United Kingdom

Amazing what they can achieve when they've got the motivation to do it eh?

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has told Liberation Times that they have no knowledge of crash retrieval programs relating to material of “unexplained origin”.

The MoD's denial comes after allegations of potential Five Eyes Alliance involvement in crash retrieval and reverse engineering programs relating to materials and craft of non-human intelligence.

Last week at a Congressional Hearing, former senior intelligence official David Grusch alleged under oath that such rogue programs exist without democratic oversight. His allegations have been found credible and urgent by the US Intelligence Community's Inspector General.

Speaking last night on the UK’s BBC Radio 4 and when asked whether this alleged coverup extends to other nations, Grusch responded:

"It does cross into other countries and other allies to include the Five Eyes alliance, which is something I've already stated publicly. “

cross-posted from: https://yiffit.net/post/860162

After years spent pursuing a career in game development, Italian coder Luca Galante had given up. Uprooting himself from a comfortable life in Rome, he flew to England in the hope of finally making his childhood dream a reality. Yet after countless rejected job applications, Galante found himself flipping Big Macs in Thornton Heath McDonald’s. Dejected, he gave up on his digital dream, leaving what he says might be “the worst McDonald’s in the UK” to code slot machines for a gambling company. Now, 10 years and one bedroom-made game later, Galante is the proud owner of two Baftas.

Archived version: https://archive.ph/RYbQn

Selling pick 'n' mix, stationery and even garden tools: Wilko has styled itself as a budget UK homeware chain for over ninety years.

With 400 stores across the UK, is well-known for its affordable everyday items.

But the High Street stalwart has warned that it is on the brink of collapse, putting some 12,000 jobs at risk.

Alex, a communications professional who lives in Wimbledon in London, says he'd be "gutted" if Wilkos disappears altogether.

"It's where I get my pick 'n' mix before the cinema. I always find it great value, and really good on stuff like detergent," he said.

It is also seen as a one-stop-shop for Christmas paraphernalia, famed for its low-priced tinsel and wrapping paper.

The cut-price shop was founded in 1930 when JK Wilkinson opened his first store in Leicester. Then, it was called Wilkinson Cash stores and by 1939 a total of nine stores were opened.

It expanded across the Midlands initially and by the 1990s became one of Britain's fastest-growing retailers.

James, a construction professional, remembers the first Wilko store in Leeds: "My dad loved it - a brilliant location at the Arndale Centre in Headingley. It sold such a wide range of things, all in the same place."

He added: "At Christmas for example, the tinsel and wrapping paper are good value".

In 2012, Wilkinson began rebranding its stores as Wilko, after its own-brand products marketed under the Wilko name. By 2014, most stores had emblazoned the new name on storefronts.

Woolworths gap

Although the brand is beloved by Brits, Richard Lim, boss of the Retail Economics consultancy, said: "Sadly, sentiment doesn't ensure commercial success."

Stephen from Hebburn says it doesn't have everything he wants.

"We only go in for specific items. It's good for washing up powder. It's not what it was, I don't think," he said.

Wilko stepped into the High Street gap left by the collapse of Woolworths in late 2008, but has struggled over the last decade in part owing to more competition. The likes of Poundland and B&M have meant it has had to share its traditional customer base.

Wilko's sales were larger than B&M's a decade ago, but now they are one-third of its competitor's. Its sales have also fallen below Poundland, Home Bargains, and The Range.

Many commentators on social media have pointed out that B&M and Home Bargains seem to have a lot of the same or very similar stuff at notably lower prices.

Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth said the current cost of living crisis should have been the time for Wilko to shine. Soaring prices have meant that many shoppers are looking for a bargain, but she says its customers have been going to rivals instead.

Ms Shuttleworth added: "I don't think we'll see Wilko disappear from the High Street, because it's such a well-loved brand and shoppers hold it in high regard.

"But, it could look very different in the future."

Too many stores?

The discount chain has 408 stores across the UK, many of them in High Street locations in traditional town centres.

While these locations are convenient for shoppers without cars, since the pandemic there's been a shift to bigger retail parks and out-of-town options with more space.

But some customers feel Wilko is one of the last bastions holding on amidst a decline of the High Street.

A shopper from Kingston upon Thames told the BBC that she would be "very upset" if the town lost its Wilko store.

"I use it weekly for gardening items especially - but also toiletries and cleaning supplies.

"It's a bit like the old Woolworths and it would be a huge loss - no everyone likes online shopping," she said.

Charles Allen, retail analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, says that the locations of Wilko stores have been a bit of a turn-off for some customers.

"B&M, for example, has thrived with a similar but perhaps slightly more relevant assortment that appeals to today's consumers.

"B&M has also moved many of its locations to retail parks which are more convenient for many consumers, especially when they are buying bulky goods."

Empty shelves

Wilko has already borrowed £40m from the restructuring specialist Hilco, cut jobs, rejigged its leadership team and sold off a distribution centre as it faced a cash squeeze after falling to a loss.

Shoppers have noticed gaps on shelves after Wilko struggled to pay suppliers and at least one credit insurer withdrew trade cover, prompting some companies to pause deliveries.

Richard Lim added: "It meant that they didn't have the cash to stump up for products... and it turns the retail business on its head."

In this instance it looks like the chain might not have had deep enough pockets to get through another tough trading period - after a pandemic and a cost of living crunch.

Full report: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/265376/media-nations-report-2023.pdf

Archived version: https://archive.ph/MCwCy

Low-level offenders have dodged more than 16 million hours of unpaid work since 2010 - at a cost of £150m to the taxpayer, new figures obtained by Sky News show.

Statistics from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reveal that the number of community sentences has dropped by nearly two-thirds from 189,333 in 2010 to just 68,994 in 2022.

They also found that nearly a third of offenders who are given community sentences re-offend - including 23,415 in the last year alone.

The Labour Party, which highlighted the figures, said the figures showed victims of crimes including noise nuisance, verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, vandalism and criminal damage were going "unpunished" by the government.

It said it will allow victims of anti-social behaviour to pick the punishments meted out to offenders if it forms the next government, using community and victim payback boards to enforce community sentences.

Removing graffiti, repairing vandalism, building maintenance, environmental preservation programmes, clearing wasteland, decorating community centres and repairing churches are among the punishments that could be given out.

Labour's shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said the statistics showed the Conservatives are "failing to punish anti-social thugs".

"No wonder communities feel frustrated and powerless as they watch their neighbourhoods spiral downwards into crime," he said.

"Labour is the party of law and order. We will introduce payback boards to allow communities to decide how anti-social behaviour is punished. That's how we will prevent crime, punish criminals and protect communities."

As part of its plan to tackle crime - which is shaping up to be a key battleground at the next election - Labour has vowed to introduce a neighbourhood policing guarantee that will see 13,000 additional neighbourhood police and police community support officers on the streets, as well as increased town centre patrols and a guaranteed named officer and for every community.

It will also introduce fixed penalty cleaning notices for fly-tippers and create a new criminal offence aimed at adults who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour.

In March, Rishi Sunak outlined new plans that will see people convicted of anti-social behaviour forced to repair the damage they have caused within two days of being told their punishment.

The scheme will be piloted in 10 areas before a rollout across England and Wales next year.

The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.

The Channel Tunnel could, finally, be on the cusp of an open-access market challenge. There have been false dawns and false starts, but thirty years after its opening, le Tunnel sous la Manche is about to burst into open competition. The Eurostar monopoly for the potentially lucrative London and Paris trade faces a challenge from a name that will be familiar to British readers: National Express.