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Buzzfeed's Mark Di Stefano and Alex Wickham have a very interesting account of the various shenanigans surrounding the intended Brexit deal debate between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn, and Alex has also handily provided a Twitter summary of its  contents: BBC accused of acting on behalf of Downing Street with debate pitch that favours May’s deal over any of the alternatives. Original BBC pitch was for May and Corbyn to appear with a 20-strong panel (!) made up of members of the public, figures from public life and politicians. 10 pro-deal, 10 anti with various different views. No10 loved the idea. Others less so. SNP have written to Tony Hall complaining. Corbyn’s office also unimpressed with BBC twitter antics yesterday. Under original BBC proposal, once you account for moderator’s comments, May/Corbyn opening statements, and interventions from the panel, there would be an estimated 12 minutes left for head to head debate. ITV’s plan allows for half an hour even with ads.

Source:- Open to helping India in production of Tejas aircraft: Lockheed America’s top fighter jet manufacturer Lockheed has said it is open to helping India in the production of the indigenously-designed light combat aircraft Tejas. Currently, the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is producing around eight Tejas annually and the defence ministry wants it to increase the number to 18 planes per year. Tejas is a single engine multi-role aircraft. It is the smallest and lightest Multi-Role Supersonic Fighter Aircraft of its class. Vivek Lall, vice-president of Strategy and Business Development for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, told PTI that the company is open to helping India on Tejas. “Lockheed Martin has a strong record of successful international industrial partnerships, many of which happen to be directly related to the F-16,” the Indian-American official said. “The F-16 is a proven force multiplier that would certainly complement the Tejas,” Lall said. He said the produc

By Michael Graczyk HOUSTON — George H.W. Bush, a patrician New Englander whose presidency soared with the coalition victory over Iraq in Kuwait, but then plummeted in the throes of a weak economy that led voters to turn him out of office after a single term, has died. He was 94. The World War II hero, who also presided during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the final months of the Cold War, died late Friday night, said family spokesman Jim McGrath. His wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, died in April 2018. The son of a senator and father of a president, Bush was the man with the golden resume who rose through the political ranks: from congressman to U.N. ambassador, Republican Party chairman to envoy to China, CIA director to two-term vice president under the hugely popular Ronald Reagan. The 1991 Gulf War stoked his popularity. But Bush would acknowledge that he had trouble articulating “the vision thing,” and he was haunted by his decision to break a stern, solemn vow h

Hills of the north, rejoice! It's time for the advent of a new open thread. Thank you for your comments. You're doing us proud.

Al Qaeda’s media team continues to read the Western press. In recent weeks, the group has released two pieces focusing on the debate over America’s decades-long relationship with Saudi Arabia. Of course, al Qaeda has criticized the two nations’ friendly ties since the 1990s. But the new writings are intended to capitalize on recent controversies, including the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The first essay, titled “The Love Story Between Salman al Saud and the Pirate Trump,” was penned by a little-known al Qaeda figure known as Sheikh Awab Bin Hasan al Hasni. As Sahab, the main propaganda arm for al Qaeda’s senior leadership, disseminated the tract online in Arabic via Telegram and its new website. On Nov. 25, As Sahab released an English translation of Hasni’s piece as well. Hasni begins his tract by comparing President Trump to a master and King Salman to his slave. But he quickly transitions to Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS), saying he is a “spoiled boy” who is “addicted” to

Well, it's an idea !: 😁 And there's more: I think Paul may have a point though about the BBC's "panel of hand-picked numpties". That's my worry too.  "Me? The BBC? Here? In charge of choosing a panel for a major Brexit debate? At nine o'clock in the evening? With our reputation? What were they thinking of?"

