Derek R @DerekR
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
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Politics - Any party - No vetting - No waiting This man was abused for appearing on a Welcome to Heathrow poster. Then he met his trollsA single social media post turned what had been one of Syed Usman Shah's "proudest moments" into one of the most overwhelming and upsetting. It started when Shah, 35, was approached by Heathrow Airport to be part of their "Welcome" campaign. The airport selected 38 successful Londoners whose smiling, waving images would be used on large posters at Heathrow to welcome visitors to the city. Those chosen included a Beefeater, a Wimbledon umpire and others with prominent London jobs or who worked at tourist spots. Shah's poster shows him waving while holding a small basket of dates in his other hand. That is because he's an entrepreneur and owner of The Date Sultan stand at London's Borough Market, where he sells fair-trade dates. He leapt at the chance to become one of the faces of the Heathrow campaign and describes the moment his parents saw the posters at the airport as "one of the highlights of my life". "For me, it was a pinch-me moment," says Shah. "I just saw the glitter in my Mum's eyes, and my Dad turns around and said to me, 'Son, I'm extremely proud of you.' "The two of them said it was the happiest day of their life." But then at 04:00 one morning Shah started receiving messages and phone calls. "Usman, have you seen you're going viral? You're going viral for the wrong reasons." A photo of Shah's poster had been posted online - and the replies were flooded with racial abuse. "It was someone basically saying, 'What is the image of a brown person doing on Heathrow Airport?'" Shah explains, "and what followed was vile racial abuse - we're talking in the thousands of comments." The UK "is under siege", wrote one user. "Nauseating. Welcome to a [expletive] 3rd world country," said another. A third comment read: "It's almost a crime to be white!!" Shah says that because he was dressed in traditional clothing when photographed for the poster, people assumed he was Muslim, which resulted in most of the messages being targeted towards his faith. "There were comments saying London is becoming Londonistan, that it's been conquered by Muslims." Shah's image had been shared across multiple social media platforms, viewed millions of times, and the abuse kept coming. As he scrolled through the comments, he says he felt his "heart sinking lower and lower - and lower". "People were judging me based on my appearance, my religion, my name, the fact that I'm selling dates. "I have never been subjected to that much abuse in my life. "I stood in the kitchen and my missus said to me, 'Hey Usman, I've never seen you look like this before', and I just burst into tears." • 'I just want to spread love rather than hate' Shah was one of eight people from an ethnic minority background to be featured on the Heathrow posters. Another Muslim who took part - a successful sportswoman - received so much abuse she asked for the posters of her to be taken down. Heathrow offered to do the same for Shah, but he told them he wanted the posters of him to stay up. "I'm not going to lower my head when I'm being targeted with this," he says. Instead, Shah decided to tackle the abuse head on. Driven by what he describes as his "Islamic values" and the teachings instilled in him by his parents, Shah replied to some of the people who had sent him abusive comments. "I don't judge you for them, I don't hate you for them," he told them. "Rather I forgive you for them." Shah offered free dates to people if they'd come to the market to meet him. "I just want to spread love rather than hate." Several people came to apologise, he says, including one woman who gave him flowers and told him she felt ashamed about what she had done. Shah is not alone in experiencing abuse based on his faith. In the latest government data, there had been a 19% rise in religious hate crimes targeting Muslims from the previous year, with a spike in August 2024, coinciding with the disorder that followed the Southport murders. Over the last two years, there have been assaults, violent attacks on mosques, and anti-Muslim rhetoric from prominent figures on the far right. But there's also been renewed scrutiny of issues within Muslim communities, and how well integration has happened. There are questions about how well successive governments have engaged with Muslims to deal with issues in their own communities, and Islamophobia from outside. "Everyone should feel safe and welcome at Heathrow, and we utterly condemn the hateful comments we have seen," Heathrow's Chief People Officer, Jo Butler, says. "We stand alongside everyone included in this campaign and we are reassured to see so many people come out in support of those who received abuse online." Despite what he's been through, Shah says he feels proud to be British. "This country made me," he says. "I learned everything in this country. I was fed in this country. I was educated here. I was given opportunity by Great Britain. "I'm proud to be a British Muslim of Pakistani descent." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1mjxypdyn0o
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting Woman posted her luggage for £2.59 rather than paying to take it on the planeA woman shipped a month's worth of clothing to her destination for £2.59 instead of paying Ryanair's £30 luggage charge on her flight. Laura Poole, 33, from Cardiff, avoided the additional charge and squeezed her outfits into a gym bag wrapped it in a Lidl carrier bag and dropped it off at her local Tesco Express InPost locker. She then flew from Bristol to Glasgow on February 22, paying just £57.48 for her return flights. Laura, who was staying in Glasgow for a month on business, shipped at least five outfits including suit jackets and dresses all for just £2.59, saving £27.41 on the trip. She dropped off her parcel on the Thursday evening before her Sunday morning flight and it arrived safely in Glasgow just after she arrived. Inspired by Vinted and their parcel shipping process, Laura has received comments from trolls saying she is "stupid", but has also been hailed a "genius" online. Laura, a public speaker and trainer, said: "I have better things to spend my money on. I actually did it before, this is the second time I've done it. So I knew it worked. "I got the idea from Vinted because they're using InPost lockers for that. I was curious and thought: 'I wonder how much it is?' If it's only that much for postage on Vinted it can't be as much as Royal Mail. "I've always been really frugal and am part of the FIRE community - financial independence and retire early. Lots of people are super frugal and I have better things to spend my money on than really expensive baggage fees. "I'm here for a month this time as well and I thought I'm going to need more than a backpack, so I got my gym bag, stuffed it with clothes and wrapped it in a Lidl bag and taped it up. People on Vinted send stuff in anything - I thought 'that'll do'." Laura also packed enough clothes to last her two to three days in her cabin backpack. "I would not post anything that I loved," she added. "For example I've got a scarf I've had for 10 years and my grandad's T-shirts - who is not around anymore. That stuff goes in my backpack. "Obviously I don't want to lose my clothes and there are lots of clothes in there. It's insured for up to £50. My thought process is if anything goes wrong, or it doesn't arrive in time, I've got time to buy news clothes. "I do public speaking so I need to look good. Suit jackets, trousers, all sorts I threw it all in, dresses as well. I must have at least five different outfits and then loungewear and stuff as well." Sharing her plans on Facebook, her post went viral. She added: "There are always trolls whenever anything goes that big and people are always negative, but overall I've never been called a genius so much in my life." She will use the InPost locker system when she returns from the trip next month and will save another £27.41. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/woman-posted-her-luggage-2-101321644.html -
Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting Soham murderer Ian Huntley seriously injured in prison attackHuntley is currently serving a life sentence after he was convicted of murdering schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002. Although the Prison Service did not confirm the identity of the injured prisoner, it confirmed an inmate is receiving treatment. "It would be inappropriate to comment further while police investigate," a Prison Service spokesperson added. It is understood the attack on Huntley happened in a prison workshop just before 09:30 GMT. An air ambulance was dispatched to HMP Frankland, but the North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said the injured inmate was taken to hospital by road. Durham Constabulary confirmed a police investigation is under way and that detectives are liaising with staff at the prison. "Police were alerted to an assault which had taken place within HMP Frankland in Durham this morning," a Durham police spokesman said. "A male prisoner suffered serious injuries during the incident and was transported to hospital." The deaths of 10-year-olds Jessica and Holly in the quiet Cambridgeshire village of Soham on 4 August 2002 shocked the country. Their bodies were found in a ditch near an air base in Lakenheath, Suffolk, two weeks after they disappeared. Huntley, who was a caretaker at Soham Village College, was arrested and then convicted on 17 December 2003 following a trial at the Old Bailey. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 40 years in prison before he could be considered for release. His girlfriend Maxine Carr, a teaching assistant at the girls' primary school, was also jailed in 2003 after being found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. After his arrest, it emerged Huntley - now aged 52 - had been able to work with children despite being the subject of rape and sexual assault complaints. Huntley had been the subject of a series of complaints made to police in Humberside, where he had worked before. A subsequent inquiry led to criminal checks on anyone working with children. It is not the first time Huntley has been injured while serving time in prison. In September 2005 Huntley was scalded with boiling water at HMP Wakefield. He had been in the health care wing of the West Yorkshire jail at the time of the attack. In 2008 Huntley was moved to HMP Frankland, a Category A high security men's prison. While at HMP Frankland he was attacked and slashed across the throat in March 2010 by a prisoner who was said to have been armed with a razor blade. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1mjx1grj3yo -
Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
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Posted in: Scooploop Workshop
As you know, we now cannot post in Anything!, this problem is not just in that loop. Public Notices also had the problem insofar as a member couldn't post, however, I as Mod could post. The member who couldnt post was then given Mod status and could post. That appears to be a workaround if a loop has problems. It's a shame Anything! didn't have a Mod available to allow posting (albeit limited) to continue. -
Posted in: Public Notices
Having your tools stolen isn’t just an inconvenience, it also results in financial loss, emotional strain and, depending on where the theft took place, security and community safety concerns. As part of our ongoing campaign, we have organised a series of free tool marking sessions with the first taking place at Screwfix in Bletchley (Milton Keynes) on Monday 2 March 2026. Tool marking kits will be available on a first come, first served basis with a number of other theft prevention items (including faraday pouches and anti-theft number plate screws) available to take away. A number of sessions have already been organised in the following locations, with details on further sessions being published in the coming weeks: Monday 2 March 2026 (8am until lunchtime) – Screwfix Bletchley, Milton Keynes (MK1 1EQ) Wednesday 11 March 2026 (8am until lunchtime) – Screwfix Reading, Hyperion Way (RG2 0HG) Tuesday 24 March 2026 (8am until lunchtime) – Screwfix Tilehurst, Reading (RG30 6BX) Wednesday 25 March 2026 (timings TBC) – Screwfix High Wycombe, Cressex Business Park (HP12 3QL) Tuesday 31 March 2026 (8am until lunchtime) – Toolstation Oxford, Botley Road (OX2 0PB) If you are unable to attend one of the sessions listed, please visit our dedicated webpage and complete the online form to request your free tool-marking kit. Alongside tool marking, there are a number of ways you can help protect your tools from theft including: Removing or obscuring any brand logos Keeping an inventory of your tools and taking photographs of items of value Adding a GPS tracker Ensuring equipment is safely stored at the end of the day For further details, including support information on how to protect your tools, please visit our Vehicle Crime and Tool Theft webpage. -
Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
A wife comes home late one night and quietly opens the door to her bedroom. Under the blanket she sees four legs instead of just her husband's two. She reaches for a baseball bat and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can. Once she's done, she goes to the kitchen to have a drink. As she enters. she sees her husband there. reading a magazine. He says, "Hi darling, your parents have come to visit us, so I let them stay in our bedroom. Did you say hello?" -
Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting Sarah Ferguson checked herself into the world's most expensive wellness clinicSarah Ferguson checked herself into the most expensive wellness clinic as details about her close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein ruined her, the Daily Mail can reveal. The former Duchess of York, 66, fled the UK as she and her ex-husband became embroiled in the growing Epstein scandal which culminated in his arrest on Thursday. While Andrew was photographed repeatedly in Windsor and then on the Sandringham estate, Ms Ferguson has not been seen in public since her fleeting appearance at her granddaughter Athena’s Christening at St James’s Palace on December 12. This prompted global speculation about where the former royal has been living - and the Daily Mail has now established that, for much of the time, she has been sheltering in a famous Swiss clinic. Fergie secretly took refuge in the world-renowned £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, over a month ago. A Swiss source told the Daily Mail: ‘Sarah left for Zurich just after Christmas, and stayed until the end of January. ‘She always feels at home at Paracelsus, and knows she’ll get love and attention there, as well as expert health treatment when she’s feeling at her most vulnerable.’ The lakeside clinic offers several different month-long recovery programmes for ultra-wealthy clients. Individuals will have access to 15 medical experts, as well as a chauffeur and a private chef. Another friend in Switzerland told the Daily Mail Ms Ferguson - a regular Paracelsus client - was said to have been ‘absolutely crushed’ by the email exchanges being publicly released. The friend said: ‘Sarah has built up a strong relationship with Paracelsus, so it was the obvious place for her to get away from everything.’ Following the prolonged stay at the clinic, thought to have lasted several weeks, the globe-trotting former royal is subsequently thought to have spent time in both the French Alps and the United Arab Emirates. Following the release of millions of the so-called Epstein files by the United States’ Justice Department, Ms Ferguson’s entangled relationship with the financier became clear. Emails revealed that the former duchess and her beleaquered ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, hac kept up their close friendship with the paedophile even after he was first convicted of procuring a minor for prostiution. Embarrassing emails showed her begging Epstein to help pay off her mounting debts, even asking him to employ her as his house assistant as she 'desperately' needed cash - despite knowing he was still under house arrest in Florida for child prostitution. In another email, she issued a grovelling apology for publicly denouncing him claiming it had only been to protect her career as a children's author, teling him he had been a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend" The most damning evidence, however revealed that she took her dauahters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, ta have lunch with Epstein five days after his release. It is perhaps unsurprising then that Ms Ferguson took to Paracelsus, which has been described as a ‘sanctuary where individuals can receive the highest standard of care, free of judgement’, according to its founder, Jan Gerber. The former duchess has previously visited the clinic and was involved in its promotional work last vear where she appeared in a social media video with Mr Gerber. Throughout the conversation, she describes how the traumatic experiences surrounding her childhood and being in the public eve, combined with her cancer diagnosis, led her ta seek mental health support. She went on to allege that she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while at the clinic. Following the conversation in June, she wrote on Facebook: 'I recently spent time at Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich, a clinic known for its discreet, bespoke care for those facing complex mental health and addiction challenges, to learn more. What I found was not onlv a centre of clinical excellence, but a place of deep humanity. She later added while speaking with the Daily Telegraph: '1 am not embarrassed to reveal the clinic offered me a sanctuary, renowned as it is for its bespoke, cutting-edge treatment for those grappling with mental health and addiction issues - particularly those whose struggles are often hidden behino the facade of a public role.' Paracelsus treatment is 'one client at a time'. as a team of at least 15 experts including doctors, therapists ana nutritionists, 'create a space where you can feel safe, understood and fully supporteď. The clinic specialises in the treatment of a number of conditions, including addiction, burnout, depression, anxiety and trauma' and is widely considerea the most expensive wellness clinic in the world. It charges around £110,000 for a three-day 'comprehensive check-up' or £350,000 for a one-month residential programme, which is fully customised Celebrities, oligarchs, and royalty who stay here are given top-tier treatment and access to the best addiction treatment providers anywhere,' the clinic boasts on its website. Clients stay in a penthouse with lake views and have access to concierge ana imousine services as well as a personal chef, butler, and an on-site therapist. The costly nature of the clinic, however, begs the question of how Ms Ferquson, who over the vears has suffered from various money woes, could pay for her stay. The former duchess last week openly told friends in the UAE, where she is currently residing: 'I need to get back ta work. I need money. Yet the fact that Ms Ferguson appears in an endorsement on the Paracelsus website - published just days ago - where she said her stay showed her mental health knows no boundaries' suggests the visit could have been free. Fergie has also repeatedly promoted the clinic on her own social media pages, such as Facebook and Instagram. She added: 'It affects individuals across all walks of life, and it is imperative that we continue to break down the barriers of stiqma and silence. 'As a society, we need to foster an environment where seeking help is seen as a strength, not a weakness. Since her stay, Fergie has been spending time in the UAE, and, according to royal watchers, linking up with her daughter Princess Eugenie, 35, who was in Qatar for the Art Basel fair. She is said to be lying low in Doha Qatar, as she continues to 'get her head together' and plot a comeback. She is understood to be already scouting around for a new PR team to represent her as she plans her return to the UK, however. some friends are sceptical she would be able to restart her life here. Royal author Andrew Lownie, who wrote a damning book on the scandal-hit couple, believes that multi-millionaires in Dubai and the surrounding countries of Bahrain and Qatar will probably be bankrolling Fergie already. He said: 'In Britain, neither Sarah nor Andrew will be socially accepted aqain, whatever they try to do or wherever they go. But in the Middle East. no one will care about what they have got up to. 'There are people there - royalty politicians and business types - whom Sarah can quite happily sponge off and who will be happy to bankroll both of them. ‘These types of people in the Middle East simply couldn’t care less what Sarah has done. And even if she doesn’t have her title of the Duchess of York anymore, she will still be seen as royalty and treated as such - and she knows it.’ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15577273/Sarah-Ferguson-wellness-clinic-friendship-Jeffrey-Epstein.html -
