408 Responses to Start the Week 29 November 2021

  1. MarkyMark says:

    Pakistan’s largest Chinese-built nuclear plant to start operating
    By Syed Raza Hassan
    https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/pakistans-largest-chinese-built-nuclear-plant-start-operating-2021-05-21/

    China is a close ally of Pakistan and has invested billions in the energy sector, largely coal-fired power production.

       10 likes

  2. Up2snuff says:

    TOADY Watch #1 – what could possibly go wrong?

    MI6 is going to need to partner with private companies to cope with the 21st Century threats to our way of life.

    Group 4 ?

       12 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      Amazon – free delivery of Novichok around the world.

         3 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        MM, you forgot the indefinite article – a Novichok. It wasn’t a very good one by all accounts.

           5 likes

    • Scroblene says:

      I’d have said that Capita would be a shoo-in for this pathetic little sinecure!

      They have ‘form’ with threatening pensioners, so probably have the kit ready for other nasty little jobs we have to pay for, instead of heating our homes!

         3 likes

  3. MarkyMark says:

    Labour reshuffle: Starmer aims to combine experience and youth
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59464865

    29411558-0-image-a-19_1591717814838.jpg

       11 likes

  4. JohnC says:

    Not BBC but an unexpected observation on what our society has become:

    I want to give blood but nobody seems to know where I can do it. So I registered on the NHS donation website and I have to make an appointment.
    The earliest one available is March next year !!!.
    In Thailand I just walk into a hospital and they take it. Plus give me 2-weeks of iron tablets with my drinks + snack afterwards.

    Are they really so awash with blood ? – or have the NHS management completely lost the focus of why they exist ?.

       32 likes

  5. Guest Who says:

    Maaaate….

    Bling, is in.

       11 likes

  6. MarkyMark says:

    BBC political editor given bodyguard for Labour conference
    This article is more than 4 years old
    Laura Kuenssberg will reportedly be accompanied by security team after being jeered for her treatment of Corbyn

    Laura Kuenssberg
    Laura Kuenssberg interviewing people in Telford, Shropshire. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo
    Peter Walker
    @peterwalker99
    Sun 24 Sep 2017

       11 likes

    • JohnC says:

      Whatever the topic, the fact that an ‘impartial’ BBC news reporter needs security because of what she reported should be ringing alarm bells at OFCOM.

      The fact that she needs it because of the hard-Left is ironic in the extreme. No wonder the BBC didn’t report it.

      ‘Gaby Hinsliff’ of The Guardian started her report with ‘ idea of journalists being physically intimidated at work, a thuggish phenomenon repeatedly observed at Donald Trump’s rallies.’ and only mentioned it was from Left wing fanatics later on.

      Shameless double-standard hypocrites.

         14 likes

  7. Up2snuff says:

    TOADY Watch #2 – when will the letter of the alphabet be mentioned?

    Richard Moore head of MI6 doesn’t have an Aston Martin (unlike James Bond although in the books, if I recall correctly, Bond was a Bentley man) but he does write in green ink like the original head of MI6, ‘C’ a.k.a. Sir Mansfield George Smith-Cumming. The BBC are very exercised about the Omicron mutation and Nick could and probably should have asked ‘R’ (for Richard – ‘M’ has been taken) what MI6 have done to find out the true source and nature of this virus.

    Which leaves me wondering. That ‘now it’s all important, tomorrow it’s not and is forgotten: ‘R’ figure; when are we going to start hearing about it again on the BBC? It has not been mentioned in my hearing (I’m less of a faithful R4 listener these days) for months and months on BBC R4.

       15 likes

  8. MarkyMark says:

    In 500 BC, Rome was a minor city-state on the Italian peninsula. By 200 BC, the Roman Republic had conquered Italy, and over the following two centuries it conquered Greece and Spain, the North African coast, much of the Middle East, modern-day France, and even the remote island of Britain.19 Aug 2014

       6 likes

  9. MarkyMark says:

    The Ottomans ended the Byzantine Empire with the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Mehmed the Conqueror. Under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire marked the peak of its power and prosperity as well as the highest development of its government, social, and economic systems.

