News
New UK Prime Minister Starmer Says Controversial Rwanda Deportation Plan Is ‘Dead And Buried’
LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Saturday that he is abandoning a contentious Conservative policy of deporting asylum-seekers to Rwanda, promising to fulfill the voters’ mandate for reform, though he warned that it would take time.
“The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started,” Starmer stated at his first press conference. “It has never functioned as a deterrent. “Almost the opposite.”
Starmer told reporters in a wood-paneled chamber at 10 Downing St. that he was “restless for change,” but refused to say when Britons would see changes in their standard of life or public services. His Labour Party inflicted the most devastating blow to the Conservatives in their two-century history on Friday, winning by a landslide on a program of change.
New UK Prime Minister Starmer Says Controversial Rwanda Deportation Plan Is ‘Dead And Buried’
The 30-minute question-and-answer session came after his first Cabinet meeting. His new government faces the daunting task of addressing a slew of internal issues while also winning over a population weary of years of austerity, political upheaval, and a wounded economy.
“We have a huge amount of work to do, so let’s get started,” Starmer said as he welcomed the new ministers to the table at 10 Downing Street. He stated it had been the greatest honor of his life to be asked by King Charles III to form a government in a ceremony that officially promoted him to prime minister.
“Just because Labour won a big landslide doesn’t mean that all of the problems that the Conservative government has faced have gone away,” said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.
In his first words as prime minister Friday after the “kissing of hands” ceremony with Charles at Buckingham Palace, Starmer said he would go to work right once but warned that results would take time.
“Changing a country is not as simple as flipping a switch,” he remarked as ecstatic fans cheered him outside his new official residence at 10 Downing Street. “It’ll take a while. But there is little doubt that the job of change begins immediately.”
Following the six-week campaign, he will have a hectic schedule, traveling to each of the four nations of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—that he claims voted for Labour.
He will next go to Washington for a NATO meeting on Tuesday before hosting the European Political Community conference on July 18, the day following Parliament’s official opening and the King’s Speech, which outlines the new government’s agenda.
Starmer singled out several major issues on Friday, including fixing the revered but crippled National Health Service and securing its borders, alluding to a larger global issue of absorbing an influx of migrants fleeing war, poverty, drought, heat waves, and floods caused by climate change.
Conservatives struggled to slow the flood of migrants crossing the English Channel, failing to keep ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats” that led to the contentious Rwanda plan.
Starmer’s decision on what he dubbed the Rwanda “gimmick” was widely predicted given that he had previously stated that he would not carry out the plan, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars and had never taken flight.
It’s unclear what Starmer would do differently to address the same situation, which saw a record number of refugees arrive on shore in the first six months of the year.
“Labour is going to need to find a solution to the small boats coming across the channel,” Bale told the crowd. “It’s going to have to come up with other solutions to deal with that particular problem.”
New UK Prime Minister Starmer Says Controversial Rwanda Deportation Plan Is ‘Dead And Buried’
Suella Braverman, a Conservative hardliner on immigration who could replace Sunak as party leader, slammed Starmer’s decision to dissolve the Rwanda accord.
“Years of hard work, acts of Parliament, millions of pounds been spent on a scheme which had it been delivered properly would have worked,” she tweeted on Saturday. “There are big problems on the horizon which will be I’m afraid caused by Keir Starmer.”
Starmer’s Cabinet is also going to work.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy was to go on his first international trip Saturday, meeting counterparts in Germany, Poland, and Sweden to emphasise the importance of their partnership.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he would resume talks with NHS physicians at the start of their careers next week after they launched a series of multi-day strikes. The wage conflict has exacerbated the NHS’s high wait times, which have become a defining feature of its issues.
SOURCE – (AP)
News
King Charles Could Millions Annually from Renting His Properties
A recent analysis suggests that King Charles might earn over £1 million each year by renting out royal properties to holidaymakers.
