Salisbury, Skripal, Poison and Russia.

[Guest MattP]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Welcome on board, Matt!

He could win, but the Dems are certainly favourites.

 

Trump is about 13-8 - 7/4 to win in 2020 with the Bookies, I think thats about right, a 35-40% ish chance.

 

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, MattP said:

He could win, but the Dems are certainly favourites.

 

Trump is about 13-8 - 7/4 to win in 2020 with the Bookies, I think thats about right, a 35-40% ish chance.

 

Yeah, I'd say that's about right too.

 

So much can change between now and then, though.

[Beechey]

Who is expelling diplomats?

The UK announced it was expelling 23 Russian diplomats earlier this month.

Various countries announced they were making the same move in solidarity on Monday. These are:

• US: 60 diplomats
• EU countries: France (4); Germany (4); Poland (4); Czech Republic (3); Lithuania (3); Denmark (2); Netherlands (2); Italy (2); Estonia (1); Croatia (1); Finland (1); Latvia (1); Romania (1)
• Ukraine: 13
• Canada: 4

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43545565

[Guest MattP]

Quite a result for the government that.

[Beechey]

So far:

 

US - 60
UK - 23
Ukraine - 13
Poland - 4
Germany - 4
France - 4
Canada - 4
Czech Republic - 3
Lithuania - 3
Netherlands - 2
Denmark - 2
Italy - 2
Albania - 2
Spain - 2
Estonia - 1
Latvia - 1
Romania - 1
Finland - 1
Croatia - 1
Sweden - 1

 

Total: 134

[Guest MattP]

But we have no influence in the World and Trump is in the pocket of Putin isn't he? 

[Manwell Pablo]

3 hours ago, MattP said:

But we have no influence in the World and Trump is in the pocket of Putin isn't he? 

 To be fair to him 60 is some statement from Donald 

[Collymore]

Can someone explain why diplomats are important? What do they actually do? 

[Beechey]

4 minutes ago, Collymore said:

Can someone explain why diplomats are important? What do they actually do? 

It's not that they're diplomats, it's that the vast majority of those being expelled are probably undeclared Russian intelligence agents.

[Strokes]

3 hours ago, MattP said:

But we have no influence in the World and Trump is in the pocket of Putin isn't he? 

I’m not his biggest fan but fair play to DT, that’s a ringing endorsement.

[Buce]

Just now, Beechey said:

It's not that they're diplomats, it's that the vast majority of those being expelled are undeclared Russian intelligence agents.

 

Is there such a thing as a declared intelligence agent?

[Beechey]

4 hours ago, Buce said:

 

Is there such a thing as a declared intelligence agent?

In terms of working in an embassy I don't think there is, but you could certainly have the head of MI6, MI5 or GCHQ go to another country, and since they're known publicly, I guess they'd be declared? Frankly not a clue

[leicsmac]

4 hours ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 To be fair to him 60 is some statement from Donald 

Yeah, it's a decent effort. One thing you can say about Trump is that he isn't very predictable.

[notnow john]

Still nothing from Dublin yet,the only country we share a border with seems out of sync.

Perhaps they're waiting for Easter.

[Beechey]

6 hours ago, notnow john said:

Still nothing from Dublin yet,the only country we share a border with seems out of sync.

Perhaps they're waiting for Easter.

Republic of Ireland is neutral on international disputes, though the Taoiseach is reportedly weighing up whether to expel Russian diplomats or not.

[Wymsey]

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/salisbury-nerve-agent-attack-sergei-skripal-and-daughter-yulia-should-be-allowed-to-die-11306692

[Wymsey]

'The UK must prove they they weren't involved with the poisoning' - Russia.

They'll fight all the way to deny that it was them, won't they?

 

Don't happen of course, but strip off the World Cup and give it to someone else as they don't deserve anything..

[Mike Oxlong]

So, with the highest concentration of the nerve agent found to be at the Skripal’s  front door a painful unnatural death seems to be an occupational hazard for posties. 

 

Trav, you should be getting danger money ! 

[yorkie1999]

13 hours ago, Wymeswold fox said:

'The UK must prove they they weren't involved with the poisoning' - Russia.

They'll fight all the way to deny that it was them, won't they?

 

Don't happen of course, but strip off the World Cup and give it to someone else as they don't deserve anything..

The ruskies could say we’ve concocted this up to deny them the World Cup 

[Beechey]

Yulia Skripal is "improving rapidly" and no longer in a critical condition, four weeks after the Salisbury poisoning, the hospital has said.

 

The daughter of ex-spy Sergei Skripal was admitted they came into contact with a nerve agent. on 4 March.

"She has responded well to treatment but continues to receive expert clinical care 24 hours a day," the hospital said.

Mr Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition.

 

"I want to take this opportunity to once again thank the staff of Salisbury District Hospital for delivering such high quality care to these patients over the last few weeks," said Dr Christine Blanshard, Medical Director for Salisbury District Hospital.

"I am very proud both of our front-line staff and all those who support them."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43588450

[Webbo]

3 hours ago, yorkie1999 said:

The ruskies could say we’ve concocted this up to deny them the World Cup 

Tough shit if they did,

[Beechey]

Yulia Skripal, the daughter of ex-spy Sergei Skripal, is improving rapidly and is conscious and talking, the BBC understands.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43588450

[Innovindil]

1 hour ago, Beechey said:

Yulia Skripal, the daughter of ex-spy Sergei Skripal, is improving rapidly and is conscious and talking, the BBC understands.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43588450

Great news considering just mere hours earlier we had someone saying they both should be allowed to die. 

[Webbo]

3 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

Great news considering just mere hours earlier we had someone saying they both should be allowed to die. 

Wasn't Putin was it?

[Alf Bentley]

15 hours ago, Beechey said:

Yulia Skripal, the daughter of ex-spy Sergei Skripal, is improving rapidly and is conscious and talking, the BBC understands.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43588450

 

 

Will be a bit embarrassing if she tells the police she and her Dad just ate a dodgy prawn madras or something.

 

Assuming it was the Russians, I hope they've got good security covering her. Though I suppose Putin will just deny any revelations regardless of evidence or witness statements....post-truth era, innit.