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Politics - Any party - No vetting - No waiting UK-US trade in disarray after Trump tariffs ruled illegal‘We’re screwed!’ Trump faces $175bn tariff blow from Supreme Court Ruling that the president’s global trade levies are illegal exposes America to demands for huge refunds Donald Trump’s tariffs are illegal. Even he cannot spin that as anything other than bad news. “If the Supreme Court rules against the United States of America on this National Security bonanza, WE’RE SCREWED!” the president wrote on Truth Social in January. The nation’s highest court did just that on Friday – invalidating the president’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs on America’s trading partners. Judges said the legislation did not give him the power to do so. In an instant, one of the defining pillars of Trump’s economic agenda has been destroyed, blowing a gaping hole in the public finances worth hundreds of billions of dollars, throwing his trade deals into chaos and hammering his authority ahead of crucial midterm elections in November. Tariff income represents more than half of the all the cash that the Trump administration has collected since he returned to power. As well as having to scramble to find new sources of income, Trump is now also likely to be on the hook for $175bn (£130bn) in refunds that businesses will demand for paying these illegal levies. Speaking after the judgment on Friday, Trump said it was “crazy” that the Supreme Court had not ruled on whether companies would be eligible for refunds. “We’ll end up being in court for the next five years,” he said. Back in January, the president himself warned that the fallout could be even worse. America’s trading partners could demand payback for the investments they have agreed to make under trade deals signed with the US, Trump warned. He said: “When these Investments are added, we are talking about Trillions of Dollars! It would be a complete mess, and almost impossible for our Country to pay.” Indeed, one of the judges who dissented against the decision – Justice Brett Kavanaugh – did so partly because of concerns about the “refunds of billions of dollars” that a ruling against Mr Trump’s tariffs would entail. The IEEPA formed the foundation stone of Trump’s trade policy. The act was the legal justification that Trump used to impose his sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs on almost every country in the world on April 2 last year and the fentanyl tariffs on Mexico and China. Those punishing tariffs bought the world to the negotiating table, allowing Trump his pick of which countries to do trade deals with and giving him leverage to extract favourable trade terms and investment promises. On Friday, the Supreme Court swept this all away, stating: “IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs”. Now, only Congress can do this. This ruling will not affect the sectoral tariffs that Trump has imposed on goods such as cars, steel and aluminium, which were introduced under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. But the impact will be seismic. Olu Sonola, head of US economics at Fitch Ratings, says: “More than 60pc of the 2025 tariffs effectively vanish.” The effective tariff rate on imports will drop from 13pc to 6pc, wiping out more than $200bn in expected annual tariff collections, says Sonola. Over a decade, this will cost the US treasury more than $1tn in lost revenue at a time when national debt is already at a record $38tn. •An expensive refund Trump moved swiftly to partly plug the sudden gap in America’s budget. Within hours of the Supreme Court ruling, he claimed at a White House press conference that he had “more power” to impose tariffs. “I can charge much more than I was charging,” he said. The president said he will immediately impose 10pc global tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. For the UK, which was subject to 10pc IEEPA tariffs under the terms of the trade deal that it struck with the US, this means little will change. But for many of America’s larger trading partners this means a significant tariff cut. The European Union had a 15pc tariff while India had an 18pc levy, for example. Section 122 tariffs can also only remain in place for a maximum of 150 days. Trump said that the administration will be opening several investigations under Section 301, which allows the president to take action against unfair trade practices. But it is not clear how far he will be able to go. Crucially, the White House cannot impose measures that apply retrospectively, which means the administration has no way of protecting itself from businesses trying to claw back the tariff revenue that they have already paid. According to the Penn-Wharton Budget Lab, businesses have so far paid $175bn in IEEPA tariff revenue. The 301,000 importers who have paid this money are gearing up to get it back. A fleet of major companies including CostCo, Revlon and Ray-Ban had already filed pre-emptive lawsuits against Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to make claims for refunds. Trade groups are preparing to file class action lawsuits to make claims on behalf of small firms. Hedge funds have reportedly been buying up the rights to make claims on behalf of businesses in exchange for a substantial cut of any payouts. Beth Benike, who owns BusyBaby, an infant products company that imports from China and has been hammered by tariffs, is hoping she can claw back $40,000 that she has paid so far. Benike says: “I’ll be joining a class action lawsuit to try to get that money back. I think the [CBP] website is going to break.” The refund process is going to be messy. One big problem is that small companies that imported through third-party wholesalers technically have no direct route to make claims and will be reliant on their suppliers’ customer service policies. The Supreme Court’s ruling passed the issue of refunds on to the lower courts, which means the timing or amounts of potential rebates is currently unclear. Trump suggested that the White House will hold on to as much cash as it can. He told reporters: “I guess it has to get litigated”. The chaos will cost Trump further political capital in the run-up to the November midterm elections, when he is already expected to lose the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. •Trade deal doubts At the same time, the trade deals Trump secured with the likes of the UK and the European Union now look on shaky footing. Those deals were agreed in the shadow of Trump’s IEEPA tariffs, intended as a way to escape the worst of his wrath. Countries are likely to keep the agreements in place for now but the Supreme Court decision opens the door to more negotiation. More than anything, the Supreme Court ruling hammers Trump’s authority. Back on April 2 last year, when he launched his full-scale trade war on what he called “liberation day”, he said it was a “declaration of economic independence”. But the White House can’t break free from America’s highest court. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/21/uk-trade-with-us-disarray-trump-tariffs-ruled-illegal/
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office Police say King Charles's brother is in custody and officers are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk - read the police statement in full Photos show cars arriving at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk earlier this morning It comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Andrew, who turns 66 today, has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing -
Reform leader’s comments come minutes after Jenrick said he supported the policy Robert Jenrick defected from the Conservatives last month to Nigel Farage’s party Nigel Farage has suggested that Reform UK could remove the triple lock on pensions in an apparent split with Robert Jenrick, his new “chancellor”. The Reform leader said the future of the triple lock, which guarantees the state pension rises each year by the highest of three measures – inflation, average earnings or 2.5 per cent – was “open for debate”. Minutes before Mr Farage’s comments, Mr Jenrick said he supported the policy and voters did not need to worry about it being removed. At a London press conference where he set out Reform’s economic agenda, Mr Jenrick said: “I’ve always been a supporter of the triple lock. “It’s incredibly important to provide dignity and security to older people on fixed incomes in the last decades of their life, particularly at a time like this where there’s such challenging circumstances with the cost of living.” Mr Jenrick, who defected from the Conservatives last month, promised that the party would set out more details in the coming weeks. The Conservatives and Labour have committed to maintaining the triple lock for the foreseeable future. The policy will cost the Treasury an additional £6bn this April when it rises by 4.7 per cent to £12,548 a year. However, shortly after Mr Jenrick’s comments, Mr Farage told a group of reporters the future of the triple lock was not guaranteed under his leadership. He said: “I haven’t changed my mind. It’s open for debate. Everything is open for debate.” This was not the first time Mr Farage suggested that the costly policy could go. Speaking in May, he said: “Triple lock for pensioners is not something we have addressed as yet. “We will, between now and the next election. We are, as you can see, building out our policy platform.” He has also warned that the state pension age must rise more quickly because it was failing to match rising life expectancy. The state pension age is on course to rise to 67 by 2028 and to 68 by 2046. • Two-child cap Mr Farage also disagreed with Mr Jenrick’s announcement that he would restore the two-child cap on benefits policy. Mr Jenrick said: “Today, Reform is changing our policy on the two-child cap for Universal Credit. We want to help working families have more children. “But right now, we just cannot afford to do so with welfare, so it has to go. And, as Reform’s shadow chancellor, I’m ending it. A Reform government will restore the cap in full.” Afterwards, Mr Farage told reporters that he still wanted to remove the two-child benefit cap for British families and he had been forced into the reversal by the “Tory press” who had labelled him a “socialist”. He said: “What I wanted is the two-child cap lifted for working British families and for my efforts I got branded by the Tory press as being a ‘socialist’. It backfired. It didn’t work. “Any attempt to do anything that is pro-family seems to be very, very difficult to do. And anyway it was only going to cost a tiny amount of money compared to the upwards of £3bn that this Labour Party has changed [by lifting the cap entirely]. So look, I accept it, it’s fine.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/02/18/triple-lock-is-up-for-debate-says-farage/
