Seen in the News

[Stanley]

A good question Gloria...... I have no adequate answer....

[Stanley]

HERE'S the latest update.....
The US is "very close" to meeting its objectives in Iran, the White House says, adding that Iran's regime is looking for an "exit ramp". But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the country will keep "defending" itself. There is "no intention of negotiating for now," he tells state media. Araghchi says "friendly countries" may have conveyed messages between the US and Iran, but this does not amount to "dialogue" - the White House has suggested talks are ongoing. Iran earlier issued five conditions to end the war, an Iranian official told state media, including a conclusion to the conflict "across all fronts" and payment of reparations. It came after Iran reportedly received a 15-point plan from the US - Tehran initially rejected the plan but Araghchi later said "if a position needs to be taken, it will certainly be determined". On the ground, footage shows a plume of smoke at an Israeli power station after a reported Iranian missile attack, while Iranian air defence systems are heard in Tehran
No let-up in confusion...... Why do I trust the Iranian reports more than the Americans?

[Tizer]

Because Trump and his colleagues are bigger liars than the Iranians?

Meanwhile, here comes another flood of scam emails trying to get our personal details, bank passwords etc ...
`NS&I set to pay millions to customers over misplaced funds' LINK
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) is expected to pay hundreds of millions of pounds to customers who claim there have been failures in managing their money. The government-backed bank has been accused of a series of errors dating back years, with some bereaved families saying they did not receive money that was rightfully theirs, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell is expected to address the issue, said to potentially affect about 37,000 customers, in a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday. NS&I has apologised to anyone suffering a bereavement who had not received the customer service they should expect....

[Tizer]

Trump continues to threaten Iran and condemn them for not agreeing a ceasefire. Have you noticed that since the first day of the US-Iran war (sorry, `special operation') Russia has been providing the Iranians with extra drones, weapons and ammunition. Yes, Trump's friend Putin is Iran's ally - but have you heard even a word of this mentioned from the White House? Why doesn't Trump mention it, I wonder?

[Stanley]

I think they call it 'news management' Peter. We are being lied to on so many different levels it is very hard to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Hence my comment about believing the Iranians more than the Americans yesterday.
HERE'S the latest update from the liars.....
President Trump further extends a pause on strikes against Iranian energy sites, saying talks with Tehran are "ongoing" and "going very well". He announced an initial five-day pause on Monday - but in a post on Truth Social, he says: "As per Iranian Government request... I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 PM". Oil prices, which had climbed on Thursday, dropped soon after, writes our business reporter. At a cabinet meeting earlier, Trump said the US would be Iran's "worst nightmare" if it doesn't agree to a peace plan. Special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed at the same meeting that the US has sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran. An Iranian official earlier told state media in their response to the proposal that Tehran has a "natural and legal right" to control the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks on Israel, Iran and Lebanon continue, while two people have been killed by debris from an intercepted missile in Abu Dhabi, thought to be from Iran
Israel takes advantage of the confusion to make moves to annexe land in South Lebanon and we have breaking news of air attacks on Dubai.
Trump appears to be in some sort of fantasy world......

[Tizer]

`'My daughter is under the rubble': Inside Tehran as civilian toll of strikes rises' LINK
The BBC's doing a good job of showing how the IDF have no respect for the lives of civilians whether they are men, women or children. Look further down the article for the detailed information. For example, Military experts told BBC Eye that the Israeli air force is likely using particularly large bombs across Tehran from the Mark 80 series, which are often fitted with precision guidance systems. They added that the scale and spread of the damage observed in Resalat is consistent with the use of the Mark 84, the largest of the series, weighing 2,000lb (907kg).

[Whyperion]

Anyone missing the passing of NCP. The founders sold it a few years back to overseas investors I hadnt realised they never owned most of the sites they operated from. Rents thus fell due on Wednesday and many were not paid with closures of sites occuring by Saturday. Some that make money are staying open for now. Apparently though costs of running a patch of land are more expensive than I thought.

[Tripps]

From the BBC -
"There was "no evidence" of "family voting" or voter coercion at the Gorton and Denton by-election, police have concluded after an investigation."
However they say later in the article -
We have spoken to the four Democracy Volunteers observers present at polling stations on the day of the by-election - 26 February - who have shared with us their eyewitness account," police said. "This includes some instances of more than one voter going into a booth at the same time, and instances of people looking over the shoulder of voters. "The information they have provided to us estimates this may have happened on 32 occasions across 15 polling stations.

Err - hello - that's actually "family voting".

[Stanley]

It would appear so David..... Could it be that someone wants memory of the by-election to fade as soon as possible and therefore pursuing the allegations is counter-productive?

HERE'S this morning's Iran update.....
[President Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff says that the US is hopeful of having meetings with Iran "this week," and Washington "expects" an answer to the 15-point deal on the table. Ten American soldiers have been injured in an Iranian strike on Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Airbase, sources have told the BBC's US media partner CBS News. Iranian state media reports claims from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that US-Israeli strikes are targeting civilian sites. Israel says it hit the Arak heavy water plant in central Iran - Araghchi says two of Iran's largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites were targeted and his country will "exact a heavy price". Several Gulf nations report fresh strikes and interceptions, with the UAE saying its air defences engaged ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran/i]
I note that Rubio speaking at the G& talks says that the conflict will be over in 'weeks rather than months'.

[Tizer]

On Radio 4 `Today' this morning at about 08.15 they had a guest discussing the US-Iran war. I think it was the former NATO Deputy Supreme Commander, Sir Richard Shirreff. I wish the discussion could be played out to Americans. He pointed out all the mistakes the US Administration has made and didn't hold back on predicting what a terrible situation they've created for the world. He was not optimistic and couldn't see any way out now the Houtis are in it too. His view is that the Americans fail to understand the power of the Iranians and Trump will be sending his promised thousands of troops on a suicide mission. I'd said to Mrs Tiz yesterday that sending US ground troops to attack Hormuz will be Trump's Gallipoli - then this morning heard Shirreff say exactly the same!