       4 likes

  10. Fedup2 says:

    That that’s good news – we can save on the handouts …

       12 likes

  11. Up2snuff says:

    TOADY Watch #3 – the flag is lowered on the British empire …

    THE BBC going big on Barbados becoming a Republic. The BBC really do hate the UK and its past history except when it comes to them, their centenary (next year) and their unique funding model, the radio licence previously and then the television licence.

    The clip from chosen by the BBC from Prince Charles speech at the ‘R’ day celebrations in Bridgetown? One that just had to make reference to slavery. And one that blamed Britain for it, despite the fact that slavery has been commonplace around the world for many millennia. Unfortunately the BBC forgot to add that the UK pioneered the ending of slavery until foreign people traffickers resurrected the concept in the late 20th and to date 21st century. Shameful BBC. Truly shameful.

       33 likes

  12. MarkyMark says:

    “It is a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true, that almost any English intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during “God Save the King” than stealing from a poor box”

    maxresdefault.jpg

       10 likes

  13. MarkyMark says:

    Barbados UK AId projects …

    https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/search

    Caribbean Recovery and Resilience Programme
    United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

    The project aims to create the conditions to consolidate early recovery efforts, building back better (BBB) and to facilitate investments in resilience in the affected islands.

    Project identifier:
    XM-DAC-41114-PROJECT-00113100

    Start Date:
    2018-06-01

    Activity Status:
    Implementation

    Total Budget:
    £4,035,293

       4 likes

  14. MarkyMark says:

    Prince Charles news: Why Prince Charles would choose NOT to become Defender of the Faith
    PRINCE CHARLES will become the next King of England and is currently the oldest King in Waiting in history at 71, having spent nearly his entire life as first-in-line. When he does succeed Queen Elizabeth II, however, he said he would drop one of the monarchy’s core mottos.
    By LIAM DOYLE
    21:28, Thu, Jul 2, 2020 | UPDATED: 21:45, Thu, Jul 2, 2020

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1304386/Prince-Charles-news-heir-King-Charles-defender-of-the-faith-title

    As such, it relates to their ability to preserve the national faith, which, since Henry VIII’s rule is Christianity.

    However, in the more than 500 years since the title came into being, the UK’s religious landscape has markedly diversified.

    The new interfaith identity of the country has led Prince Charles to voice his preference for the streamlined “Defender of Faith” instead.

       8 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Marky
      I reckon Charles Windsor would be more likely to follow Gaia than Christ – although he might give his wealth away to get into Heaven …..

         12 likes

  15. MarkyMark says:

    Priti Patel to have pay linked to safety of country – every terrorist attack reduces her pay by 100K.

       14 likes

  16. Charlie Farley says:

    Hats off to all of you that still watch and listen to the BBBC and MSM ,
    Has the daily Invasion stopped ?
    Is the scare now the new ‘ Moronic ‘ virus ?
    Looks like a deliberate move by Peppa Pig Boris to move the agenda on from his useless response to the Daily Invaders bringing in Viruses , TB and who knows what else ……
    Now off to the shops with no mask …Stuff them !

       34 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Charley
      The aim is to really cut down on BBC output – I monitor the enemy – the today programme – but not much else . GB news is on ‘default ‘ if only to support an outside news source – but even then I think it is too careful of OFCOM …

      But the most important thing is to not pay for it .

         14 likes

      • G says:

        Fed,

        Agreed wholeheartedly. Monitoring is necessary. I want to be able to detect when our, “Worlds Most Trusted” make slight shifts. I predict that as the heat rises in favour of cutting it down to size, their emphasis will shift: more international news whilst reducing the ‘tittle tattle’, less foreigners in the forefront and a reduction in black faces/voices in an attempt to subtly dissuade those who would otherwise seek its demise. They are past masters of the Houdini tricks.

