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Enterprise m’a facturé 982 £ pour des “rayures” sur une voiture de location

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J’ai récupéré une voiture de location dans une succursale d’Enterprise à Londres en mars 2023 et je l’ai déposée dans une autre succursale huit jours plus tard.

Pendant ce temps, quelqu’un a gratté la voiture – une Nissan Micra – entraînant des rayures sur l’une des portes. Cela s’est passé à mon insu.

Lorsque j’ai rendu la voiture, l’agent a également contesté l’alignement de l’une des roues avant en alliage.

Les deux ont été consignés dans le rapport de dommages et j’ai pris des photos en présence de l’agent Enterprise.

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Calamité de voiture : notre lecteur a loué une voiture et a ensuite été facturé 982 £ pour ce qu'il pensait être des réparations mineures (image d'archive, pas la voiture en question)

Calamité de voiture : notre lecteur a loué une voiture et a ensuite été facturé 982 £ pour ce qu'il pensait être des réparations mineures (image d'archive, pas la voiture en question)

Calamité de voiture : notre lecteur a loué une voiture et a ensuite été facturé 982 £ pour ce qu’il pensait être des réparations mineures (image d’archive, pas la voiture en question)

Plus tard, j’ai été stupéfait de constater qu’Enterprise m’avait facturé 982 £, ce qui, à mon avis, est totalement inacceptable et disproportionné par rapport aux dommages.

J’ai contacté Enterprise maintes et maintes fois, mais il n’a pas répondu à mes objections à ces accusations.

Dans les e-mails, j’ai comparé les coûts de réparation des dommages cités par Enterprise par rapport à ce que n’importe qui d’autre paierait dans tout le pays.

À ce stade, l’Enterprise a commencé à me bloquer complètement – espérant vraisemblablement que je serai découragé et que j’abandonnerai cette affaire. Je suis étudiant et je n’ai pas vraiment les moyens de payer près de 1 000 £. S’il vous plaît aider. SM, Londres

Helen Crane de This is Money répond : Je comprends pourquoi vous avez l’impression d’avoir été pris pour un tour par l’Enterprise.

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Des éraflures se produisent malheureusement, en particulier lors de la conduite sur des routes très fréquentées à Londres.

Mais s’il est juste que les conducteurs de voitures de location paient en cas de prang, votre facture semble astronomique compte tenu de la nature mineure des dommages.

J’ai essayé de décomposer la lourde somme en charges individuelles, pour déterminer ce que l’on vous demandait réellement de payer.

Enterprise m’a dit que des frais d’administration de 60 £ vous ont été facturés, ainsi que des frais de “perte d’utilisation” de 30,75 £ par jour pendant les quatre jours où la voiture n’a pas pu être louée pendant la réparation.

GRUE SUR LA CAISSE

Dans notre chronique hebdomadaire, Helen Crane, experte en consommation de This is Money, s’attaque aux problèmes des lecteurs et met en lumière les entreprises qui font du bien et du mal.

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Voulez-vous qu’elle enquête sur un problème ou voulez-vous féliciter une entreprise pour avoir fait un effort supplémentaire ? Entrer en contact:

helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk

Ces frais s’élèvent à un total de 183 £, ce qui signifie que vous avez été facturé 799 £ pour les réparations réelles de la voiture – toujours pas une petite somme pour quelques rayures et un alignement des roues.

Mais Enterprise a depuis affirmé que les dommages étaient plus graves que ceux indiqués dans le rapport, vous indiquant plus tard que la roue n’avait pas seulement besoin d’être réalignée, mais complètement remplacée.

J’ai examiné le coût d’un pneu de remplacement et d’un montage pour une Nissan Micra dans certaines entreprises de réparation de voitures de grande rue, et on m’a indiqué des montants compris entre 60 et 160 £ environ.

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Donc, même avec cela au haut de gamme de 160 £, il reste encore environ 640 £ de votre facture totale non comptabilisés.

Et l’égratignure sur la porte, alors ? Vous avez trouvé des devis en ligne suggérant qu’à une estimation élevée, la réparation d’une égratignure ou d’une bosse coûterait 180 £.

Si tel était le cas, cela vous laisserait 460 £ de votre facture totale non comptabilisés.

Mais encore une fois, Enterprise a affirmé que ces dommages étaient plus graves que ne le suggérait le rapport initial.

J’ai vu le rapport de perte et de dommage rédigé par l’agent sur place, qui l’appelle une égratignure, et vous m’avez également envoyé une photo sur laquelle cela ressemble à une égratignure.

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Je ne suis pas un expert en réparation automobile, mais cela me suggère qu’il pourrait s’agir d’une égratignure.

Enterprise se réfère également de manière assez dramatique au grattage de la voiture comme «l’accident» – peut-être un peu hyperbolique étant donné que vous ne vous êtes même pas rendu compte que cela s’était produit.

Problèmes de roue: Enterprise a déclaré que la roue de la voiture de location de notre lecteur devait être remplacée, plutôt que simplement réalignée

Problèmes de roue: Enterprise a déclaré que la roue de la voiture de location de notre lecteur devait être remplacée, plutôt que simplement réalignée

Problèmes de roue: Enterprise a déclaré que la roue de la voiture de location de notre lecteur devait être remplacée, plutôt que simplement réalignée

Le porte-parole d’Enterprise a également déclaré que les estimations que vous avez trouvées pour le coût des réparations n’étaient pas une comparaison à l’identique.

L’entreprise a déclaré: “Les dommages au véhicule étaient plus qu’une bosse, donc les coûts de réparation pris sur un site Web par le locataire ne sont pas une comparaison à l’identique.”

«Le site Web à partir duquel le client a obtenu ces chiffres indique qu’il ne s’agit que de« chiffres approximatifs ».

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“Le coût réel dépendra d’une série de facteurs, y compris le type ou le véhicule.”

Il est vrai que les chiffres que vous avez trouvés n’étaient que des estimations – bien que les plus élevées.

Mais être facturé 400 £ de plus que ce chiffre approximatif me semble toujours excessif. Vous conduisiez une Nissan Micra – pas une supercar.

Je suis retourné à Enterprise et lui ai demandé de détailler exactement le coût du pneu de remplacement et de la réparation des rayures.

Elle ne m’a pas fourni ces chiffres, mais a insisté sur le fait qu’elle était “confiante que tous [its] le processus et les procédures ont été suivis correctement.’

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En réponse à ma question sur la façon dont il calcule le coût des réparations, le porte-parole a répondu: «Toutes nos réparations sont effectuées par un réseau de réparation indépendant, et toutes les estimations sont évaluées à l’aide d’un système leader de l’industrie pour estimer les coûts de réparation.

«Il s’agit d’un système d’estimation standard de l’industrie utilisé par la plupart des compagnies d’assurance et de flotte, car il donne un coût et une méthode cohérents pour la réparation des véhicules.

“Les coûts et les méthodes de réparation sont conformes à la norme du constructeur automobile pour remettre le véhicule dans son état d’avant l’accident.”

Il a également indiqué que vous auriez pu acheter une protection supplémentaire lorsque vous avez loué la voiture, pour 15 £ supplémentaires par jour, ce qui signifie que vous auriez dû payer un maximum de 100 £ pour les réparations.

Mais je pense que c’est un peu une échappatoire. Si vous vous séparez de près de 1 000 £, on devrait vous proposer un aperçu clair de la destination de cet argent – ​​et les sociétés de location devraient réaliser leurs bénéfices sur les locations – et non sur les réparations.

