Member Info for mick-b

Changes to travel to the Schengen area from November 2024

From November 2024, you’ll get your fingerprints and photo taken when entering the Schengen area. You’ll get either your fingerprints or photo taken when you leave. You will not get a stamp in your passport.

Queues at borders may be longer when these changes begin.

Some 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began, Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a rare admission of the extent of the nation's casualties.

In a post on social media, the Ukrainian president said 370,000 injuries had been reported, though this figure included soldiers who had been hurt more than once and some of the injuries were said to be minor.

He also claimed that 198,000 Russian soldiers had been killed and a further 550,000 wounded.

The BBC has not been able to verify either side's figures.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yv75nydy3o

HE1....very volatile.

silly spread

FTSE100 ✅ 0.1%

https://www.ig.com/uk/indices/markets-indices/ftse-100

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces conducted "dozens" of airstrikes on "known ISIS camps and operatives" in central Syria on Sunday, after President Bashar al-Assad stepped down from office, according to the Russian foreign ministry. He was also given asylum in Russia after fleeing Damascus. CENTCOM said the strikes, which hit over 75 targets, were carried out in order to "prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria." The statement added that there are "no indications of civilian casualties." "There should be no doubt - we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," CENTCOM chief Michael Kurilla said. "All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way," he added.

Baha Breaking News (BBN) / KA

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces conducted "dozens" of airstrikes on "known ISIS camps and operatives" in central Syria on Sunday, after President Bashar al-Assad stepped down from office, according to the Russian foreign ministry. He was also given asylum in Russia after fleeing Damascus. CENTCOM said the strikes, which hit over 75 targets, were carried out in order to "prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria." The statement added that there are "no indications of civilian casualties." "There should be no doubt - we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," CENTCOM chief Michael Kurilla said. "All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way," he added.

Baha Breaking News (BBN) / KA

The government is "not ready" for the sort of extreme weather brought by Storm Darragh, the new head of the Climate Change Committee has warned.

Emma Pinchbeck, who heads the government's independent climate advisory body, told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the UK is "off track" and must do more to prepare for scenarios like flooding and intense heat.

Storm Darragh brought 96mph gusts on Saturday, with two men dying during the storm and thousands being left without power. It was the fourth serious storm to hit the UK since mid-October.

The UK government has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as scientists warn the rate of extreme weather events will increase as the climate warms.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl9yk42rz7o

Whaling is the one disgraceful, despicable thing about Norway.

Just joined

Thank you.

BREAKING: Australia has introduced a new bill that will Ban billionaire like Elon Musk from buying Elections in Australia.

https://x.com/politvidchannel/status/1865129300829360585

BTW/ Musk’s net worth jumped $70bn since Trump’s victory in the 5 November election

This is a major blow to the Kremlin’s long-standing ambition of expanding Russia’s influence across the globe, preferably at the West’s expense.

Syria was the focus of Russia’s presence in the Middle East, and Bashar al-Assad was Vladimir Putin’s main ally in the region. Efforts to prop up his regime lasted almost a decade and cost Russia a lot both in terms of money and personnel losses.

The Syria campaign was a huge source of pride for the Kremlin’s media machine, which presented it as a sign of Russia’s resurgence following the break-up of the USSR.

But now Vladimir Putin couldn’t or wouldn’t save his protégé, and it is important to understand why. Was it because he is too tied up in Ukraine? Was it because he did not think al-Assad was worth saving? Was it both?

Ukrainians may be happy to see Putin’s ally toppled, but if Russia’s troops and military hardware are pulled out of Syria, it is Ukraine where they may be deployed.

BEEB

A Syrian Air flight believed to be carrying President Bashar al-Assad disappeared from radar on Sunday, sparking speculation about the Syrian leader's fate. The disappearance followed a sudden change in the aircraft's flight path near Homs, an area held by rebel forces. The plane took off from Damascus as rebels reportedly seized control of the capital. Flight data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft initially headed toward the coast before abruptly reversing course and descending sharply from 3,650 meters to 1,070 meters before vanishing.

Baha Breaking News (BBN) / NL

EVIKING

I have a box hedge in my garden. Grows very very slowly but is wonderful to see. Over 60 years old.

Wish I had more.

Over 500,000 died in one of the worst wars in modern times.

Coward ASSAD fled after a 24 yr regime with over 50 years of his families cruel dictatorship.

In the end Russia and Iran didn't have the power to support Coward ASSAD with involvements elsewhere.

Democratic elections would be marvellous.

SOURCE BLUE

https://www.google.com/search?q=after+brexit+how+many+construction+workers+returned+to+the+eu&client=safari&sca_esv=a9478bc663a38991&sxsrf=ADLYWIKmD4iRlzrVXrYUScv2qBebVzLD5Q%3A1733600779807&source=hp&ei=C6ZUZ4PqLoS2hbIPkNG1oQQ&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZ1S0GyWsvIdxLiGHW_Yv2lVFd_3QADmA&oq=&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IgAqAggDMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCMgcQIxgnGOoCSNg3UABYAHABeACQAQCYAQCgAQCqAQC4AQHIAQCYAgGgAiWoAgqYAyXxBfwp_YEuyNvVkgcBMaAHAA&sclient=gws-wiz

Blue

Thanks I couldn't remember who posted it.

Those figures were real not estimates

🍻m8ty.

Wasn't Finland threatened when they joined NATO so they guarded their border with their very large army.

Finland's wartime military strength is 280,000 personnel, which is one of the largest in NATO.

After being invaded by Russia in WW2 they are v fearful of Russia.

The Liberals lost in 2015.

The end of Vince Cable as Business secretary unfortunately.

"Perhaps it's time we trained up our own then rather than import these skills from abroad"

that's what BREXIT promised us!

8 years ago