Bolton Councillors elected Labour Cllr Akhtar Zaman to be their new leader yesterday (May 20), after the recent local elections left Bolton leaderless.
Votes for Cllr Zaman came from within Labour itself – who still have 20 seats – from the Liberal Democrats, and from the Horwich and Blackrod First and other independents.
Councillor Akhtar Zaman as Leader of the Labour Group, with Councillor Martyn Donaghy (Image: Bolton Labour)
Cllr Leader Zaman addressed the chamber: “Never did I believe that I would be leader of this great town – to me Bolton is the most beautiful place on the earth.
“I would like to say thank you to Nick Peel, a man of incredible talents.
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“I came to this town over forty years ago with absolutely nothing, and this town took me in and gave me everything I have today.
“This is the reason why I stand in front of you all.
“I got involved in politics when I was in the voluntary sector 30 years ago.
Cllr Nadim Muslim stood against Cllr Zaman (Image: Cllr Nadim Muslim)
“We are going to continue the work we began in 2023 to regenerate our town.
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“We will work for a greener, cleaner, and safer borough, where diverse communities live in peace and harmony.
“My door will always be open to anyone who wants to make Bolton better.”
Standing against Cllr Zaman was the leader of the Bolton Conservatives, Cllr Nadim Muslim.
Conservative Cllr Fairclough said: “Throughout our time in power we believed fairness mattered more than political control.
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“Since Labour have returned to power, much of that spirit has been eroded.
Cllr Hilary Fairclough, seen here when she was elected Mayor in 2019 (Image: Martini)
“Today, I ask all parties to consider this – do you want every ward treated equally, and do you want a leader who will unite us rather than divide us?
“If the answer is yes, I urge you to vote for Nadim Muslim.”
Cllr David Grant, of the Horwich and Blackrod First independents, said: “We found out that Cllr Muslim wanted to be leader about an hour ago. We’ve had no discussion, no talks, we don’t know what his policies are.
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“I will be supporting Cllr Zaman as leader of the council.”
Cllr David Grant (Image: Horwich Town Council)
But Cllr Muslim fired back: “We did meet the leader of HBFI so to say we never met is not strictly true.
“I think it’s very brave considering there is a by-election coming up in Horwich.
“All HBFI are doing is propping up the Labour party, which usually means higher taxes.”
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Despite the back-and-forth, Cllr Zaman was elected by a broad coalition of Labour, Lib Dem, and independent MPs.
Several councillors, including all of Bolton’s Green Party councillors, abstained from voting.
Cllr Martyn Cox (Image: Public)
More surprising was the election of Conservative Cllr Andrew Morgan to be the head of Bolton’s planning department, beating out Labour’s candidate for the position, Cllr Emily Mort.
Conservative Cllr Martyn Cox said: “Cllr Cox: “If you abstain from voting for Cllr Morgan, you are voting for Labour.
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“Everybody who knows Cllr Morgan is the right person for this role.
“This is not the time to abstain – if you abstain, you’re voting for Labour.”
Tory Cllr Anne Galloway seconded the motion.
Cllr Grant, of the Horwich and Blackrod first independents, also voted for Cllr Morgan.
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Cllr Grant said: “Our group is not whipped so they can make their own minds up.
“My thoughts are – we do need strong leadership on that committee.
“For me, I’m actually in agreement with Cllr Muslim – I’m sure it’s going to be one of the very few times this year.
Cllr Andrew Morgan (Image: Bolton Council)
“I will be voting for Cllr Morgan.”
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Despite speeches from Labour Cllrs John McHugh and newly-elected council leader Cllr Zaman, Cllr Morgan won the vote, and was elected leader of the Bolton Planning Committee.
He did this with a broad range of votes from Conservative, Green, Reform, and independent councillors.
Bolton’s 2026/27 constitution was also approved in a unanimous vote.
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Sun moves into Gemini, aligning with Uranus, bringing you firmly into the here and now. Focus on the present, rather than reflecting or anticipating.
Virgo, Aquarius and Taurus, your social and professional sectors are buzzing with excitement. The fruits of recent endeavours are starting to appear.
Don’t turn introspective today; look outwards at your surroundings. Rather than considering the way you fit into your environment, feel it.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Thursday May 21, 2026.