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Et l’entreprise dit-elle vraiment que, si vous vouliez être facturé équitablement, vous auriez dû souscrire une assurance supplémentaire ?

Je suis désolé de dire que je n’ai pas pu persuader Enterprise d’annuler l’un de vos frais à cette occasion – et je sais que payer la facture sera un défi pour votre budget étudiant.

J’imagine que la prochaine fois que vous déciderez de prendre la route, vous louerez ailleurs.

GRUE SUR LA CAISSE

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International

Oscar-winner ‘Oppenheimer’ opens in Japan after months of nuclear theme concerns

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Oscar best picture winner “Oppenheimer” was finally released on Friday in Japan, where its subject — the man who masterminded the creation of the atomic bomb — is a highly sensitive and emotional topic.

Issued on: Modified:

3 min

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The US blockbuster hit screened in the United States and many other countries in July at the same time as “Barbie”, inspiring a viral phenomenon dubbed “Barbenheimer” by moviegoers.

But while “Barbie” was released in Japan in August, “Oppenheimer” was conspicuously absent from cinemas for months.

No official explanation was offered at the time, fuelling speculation the film was too controversial to be shown in Japan — the only country to have ever suffered a wartime nuclear attack.

Around 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities in August 1945, days before the end of World War II.

Japan is the only country to have suffered a wartime nuclear attack
Japan is the only country to have suffered a wartime nuclear attack. © Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP

At a large cinema in central Tokyo where “Oppenheimer” was showing on Friday, there was none of the prominent promotional material that might be expected for a global megahit.

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Instead only one small poster advertised the film, which was shot on a $100 million budget and collected nearly $1 billion at box offices worldwide.

“It is a long, three-hour movie, but I watched it attentively, because it was so powerful,” audience member Masayuki Hayashi, 51, told AFP after the film.

Japanese distributors may have chosen to avoid a summer release close to the bombings’ anniversary, said 65-year-old Tatsuhisa Yue.

But “it would have been unthinkable if a movie which describes how the weapon was developed didn’t show here”, he said.

“The movie arrived late, but I think it was good that it finally opened in Japan.”

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‘America-centric’

The film tells the story of US physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who oversaw the bomb’s invention.

It drew rave reviews and was the most decorated title at this month’s Oscars, scooping seven awards including best director for Christopher Nolan and best actor for star Cillian Murphy.

But in Hiroshima, the city devastated by the first nuclear bomb, the biopic’s Academy Awards success met a mixed reaction.

'Oppenheimer' stars Irish actor Cillian Murphy
‘Oppenheimer’ stars Irish actor Cillian Murphy. © Robyn Beck / AFP

Kyoko Heya, president of the city’s international film festival, told AFP after the awards ceremony that she had found Nolan’s movie “very America-centric”.

“Is this really a movie that people in Hiroshima can bear to watch?” she asked.

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Today the city is a thriving metropolis of 1.2 million people, but the ruins of a domed building still stand as a stark reminder of the horrors of the attack, along with a museum and other sombre memorials.

Heya said that after much reflection, “I now want many people to watch the movie.”

“I’d be happy to see Hiroshima, Nagasaki and atomic weapons become the subject of discussions thanks to this movie,” she said.

Last year, viral “Barbenheimer” memes sparked anger online in Japan, where media reports have highlighted critics who say the film does not show the harm caused by the bombs.

Around 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities in 1945
Around 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities in 1945. © Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP

“There could have been much more description and depiction of the horror of atomic weapons,” bomb survivor and former Hiroshima mayor Takashi Hiraoka, 96, said at a special screening in the city earlier this month.

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“Oppenheimer” was also shown at a preview event in Nagasaki, where survivor Masao Tomonaga, 80, said he had been impressed by the movie.

“I had thought the film’s lack of… images of atomic bomb survivors was a weakness,” said Tomonaga, who was two when the second bomb was dropped and later became a professor studying leukaemia caused by the attacks.

“But in fact, Oppenheimer’s lines in dozens of scenes showed his shock at the reality of the atomic bombing. That was enough for me.”

(AFP)

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NHS will probe unprecedented rise in children and adults being told they have ADHD amid fears mental disorder is being overdiagnosed

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The NHS is launching a new taskforce to examine a concerning rise in adults and children being diagnosed with ADHD.

Experts have warned rogue private clinics are over-diagnosing the condition and have questioned the widespread prescribing of powerful stimulant drugs to treat it.

The booming market is thought to have been fuelled by celebrities such as model Katie Price, Love Island star Olivia Attwood and actress Sheridan Smith talking about their ADHD ordeal and waits of up to ten years for an assessment on the NHS.

Social media sites are also full of users telling how medication helped to calm them down, control their fidgeting and boost their concentration.

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Sheridan Smith, 42, has revealed she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (pictured in 2023)

Sheridan Smith, 42, has revealed she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (pictured in 2023)

Sheridan Smith, 42, has revealed she has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (pictured in 2023)

Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins last year shared that she had been diagnosed and that 'suddenly everything made sense - to me and those who love me'

Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins last year shared that she had been diagnosed and that 'suddenly everything made sense - to me and those who love me'
Love Island's Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD made her 'constantly overwhelmed'

Love Island's Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD made her 'constantly overwhelmed'

Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins (left) last year shared that she had been diagnosed and that ‘suddenly everything made sense – to me and those who love me’. Love Island’s Olivia Atwood (right) said ADHD made her ‘constantly overwhelmed’

The number of patients on medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has doubled in six years, with 230,000 in England taking the drugs last year.

The biggest rise has been in young adults, with treatment increasing five-fold among those aged 25 to 39 since 2015.

The taskforce will bring together leaders from health, education and justice to better understand how many people are affected and how to improve their care.

They will investigate ‘the rate of growth within the independent sector and the potential variation in the service models and thresholds being used’, and collect data to ‘fully understand the size of the challenge’.

Officials say an initial review identified issues with capacity, medication supply shortages, a lack of reliable data and a postcode lottery in services.

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However, critics say the taskforce may lead to even more people coming forward for a diagnosis, heaping further pressure on the NHS and leading them to pop pills that can be dangerous for the heart and raise the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

NHS England announced the launch of the taskforce at a board meeting yesterday, where Professor Sir Simon Wessely, a consultant psychiatrist, described the increase in adult ADHD as ‘remarkable’.

He said: ‘It’s unlikely that a change on that scale is simply due to better recognition or help-seeking, and it suggests that there’s a degree of diagnostic creep going on, or re-evaluation of feelings, symptoms, emotions.

‘The main problem has been waiting lists. To get a diagnosis of ADHD it is absolutely essential you have a multidisciplinary assessment because there are many other issues that could be going on.

Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase

Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase

Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase

‘That’s failing at the moment. A lot of people are waiting too long and are being diverted into private practice and private providers, some of whom do not have the standards that we would expect and seem to make the diagnosis incredibly easy.

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‘People now have a label which may or may not be correct. That’s where some of the problems we’re seeing at the moment are coming from.

‘When you see this remarkable change in a very short period of time, you need to think not just about increased awareness, but also about cultural and social factors.’

Professor Wessely added it was important to remember that ADHD medication can have ‘severe side effects’ and ‘we need to proceed with caution’.

The World Health Organization defines ADHD as being a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) estimates one in twenty children (5 per cent) and one in 29 adults (3 to 4 per cent) have the condition.

