You will note that Biden adminstration official is careful not to deny the claim, only that he allegedly wasn’t aware of it.

That isn’t the case

MR MILLER: We were having a number of conversations with Lebanese officials, as well as with others in the region. And I can tell you at no time was it ever communicated to us that Hizballah had accepted a ceasefire.

My bold. Mr Miller did not say, “I haven’t heard that”

What is the state of Russia-Israel relations at the moment?

It’s complex and I don’t profess to understand it. Israel has maintained a neutrality on Ukraine-Russia because it suits them to be able to strike targets in Syria without Russia objecting too much. The strike on Iranian missile storage in Syria might add another layer of complexity because it potentially strains supplies for Russia

Escalation in the middle-east this close to the US election isn’t a good thing for a Democratic Party win because oil prices are already rising on the possibility. President Biden is pushing for a ceasefire in line with the wishes of the electorate, which some argue isn’t what PM Netanyahu wants.

A Trump presidency would suit Netanyahu and President Putin very well https://theconversation.com/how-the-middle-east-conflict-could-influence-the-us-election-and-why-arab-americans-in-swing-states-might-vote-for-trump-240065

Outright war between Israel and Iran isn’t good for anyone because Israel will probably go after Iran’s fledgling nuclear programme and nobody knows what secrets Russia has exchanged for missiles that might accelerate the programme.

I think that the best case scenario is for Israel to destroy Iran’s missile manufacturing facilities because they are a clear threat to Israel, don’t touch oil facilities or anything else and de-escalate into ceasefire because the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah have lost their missile supplies. Discuss :)

And it might bring Russia into direct conflict with Israel.

I’d like to think not. Militarily thols2 has presented a pretty compelling argument

What happens when US weapons kill Russians in Syria?

That’s an interesting question, more because it’s an argument for Ukraine to be able to use US long-range weapons in Russia. Israel seems to range at will over several countries in the middle-east in US-supplied aircraft

I have an idea of what you’re going through, I empathise.

Different condition but my mum’s practice confirmed that she hadn’t been offered/prescribed anything following a consultation where she got bored and wasn’t listening to the doctor!

They were rightly not specific about the consultation

I have since got a signed authorisation from her to speak to the practice

Israel struck a warehouse in Syria used to store Iranian missiles, which is adjacent to the Russian military Khmeimim airbase. An Iranian aircraft had landed at the airbase about an hour before and it’s believed that missiles were unloaded and put into the warehouse. Russian aircraft and Russian and Syrian AD systems attempted to prevent the attack https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-syria-explosion-large-blast-33808361

Iran also fired around 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, those that landed seem to have been in urban areas and military bases. It’s unusual for Iran to risk conflict with Israel, previously they’ve telegraphed raids in advance and in April missiles struck Israel’s Nevatim air base in the Negev desert. This attack on urban areas amounts to an escalation for Israel

If this Iran-Israel conflict continues to escalate then it will cause more human tragedy in the middle-east and it will directly affect the availability of munitions for export to Russia from Iran

Ukraine has also attacked Russian facilities in Syria, most recently in September

Damn those Palestinians.

The ordinary citizens of Palestine, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria or anywhere else have very little power to stop conflict. But you knew that didn’t you?

Can people who live with diverticulitis have the covid jab?

IANAD

Do you mean on the NHS for free or do you mean can they safely have the vaccination?

On the NHS for free list: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e7fbf624c4f1826d81bb32/Greenbook-chapter-14a-20240916.pdf

I’d say that the onus was on them to stop the madness, wouldn’t you ?

I’d say that the onus was on all of them to stop the madness, wouldn’t you ?

Glad to have cleared it up, although it was all in the article so have no idea why you would find it very confusing and now perfectly clear. Actually; let’s not dance around the issue and waste a load of back and forth – it’s not confusing unless you declare it to be for the purposes of another stinging attack on SKS and ‘his supporters’.

The bit that I find confusing is that SKS has decided to pay back £6k, what about the others on the list?

It’s sleaze and SKS has decided to pay his way out. £32k for workwear? That’s an annual salary (or two) for many

So we now learn that a box at Arsenal is ok, but Taylor Swift tickets are not ok. It’s all very confusing.

