POLITICS CORNER
- Stanley
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
See THIS for the top story......
Israelis and Palestinians have celebrated as a major hostage and prisoner exchange on Monday marked a significant step towards ending two years of war in Gaza. In a crucial first phase of the US-brokered plan to end the war, Hamas returned all living Israeli hostages, while Israel freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. There were emotional scenes as families of the Israeli hostages screamed and cried with happiness as they embraced their freed loved ones. And for the Palestinians who were freed from Israeli jails, crowds waving flags greeted them joyfully as they arrived on buses in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. US President Donald Trump landed in Israel minutes after the first hostages were reunited with their families, and in a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, declared a "historic dawn in a new Middle East". He then flew on to a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to meet more than 20 leaders for talks on later phases of his Gaza peace plan. At the summit Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US signed a declaration as guarantors of the ceasefire deal which is aimed at ending two years of war that has left Gaza in ruins. But amid the diplomatic celebrations and the joy of reunions between family members, many challenges still lie ahead if the ceasefire is to be built into a lasting peace.
Israelis and Palestinians have celebrated as a major hostage and prisoner exchange on Monday marked a significant step towards ending two years of war in Gaza. In a crucial first phase of the US-brokered plan to end the war, Hamas returned all living Israeli hostages, while Israel freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. There were emotional scenes as families of the Israeli hostages screamed and cried with happiness as they embraced their freed loved ones. And for the Palestinians who were freed from Israeli jails, crowds waving flags greeted them joyfully as they arrived on buses in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. US President Donald Trump landed in Israel minutes after the first hostages were reunited with their families, and in a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, declared a "historic dawn in a new Middle East". He then flew on to a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to meet more than 20 leaders for talks on later phases of his Gaza peace plan. At the summit Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US signed a declaration as guarantors of the ceasefire deal which is aimed at ending two years of war that has left Gaza in ruins. But amid the diplomatic celebrations and the joy of reunions between family members, many challenges still lie ahead if the ceasefire is to be built into a lasting peace.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
- Stanley
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
I have just listened to King Abdullah of Jordan saying some very sensible things.... Asked if there was any chance of peace following the present cease fire he said no. When asked why he said that there could be no peace as long as Netanyahu's extreme right wing government holds power because their continuation of war against the Palestinians is the only way they can survive and avoid retribution for what they have done.
So, it looks as though all we can look forward to is an eventual break-down of talks and a resumption of action against the Palestinians.
This of course directly contradicts Trump's forecast of peace spreading across the Middle East..... Surprise surprise!
So, it looks as though all we can look forward to is an eventual break-down of talks and a resumption of action against the Palestinians.
This of course directly contradicts Trump's forecast of peace spreading across the Middle East..... Surprise surprise!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
- Julie in Norfolk
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
Ceasefire, rest and reform, call out on a tiny perceived "act of insurrection", start all over again.
Measure with a micrometer, mark with a pencil, cut with an axe.
- Stanley
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
Exactly Julie...... 
HERE'S the latest update.....
Updated 1 hour ago
Hamas has returned the bodies of four more deceased hostages, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said. The Red Cross retrieved the remains in coffins and handed them over to the Israeli military late on Tuesday night. The transfer came after Israel warned it would restrict aid into Gaza until Hamas returned the bodies of all 28 deceased hostages. The Palestinian armed group handed back 20 living and four deceased hostages on Monday. The remains of 45 deceased Palestinians who had been held in Israel were returned to Gaza on Tuesday, the Red Cross said in a statement.
THIS grubby little piece of domestic politics caught my attention.....
9 hours ago
Former House of Lords Speaker Baroness D'Souza faces an eight-week suspension after complaining to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner about "unfair" speeding fines. A Lords inquiry found the 81-year-old peer broke rules on "personal honour" by writing to Sir Mark Rowley on Lords headed notepaper to query multiple breaches of the 20mph limit adding up to £400 in fines. Baroness D'Souza said she only wanted to "open a conversation" on London speed limits, but later called the letter to Sir Mark "unwise" and said she regretted sending it. The Lords Standards Commissioner ruled the letter was "an attempt to influence" the police investigation.

HERE'S the latest update.....