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But NHS England believes the true figure may be higher.

It says it is unable to say how many people have a diagnosis or are waiting for an assessment because it does not have a consistent and complete dataset.

However, ADHD was the second most viewed health condition on the NHS website in 2023, after Covid-19, with 4.3 million page views during the year.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire integrated care board warned in board papers last July of ‘exceptionally high waiting times’ for ADHD assessment and treatment of ’10 years+’.

And a separate survey the same month showed children in Coventry and Warwickshire are waiting an average of 142 weeks (almost three years) for all neurodiverse first appointments, which covers ADHD and autism.

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Last year, Johnny Vegas (left) admitted he was in the 'early stages' of working through medication, after he was diagnosed with ADHD

Last year, Johnny Vegas (left) admitted he was in the 'early stages' of working through medication, after he was diagnosed with ADHD
Ben Fogle, who has previously spoken about being dyslexic, revealed this week that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD after a 'recent mental health storm'

Ben Fogle, who has previously spoken about being dyslexic, revealed this week that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD after a 'recent mental health storm'

Last year, Johnny Vegas (left) admitted he was in the ‘early stages’ of working through medication, after he was diagnosed with ADHD. Ben Fogle (right), who has previously spoken about being dyslexic, revealed this week that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD after a ‘recent mental health storm’

Professor Joanna Moncrieff, from University College London, said: ‘I worry that a Taskforce will encourage more people to come forward expecting to get an ADHD diagnosis, when the NHS is already struggling to meet demand.

‘This will not be helpful because ADHD doesn’t explain anything.

‘It is not a disease, it is simply a label for a collection of behaviours that we all have to some extent, and therefore the diagnosis is elastic.

‘There is a real danger that we will end up with a significant proportion of the population taking prescription stimulants, which have not been reliably shown to benefit people in the long-run, and which, like cocaine, have dangerous effects on the heart and can increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.’

Taskforce members and terms of reference will be published in the coming weeks and it is expected to produce a report later this year.

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Diagnosis of ADHD are driving a surge in the number of children and young adults claiming disability benefits.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. 

Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include:

  • Constant fidgeting 
  • Poor concentration
  • Excessive movement or talking
  • Acting without thinking
  • Inability to deal with stress 
  • Little or no sense of danger 
  • Careless mistakes
  • Mood swings
  • Forgetfulness 
  • Difficulty organising tasks
  •  Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
  • Inability to listen or carry out instructions 

Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this.

ADHD’s exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person’s brain function and structure.

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Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. 

ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette’s and epilepsy.  

There is no cure. 

A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier. 

Source: NHS Choices 

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Some 1.6million children are reported as disabled, a figure that has doubled in little more than a decade and jumped by more than a third since Covid. Claims for behavioural disorders such as ADHD make up a fifth of all claims.

Furthermore, more than 52,000 adults who receive personal independence payments from the government list ADHD as their main condition, with most of these being 16 to 29-year-olds who have been transferred from disability allowance when they reached adulthood. This number is up from 38,000 in 2022.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: ‘NHS staff across the country are working hard to ensure all patients requiring assessments and further support from ADHD services are seen as promptly as possible.

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‘We have recognised that that more needs to be done to ensure people can get a timely diagnosis and importantly, that all of their needs are addressed.

‘This is a hugely complex piece of work and this taskforce will need to consult a wide range of partner and experts, to understand more about the issues impacting those with ADHD and how service provision can be better joined up to meet people’s needs today and in the future.

‘This is a vital first step in helping us achieve real improvements in the ADHD services that the NHS and the independent sector provides.’

Henry Shelford, chief executive of ADHD UK, said he is celebrating the announcement, which he described as a ‘big deal’.

He said there are 2.6 million people with ADHD in the UK, waiting lists for adults range from 12 weeks to 10.5 years and those for children from 5 weeks to 5 years.

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Henry added: ‘We have a hope we didn’t have and it is wonderful.

‘Until very recently NHS England didn’t even have a single individual with responsibility for ADHD so to have them announce a task force is a glorious tectonic change.

‘Entire life trajectories are altered by the waitlists for ADHD care. Lives are being ruined and lost in the current status quo.

‘This taskforce represents the potential for the revolutionary change that is crucially needed.’

Steve Russell, chief delivery officer at NHS England, said: ‘Using the findings from the initial review, we will improve data collection to help us understand the scale of the challenge and work closely with the new cross-sector taskforce to improve pathways for patients with ADHD.’

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Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: ‘It is vital that people with ADHD not only receive a timely assessment and diagnosis, but also the support they need to live fulfilled lives.

‘We’re already exploring options to improve data collection and reporting on assessment waiting times, and this new taskforce is crucial to support this work to ensure they get faster, simpler and fairer care.

‘A better understanding of the issues facing people with ADHD will help us across Government and the NHS to address them, creating solutions over the long term.’

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International

Palestinians fear further isolation as Israeli minister announces vast West Bank settlement plans

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Palestinian land planner Safa Odeh points to a road in the West Bank.

Palestinian land planner Safa Odeh points in the direction of a road in the West Bank that she says only Israeli settlers can use. © France 24 screengrab

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced a plan to seize 800 hectares of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, the largest land seizure since the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israeli and Palestinian authorities according to NGO Peace Now. FRANCE 24’s Catherine Norris Trent and Claire Duhamel explored the roads around Jerusalem, some of which are included in the planned seizure, and spoke with a Palestinian land planning engineer who said Smotrich’s plan is aimed at “increasing control” in the territory.

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Revealed: Scale of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s funding into Wrexham laid bare by the club’s astronomical wage bill… after the Hollywood owners admitted they were ‘f****d without National League promotion

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Wrexham paid out £6.9million in wages during their promotional season from the National League as the level of funding from the club’s Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney was revealed in their latest accounts.

The Welsh side were promoted as champions from the National League last season with a record 111 points, after edging Notts County in a head-to-head battle for the one automatic spot.

Reynolds and McElhenney admitted last year they would have been ‘f*****’ if the club had failed to have achieved promotion to League Two.

McElhenney said on the series Welcome To Wrexham: ‘From a financial perspective, if we do not get promoted this year, we are f*****’, to which Reynolds replied, ‘Yep, f***’.’

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‘We’re heavily invested in building this club, the stadium itself, and if we don’t get promoted this year, the club is completely, totally and wholly unsustainable.

Wrexham's Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds paid out £6.9m in wages during the club's promotion season

Wrexham's Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds paid out £6.9m in wages during the club's promotion season

Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds paid out £6.9m in wages during the club’s promotion season 

Wrexham's latest accounts reveal the level of funding in their promotion season to the EFL

Wrexham's latest accounts reveal the level of funding in their promotion season to the EFL

Wrexham’s latest accounts reveal the level of funding in their promotion season to the EFL

‘So its really ratcheted up the pressure, not just for us but for the players on the field, the people in the community. This year we have to get promoted.’

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The co-owners desperation to secure promotion has been outlined in the club’s financial accounts for the year ending on June 30, 2023.

Wrexham made an overall loss of £5.1million during the National League season, representing a record in the division.

The figure surpassed the previous record loss of Stockport County of £4.8m in their promotion season in 2022, as well as representing a significant increase on the £2.9m loss Wrexham had made the same campaign.

A major increase in the club’s wage bill was a contributing factor with Wrexham paying out £6.9m for the financial year, representing £132,600-a-week.

