A solution to difficulties caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol took a step nearer, with the EU releasing its plan for a reduction of post-Brexit checks on goods and medicines arriving into the Province from the rest of the UK. Northern Ireland has a special Brexit deal which keeps it in the EU's single market for goods and allows free-flowing trade with the EU. But it means goods arriving from Britain face checks and controls. The UK government said it is studying the detail of the EU's proposals. The new plan, which seeks to calm a long-running dispute over a key part of the Brexit agreement, would remove about 80 per cent of spot checks, the EU said. The EU said customs paperwork would also be cut by 50 per cent. I am pretty certain this will not be enough for Lord Frost, who wants trade between NI and the rest of the UK free of EU rules and regulations. I concur. The education campaign group, F40, which represents the lowest funded local authorities, have written to both the PM and new Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi. I have supported F40 since 2006 and concur with its asks. The main point is that we don't want more of the cake, just a fair share of it. I have added my own covering letter to both men. Two more UK energy firms ceased trading amid soaring wholesale energy prices. Pure Planet, which is backed by oil giant BP, and Colorado Energy join a number of small energy firms that have gone bust recently. Pure Planet said it had been caught between rising costs and the UK's energy price cap, which limits what companies can charge consumers. This had left its business "unsustainable", it said. Customers of both companies would be moved to new suppliers. I recall the Star Trek era only too well, having been a fan of the TV series, starring Hollywood actor William Shatner. Well, real life has now mirrored art in that he became the oldest person to go to space as he blasted off aboard the Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule. The 90-year-old took off from the Texas desert with three other individuals. Mr Shatner's trip on the rocket system - developed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos - lasted about 10 minutes. He certainly 'boldly went'!