387 Responses to Midweek 5th February 2025

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  1. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 8:55 am

    Drink or ask ChatGPT “Why is my tap not working today?”

    Concern UK’s AI ambitions could lead to water shortages
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce85wx9jjndo

    Dr Venkatesh Uddameri, a Texas-based expert in water resources management, says a typical data centre can use between 11 million and 19 million litres of water per day, roughly the same as a town of 30,000 to 50,000 people.

       2 likes

  2. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 9:01 am

    “Thames Water declined to comment. It signposted its recent five-year plan, which has been approved by the government.”
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce85wx9jjndo

    ………………………………..

    Thames Water seeks court approval for emergency cash
    Lenders to the debt-saddled company are offering up to £3bn in additional short-term loans to buy time to complete a major restructuring of the UK’s biggest water and waste company.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqjvg2rdr2eo
    ……………………………….

    Chinese lenders key as Thames Water’s owner seeks time to pay debts
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/04/thames-water-owner-kemble-debts-banks-loan-extension

       0 likes

  3. Zephir says:
    February 7, 2025 at 9:20 am

    Wow this is getting…better and better:

    “Donald Trump has signed an executive order that authorises aggressive economic sanctions against the international criminal court (ICC), accusing the body of “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the US and Israel.

    The order grants the US president broad powers to impose asset freezes and travel bans against ICC staff and their family members if the US determines that they are involved in efforts to investigate or prosecute citizens of the US and certain allies.

    The hostile action against the ICC comes in response to the court’s decision in November to issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.”

       7 likes

  4. Zephir says:
    February 7, 2025 at 9:36 am

    And, who was behind this ?

    Bloody South Africa…and Bangladesh, those paragons of tolerance and human rights

    On 17 November 2023, the Office of the Prosecutor received a further referral of the Situation in the State of Palestine, from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti, and on 18 January 2024, the Republic of Chile and the United Mexican State additionally submitted a referral to the Prosecutor with respect to the situation in The State of Palestine.

    “Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

    Warrants of arrest

    The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest.”

       6 likes

  5. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 9:44 am

    cfaffbea-274f-405d-8321-6559255672b9-fa143619-24ed-471e-96fa-f5f8e7a9594c

       2 likes

  6. Zephir says:
    February 7, 2025 at 9:50 am

    Just to put in perspective regarding the main country behind the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu:

    South Africa 2023

    Incidents of gender-based violence continued while perpetrators enjoyed impunity. The Department of Basic Education failed in its promise to eradicate pit latrines in schools. Illiteracy rates among Grade 4 pupils rose. There were concerns that the National Health Insurance Bill might have an adverse impact on access to quality healthcare. Access to quality and safe drinking water declined. Refugees and migrants continued to be denied access to primary healthcare. The murder rate remained high. Police continued to use excessive force in response to protests. Threats against human rights defenders, activists and whistle-blowers, and attempts to silence journalists continued. The government made no progress on the decommissioning of coal-fired power stations.

    https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/southern-africa/south-africa/report-south-africa/

       2 likes

  7. Zephir says:
    February 7, 2025 at 9:52 am

    And, of course, not forgetting:

    Bangladesh 2023

    The government intensified its crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly ahead of general elections scheduled for January 2024. Authorities used the powers in the Digital Security Act and other legislation to target journalists and human rights defenders, subjecting them to arbitrary detention and torture. There was a concerning increase in enforced disappearances and lack of accountability for deaths in custody. Occupational safety remained a distant dream for many workers. Refugees endured homelessness due to a fire in a camp and a cyclone as well as food insecurity. Rations for refugees were restricted due to the UN’s acute funding shortfall. Bangladesh remained extremely vulnerable to impacts of climate change.

    https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-asia/bangladesh/report-bangladesh/

       4 likes

    • MarkyMark says:
      February 7, 2025 at 10:02 am

      “Authorities used the powers in the Digital Security Act and other legislation to target journalists and human rights defenders”
      HA HA HAAH HAHA!

      Keir Starmer says hold my beer as I release people from jail!

         1 likes

  8. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 10:04 am

    “Starmer’s Close Friend (Philippe Sands KC) Entered Chagos Without Permission And Raised Mauritius Flag Over British Territory”
    order-order.com

    Comment”What made me laugh is that they didn’t land on DG but on a remote atoll.The legal equivalent of flashing in an empty park.”

       4 likes

  9. Fedup2 says:
    February 7, 2025 at 10:20 am

    Apparently TTK is having an emergency cabinet to discus tanking the economy – what other jobs can they kill ? Industries to destroy ? … picture the scene of those clowns sitting round the table pretending they have a clue at fixing anything – same as the blue lot …
    …. And I didn’t realise that dolt cleverly had the idea of giving away for chagos airfield ….

