General News Thread

[leicsmac]

On the above topic and related to current events:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd2de8zz5go

 

Jeffrey Epstein's long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell is meeting a top justice department official as pressure grows on the Trump administration to release files linked to the disgraced financier's sex trafficking network.

The meeting will take place in Tallahassee, Florida, where Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, the BBC's US partner CBS News reports.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had said he planned to speak to Maxwell about any information she had on other people whom Epstein may have helped sexually abuse girls.

Maxwell's lawyer told the BBC that she was looking "forward to her meeting", which could help determine whether she will testify before Congress.

The latest developments come as interest has switched back to Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, a convicted sex-trafficker in prison for helping Epstein abuse young girls.

Calls have grown from the public - including President Donald Trump's loyal supporters - and lawmakers for the justice department to release files related to the Epstein case.

"If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," Blanche wrote in a post on X earlier this week.

On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump during a May briefing that his name appeared in DOJ documents related to the Epstein case.

[Torquay Gunner]

2 hours ago, FoxesDeb said:

BBC News - He went to get aid and didn't come back - stories of people killed in Gaza

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgn2rwk2ly

 

Heartbreaking, and all while we watch and in some cases, support it. 

Happening in full glare of the world, but the world looks the other way.

[DennisNedry]

I think the resident doctors are simply asking for too much.

 

Of course, the late 2000s is used as the benchmark because this is when their pay was at its highest. They've picked the peak year from which to make comparisons. What they either fail to acknowledge or just don't care about, is that the entirety of the public sector has faced similar real terms pay erosion since that time. Police, teachers, nurses civil servants, councils, everybody. 

Resident doctors had by far the best pay increase last year and the highest offer this year. 

 

I just think they're being disingenuous. A teaching assistant will have had similar poor pay increases since 2010, but they have a very low pay ceiling. Doctors however may start on relatively poor wages but within a few years they are very very well remunerated. This is of course on merit due to the importance and difficulty of their roles, not to mention the amount of studying required, but the narrative they are portraying just doesn't sit well with me.

 

I (public sector myself) have been offered 3.2% this year which is below inflation and the private sector average. In the past decade or so I've seen the National Living Wage get ever closer to my hourly rate and frankly it's depressing.

 

I would happily sacrifice a % of employer pension contributions for a higher upfront wage, by the way! 

 

I hope Labour stand firm on this.

Edited 25 July 2025 by DennisNedry

[Bordersfox]

2 hours ago, DennisNedry said:

I think the resident doctors are simply asking for too much.

 

Of course, the late 2000s is used as the benchmark because this is when their pay was at its highest. They've picked the peak year from which to make comparisons. What they either fail to acknowledge or just don't care about, is that the entirety of the public sector has faced similar real terms pay erosion since that time. Police, teachers, nurses civil servants, councils, everybody. 

Resident doctors had by far the best pay increase last year and the highest offer this year. 

 

I just think they're being disingenuous. A teaching assistant will have had similar poor pay increases since 2010, but they have a very low pay ceiling. Doctors however may start on relatively poor wages but within a few years they are very very well remunerated. This is of course on merit due to the importance and difficulty of their roles, not to mention the amount of studying required, but the narrative they are portraying just doesn't sit well with me.

 

I (public sector myself) have been offered 3.2% this year which is below inflation and the private sector average. In the past decade or so I've seen the National Living Wage get ever closer to my hourly rate and frankly it's depressing.

 

I would happily sacrifice a % of employer pension contributions for a higher upfront wage, by the way! 

 

I hope Labour stand firm on this.

Broadly agree with this, although we should not use p1ss poor pay increases across the public sector to justify this.

 

Whilst residents hourly rate is no higher than a plumber they do have great earning potential as you stated.  It feels like a misstep by GMC, the optics are poor after the bumper pay rise and public support for a further strike is very low.  It also puts Labour in a tricky situation, strikes will shaft them on hitting waiting list targets but caving in sets a bad precedent.  

 

Overall GMC and its members should accept they are better off even under this austerity/Tory light Labour government and can the proposed strikes.  Strikes are an important and fundamental right of workers in this country but it is a tool that should be used wisely and sparingly.  This is not that.  

[Trav Le Bleu]

I'd rather government put money into actually improving the NHS than increasing doctors' pay. The idea that the NHS would work better if doctors were paid more is ridiculous.

[leicsmac]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4r4z2gx2qo

 

I'm sure he'll get a warm Scottish welcome. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

13 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4r4z2gx2qo

 

I'm sure he'll get a warm Scottish welcome. 

I wonder what attracted him to Menie?

[leicsmac]

42 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I wonder what attracted him to Menie?

No idea. 

 

I don't expect much real talk from Starmer, but I hope the Scottish First Minister might give him something of a piece of his mind. 

[Muzzy_no7]

5 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

No idea. 

 

I don't expect much real talk from Starmer, but I hope the Scottish First Minister might give him something of a piece of his mind. 

I’m sure Donald is quaking in his boots😂

[leicsmac]

46 minutes ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

I’m sure Donald is quaking in his boots😂

I'm sure that he's not. 

 

The whole Epstein matter, however...

 

Edit: In fact, it's rather difficult to find much of a take on the above from a lot of Trump fans, including the ones on here, seemingly. All seems rather quiet about the issue. 

Edited 25 July 2025 by leicsmac

[Sly]

4 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I'd rather government put money into actually improving the NHS than increasing doctors' pay. The idea that the NHS would work better if doctors were paid more is ridiculous.

I agree with this.

