General News Thread

[danny.]

1 hour ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Which is what I said. Practically all channels have streaming services showing the vast majority of their content.

 

You're just being nittpicky about the definition of a channel, which for me is the entirety of a broadcasting company's output, i.e, broadcasting, streaming and other media either physical or online. I'm pretty sure most people would agree.

it's ok to just say you're wrong...

[Bellend Sebastian]

Trump couldn't possibly have done anything wrong in connection with Epstein as surely at the first sign of anything untoward his powerful moral code would kick in

 

 

 

 

 

Yes of I know I've made that joke before but I'm rather fond of it so no apologies

[Trav Le Bleu]

11 minutes ago, danny. said:

it's ok to just say you're wrong...

I'm pretty sure you're unaware of the concept.

[kenny]

10 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

GB Energy and a huge uplift in NHS budgets to support it's improvement are long term benefits.

 

I think they have increased the day to day spending by around 3% which is in line with the increases under the Tories. It's probably under the radar, but the the 3% annual increase isnt huge, albeit it's still £22bn or so each year.

 

They have committed £5bn more than the Tories in capital expenditure, but also spent £3bn in salary increases so far plus £1.5bn in additional funding for private hospitals. So I suspect there is some massaging going on.

 

GB energy we will have to see, but it stinks of the next PFI mess. Hopefully it's better thought through.

[Zear0]

17 minutes ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Trump couldn't possibly have done anything wrong in connection with Epstein as surely at the first sign of anything untoward his powerful moral code would kick in

 

 

 

 

 

Yes of I know I've made that joke before but I'm rather fond of it so no apologies

Shutting down your country's government to stop the swearing in of the vote sealing Democrat to release the rest of the material is extraordinary tbf.

[CornwallFox]

11 minutes ago, kenny said:

I think they have increased the day to day spending by around 3% which is in line with the increases under the Tories. It's probably under the radar, but the the 3% annual increase isnt huge, albeit it's still £22bn or so each year.

 

They have committed £5bn more than the Tories in capital expenditure, but also spent £3bn in salary increases so far plus £1.5bn in additional funding for private hospitals. So I suspect there is some massaging going on.

 

GB energy we will have to see, but it stinks of the next PFI mess. Hopefully it's better thought through.

The NHS pay rises last year were already agreed under the Tories but not paid and they hadn't set aside any budget to pay them. Gross incompetence at best, intentional salting of the earth, party before country nonsense at worst. 

 

With GB energy, it's our best chance of getting bills down. Privatised energy companies are allowed to charge all energy based on the cost of the most expensive segment they use. So if they use 1% gas and 99% wind, they can charge based on gas price even though wind is 9x cheaper to produce. 

 

GB energy will be able to charge based on actual cost which should be much lower. Obviously to get there they need to buy up capacity so there's a fair old lead in time. They have started by buying solar panels for schools and NHS buildings which is a good way to reduce government energy costs beyond the initial capital spend.

[kenny]

7 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

The NHS pay rises last year were already agreed under the Tories but not paid and they hadn't set aside any budget to pay them. Gross incompetence at best, intentional salting of the earth, party before country nonsense at worst. 

 

With GB energy, it's our best chance of getting bills down. Privatised energy companies are allowed to charge all energy based on the cost of the most expensive segment they use. So if they use 1% gas and 99% wind, they can charge based on gas price even though wind is 9x cheaper to produce. 

 

GB energy will be able to charge based on actual cost which should be much lower. Obviously to get there they need to buy up capacity so there's a fair old lead in time. They have started by buying solar panels for schools and NHS buildings which is a good way to reduce government energy costs beyond the initial capital spend.

I've always wondered if it was easy to change pricing on energy why successive governments haven't done it. I read that it is because we have to have gas generators on permanent standby to cover for low wind and solar days, in effect having to pay for energy generating twice. We also have to pay when we generate too much to turn off the turbines.

 

I haven't read what millibands plan for this issue is. Though I suspect I have a copy of his plan in front of me at present in the form of a blank piece of paper.

[Zear0]

4 minutes ago, kenny said:

I've always wondered if it was easy to change pricing on energy why successive governments haven't done it. I read that it is because we have to have gas generators on permanent standby to cover for low wind and solar days, in effect having to pay for energy generating twice. We also have to pay when we generate too much to turn off the turbines.

 

I haven't read what millibands plan for this issue is. Though I suspect I have a copy of his plan in front of me at present in the form of a blank piece of paper.

Sure suppliers of cheap energy are delighted to be paid at the rates required for gas generation. Imagine the argument against is a significant reduction in investment of these energy sources if they moved away from the model. 

[danny.]

1 hour ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I'm pretty sure you're unaware of the concept.

What a bizarre ad hominem 

[CornwallFox]

46 minutes ago, kenny said:

I've always wondered if it was easy to change pricing on energy why successive governments haven't done it. I read that it is because we have to have gas generators on permanent standby to cover for low wind and solar days, in effect having to pay for energy generating twice. We also have to pay when we generate too much to turn off the turbines.

 

I haven't read what millibands plan for this issue is. Though I suspect I have a copy of his plan in front of me at present in the form of a blank piece of paper.

They're getting behind small modular nuclear reactors to provide base energy, something that should have been done many years ago. 

