Seen in the News

[Stanley]

The main thing is she is safe Cathy! So glad to hear it.

[PanBiker]

Heard on the radio news this morning that Farage says that if Reform is elected to government they will only allow "British" people to vote. That's the Status quo then! Shows that he doesn't understand the basic rule of law in this country as I assume he actually means "Englishmen and women", now that's a whole new can of worms to be sure! To further disenfranchise he wants to ban postal votes as well, moron.

[Tripps]

if Reform is elected to government they will only allow "British" people to vote. That's the Satus quo then!

Not so I think. Slight case of Farage derangement syndrome. It's a lot more complex than that. For example Irish citizens can vote.

If you think the postal vote system is satisfactory - then do a bit more research. It is widely held to be open to abuse - mainly by muslims. It was probably a major factor in the Green Party win in the Gorton and Denton and byelection last Thursday. They are doing entryism nto the Greens now -having fallen out with Labour over Gaza.

The Turkish muslim leader Erdogan says "democracy is like a tram - you stay on till you get to your destination -then you get off"

David Whipp expressed concerns at the last general election on the matter. He did not have the courage to report his concerns to the police though. Fear of an accusation of racism I suppose. Watch Raja Miah - he knows.

See who can vote

PS See this historic post for more detail. voting malpractice

[Stanley]

See THIS report for news on a related matter.
3 hours ago
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will announce that from Monday any asylum seeker successfully given refugee status in the UK will be offered only temporary protection. The move represents one of the most significant changes to the UK's asylum system for a generation and is likely to anger some on Labour's left wing. But these measures will come into force without a parliamentary vote as they simply change existing rules. Under the new rules, asylum seekers' cases will be reviewed every 30 months, after which they could be sent to their country of origin, provided it is deemed safe to do so. There will be an exception for unaccompanied children.

[Stanley]

See THIS update on the latest situation.....
People living in seven parts of Lancashire are heading to the polls in May. Local council elections are taking place in the Blackburn with Darwen district, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston and West Lancashire. All these councils will see a third of their seats up for grabs in what will be the last elections ever to be held at the councils. Next year will see them all scrapped and replaced with new unitary authorities.
Hopefully this is the final definitive line-up.

[Stanley]

See THIS report about the effect of ME war on gas and oil prices.....
Gas prices have spiked and global stock markets tumbled as the conflict in the Middle East intensified and concerns grew over how long it will last. The UK gas price surged to its highest level for three years on Tuesday, following sharp gains on Monday, while Brent crude oil benchmark briefly rose above $85 a barrel for the first time since July 2024. Meanwhile, the share prices of companies on US, European and Asian stock markets plunged. Since Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran and Tehran retaliated, investors have been weighing the potential economic impact, including what it could mean for inflation and interest rates. There are fears the fight in a region that plays a key role in global energy supplies and shipping routes could have a similar impact to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago which pushed up the cost of energy, causing price rises for businesses and consumers around the world. In its latest fiscal outlook document, the UK's Office for Budget Responsibility said the escalation of the conflict could upset its forecasts, warning it could have "very significant impacts on the global and UK economies".
The US is virtually self-sufficient in oil and gas supplies so this will not be a big problem for Trump but it is serious for the rest of us.

[Tripps]

MP's husband arrested on suspicion of spying for China

Her name is said to be Joani Reid, though her husband is one David Taylor. She is protesrting that she has nothng to do with it all - a little too strongly I think. I note that she is the grand daughter of one 'Jimmy Reid'

Now where have I seen his name before? It rings a bell somewhere.

[Stanley]

Jimmy Reid was one of my heroes. If she is related he will be spinning in his grave David!

Meanwhile, THIS heads the news this morning.....
Israel's military says it has begun a new "wave of strikes" targeting military infrastructure in Tehran. Meanwhile in Washington DC, US lawmakers have voted against a war powers measure that would have limited Donald Trump's ability to order further military action in Iran. Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean - the Pentagon released footage of the strike. About 180 people are thought to have been on board the Iris Dena - 32 were rescued and Sri Lankan authorities say 80 bodies have so far been found. Iranians have told the BBC the country's capital Tehran "feels empty" and that they "deserve a normal life"
Trump may end up wishing someone would stop the fighting if he gets in deeper than he can cope with. This is continuing to increase.
I have a funny feeling that Netanyahu perhaps thinks he has succeeded in persuading Trump to attack Iran. It has been his aim all along. Note his actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon in the past few days and now he has redoubled his actions in Iran. Who is the chief 'hawk' here?

[Tizer]

...Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean - the Pentagon released footage of the strike. About 180 people are thought to have been on board the Iris Dena - 32 were rescued and Sri Lankan authorities say 80 bodies have so far been found...

Apparently one of the Trumpers, probably Hegseth, released a video of the submarine sinking the Iranian ship and it has background music as if it was a computer war game.

[Stanley]

That wouldn't surprise me Peter.....
Have you noticed how handy the timing of the attack on Iran is.... Diverted attention nicely from the Epstein Tapes......