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Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
I bought a pot of Soured Cream today. It has a Best Before date of March 8th. The fact that it says Best Before, means that it's not best quality afterwards, but should still be able to be consumed. What would you think happens after the BB date? Could it get even more sour, which would then be an improvement in the quality as it was sourness that was needed! Or do you, perhaps, think that the sourness goes and you end up with normal cream? Or do you have any other ideas, including, (within reason), what you would do with it. (This isn't meant to be a scientific discussion, just a little light hearted chat). -
Posted in: Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting
Last night we ordered a Chinese takeaway from a local restaurant, (I won't name them), I picked it up and put the bag in the passenger foot-well, to get some heat from the blower as I was driving home. On the way I heard the bags rustling and moving!! WTF??!!! I thought what the hell is that? Has something got in the bag? I thought I could see a little pair of eves peering out at me. I wanted to carry on driving so I leaned forward picked up the bag, put it on the passenger seat and there it was again, more rustling and little eyes looking out behind the prawn crackers, I thought its got to be a rat or a mouse or something, so I carefully pulled the side of the bag down. And there it was ... A peeking duck? -
Politics - Any party - No vetting - No waiting Reform will repeal the Equality Act if elected, says Braverman (Edited)Party also pledges to introduce ‘patriotic’ curriculum and end ‘trans chaos in the classroom’ Reform UK would repeal the Equality Act on “day one” of government if it wins the next general election, Suella Braverman has said. Ms Braverman, who defected to Reform from the Tories last month, said Britain was being “ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion” policies. Speaking at an event in London where she was unveiled as Reform’s new shadow education, skills and equalities secretary, Ms Braverman said her first act in government would be to abolish the equalities part of her brief. She said: “Why does no one in this Government seem to care that it’s white working-class boys who have the worst educational outcomes in our country today? “Do you know what a Reform government will do? Well, on day one, we will get rid of the equalities department, we will scrap the equalities minister. “And we will repeal the Equality Act, because we are going to work to build a country defined by meritocracy not tokenism, personal responsibility not victimhood, excellence not mediocrity, and unity not division.” Calls to reform the Equality Act, introduced by Gordon Brown in the dying weeks of his administration in 2010, have grown in recent years as critics have argued it has become weaponised by activists. The Act allows people to take forward claims for discrimination if they have one of nine protected characteristics, which include age, race and sexual orientation. A report by campaign group Don’t Divide Us last year found the number of employment tribunals debating a claim of racial discrimination had tripled since 2017. Writing in The Telegraph last April about the Equality Act, Ms Braverman said: “From its inception, the Act contained a fatal flaw: it elevated group identity over individual equality before the law. “Rather than treating all citizens equally as individual British subjects – a principle at the very heart of our common-law tradition – it carved up the population into competing tribes.” At a press conference on Tuesday, Nigel Farage also unveiled Robert Jenrick as his shadow chancellor, Zia Yusuf as the shadow home secretary and Richard Tice, his deputy, as the shadow business secretary. Reform is calling the titles “shadow” roles despite the fact that, strictly, such terminology is used by the official Opposition, currently the Conservative Party. ‘Patriotic, balanced curriculum’ Ms Braverman also pledged to introduce a patriotic curriculum as a Reform UK education secretary. She said the education system was encouraging children to view Britain “with shame rather than pride” and accused universities of “failing our young people”. Ms Braverman said: “A Reform government will deliver a patriotic, balanced curriculum which fosters a love of this great country. “And it’s why a Reform government will bring an end to the transgender chaos in the classroom. Social and gender transitioning will be absolutely banned in all schools – no ifs, no buts. Meanwhile, too many of our universities are failing our young people.” In recent years, some have claimed the education system promotes Left-wing ideology in classrooms, including the trans debate and teaching critical race theory and white privilege – which suggests white people have an inherent advantage on the basis of their race – as fact instead of as contested theories. Last week, guidance published by Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, confirmed that children will be allowed to change their gender at school. Critics have long voiced concerns about children being taught that a woman can have a penis and that sex is assigned at birth instead of being a biological fact. Ms Braverman also fired a warning shot at the higher education sector, saying: “To those universities that have descended into hotbeds of cancel culture, anti-Semitism, and which survive really thanks to the cash of foreign students, and keep conning young people into worthless degrees, Reform is putting you on notice.” She also committed to half of all school leavers entering manual and vocational work, a mirror image of Sir Tony Blair’s ambition for one in two young people to go to university. Meanwhile, after being named as Reform’s shadow chancellor, Mr Jenrick said cost of living challenges, tax rises and a ballooning welfare bill meant that ordinary Britons felt they had “nothing left” by the end of the week and that the “normal expectations of life” had become luxuries. He promised to cut waste, restore “stability” to the economy and cut taxes, welfare spending and bills. Mr Tice, who led Reform until Mr Farage’s return ahead of the 2024 general election, would be deputy prime minister and head up a new department for business, trade and energy. He called for a “total focus of growth and prosperity”, vowing to tear up climate change legislation – which he called “net stupid zero” – and work with businessmen to create the right conditions for economic growth of up to four per cent year-on-year. Mr Tice also promised to set up a “proper, serious” sovereign wealth fund to invest in British companies and buy and invest in British products in order to fund hundreds of thousands of affordable new homes. Mr Yusuf, who was Reform’s chairman and then head of policy, was named Mr Farage’s home affairs spokesman. The son of migrants who had worked in the NHS for decades, he warned that the “sheer scale” of legal and illegal migration was untenable. Reform pledged to leave the European Convention on Human Rights at the last general election, more than a year before the Tories eventually made the same promise. The party has also committed to a one-in-one-out migration system, which it refers to as “net zero immigration”. Reform continues to enjoy a comfortable lead of almost 10 points in the opinion polls, putting Mr Farage and his party on track to enter Downing Street at the next election. Mr Farage said: “It’s time for the party to take the next step. Too often, the criticism over the last 20 months has been that we’re a one-man band, to which I generally respond by saying it’s better than being a no-man band. But the time has come to broaden the party, to put in place shadow positions, and that process begins today.” The Conservatives denounced Mr Farage’s announcement of his top team as “underwhelming”. Kevin Hollinrake, the Tory chairman, said: “After months of infighting and leaks, Nigel Farage has unveiled a front bench dominated by ex-Conservatives – a line-up that looks more like a tribute act to the old Conservative Party than a credible alternative. “Even now, some are already eyeing their next career move, while others who were clearly expecting promotion have been left out in the cold.” Anna Turley, the Labour Party chairman, said: “Farage’s top team of failed Tories spent over 3,000 days inflicting untold damage on our country in government, trashing our economy, hammering families’ mortgages, and leaving our borders open. “They failed Britain before – they’d do the same again under Reform. Today’s appointments clearly reveal that neither keeping our nation safe nor tackling NHS waiting lists are priorities for Farage or Reform UK.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/02/17/suella-braverman-pledges-to-introduce-patriotic-curriculum/