           12 likes

  17. MarkyMark says:

    Safety and security
    Crime
    Most visits are trouble-free, but there have been incidents of violent crime including armed robbery, sexual assaults and gang-related shootings.

    Since 2019 there has been an increase in the murder rate, primarily gang related and involving guns. Some incidents have taken place in populated and public areas. You should remain vigilant at all times and in all locations.

    https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados/safety-and-security

    The local police have advised residents and visitors against wearing visible gold jewellery due to a spate of robberies particularly in Bridgetown and other popular tourist areas.

       7 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Would be good if the commonwealth cuts down in size . It hasn’t done the ordinary British many favours judging by the quality of imported ‘labour ‘….

      …maybe the royal family will pay reparations since they’ve suddenly discovered slavery …

         12 likes

  18. Guest Who says:

    The BBC Grandstanding Oaf Editor has not dallied.

       7 likes

  19. Guest Who says:

    David Shuckman has left the bui…

    Bbc News and a very bbc headline.

    “I’m sure global warming is involved somewhere. The turtle is not supposed to be in this part of the world.”

       10 likes

  20. Guest Who says:

    Then there’s JezBo, spotlighting.

       2 likes

  21. MarkyMark says:

    Investment Awareness Webinar
    December 8 @ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
    Register now and join us!

    4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (UAE time) / 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (EST ) / 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (AST)

    https://www.investbarbados.org/event/investment-awareness-webinar/

    Investment-Awareness-Webinar-2048×2048.jpg

       0 likes

  22. Eddy Booth says:

    Covid: Omicron variant in Netherlands earlier than thought
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59473131

    “It’s unlikely we will ever know precisely when or where Omicron first emerged.”

    As expected it wasn’t Africa what did it..

       15 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Thing I would like to know – should the BBC ever think to ask a virologist on air in my hearing on R4 – is this:
      With the virus spread around the globe, is it possible in different locations for the virus to mutate (randomly, as they do) to the same latest mutation in different countries and on different continents?

         2 likes

  23. Jeff says:

    So, Kier Starmer sent Angela Rayner out to lecture us about our health… and to pick up a packet of fags… while he covertly reshuffled his cabinet. It probably needed doing but…

    What level of craven stupidity does it take to give an absolute muppet like David Lammy a top level job? For the love of God!

    Reshuffling the Labour cabinet is going to be about as effective as moving the deckchairs about on the Titanic. They need lifeboats.

    They’re sunk, but no one will tell them…

       31 likes

  24. JohnC says:

    It’s not often I’m floored by stupid BBC agenda-based scaremongering, but this one really take the biscuit:

    ‘How can I tell I have Omicron?’

    We had 40,000 new cases of COVID yesterday alone and the entire total for ‘Omicron’ is 14. But the BBC act like there’s a good chance you have it.

    Then they write a whole article which seems to be pitched at the 5 to 8 year old audience.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59460252

    And at the end – we are given the answer to the clickbait question of the main page headline:

    ‘That means a new cough, a fever and loss of taste or smell are still the main three symptoms to look out for.’

       9 likes

    • moggie63 says:

      I had a takeaway Madras the other week and I had all of those symptoms afterwards. I must have COVID. I also had some bog-splattering episodes afterwards and breath that could scorch paint, is that the new variant?

         19 likes

  25. s.trubble says:

    Must admit hadnt heard J Bowen for ages .Tuned in briefly to R4…the only bBC output would tune into.
    Re Yemen…….a rehearsed drill about Hootsies, Saudis and the like.

    I was scratching my head thinking, isnt a root cause the islamic schism? Shia v Sunni,

    Only towards the end he mentioned Iran and Saudi,,,

    You wonder if in the future a new influx will be headed to Calais
    through the porous EU Borders….

    No such speculation , from Bowen, naturally.

    If only Ms Patel could find a way of keeping him in Yemen.