Feedback time . Readers with long memories might recall various posts here about Professor Justin Lewis of Cardiff University, including the following: The biases of Professor Justin Lewis Small world Why Cardiff University's claims of BBC 'right-wing' 'impartiality' are not to be believed Have you forgotten something, Cardiff Uni? To boldly go...into the 'Independent' comments section To summarise: Professor Lewis has been involved in many reports about media bias over the years, including ones about the BBC. He 'found' (a) that the BBC was pro-Iraq War, (b) that the media exaggerates the threat from Islamic terrorism, (c) that the media gives Muslims a bad press... ...and (d) that the BBC is pro-Eurosceptic, and (e) pro-Conservative, and (f) pro-right wing think tanks. Yes, really. Despite this, he remains broadly supportive of the BBC.  But he's anti-consumer capitalism, and believes that we must "change the way we org

PARIS - Yezidi women who survived rape and slavery at the hands of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria have applied to join in a court case against French multinational cement giant Lafarge, accused of paying millions to jihadist groups including ISIS, the women's lawyers said Friday. They have made an application to be "civil parties" in a criminal case brought in France against Lafarge and several of its executives for complicity in crimes against humanity and financing a terrorist organisation, the lawyers said in a statement. Lafarge allegedly made multi-million dollar payments to Islamic State in order to continue operations at one of its cement plants in northern Syria in 2013. This allegedly included payments by Lafarge for large amounts of oil, one of ISIS's main revenue sources. French investigative judges indicted Lafarge in June 2018, and eight of its executives were charged in 2017. Amal Clooney, wife of actor George Clooney, and one of the couns

Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Wniston-Salem, NC Feb. 15 - May 13 Edward Hopper, The Camel's Hump, 1931, oil on canvas, 32 1/4 x 50 1/4 in., Edward W. Root Bequest, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Museum of Art, Utica, NY, 57.160. Photographer: John Bigelow Taylor and Diane Dubler in Share Works of art from nearly every major American artist of the first half of the 20th-century will be on view at Reynolda House Museum of American Art, in Wniston-Salem, NC, in spring 2019. “Hopper to Pollock: American Modernism from the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute” will include 40 masterpieces of modern art, displaying the radical and visual transformation of art from 1902 to 1952. The exhibition, which will also include works from the private collection of Barbara Babcock Millhouse, opens Feb. 15 and will be on view at Reynolda through May 13.  Arthur Dove, Tree Composition, 1937, wax emulsion on linen, 15 1/4 x 21 in., Edward W. Root Bequest

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned Russia for seizing three Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov. But she failed to offer any military support to Ukraine or further economic sanctions against Russia. Angela Merkel has reiterated Germany's support for Ukraine in the ongoing standoff between Russia and Ukraine over three ships seized on Sunday, though she did not threaten any further action against Russia, either in terms of military aid or sanctions. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko took to Germany's Bild newspaper to ask Merkel to send navy ships to the Sea of Azov "to provide security," and accused Russia of wanting "nothing less than to occupy the sea." Speaking at the third German-Ukrainian Economic Forum on Thursday, the German chancellor did not offer any direct answer to Poroshenko's request. Instead, the chancellor reaffirmed Germany's commitment to Ukraine, and put the blame for the current crisis squarely on Russian President

Investigation of Marine Accident, Collision Outside the Sture Oil Terminal in Hjeltefjorden, Norway On the morning of Thursday 8 November 2018, the Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) was informed of a collision between the frigate 'KNM Helge Ingstad' and the Maltese registered tanker 'Sola TS' in Hjeltefjorden, outside the Sture terminal in Øygarden Municipality in Hordaland County, Norway. The AIBN contacted the Defence Accident Investigation Board Norway (DAIBN) and it was decided to initiate a joint investigation into the accident, led by the AIBN. The AIBN then contacted the Marine Safety Investigation Unit of Malta (MSIU), which is also a participating party in the investigation; cf. Chapter 18 Section 474 of the Norwegian Maritime Code. On 29 November 2018, the AIBN publishes a preliminary report on the accident and two interim safety recommendations. This preliminary report is published to communicate the information obtained during the initial phase of

The Russian air-defense battalion deployed to Crimea is equipped with Pantsir-S, which combines twin 30mm automatic cannons and up to twelve 57Eb-E radio-command-guided with a range of up to 20 km. (RU MoD file photo) Russia has deployed a Pantsir-S missile and anti-aircraft artillery battalion to Crimea, according to the press service of the Russian Southern Military District. The deployment comes after three Ukrainian ships illegally entered Russian territorial waters as they sailed toward the Kerch Strait last Sunday. Moscow described the incident as a clear provocation in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and promised to suppress any attempts to challenge its territorial integrity. "The newest [Pantsir-S] air defence systems have entered service among the anti-aircraft missile units of the Southern Military District deployed in Crimea […] as part of the programme to re-equip the district's troops," the press service said. The deployment, which c

