leicsmac

Further related to this, Felon#47 stirring the pot a bit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2lll7zvn0o

...and the Geneva Conventions, while designating directly killing or wounding civilians to be a war crime, doesn't extend such license to nicking or destroying their property and vital resources - which would include water, I guess. (Though I believe it does have things to say about such "irregular" "settlers", rather than official soldiers, engaging in such activities.) Naturally still incredibly shitty behaviour from those without a conscience that our species really shouldn't tolerate, though.

And so is Julia Hartley-Brewer, his female equivalent, apparently.

Is there any proof that these kinds of drugs cause long term harm in the way habitual steroid use is shown to do? Honestly don't know that one. I can see the argument being made here, broadly agree and there has to be safeguards, but I'm not 100% convinced by the idea that "anything that is worth doing and will cause meaningful change needs difficult and stressful work" which is being floated here.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-freshwater-springs-being-seized-by-israeli-settlers-2026-08-14/ An insight into how vital water is as a resource... and how bereft of conscience some of those are who would apparently use denial of it as a mass scale weapon of war.

Excellent from Bangladesh, Test cricket needs those kinds of results.

Richard Littlejohn, excelling himself as usual.

And China do have things the North needs in terms of vital resources - food, machinery to process raw materials etc. They might think that given they're on about an equal diplomatic keel with both North and South right now, it would be a good time to put something forward, if the US are no longer interested enough to intervene.

Myung did come to power on a platform that included this, so I reckon he was going to go for it with or without Trump being his usual dickish self anyway. I'm also inclined to think that the South could at the very least hold its own in any conflict with the North without help from the US. So, I reckon now isn't a bad time to talk, all things considered. NB. I'm also thinking if the US are going to step away, the Chinese will be seeing an opportunity to step in as some kind of neutral mediator between both sides, given things going bad would hurt them directly too.

They did, but given they change their minds as often as most folks change their underwear and their overall objective is reunification too (by one means or another), IMO it's rather possible that they may be open at least to conversation on the topic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8en2z9jp2xo South Korea's president has proposed talks with its northern neighbour on officially ending the war between the two that is technically still active. Lee Jae Myung suggested a "multi-layered security system" to avoid flare-ups along the countries' de-facto border, known as the demilitarised zone (DMZ), and offered to discuss practical ways of halting Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. North Korea has continually tested ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which has been perceived in Seoul and nearby Japan as an attempt to intimidate and project power. The conflict between the two occupants of the Korean peninsula has been effectively frozen since an armistice was signed in 1953. Better international news. Jong-un was keen to talk to Moon Jae-in on this one, let's hope he's similarly keen to talk to Myung on it too.

I don't doubt that at all. It's truly dreadful that there appears to be not much useful progress on this matter, after all this time.

As alarming as these reports are, I'm inclined to think it's always been frightening to be a woman for the reasons given above - this day and age just gives more awareness of exactly why for those who wish to know.

Glad I'm seeing the reaction on here I was expecting

Hopefully a lot of them are bots so it appears worse than it actually is (polling gives a similar split to the poll we have here on the matter), but yes, as has been said before, having such a scientific matter of importance that is almost entirely subject to every part of the democratic "talking shop" shows a critical weakness of that system.

You would think that, but there appears to be quite a few who will surely try.

Oh, so climate change and its effects really are an important issue? That's interesting, I seem to remember being told by multiple people on here that it wasn't the case. Funny, that.

Now, perhaps, would be a good time for Burnham to emphasise the point that without well thought-out energy policy that doesn't rely on burning stuff (and engaging in whatever international movement possible to get others to do the same), this "tinderbox" summer may actually be the coolest one the UK has for some time. It is a point of difference in terms of policy that could be useful for him to emphasise at the moment.

In other news, interesting (though I use that word strictly academically in this case) journalism from the Beeb about women in Afghanistan today. There does appear to be a pretty deep schism in the ruling Taliban about a few different things.

Does anyone think that he and his sycophants really care about the welfare of military personnel beyond a simple assessment of their ability to kill whoever they want them to kill?

That should be bigger news tbh. Well, now that's done with, on with the finances inquiry.

Certainly no disagreement there (disposable BBQs anyone?), but the overall point stands.

Unless there is actually a definitive, demonstrable and provable rise in arson cases, then the circumstances of the starting of these wildfires is much less important than the circumstances of their extent and severity anyway.

Which, even if it were true (and it's not) would still be absurd as it comes with a side order of inference of "well, I have zero responsibility, obligation or power to actually make the world a better place for the future as the world changes, so just let 'em all fry".

I believe @bovril is our resident expert on the various groups within that organised religion and their viewpoints.