 

Throwing money at a challenge, is only successful for so long.

 

We will still have tired, burnout staff, they’ll just have been paid a bit more. 
 

They need to address the fundamental flaws within the NHS and get it working correctly. 
 

So much red tape and wastage within the system, it’s crazy when you see and hear some of the stuff that goes on. 

[Super_horns]

3 hours ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

I’m sure Donald is quaking in his boots😂

Looks like Donald is over for a round or two of golf and get a few people to bow down to him .

[Super_horns]

38 minutes ago, Sly said:

I agree with this.

 

Throwing money at a challenge, is only successful for so long.

 

We will still have tired, burnout staff, they’ll just have been paid a bit more. 
 

They need to address the fundamental flaws within the NHS and get it working correctly. 
 

So much red tape and wastage within the system, it’s crazy when you see and hear some of the stuff that goes on. 

Agree .

 

Get a wage boost but as you say still the same issues on the NHS regarding staff and facilities .

[urban.spaceman]

[Trav Le Bleu]

Norfolk hotel for asylum families asks for 'understanding' - BBC News

 

https://share.google/HRX6c5YYHCTo3L1Nd

 

If these people are genuinely concerned about immigration (and not just racists) why aren't they directing their anger at the politicians, instead of people who have been unhomed (regardless of your stance, it is a fact that at least some of them are genuine - not that I think that would change anything for some people) and staff just trying to do their job?

Edited 26 July 2025 by Trav Le Bleu

[leicsmac]

I've never seen Jeremy Bowen appear as angry as he did last night when reporting on current matters in the Middle East. 

 

And having an idea of what that man has seen, I think that is saying something.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Headline could have easily just been "40% of rioters already massive c**ts in least surprising news ever".

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/26/two-in-five-arrested-for-last-summers-uk-riots-had-been-reported-for-domestic-abuse

 

A lot of projection going on here, I suspect

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

17 minutes ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Headline could have easily just been "40% of rioters already massive c**ts in least surprising news ever".

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/26/two-in-five-arrested-for-last-summers-uk-riots-had-been-reported-for-domestic-abuse

 

A lot of projection going on here, I suspect

 

Angry people are angry, shock.

 

And if that doesn't make you angry, don't worry, they'll be angry for you.

Edited 26 July 2025 by Trav Le Bleu

[davieG]

Seen in Scotland

 

[Free Falling Foxes]

9 hours ago, leicsmac said:

I've never seen Jeremy Bowen appear as angry as he did last night when reporting on current matters in the Middle East. 

 

And having an idea of what that man has seen, I think that is saying something.

What I also found absolutely repulsive in the same report, was the 'Viewing area' for Israelis to watch the bombardment of Gaza. Telescopes, binoculars etc installed for you to get a better view and they've even installed vending machines for your added comfort, whilst you watch the atrocities unfold. 

[Tommy G]

On 25/07/2025 at 10:32, DennisNedry said:

I think the resident doctors are simply asking for too much.

 

Of course, the late 2000s is used as the benchmark because this is when their pay was at its highest. They've picked the peak year from which to make comparisons. What they either fail to acknowledge or just don't care about, is that the entirety of the public sector has faced similar real terms pay erosion since that time. Police, teachers, nurses civil servants, councils, everybody. 

Resident doctors had by far the best pay increase last year and the highest offer this year. 

 

I just think they're being disingenuous. A teaching assistant will have had similar poor pay increases since 2010, but they have a very low pay ceiling. Doctors however may start on relatively poor wages but within a few years they are very very well remunerated. This is of course on merit due to the importance and difficulty of their roles, not to mention the amount of studying required, but the narrative they are portraying just doesn't sit well with me.

 

I (public sector myself) have been offered 3.2% this year which is below inflation and the private sector average. In the past decade or so I've seen the National Living Wage get ever closer to my hourly rate and frankly it's depressing.

 

I would happily sacrifice a % of employer pension contributions for a higher upfront wage, by the way! 

 

I hope Labour stand firm on this.

You’ll be lucky to get 3.2% in the private sector this year, more and more people becoming unemployed and advertised roles shrinking. 

[leicsmac]

1 hour ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

What I also found absolutely repulsive in the same report, was the 'Viewing area' for Israelis to watch the bombardment of Gaza. Telescopes, binoculars etc installed for you to get a better view and they've even installed vending machines for your added comfort, whilst you watch the atrocities unfold. 

A Colosseum with refreshments for the modern age.

 

"Repulsive" is the least that could be said about it.

[Wymsey]

40 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

You’ll be lucky to get 3.2% in the private sector this year, more and more people becoming unemployed and advertised roles shrinking. 

And, even then, some are, apparently, fake and not genuine.

[BeardyFox]

2 hours ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

What I also found absolutely repulsive in the same report, was the 'Viewing area' for Israelis to watch the bombardment of Gaza. Telescopes, binoculars etc installed for you to get a better view and they've even installed vending machines for your added comfort, whilst you watch the atrocities unfold. 

Not to mention the people having photos taken there and posing all smiles. As if they were stood in front of a landmark on holiday. 

[st albans fox]

https://aurdip.org/en/its-the-best-show-in-town-from-the-sderot-promontory-the-breathtaking-and-sinister-view-of-the-gaza-bombing/

 

I missed the bbc news ‘snapshot/report’ of the sderot viewing point.  This article perhaps gives a more nuanced view.  there will be right wing arseholes in every population (we have plenty here and they even make the cabinet in some PR govts)  but you can’t label everyone as having the same reasons for wanting to look into the ruins of north Gaza.