VIENNA, Austria — An Austrian man under whose influence two couples went to Syria to join the Islamic State group taking their nine children with them was on Wednesday jailed for eight years. The 38-year-old was convicted of recruiting for IS while a 24-year-old Bulgarian was given seven years after being found in possession of plans for terrorist attacks. Prosecutors said the older man played "a central ideological role" in a radical religious grouping and had convinced several people to travel to Syria to join IS. Among those who prosecutors said left under his influence were two sets of parents who took their nine children to Syria. They subsequently returned to Austria and were themselves convicted. The younger man convicted on Wednesday had himself originally gone to Syria before returning in 2015. A raid at his home revealed a USB stick containing instructions on how to use explosives and chemical weapons, including how to detonate devices using a mobile phone. Aro

The Pentagon has spent the past few months rushing to prepare plans for an independent Space Force only to receive whole new marching orders from the White House. It looks like an independent Space Force President Trump proudly announced in June may not become a fully-fledged sixth branch of the US military. Instead, it may end up as part of the Air Force, Defense One online journal reported on Wednesday, citing well informed sources in the Pentagon. According to the publication, Pentagon officials who have been working overtime for months towards a new military branch, have now been ordered by the White House to go back and look at different ways to reorganise the military's space operations. The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, suggested that some in the Trump administration fear that the proposed independent Space Force might not receive Congressional support. As a result, Defense One continues, the Pentagon began to consider four options: 1) an Air Force

Officials with The Texas A and M University System announced Thursday that Texas A and M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) will help address critical needs in the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile by providing technical expertise, workforce development and training at the Pantex Plant, the nation's primary facility for the final assembly, dismantlement and maintenance of nuclear weapons. The Pantex Plant, northeast of Amarillo, is one of the Panhandle region's largest employers with nearly 4, 000 employees, including nuclear, electrical, mechanical and computer engineers as well as pipefitters and maintenance workers. Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS), which manages and operates the plant, signed a memorandum of understanding with TEES, a state agency within The Texas A and M University System, in February. Then in April, The Texas A and M System Board of Regents authorized the engineering state agency to sublease up to 16, 000 square feet of space at the newl

US officials on Thursday displayed military equipment they say confirms that Iran is increasingly supplying weapons to militants across the Middle East and is continuing its missile program unabated. At a military hangar in Washington, Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, showed reporters a collection of guns, rockets, drones and other gear. Some of these had been intercepted in the Strait of Hormuz en route to Shia fighters in the region while others had been seized by the Saudis in Yemen, the Pentagon said. The presentation -- very similar to a December 2017 event led by the US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley -- is part of an ongoing push by President Donald Trump's administration to increase pressure on Tehran and shame Western allies into doing more to tackle Iran's regional influence. The centerpiece of the display was what Hook said is a Sayyad-2 surface-to-air missile system that the Saudis had intercepted in Yemen this year. Farsi writing

Back in the early summer of 2013, I launched a series of full-length reviews of Radio 4's PM , reviewing every item every day for a month or so.  Looking back at them (examples here , here , here ,  here ) I think they were fair - and they found that, with exceptions, PM itself (and Eddie Mair, its main presenter back then) was pretty fair too, and often highly interesting and entertaining as well. Times change. Presenters change. 2016 happened. (Brexit, Trump). And now, out goes Eddie and in comes Evan.  Having dipped into recent editions, I listened to it in full tonight . And what a falling-off there's been! Hyperion to a satyr! Seriously, there's been a change, and it's not been a change for the good. Is it a case of PBTBH (Post-Brexit-Trump-BBC-Hysteria) Syndrome? Or is it all down to Evan Davis being Evan Davis and not Eddie Mair?  ******* Evan's introduction, for example, included the following - and this really is a genuine transcript, no