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Aries
March 21 to April 20
The pace of life can accelerate, and if you are someone who thrives on tackling word teasers, quizzes, or sudoku, this can be prime time for you to showcase your mental dexterity. Practical matters have dominated over the last four weeks, so this cerebral gear shift can be just what you need to spark new enthusiasm and bright and buzzy interactions with others.
If you’ve been enjoying new pursuits and interests recently, you can now review and appreciate just how much progress you’ve made. Things can shape up in a more structured and meaningful way, and you could even see an increase in your income. Being an earth sign, you have an appreciation of tangible results, and these can now start to show up for you.
The Sun returns to back to your sign after an 11-month absence. It’s a time of freshness and revitalisation, but also, after a period of introspection, you can move more into the moment. Your physical vitality will increase, as will your enthusiasm for life. You can also inject more drive into any ongoing strands that are important to you, Gemini, or instigate new projects.
Ever since the restless Uranus moved into airy Gemini a month ago, you’ve likely experienced lots of interesting insights and had some powerful inner realisations. With the Sun joining up with him now, you enter your annual period of reflection. Your openness to different forms of healing will grow from now, and so will the part of you that likes solitude.
New and interesting people have caught your imagination recently, and you may have spent more time socialising with those who, in the past, may not have appealed. With the Sun also moving into this most sociable of areas, joining Uranus, which sparked this, the desire to bring extra meaning and stimulation to your network is going to increase further, Leo.
You have a fabulous opportunity over the next four weeks to raise your profile and to achieve greater recognition. Look to showcase your talents at every turn. You often work patiently behind the scenes, but your star quality is set to glow magnificently and if you’ve been thinking about changing jobs, this is a great time to really get purposeful about this, Virgo.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Although you can be very attuned to your interactions with others, the Sun’s arrival in your sister air sign of Gemini is pushing you to be much more independent-minded from now on. If there are interests you’d like to pursue that would allow you to be more adventurous and expansive, they can give you a real sense of exhilaration. Don’t believe anything is out of reach.
Your gift is for teasing out the meaning of situations, even if they’re not immediately obvious. With the Sun moving into the chatty Gemini, you could have some bubbly conversations over the next month, but you’ll be deciphering what people’s true motivations are. Through these exchanges, you can learn or evolve at a deeper, more psychological, but profound level.
You may have had some surprising experiences recently, as your curiosity has drawn you towards different types of people and some stimulating conversations. But if you want to create greater harmony in any kind of relationship, the Sun’s warming encouragement can help your progress for the next month. You may feel also more open to others’ viewpoints.
Today is a great opportunity to conduct an in-depth lifestyle audit. Even if you feel that you’re organised, virtuous in what you eat and drink, or the amount of exercise you get, the chances are that if you do this, you will tease out some other opportunities to make some small but important incremental changes. Achieving such marginal gains can prove satisfying and helpful.
You move from a time when home, family, and emotional priorities have dominated to a much more social, interactive, and even playful period. And this is also a fabulous time for you to showcase your charisma and personality-power. People who encounter you now can find your ideas and persona captivating. Accept invitations and dive into the social whirl!
The chances are you’ve been so busy recently, Pisces, it’s been hard to catch your breath. So, the Sun’s arrival and passage for the next month through a calmer part of his journey is urging you to pause and take stock of recent developments. If some domestic chores have been neglected, this is also a good opportunity to address them. A family meet-up can also appeal.
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Lifeboat volunteers were scrambled after a campervan plunged into the water at Kylerhea Narrows
A lifeboat crew was called out after a campervan crashed off a slipway and into the sea on the Isle of Skye. Volunteers from RNLI in Kyle of Lochalsh launched on Wednesday morning.
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Emergency services received multiple reports of a vehicle entering the water at Kylerhea Narrows — an area known for its powerful currents. The lifeboat launched at around 11.40am and reached the scene within 10 minutes, where crews found the white campervan lying on its side in the water beside the slipway.
Crew members immediately checked the vehicle to ensure nobody was trapped inside and to assess whether anyone had been injured. The sole occupant and their three dogs safely made it ashore.
The lifeboat team remained at the scene to ensure there was no ongoing danger before liaising with the relevant authorities. The crew was later stood down by the Coastguard and returned to base shortly after 12.30pm, where the boat was washed down, refuelled and prepared for service again.
