BBC Radio Kent featured an article on Friday morning on an invasive species which is present in large numbers in the River Thames. The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir Sinensis) is a large, invasive species of crab that is native to East Asia. It was first recorded in the UK in the River Thames at Crossness in 1935, and is now well-established in the river and other waterways across the country. It is thought to have arrived in the UK in ballast water, which is the water that is used to stabilise ships when they are empty. Chinese mitten crabs are now well-established in the Thames and other rivers in the UK, and they are considered to be one of the most damaging invasive species in the country. Chinese mitten crabs are easily identifiable by their furry claws and squarish body. They can grow up to 10cm wide and weigh up to 500g. The crabs are aggressive, omnivorous and feed on a variety of animals and plants, including fish, molluscs, worms, and algae. Chinese mitten crabs are a problem because they are an invasive species. This means that they have no natural predators in the UK, and they can out compete native species for food and habitat. The crabs can also damage river banks by burrowing into them. In the River Thames, Chinese mitten crabs have been known to damage fishing gear and block water intakes. They can also pose a risk to human health, as they can carry parasites that can cause food poisoning; they can also carry a parasite that can cause lungworm disease in humans. Lungworm disease is a rare but serious condition that can lead to coughing, difficulty breathing, and even death. There are a number of things that can be done to control the spread of Chinese mitten crabs. One is to trap the crabs and remove them from the water. Another is to educate the public about the crabs and encourage them to report any sightings to the authorities. The UK government is working with a number of organisations to control the spread of Chinese mitten crabs. If you see a Chinese mitten crab in the River Thames, please report it to the Environment Agency. You can do this by calling 0800 80 70 60 or by visiting the Environment Agency website. It is also important not to release the crab back into the water. If you catch a crab, you can kill it by placing it in the freezer for at least 24 hours. Chinese mitten crabs are edible and are considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. However, it is important to note that the crabs can carry parasites that can cause food poisoning as previously mentioned - so putting one in the freezer with your food to kill it may actually be not such a good idea after all. If you choose to eat Chinese mitten crabs, it is important to cook them thoroughly. The UK government advises against eating Chinese mitten crabs.
Following the recent announcement by Dartford Borough Council that the Orchard Theatre may be closed for up to a year, following the discovery of RAAC concrete in the building's main structure and roof, a temporary theatre is to open to host event whilst the main theatre is closed for remedial engineering works. The following announcement was published on Friday:- "Orchard West - a new state-of-the-art temporary 1000 seat venue has been confirmed. Together with Dartford Borough Council, we are pleased to confirm a new state-of-the-art temporary theatre venue will open later this year and ahead of our annual pantomime. The new venue will be called the Orchard West and will operate for the duration of the closure of the Orchard Theatre. Located just a few minutes-walk from the Orchard Theatre, our temporary home will be complete with comfortable seating, heating and cooling systems and full front-of-house and backstage facilities and will provide a high-quality theatre going experience. We are now confirming our opening date, transferring shows and arranging seat transfers and kindly ask ticket holders for future events to wait to be contacted by the theatre team who will be in touch with further details and options as these become clear. In the meantime, pantomime tickets can be booked online. Dartford Borough Council says “The shows will go on” as it confirms 1,000 seat temporary venue yards from The Orchard Theatre during essential works. Council Leader Jeremy Kite and Trafalgar Theatres Chief Executive Helen Enright have confirmed a new temporary venue, Orchard West, will open later this year - and in time for panto season! The temporary state-of-the-art theatre will operate for the duration of the closure of the town’s theatre for essential works and provide a high-quality, comfortable theatre-going experience. Located just yards from the existing theatre, Orchard West will help to protect jobs and businesses within the local economy. Dartford Borough Council (DBC) and Trafalgar Theatres are set to construct and open a state-of-the art temporary theatre venue in Dartford, following new concerns over RAAC concrete in The Orchard Theatre’s roof forced closure of venue in September. Orchard West is scheduled to open in late November as a fully-functional, temporary, enclosed performance space with 1,000 seats – complete with comfortable seating, heating and cooling systems, access provision and full backstage and front-of-house facilities including indoor toilets and bars. The venue will be capable of presenting many of the shows originally scheduled at The Orchard over coming months – with more to be added - and the temporary venue will be up and running in time for this year’s glittering pantomime Beauty and the Beast starring soap star, actress and singer Shona McGarty. Located on the Westgate site just a stone’s throw from