330 Responses to Midweek 18th March 2026

  1. Fedup2 says:

    A truly disturbing map of the flight path of a US bomber from fairford to Iran – but it’s banned from EU airspace so has to fly down the Atlantic – turn left at Gibraltar and get into the med that way – sorry im no good at posting images …

    Im sure when the was is over the US will ask itself why waste money defending Europe when Europe despises the US….

       7 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      U.S. airlines have long criticized the decision to allow Chinese carriers to use Russian airspace on U.S. routes because it gives them the advantage of decreased flying time and burns less fuel, lowering costs.10 Oct 2025

      …….
      Which countries are blocked from Russian Airspace?
      Rosaviatsiya, which is the Federal Air Transport Agency for the Russian Federation, has restricted airspace access to the following countries:

      Europe: All 27 European Union member states; United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra and Greenland
      North America: United States and Canada
      Asia: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore
      Oceania: Australia and New Zealand
      Which countries have blocked Russia from their airspaces?
      In response to the invasion of Ukraine, over 30 countries, including all EU member states, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan and others, have banned Russian-registered aircraft from their airspace.

      These bans form part of wider economic sanctions and remain in effect as of 2025.
      ………..

      The table below outlines the airlines currently flying over Russian territory, along with their country of origin and operational notes:

      Air China China Full access via China-Russia open air agreement
      China Eastern Airlines China Operating NY-Shanghai route over Russia
      China Southern Airlines China Operating Guangzhou-NY and London routes over Russia
      Hainan Airlines China Full access via China-Russia open air agreement
      Xiamen Airlines China Full access via China-Russia open air agreement
      Beijing Capital Airlines China Full access via China-Russia open air agreement
      Sichuan Airlines China Full access via China-Russia open air agreement
      Air India India Uses Russian airspace for all US/Canada flights; saves 15% fuel on London routes
      Emirates UAE Operates up to 3 daily Moscow flights; uses polar routes to US West Coast
      Qatar Airways Qatar Maintains substantial Russia operations
      Etihad UAE Active Russian airspace user
      FlyDubai UAE Temporarily suspended some routes after Dec 2024 crash
      Turkish Airlines Turkey Operates to 7 Russian cities; 6 daily Istanbul-Moscow flights
      Air Serbia Serbia Serves Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Sochi
      Belavia Belarus Full access maintained
      Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopia Active Russian airspace user
      EgyptAir Egypt Active Russian airspace user
      Royal Air Maroc Morocco Active Russian airspace user
      El Al Israel Suspended Dec 2024-March 2025; status unclear for 2025-2026
      Uzbekistan Airways Uzbekistan Active Russian airspace user
      Sri Lankan Airlines Sri Lanka Active Russian airspace user

         1 likes

  2. MarkyMark says:

    Interesting …. maybe PM Keir Starmer could do this…..

    “The bottom line is that your attention, your behaviour, your choices has become a commodity.” Claude AI Response

    “I spoke to AI agent Claude | Senator Bernie Sanders | 1.25m subscribers”

       0 likes

  3. MarkyMark says:

    Sir John Curtice: Why Labour’s Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gjn1d74jlo

    Democracy dies … just ignore it for long enough.
    18 March 2026 262 4
    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

       2 likes

  4. Fedup2 says:

    This morning it was mentioned that the Chinese are assembling a fleet of their tankers in the Hormuz strait ready to get free Iranian approved passage .

    Then it was announced that the US is going big on destroying Iranian installations which can threaten all shipping – certainly a ‘game ‘ being played out .

    Also – Iran confirmed that the spokesman for the republican guard – a general – has been zapped by the IDF – another one off the list … keep going IDF – including in Lebanon.

    If it’s not done now – it will be ‘repeat ‘ in 5 years ‘ time ….

       5 likes

    • MarkyMark says:

      China – free passage for tankers in Iran and free passage for planes over Russia. China takes 90% of Iranian oil – so could stop the massacres today!

         0 likes

  5. Emmanuel Goldstein says:

    All governments seem to have reasons why they are doing badly.

    Recently the excuses for GB being skint have been Iran, Covid, Ukraine and Brexit.

    They always have an excuse for their failings, it’s never their fault.

    How did we ever manage before because I’m sure we’ve had plenty of excuses available. Like The Falklands in earlier governments.

    Good governments used to handle these constantly happening disasters and setbacks but now I believe they are welcomed because they give the governments excuses to fail.

    It’s never them is it.

       6 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      EG – as the second highest record government borrowing for February was announced there was also mention that the tax take for January had been revised upward adding another billion pounds in tax take / theft …..

      That law of increasing taxation and getting less tax in must be in play now …..

      Also mentioned today is the effect of higher oil prices / availability leading to changes in behaviour such as wfh or 4 day weeks or both ….
      Maybe the moto bility brigade will be after more handouts …

         2 likes

  6. MarkyMark says:

    “The Labour government has resisted pressure to formally proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, despite previously indicating support for such a move while in opposition”

    UIN HL4548, tabled on 29 January 2025 “To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.”

    “The Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under close review, as we seek to protect the UK from the threats that we face. However, we will not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not being considered for proscription.

    Iran’s malign activities, including the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The UK already maintains sanctions on over 450 Iranian individuals and entities covering human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation, malign influence internationally and state threats, including sanctioning the IRGC in its entirety. The Government will continue to consider what further steps may be taken to deter Iran’s malign activity.

    The National Security Act 2023 provides another significant toolkit in the fight against individuals working for state entities like the IRGC. The UK is now a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts against the UK, including espionage, interference in our political system, sabotage, and assassination.”
    https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-29/HL4548/

    ** Previous Labour Leader Corbyn said Hamas are our friends! HAH AH AHHA HAAHA!

       0 likes

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