       13 likes

  26. Guest Who says:

    Interestingly in the bbc Labour reshuffle, he is on just as often.

       5 likes

  27. Guest Who says:

    https://isthebbcbiased.blogspot.com/2021/11/fact-check-please.html

    One for Marianna, assuming she is not still specialising in podiatry or not grasping basic science or brushing up on her Dutch.

       10 likes

  28. tomo says:

    apparently….

    Twitter bans sharing images or videos of private individuals without their consent.

    Cartoons are going to get some traction then?

       9 likes

    • Guest Who says:

         5 likes

    • tomo says:

      – fwiw

      it’s a move to stop those awkward people who take their mobile phones to events….

         2 likes

  29. Guest Who says:

    Laura has exclusive news of something not happening.

       7 likes

  30. Guest Who says:

    He could always get Champion to do it in her leathers.

       4 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      “Anyone else noticed that @theJeremyVine has become one of the most overtly left wing biased anti government BBC employees.

      No ? Check out his regular ‘guests’ and the ‘selective’ callers to his programme then come back to me.”

         5 likes

  31. theisland says:

    https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greece-make-vaccinations-persons-over-60-mandatory-pm-2021-11-30/

    Greece: vaccinations for people over 60 mandatory from Jan. 16 with a recurring monthly fine of 100 euros for non-compliance.

       6 likes

  32. Thoughtful says:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10258359/Doctor-78-charged-manslaughter-death-patient-hospital-2018.html

    At least it’s been reported by one paper, but our increasingly anti White race hating state would have branded anyone White the meaningless word ‘Racist’ and refused to treat them, if they had requested a different doctor to operate on them, regardless of the risk a doctor might pose so long as he or she is of a BAME privileged background.

       9 likes

  33. andyjsnape says:

    Latest TrustPilot reviews of the bBC

    https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.bbc.co.uk

    1.1 stars

       7 likes

    • moggie63 says:

      To be fair, they only got 1.1 because the site doesn’t offer 0 as an option and there is always at least 1 member of BBC staff forced to give 5 stars for something they didn’t even watch/listen to. Allegedly.

         13 likes

  34. MarkyMark says:

    The company currently faces a host of challenges, including slow growth in its user base as competitors like TikTok and Instagram lure away younger demographics, as well as continuing struggles with misinformation and hate speech.

    Agrawal is expected largely to pick up where Dorsey left off, continuing to fight for users being lured away by competitors like TikTok and Instagram, said Jill Wilson, the chief marketing officer for Esquire Digital.

    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/nov/29/who-is-parag-agrawal-new-twitter-ceo

    …. 27 minutes ago ….

    Twitter bans sharing photos, video of people without their consent
    The social media site will “try to assess the context,” it said in its updated policy.
    https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/twitter-bans-sharing-photos-video-of-people-without-their-consent/

    2CE5C6AA00000578-0-image-m-22_1443526521631.jpg

       0 likes

  35. dafydd says:

    Nice to see ED ” SANCTIMONIOUS ” DAVEY is being investigated for his £78k a year kick back..Also BARRY”stop Brexit”GARDENER is about to have his collar felt also..

    I remember the day all opposition benches were having a field day at the expense of the Tories regarding sleaze, explains why ED DAVEY left the chamber sharpish just as it started..

    David ”KING HYPOCRITE” Lammy must be looking over his shoulder..

    Pity not one mention of the above on the BBC

       20 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      Barry Gardiner

      Name of donor: The Climate Parliament
      Address of donor: Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX

      Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): flights and accommodation with an approx. value of £1,000

      Destination of visit: Marrakech, Morocco

      https://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=10220

         3 likes

  36. MarkyMark says:

    Register of Members’ Interests
    Barry Gardiner

    Name of donor: Transport Salaried Staff Association
    Address of donor: 2nd Floor Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4SQ

    Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 to Stop Fire and Rehire Ltd

    Date received: 14 October 2021

    Date accepted: 14 October 2021

    Donor status: trade union

    https://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=10220

       2 likes

  37. StewGreen says:

    Panorama tweets for the time in 6 days
    There was no show on Monday.