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Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting Head of Fraud at Thames Valley Police warns of Sophisticated Romance Fraud TacticsAs Valentine’s Day approaches, The Head of Fraud at Thames Valley Police is urging the public to be alert to the emotional and psychological manipulation used by criminals committing romance fraud. Although these crimes occur all year round, this time of year provides an important opportunity to highlight how offenders groom victims, build trust, and exploit them financially. Romance fraudsters rarely begin by asking for money. Instead, they construct a detailed illusion of trust to draw victims in. They frequently share personal stories early in the conversation – describing their home life, work, ambitions, or future plans – to create emotional connection and credibility. Later, they reuse these same details as “evidence” to support fabricated emergencies or financial requests. This form of manipulation mirrors behaviours seen in coercive control, blurring a victim’s sense of what is genuine. A common warning sign is manufactured urgency. Offenders often claim sudden illness, emotional distress or a crisis requiring immediate help. These stories are intentionally designed to distract victims from the underlying ask: money. If a victim hesitates, offenders may accuse them of lacking care or loyalty, applying deliberate emotional pressure to prevent them from seeking advice. Another tactic is “legitimate secrecy,” where the offender encourages the victim to keep the relationship hidden under the guise of protecting something special. Statements such as “People won’t understand us” or “Don’t tell anyone – it will ruin things” are used to isolate victims from friends and family, limiting the chance for outside perspective. Over time, this emotional dependency allows offenders to disguise financial requests within stories of hardship: a health crisis, problems at work, or situations only the victim can resolve. These requests may not always be direct. Fraudsters often hint at financial struggles - “I’ll manage somehow” or “If only I had enough to fix this…” - creating a sense of responsibility and prompting victims to offer money voluntarily. Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn, Head of the Central Fraud Unit at Thames Valley Police, said: “Romance fraud is a form of emotional exploitation that can be deeply damaging, not just financially but psychologically. Offenders operate with patience, skill, and intent—they create a sense of closeness, then use that trust to isolate victims and apply pressure. No genuine relationship will demand secrecy, urgency, or financial support. If something does not feel right, speak to someone you trust or seek advice early. Reaching out for help is not a sign of naivety—it is a vital step in protecting yourself.” Thames Valley Police is encouraging members of the public to read Staying Safe from Romance Fraud booklet, which outlines practical steps to recognise red flags and reduce the risk of victimisation. The booklet was created in partnership with, Dr Elisabeth Carter, Associate Professor of Criminology and Forensic Linguist, Kingston University. This booklet has been designed to demonstrate the clever tactics used by romance fraudsters with a view to empower the knowledge of our communities. It also dispels the myths of shame and embarrassment often associated with this crime by highlighting the link to coercive control. Key Reminders: If someone online seems “perfect” very quickly, pause and reflect. Be wary of sudden crises or emotional appeals requiring fast action. Healthy relationships never rely on secrecy. Any financial request—direct or indirect—is a major red flag. Stay connected with trusted friends or family who can offer perspective. For more information, visit the A guide to spotting romance fraudsters | Thames Valley Police . https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/thames-valley/campaigns/romance-fraud-ebook_v3.pdf Please notify Report Fraud https://reporting.reportfraud.police.uk/?__cf_chl_tk=ptld8rsj6lun7uwhjhr3d8cq5zz05a3faonbymce3ai-1770985123-1.0.1.1-c8xib5rn8e.rqtdwdxgci0hpecaao6zhrdwoquloh9y if you have been targeted with fraud where you may report online or by calling 0300 123 2040. Further resources The Central Fraud Unit have also created the Romance Fraud Practical Support Guide, aimed at signposting anyone targeted with romance fraud towards the practical and emotional steps to help deal with the aftermath. Hear more about how fraud criminals exploit manipulative tactics in the BBC Sounds - Love Bombed Take steps to feel empowered against all types of fraud using the Fraud Protection toolkit Follow the Central Fraud Unit on ‘X’ at @TVPCyber_Fraud -
BBC Question Time in chaos as Nadine Dorries explodes on immigration - 'Insane!' The conversation on last night's BBC Question Time expectedly turned to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments on immigration, where the businessman and Man UTD co-owner claimed the UK was being "colonised" by immigrants. A heated debate broke out between former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries and Green Party MP Ellie Chowns. Dorries, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK last year, claimed that although Ratcliffe got his numbers wrong, he "got his point across". Ratcliffe has incorrectly claimed that the population of the UK had risen by 12 million to 70 million people in the last five years, when it had actually risen by less than three million people in that period. He blamed immigration for many problems in the country, saying high levels of immigration are costing the UK "too much money". On Question Time, many guests in the audience appeared to disagree with Ratcliffe's comments, as did Chowns. However, Dorries took the opportunity to attack the Green Party's 'open door' policy, which she branded "insane". The debate started to get rather heated, with Dorries saying that immigration is the reason Reform UK are doing so well. Dorries argued: "It [immigration] is a fundamental problem that we have to sort. The insane policy of the Green Party, that you just have open borders; we've seen an increase of 12 million people, we've seen how our schools have suffered, we've seen how our NHS has suffered, we've seen the unrest, we've seen the problems as a result of that. "To say open borders, and we just let people walk into the UK, it's just simply an insane policy." Chowns clapped back, saying to the Reform defectee: "Reform, and before it the Brexit Party and before it UKIP have been busy for many years fermenting this idea that immigration is the problem in this country. It's completely untrue, inequality is the problem in this country. "Housing is a problem in this country, because we have had 40 years of governments not investing in housing. The health problems we have got in this country are because we have governments, including the government of which you were a part for 14 years, failing to invest in our public services, presiding over decline." Applause followed Chown's response to Dorries. The latter admitted that Ratcliffe got his numbers wrong, and Fiona Bruce, presenter of Question Time, later confirmed there are 12 million more people living in the UK now than there were in 1995, a 31-year period. Ratcliffe yesterday apologised for his comments on immigration. He issued a statement, which reads: "I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth." https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/bbc-question-time-in-chaos-as-nadine-dorries-explodes-on-immigration-insane/ar-AA1WgEJ2
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Singer plays down politics in energising performance celebrating Latino heritage – but still incurs the wrath of the president The rapper’s set was the first time in the history of the NFL that the flagship entertainment was performed largely in Spanish Bad Bunny played down the politics in his Super Bowl half-time show but still incurred the wrath of Donald Trump who described the performance as “absolutely terrible” and “one of the worst, EVER!” Just a week earlier, the singer – real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – had used his historic Album of the Year win at the Grammys to speak out against Donald Trump’s ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents. But he largely set the politics to one side with a brilliantly breezy 20-minute Super Bowl slot that showcased the effortless charisma that made him the world’s most-streamed artist last year. Only at the end did he veer towards the political. As he listed the names of all the countries that make up the Americas, the video screens at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara flashed the message: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” In a post on Truth Social, the US president said the performance made “no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence”. “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children”, he added, before describing the performance as a “slap in the face” to America. The emphasis of the show was on the 31-year-old’s breathtaking rise from a supermarket bag packer in Puerto Rico to the summit of pop – a celebration that featured a duet with Lady Gaga, what seemed to be a fake wedding (perhaps it was real), and cameos from Ricky Martin, Pedro Pascal, and Jessica Alba. One celebrity who didn’t feature was Kid Rock, a Trump supporter who was headlining his own alternative Super Bowl show in conjunction with the conservative organisation Turning Point USA. As Kid Rock huffed and puffed miles away, Bad Bunny – the first artist to win Album of the Year for a Spanish-language record, and the first Super Bowl performer to sing entirely in Spanish – conjured a party atmosphere that lost little in translation. It will have even impressed the family member of mine who was under the misapprehension that the Super Bowl was being headlined by Eighties novelty chart-toppers Jive Bunny and was impressed by their staying power (they have high hopes of the Birdie Song featuring at some point during the World Cup). The set was a tweaked version of Bad Bunny’s current live show – a world tour that visits London this June but has skipped the United States because of the singer’s fears that it would be targeted by ICE agents. It began with workers toiling in a sugar cane plantation, as Bad Bunny, wearing the biggest, whitest suit this side of Talking Heads’ David Byrne in the Stop Making Sense concert movie, rambled playfully into view, stopping to pretend to chat with various people who seemed to represent archetypes from Puerto Rican life – the equivalent of the milkman, lollypop lady, postman, and so forth. In the flesh, the singer is an unlikely mix of effortless charisma and a slightly nerdy charm, the contrast topped off by his beautifully syrupy baritone that, allowing for language differences, makes him sound like a sort of mumblecore George Michael. He was soon standing on the roof of a reproduction of a traditional Puerto Rican La Casita house that will be familiar to anyone who has seen his stadium show. Later, he referenced recurring power cuts on the island by singing from atop a replica electricity pole, which certainly beats sending the council an angry email. As is mandatory at the Super Bowl, he was surrounded by backing dancers, but instead of the usual slickness, they seemed delighted to be there. As did Bad Bunny, who through the his pocket-sized gig, occasionally waggled an American football at the camera, declared “God bless America” in English – only to make it clear that he meant the continent rather than the country – and then jogged off down the tunnel, beaming like a footballer who had scored a hat-trick. The NFL will have been relieved that the set passed without controversy (it had a 10-second broadcast delay, just in case). The performance ended up being more about pop rather than politics, and also, it was just great fun. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concerts/super-bowl-halftime-show-review-bad-bunny/ -
