I admit that Iβd be more interested in this if the politicians from all the other parties were models of honesty and decency. But itβs also easy to see why heβs a target for character assassination by people who are dishonest and indecent.
1st batch of Mandelson vetting documents points to 2 things. The Government knew plenty (if not everything) about Mandelsonβs relationship with Epstein, sufficient for Jonathan Powell, Starmerβs NSA director to raise a π©. McSweeneyβs opinion was preferred
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/peter-...
We're proud to have asked our members to add their names to this empty book, protesting the use of their works without permission. In our house, copyright still matters!
#DontStealThisBook
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Uk govt: Just get it into schools and see what happens lol
I entirely agree that it was more likely than not Trump via DHS would have kidnapped the Iranian football team and held them as political prisoners.
This month we published on landownership, Community Wealth Building, opposition to AI, climate breakdown, US war crimes in Iran, how to fight the far-right, the fall of the House of Windsor & much more. Support independent Scottish journalism here: bellacaledonia.org.uk/donate
What a situation π
Shaiel Ben-Ephraim @academic_la X.com I have talked to some Israeli officials and read a good deal of Israeli media. Here is how the war in Iran is perceived there so far: 1) On a tactical level, they believe it has gone very well and Israel has destroyed more of the Iranian military capability than expected. 2) They are disappointed that the regime has not been weakened as much as expected and that they remain in firm control. In particular the lack of a "rise up" among the population is a cause of concern.
3) They are finding Trump to be unreliable. While Israel favors a prolonged campaign to ensure total dismantlement of threats, Trump has signaled a desire to end the war "soon," creating a potential rift in war aims. 4) Hezbollah is stronger than expected. It has hit Israel with drones and missiles and killed soldiers. They have recovered better than expected. 5) The inability of Ben-Gurion airport to withstand closing and chaos has shown fragility in Israeli social cohesion. 6) They are disappointed in the lack of support from Gulf States who want an end to the war rather than the escalation Israel wants. 7) Israel accepts that the regime in Tehran will survive and just hopes that this weakens them in preparation for the next round.
8) There is a growing fear among Israeli strategists that they are winning the war but losing the region. While military targets are being obliterated, the civilian infrastructure damage is causing a backlash. 9) The war is proving very expensive. The need to divert NIS 28 billion ($9 billion) to the military has forced the government to freeze social projects, leading to the first significant antigovernment protests since the war began, specifically from the middle class bearing the tax burden. 10) They are aware that the war is very unpopular in the US and that Israel is being blamed. They are concerned about the ramifications for the alliance. While Netanyahu is painting this as a huge success, it really doesn't look like one to Israeli strategic planners. The public knows it as well.
Worthwhile analysis about the view of the Iran War from the Israeli perspective (it differs from what the US public usually hears):
Ignorant pig empire with ignorant pig mouthpieces
Mandelsonβs previous financial ties to Russia continued βlong afterβ Putinβs annexation of Crimea.
Powell βraised concernsβ about his appointment directly to McSweeney, saying it was being βweirdly rushedβ.
McSweeney responded that the issues had been addressed
bylinetimes.com/2026/03/11/k...
Itβs the renewables, stupid.
10 days of war have cost our taxpayers an additional β¬3 billion in fossil fuel imports.
As long as Europe depends on imported fossil fuels, our security & our energy bills remain hostage to geopolitical chaos.
Europe must invest in independence, not dependency. β‘π
From: Joiners & Movers SCS To: Peter Mandelson Cc: Joiners & Movers SCS; Scott Furssedonn-Wood; PUS Action; HRD Senior Appointments; HRD Talent and Performance; UK HOM Postings; HR Services Overseas Team; HR Services Home Allowances and Pay; ; Executive Coaching; Su-Lin Garbett- Shiels; Moving to a new post; College HoM Programme; FCDO Services CEO Office; DL CMD Training and Exercising Team; Harriet Mathews Subject: SCS4 Letter of appointment Lord Peter Mandelson Date: 04 February 2025 09:11:25 Attachments: Lord Peter Mandelson - FCDO SCS HoM LOA.docx HMA Washington Role Profile March 24.docx OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL DATA Dear Lord Mandelson, Please find your letter of appointment attached. Please read this carefully and let me know if you have any questions. Please note that as this role requires DV+STRAP, a new STRAP application form will need to be submitted as STRAP clearance is role specific. International HR are now using a digital service, Manage Your Move, to help officers to Move from the UK to Overseas, return from post to the UK and for cross-postings. You will shortly be sent an email inviting you to use this service
So Peter Mandelson was appointed US ambassador before a request for STRAP vetting clearance (giving access to 'secret' official documents) had even been submitted. From the new cache of docs.
Kneecap rapper will not face terrorism trial after high court throws out CPS appeal
"He is safe (whatever that means)..."
Hegseth drove himself this morning, I see
The publishing industry's lack of confidence in authors and its own ability to create careers for them is pathetic and, in the end, self-defeating.
The Kremlin approved a Social Design Agency plan to boost Viktor OrbΓ‘nβs Fidesz before Hungaryβs election by seeding Russia-designed messages via Hungarian influencers, according to the Financial Times. www.ft.com/content/34df... 1/2
Where was Farageβs closest aide and Reform UK Welsh leader Nathan Gill heading when he was arrested for taking bribes from Putinβs pal Medvedchuk?
To a Kremlin sponsored conference in Moscow, to talk about the role of crypto currencies in politics
The warnings are there for us all to see
UN rules Russia's deportation of 20,000 Ukrainian children is a crime against humanity
Over 80% haven't returned. Kids were renamed, given Russian passports, placed on adoption databases. This wasn't evacuation - it was policy, the report says
euromaidanpress.com/2026/03/11/a...
Heute ist es erneut zu Razzien beim antisemitischen Verlag "Der #Schelm" gekommen - durchsucht wurde in fΓΌnf BundeslΓ€ndern sowie in Polen und Spanien. Laut RBB soll der Kundenstamm des Verlags rund 11.000 Personen aus aller Welt umfassen, darunter bekannte Neonazis sowie Lokalpolitiker der AfD:
"Would a taxpayer-funded European social media platform work?" www.euronews.com/next/2026/03...
OrbΓ‘n starts his online slander campaign with Russian help.
Here's how to see the documents relating to Peter Mandelsonβs appointment as ambassador to the United States π
FT journo asks philosophical question, appears unaware of any of the philosophical literature. (That might seem to be a swipe against him, but it is also about us, since we have failed to make ourselves known or relevant).
EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine will get money from EU countries to fund its war effort even if Hungary and Slovakia continue to block a promised β¬90 billion loan, two EU diplomats have told POLITICO.
Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan.
Govt wants to restrict the right to jury trials to reduce backlog of court cases.
Backlog caused by Tory austerity and cuts.
Need investment, not cuts in human rights.
Lost rights are hard to recover.
A bad decision
If I were a Hungarian who lost relatives in the 1956 uprising, I might be more than a little mad right now.
(Btw thatβs where we got the word βtankie.β