Which is all the more confusing for all of the other MPs who haven’t said anything and who don’t have a large security detail:

Independent
Byrne, Ian (Liverpool West Derby), William Hogan CEO Liverpool Football Club Foundation, two tickets, £900

Liberal Democrat
Davey, Ed (Kingston and Surbiton), The Football Association, two tickets, £584

Labour
Carden, Dan (Liverpool Walton), Liverpool Football Club, two tickets, £900
Johnson, Kim (Liverpool Riverside), Liverpool Football Club, two tickets, £900
Jones, Darren (Bristol North West), The Football Association Premier League Limited, four tickets, £3,400
McKinnell, Catherine (Newcastle upon Tyne North), The Football Association Premier League Limited, two tickets, £2,000
Morris, Joe (Hexham), Premier League, two tickets, £1,660. A spokesperson for Joe Morris MP said: “All donations are declared fully in line with parliamentary rules and procedures.”
Phillipson, Bridget (Houghton and Sunderland South), The Football Association, two tickets, £522.54

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1952222/mp-freebies-taylor-swift-concert-labour-tory

Even more confusing that there isn’t a single conservative on the register

Did a bit of googling on the eco v comfort thing…

BMWs in eco mode use “Brake Energy Regeneration” rather then engine power to charge the battery. I wonder if this limits charging? Does Merc use something similar?

the berlingos on 9 years the 108s on 8 years and the campers on 15 years.

You’re blessed; my last two managed just about five years (Varta and whatever Kia fit OEM)

If this winter’s a cold one then be prepared :)

Be careful with red and white. Depending on proximity to the carriageway it could be confusing…red to the nearside is the edge, white is the edge of the off (wrong) side and could cause some swervage if a driver thinks that they missed a bend. Comme ça https://startsafety.uk/collections/verge-markers

So I doubt the Iranian regime are crying into their cornflakes over that.

Isn’t that what I said?

You could start an argument with yourself and carry it on for, ooh, 36 pages :)

Regain?

Poor choice of words

Iran wants the US and Israel out of the region

Related question: Do people actually pay to get their boiler serviced yearly?

Mine is under warranty and it’s a condition, so yes.

Modern boilers seem to get finer and finer waterways in the heat exchangers to increase efficiency. A boiler service doesn’t address the build up of magnetite in the system, apart from emptying the magnetic filter (if fitted), which can be a) boiler stopping and b) spendy

I’d suggest that a cleaning chemical in the rads, drain and refill with inhibitor is every bit as important as a boiler service to keeping everything working efficiently. How many people do that?

Last time they sided with Saddam in a war against Iran, so at least they are consistent.

Last time Iran sat back while the US-led coalition attacked Saddam. Iran acted according to their script and supplied their Hezbollah proxy with IEDs and other weapons, waiting for the inevitable vacuum left by their foes in Iraq.

Around 2500 US troops remain in Iraq and that will be reduced in 2025

You do realise that there has been a turkey shoot going on in Gaza for the last 12 months don’t you? Yes it’s fine to condemn Hezbollah for lobbing missiles over the boarder…

(Disregarding decades of earlier conflict for brevity) the current conflict in Gaza started last year with the murders of Israelis, many of whom were young and unarmed. Iran’s ISNA news quoted a government spokesman who said, “What took place today is in line with the continuation of victories of the anti-Zionist resistance in different fields, including Syria, Lebanon and occupied lands.”

It isn’t just Hezbollah (or Hamas or the Houthis) lobbing missiles, but the active hand of Iran supplying weapons and working through a network of proxies, which they have done for decades. The Iranian leadership opposes the US involvement in the region and wants to regain what they see as occupied Palestinian land and won’t stop in those aims.

…but why aren’t Western nations putting a stop to the current genocide in Gaza?

How can they? Iran has doubled down on the attacks by its proxies by openly attacking Israel with c200 missiles on Tuesday. Until now Iran has largely operated behind the scenes, but the threat has always been there, so the US feels that refusing to supply weapons isn’t an option.

Why isn’t Iran putting a stop to the current conflict in Gaza by withdrawing weapons from Hamas and Hezbollah?

The situation in Gaza won’t have a chance of a solution until every party involved acknowledges the death and consequences for ordinary people and acts in concert to stop

Selling a house – do I need to get my boiler serviced?

No. I have 1st-hand knowledge of this and as said ^^, some conveyancers suggest that and an electrical inspection.

It’s optional, it’s on the buyer to pay and it’s all about sorting out two potentially expensive problems before completion, if necessary negotiating on price for repair/purchase.

Well it’s only the fault of those who are backing this senseless slaughter which in so far has cost the lives of 47,000 Palestinians in the last 12 months, 70% of them women and children.

Including Iran and its allies?

Judging by what I read, the VP debate was unremarkable and probably won’t be remembered after the weekend.

Donald spoilt the tone by posting insults about Walz on Truth Social during the debate

Lord Alli is probably the person to ask. He’ll sort some glasses out as well :)

How old is the battery?

Anything over 4 years is a bonus (even for one warrantied for 5 years)

Initially was looking at Tiguans as they ticked the VW box and had the load carrying capacity that I was looking for but then I discovered you can get a Qashquai+2 which beats the Tiguan for boot space.

Neighbour has a new 7-seat Tiguan, which he says is larger than normal 5-seat. Is this an option on older models??