[Stanley]

HERE'S the latestst live report on the Middle East.....
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says "firepower over Iran... is about to surge dramatically" as the US ramps up attacks on Iran. Donald Trump tells a White House event the US is striking Iranian drone and missile systems "every single hour", as Israel's military chief says the country is "moving to the next phase" of the war. The first UK-chartered plane to bring home citizens from the Middle East lands in London. Israel has launched strikes on Beirut; earlier there were huge queues of traffic in southern Lebanon where Israel has told residents to evacuate. As US-Israeli strikes on Iran continue on the sixth day of the war - Iranians tell the BBC life is "tiring" and they feel "trapped", with one man saying it's "frightening" when his house shakes. Meanwhile, the UAE interior ministry says it has issued an emergency alert, urging residents to seek shelter. Earlier, the country intercepted six Iranian missiles and 131 drones. Earlier, PM Keir Starmer said he would send four fighter jets to Qatar.
Explosions are being reported in Beirut, Lebanon following major evacuation orders by the Israeli military. “The Defense Army has launched a wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in Beirut's southern suburbs," a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier on X. The Israeli military says it began striking the southern suburbs of Beirut late on Thursday. The IDF earlier ordered hundreds of thousands of people to leave the area, which is a stronghold of Hezbollah.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report.....
Three women have been interviewed under caution over offences including human trafficking and facilitating rape, as part of an investigation into former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed, the Metropolitan Police has said. The Met said three women aged in their 40s, 50s and 60s were interviewed between 25 February and 5 March. The force said they were questioned on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting the commission of sexual offences and human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Leigh Day, the law firm representing a number of survivors, said it hoped this was "the tip of the iceberg in relation to individuals the Met have on its radar". Emma Jones, partner at Leigh Day law firm, said that while they welcomed the widening of the investigation, they were "concerned to note that only three suspects have been interviewed under caution". She added that it was "surprising" that all those interviewed were female, "having considered the accounts of our clients and the details that are already in the public domain". The Met's announcement comes as a former senior Met officer recently told the BBC the investigation into allegations of rape and sexual abuse by Al Fayed should be widened to include trafficking.
I thought that this was old news but it looks as though it still has legs......

[Tizer]

I'm glad the Ukrainians are being so creative in their approach to the Russian invasion. I hope our military are taking note - it's not aircraft carriers we need but robots. `Necessity is the mother of invention'...
`Armed robots take to the battlefield in Ukraine war' LINK

Meanwhile, America is stuck in a rut with its Israeli allies, using brute force in the Middle East and forever racking up the killing of civilians as well as enemy soldiers...
`US lands bomber at UK air base after warning of surge in strikes on Iran' LINK
Each B-1 Lancer bomber can carry 34 tonnes of bombs. That'll have the IDF drooling at the thought of it being used against Iran. And in the last 72 hours B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have carried out strikes using 2000lb bombs on about 200 targets in Iran.

[Stanley]

I saw that report about the tracked robot Peter and totally agree with you.

See THIS Latest update on Iran....
US President Trump has accused UK Prime Minister Starmer of seeking to "join wars after we've already won" and says that "we don't need" UK aircraft carriers. The comments, posted on Trump's Truth Social platform, come after the BBC learned that UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on advanced readiness. B-1 bomber jets were earlier seen landing at RAF Fairford after the UK allowed the US to use its military bases for defensive strikes on Iranian missile strikes. Starmer decided not to join the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, a Dubai resident has been killed by falling shrapnel from an "aerial interception", officials in the United Arab Emirates say. Qatar and the UAE both reported being attacked by missiles and drones on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia says a missile was launched towards a military base. Iran's president earlier in the day offered an apology to neighbouring states and said Tehran would not strike them "unless attacked first". Israel has warned residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut to evacuate as it targets the Iran-backed Hezbollah group
Problem is that Trump might have a point! Starmer could be seen as having waited to see which way the wind was blowing before he made any offers.
In addition, I doubt if Trump will see any British participation as a game changer......

[Stanley]

See THIS breaking news of a big fire in Glasgow....
Updated 1 hour ago
A huge blaze has engulfed a building at Glasgow Central Station causing it to partially collapse. The fire started in a vape shop on Union Street on Sunday afternoon, with the B-listed Victorian building collapsing several hours later as flames spread. All train services to or from the station's high level have been cancelled and National Rail said the station - which is Scotland's busiest - will be closed until further notice. No casualties have been reported. Large crowds gathered at the edge of cordons on Renfield Street and Gordon Street to watch the fire, as emergency services urged people to stay away. Following a meeting at midnight, Network Rail said: "As things stand we've not identified any significant damage to the station. We'll get this fully assessed at first light."

[Tripps]

The fire in Glasgow. Evidence of explosions in the fire, and its intensity, raise suspicionsthat lithium batteries were involved. Note the explosion just after the well meaning member of the public is dragged away for his own safety. He's lucky to be alive.

Now not just electric battery vehicles to worry about. vape shops as well.

[Wendyf]

I believe it started in a vape shop, full of lithium batteries.