Updated 1 hour ago
Hamas has returned the bodies of four more deceased hostages, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said. The Red Cross retrieved the remains in coffins and handed them over to the Israeli military late on Tuesday night. The transfer came after Israel warned it would restrict aid into Gaza until Hamas returned the bodies of all 28 deceased hostages. The Palestinian armed group handed back 20 living and four deceased hostages on Monday. The remains of 45 deceased Palestinians who had been held in Israel were returned to Gaza on Tuesday, the Red Cross said in a statement.
THIS grubby little piece of domestic politics caught my attention.....
9 hours ago
Former House of Lords Speaker Baroness D'Souza faces an eight-week suspension after complaining to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner about "unfair" speeding fines. A Lords inquiry found the 81-year-old peer broke rules on "personal honour" by writing to Sir Mark Rowley on Lords headed notepaper to query multiple breaches of the 20mph limit adding up to £400 in fines. Baroness D'Souza said she only wanted to "open a conversation" on London speed limits, but later called the letter to Sir Mark "unwise" and said she regretted sending it. The Lords Standards Commissioner ruled the letter was "an attempt to influence" the police investigation.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
- Stanley
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- Posts: 101979
- Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
- Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.
Re: POLITICS CORNER
THIS claimed priority for me over matters of state.....
A company linked to Baroness Michelle Mone has failed to meet a deadline to repay £122m for breaching a Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contract. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) won a legal case earlier this month against PPE Medpro, a consortium led by Lady Mone's husband Doug Barrowman, over claims the PPE did not comply with relevant healthcare standards. A High Court judge ruled some of the company's gowns they supplied were not "sterile". Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the government would "pursue PPE Medpro with everything we've got to get these funds back" after the company failed to pay the damages cost by 16:00 BST on Wednesday. PPE Medpro entered administration on 30 September, the day before the court judgement. Streeting said: "At a time of national crisis, PPE Medpro sold the previous government substandard kit and pocketed taxpayers' hard-earned cash. "PPE Medpro has failed to meet the deadline to pay - they still owe us over £145 million, with interest now accruing daily." The firm was ordered to pay interest of £23.6m, which means the total sum owed is £145.6m. According to the DHSC, this sum will accrue interest at 8% per year from Thursday until it is fully paid.
Are they trying to escape the debt by going bankrupt?
A company linked to Baroness Michelle Mone has failed to meet a deadline to repay £122m for breaching a Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contract. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) won a legal case earlier this month against PPE Medpro, a consortium led by Lady Mone's husband Doug Barrowman, over claims the PPE did not comply with relevant healthcare standards. A High Court judge ruled some of the company's gowns they supplied were not "sterile". Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the government would "pursue PPE Medpro with everything we've got to get these funds back" after the company failed to pay the damages cost by 16:00 BST on Wednesday. PPE Medpro entered administration on 30 September, the day before the court judgement. Streeting said: "At a time of national crisis, PPE Medpro sold the previous government substandard kit and pocketed taxpayers' hard-earned cash. "PPE Medpro has failed to meet the deadline to pay - they still owe us over £145 million, with interest now accruing daily." The firm was ordered to pay interest of £23.6m, which means the total sum owed is £145.6m. According to the DHSC, this sum will accrue interest at 8% per year from Thursday until it is fully paid.
Are they trying to escape the debt by going bankrupt?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
- PanBiker
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
They should strip her of her peerage and chuck her in prison for a while. That should give her a bit of thinking time. 

Ian
- Stanley
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
I agree Ian. There are so many circumstances where I can't understand why the power of arrest is not used. The bankers in 2008 was a case in point. Mone and her ilk are just the latest rash of misfits on the horizon, there will be more. I have nothing but contempt for them.....
Have a look at what constitutes news on budget matters......
The UK economy grew slightly in August, official figures show, as focus intensifies on what measures the government might unveil in next month's Budget. An increase in manufacturing output helped the economy expand by 0.1%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, but the figure for July was revised down from zero growth to a contraction of 0.1%. The government has made boosting the economy a priority, but economists predict growth will remain sluggish partly due to people waiting to see what measures Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces in the Budget. Many analysts expect that tax rises or spending cuts will be needed to meet the chancellor's self-imposed borrowing rules. The Institute for Fiscal Studies is projecting Reeves will need to find £22bn to bolster the government's finances and meet her rules, and will "almost certainly" have to raise taxes. But the influential think tank said the chancellor should be "bold" in next month's Budget, and build up a large financial buffer to avoid future spending cuts and tax rises. On Wednesday, Reeves said she was "looking at further measures on tax and spending, to make sure that the public finances always add up". Her comments were seen as the clearest sign yet that tax rises will be in the Budget, with speculation growing over what measures she might take.
