part is being used to deal with the fatigue of flying, which should not be that bad, and the previous days poor sleep.

Yesterday we slipped in a trip to Chinatown and some street food. Noodles followed by coconut ice-cream. Today a trip to the Grand Palace and temples. Low key for us, not too long, but a good view of part of the culture. Despite our limited time it is clear that this is a busy and huge city.

Fishing Brexit Wars?

There is currently a conflict over fishing rights between the UK and France. Maybe not a surprise as there have already been conflicts elsewhere. The UK government has sent the RN to add support and maybe power.

Jonty’s Jottings puts some context and the last sentence I love:

‘The UK has been reduced to the Millwall of Europe, “no one likes us, we don’t care” and firmly in the second division.’

Pêche post-Brexit : Londres rappelle ses patrouilleurs après le départ des bateaux français de Jersey

Des pêcheurs français s’étaient rassemblés aux abords de l’île britannique depuis jeudi matin. Ils réclament le droit de pêcher dans ses eaux poissonneuses, comme prévu dans l’accord conclu dans le cadre du Brexit. 

French fishers’ protest over Jersey rights is over but the dispute will go on

French fishers back in Granville, France after their protest in Jersey waters

French fishers back in Granville, France after their protest in Jersey waters on Thursday. Photograph: Siegfried Modola/Getty Images

New restrictions and deep cuts to allowances mean both French and Jersey boat owners feel betrayed by BrexitJon Henley, Lisa O’Carroll and Steven Morris in St HelierThu 6 May 2021 18.08 BST

Last modified on Thu 6 May 2021 21.20 BST

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Dawn was still four hours away and the small Normandy port of Carteret was alive, some boats hurriedly unloading their catch for a rapid turnaround, others turning on their lights and firing up their engines for the first time that night.

Secure Messaging

WhatsApp recently announced that there will be closer data sharing with Facebook. So people are now responding and joining the Signal side- my concerns are now more widely accepted

I’m cycling this week too:

Tube use in London down 50%

Vikram Dodd

Vikram Dodd

The Guardian understands the latest figures for transport use in London shows sharp falls since the government urged people to stay home on Monday.

Use of the tube network is down by almost 50%, compared to its normal level, with bus use down 40%.

Figures reported by some UK media earlier on Wednesday, showing a fall in tube use of 19% and bus use of just 10%, come from earlier in the week, sources with knowledge of the figures say.

The beginning of the blame?

Quand l’ex-responsable du plan pandémie se plaignait des atermoiements face au coronavirus

Dès le 29 janvier, l’ancien secrétaire général de la Défense et de la Sécurité nationale tirait la sonnette d’alarme auprès de quelques journalistes.

Par Vincent JauvertPublié le 17 mars 2020 à 21h56  Mis à jour le 18 mars 2020 à 03h57Temps de lecture 2 min 

Louis Gautier, l’ancien patron du SGDSN, le 18 mai 2017 à l’Elysée. (STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
Louis Gautier, l’ancien patron du SGDSN, le 18 mai 2017 à l’Elysée. (STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)

« Je ne comprends pas : pourquoi n’ont-ils pas encore déclenché le plan pandémie ? On perd un temps précieux ! » C’était le 29 janvier – onze jours après le premier cas de coronavirus déclaré en France et une semaine après le confinement des onze millions d’habitants de Wuhan, en Chine. L’homme qui parlait ainsi à quelques journalistes il y a un mois et demi s’appelle Louis Gautier.

Coronavirus

The world has moved on since I last blogged.

The viral infection is spreading widely, more clearly seen in some countries than others, as a result of looking and testing- or not.

France is in ‘lock- down as is Italy. Slowly the UK response is in keeping with other countries. It had tried yo delay the imposition of social control- banning meetings. sports and art events. By default is if happening now.

In comparison the street’s of Paris are now nearly empty.

Things are going to become more restrictive and worrying here soon I think.

The supermarkets have already had a run on certain types of food and toilet paper!

Travel has been limited by many countries- EQ could be stuck in Germany.

This pandemic is going to be a huge problem for a long time to come.

Land mines

A visit on a quiet day in Siem Reap to the land mines museum. An hour each way on the tuk-tuk which was an interesting event in itself. An interesting story of further inhumanity.

What grabbed me was the reality of the

child soldiers and recounting Pol Pot.