General News Thread

[Zear0]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

And hey presto, he’s reopening it because Xi Jinping asked him to. One of the most humiliating episodes in American history surely??

Second...

 

Edited 15 April by Zear0

[st albans fox]

9 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

Iran now calling the shots on when and if it will resume talks with the US 

 

Unusual behaviour for a totally obliterated and defeated nation

🤔

 

 

"Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim news agency says Iran will decide about a next round of talks with the US after meeting with the Pakistani delegation today, citing an "informed source".

They say the US and Israel agreeing a ceasefire deal with Lebanon would be a "positive sign for Iran’s decision" on the next round of talks.

However, it adds that the US "must adhere to a reasonable framework for negotiations", must not "obstruct the process through excessive demands" or breach commitments made prior to the ceasefire.

Tasnim also notes that US media outlets have reported Washington’s willingness to begin the next round of negotiations, but the Iranian the delegation has emphasised the need for the US to "observe certain principles required for initiating a reasonable negotiation".

 

We can’t believe anything either side says

however, the USA’s obvious desire not to return to fighting is seen in the Middle East cultures as weakness and Iran will exploit that by trying to grab the agenda on talks. 
even if they are hurting v badly, they will try not to show it and attempt to take some control. One of the biggest problems in sorting this out is that neither side is capable of agreeing an ending without being able to declare victory.  Most western nations would be happy to take the actual win in consequences and lose the media win. Trump can’t do that. 
there was a leak that the Americans had offered Tehran a deal where they stopped uranium enrichment for twenty years to avoid them having to agree to never doing it. I guess trump could sell that as a win.  Apparently the Iranians came back with five years ! 
 

[Mike Oxlong]

11 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

We can’t believe anything either side says

however, the USA’s obvious desire not to return to fighting is seen in the Middle East cultures as weakness and Iran will exploit that by trying to grab the agenda on talks. 
even if they are hurting v badly, they will try not to show it and attempt to take some control. One of the biggest problems in sorting this out is that neither side is capable of agreeing an ending without being able to declare victory.  Most western nations would be happy to take the actual win in consequences and lose the media win. Trump can’t do that. 
there was a leak that the Americans had offered Tehran a deal where they stopped uranium enrichment for twenty years to avoid them having to agree to never doing it. I guess trump could sell that as a win.  Apparently the Iranians came back with five years ! 
 

A lot of analysts don't expect the nuclear deal to be any better than that which Trump exited during his first term from what I've read. 

[ramboacdc]

20 hours ago, foxes1988 said:

It's basically some of the Octopus tarrifs on a larger scale right?

They didn't do any when I was with them. I have been with Eon 2 months now and been invited to use more electric twice. 4 years ago we are sitting trying to conserve energy and now we are being told to stick the dryer on to help the grid. 

[davieG]

[CornwallFox]

29 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

A lot of analysts don't expect the nuclear deal to be any better than that which Trump exited during his first term from what I've read. 

I can't imagine it will be anywhere near as good. His and his administration's demands are incredibly basic, rather than meticulous and detailed under the Obama deal

[Lionator]

You would barely believe me if I said that the Russian MOD released a statement threatening to bomb the Meridian in town, but here we are. 

[fox_up_north]

https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-europe-jet-fuel-flight-cancellations-birol-6e67fafd493861b3858de5548aa77703

 

 

Seen this pop up. International Energy Agency reckon in June we might see cancellations of flights due to lack of fuel. 

[Mike Oxlong]

Hegseth should be in a straight jacket. Dangerously cuckoo ! 

[leicsmac]

23 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

Hegseth should be in a straight jacket. Dangerously cuckoo ! 

 "Nothing worse than a monster who thinks he's right with God." - Mal Reynolds, Firefly.  

 

Amazing how often that quote is proving accurate these days. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

20 hours ago, Zear0 said:

Second...

 

Where's the ballroom?

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, fox_up_north said:

https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-europe-jet-fuel-flight-cancellations-birol-6e67fafd493861b3858de5548aa77703

 

 

Seen this pop up. International Energy Agency reckon in June we might see cancellations of flights due to lack of fuel. 

So long as it's AF1, that's fine.

 

Had he left USA since he started this? Pretty sure he'd need more than the usual security. 

 

It's all very Dead Zone.

[Trav Le Bleu]

53 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

 "Nothing worse than a monster who thinks he's right with God." - Mal Reynolds, Firefly.  

 

Amazing how often that quote is proving accurate these days. 

Serenity actually.

 

I'll be in my bunk.

[leicsmac]

31 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Serenity actually.

 

I'll be in my bunk.

Sorry to be a pedant and to disagree here, but it's direct from Firefly Episode 12, Heart of Gold, discussing Rance Burgess. 

 

Edit: though, yes, some people juggle geese.

 

 

Edited 16 April by leicsmac

[Innovindil]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/16/revealed-mandelson-failed-vetting-but-foreign-office-overruled-decision

 

Should spell the end of Starmer. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

3 hours ago, leicsmac said:

Sorry to be a pedant and to disagree here, but it's direct from Firefly Episode 12, Heart of Gold, discussing Rance Burgess. 

 

Edit: though, yes, some people juggle geese.

 

 

Shiny, you've given me an excuse to rewatch.

 

It's been a few years.