       3 likes

  38. StewGreen says:

    Coming home with Radio 4

    – until 3pm drama about being mixed race
    with some jokes aimed at white people
    – 3:15pm “white people had a hard-on for the war”
    ..said disdainfully, then 2 minutes later a contradiction as she said her Polynesian grandmother “had a hard on for the war”
    (The first two items were about black people in South Africa)
    – 3:30pm “our RAPIDLY changing climate”
    intro to Costing the Earth (R4’s weekly green activism show)

       7 likes

  39. StewGreen says:

    Still it is very very rare for Radio 4 to have a show about black people.
    Oh hang on ..another

       6 likes

  40. StewGreen says:

    What are you promoting now Radio 4 ?

       7 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      This has been run often before.

      It is news, if historically selective.

      The key is when it is run, to coincide with what, and why.

         8 likes

    • Thoughtful says:

      If they tell the whole story of that it would be a miracle! It will be the usual biased clap trap that the BBC wants people to hear and one thing we can more or less guarantee is that it won’t be the whole story.

      To have thrown an entire shipment of very valuable slaves overboard must have been a result of some extreme necessity as this was to them valuable cargo and they would want to get their monetary reward for getting it in one piece to port.

      The attrition rate of slave is pretty much in line with that for sailing ship crew at the time, it wasn’t the safest of professions and they only got paid if the cargo made it alive to dry land.

         11 likes

    • JohnC says:

      The film Belle was all about this and apart from the event actually taking place, it was a complete crock of lies.

      I notice that none of them go near the fact that Muslims have thrown Christians out the boats when coming to us for free stuff. And THAT is without any benefit of the ‘different times’ excuse.

         9 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      During World War I, the Ottoman Turks carried out one of the largest genocides in the world’s history. The International Association of Genocide Scholars affirms that the number of Armenian deaths was over one million. This film provides a historical overview of the Armenian Genocide and looks at its denial by Turkey that continues to this day.

         7 likes

  41. andyjsnape says:

    The bBC tries to diversify, but its not relevant to the people it tries to cater for, and basically annoying the UK population who pay the tele tax and irrelevant to the others that dont

    had its day

       16 likes

  42. Guest Who says:

    In Beebworld, selected extreme diet #prasnews in series somehow gets elevated to a hunger strike.

       3 likes

  43. Guest Who says:

    On his bike.

       3 likes

  44. Fedup2 says:

    Nut nut doing a briefing about the new virus . I guess he is trying to get his ‘responsible ‘ image back rather than jibbering about peppa pig .

    And the brief was just like the old ones …. Same old same old ….
    And one of the presenters says the NHS has a ‘can do ‘ attitude … that’s not the jobs worth NHS a lot of victims experience …

       13 likes

    • Johnda says:

      He got that wrong it’s not “can do” it’s more like “ can we not do and what about blame management and can we put it off and we need more Money” attitude. Have I missed anything?

         8 likes

    • JohnC says:

      This omicron is nothing but an excuse to do all the things they want to do but would have started a revolt if they did it.

      I suspect they are really worried about a surge to the NHS after Xmas and of course the cost to the economy we can ill afford.

      Mind you, what’s another billion or two when they’ve already borrowed hundreds of billions ?.

         9 likes

  45. Guest Who says:

    One day might be worth looking across BBC staff Twitter bios (Marianna seems to know them all) to see just how many are ‘views my own’ and the rest 50:50 ‘I work for the BBC and juvenile tripe.

       2 likes

  46. theisland says:

       27 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      Home Office loses track of more than 600,000 people who should have left country, finds immigration watchdog
      UK border checks branded ‘shambolic’

      May Bulman
      Social Affairs Correspondent
      Thursday 29 March 2018

         4 likes

  47. Guest Who says:

    All that is already known, and this is what they run…

       8 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      Rishi Sunak’s father-in-law is a household name in India.