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Norman Finlayson, helm at the Kyle RNLI station, said: “The emergency services received multiple reports of a campervan having entered the water in the Kylerhea narrows area, which is a stretch of water with extremely strong currents.
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“We launched as quickly as possible, and when we arrived on scene, were glad to see that there was nobody trapped inside the vehicle, and the occupant and his three dogs were safely ashore.”
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Richard Bell, Conservative councillor for Upper Teesdale, said the region’s police resources and accountability will be impacted by the changes proposed by the Government.
Cllr Bell said: “Does Cabinet share my concerns that Government proposals for huge regional police forces will mean County Durham losing out both in terms of police resources and accountability?”
(Image: Contributor)
Durham County Council said the Government’s reforms are “worrying” and condemned the plans, which also suggest combining police forces to cover larger areas.
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Kyle Genner, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, environment and police relations, said: “Our view is that policing should remain local, and that governance and accountability should too.
“A return to something like the former police authority might represent the most effective solution to filling the void left.”
Responding to the proposals, the local authority said locally elected members should play a key part in any decisions on the future policing structure.
The Government said the PCC role, introduced in November 2012, had not worked, with the public having little awareness of who their PCC is, and is showing little sign in improving confidence in police.
“This is yet another ill-thought-through proposal from a government that has consistently demonstrated its complete lack of understanding of policing and community safety,” she said.
The regional role currently oversees the work of Durham Constabulary, which covers County Durham and Darlington.
PCCs are elected officials whose job is to help ensure police forces function effectively, but not to run those forces themselves. They hold police forces to account and scrutinise their performances on behalf of the public.
In the afternoon, Ben-Gvir – an ultra-nationalist who, as national security minister, oversees Israel’s police force – posted a video on social media, captioned “Welcome to Israel”. It showed him visiting a detention facility at the port of Ashdod where the activists are being held.
In the recent king’s speech, King Charles outlined a series of UK government proposals, including plans to move forward with digital identity through the digital access to services bill.
The government says the scheme is designed to modernise access to public services, allowing people to verify who they are more quickly and securely. The proposal is voluntary. But after last September’s politically bruising debate over compulsory national ID cards, digital identity may once again become a contentious issue.
Digital IDs are electronic forms of identification used instead of paper documents. They are typically accessed through smartphones or smartcards. Finland became the first country to introduce a national electronic identity card in 1999, and over 130 countries have since rolled out some form of digital ID system.
The UK has revisited the idea repeatedly. In 2006, the Labour party’s attempt to introduce an identity card scheme collapsed amid concerns over cost, privacy and state surveillance. Despite the political failure of that project, the UK has steadily moved towards a digital-first approach in everyday life.
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That’s something that is often overlooked in debates around identity systems. Outside a few areas such as international travel and right-to-work checks, online identification has become increasingly common. People already use apps to access banking, healthcare, transport and government services.
The pandemic also accelerated expectations around digital access to services. People increasingly expect interactions with government to mirror the convenience offered by organisations like banks and streaming platforms. They want services to be accessible on demand, on the device of their choosing, with updates and progress tracking built in.
Government figures suggest 93% of UK adults now own a smartphone. A recent report found that 90% of adults under 65 use smartphones daily. Even among over-65s, usage stood at 76%, suggesting digital technology is now embedded across generations.
The proposed digital ID scheme would store basic identifying information, like name, date of birth, nationality or residency status and a photo. This would be accessible through a smartphone.
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With the introduction of GOV.UK wallet (which will let people save documents like a driving licence, veteran’s card or certain qualifications to their phone) in 2027, it’s possible that convenience could play a role in public acceptance of the idea.
Drawbacks
Some of the objections that haunted earlier ID card proposals have not disappeared, however. Critics of compulsory digital IDs have warned about threats to civil liberties and the potential expansion of state monitoring. While the new scheme is voluntary, campaigners argue that voluntary systems can gradually become unavoidable in practice.
The Digital Poverty Alliance charity has warned that digital ID could deepen existing inequality if access to services increasingly depends on smartphones or online verification. Elizabeth Anderson, the organisation’s chief executive, has argued that when public and private services begin relying on digital ID systems, offline alternatives can become “slow, complex, or difficult to access”.