The Royal Family’s historic houses and mansions are popular holiday rentals, contributing significantly to the Palace’s revenue.
Pikl Insurance estimates that the royals may earn up to £118,775.85 per month, or around £1,425,310.20 per year, from their holiday rental portfolio. Even after accounting for cancellations, the monarchy is anticipated to generate a net annual income of somewhat more over £1.4 million.
Estimated Annual Rental Income of £1.4 Million
The four primary royal properties accepting public bookings are Balmoral Castle, Castle of Mey’s Captain House, Restormel Manor, and Dumfries House, according to Express.co.uk. Cottages at Balmoral Castle in Scotland are expected to generate £36,798.30 per month after accounting for cancellations.
According to the numbers, the 500-year-old Restormel Manor in Cornwall is the most profitable of them all, earning a solid £47,082 every month. The resort, located in the Fowey Valley, has four booking spaces and six converted barns.
Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, adds an estimated £31,185.63 and offers 25 rooms for booking. The Castle of Mey’s Captain House in the Scottish Highlands is estimated to generate a more modest £3,709.92 per month, despite the fact that the entire property is available for booking.
The analysts stated, “While the Royal Family’s primary role is undoubtedly to serve the nation, it is clear that their properties are also a valuable asset.” These estimates highlight the royal estate’s considerable financial potential and provide an intriguing peek into the monarchy’s corporate operations.”
Royal Family received £86.3 million from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant in the previous fiscal year, according to official numbers released in July.
All revenues from the Crown Estate, which includes royal households, forestry, agriculture, and offshore wind, are paid directly to the Treasury, with a portion of this money, now 12%, returned to the Royal Family to finance their tasks.
The records also cover a period of jubilation, including the coronation and festivities surrounding the King and Queen’s crowning in May of last year.
News
Man Creates Candy Cane Car to Spread Christmas Cheer
In a delightful display of holiday spirit, a local resident in North Providence, Maine, has transformed his vehicle into a candy cane delight that is capturing hearts and spreading Christmas Cheer.
Over the past 15 years, Dave Clayman has transformed a simple 1991 Toyota Camry into a rolling holiday icon that captivates everyone who encounters it.
It’s wrapped in $3,000 worth of reflective tape, the same kind used on trailer trucks. Whether parked at a mall or cruising down the highway, you can’t miss it with its candy cane decorations.
This whimsical project started with an unusual idea. When an old exercise bike landed in Clayman’s possession, he mounted it on top of his car instead of letting it gather dust in his garage.
“There’s nothing like working out in the fresh air,” Dave said. That quirky addition quickly drew eyes, inspiring him to keep going.
The car features homemade rockets built from trash cans and salad bowls, candy cane-themed hubcaps, and candy cane lights dangling from the mounted exercise bike.
The Candy Cane Car cost Clayman $3,000
To top it off, it boasts a PA system and a custom horn, making it a true sensory experience.
The candy cane car has now become a local landmark every Christmas. Parked outside Clayman’s house, it’s a favourite backdrop for people snapping photos or simply stopping to admire it.
Some visitors even share stories of seeing the car as a child, reminiscing about how it’s been a beloved part of their neighbourhood for years.
“When people see it, their mood amplifies,” Clayman explained. “If they’re happy, they become happier. If they’re upset, well, they sometimes get angrier.” But for the most part, he estimates that over 96% of people love the festive car, particularly around Christmas.
Clayman said he used to wear a Santa costume when riding in his festive car for years. A few years ago, he bought a Grinch costume and never looked back.
“It’s like a state of euphoria. Every time I get behind the wheel and people see it,” he said. “Anything that people are in a better mood, it seems to make you in a better mood. It’s a labor of love you got to be committed to it.”
Related News:
Costco Is Offering The Peloton Bike+ At 300 Locations This Holiday Season.