The Orchard Theatre, Orchard West will be a unique and exciting setting for audiences to continue to enjoy live performances in a warm, safe and comfortable environment. Crucially, the venue will also support the continuing employment of the theatre team, visiting artists and backstage crew - plus many local businesses in the surrounding area who rely on footfall from theatre goers. Dartford Borough Council sought bids for the temporary venue project though a competitive procurement process. Responses were received from suppliers who have delivered similar projects around the world such as large-scale theatrical venues and major sporting events. Meanwhile, building work to replace the auditorium roof at the Orchard Theatre is set to begin this month with works expected to be completed in late 2024. As opening dates, transferring shows and seat-transfers are being determined over coming days, ticket-holders for future events at The Orchard Theatre are being asked to wait to be contacted by the theatre team who will be in touch with details and options as these become clear. Pantomime tickets can be booked online, and further information will be posted on the Orchard Theatre website www.orchardtheatre.co.uk and on social media channels as plans for the new venue are realised. Jeremy Kite, leader of Dartford Borough Council said: “Our theatre is such an important part of life for so many Dartford residents that when we were forced to close the venue, we were determined to find a way for the show to go on. The provision of Orchard West until we can re-open our much-loved venue means that not just our amazing pantomime, but a whole range of productions from local groups right through to the big names and West End performances can continue to light up the cultural life of our town. Dartford Borough Council prides itself on putting the needs of residents first and we are proud to have both the determination and the resources to have found a solution to this unforeseen problem. Stepping in like this is not the action every Council would take but we cherish arts and culture and urge our residents to support the theatre like never before.” Helen Enright, CEO of Trafalgar Theatres and COO of Trafalgar Entertainment said: “The Orchard West will be a unique and exciting theatre-going experience for Dartford residents and visitors alike - and we can’t wait to welcome customers back in time for panto! We’re certain that audiences will be curious to find out more as details of the new venue and the shows to be presented are released over coming weeks. “Working with Dartford Borough Council to deliver this project in a short-time frame – and hearing messages of support from thousands of theatre goers over the past few weeks - has cemented our commitment to the cultural life of the town. It is enormously encouraging that DBC recognises the importance of local theatre to the whole community and understands the valuable contribution it makes to the local economy. Despite the setback of the Orchard Theatre closure Council leaders have moved rapidly to protect jobs and businesses and to ensure that ‘the shows will go on’. We applaud them for their positive spirit and approach to our partnership". Comments as usual to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.
German discount supermarket rivals Lidl and Aldi get a lot of column inches in the press due to their perceived high quality goods and very competitive prices. Both supermarket chains are expanding across the UK, and are seen by many as the way forward in the discount grocery sector. There is another European supermarket chain which tried to do the same in the 1990's but it failed in a fairly spectacular manner, and is now almost completely unknown outside its' native Denmark, where it still exists. Netto was a discount supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. They had a store at the Crook Log end of Bexleyheath Broadway, in what is now a small Asda - the building is unusual as there is no front entrance - you have to enter via the doorway located in the car park at the rear of the building. It was founded in 1981 in Denmark by Salling Group, and arrived in the UK in December 1990. Netto primarily expanded in central England, before moving into London. Netto was one of the first discount supermarkets to operate in the UK, and it quickly became popular with shoppers due to its low prices. The chain offered a limited range of products, but it focused on essential items such as food, toiletries, and household goods. Netto's yellow and black branding became well-known throughout the UK, and its stores were often located in areas with lower incomes. The chain was particularly popular with families and budget-conscious shoppers. In 2010, Netto UK was sold to Asda for £778 million. Asda re-branded the majority of Netto stores under its own brand, but it was required to sell 47 stores to other companies due to competition laws. In 2014, Salling Group returned Netto to the UK as a 50:50 joint venture with Sainsbury's. The joint venture opened 16 stores across the UK, but it was not successful. In 2016, the two companies announced that they were ending the joint venture and closing all of the stores. Netto's exit from the UK market was due to a number of factors, including competition from other discount supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl, as well as the changing retail landscape. Despite its relatively short time in the UK, Netto was a popular brand with shoppers. The chain's low prices and convenient locations made it a popular choice for budget-conscious shoppers and families. Nowadays the UK brand is largely forgotten.