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Anything Friendly Helpful or Interesting Why you should use brass fixtures in your home and not stainless steelHow can some metal surfaces, like brass doorknobs, automatically disinfect themselves. That antique brass doorknob is more than just decoration—it's a microscopic weapon that literally shreds harmful bacteria on contact, and we'll show you the science behind how it works. Introduction: Have you ever walked through an old building and noticed the tarnished, antique brass doorknobs and handrails? You might assume that newer, shinier stainless steel fixtures are more hygienic. However, science reveals a surprising truth: that old brass doorknob may be cleaner than you think, capable of killing harmful germs all on its own. This isn't a magical property but a well-documented scientific phenomenon with significant implications for public health. In a world increasingly conscious of pathogens on high-touch surfaces, understanding this natural antimicrobial power is more relevant than ever. This post will explore the fascinating science that explains how some metal surfaces, like brass doorknobs, can automatically disinfect themselves. The Secret Weapon: The Oligodynamic Effect The ability of certain metals to self-disinfect is not a new discovery. Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians and Greeks, used copper to store water and treat wounds, long before they understood the science of germs. The principle behind this power is called the oligodynamic effect. The term comes from the Greek words oligos (few) and dynamis (force), referring to the toxic effect that small concentrations of metal ions have on living microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. While several metals, including silver and mercury, exhibit this property, copper and its alloys—such as brass (copper and zinc) and bronze (copper and tin)—are particularly effective and safe for human contact. How Copper Wages War on Microbes: When a microbe lands on a brass surface, the copper within the alloy launches a multi-pronged, lethal attack at the cellular level. Researchers have identified a rapid, destructive process that leaves germs with no chance of survival or mutation. Here’s how it works: Rupturing the Cell Wall: The first assault is on the microbe's outer membrane. Copper ions, which are electrically charged atoms, effectively "punch holes" in this protective barrier. This breach causes the cell to lose vital nutrients and water, weakening its defenses. Generating Destructive Free Radicals: Once the membrane is compromised, the copper ions flood the cell's interior. Here, they generate highly reactive molecules known as reactive oxygen species (or free radicals). These molecules cause widespread oxidative stress, damaging essential internal components much like rust attacks iron. Destroying the Genetic Blueprint: In the final, decisive blow, the copper ions target the microbe's DNA and RNA. By binding to the genetic material, they corrupt the microbe's "instruction manual," completely preventing it from functioning, metabolizing, or, most importantly, reproducing. This comprehensive attack is so effective that microbes cannot develop a resistance to copper, unlike their ability to evolve resistance to antibiotics. Brass vs. Stainless Steel: An Unfair Fight In modern design, stainless steel is often favored for its sleek look and resistance to corrosion. However, from a microbiological standpoint, it pales in comparison to copper alloys. According to studies, including significant research from the University of Southampton, pathogens can survive on non-antimicrobial surfaces for extended periods. For example, some viruses can remain viable on stainless steel and plastic for up to 72 hours. In stark contrast, those same microbes are often inactivated on a copper surface within just a few hours. This makes copper alloys an ideal choice for high-touch surfaces in environments where hygiene is critical, such as: Hospitals (bed rails, IV poles, and call buttons) Public transportation (grab bars and poles) Schools and public buildings (door handles, push plates, and faucets) Conclusion The self-disinfecting power of brass doorknobs is a perfect example of science hiding in plain sight. This capability is not magic but the result of the oligodynamic effect, where copper ions launch a devastating, multi-stage attack that destroys microbes by rupturing their membranes, creating internal chaos, and shredding their DNA. While shiny stainless steel may look clean, copper-based metals provide an active, continuous layer of antimicrobial protection. As we continue to seek innovative ways to create safer and healthier public spaces, sometimes the best solutions are the ones that have been with us for centuries, quietly waiting to be rediscovered. https://usefulbs.com/blog/how-can-some-metal-surfaces-like-brass-doorknobs-automatically-disinfect-themselves -
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As a stewardess sues BA for getting too close to a storm ‘danger zone’, we ask what the rules are for evading the worst kinds of weather Turbulence is a pain at the best of times. But now it could be the trigger for a £72,000 compensation headache for our national carrier – at least if a former cabin crew member gets her way. Ex-flight attendant Laura Lanigan is suing British Airways, her former employer, on the grounds that it was the airline’s fault that she was injured during a bout of turbulence on a flight to Mumbai. Her lawyers claim that the captain should have done more to avoid the perilous storm clouds that rocked the plane. The lawsuit could rumble on for a while yet, but the case raises a good question for anyone who thinks about the ins and outs of aviation: just how much pilots can do to avoid storms in the first place. It won’t come as a surprise that flying through thunderstorms isn’t considered a good idea. Indeed, when it comes to avoiding storm clouds, much of the work takes place before the flight even takes off – during what is known as the pre-flight briefing. “Before departure, we closely examine the en-route weather forecasts, looking for areas of clear-air turbulence and thunderstorm activity,” says Nick Eades, a veteran 747 captain and the author of several memoirs and novels about aviation. Pilots will usually have access to detailed meteorological reports, which can flag up any areas of concern. Planning a route is one thing, but pilots also need to be prepared for sudden changes in weather, too. This is a particular concern on certain routes – especially those which cross what meteorologists call the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a belt of low pressure near the Equator known for its intense atmospheric activity (or, in layman’s terms, terrible storms). “If we think we are likely to do a lot of weather avoidance, we take extra fuel to allow for the additional miles,” says another captain – an active pilot for a major full-service airline. He tells me that this practice is standard on certain routes, particularly on flights from Europe to Africa which cross the ITCZ. Most airlines recommend that pilots stay around 10 to 20 miles away from the storm itself, and that planes should go around rather than over them (given that storms can rise quickly). Where a short-term detour is necessary, pilots can request an updated route from air traffic control, which can sometimes run to hundreds of miles. “On a flight from Sydney to Singapore, we had to deviate over 200 miles from our route to avoid a line of thunderstorms,” says Eades. “We had added extra fuel to allow for this, but we were still surprised at just how far we had to fly to avoid the weather.” What would happen if a pilot did get trapped in storm clouds? Well, there are real-world examples of this too. But you may be surprised – and relieved – to know that flying through a storm is far from the life-or-death situation that nervous flyers may imagine. Not only are planes built to withstand extreme weather, but well-trained pilots have the tools they need to minimise turbulence. Most of the time, the greater risk is that the aircraft might suffer structural damage – for example, hailstones chipping the windscreen. Even then, it probably means an unscheduled landing and a hefty repair bill, rather than an emergency. Believe it or not, a modern passenger jet is even capable of withstanding a direct lightning strike. In fact, the average commercial passenger jet is hit by lightning around once a year. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the shock simply travels along the outer fuselage without causing any damage to the structure – let alone the people on board. One area where storms can cause more problems is during landing. Not only is the plane typically more vulnerable to extreme gusts at this point, but storms can also cause a dangerous effect called wind shear: a phenomenon in which the speed and direction of the wind can suddenly change. In some cases, pilots may choose to divert to an alternative airport to avoid wind shear, but it isn’t unknown for pilots to have to land during intense winds. In those cases, they will typically make use of a technique known as “crabbing” in order to keep the plane as stable as possible during its descent. The manoeuvre involves pointing the aircraft directly into the wind and then drifting sideways into position (hence the crab analogy). It enjoyed a brief moment of fame during Storm Eunice in 2022, when an aviation enthusiast captured footage of planes landing at Heathrow Airport. The videos are enough to make even a frequent flyer squirm, admittedly. But they do show what well-trained pilots are capable of doing in treacherous conditions. Compared with such daring manoeuvres, flying around a few storm clouds at 35,000ft is easy – at least for the professionals. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/pilot-storm-danger-zones/ -