Forgive me for raining on Rachel's parade but isn't 0.1% seen as being within the range of statistical error? Surely a more honest interpretation would be to say that the economy is flat-lining.... bumping along the bottom as the government tries desperately to prove otherwise.
Perhaps the most reasonable interpretation is the one all politicians dread. That we are looking at that most challenging of economic ills, 'stagflation'.
(LINK)
Have a look at what constitutes news on budget matters......
The UK economy grew slightly in August, official figures show, as focus intensifies on what measures the government might unveil in next month's Budget. An increase in manufacturing output helped the economy expand by 0.1%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, but the figure for July was revised down from zero growth to a contraction of 0.1%. The government has made boosting the economy a priority, but economists predict growth will remain sluggish partly due to people waiting to see what measures Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces in the Budget. Many analysts expect that tax rises or spending cuts will be needed to meet the chancellor's self-imposed borrowing rules. The Institute for Fiscal Studies is projecting Reeves will need to find £22bn to bolster the government's finances and meet her rules, and will "almost certainly" have to raise taxes. But the influential think tank said the chancellor should be "bold" in next month's Budget, and build up a large financial buffer to avoid future spending cuts and tax rises. On Wednesday, Reeves said she was "looking at further measures on tax and spending, to make sure that the public finances always add up". Her comments were seen as the clearest sign yet that tax rises will be in the Budget, with speculation growing over what measures she might take.
Forgive me for raining on Rachel's parade but isn't 0.1% seen as being within the range of statistical error? Surely a more honest interpretation would be to say that the economy is flat-lining.... bumping along the bottom as the government tries desperately to prove otherwise.
Perhaps the most reasonable interpretation is the one all politicians dread. That we are looking at that most challenging of economic ills, 'stagflation'.
(LINK)
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
- PanBiker
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
Whenever there is a budget there is always a huge amount of guessing and conjecture as to what it may contain. It all pointless and just feeds the "what if this and what if that news" bulletins. I can never understand all this nonsense, there is nothing mere mortals can do by what if's, just wait for the dictate from the horses mouth so to say. Then discuss.....
Ian
- Stanley
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Re: POLITICS CORNER
Ian, I agree with you on the importance of the budget to the ordinary voter but the reason why it gets so much attention from the media and politicians is that they have to have something that looks as though they understand and control. Harold had it right when he said that most political activity was generated by "Events Dear Boy!"
HERE'S this morning's 'event'......
3 hours ago
After so many scandals, Prince Andrew has given up the use of his titles and honours. He can no longer sign off as the Duke of York, or put "KG", a Knight of the Garter, after his name, with a flourish of medieval chivalry. The Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh are also scratched off his list of titles, with "Andrew Inverness" a name he'd sometimes used in his business dealings. But what's caused this sudden announcement? Particularly as this dramatic move, removing the remaining vestiges of his royal life, comes with an assertion of his innocence and that he continued to "vigorously deny the accusations against me".Prince Andrew has voluntarily given up the use of his titles - but he was clearly under pressure to jump before he was pushed. This way, the changes in his status are kept in-house and there doesn't have to be the intervention of Parliament, which would have needed to legislate to take away his title as Duke of York. That would have been messy, but the Palace was already sending signals it was prepared to take action, and it was confident that Parliament, and popular opinion, would have supported such a change. Allowing Andrew to voluntarily give up his titles, which theoretically remain in place, gave him a way out, still holding on to a little of the disappearing vapour trail of his pride. But it's no secret that Buckingham Palace was exasperated with the scandals surrounding Prince Andrew and what a royal source calls the "constant parade of headlines". He was one of their "Dukes of Hazard" that kept making news for all the wrong reasons. Questions about Andrew's links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were drowning out the work of the rest of the Royal Family. That was on top of unanswered questions about Andrew's finances and his connections to an alleged Chinese spy.
Hands up all those who are devastated by this news.....
(I'm not sure whether it is politics but in Royal-Watcher's terms it is certainly an event!)
HERE'S this morning's 'event'......