The wage bill increased by nearly £2.9million from the previous season, where the club finished as runners-up to Stockport County and were beaten in the play-offs.

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Turnover and revenue has increased dramatically since  Always Sunny In Philadelphia creator McElhenney and Deadpool actor Reynolds bought the club for £2million in February 2021.

Turnover increased from £5.972million to £10.478million in the year ending June 30 2023.

Wrexham were promoted as National League champions with a record points tally

Wrexham were promoted as National League champions with a record points tally

Wrexham were promoted as National League champions with a record points tally

The club ended a 15-year exile from the Football League after securing promotion last season

The club ended a 15-year exile from the Football League after securing promotion last season

The club ended a 15-year exile from the Football League after securing promotion last season

The club’s accounts outlined how Wrexham’s overseas fanbase has contributed to the increase in turnover.

Wrexham highlighted a ‘staggering’ increase in its Rest of the World turnover to £2.582m from £657,000 in the 2022 accounts, with UK turnover rising to £7.8million from £5.3million.

Club director Humphrey Ker wrote in the accounts that the club ‘await with interest to see how this ratio changes going forward.’

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Wrexham’s retail operation enjoyed an increase from £3.430m from £1.304m in 2022, while sponsorship rose to £1.883m from £1.053m.

The club’s run to the FA Cup fourth round helped football revenue grow to £1.314m from £0.531m.

The League Two side said that their year-on-year income increases show the potential of the club, stating that this will ‘significantly increase again following promotion and the continued popularity of Welcome to Wrexham’

Wrexham noted that the club needed to be conscious of ensuring that when the Disney+ series comes to an end it can ‘manage the change effectively and still deliver our objectives based on the legacy that has been created.’

A third season of the show is planned for next month.

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‘The amount owed to The RR McReynolds Company, LLC (owned by the two actors) at the year-end was £8.977million (2022: £3.714million),’ a statement from Wrexham said.

The Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham has helped to increase their overseas fanbase

The Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham has helped to increase their overseas fanbase

The Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham has helped to increase their overseas fanbase

‘The financial losses suffered by the club since the takeover shouldn’t be repeated, with income generated by the club now sufficient to meet the operational costs of the club going forward.

‘These losses were deemed necessary to allow the club to maximise its full potential in the shortest time practically possible.

‘The club is under no immediate pressure to repay these loans at the expense of the progress we seek to achieve and further financial support will be provided/secured to support the capital expenditure projects the club is currently planning, which includes increasing the capacity of The Racecourse Ground and the development of a training facility for all the club’s teams.’

Wrexham are in contention to secure a second successive promotion with the club in the automatic promotion places in League Two with seven matches remaining this season.

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The Red Dragons would be required to pay £207,500 to other clubs for the transfer of players should the club achieve promotion this season.

In addition, Wrexham could pay out £509,710 as part of player contracts and bonuses should they be seal a spot in League One.

Wrexham noted that further bonuses may be payable if they club is promotion to the Championship in the future.

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International

Mom murderer Gypsy Rose Blanchard announces SPLIT from husband Ryan Scott Anderson just three months after release from prison where she wed beau from behind bars

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Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her husband have called it quits on their short-lived marriage just three months after the bride was released from prison.

Blanchard, 32, announced her separation from school teacher Ryan Scott Anderson on a private Facebook account, according to People Magazine.

The sad news comes mere months after Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, having served the mandatory seven years of her 10-year sentence for conspiring to kill her mother, Dee Dee, who was stabbed to death by her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn. 

Blanchard and Anderson were married in a jailhouse ceremony in July of 2022. 

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In her Facebook post, Blanchard wrote: ‘People have been asking what is going on in my life. Unfortunately my husband and I are going through a separation and I moved in with my parents home down the bayou. 

‘I have the support of my family and friends to help guide me through this. I am learning to listen to my heart. Right now I need time to let myself find … who I am.’

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and husband Ryan Anderson attend the January premiere of 'The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy Rose Blanchard'

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and husband Ryan Anderson attend the January premiere of 'The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy Rose Blanchard'

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and husband Ryan Anderson attend the January premiere of ‘The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’

The now-separated couple are seen together shopping in Liberty, Missouri the afternoon she was released from prison

The now-separated couple are seen together shopping in Liberty, Missouri the afternoon she was released from prison

The now-separated couple are seen together shopping in Liberty, Missouri the afternoon she was released from prison

Blanchard was sentenced three years ahead of her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (pictured) who was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2019. He stabbed Dee Dee Blanchard to death with a knife Gypsy had given him

Blanchard was sentenced three years ahead of her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (pictured) who was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2019. He stabbed Dee Dee Blanchard to death with a knife Gypsy had given him

Blanchard was sentenced three years ahead of her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (pictured) who was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2019. He stabbed Dee Dee Blanchard to death with a knife Gypsy had given him

Prior to her December release, Blanchard told the outlet that she was planning to marry Anderson – a 37-year-old special ed teacher in Louisiana – a second time once she was a free woman.

‘We do plan on having a reception/redo wedding with all of our family and our friends and the dress and the cake and everything because we deserve that. I deserve that. He deserves that,’ she said.

‘Our prison wedding was just something to where we can make our vows to each other. It was something that meant something to us. And I think the party is kind of for everybody else and us, but mostly for everybody else.’

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At the time of her early release, Blanchard, still a blushing bride, said she was excited about moving in with Anderson.

‘I’ve never lived with a man. I grew up with a mom, so I didn’t even grow up with a dad in the house. So, I’m like, ‘I don’t even know what it’s like to live with a man,’ she said.

Shortly after her release, Blanchard publicly proclaimed her satisfaction with her new-found sex life. While defending her husband from online trolls, she wrote: ‘I love you…besides they jealous because you are rocking my world every night…yeah I said it, the D is fire…happy wife happy life.’

Anderson responded: ‘Who said I gave a damn about what these jealous people say anyway, haha…now come get it Baby…’ 

Blanchard was famously charged with the killing of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was found dead in 2015. She admitted to second-degree murder. She gave Godejohn a knife to use to stab her mother to death while she hid in the bathroom.

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Godejohn was also arrested and charged for the murder.

For weeks on end, the pair put on increasingly public displays of their affection for one another. They are seen here ringing in the new year

For weeks on end, the pair put on increasingly public displays of their affection for one another. They are seen here ringing in the new year

For weeks on end, the pair put on increasingly public displays of their affection for one another. They are seen here ringing in the new year 

Gypsy Rose (left) with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was murdered by Gypsy and her then boyfriend in 2015

Gypsy Rose (left) with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was murdered by Gypsy and her then boyfriend in 2015

Gypsy Rose (left) with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was murdered by Gypsy and her then boyfriend in 2015

Blanchard and Anderson made the rounds in the days after Blanchard's release. The pair here were spotted in midtown Manhattan during a press day in January

Blanchard and Anderson made the rounds in the days after Blanchard's release. The pair here were spotted in midtown Manhattan during a press day in January

Blanchard and Anderson made the rounds in the days after Blanchard’s release. The pair here were spotted in midtown Manhattan during a press day in January

The seemingly happy couple caused quite a commotion on social media following Blanchard's release, complete with raunchy messages directed at one another left on public accounts

The seemingly happy couple caused quite a commotion on social media following Blanchard's release, complete with raunchy messages directed at one another left on public accounts

The seemingly happy couple caused quite a commotion on social media following Blanchard’s release, complete with raunchy messages directed at one another left on public accounts

Weeks before news of their split, Gypsy defended her husband from the haters online, and in doing so publicly disclosed her satisfaction with their post-prison sex-life

Weeks before news of their split, Gypsy defended her husband from the haters online, and in doing so publicly disclosed her satisfaction with their post-prison sex-life

Weeks before news of their split, Gypsy defended her husband from the haters online, and in doing so publicly disclosed her satisfaction with their post-prison sex-life 

Gypsy was 23 when she was arrested on a second degree murder charge. She is shown in court in 2015

Gypsy was 23 when she was arrested on a second degree murder charge. She is shown in court in 2015

Gypsy was 23 when she was arrested on a second degree murder charge. She is shown in court in 2015 

Dee Dee was found dead on the morning of June 14, 2015, after being knifed 17 times in her sleep by Godejohn, 34, who is serving life in prison without parole. 