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Reform UK leader received two guest passes from Iranian-born billionaire and declares attendance at event on register of MPs’ interests Nigel Farage’s two-day trip to Davos cost more than £50,000 after he was given two guest passes by an Iranian-born billionaire, documents show. The Reform UK leader officially declared his attendance at the conference on the register of MPs’ interests, after giving speeches at the Switzerland summit in which he pledged to “put the global elites on notice”. Despite previously having dismissed the World Economic Forum as a jaunt for “globalists”, Farage also accepted £1,100 of luxury hotel accommodation from the conference organisers. The Guardian revealed last month that Farage had his trip to Davos paid for by Sasan Ghandehari, which the Reform UK leader refused to confirm at the time. He was registered at the forum under the banner of HP Trust, which is the family office of Ghandehari and describes itself as having a portfolio value in excess of $10bn (£7.4bn). HP Trust said Farage was an honorary and unpaid adviser since about 2018, but the Reform UK leader disputes that he has ever worked for them and declared no role for the firm on the register. Since Farage’s funding from Ghandehari emerged, questions have been mounting for Reform about a £200,000 donation from a design firm, Interior Architecture Landscape, which counts the Ghandeharis as a major client. The firm is officially owned by a John Richard Simpson, a conveyancer from Potters Bar, and the company insists that the Ghandeharis had no influence on the donation being made. In response to questions about the £200,000 donation, an Interior Architecture Landscape spokesperson said: “We confirm that the company has, in aggregate, approximately £15m in active contracts, including maintenance, refurbishment, and fit-out works, in relation to several properties across the United Kingdom. “We further confirm that members of the Ghandehari family are clients of the company. We can also confirm that all members of the company’s management, its decision-makers and its clients are British citizens, and that the company conducts legitimate business activities within the United Kingdom. Accordingly, any political donations made by the company are fully compliant with applicable electoral law. “Separately, the company’s management made a commercial and values-based decision to donate to Reform UK, reflecting the company’s view that Reform UK is seeking to improve the sectors in which the company operates.” Little is known about Ghandehari, but his family is believed to derive its wealth from his late mother, Hourieh Peramaa, who has previously been described as a Kazakh-born Iranian investor who was a refugee before making billions through property. She first appeared in the UK about 2008 when she bought one of the most expensive properties in London for £50m. The Ghandeharis are now known as art collectors, and he is the representative of a firm suing Christie’s auction house over the provenance of a Picasso painting previously owned by someone convicted of a drugs offence. During his trip to Davos, Farage appeared at several events and said he would tax banks. He was also interviewed by Rebel News, a Canadian media outlet that platforms far-right contributors, whose reporter questioned Farage on whether he regretted comments about the far-right agitator Tommy Robinson, who has threatened to sue him for wrongly saying his criminal conviction was in relation to violence against a woman. Farage said he was “sorry if he got it slightly wrong” about Robinson’s conviction and added: “I don’t wish to have a fight with him. He does what he does, I do what I do. There we go.” https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/04/nigel-farages-two-day-trip-to-davos-cost-more-than-50000-documents-reveal -
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Anything ! 💷 £200,000 seized from criminals available to community groups to support local policing prioritiesMatthew Barber, Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, and Jason Hogg, Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police, have opened the first round of this year’s Community Fund. The Community Fund ( https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/community-fund/ ) helps to prevent crime and keep communities safe. Money for the scheme is created from the proceeds from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owners. Community organisations across Thames Valley can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 for projects that support one of the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan key priorities: Protecting Communities (including anti-social behaviour and road safety) Protecting People (including domestic abuse and the night-time economy) Protecting Property (including cybercrime and fraud and retail crime) Organisations are eligible to apply if they have not received funding through the Community Fund within the last 12 months. Further information on eligibility to apply can be found within the guidance document. https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/community-fund/ In the previous round, organisations received funding for a variety of projects including: Programmes for young people working to build self-esteem and independence, providing early intervention support to prevent anti-social behaviour and offending Projects for young men that break the cycles of isolation and offending Vehicle activated speed road signs with the aim of improving road safety Anti-spike drinks covers to improve safety in the night time economy Purchase of CCTV in order to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime The closing date for this round of applications is 12pm (noon) on Monday 23rd February 2026 and applications will be considered jointly by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the Chief Constable. Successful applicants will be invited to attend a presentation event, hosted by the Police & Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, in May (date/location TBC). Further information, including a link to the application form and guidance document, can be found on the Community Fund webpage. https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/community-fund/ -
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A man was sitting in the bar at Heathrow and noticed a really beautiful woman sitting next to him. He thought to himself. "Wow. she's so gorgeous she must be an air hostess. I wonder which airline she works for?" Hoping to find out, he leaned towards her and uttered the Delta Airline slogan. "Love to flv and it shows?" She gave him a blank. confused stare and he thought to himself. "Well, she obviously doesn't work for Delta." A moment later, another slogan popped into his head. So he leaned towards her again and said, "Something special in the air?" She gave him the same confused look He mentally scratched Singapore Airlines off his list. He thought "Perhaps she works for Thai Airways ..." and said "Smooth as silk?" This time, the woman turned on him and said, "What the f*** do you want?" The man smiled, sat back in his chair and said to himself, "Ahhhhh, Ryanair!" -
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The slopaganda era: 10 AI images posted by the White House - and what they teach us Under Donald Trump, the White House has filled its social media with memes, wishcasting, nostalgia and deepfakes. Here’s what you need to know to navigate the trolling. It started with an image of Trump as a king mocked up on a fake Time magazine cover. Since then it’s developed into a full-blown phenomenon, one academics are calling “slopaganda” – an unholy alliance of easily available AI tools and political messaging. “Shitposting”, the publishing of deliberately crude, offensive content online to provoke a reaction, has reached the level of “institutional shitposting”, according to Know Your Meme’s editor Don Caldwell. This is trolling as official government communication. And nobody is more skilled at it than the Trump administration – a government that has not only allowed the AI industry all the regulative freedom it desires, but has embraced the technology for its own in-house purposes. Here are 10 of the most significant fake images the White House has put out so far. Trump as king 19 February 2025 The first AI image posted by the White House X account sets the tone for Trump’s second presidency – marking a turning point in which the shitposting that had been associated with the far-right online culture that brought Trump to power moved from fringe message boards, such as 4chan and Reddit, to mainstream platforms. The image was posted alongside an announcement of the repeal of New York City’s congestion pricing, and leant into fears that Trump would govern as a king. The New York governor, Kathy Hochul, held up the image at a press conference when she announced that she would defy attempts to block the congestion charge: “New York hasn’t laboured under a king in over 250 years. We sure as hell are not going to start now.” The congestion charge remains in effect. In another post on Truth Social in October, the president posted an AI video depicting himself as a president-king, crown on head, flying over “No Kings” protesters in a jet fighter and dumping faeces on them. The House speaker, Mike Johnson, defended the post, saying: “The president uses social media to make a point. You can argue that he’s probably the most effective person who’s ever used social media for that. He is using satire to make a point.” Studio Ghibli meme of a woman being deported 27 March 2025 OpenAI’s Studio Ghibli-inspired meme generator became a sensation in March 2025, with its uncanny ability to translate any image into the beloved anime studio’s house style (without Studio Ghibli’s permission or approval). The White House applied it to a woman in tears as she was arrested by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents before being deported. The original photograph, and the woman’s name and alleged crimes, are also included in the post. For Caldwell, this demonstrated just how up to date the White House is with online trends. “They’re hopping on brand-new, fresh memes,” he says. He suspects White House staffers might be regular visitors to Know Your Meme. “The Studio Ghibli meme trend kicked off on March 25 on X; we covered it the following day; and then the White House covered it the day after that.” Trump as Pope 3 May 2025 This image is proof of Trump’s willingness and ability to insert himself into any conversation, even ones that have nothing to do with him, and shows how effective that can be. Predictably, the image went