That concern reflects a broader issue of digital inequality in the UK. Around 2.4 million households can’t afford their mobile phone contracts, including having to cancel or change services and missing payments. Also, more than 1.5 million people don’t own a smartphone. So, as digital ID becomes more widely adopted, the pressure to improve digital access and literacy will only grow.
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The politics surrounding identity cards have also changed. Public concern over illegal immigration and small boat crossings has increased pressure on the government to appear decisive. In September 2025, Keir Starmer’s proposal for compulsory ID cards was presented by supporters as a tougher approach to immigration control.
A protest against digital ID in London in December 2025. Donovan Elmes/Shutterstock
But the backlash was swift. Critics questioned whether compulsory ID cards would reduce illegal immigration, and warned about issues with privacy, surveillance and government overreach. A petition opposing the proposal attracted millions of signatures, which may have contributed to the government’s eventual retreat towards the voluntary model now being proposed.
That may prove politically safer. But the debate is unlikely to disappear.
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Supporters see digital ID as a practical modernisation of public services and identity verification. Critics fear a gradual drift towards a society in which proving who you are becomes a routine requirement for everyday life.
So, the central issues remain unresolved. With Starmer already facing political pressure on several fronts, digital identity may become yet another divisive battleground.
I’m sure Wolverine will be the focus but I also expect to see Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, something God Of War related, and probably the Marvel fighting game. There’s surely got to be something new though and that’s what I’m most excited about.
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Now that Bluepoint are no more we’ve kind of lost our prime candidate for a developer that hasn’t done anything for a while, but there’s always the Days Gone team and the Astro Boy lot. I just really hope we get some kind of IP but, if I’m honest, I think the most likely reveal is for a new Uncharted.
I’m not against that idea but I think Naughty Dog were probably right to get out when they did and that it’s going to be very difficult to do anything new with the concept. Focus
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Quiet megaton This fashion for boring game announcements is really getting me down. GC were one of the first to point it out, with Sony being one of the worst for it, but now everyone seems to think just putting out a tweet is all you need to do to announce a game. How far we have come from E3.
That was quite the megaton annoucement Warhorse had, with a new Kingdom Come and a big, open world Lord of the Rings game and… I felt absolutely nothing finding out about it. Because I was told and shown absolutely nothing and the developer couldn’t be bothered to make it seem exciting.
I’m especially interested to see if the Lord of the Rings game covers the events of the books/films or if it is going to be set in a different age of Middle-earth. I don’t really mind either, as long as it’s good, which I would very much expect from Warhorse. Just please give us a trailer, or something, to latch onto next time. Qwos
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Three-way fight So now we’ve got all three console manufacturers lined up for showcases this summer, even if the Nintendo Direct one is still a rumour. Gaming always benefits from when Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are competing, and since all three of them are vulnerable, in different ways, at the moment, I find that very encouraging.
I’m not going to try and guess exactly what they’ll show, in terms of anything brand new, but I would have thought that all of them realise they’ve got to make an effort this year. That’ll mean lots of talk about who has ‘won’ E3 or not-E3 or whatever we call it now, which is great for the one that comes out on top.
I think that’s a good thing. If Sony in particular realise they can end up looking worse than both then I think that’s the best way to motivate them to make an effort. Korbie
Arcade perfect What an interesting letter from Tim Keeling, about needing to repair coin-op arcade games, and what a cool hobby to have. Regarding video game cabinets, I would have assumed that they were tough simply because any object left in the hands of the public would automatically receive rough treatment. Just imagine all of those wrenched joysticks and those buttons mashed in frustration.
Back in the arcade days, I vaguely remember seeing somebody playing a Track & Field cabinet with a couple of ping pong balls attached to their palm, so they could work the buttons faster.
Good to hear that Tim has a Defender cabinet. The Star Wars game, especially the cockpit version, was indeed great but Defender had everything for me. The game was exciting to play and offered cool visuals, plus nothing else sounded like it. That cabinet sounded mean.
My least favourite game in the arcades was probably Dragon’s Lair, which was expensive to play and just a series of quick time events. There were better Laserdisc arcade games. I remember enjoying the Mach 3 cabinet a lot.
