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JK Rowling Clashes with Graham Norton and Billy Bragg Over 'Cancel Culture' Debate
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Samsung A55-5G Macro image of Mango Blossom at night: What's wrong? if anything?
Peking China? I was referring to the crazy out-of-focus result in the image. The MACRO setting is garbage. This camera phone is OK for .....anything but semi-serious photography...unless...I might be doing something wrong which keeps the camera from focusing properly. So then, the MACRO setting, and MACRO lens in this phone is basically useless? -
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects Trump’s Offer for Talks, Calls It ‘Not Rational or Honorable’
Quite cute for Iran to tell others they don't have any honor. -
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Less-Refined Farang: Are Farang in Asia now less refined than before?
This too concerns me as I prepare for a working vacation to BKK. But really I know the writing is on the wall. As I searched on YouTube for information on BKK, all I could find was how to live on a pittance in BKK and still have fun. Worse still are the posts on how groups of Indians club their money together to go all in on a group shag of a prostitute in order to save money (even commenting on the "bonus" shag to be had by all in the morning). Probably its age-related. I was a backpacker for couple of years out of college but these days I find them irritating. Couple years ago I met up with a friend in Tokyo. For some incomprehensible reason he brought along 2 European backpackers to dinner with us. After dinner they argued that I needed to pay more based on their calculation. I said, I couldn't care less and paid for the whole dinner. Later we went to a bar and they were counting up coins to pay for their drinks. Again I felt so sorry for them I paid the bill myself. Just embarrassing all the way round. So, I will do my best to avoid these situations. As one poster said, just head to the high class places. This is what I am optimistic for BKK - i am hoping to be able to frequent top class venues for a fraction of the price found in Tokyo, Shanghai, HK, etc. I suppose I will do a reconnaissance of Soi-Cowboy and other such places in order to be informed. But, to the OP's point, and with no experience of BKK myself, I would hope there is a high class, top notch experience to be had away from the YouTubers, backpackers, Social-Security brigade. -
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects Trump’s Offer for Talks, Calls It ‘Not Rational or Honorable’
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has firmly dismissed the prospect of negotiations with the Trump administration, stating on Friday that engaging in such talks would be neither “rational, intelligent, nor honorable.” His remarks came just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to renegotiate a nuclear deal with Tehran while simultaneously intensifying economic pressure through a new executive order. “Negotiations with America do not solve any of our problems,” Khamenei said during a speech, as reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim. Trump had suggested earlier in the week that he was open to striking a new nuclear agreement with Iran “immediately.” However, he also reinforced his “maximum pressure” policy by signing an executive order aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and restricting its oil exports. “We don’t want to be tough on Iran. We don’t want to be tough on anybody,” Trump stated, adding that he preferred a “Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper.” Khamenei’s latest comments appeared to contradict his previous statements, which had left open the possibility of dialogue regarding Iran’s uranium enrichment and the lifting of sanctions on billions of dollars worth of exports. His remarks reflect the long-standing mistrust between the two nations, exacerbated by Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term in office. Darya Dolzikova, a research fellow with the proliferation and nuclear policy program at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that both sides had been sending “mixed messages” about potential talks. “The intention of [the U.S.] engaging in nuclear diplomacy with Iran is certainly a good one. I guess where the challenges come in is, when the rubber really hits the road, what does that actually look like?” she told NBC News. “We’ll just have to see what that looks like in practice,” she added. The Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 deal—originally brokered under Barack Obama to curb Iran’s nuclear program—was followed by severe economic sanctions. In response, Iran gradually breached the agreed-upon limits on uranium enrichment. Khamenei referenced this history in his speech, claiming that Iran had made “many concessions” to the U.S. in past negotiations, but that Washington ultimately failed to honor its commitments. “Our government at the time engaged in negotiations, held meetings, had discussions, smiled, shook hands, and built relationships,” he said. “The very person who is now in power tore up the agreement.” Attempts by American and European officials to revive nuclear talks have so far yielded little progress. Trump’s latest executive order provoked a sharp response from Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who dismissed the policy as futile. “Maximum pressure is a failed experience, and repeating it will lead to another failure,” he told Tasnim on Wednesday. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also downplayed the impact of U.S. sanctions, calling on members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to unite against American economic measures. “Iran is a powerful and resource-rich country that can navigate challenges by managing its resources,” he said. Despite Iran’s insistence that it is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons, a 2023 report from the International Atomic Energy Agency indicated that the country had begun enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels. Trump, speaking at a news conference Tuesday, defended his decision to tighten sanctions. “We will once again enforce the most aggressive possible sanctions to drive Iranian oil exports to zero and diminish the regime’s capacity to fund terror throughout the region and through the world,” he said. While the U.S. continues to leverage economic pressure, Dolzikova suggested that the effectiveness of sanctions may have diminished in recent years due to Iran’s deepening economic ties with Russia and China. “If the Trump administration does go after those continued exports to China, as they seem set to do, then that might create additional pressure,” she noted. Based on a report by NBC 2025-02-10 -