Following the arrest of the couple, it became clear that Dee Dee had, for years, subjected her young daughter to unnecessary medical treatments and convinced Gypsy and others that she (Gypsy) had a number of serious diseases.

Attorneys for Blanchard argued she had been the victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a dramatic form of child abuse that involves a guardian inventing, exaggerating, and sometimes inflicting illness on a child to gain sympathy.

Blanchard ultimately pleaded guilty in 2016 and was sentenced to a decade in prison.

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Godejohn received a life sentence without parole in 2019. He was convicted of first degree murder.

Earlier in March, Blanchard posted a video to TikTok in which she apologized to the people who she has ‘offended with a lack of accountability, the first month or so that I was out of prison and the lack of accountability in my interviews, I’m sorry.

‘I’m learning. I take accountability for my part, and I’m saying this right now. I’m taking accountability. I did a bad thing.’

She then abruptly deleted nearly her entire social media presence.

In an interview with ABC shortly after her release, Gypsy said she was addicted to prescription pain killers when she and Godejohn, who she’d met online, concocted Dee Dee’s murder. 

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‘I don’t blame drugs, I don’t blame anything. I don’t make excuses. Now I’m sober, I haven’t used in four years and I don’t feel the need to,’ she said during the interview.

Gypsy's story is one of the more famous examples of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a person treats a perfectly healthy dependent as if they have a physical or mental illness

Gypsy's story is one of the more famous examples of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a person treats a perfectly healthy dependent as if they have a physical or mental illness

Gypsy’s story is one of the more famous examples of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a person treats a perfectly healthy dependent as if they have a physical or mental illness 

The 32-year-old felon turned-reality-star rose to stardom after her story was told in multiple documentaries

The 32-year-old felon turned-reality-star rose to stardom after her story was told in multiple documentaries

The 32-year-old felon turned-reality-star rose to stardom after her story was told in multiple documentaries

After removing any trace of herself from Instagram, she took to TikTok, in a since-deleted video that was reposted by a fan account, to explain why she no longer wanted to live life in the limelight. 

‘So a lot of people already noticed that I already deleted my Instagram – the public one – with the 7.8 million followers when I deactivated it or, I deleted it, I permanently deleted it,’ she said.

Gypsy claimed that she didn’t give a ‘f***’ about the following and said it wasn’t ‘real life’ – before noting that her dad was the one that helped her put things into perspective when it came to her public life. 

She added:  ‘A lot of people are like, “What happened?” and what happened is, I had a really good conversation with my dad and he gave me some guidance that I feel like I really needed. And that guidance was that real life is something you can touch – something you can feel – people you can actually hug.’ 

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The 32-year-old noted that social media now felt like a ‘roadway to hell’ for her – explaining that following her release from prison, she fell under a microscope and people began analyzing everything she did. 

People reported that the move was made on the ‘advisement of her parole officer, so she won’t get in trouble and go back to jail.’

Gypsy’s story is one of the more famous examples of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a person treats a perfectly healthy dependent as if they have a physical or mental illness. 

Dee Dee shaved her daughter’s head to mimic the effects of leukemia, doctored her birth certificate to pretend she was younger and fed her unnecessary medications that caused her to drool and eventually lose her teeth.

She forced Gypsy to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary surgeries on her eyes and salivary glands while cashing in with charity handouts and perks including a free trip to Disney World.

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Earlier in March, Blanchard posted a video to TikTok in which she apologized to the people who she has 'offended with a lack of accountability, the first month or so that I was out of prison and the lack of accountability in my interviews, I'm sorry,' she said

Earlier in March, Blanchard posted a video to TikTok in which she apologized to the people who she has 'offended with a lack of accountability, the first month or so that I was out of prison and the lack of accountability in my interviews, I'm sorry,' she said

Earlier in March, Blanchard posted a video to TikTok in which she apologized to the people who she has ‘offended with a lack of accountability, the first month or so that I was out of prison and the lack of accountability in my interviews, I’m sorry,’ she said

When doctors in their native Louisiana raised red flags, Dee Dee relocated to Missouri in 2008, where she got a bright pink home built for free, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity, and told everyone that Gypsy’s medical notes were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. 

The former nurse even fooled ex-husband Rod Blanchard, who remained close to his daughter but struggled to get access to her once Dee Dee moved away and constantly made excuses to cancel his visits.

It was only when he witnessed his daughter walk into a courtroom in handcuffs that the shell-shocked dad finally grasped that Gypsy didn’t need a wheelchair.

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International

Russian missile and drone attacks damage power plants in central, west Ukraine

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Russian missile and drone attacks hit thermal and hydro power plants in central and western Ukraine, power grid operator Ukrenergo said on Friday, the latest assault on the already damaged power infrastructure.

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“During the night, the Russians struck again at energy facilities in a massive and combined attack,” Ukrenergo said on the Telegram messaging app.

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“Thermal and hydroelectric power plants in the central and western regions were damaged.”

Regional officials said Russian forces had attacked infrastructure in the Kamianske district near the city of Dnipro. At least one person was wounded, they added.

Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko also said power facilities in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava and Cherkasy were attacked.

“Electricity generation facilities were targeted by drones and missiles,” Gelushchenko said on Facebook.

The Ukrainian military said its air forces had destroyed 58 Russia-launched attack drones overnight from a total of 60, along with 26 of 39 missiles.

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“The enemy launched a powerful missile and air strike against the fuel and energy sector of Ukraine, using various types of missiles and attack drones,” the commander said.

Reuters could not independently verify the report.

Ukrainian television said explosions were heard in the regions of Ivano-Frankivsk and Khmelnytskyi as well as the city of Dnipro as Russian cruise missiles were spotted in Ukrainian air space.

The largest private power firm, DTEK, said its three thermal power plants were attacked.

“The equipment was severely damaged,” it said on Telegram. “After the attack ended, the power engineers promptly started to repair the damage.”

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Ukrainian power distributor Yasno said this week that DTEK lost about half its capacity following Russian missile and drone attacks.

(REUTERS)

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International

Scientists warn one in every 50 Americans in nearly 25 coastal cities at risk of excessive flooding due to sinking land and rising sea levels

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Scientists warn dozens of coastal cities are in danger of being washed over by flooding due to rising sea levels – but two dozen are at higher risks.

A team of researchers led by Virginia Tech identified 24 locations that are battling a combination of sinking land and rising sea levels, putting one out of every 50 resident at risk.

Those living along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic seaboard were deemed in the ‘danger zone,’ while Pacific coast residents faced less flood risk and ‘relatively modest, rock coast cliff retreat’ – but are still not out harms way.

Miami, true to past estimates, faces some of the highest risks, the researchers said.