[Alf Bentley]

6 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/16/revealed-mandelson-failed-vetting-but-foreign-office-overruled-decision

 

Should spell the end of Starmer. 

 

Blimey.

 

It already seemed a reckless decision to appoint Mandelson, given what was known about him - even allowing for info that he concealed.

But the idea that he failed security vetting and someone senior thought it a good idea to overrule that?! 

 

If true, it should be quick to find out who decided and who knew - and they should be sacked.

 

I'm in the minority to have some sympathy for Starmer. He's done some stuff right as well as some stuff wrong. Previously, my inclination would've been to give him longer to turn it around, though I recognised that he'd probably inevitably be deposed after Labour gets hammered in the forthcoming elections. But if this is true and he knew about it (whether or not it was done at his instigation), he should resign....and, in some ways, it would be even worse if he somehow didn't know about it. That would suggest dysfunctionality at the heart of government. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

 

Nuff sed.

[leicsmac]

32 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/16/revealed-mandelson-failed-vetting-but-foreign-office-overruled-decision

 

Should spell the end of Starmer. 

 

16 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

Blimey.

 

It already seemed a reckless decision to appoint Mandelson, given what was known about him - even allowing for info that he concealed.

But the idea that he failed security vetting and someone senior thought it a good idea to overrule that?! 

 

If true, it should be quick to find out who decided and who knew - and they should be sacked.

 

I'm in the minority to have some sympathy for Starmer. He's done some stuff right as well as some stuff wrong. Previously, my inclination would've been to give him longer to turn it around, though I recognised that he'd probably inevitably be deposed after Labour gets hammered in the forthcoming elections. But if this is true and he knew about it (whether or not it was done at his instigation), he should resign....and, in some ways, it would be even worse if he somehow didn't know about it. That would suggest dysfunctionality at the heart of government. 

Yeah, either he's clueless enough that he didn't know about this, or made a massive mistake when he did. Either way it's no bueno. 

 

Thing is though, by sidelining Burnham they've crippled themselves in terms of reasonable leadership options... so now what?

[Innovindil]

4 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

 

Yeah, either he's clueless enough that he didn't know about this, or made a massive mistake when he did. Either way it's no bueno. 

 

Thing is though, by sidelining Burnham they've crippled themselves in terms of reasonable leadership options... so now what?

Can Burnham run for another seat if someone steps down? Or does that decision to bar him earlier mean he can't try for a seat in x amount of time? 

[Free Falling Foxes]

19 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

 

Yeah, either he's clueless enough that he didn't know about this, or made a massive mistake when he did. Either way it's no bueno. 

 

Thing is though, by sidelining Burnham they've crippled themselves in terms of reasonable leadership options... so now what?

Starmer could always use the 'Rhodesia Solution' to get out of it.

[CornwallFox]

1 hour ago, Innovindil said:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/16/revealed-mandelson-failed-vetting-but-foreign-office-overruled-decision

 

Should spell the end of Starmer. 

 

50 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

Blimey.

 

It already seemed a reckless decision to appoint Mandelson, given what was known about him - even allowing for info that he concealed.

But the idea that he failed security vetting and someone senior thought it a good idea to overrule that?! 

 

If true, it should be quick to find out who decided and who knew - and they should be sacked.

 

I'm in the minority to have some sympathy for Starmer. He's done some stuff right as well as some stuff wrong. Previously, my inclination would've been to give him longer to turn it around, though I recognised that he'd probably inevitably be deposed after Labour gets hammered in the forthcoming elections. But if this is true and he knew about it (whether or not it was done at his instigation), he should resign....and, in some ways, it would be even worse if he somehow didn't know about it. That would suggest dysfunctionality at the heart of government. 

BBC News - Starmer did not know Mandelson failed vetting, government says

BBC News - Starmer did not know Mandelson failed vetting, government says

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2r15151xgo

 

He only knew that this week apparently.....

 

[st albans fox]

4 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

 

BBC News - Starmer did not know Mandelson failed vetting, government says

BBC News - Starmer did not know Mandelson failed vetting, government says

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2r15151xgo

 

He only knew that this week apparently.....

 

If the foreign office took that decision themselves then the foreign sec at the time should resign from govt  (lammy) 

 

Surely has to be some level of responsibility on this. If lammy can extracate himself then a senior civil servant who made the call needs to go 

 

starmer promised a less sleazy administration 

[leicsmac]

29 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

Can Burnham run for another seat if someone steps down? Or does that decision to bar him earlier mean he can't try for a seat in x amount of time? 

No idea, would have to look into it.

 

14 minutes ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Starmer could always use the 'Rhodesia Solution' to get out of it.

Not sure how well that would fly in today's political climate. 

[leicsmac]

10 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

 

BBC News - Starmer did not know Mandelson failed vetting, government says

BBC News - Starmer did not know Mandelson failed vetting, government says

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2r15151xgo

 

He only knew that this week apparently.....

 

 

4 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

If the foreign office took that decision themselves then the foreign sec at the time should resign from govt  (lammy) 

 

Surely has to be some level of responsibility on this. If lammy can extracate himself then a senior civil servant who made the call needs to go 

 

starmer promised a less sleazy administration 

At the very least whoever was involved has to go, but Starmer not apparently knowing about this is an awful look as well.