How do I go about reporting this (not that the police will likely care..)? I’m in Leeds/West Yorkshire

It might be that the plate is in the process of being moved via DVLA, but it should still be reported, https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it . You might also be able to use a service at DVLA with appropriate additional notes https://www.gov.uk/report-untaxed-vehicle

The more important thing is their manner of driving, WYorks have an Op Snap if you have video footage https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/SaferRoadsSubmissions or the general reports link above

It adds a reasonable chunk to the cost (£500 or so).

It’ll cost you a chunk more in a couple of years to replace every pane. You’ll also give Mrs 5lab the opportunity to remind you of this for the rest of your days…it’s worth £500 just to avoid that :)

How much of a chunk in the grand scheme, rather than the cost of glass?

And down into the spiral we go… this is how the thread became the Ernie and DrJ show for a period and you fell out with one another even then :)

And take a saw. Timber merchants will charge to cut a longer length down to fit in your car :)

As for regularised v ordinary sawn I would select the timber myself and just go for whatever is straighter, IME CLS/regularised timber can be bent and twisted to appalling degrees, whilst ordinary sawn timber can be extremely straight. It just depends and you can’t really be sure until you see it.

+1, 100%, etc.

You’ll get some appalling rubbish if you’re not careful. Rest one end on the ground and sight along it at eye level, twist 90 and repeat. Don’t be afraid to reject lengths, including those that are full of knots.

Your 11 year old link makes no claim that Levada is state funded but as you say we digress…

It wouldn’t, I quite clearly said, “It has since become fully state funded.”

…if you want to kid yourself that Putin doesn’t enjoy the support of the majority of Russians then that’s up to you,

“45 percent of respondents named the Russian president among the politicians they trust.” 3% lower than in July and the lowest since October 2023 and that’s in an autocracy where citizens won’t generally express open opinions. https://www.newsweek.com/russian-trust-putin-levada-center-poll-kursk-incursion-1946625

Clarify some details please…

It started in 2015 as e.g. ABC123A and is advertised in 2024 as ABC123A? Or is it not showing a reg in photos at all?

July 2018 to May 2023 it became XYZ1

What did it become in May 2023?

Check vehicle history for XYZ1

According to state-controlled pollsters

No not at all. According to Levada. And according to the LSE blog : “The most reputable public opinion data available in Russia are from the Levada Center, a non-governmental research organisation conducting regular surveys since 1988”

Don’t confuse “the most reputable public opinion data” with current independence; the Levada Centre has changed massively since 1988.

In 2013 the BBC reported that, “In a statement, Levada Centre head Lev Gudkov said prosecutors had not only threatened the organisation with sanctions but had undermined its authority. The warning puts the Yuri Levada Analytical Centre in an extremely difficult position, in effect forcing it to cease its activity as an independent sociological research organisation, carrying out systematic polls of public opinion in Russia,” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22599321

It has since become fully state funded.

We digress…

Just common sense AFAICT, “away” from possible water; “The position of the discharge pipes (tundish), drain valves and motorised valves etc. shall be positioned away from any electrical components.” (Vaillant)

On the subject what do people think about Income Protection?

Stating the obvious but it’s insurance, like any other. It depends on your job security, employed/SE, ease of finding a new job, willingness to travel, etc.

My circumstances meant that I didn’t feel that the risk justified it, YMMV

The only way to see if your car is happy or not is to use it and see what happens…

+1

My circumstances have changed and my Euro6 van has done 3k in the last year. This service will include a timing belt, which is a £££ pain, and I’ll get told about the brakes needing more use, but otherwise it’s mechanically happy.

It does local trips but it gets a run every couple of weeks so I’ll keep it for another 12 months and see how it goes.

It’s a second vehicle and is useful, but to replace it with a petrol car would cost more so it’ll either stay or we’ll go to one car.

We keep a couple of plastic catch-kill traps. When the first mouse is visible in the garden the traps are set outside for a week or so

The previous occupants of the house let mice get inside and chew on the cables underfloor. The council man came and said that he’d already laid poison, which the vendor hadn’t mentioned pre-sale.

No active infestation but a whole lot of rewiring; they only chewed the neutral conductor – wily critters

I used to use the humane traps…

Which begs the question, what do you do now?

Don’t incriminate yourself :)

Apparently 85% of Russians support Putin, are we going to get all touchy about condemning Russian behaviour in Ukraine?

According to state-controlled pollsters

A UK-based polling company reported that 36% of Russians supported military action in mid-Feb 2022 https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2022/02/europe/russia-ukraine-crisis-poll-intl/index.html

because everyone I’ve spoken to about them confirms my thoughts that having a load of ridges for turds to cling on to is a generally bad idea, plus the need to support it.

We’ve had one for 20 years. They only need minimal support and the ridges haven’t been a problem for flushage

The only drawback is that you can’t rod them; that’s asking for a poonami

DickBarton+1

If it has either terminal or critical illness cover included then it’s possibly better to keep that policy than to start a new terminal or critical illness policy, which is one reason for them suggesting the IFA

When you’re sure that you don’t need it then stop paying for it.