Speculation is rife on social media surrounding the circumstances of the Luton Airport multi storey car park fire last week; many online pundits are saying that the fire was caused by an electric vehicle (EV). Personally I think that no full judgement can be made until after a complete Fire Brigade investigation. Authorities said initially that the blaze appeared to be accidental and started in one car, believed to be a diesel vehicle, but at the time of writing nothing has been proved. Having said that, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as the world transitions to cleaner energy sources. However, there are some fire safety concerns associated with EVs, primarily due to the lithium-ion batteries that power them. Lithium-ion batteries are very energy-dense, which means they can store a lot of energy in a relatively small and lightweight package. This makes them ideal for EVs, but it also makes them more susceptible to fire. There are a few different ways that an EV battery can catch fire. One is if the battery is damaged, either in a crash or from other causes. Another is if the battery is overheated, either due to a manufacturing defect or from improper use. When an EV battery catches fire, it can be very difficult to extinguish. The fire can burn for hours and can produce toxic fumes. This is because lithium-ion batteries can continue to burn even after they are disconnected from the power source. This is why it is important to be aware of the fire dangers associated with EVs and to take steps to mitigate those risks.
The following rather unusual and tongue in cheek announcement from Bexley Police was published last week by Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association:- "In a bizarre turn of events, local police are appealing for the owner of a large stash of 121 wraps of cocaine to come forward and collect it from their lost and found property store.The stash was discovered by PCSO Worrall while on routine patrol of Franks Park. He noticed two males acting suspiciously and hiding something inside a tree stump. He remained situationally aware and turned on his body worn camera to capture their description and the vehicle they got into. Once it was safe to do so, PCSO Worrall searched the area and found a very large stash of cocaine. The investigation is now ongoing to catch up with the rightful owners, but in the meantime, police are appealing for them to come forward and collect their stash. "We understand that this may seem like a strange situation," said a spokesperson for the police. "However, we want to assure the rightful owner that they will not be in any trouble. We just want to return their property to them."If you believe that you may be the owner of the cocaine stash, please contact the police on 020 8721 2050".