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Consoles are neat and convenient, but it must be great to have several full-sized arcade cabinets in your home. Although it sounds like the machines need a lot of upkeep. Michael Veal
Out of time I don’t believe for a second that we’ll ever see a new Deus Ex or TimeSplitters games. Who is going to make them for a start, given what Embracer has already done to those developers? And when are they going to come out? A good game costs at least five years to make nowadays and a new Deus Ex would definitely need that and more.
So this would be a next gen game? I’ll be honest, I don’t see Embracer lasting that long, unless they decide to make it with AI or some nonsense. I’m just waiting for the first company to try that and I actually encourage it, because hopefully it’ll put everyone off it so much that we’ll never have to live with the fear again and they can stop laying everyone off every five minutes. Lentz
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Quickly forgotten Now Forza Horizon 6 is out on Game Pass I’ve been having a go and enjoying it a lot more than Forza Horizon 5. I’ve got up to the first showcase and that immediately made up for the lacklustre offerings from its predecessor.
In the run up to Forza coming out I was discussing with some people other arcade racers and the dwindling options.
Split/Second: Velocity was fondly recalled, alongside the stupidity of the release dates with Blur that ruined both their chances.
Fortunately, Microsoft’s approach to backwards compatibility meant that I could dig out my copy of Split/Second on the weekend and have a good go on it.
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It still holds up pleasingly well. The graphics are still pretty decent, although I’m less keen on that yellowy sheen that reminds me of the first season of 24 for some reason.
The central gimmick of triggering various explosions and catastrophes around the tracks, like scenes in an action movie remains a delight. The risk/reward of immediately hobbling an opponent or saving for a large three charge to scupper multiple racers or dramatically alter the course is wonderful.
There is some egregious rubber banding though, and a track map would help too, but overall I think it’d be popular if it got a re-release, even without a remake/remaster overhaul.
Sadly though, Disney dipped out of making games shortly after it came out and it’s unlikely to see a sequel. But I would love to see another developer do something similar, maybe we could get a much-needed new Burnout and include the spectacular over the-top-chaos of Split/Second. Euclidian Boxes
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Studio sequel For anyone who, like me, was a little disappointed by Saros, at least in terms of anything that wasn’t the gameplay, the director of Returnal has set up his own company. I think him having left was why Saros didn’t hit quite the same spot in a lot of ways.
Not sure from their annoucement what sort of budget their first game will be getting, but if it’s relatively low we might be something from them sooner rather than later. Johnson
Today we officially step out of the void.At Cosmic Division, we create uncompromising gameplay experiences that resonate with players long after the credits roll. Our journey of cosmic wonder begins now, as we venture beyond the veil. Stay tuned.#EmbraceTheBeyondpic.twitter.com/hWkazizxOX
Whale bait I’m highly suspicious of the Nex Playground – it smacks of a product designed to convince Microsoft or some other tech big hitter to buy the company and give the owner a job and some stock options, before leaving to set up a new company so they can sell it to a big hitter, in order to get a job…
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From reading Cory Doctorow’s book, Ens***tification (don’t know if you can print that), earlier this year it seems that the whole modern tech industry is built on that merry-go-round.
I can’t put my finger on why I doubt them so much. Maybe the fact you have to subscribe if you want more than five games, and can’t simply buy them. But so many things are subscription-based now when it should just be a one-time purchase, so there must be more red flags in there for me.
Mark my words though: Microsoft will buy that tech soon, they’ll close the service, and everyone who forked out hundreds of hard-earned coins will end up with an expensive plastic box.
Maybe it will be used for Kinect 2.0 on the Xbox HAL. FoximusPrime81
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Inbox also-rans If Fable looks as good and plays as well as Forza Horizon 6 we are in for a real treat. Dirtystopout
GC: It’ll almost certainly have better combat.
I wonder if From’s next game will end up being another Amored Core. It doesn’t seem that long since the last one but it seems more plausible than having a big scale game, like Elden Ring, and The Duskbloods on the go at the same time. Smithers
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American Airlines pilot Captain Steve has revealed why passengers are sometimes instructed to fully switch off their electronic devices rather than just place them into Airplane Mode
Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
01:07, 21 May 2026
If you’ve previously flown by plane, you’ve probably heard cabin crew staff or the captain telling you to switch off your mobile devices. While many remain doubtful about the importance of this guidance, an airline pilot has clarified why passengers receive these instructions occasionally.
