Seen in the News

[Stanley]

I hadn't seen that one and you are all right. Total insane nonsense. If anyone can be said to have won WW2 in terms of sacrifice it was the Russians. (And nobody won WW1, it was postponed until 1939.)
Remind me of a war the US can truly say it has won......

Meanwhile, in the real world see THIS report of the result of the Australian election. (Cathy did good!)
Labour's Anthony Albanese has defied the so-called "incumbency curse" to be re-elected Australia's prime minister in a landslide. Official vote counting won't finish for days, but Albanese's centre-left government will dramatically increase its majority after the conservative Liberal-National coalition suffered a thumping defeat nationwide. "Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values: for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all; for the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need," Albanese said. Coalition leader Peter Dutton, who lost his own seat of 24 years, said he accepted "full responsibility" for his party's loss and apologised to his MPs.
The Trump effect has struck again.

[Stanley]

You were wondering what the Orange Knob would do next..... Have a look at THIS.....
1 Hour ago.
Donald Trump says he is directing his government to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the former prison on an island off the coast of California. In a message on his Truth Social site on Sunday, President Trump said that "for too long America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders". The reopening of Alcatraz would serve as a "symbol of law, order, and justice," he said. The prison was closed in 1963, and Alcatraz Island is currently operating as a tourist site. It lies near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.
I'll bet you never thought of that!
Later.... He says he wants to put a tariff of 100% on all foreign made films..... He says it's killing Hollywood.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report.
Reform UK has been forced to clarify that it would continue to fly county standards from council buildings after a row over the flying of Lancashire's red rose flag. Reform chairman Zia Yusuf had earlier announced that "Reform-controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and St George's flag". In response, Labour MP for Blackpool South, Chris Webb, said Reform was off to "a great start" by "banning" the Lancashire rose. As of Friday, Reform controls Lancashire County Council. A Reform spokesman later said: "Reform UK will proudly fly the Union Jack, St George's flag and county flags." "Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history," they added. Lancashire County Council told the BBC the red rose flag would continue to be flown outside its buildings.
It looks as though they are learning already that this governing business is a bit more complicated than just making announcements.....

[PanBiker]

I never knew that County Hall was a ship.

Well, actually I do, they don't know their arse from their elbow.

[Whyperion]

I hadn't seen that one and you are all right. Total insane nonsense. If anyone can be said to have won WW2 in terms of sacrifice it was the Russians. (And nobody won WW1, it was postponed until 1939.)

I think we have to be pedantic (not that I have full stats) it was USSR , (and definately not Russia in proportion of losses to population) I am told that the Brandenburg Gate image the combatants were from Georgia,Armenia and other caucus areas rather than Russia as existed at end of WW1 . Ukraine in its own fight for independence managed to get itself fighting both sides and for both sides , which didnt help the present day situation. I am somewhat excluding famine from the statistics as that is another matter again.

[Stanley]

No, we don't have to be pedantic. Just accept that the Russian people bore the brunt of the casualties, 28 million at a conservative estimate. Read Vasily Grossman, Life and Fate and Stalingrad.

See THIS Live BBC report.
The Indian government says it has launched an attack on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Three locations have been attacked, Pakistan's military says. It says seven people including two children have been killed. Residents in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir told the BBC how they were jolted awake by huge explosions

Meanwhile here at home in the UK Starmer announces the biggest trade deal since Brexit....
The UK and India have agreed a trade deal that will make it easier for UK firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India, and cut taxes on India's clothing and footwear exports. The British government said the "landmark" agreement, which took three years to reach, did not include any change in immigration policy, including towards Indian students studying in the UK. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the deal would boost the economy and "deliver for British people and business".

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report.....
Updated 1 hour ago
The Israeli embassy in London was the alleged target of five Iranian men arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism, the BBC understands. Police have not yet confirmed that the embassy in Kensington was the suspected target, as first reported by the Times, citing operational reasons. But the BBC understands the report is accurate. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism command, said it was a "fast-moving" investigation and there were "significant operational reasons" why the force could not provide further details. Iran "categorically rejects" any involvement, said the Iranian foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on the social media site X.