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South Florida’s sun-drenched party city could lose as much as 81,000 homes, coming to a total cost up to $31 billion dollars and risking the lives or wellbeing of as many as 122,000 Miami-area residents: all figures the study called ‘conservative.’

Over 500,000 US citizens across 32 major cities are expected to be displaced by the flooding, due to home property damages that could cost up to $109 billion by 2050. Scientists warned that nearly one foot of rising sea-levels is likely to compound the risk of 'destructive flooding'

Over 500,000 US citizens across 32 major cities are expected to be displaced by the flooding, due to home property damages that could cost up to $109 billion by 2050. Scientists warned that nearly one foot of rising sea-levels is likely to compound the risk of 'destructive flooding'

Over 500,000 US citizens across 32 major cities are expected to be displaced by the flooding, due to home property damages that could cost up to $109 billion by 2050. Scientists warned that nearly one foot of rising sea-levels is likely to compound the risk of ‘destructive flooding’

Along the Atlantic coast, the researchers calculated that as many as 263,000 people across as many as 163,000 properties were at risk of being impacted by rising sea levels across 370 square-miles of dense urban landscape. Above, a flood this January in Edgewater, New Jersey

Along the Atlantic coast, the researchers calculated that as many as 263,000 people across as many as 163,000 properties were at risk of being impacted by rising sea levels across 370 square-miles of dense urban landscape. Above, a flood this January in Edgewater, New Jersey

Along the Atlantic coast, the researchers calculated that as many as 263,000 people across as many as 163,000 properties were at risk of being impacted by rising sea levels across 370 square-miles of dense urban landscape. Above, a flood this January in Edgewater, New Jersey 

The study identified more than 500,000 people in 32 major cities, home to that are expected to be displaced by the flooding, due to home property damages that could cost up to $109 billion by 2050. 

‘One of the challenges we have with communicating the issue of sea-level rise and land subsidence [i.e. land sinking] broadly is it often seems like a long-term problem,’ said the study’s lead author, Virginia Tech geochemist Leonard Ohenhen.

‘Something whose impacts will only manifest at the end of the century, which many people may not care about.’

‘What we’ve done here is focused the picture on the short term,’ Ohenhen noted, ‘just 26 years from now.’

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Three core sets of information were used to inform the new analysis, published this month in the journal Nature. 

First, the scientists measured the sinking of coastal urban landmasses, to miniscule millimeter accuracy, using ‘interferometric synthetic aperture radar’ pointed at the US from aboard the Sentinel-1 A/B and ALOS-1 satellites between 2007 and 2020.

Next, they used this data to develop a ‘relative sea level rise’ adding it to the rate of true sea level rise recorded by high-resolution, ‘light detection and ranging’ (LiDAR) devices managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management uses their LiDAR network, a pulsed laser system that operates similarly to radar, to craft digital elevation models (DEMs) at the border between the land and the ocean.

South Florida 's sun-drenched party city could lose as much as 81,000 homes, coming to a total cost up to $31 billion dollars and risking the lives or wellbeing of as many as 122,000 Miami-area residents: all figures the study called 'conservative'

South Florida 's sun-drenched party city could lose as much as 81,000 homes, coming to a total cost up to $31 billion dollars and risking the lives or wellbeing of as many as 122,000 Miami-area residents: all figures the study called 'conservative'
Above, a yellow Lamborghini dives into Miami floodwaters during a 2020 incident captured by WSVN news

Above, a yellow Lamborghini dives into Miami floodwaters during a 2020 incident captured by WSVN news

South Florida ‘s sun-drenched party city could lose as much as 81,000 homes, coming to a total cost up to $31 billion dollars and risking the lives of as many as 122,000 Miami residents. Above, a yellow Lamborghini dives into Miami floodwaters during a 2020 incident

Above, floodwaters filled with weather-beaten debris soak into a mobile home park in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022, one day after Hurricane Ian made landfall

Above, floodwaters filled with weather-beaten debris soak into a mobile home park in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022, one day after Hurricane Ian made landfall

Above, floodwaters filled with weather-beaten debris soak into a mobile home park in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022, one day after Hurricane Ian made landfall

The research team, led by geochemists at Virginia Tech, calculated the Atlantic's roughly 370 square-miles of at-risk urban landscape (in red above), as well as the at-risk Gulf and Pacific coast regions, using satellite imagery and laser-measured LiDAR

The research team, led by geochemists at Virginia Tech, calculated the Atlantic's roughly 370 square-miles of at-risk urban landscape (in red above), as well as the at-risk Gulf and Pacific coast regions, using satellite imagery and laser-measured LiDAR

The research team, led by geochemists at Virginia Tech, calculated the Atlantic’s roughly 370 square-miles of at-risk urban landscape (in red above), as well as the at-risk Gulf and Pacific coast regions, using satellite imagery and laser-measured LiDAR

Lastly, the authors of the new study pulled in US census data from 2010 to create baseline estimates of the total likely impact of this total or ‘relative’ sea level rise on US city populations and home properties along America’s shorelines.

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Along the Atlantic coast, the researchers calculated that as many as 263,000 people across as many as 163,000 properties were at risk of being impacted across 370 square-miles of dense urban landscape, mostly in Miami. 

The total financial impact on home-values by 2050, the team calculated, ranged up to $64 billion total for the 11 east coast cities they examined.

Along the Gulf coast, cities like New Orleans in Louisiana, Galveston in Texas and nine more metropoles face potentially devastating risks as well. 

Up to 225,000 people at risk of death, displacement or economic hardship as up to 109,000 homes face rising ocean waters, and thus closer proximity to chaotic weather patterns, like increasing hurricanes, produced by rising world temperatures.

The study estimated 319 square-miles of crowded Gulf cityscapes may be at risk. 

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Along the Gulf coast, cities like New Orleans in Louisiana, Galveston in Texas and nine more metropoles face potentially devastating risks as well. The study estimated 319 square-miles of crowded Gulf cityscapes (marked in red above for the 2050 estimates) may be at risk

Along the Gulf coast, cities like New Orleans in Louisiana, Galveston in Texas and nine more metropoles face potentially devastating risks as well. The study estimated 319 square-miles of crowded Gulf cityscapes (marked in red above for the 2050 estimates) may be at risk

Along the Gulf coast, cities like New Orleans in Louisiana, Galveston in Texas and nine more metropoles face potentially devastating risks as well. The study estimated 319 square-miles of crowded Gulf cityscapes (marked in red above for the 2050 estimates) may be at risk

The new study estimates that up to 225,000 people risk of death, displacement or economic hardship near the Gulf (pictured) as up to 109,000 homes face rising ocean waters, and thus closer proximity to chaotic weather, like increasing hurricanes, from rising world temperatures

The new study estimates that up to 225,000 people risk of death, displacement or economic hardship near the Gulf (pictured) as up to 109,000 homes face rising ocean waters, and thus closer proximity to chaotic weather, like increasing hurricanes, from rising world temperatures

The new study estimates that up to 225,000 people risk of death, displacement or economic hardship near the Gulf (pictured) as up to 109,000 homes face rising ocean waters, and thus closer proximity to chaotic weather, like increasing hurricanes, from rising world temperatures

Despite the west coast's reputation for environmental awareness, the ten Pacific coast cities examined by the new study faced significantly less risk than their Atlantic and Gulf analogues. By 2050, no more than 16 square-miles of Pacific homestead faced harm from rising seas

Despite the west coast's reputation for environmental awareness, the ten Pacific coast cities examined by the new study faced significantly less risk than their Atlantic and Gulf analogues. By 2050, no more than 16 square-miles of Pacific homestead faced harm from rising seas

Despite the west coast’s reputation for environmental awareness, the ten Pacific coast cities examined by the new study faced significantly less risk than their Atlantic and Gulf analogues. By 2050, no more than 16 square-miles of Pacific homestead faced harm from rising seas

But, crucially, the team — which also included a planetary scientist from Brown University and researchers from both India and the UK — chose to focus only on damage to homes in their estimates property damage and economic risks.