American Airlines’ Captain Steve (recognised on social media as @CaptainSteeeve) posted on TikTok responding to one of his followers who questioned why she’d recently been instructed to switch her mobile phone off entirely rather than simply activating Airplane Mode. “There’s a good reason for that,” the pilot replied.
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He expanded on the situation: “If you are in bad weather and you are going down to minimums, many of their airlines have in their operating procedures to make a PA that you are turn everything off in the back of the plane.”
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But what’s the reasoning? “It’s so there isn’t any possibility that there’s any sort of interference with the navigation equipment,” Captain Steve highlighted.
Regarding activating Airplane Mode, he noted this advice originated in the 1990s when mobile phones started becoming widely owned.
“Back then they did some tests and there was some indication that all of those devices in the back of the aeroplane – that long metal tube you’re in – could cause some interference to the navigation,” Captain Steve explained.
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However, he proceeded to suggest that above 10,000 feet it’s “not really that big of a deal”, while at lower altitudes during landing preparations, the situation differs considerably.
“You want to be lined up precisely on that runway and if you’re in bad weather and can’t see out until the last second when the plane is about to touch down, you don’t want to have a surprise when you break out from the clouds,” Captain Steve elaborated.
Consequently, it is crucial for pilots to minimise any interference with their navigation equipment.
“So when the weather is bad, let’s say they are going to do an auto-land – what’s called a ‘cat 3 landing’ – into fog or bad weather, the pilot may come on and say, ‘Folks, I need you to turn everything off’,” the pilot added.
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He concluded by emphasising: “If you hear that on the PA from the captain, absolutely go and turn everything off. It’s very important that you do that.”
Responding to the video, one TikTok user remarked: “The sad thing about all this is that we’re depending on all the rest of the people in that aircraft to actually do the right thing and listen that’s scary.”
Another individual highlighted: “If my $400 iPad can interfere with the avionics and control systems of your $170M aircraft… that’s a problem. They probably can’t, but just the fact that it’s a consideration is a problem.”
A third commenter, however, remained unconvinced. “The early analogue phones caused interference occasionally,” they wrote. “The new digital smart phones cause zero interference.”
Ebola is a highly contagious disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, which frequently causes fatal haemorrhagic fever, rapid multi-organ failure and internal or external bleeding
Screening has started at a major US airport after an outbreak of the highly contagious Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.
This comes just days after the CDC said any US passport holder who has visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the past three weeks will be barred from entering the country. The ban will last for at least 30 days, according to an order issued by the CDC on Monday.
Ebola is a highly contagious disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. It frequently causes fatal haemorrhagic fever, rapid multi-organ failure and internal or external bleeding.
“Ebola is one of the most infectious diseases out there. I’m not an alarmist, but I’m very concerned,” said CEO of Wellness Equity Alliance, Dr Tyler Evans.
Ebola cases are continuing to spread across parts of East and Central Africa and the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
At least six Americans are reported to have been exposed to Ebola.
An American doctor who contracted Ebola in the DRC has been flown to Germany for treatment, along with his wife and four children, as the World Health Organization warned of the “scale and speed” of the outbreak.
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Federal health officials have said that the screening process at the busy O’Hare airport is intended to prevent the virus from entering the US.
People who have travelled through Uganda, the DRC or South Sudan within the last 21 days are being denied entry unless they are US citizens or permanent residents. Returning citizens and permanent residents arriving from those countries have to undergo additional screening measures at the airport.
Officials are checking travellers’ temperatures, enquiring about potential exposure and collect contact-tracing information.
Those who show symptoms or have a fever will be taken to a quarantine station at the airport for a second evaluation.
If cleared, the traveller will be given a care kit with instructions to monitor their temperature twice a day for the next three weeks.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he is concerned about the Ebola outbreak.
When asked by a reporter about his concerns over the virus, Trump responded: “[I] certainly am.
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“I think that it’s been confined right now to Africa, but its something that has had a breakout.”
The MPs went on to note: “The burden of higher standing charges is particularly acute for Scotland’s remote and island communities, who also experience higher levels of fuel poverty and, in many cases, are bearing the brunt of the infrastructure required to deliver UK-wide clean power ambitions.
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