       9 likes

  11. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 10:26 am

    THE NHS IS SAVED! MORE NURSES!

    “5 February 2025
    Migrants arrived 145
    Boats 2
    Boats involved in uncontrolled landings 0”
    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days

    ………………………………………………..

    A ‘small boat’ is one of a number of vessels used by individuals who cross the English Channel, with the aim of gaining entry to the UK without a visa or permission to enter

    ‘small boat’ = without a visa or permission to enter = illegal, but keep using the word small boats! HAHA HA HAH HAHA HAHHA!

    ……………….

    The data on arrivals does not include individuals who:
    arrive in the UK on larger vessels, such as go-fast craft, yachts (except those arriving in the area of operations of small boats), motor cruisers, tugs and fishing vessels – although these are rarely used by irregular migrants at present
    arrive in the UK clandestinely on larger vessels not referenced above, including where hidden in a vehicle on a ferry
    are prevented from departing France, or those intercepted by French authorities and returned to France
    arrive in the UK undetected, or where there have been reports of people making the crossing, but no actual encounters

       3 likes

  12. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 10:39 am

    Britain – built rail systems across the world, cannot connect London to Manchester with HS2 to reduce the time by 30 minutes.

    HS2-cancelled-online.jpg?w=760

    ”
    Before the link was scrapped, HS2 was projected to take an hour off Manchester to London journeys – from just over two hours to just over one hour. HS2 trains will still run to Manchester, and journey times will be cut between Manchester, Birmingham and London by up to 30 minutes, Mr Sunak said.6 Oct 2023″

       1 likes

  13. Guest Who says:
    February 7, 2025 at 11:04 am

    As the labour Government’s PR agency of record, and attack squad, it intrigues what captures BBC attention, what they feel the need to tackle, and what they ignore.

    https://www.visualcapitalist.com/charted-approval-ratings-of-24-world-leaders-in-2025/

       0 likes

  14. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 11:08 am

    Pay more taxes to end the Sun Climate Change!

    The Sun’s Magnetic Field is about to Flip
    https://www.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/the-suns-magnetic-field-is-about-to-flip/

    “Cosmic rays are also affected. These are high-energy particles accelerated to nearly light speed by supernova explosions and other violent events in the galaxy. Cosmic rays are a danger to astronauts and space probes, and some researchers say they might affect the cloudiness and climate of Earth. The current sheet acts as a barrier to cosmic rays, deflecting them as they attempt to penetrate the inner solar system. A wavy, crinkly sheet acts as a better shield against these energetic particles from deep space.”

       1 likes

  15. Up2snuff says:
    February 7, 2025 at 11:20 am

    TOADY Watch #1 – Mens doubles presenting Toady with Rajan and Jack on court ….

    … to mention Far Right, Hard Right and Populism quite a lot. I think the BBC are running scared of democratic Conservatism as they realise the BBC dreams of a Socialist Republic may be over for some time.

       2 likes

    • Fedup2 says:
      February 7, 2025 at 11:46 am

      Up2- and I think they’ve got a ‘look away now ‘ thing going on as far as what’s happening in the US … I don’t think they’ll even be rolling out the usual ex Obama ‘ advisors ‘ to bad mouth the new regime ….

      But I did hear the insane comrade Milliband junior talking complete Green stupidity about how the UK will be hydrocarbon free … ….. with no regard to the cost of stuff right now – and for the foreseeable future – which in my book is 20 plus years of high energy costs …

         1 likes

  16. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 11:26 am

    FhDKPCXWYAEmZge.jpg

    img

       2 likes

  17. MarkyMark says:
    February 7, 2025 at 11:52 am

    Chancellor marks £600m of secure growth for UK economy in Beijing
    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-marks-600m-of-secure-growth-for-uk-economy-in-beijing

    Chinese companies to invest up to $7 billion in Congo mining infrastructure
    https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/chinese-invest-up-7-bln-congo-mining-infrastructure-statement-2024-01-27/

    “According to official UK bilateral aid statistics, the UK spent £68.4 million on aid to China in 2019, up from £44.7 million in 2015. Table 1 presents the breakdown of this aid by department or fund over the period from 2015 to 2019.”

    “Addressing micronutrient deficiencies associated with the double burden of childhood malnutrition in China, a combined food system framework”
    https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-13-FUND–GCRF-BB_T008989_1/summary

    Total budget
    £1,006,949

    Land Degradation Neutrality Fund
    Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
    Total budget
    £10,000,000

    Location
    The country, countries or regions that benefit from this Programme.
    China
    https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/XM-DAC-41110-CHN.S4/summary
    £6,655,284<

    6 MILLION!

       0 likes

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