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Starmer’s Attempt to Block BBC Report on Sue Gray’s Salary Sparks Controversy
Sir Keir Starmer personally intervened to prevent the BBC from reporting that his chief of staff, Sue Gray, was earning more than him, enlisting the help of Britain’s most senior civil servant, Simon Case. The cabinet secretary contacted both the BBC’s director-general, Tim Davie, and political editor, Chris Mason, urging them to reconsider broadcasting details about Gray’s pay rise. The controversy arose when the BBC informed Downing Street that it was preparing to reveal that Gray had secured a salary increase to £170,000—£3,000 more than Starmer himself earns as prime minister. Starmer and his team were determined to keep this information from the public, believing it would set a dangerous precedent. They also rejected claims that Gray had orchestrated her own pay raise and viewed the report as a hostile and anonymous attack on a respected civil servant who had previously authored the partygate report. Case’s direct intervention was notable, as such high-level conversations between government officials and the BBC are typically reserved for matters of national security or situations that could endanger UK personnel. While he stopped short of explicitly telling the BBC not to run the story, he emphasized concerns over its wider implications. He argued that exposing Gray’s exact salary would cross a line and warned that excessive media scrutiny of public servants could deter talented individuals from taking on senior roles in government and broadcasting. Although government salaries for special advisers are published in pay bands annually, the precise disclosure of Gray’s earnings was unusual. Starmer’s aides were also growing increasingly frustrated with what they saw as sarcastic and aggressive anonymous briefings against Gray from within Downing Street, some of which were leaked to the BBC. One insider even mocked Gray’s role in preparing Labour for government, quipping, “If you ever see any evidence of our preparation for government, please let me know.” Despite these efforts, the BBC proceeded with the story on September 18. Mason later defended the corporation’s decision, citing the public interest in transparency and accountability. The fallout was swift, fueling accusations of dysfunction within Starmer’s administration. The controversy forced Starmer to insist that he remained "completely in control" of his government, but the damage was done. The situation became so toxic that Gray was absent from the Labour Party conference the following week. A little more than two weeks later, she was dismissed, marking a dramatic end to her tenure as Starmer’s chief of staff. The incident has raised serious questions about Labour’s internal cohesion and the prime minister’s ability to manage his top team in the early days of his administration. Based on a report by Sunday Times 2025-02-10 -
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Labour Faces Fresh Crisis as Second MP Caught in Controversial WhatsApp Group
Labour is under increasing pressure to take action against a second MP linked to a controversial WhatsApp group that circulated sexist and racist messages. This comes after Andrew Gwynne was removed from his role as a health minister following the exposure of offensive online exchanges, including one message where he expressed hope that an elderly voter who didn’t support Labour would "die before the next election." "Housing Minister it’s ‘concerning’ Labour councillors didn’t call out antisemitic WhatsApp messages." One of the most shocking exchanges involved a 72-year-old woman who had contacted her local councillor regarding bin collections. After she mentioned that she hadn’t voted Labour but wanted to raise an issue, Gwynne allegedly wrote a suggested response: “Dear resident, F*** your bins. I’m re-elected and without your vote. Screw you. PS: Hopefully you’ll have croaked it by the all-outs.” The term "all-outs" refers to elections where all council seats are contested at once. The leaked messages, obtained by *The Mail on Sunday*, contained further offensive content. Gwynne was found to have written that someone "sounds too Jewish" and "too militaristic," seemingly based solely on their name. Other messages included racist remarks about veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott, mocking her historic achievement of becoming the first Black MP to speak at Prime Minister’s Questions. There were also sexist comments about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and crude references to a local Labour leader. Discussing an upcoming Labour meeting, one group member referenced Marshall Rosenberg, a late American psychologist known for conflict resolution techniques. Gwynne responded: “No. He sounds too militaristic and too Jewish. Is he in Mossad?” The remark plays into an enduring anti-Semitic stereotype, according to Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Anti-Semitism. Gwynne’s history with online controversy dates back to 2018 when it was revealed he was in a Facebook group called "Labour Supporters," where anti-Semitic messages were shared. At the time, he distanced himself, saying: “I was added to this Facebook group without my knowledge or permission. I DO NOT support the posts and I ABHOR anti-Semitism. It has absolutely NO place in the Labour Party or in society. End of.” However, just months later, he was engaging in anti-Semitic banter in the WhatsApp group, even joking, “Geoffrey the Giraffe says don’t be nasty to the Jews,” referencing the mascot of the defunct Toys R Us chain. Gwynne also made offensive jokes about Diane Abbott’s role at Prime Minister’s Questions in October 2019. Abbott’s appearance was a historic moment as she became the first Black parliamentarian to represent her party in the weekly debate. When a group member questioned whether this moment was "a joke," Gwynne replied: "Because it’s Black History Month apparently." Another councillor suggested alternative Black MPs, both living and dead, saying: "Was David Lammy not available? I’d also take the corpse of Bernie Grant." Gwynne then added: "Or Desmond Swayne? Justin Trudeau??" This appeared to be a reference to the two politicians’ past controversies involving blackface caricatures. With Labour already reeling from the fallout of Gwynne’s removal, pressure is mounting for further disciplinary action. Whether others in the WhatsApp group will face consequences remains unclear, but the scandal has once again raised concerns about inappropriate behaviour within the party’s ranks. Based on a report by Daily Mail | Sky News 2025-02-10
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