‘The calculated exposure does not account for the value of critical infrastructure (such as airports, schools, hospitals, power plants, roads and railways),’ they wrote, ‘as well as economic hubs and landmarks.’ 

Their calculations, ranging from billions to tens of billions in local economic damage, as they put it, therefore ‘represents a conservative value.’ 

Ironically, despite the west coast’s vaunted reputation for environmental awareness and legislation, the ten US Pacific coast cities examined by the new study faced significantly less risks than their Atlantic and Gulf counterparts. 

By 2050, no more than 16 square-miles of Pacific urban homestead faced a serious risk from rising seas and the exacerbating role of heavyweight skyscraper sinking.

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Somewhere under 30,000 people and 15,000 home properties are at risk, totally no more than $22 billion in the researchers’ conservative worst case scenario.

Pacific coast residents faced less flood risk but did face a unique risk of 'relatively modest, rock coast cliff retreat,' the new study found. Above, an aerial view of mansions still standing after a powerful storm brought flooding and mudslides to Dana Point, California this February

Pacific coast residents faced less flood risk but did face a unique risk of 'relatively modest, rock coast cliff retreat,' the new study found. Above, an aerial view of mansions still standing after a powerful storm brought flooding and mudslides to Dana Point, California this February

Pacific coast residents faced less flood risk but did face a unique risk of ‘relatively modest, rock coast cliff retreat,’ the new study found. Above, an aerial view of mansions still standing after a powerful storm brought flooding and mudslides to Dana Point, California this February

Across every city in their study, Ohenhen of Virginia Tech noted that the team found economic and ethnic minorities were in the parts of town most at risk from the relative sea level rise.

‘That was the most surprising part of the study,’ Ohenhen said in a statement. 

‘We found that there is racial and economic inequality in those areas in that there was an overrepresentation of historically marginalized groups potentially impacted as well as properties with significantly lower value than the rest of the cities.’ 

The combination of the sea-level dangers and these residents lack of economic resources to cope ‘really multiplies the potential impact to those areas and their abilities to recover from significant flooding,’ Ohenhen said.

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Perhaps most alarmingly, the speed at which sea level is now rising, according to the new study, and other recent investigations, continues to climb faster.

Over the past 100 years, the average or so-called global mean rate of sea level rise hovered up to around 0.07 inches (1.7 millimeters) per year. 

But by the early years of the 21st Century, that rate lept up to 0.12 inches (3.1 mm) per year and is still accelerating.

Today the global mean rate of sea level rise is 0.15 inches (3.7 mm) per year. 

‘Even if climate change mitigation efforts succeed in stabilizing temperature in the future decades,’ the researchers warn in their new report, ‘sea levels will continue to rise as a result of the continuing response of oceans to past warming.’

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In other words, a significant amount of their risk estimates for 2050 may be unavoidable.

Although, as study coauthor Manoochehr Shirzaei noted, their hope is to give these US coastal cities exactly the kind of map they will need to prevent the worst of the likely oncoming tragedies. 

‘The whole purpose of this paper is to provide data to support decisions,’ according to Shirzaei, a geophysicist and associate professor at Virginia Tech’s Earth Observation and Innovation Lab.

‘Every city, every county has a flood resiliency plan in place. They are required by law to create that.’ 

‘But it’s likely nobody has received the entire picture until this study,’ he concluded,  ‘which creates probably the first comprehensive picture of what’s happening in the not-too-distant future.’

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African Union ‘warmly congratulates’ Senegal’s Faye on presidential election win

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The African Union on Friday congratulated anti-establishment opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye on his victory in Senegal’s presidential election and hailed the “unanimous acceptance of the results”.

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In a statement, African Union Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat said he “warmly congratulates” Faye on the official declaration of his first-round win, while wishing him “full success in his weighty and noble charge”.

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According to provisional results, Faye won the first round of the vote outright with 54.3 percent, far ahead of incumbent Macky Sall’s hand-picked candidate, former prime minister Amadou Ba.

Senegal’s Constitutional Court could declare Faye the official winner before the weekend, which would make a handover possible before April 2, the official end of Sall’s term.

Faye, 44, was only freed from prison 10 days before the election, along with his mentor Ousmane Sonko, who was barred from running following a criminal conviction he says was politically motivated.

(AFP)

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Nearly half of young people don’t realise buy now, pay later can get them in debt

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  • More than a third of young people use BNPL products at least once a month
  • They are the second most common form of borrowing among 18-34 year-olds
  • But many don’t realise that they could get into debt by paying in this way 

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Nearly half of people aged between 18 and 34 don’t know that buy now, pay later lenders can add fees for missed payments, research claims.

Some 46 per cent of young people said they were unaware that they could get into debt by using BNPL products, compared with 35 per cent on average. 

The study by lender Creditspring also revealed that BNPL products are now the second most common form of borrowing among the younger generation.

Borrowing: Buy now, pay later products allow users to split payments into instalments, but can see them rack up debt

Borrowing: Buy now, pay later products allow users to split payments into instalments, but can see them rack up debt

Borrowing: Buy now, pay later products allow users to split payments into instalments, but can see them rack up debt

While credit cards are still the most popular form of borrowing for young adults, with 19 per cent taking out these products, 15 per cent of 18 to 34 year-olds said they had taken out BNPL products for the first time since August last year.

This compares with 13 per cent of 35 to 54 year-olds, while among those over 55, only four per cent had started to use these products in the last six months.

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Young people are by far the biggest users of BNPL services, with 36 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds already using these products at least once a month, compared with just 20 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds.

Neil Kadagathur, Creditspring chief executive and co-founder said: ‘The UK is sitting on a ticking BNPL timebomb – millions of young people are unknowingly putting their financial future at risk by piling up BNPL debt.

‘There is a huge knowledge gap when it comes to BNPL – this is driven by lenders who continue to offer a lack of transparency, confusing repayment terms and hidden costs. BNPL lenders need to step up and take responsibility for tackling the misconceptions that still exist about the risks of using these products,’ Kadagathur said.

Buy now, pay later products allow users to take out a loan for a specific purchase, which is then paid back in instalments. Often, these products offer an interest-free loan for an initial period.

However, these products are unregulated, and providers generally don’t run credit checks on users, meaning that those who are already financially vulnerable can find themselves racking up even more debt due to the high interest they are charged if they don’t pay the money back on time.

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The lack of regulation of these products also means that users cannot complain to the Financial Ombudsman with their concerns, something which a massive 88 per cent of young people do not realise.

A fifth of young people, meanwhile, don’t know that BNPL is completely unregulated.

With the onset of the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, BNPL has become an increasingly popular option, especially among younger generations, with products such as Klarna and Clearpay leading the industry.

In many cases though, those using these products are not aware that they are borrowing money in a similar way to using a credit card.