[Stanley]

See THIS assessment from Chris Mason of the US trade pact.
3 hours ago
It is turning out to be quite the month for trade deals of various complexions. There was the one with India earlier this week, now the pact with the US, and a new deal with the European Union is expected the week after next at a UK-EU summit in London. All sorts of arrangements, varying significantly, can huddle under the umbrella vocabulary of a trade deal and this trio of agreements is very different. Let's unpick a little of what we have learnt about this deal with America. Firstly, ministers are determined to project these deals in real world terms, surrounding themselves by workers and industry, not charts and percentages. And there was a particular reason that went beyond the symmetry of the Prime Minister returning to the same production line he visited a month ago, Jaguar Land Rover's in Solihull in the West Midlands. Yes, he had taken us there shortly after President Trump hammered the British car industry with huge tariffs and JLR had suspended exports to America. But there was also a keen awareness in government of how bleak things looked for this company, and others, if this wasn't sorted and sorted sharp-ish.

[Stanley]

I missed THIS report of a hack of the Co-op IT system a week ago....
2 May 2025
Cyber criminals have told BBC News their hack against Co-op is far more serious than the company previously admitted. Hackers contacted the BBC with proof they had infiltrated IT networks and stolen huge amounts of customer and employee data. After being approached on Friday, a Co-op spokesperson said the hackers "accessed data relating to a significant number of our current and past members". Co-op had previously said that it had taken "proactive measures" to fend off hackers and that it was only having a "small impact" on its operations. It also assured the public that there was "no evidence that customer data was compromised". The cyber criminals claim to have the private information of 20 million people who signed up to Co-op's membership scheme, but the firm would not confirm that number. The criminals, who are using the name DragonForce, say they are also responsible for the ongoing attack on M&S and an attempted hack of Harrods.
I only started looking for the report after finding the Co-op shelves severely depleted yesterday.
One wonders how the people who have no stocks at home are getting on.....

[Tizer]

I see that many Americans are stockpiling food and other goods and splashing our on purchases generally. They know what Trump's tariffs are leading to. I note from listening to Americast the price and availability of eggs is a major concern of Americans. They use it as a simple proxy for the state of the economy.

[Cathy]

Echoes of being back in Lock Down. It will be Toilet Rolls next.
Since our Lock Down times, I continue to keep certain items ‘in stock’ that I never used to worry about.
Anyone else???

[Stanley]

I called in and checked the state of the Co-op as I was out for a walk, not a lot different than yesterday. The shelves are bare....
I always have stocks in my cupboards Cathy, my mother taught me the value of that during the war.....

[Stanley]

THIS will come as no surprise to anyone who has been noting the lack of rain....
People in north-west England are being urged to use less water after reservoirs were found to be lower than usual. United Utilities issued the warning after finding reservoirs were currently at 69% capacity. They were at more than 90% at the same time last year.
There is still no rain in the forecast.....

[Tripps]

We are quickly getting used to having Cardinal Prevost of Chicago and Peru, as the new Pope. I think we are in for an interesting few years. He has two brothers who are enjoying being in the limelight, and of whom no doubt we shall hear a lot more.

He's out on the balcony again today - giving it plenty.

I read that he didn't play the usual childhood games, but set an altar up on his mum's ironing board and distributed communion wafers to people. If true - special needs I'd say, and psychiatric intervention required. He speaks five languages, and has three degrees, including mathematics. Odd that such a clever clogs believes all that religious nonsense - or does he? Perhaps he just like dressing up.

He went to Santa Maria Maggiore yesterday, to pay respects to his predecessor. he mingled alarmingly closely with the hoi polloi, , with much physical contact with strangers. He also made a beeline for a Filipina lady in a wheelchair, and tried a bit of 'the laying on of hands' - on her head then on each knee. Probably with an eye on future canonisation procedures.

His memory is poor, as he seems to have forgotten why Pope John Paul II invented the 'Popemobile'. Was it really as long ago as 1981 when he was attacked? Let's hope he doesn't find out the hard way. I wish him no harm.

[Stanley]

I concur with your third paragraph David.....

I keep getting a whiff of a future confrontation with The Donald.....

[PanBiker]

Barnoldswicks famous Skelly who is installed in the front garden of one of the Manchester Road terraces, just above and across from the old Police Station. He is dressed for all occasions as they happen and for the last few days he is presented a Pope Skelly the Ist. I'll see if I can pinch the picture off Facebook.

Pope Skelly.jpg

Pope Skelly the 1st
He’s praying for peace

Picture from: Gillian Ashworth Morrits Facebook Page

If you visit you will see some of Skelly's other guises.