[Whyperion]

I'm glad the Ukrainians are being so creative in their approach to the Russian invasion. I hope our military are taking note - it's not aircraft carriers we need but robots. `Necessity is the mother of invention'....

I suspect the British Army may well be taking note - and possible action - but they are not telling anyone or making it public - Meanwhile the Conservative front bench seems to want the UK to have unlimited aircraft and big boats ( not sure what for other than bomb a bit more of Iran this week ) , thoughts that are effectively out of date for a proper defence policy.

Bigger drones have little drones upon which to fight em
and little drones have smaller drones and so on , ad infinitum

[Stanley]

I can well imagine insurance companies doing a quick revision of premiums if batteries were indeed involved in the fire.

See THIS report about the cost of heating oil....
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised to explore options to address the "unique challenges" faced by households reliant on heating oil amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. The global oil price reached nearly $120 a barrel on Monday, a four-year high, over fears of a lengthy disruption to supplies caused by the war. Those who use heating oil often store it in a tank outside their property and are among the first to feel the impact of rising prices. Reeves promised meetings between the Treasury and rural and Northern Ireland MPs on Wednesday to look at "action we can take" to support those using heating oil. The increase sparked a surge in the price of heating oil, with households in Northern Ireland facing an 81% increase in bills, while some in rural homes in England have reported prices doubling. There is no cap to limit the cost of heating oil in the way households benefit from regulator Ofgem's price cap on gas and electricity bills. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on Monday warned the chief executive of the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) the increase in heating oil prices had been "significant" and "caused concern among households and businesses". Only 3% of households in England and Wales said oil was their only source of central heating, according to a 2021 census, and 5% of households in Scotland. But almost two-thirds of homes in Northern Ireland use oil for heating, by far the highest proportion among UK nations. According to the Consumer Council, about 500,000 homes in NI use heating oil and about 284,000 natural gas.
I have always been aware of the vulnerability of people in remote locations who relied on oil heating. I didn't know about the prevalence of the fuel in Northern Ireland.....

[Whyperion]

I believe it started in a vape shop, full of lithium batteries.

more that there were a lot being charged on traling cords I assume USB so either charger to battery not matched or a failed wire joint (they use small wires and I have had a few sparkings and fires on USB and similar "elbows" where they have chaffed insulation) thence runaway once the heat overcame any defences around lithium.
It is a shame after years of declining fire numbers as cigarette smoking diminished and furnishings improved from materials that went up in flames quickly we know have a rise that are battery related , mainly blamed at chargers that dont meet any required standards

[Whyperion]

So many houses living "off grid" with heating oil. it has always been a balancing trick of when to order fuel. Even in London some of my workplaces were heated with oil rather than gas and working price forward contracts was fun with the Total distributer. Otley has a distributor (Tate) I think for the Q8 UK downstream retail operations of Kuwait Investments running the 2 axle small tankers for deliveries up rural lanes.
However many of these houses and farms are ripe for investment in solar , wind and indeed some heat recovery - air and ground source exchangers which could , after a £30 000 investment( about 5 percent of house value ) reduce the need for significant , if any, oil at all. Pluggy showed us what could be done in a small terrace property and really it is something that building societies and the govt should be financing at low interest rates.

[Tripps]

I believe it started in a vape shop, full of lithium batteries.

Here's some more info on the venture. The ferret

Unlikely to carry any insurance I'd say - for fire or third party consequences.

PS Reports that the Fire Brigade are still 'playing on the ruins' nearly two days after the start of the fire.

[Whyperion]

I believe it started in a vape shop, full of lithium batteries.

Here's some more info on the venture. The ferret

Unlikely to carry any insurance I'd say - for fire or third party consequences.

PS Reports that the Fire Brigade are still 'playing on the ruins' nearly two days after the start of the fire.

That might be true. building owners as a whole probably go insurance and assume they got rent. Rates under about 12k a year might be nil for newly established enterprises or other smaller business reliefs
vape selling didnt know it needed registration as such = what are local trading standards up to

[Stanley]

DAVID....That was a good report, my impression is that whether it was recently sold or not, it was a problem waiting to happen.....

THIS caught my eye this morning....
1 hour ago
When the FBI raided Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion in July 2019, on the day he was arrested for child sex trafficking, agents forced open a large safe to find diamonds, bundles of cash, passports, binders of CDs and hard drives. But an issue with the warrant meant they could not leave with the items. And when they returned with a new one, the safe had been emptied while they were gone - according to FBI documents. Richard Kahn, Epstein's accountant and bookkeeper since 2005, had told the mansion's staff to pack two suitcases with the contents of the safe and deliver them to his home, agents wrote. After the FBI spoke to Kahn's then lawyer, Kahn agreed to hand over the suitcases untouched, but he did not want agents coming to his house and declined to say who had told him to remove the items. However, a source close to the investigation into Epstein told us that he was not aware of Kahn ever being interviewed or investigated in relation to the paedophile financier's criminal investigation. Kahn's current lawyer told BBC News that his client had fully co-operated with the FBI's requests.
The news story that keeps on giving.....