3 hours ago
After so many scandals, Prince Andrew has given up the use of his titles and honours. He can no longer sign off as the Duke of York, or put "KG", a Knight of the Garter, after his name, with a flourish of medieval chivalry. The Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh are also scratched off his list of titles, with "Andrew Inverness" a name he'd sometimes used in his business dealings. But what's caused this sudden announcement? Particularly as this dramatic move, removing the remaining vestiges of his royal life, comes with an assertion of his innocence and that he continued to "vigorously deny the accusations against me".Prince Andrew has voluntarily given up the use of his titles - but he was clearly under pressure to jump before he was pushed. This way, the changes in his status are kept in-house and there doesn't have to be the intervention of Parliament, which would have needed to legislate to take away his title as Duke of York. That would have been messy, but the Palace was already sending signals it was prepared to take action, and it was confident that Parliament, and popular opinion, would have supported such a change. Allowing Andrew to voluntarily give up his titles, which theoretically remain in place, gave him a way out, still holding on to a little of the disappearing vapour trail of his pride. But it's no secret that Buckingham Palace was exasperated with the scandals surrounding Prince Andrew and what a royal source calls the "constant parade of headlines". He was one of their "Dukes of Hazard" that kept making news for all the wrong reasons. Questions about Andrew's links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were drowning out the work of the rest of the Royal Family. That was on top of unanswered questions about Andrew's finances and his connections to an alleged Chinese spy.
Hands up all those who are devastated by this news.....
(I'm not sure whether it is politics but in Royal-Watcher's terms it is certainly an event!)
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
- Stanley
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 101979
- Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
- Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.
Re: POLITICS CORNER
Have a look at THIS report....
1 hour ago
The US State Department says it has "credible reports" that Hamas is planning an "imminent" attack on civilians in Gaza, which it says would violate the ceasefire agreement. A statement released on Saturday said a planned attack against Palestinians would be a "direct and grave" violation of the ceasefire agreement and "undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts". The state department did not not provide further details on the attack and it is unclear what reports it was citing. The first phase of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is currently in progress - all living hostages have been released and bodies of the deceased are still being returned to Israel. Also part of the agreement, Israel freed 250 Palestinian prisoners in its jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Washington said it had already informed other guarantors of the Gaza peace agreement - which include Egypt, Qatar and Turkey - and demanded Hamas uphold its end of the ceasefire terms. "Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire," the statement said. Hamas has not yet commented on the statement. President Donald Trump has previously warned Hamas against the killing of civilians.
One could be forgiven for thinking that this is the opportunity that both Netanyahu and Trump have been waiting so that they can proceed with the demolition of Gaza City ready for rebuilding as Israeli settlements and perhaps even commercial developments.
Too cynical? Perhaps, but we all know this is the desired end game.
1 hour ago
The US State Department says it has "credible reports" that Hamas is planning an "imminent" attack on civilians in Gaza, which it says would violate the ceasefire agreement. A statement released on Saturday said a planned attack against Palestinians would be a "direct and grave" violation of the ceasefire agreement and "undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts". The state department did not not provide further details on the attack and it is unclear what reports it was citing. The first phase of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is currently in progress - all living hostages have been released and bodies of the deceased are still being returned to Israel. Also part of the agreement, Israel freed 250 Palestinian prisoners in its jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Washington said it had already informed other guarantors of the Gaza peace agreement - which include Egypt, Qatar and Turkey - and demanded Hamas uphold its end of the ceasefire terms. "Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire," the statement said. Hamas has not yet commented on the statement. President Donald Trump has previously warned Hamas against the killing of civilians.
One could be forgiven for thinking that this is the opportunity that both Netanyahu and Trump have been waiting so that they can proceed with the demolition of Gaza City ready for rebuilding as Israeli settlements and perhaps even commercial developments.
Too cynical? Perhaps, but we all know this is the desired end game.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
Re: POLITICS CORNER
Note this comment buried in that report...
There are concerning reports that Gazan gangs which have looted aid convoys are currently able to move with impunity in the eastern part of the territory under Israeli control.
Netanyahu would be happy to let the gangs go around killing people so that he can blame it on Hamas and use it as justification for ending the ceasefire.
There are concerning reports that Gazan gangs which have looted aid convoys are currently able to move with impunity in the eastern part of the territory under Israeli control.
Netanyahu would be happy to let the gangs go around killing people so that he can blame it on Hamas and use it as justification for ending the ceasefire.
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)