[Stanley]

Are you following THIS news story?....
A top general who failed to report evidence of alleged SAS war crimes in Afghanistan later oversaw the rejection of hundreds of UK resettlement applications from Afghan commandos who served with the elite regiment, BBC Panorama can reveal. Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins led UK Special Forces (UKSF) in Afghanistan at a time when alleged war crimes were committed. He later appointed a UKSF officer under his command, who had also served in Afghanistan, to assess the Afghan commando applications after special forces headquarters was given a controversial veto over them. Thousands of applications from individuals with credible evidence of service with Afghan Special Forces, including the units known as the Triples, were then rejected, leaving many of the former commandos at the mercy of the Taliban. The rejections are controversial because they came at a time when a judge-led public inquiry in the UK had begun investigating the SAS for alleged war crimes on operations on which the Triples were present. If the Afghan commandos were in the UK, they could be called as witnesses - but the inquiry has no power to compel testimony from foreign nationals who are overseas.
These are very disturbing reports..... If it was someone else we'd be talking about war crimes.

[Stanley]

See THIS report of a mistake....
A man who has served almost 38 years in prison for the murder of a woman has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after new DNA evidence emerged. Peter Sullivan was jailed over the 1986 killing of 21-year-old barmaid Diane Sindall, who was subjected to a frenzied sexual attack in Birkenhead, Merseyside, as she walked home from a shift. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) - the statutory body set up to investigate potential miscarriages of justice - had referred Mr Sullivan's case back to the appeal court last year after fresh testing found a DNA profile pointing to an unknown attacker in semen samples preserved from the crime scene. Mr Sullivan, appearing on video-link from HMP Wakefield, sobbed and held his hand over his mouth as he was told he would be released.
He's 68 years old now. Try to imagine what that must be like...... Dreadful.

[Stanley]

At last! See THIS for some facts about the Co-op IT problems.
3 hours ago
Co-op narrowly averted being locked out of its computer systems during the cyber attack that saw customer data stolen and store shelves left bare, the hackers who claim responsibility have told the BBC. The revelation could help explain why Co-op has started to recover more quickly than fellow retailer M&S, which had its systems more comprehensively compromised, and is still unable to carry out online orders. Hackers who have claimed responsibility for both attacks told the BBC they tried to infect Co-op with malicious software known as ransomware - but failed when the firm discovered the attack in action. Both Co-op and M&S declined to comment. The gang, using the cyber crime service DragonForce, sent the BBC a long, offensive rant about their attack. "Co-op's network never ever suffered ransomware. They yanked their own plug - tanking sales, burning logistics, and torching shareholder value," the criminals said. But cyber experts like Jen Ellis from the Ransomware Task Force said the response from Co-op was sensible. "Co-op seems to have opted for self-imposed immediate-term disruption as a means of avoiding criminal-imposed, longer-term disruption. It seems to have been a good call for them in this instance," she said. Ms Ellis said these kinds of crisis decisions are often taken quickly when hackers have breached a network and can be extremely difficult.
Up to now, Barlick has not seen any major improvement.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report about a memorial in Burnley.
A memorial honouring men from East Lancashire who volunteered to fight fascism in the 1930s Spanish Civil War has been unveiled in Burnley. Men from Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn are featured in the memorial to the International Brigade. These men were volunteers who defended the democratically-elected Spanish government from a right-wing coup in 1936 led by Spanish General Francisco Franco. The memorial, which is near Burnley Library, was unveiled by the Mayor of Burnley, Shah Hussain and Chris Keene from North East Lancashire Trades Union Council. The Spanish Civil War was fought from 1936 to 1939, with General Franco's Nationalists against left-wing Republicans.
One of the names is David Hartley King from Salterforth.

[Wendyf]

There was a post about this memorial on our Colne History and Old Photos Facebook group. A local chap has researched the men on the memorial. This is the photo of David Hartley King.

snapshot_www.facebook.com_1747375980301.png

[Stanley]

Wendy, Did I see that the restrictions imposed on your ladies are being lifted this week?

[Wendyf]

Wendy, Did I see that the restrictions imposed on your ladies are being lifted this week?

If they are we know nothing about it!

[Stanley]

You're right Wendy. I went and did some digging and it's only certain specialised flocks, certainly not your hens. Sorry if I raised hopes, I only heard half a news broadcast.

[Wendyf]

I misunderstood you Stanley, and thought you were referring to our group of ladies who are restricted from volunteering in Colne!
Yes, I believe restrictions are being lifted on backyard hens, unless you are in a special zone. I registered my flock with Defra as requested last year, thinking we would be kept notified of restrictions, but not a peep!