With the cost of living crisis biting harder than ever, UK consumers are looking to save money. Some are cancelling subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+; instead they are turning to extremely cheap streaming TV boxes running the Android operating system which are being sold via a number of online market places, some of which have their operations based in China. Some of these streaming accessories promise free access to normally subscription based services - but also come with more than the purchaser bargained for. When you buy a TV streaming box, there are certain things you would not expect it to do. It should not secretly be laced with malware or start communicating with servers in China when it is powered up. It definitely should not be acting as a node in an organised crime scheme making millions of dollars through fraud. However, that has been the reality for thousands of unknowing people who own cheap Android TV streaming devices. This article was compiled from a number of sources, including Wired magazine, Linus Tech Tips, The Register and Google News. In January, professional security researcher Daniel Milisic discovered that a cheap Android TV streaming unit called the T95 (photo above - click on it for a larger image) was infected with malware right out of the box, with multiple other researchers confirming the findings. But it was just the tip of the iceberg. Last week, cyber security firm Human Security revealed new details about the scope of the infected devices and the hidden, interconnected web of fraud schemes linked to the streaming boxes. Human Security researchers found seven Android TV boxes and one tablet with the back doors installed, and they have seen signs of two hundred different models of Android devices that may be impacted. The devices are in homes, businesses, and schools across the US, Europe, Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, Human Security says it has also taken down advertising fraud linked to the scheme, which likely helped pay for the operation. “They’re like a Swiss Army knife of doing bad things on the Internet,” said Gavin Reid, the CISO at Human Security who leads the company’s Satori Threat Intelligence and Research team. “This is a truly distributed way of doing fraud.” Reid says the company has shared details of facilities where the devices may have been manufactured with law enforcement agencies. First, Badbox. Cheap Android streaming boxes such as the T95, usually costing less than $50 / £35, are sold online and in brick-and-mortar shops. These set-top boxes often are unbranded or sold under different names, partly obscuring their source. In the second half of 2022, Human Security says in its report, its researchers spotted an Android app that appeared to be linked to inauthentic traffic and connected to the domain flyermobi.com. When Milisic posted his initial findings about the T95 Android box in January, the research also pointed to the flyermobi domain. The team at Human purchased the box and multiple others, and started diving in. In total the researchers confirmed eight devices with back doors installed—seven TV boxes and one cheap tablet, The company’s report, which has data scientist Marion Habiby as its lead author, says Human Security spotted at least 74,000 Android devices showing signs of a Badbox infection around the world—including some in schools across the US and the UK. The TV devices are built in China. Somewhere before they reach the hands of resellers—researchers don’t exactly know where—a firmware backdoor is added to them. This backdoor, which is based on the Triada malware first spotted by security firm Kaspersky in 2016, modifies one element of the Android operating system, allowing itself to access apps installed on the devices. Then it phones home. “Unbeknownst to the user, when you plug this thing in, it goes to a command and control (C2) in China and downloads an instruction set and starts doing a bunch of bad stuff,” Reid says. Human Security tracked multiple types of fraud linked to the compromised devices. This includes advertising fraud; residential proxy services, where the group behind the scheme sell access to your home network; the creation of fake Gmail and WhatsApp accounts using the connections; and remote code installation. Those behind the scheme were selling access to residential networks commercially, the company’s report says, claiming to have access to more than 10 million home IP addresses and 7 million mobile IP addresses. The findings tally with those of other researchers and ongoing investigations. Fyodor Yarochkin, a senior threat researcher at security firm Trend Micro, says the company has seen two Chinese threat groups that have used back doored Android devices—one it has researched deeply, the other is the one Human Security looked at. “The infection of devices is quite similar,” Yarochkin says. Trend Micro has found a “front end company” for the group it investigated in China, Yarochkin says. “They were claiming that they have over 20 million devices infected worldwide, with up to 2 million devices being online at any point of time,” he says. Based on Trend Micro’s network data, Yarochkin believes these figures to be credible. “There was a tablet in one of the museums somewhere in Europe,” Yarochkin says, adding he believes it is possible that swaths of Android systems may have been impacted, including in cars. “It’s easy for them to infiltrate the supply chain, and for manufacturers, it's really difficult to detect.” While the attackers have been slowed, the boxes are still in people’s homes and on their networks. Unless someone has technical skills, the malware is very hard to remove. “You can think of these Bad boxes as kind of like sleeper cells. They're just sitting there waiting for instruction sets,” Reid says. Ultimately, for people buying TV streaming boxes, the advice is to buy branded devices, where the manufacturer is clear and trusted. As Reid says, “Friends don't let friends plug in weird IoT devices into their home networks.”
The end video this week is from Linus Tech Tips - one of the largest and most respected specialist technology channels on YouTube. Here is a concise ten minute article on just why the Chinese made Android streaming TV boxes such as the T95 and many others are such bad news, and why you should avoid them like the plague. Comments to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.
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