 

You don't hear about any of it but away from the same few talking points, they are actually doing a few decent things. 

[kenny]

3 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

They're getting behind small modular nuclear reactors to provide base energy, something that should have been done many years ago. 

 

You don't hear about any of it but away from the same few talking points, they are actually doing a few decent things. 

Good news.

 

As the Tories have been funding r & d on these since 2018, I'm pleased milliband has had the foresight to keep them part of UK energy policy, particularly as they have been a formal part of the energy strategy since 2012.

 

Construction was due to start in 2025, but I'm not sure where we are in that timeline. Probably in a form of delay like many infrastructure projects seem to be at the moment.

[leicsmac]

2 hours ago, Zear0 said:

Fake news mate, fake news.

Pretty much verbatim what the White House is saying, oddly enough.

 

 

[Lionator]

The American funded NABU anti corruption agency have started pursuing Ukranian government figures for pocketing money meant for the energy system. Awful behaviours 

[Parafox]

3 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I'm pretty sure you're unaware of the concept.

For clarity:

 

From TVlicence.gov.uk:

 

In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, on any device. Ignoring this law can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. 

 

 

You do not need a TV Licence to watch:

streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus

on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video

videos on websites like YouTube

videos or DVDs

 

How much it costs

A TV Licence costs £174.50 (£58.50 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses.

Edited 12 November 2025 by Parafox

[Parafox]

59 minutes ago, Lionator said:

The American funded NABU anti corruption agency have started pursuing Ukranian government figures for pocketing money meant for the energy system. Awful behaviours 

 

By which side?

[leicsmac]

GB News with the expected buttock kissing at the White House press briefing, then. 

 

Given the events of today, the Beeb really should tell the current US administration to firstly look up the reply given in Arkell v Pressdram for their next response, and secondly to look forward to the next Panorama special focusing exclusively on Epstein and his connections with the higher ups in that same administration. 

[Parafox]

It's not as open and closed as the Orange Man expects:

 

In a potential defamation lawsuit against the BBC in the United States (specifically Florida, where he has residency), Donald Trump would need to prove three main components: 

 

1) The content was false and defamatory: Trump must show that the BBC's edited presentation of his January 6, 2021 speech was factually false and harmful to his reputation. The core of his claim is that the documentary "intentionally sought to completely mislead its viewers" by splicing together two parts of his speech, making it appear as if he explicitly encouraged the US Capitol riot.

 

2) He suffered harm: He would need to demonstrate that he experienced "overwhelming financial and reputational harm" as a direct result of the specific BBC program. Proving a monetary value for such harm, especially the $1 billion being sought, would be a significant challenge, as he would have to demonstrate major losses.

 

3) "Actual Malice": As a public figure, Trump faces a high legal bar under US law and must prove the BBC acted with "actual malice." This means he must provide evidence that the BBC either knew the statement was false or acted with "reckless disregard of whether it was true or false". Proving the internal thought processes or intentional deception of the BBC's editors could be difficult. 

 

Additionally, a key initial hurdle for Trump's legal team is to establish the court's jurisdiction by proving that the specific Panorama documentary episode was actually available to be viewed in the state of Florida. The documentary was aired in the UK on iPlayer, which is generally not available in the US. 

 

Again, all bluster from a narcissistic psycho/sociopath.

Edited 12 November 2025 by Parafox

[Leicester_Loyal]

 

 

Add it to the list.

[Parafox]

5 minutes ago, Leicester_Loyal said:

 

 

Add it to the list.

 

Non news.

 

 

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Non news.

 

 

I wouldn't say that much myself, but comparatively small beer in the field of corrupt politics (even in the UK), but another thing likely to be made into a mushroom cloud by hypocrites.

 

That being said, it's pretty daft to give those hypocrites the chance to do that in the first place. 

[Tommy G]

6 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Non news.

 

 

Not really - if this was anyone remotely right wing doing this there would be uproar and rightly so. 
 

Starmer is absolutely on the ropes now, someone needs to lob the towel in. 

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Not really - if this was anyone remotely right wing doing this there would be uproar and rightly so. 
 

Starmer is absolutely on the ropes now, someone needs to lob the towel in. 

Give it to Burnham til the end of the season?

[Parafox]

Just now, Tommy G said:

Not really - if this was anyone remotely right wing doing this there would be uproar and rightly so. 
 

Starmer is absolutely on the ropes now, someone needs to lob the towel in. 

 

Rumours emerging on the news/Newsnight last night that there's a rebellion brewing led it seems, by Ed Streeting.

 

Politics is so Machiavellian at all levels and in all parties.

 

Worse in many countries where assassination is a real possibility. 

[leicsmac]

16 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Rumours emerging on the news/Newsnight last night that there's a rebellion brewing led it seems, by Ed Streeting.

 

Politics is so Machiavellian at all levels and in all parties.

 

Worse in many countries where assassination is a real possibility. 

And ultimately, all of that is so incredibly pointless. 

[Tommy G]

17 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Rumours emerging on the news/Newsnight last night that there's a rebellion brewing led it seems, by Ed Streeting.

 

Politics is so Machiavellian at all levels and in all parties.

 

Worse in many countries where assassination is a real possibility. 

Ed balls or Wes Streeting