News
Senate Approves Social Security Fairness Act, Heads to Final Vote
(VOR News) – On Wednesday, the United States Senate Social Security passed a measure with a vote of 73-27, indicating that the legislation, which is co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins of Maine, is likely to be implemented before the end of the year.
The law may be beneficial to personnel working in the public sector in Maine, including teachers, firefighters, and other workers.
The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal two restrictions that lower the amount of Social Security payments paid to public employees.
These regulations would be eliminated with the passage of the act. A provision known as the Windfall Elimination Provision makes it impossible for public employees who are currently receiving pensions to continue receiving them.
The Government Pension Offset, as it is commonly referred to, is designed to limit the amount of money that can be paid to the surviving spouses of recipients who are also receiving government pensions.
This problematic situation impacts Social Security benefits.”
In November 2024, the Social Security Administration reported that more than 2 million individuals, including more than 20,000 in the state of Maine, had their Social Security benefits reduced as a result of the Windfall Elimination Provision,” Collins stated in a statement that was released by her department.
In November 2024, the Government Pension Offset had an impact on more than 650,000 individuals, with more than 6,000 of those individuals residing in the state of Maine, according to the previously mentioned line of reasoning.
A vote of 327 to 75 was necessary for the measure to be approved by the House of Representatives the previous month. On Wednesday, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader of the Senate, announced that he intended to work rapidly in order to deliver the act from the House of Representatives to the president’s desk.
As indicated by Schumer, who was speaking on the floor of the United States Senate today, “Passing this Social Security fix right before Christmas would be a great gift for our retired firefighters, police officers, postal workers, teachers, and others who have contributed to Social Security for years but are now being penalised because of their time spent serving the public.”
In the beginning, the measure was supported by two individuals: Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, and Collins, a Republican. During her speech in support of the proposal, which was made on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, Collins stated that the idea will have a significant impact on a number of individuals, including teachers in the state of Maine.
These advantages are the direct result of the effort that they put forth. During the course of her remarks, Collins asserted that the punishment in question was both unreasonable and unacceptable.
This will strain Social Security’s already shaky budget.
In a recent examination, it was discovered that the Windfall Elimination Provision was one of the primary problems that contributed to the difficulties that the teacher workforce in Maine is experiencing, which experts are referring to as a crisis.
A poll that was conducted and released by the non-profit organisation Educate Maine found that teachers in each and every county in the state of Maine identified the provision as a hindering factor in the process of recruiting new teachers.
According to the findings of the study, “this federal policy that reduces social security payouts is a disincentive,” which implies that it is detrimental to teachers who take on additional work and discourages people from switching careers in order to become teachers.
Sharon Gallant, a retired educator who worked in Gardiner for a total of 31 years, is one of the educators that are now employed there. Prior to beginning his career as a teacher in the public school system, Gallant was employed in the business sector. He made a little contribution to the Social Security system during the entirety of this time period.
“When you move into public education, you are faced with a certain degree of punishment,” according to her statement.
In letters that Gallant sent to Collins and to Sen. Angus King of Maine, who is an independent, he urged both of them to support the concept. She stated that even if it is unsuccessful, Maine will still have a difficult time recruiting teachers because of the clause that deters them from employment.
She made the observation, “If this does not pass, then it is just another reason not to enter public service.”
SOURCE: FR
SEE ALSO:
The Federal Reserve Will Drop Key Rates, But Consumers May Not Gain Immediately.
-
Politics3 weeks ago
Miller Expects 4.9 Million Foreigners to Leave Canada Voluntarily
-
News3 weeks ago
Nolinor Boeing 737 Crash Lands in Montreal
-
News2 weeks ago
“Shocking Video” Vancouver Police Shoot Armed Suspect 10 Times
-
Tech3 weeks ago
Increasing its Stake in OpenAI by $1.5 Billion is a Possibility for SoftBank.
-
News4 weeks ago
Facebook Securities Fraud Case Dropped
-
Health4 weeks ago
A Canadian Teenager’s Bird Flu Virus Has Mutations