A quick(ish) perusal of the Grauniad headlines on the 22nd November. It is eclectic.
- No 10 says it would arrest Netanyahu,
- Poland says there is a real risk of escalating war turning Global
- Gatwick Airport evacuated after suspicious item found
- Police carry out a controlled explosion outside the US Embassy
- $250 billion climate offer an insult
- Scholz to lead SPD into election after Pistorius withdraws
- Families of Manchester Arena bomb victims must stop suing MI5
- Milan’s Via Monte Napoleone becomes world’s most expensive shopping street
- Jezza Clarkson: presenter, firebrand farmer … politician ?
- New draft COP29 text criticised as unacceptable and inadequate
- England’s snowiest village feels the chill of the WFA cuts
- UK’s most expensive mince pie divides opinion
- Various articles about queers and drag artists, hey, this is the Grauniad
- Jaguar’s new branding, nobody will buy their cars
- Chronic pain and ravaged mental health – the brutal reality of the new working class
- Various sporting headlines with yet to come out Louise Hamilton featuring heavily
- Obscene; anger after cost of coronation revealed
- Budget blamed for first contraction in private sector for a year
- Farmers aged 80 and above could get exemption from IHT
- Seoul says Russia sent air-defence missiles to North Korea in return for troops
- Various best buys for Christmas, aimed at the Waitrose Marxists
- Merkin: I mistook Trump for ‘someone completely normal?
And there you have it, some of these deserve further comment.
$250 billion climate offer an insult
The developed nations (that includes us) are expected to pay the developing nations (that’s them) a shedload of spondulicks for reasons unknown. A mere $250 billion is considered derisory.
Scholz to lead SPD into election after Pistorius withdraws
With the Germans going to the polls in February, Scholz, current Kanzler or PM, who is mega unpopular was expected to be replaced by current defence minister Boris Pistorius who is popular. Herr Pistorius has pulled out of the race so Scholz will have to carry the can to a massive defeat after which their Boris will step up as the saviour. Normal politics.
Milan’s Via Monte Napoleone becomes world’s most expensive shopping street
Rents on this street can reach €20,000 a square metre compared to a mere €19,537 in Fifth Avenue. Business is said to be booming and every luxury (in other words overpriced) brand you can think of is there or trying to get there. The street is relatively small so competition for shops is immense. Apparently you get a much better plate of pasta and glass of wine (‘er indoors staple currency, a glass of vino) nearby, not the case with all the others.
New draft COP29 text criticised as unacceptable and inadequate
For inadequate read not enough money. It seems $400 billion is the absolute minimum, the proposed $250 billion will lead to unacceptable loss of life in Africa. Excuse me if I say my acceptable figure is zero for compensation, it is best if I say nothing about the fate of Africans.
UK’s most expensive mince pie divides opinion
Any puffins living near the coastal village of Orford in Suffolk might like to visit the Pump Street Bakery where they can buy six mince pies for a mere £25. That is a tad over £4 each. Even at these prices they sell out and the queues are legendary. Must be a lot of train drivers in the area. Reputably they are excellent with ice cream or custard.
Jaguar’s new branding, nobody will buy their cars
With Jaguar’s new branding predictions are that nobody will buy them. One of Sir William Lyons’s big selling points was that you could fit your old clubs in a cavernous boot. The funniest part was when Aldi Customer Services replied to Jaguar’s tweet about “No Copying”. They said it sounded like their legal department.
Chronic pain and ravaged mental health – the brutal reality of the new working class
The stars of this article are Amazon and Spors Direct who have ground their workers into the ground. At least they were doing some kind of physical work whereas many in offices, especially in local or central government have all manner of invented illnesses and mental health reasons why they cannot work.
Obscene; anger after cost of coronation revealed
The coronation of King Big Ears cost £72 million. Anti-monarchy group Republic say the real cost is much higher but failed to give any details other than vague hints. The monarch avoiding all sorts of taxes also came in for a bit of a bashing.
Budget blamed for first contraction in private sector for a year
A fall in activity in November along with a drop in October’s retail sales has been pinned firmly on the budget so lovingly crafted by Rachel from Accounts. October is normally the first month of the golden quarter for retailers that includes the Christmas rush.
Farmers aged 80 and above could get exemption from IHT
This is the start of Rachel’s budget unravelling. There are calls for the 80 year old farmers to be exempt from the IHT change. In fact the NFU say this should be reduced to 73 so the seven year rule can take effect by the time the farmer is 80. I am not sure if any budget measures have been removed in the past but it does not look good for the complaints manager.
Merkin: I mistook Trump for ‘someone completely normal ?
Finally on to Angela Merkin. She says her first mistake was to treat the orange man as if he were completely normal. She soon learned of his soft spot for tyrants and authoritarians and a fascination with Putin. I think this says more about Mrs Merkin than it does about the Donald. As is often the case, she has a book to sell, scheduled for publication on the 26th November. It will be on offer very quickly.
© well_chuffed 2024