Only 37 per cent of young people say they can meet their BNPL debts without issue, compared with 60 per cent of those between 35 and 54.

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Debt charity StepChange has warned that those with BNPL debts are three times as likely to be in problem debt compared with the average UK adult.

cost of living

StepChange head of communications Simon Trevethick said: ‘Our research reveals a worrying crossover between use of BNPL and financial hardship, but also that BNPL use is becoming much more common. 

‘With living costs stretching household budgets, there’s a concern that people are relying on credit like BNPL to make ends meet, which presents as more of a risk as it’s not regulated in the same way as other types of consumer credit.

‘With BNPL remaining unregulated, there’s a lack of consistency across the sector, meaning affordability checks can be patchy, as can consumer understanding.

‘Younger people who may have less financial experience can be more vulnerable to falling into problem debt after using BNPL – especially as at checkouts it’s not always clear that BNPL is a form of borrowing.’

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Kadagathur added: ‘Regulation of BNPL is absolutely essential, and can’t come soon enough. 

‘Plans to bring the BNPL market to heel have been delayed for far too long, which has led to increased confusion and ultimately punished borrowers. The regulator needs to push through this much-needed legislation as a priority.’

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‘Sorry, you can’t board, off you pop’: Traveller reveals how he was caught out by a post-Brexit passport rule and stopped from flying at the departure gate

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A British traveller has revealed how he was prevented from boarding a flight to France – because of a new post-Brexit passport regulation.

The journey through the airport for Nathan Barnes, who was travelling with his fiancé to visit family in Limoges, was normal enough to begin with. Having checked in online for the flights, he made his way through security without any hiccups.

But the 31-year-old paramedic from Norwich was stopped at the departure gate and told that because his passport was more than 10 years old – despite not having expired yet – he could not fly. 

‘They were very matter of fact about it. They just said, “Sorry, you can’t board, off you pop,”‘ Nathan told the BBC. ‘I was gutted, surprised really. We had checked in online and thought it was fine.’

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The pernickety ’10-year rule’ has been brought in since Britain left the EU – and Nathan isn’t the only one who has fallen victim to it. Here, we’ve explained everything you need to know about this and other surprising passport regulations. Plus, you’ll find some handy travel tips on paying less for renewals and how to avoid scams.

DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT BY EU RULES

When travelling to the EU, British holidaymakers should be aware of the ’10-year rule’, and pay close attention to their passport’s issue date and expiry date

When travelling to the EU, a 10-year British passport is only valid for entry for exactly 10 years after the date of issue, regardless of the date of expiry.

Before September 2018, passport holders could have up to nine months added to their passport expiry date if they renewed their 10-year passport early. Post-Brexit, however, although the official validity of your passport may be beyond 10 years, the EU does not recognise these extra months if your passport is older than 10 years on the date that you enter the EU. On top of this, you must also have at least three months’ validity on your passport beyond the date you intend to leave the EU’s free-movement Schengen territory.

This means visitors must pay careful attention to the issue date and the expiry date.

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For example, if you enter the EU from the UK on April 1, 2024, and return on April 5, 2024, you must have a passport issued less than 10 years before April 1, and that’s valid for at least three months after April 5.

To make sure you aren’t caught out, and for further details on EU passport rules, search for ‘documents you need for travel in Europe’ at home-affairs.ec.europa.eu or visit www.abta.com.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Some holidaymakers have been unable to board their flights and trains due to confusion over EU passport rules  

Always check the specific entry requirements for the country you are visiting on the gov.uk website before travelling – the rules around passport validity vary from country to country.

For instance, while most countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA just need your passport to be valid for the length of your stay, other countries such as China, Thailand, Egypt and Turkey need at least six months. As previously mentioned, you will need at least three months’ validity on your passport from the intended day of departure from the EU.

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COUNT YOUR BLANK PAGES

If your passport is filling up with stamps and there’s hardly any space left, you need to renew it – even if you’ve got several years left on it. This is because some countries can be fussy about passports with filled pages. For instance, Italy and South Africa require at least two full blank pages.

SAVE YOUR CASH

Travellers can apply online or by post to renew their passport - it can take up to three weeks to arrive

Travellers can apply online or by post to renew their passport - it can take up to three weeks to arrive

Travellers can apply online or by post to renew their passport – it can take up to three weeks to arrive 

There’s one simple way to save money when renewing your passport – apply for it online rather than post.

The current fee for a standard online application made from within the UK is £82.50 for adults and £53.50 for children. Postal applications, meanwhile, are £93 for adults and £64 for children. In general, how you choose to renew your passport could end up costing a family of four £40 more than it should.

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However, in April, the cost is due to increase. A standard online application made from within the UK is due to rise to £88.50 for adults and £57.50 for children, while a standard postal application is due to increase to £100 for adults and £69 for children.

These price changes are still subject to parliamentary approval, but if given the green light, they’ll come into force from April 11.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

Your passport will usually be issued within three weeks if you are applying within the UK, but customers are advised to apply in good time before travelling, according to gov.uk.

While it could take longer than three weeks, if the passport office needs more information, customers will be notified within these three weeks.

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SHORT ON TIME?

If travellers are short on time, there are two ways to apply for an urgent passport

If travellers are short on time, there are two ways to apply for an urgent passport

If travellers are short on time, there are two ways to apply for an urgent passport 

There are two ways to apply for an urgent passport. The first is the ‘one-day Premium’ service, in which customers will be asked to book an appointment at their nearest passport office, apply and pay online. They will get their new passport at their appointment.

The second is the one-week’ fast track’ service, customers can book an appointment at their nearest passport office, apply and pay online, and a new passport is delivered to their home within the subsequent seven days, excluding bank holidays. You must act quickly, however, as passport office appointment slots – each lasting around 10 minutes – are snapped up quickly.

The one-day premium service will set you back £193.50 for an adult passport, while the one-week fast track service costs £155 for an adult passport.

If you need a passport to travel urgently for healthcare or because a loved one is seriously ill or has died, it’s recommended that you call the ‘Passport Adviceline’ instead.

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SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR

In April last year, holidaymakers were warned to look out for fraudsters exploiting passport delays caused by industrial action by UK Passport Office workers by offering bogus ‘fast-track’ services.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) warned that scammers were using increasingly sophisticated and convincing methods to trick travellers into paying for non-existent services.

The CTSI said it had seen a number of texts and emails offering speedy passport renewals, warning that victims could lose personal data to fraudsters as well as money.

CTSI chief executive John Herriman said: ‘As always, scammers are quick to leap on any opportunity to take advantage of uncertainty and upheaval. The exploitation of delays brought about by Passport Office strikes is just the latest example of scammers preying on people’s vulnerability.’

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Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: ‘Since we left the EU, the passport validity rules for UK citizens travelling to the EU and Schengen area have changed, and unfortunately a lot of people are getting caught out – sometimes even at the departure gate.

‘If you are in the process of booking a holiday, or are due to travel soon, make sure you check your passport as soon as possible, as there are two rules you need to bear in mind. You must have at least three months left on your passport when you plan to leave the EU, and crucially, when you enter, your passport must have been issued in the past ten years.

‘If you get caught out when you’re due to fly your options are sadly very limited, and it could prove to be a costly mistake, as travel insurance won’t cover you. If you realise shortly before your departure date, you might be able to get a last-minute priority passport appointment – but these are expensive, and there’s no guarantee your local office will have availability. You’ll also need to consider the costs of rebooking flights, and potentially accommodation and car hire as well.’

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