viral, made global headlines and was met with outrage from Catholic groups and politicians. “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President,” wrote the New York State Catholic Conference. “We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us.” As so often happens with such shitposting, those who took offence were accused of lacking a sense of humour. “They can’t take a joke?” Trump said soon after at a press conference. “You don’t mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media … the Catholics loved it.” Trump as Jedi 4 May 2025 Trump has been the subject of flattering fan art throughout his political career (remember the digital Trump trading cards?), but AI has made the job a whole lot easier. On 4 May, the White House crashed Star Wars fans’ special day with this image of the president as a jacked Jedi, lightsaber in hand, garlanded by flags and eagles. Who cares if his lightsaber is the wrong colour (the good guys’ are blue), or that the White House’s claim to be the Rebellion not the Empire rang laughably hollow? This was pure fantasy art. In 2022, one of Trump’s trading cards clumsily grafted his headshot on to a superhero body; last July he was slightly less clumsily grafted on to the body of Superman, to gatecrash the launch of the new movie. The same month, the White House portrayed a besuited Trump heroically striding into the Colosseum. Fans and allies have generated reams of similar content themselves. Hakeem Jeffries as a Mexican 29 October 2025 Why did the White House choose to put the Democratic house leader Hakeem Jeffries and the senate leader Chuck Schumer in sombreros and have them holding plates of tacos? It doesn’t matter. They look a bit silly, and it’s provocatively offensive, and once again, the world’s attention is colonised. The image illustrates how difficult it is to respond to this type of content. It’s part of a running joke, stretching back to a deepfake video Trump posted a month earlier, which slapped a crude sombrero and moustache filter over Jeffries. That video was roundly condemned as offensive and racist , not least by Jeffries himself (who replied by posting a genuine image of Trump with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein) . The Trump administration then doubled down, playing the video on a loop on screens in the White House briefing room for several hours and creating more images in a similar vein, which kept the trolling going. Welcome to the Golden Age 1 January 2026 Few people outside the Trump administration believe the US is in a “golden age”, but that hasn’t stopped Trump from repeating the claim. In January, the White House posted an AI video of a golden White House facade behind a shower of gold coins with the text “The White House? She’s in her Golden Age”, backed by Bruno Mars’ track 24K Magic. Even if Trump’s Midas touch is more a figment of his imagination, this type of wishcasting is more effective than it appears. According to one paper by the academics Michał Klincewicz, Mark Alfano and Amir Ebrahimi Fard – who coined the term “slopaganda” – “neural representations of information that were shown to be false continue to influence people’s beliefs and reasoning after being corrected”. In other words, even when you know it’s fake, your brain still kind of believes it. Which Way, Greenland Man? 14 January 2026 On the face of it, this seems like a straightforward “Trump wants Greenland” post. However, it has a much darker message. Again, the post is riffing on a popular meme, Caldwell explains: the “dramatic crossroads” image originated with the manga series Yu-Gi-Oh!, and started gaining traction online around 2021. The slogan “Which way, Greenland man?” seems to reference a 1978 neo-Nazi text titled Which Way, Western Man?, in which the white supremacist author William Gayley Simpson called for violence against and the deportation of Jews and Black people, and argued that Hitler was right. “It’s absolutely shocking to see such images being deployed by this administration,” said Heidi Beirich, a co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, which monitors US neo-Nazi groups. “The idea appeals to racists and white supremacists who think only white people should be in positions of power.” In August, the Department of Homeland Security posted a mock recruitment advert for ICE with an image of Uncle Sam at a crossroads and the slogan: “Which way, American man?” Earlier this month, the US Labor Department posted an image with the slogan: “One Homeland. One People. One Heritage”. Critics pointed out that it had overtones of Hitler’s “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer” (“One people, one realm, one leader”). Stand with ICE Propaganda poster 15 January 2026 “AI is very good at constantly reiterating images from the past, so it can create this nostalgic imagery of traditionalism,” says Daniel de Zeeuw, an assistant professor in digital media culture at the University of Amsterdam. Thus the extremist messages of the present – such as ICE’s militarised policing – can be inserted into more reassuring and familiar graphic styles, such as patriotic recruitment posters, 80s action-movie posters or 1950s public information campaigns (as with a recent image of Trump as a friendly milkman). AI is inherently backward-looking, says de Zeeuw, as it is fed on historical images. This aesthetic is in keeping with the Make America Great Again movement, which is constantly evoking a “better” past. Another stark example was the Department of Homeland Security’s chilling post from last December: an image of a vintage car at a deserted, palm-fringed beach with the slogan “America After 100 Million Deportations”. Ironically, the original was painted by a Japanese artist, Hiroshi Nagai, who complained that it had been used without his permission. The arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong 22 January 2026 “It’s not going to be on Twitter,” said the agent filming the Minneapolis civil rights lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong, one of the city’s most prominent activists, as she was arrested last Thursday. Within hours, though, it was: the Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem posted a still from the video, in which Armstrong seems composed and shows little emotion. Half an hour later, the White House X account posted a significantly altered version of the same image: this time, Armstrong is exaggeratedly upset, tears streaming down her face. Her skin tone also appears to have been darkened. The image was captioned: “Arrested: far-left agitator Nekima Levy Armstrong for orchestrating church riots in Minnesota.” In fact, Armstrong was demonstrating at a church service led by an allegedly ICE-affiliated pastor, and was later released without charge. Until this moment, the White House’s AI-generated output had been conspicuously outlandish: there was little danger of mistaking it for reality. This image purports to be an authentic photograph – or at least omits to mention that it is not. It is not so much AI-generated trolling as an AI-assisted deepfake. As with Musk’s recently shared Grok tool, which removed women and children’s clothing without their consent, there is also something abusive about it: AI has been used to attempt to humiliate a woman by manipulating her image, to make her look weaker and more distressed than she actually was. The fact that the deepfakery is not all that convincing is part of the point, de Zeeuw thinks. “What is being communicated here is the falsification itself: you’re showing your ability to falsify images, to falsify evidence.” After the fakery had been called out, the White House deputy communications director Kaelan Dorr posted the response: “Enforcement of the law will continue. The memes will continue.” The Nihilistic Penguin 23 January 2026 In response to this image of Trump and a penguin walking towards a Greenland flag, some observers pointed out that penguins actually live at the south pole. But that’s missing the point of these types of post, says Robert Topinka, a reader in digital media and rhetoric at Birkbeck, University of London. “People continue to interpret them as if they’re meant to be a legitimate claim, or an argument or a piece of evidence, but they’re emotional hooks.” Their purpose is to stir up the base. “White House staffers have said they use AI because it’s the fastest way to get content out. It’s not the fastest way to say something that’s true; it’s the fastest way to push their propaganda.” To those in the know, this is a riff on the “nihilist penguin” meme, which has gone viral on TikTok in the past few weeks. It’s based on a scene from Werner Herzog’s 2007 documentary Encounters at the End of the World, in which one penguin inexplicably separates from the colony and wanders off towards the Antarctic interior, and certain death. “But why?” Herzog wonders. Many have asked the same of Trump’s quixotic attempts to acquire Greenland. The image resonates with what Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor christened “end times fascism”, says De Zeeuw, where tech industry leaders and their enablers are almost willing the end of the world as we know it, striding towards oblivion like Trump and his penguin companion. “It’s like they know they’re moving toward the end, but they do so joyfully.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/29/the-slopaganda-era-10-ai-images-posted-by-the-white-house-and-what-they-teach-us-
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Prize-winning composer Philip Glass has called off a scheduled world premiere at the Kennedy Center of a symphony about Abraham Lincoln, the latest in a wave of cancellations since President Donald Trump ousted the previous leadership. Glass’ Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln,” was to have been led by Grammy-winning conductor Karen Kamensek for performances on June 12 and June 13. “Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony,” Glass said in a statement released Tuesday by his publicist. “Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.” Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, responded in a statement, “We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision.” Glass, who turns 89 on Saturday, was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2018. Three years earlier, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts by then-President Barack Obama. https://apnews.com/article/philip-glass-kennedy-center-cancellations-d29fda6fa3ea80dcdc7ded1033d6c04e
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