      Billionaire Narayan Murthy is one of the richest men in the world – and the Chancellor has admitted he can be “intimidating”.

         1 likes

  48. theisland says:

       18 likes

  49. Guest Who says:

    John Sweeney liked this.

    I sense a rather rickety remake of the Expendables 5 with JezBo, Sopes , etc…

       14 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Yes RNLI should stick to their real job rather than being a shameful Uber …

         26 likes

      • MarkyMark says:

        RNLI funding burkinis for Africans while cutting jobs
        https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rnli-funding-burkinis-for-africans-while-cutting-jobs-tnctwwl7d

        The RNLI respond to misleading “funding burkinis for Africans” articles
        by TellMAMA | Sep 16, 2019 | News |

        The RNLI respond to misleading “funding burkinis for Africans” articles

        https://tellmamauk.org/the-rnli-respond-to-misleading-funding-burkinis-for-africans-articles/

        …..

        The right-wing Daily Telegraph newspaper has reported that a Muslim hate monitoring project is to lose its funding from the government.

        Controversial reporter Andrew Gilligan, who has angered many Muslims by his reporting on Muslim issues, wrote that Tell Mama’s funding is not being renewed after police and civil servants raised concerns about its methods following the Woolwich murder.

        Tell Mama, which receives £214,000 a year from the government, stated that there had been a “sustained wave of attacks and intimidation” against Muslims in Britain after the killing of soldier Lee Rigby, recorded at 212 by last weekend.
        https://5pillarsuk.com/2013/06/10/tell-mama-to-lose-government-funding/

           11 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        That story is from Nov 25
        so why is it being hyped now ?
        Twitter forced that story at me
        “fisherman .. shouting abuse ..stopped the Hastings RNLI boat leaving”
        ..and then when I saw it was connected to the James O’Brien show, I thought how much will be spin and hyperbole

        The give away was that there wasn’t any quote of any nasty abuse.

        A group of people on Hastings beach reportedly shouted “horrible” abuse
        .. according to a caller to James O’Brien’s LBC radio show on Thursday (November 25).

        Zoe, from Hastings, told the presenter she witnessed the group blocking the RNLI lifeboat and shouting, “don’t bring any more of those home, we’re full up,
        that’s why we stopped our donations,
        and that kind of really horrible stuff.”
        She added: “It was really upsetting, and you could hear the hatred in their voice

        A spokesperson for the RNLI told the Hastings Observer: “We can confirm an incident was reported to the police.
        The lifeboat was able to launch

        On Thursday evening, an estimated 250 people gathered on the Stade in Hastings Old Town to hold a moving vigil for the 27 people who died when their boat capsized.

           2 likes

        • StewGreen says:

          The actual abusive incident was NOT about refugees
          the lifeboat decided to launch on the east side of the harbour arm – rather than the west side where it normally launches – and found a fishing boat was already there.
          This escalated into a “row”, but he said this had nothing to do with refugees being rescued in the Channel – it was the way the lifeboat crew spoke to the fisherman involved.

          He said there was a lorry driver on the beach who “had words about immigrants” to the lifeboat crew,
          but nothing was said about refugees by the fisherman.”

          Apparently the fisherman was in the process of throwing his by-catch back in the sea .. and the RNLI swore at him saying he was in there wasy
          And the police were called about that
          “the lifeboat agreed that they would speak more candidly to the fishermen…and treat them with a little bit of respect. ”
          https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/people/hastings-fishermen-explain-circumstances-over-rnli-lifeboat-blocking-3476922

             11 likes

          • Guest Who says:

            Tx for that.

            GB needs to think carefully about following the rest so unthinkingly.

               6 likes

            • StewGreen says:

              Yeh well the give away is with the start line
              “a call made to @mrjamesob’s phone-in show on @LBC
              . A woman, called Zoë, reported …. “

                 4 likes