As always the British press going over the top with Vox winning a few seats in the Spanish election. It’s amazing a far right party hasn’t won seats in Spain before, given the history and demographics. All the votes for Vox seem to have come from the PP, the Spanish Tories, who collapsed, and the socialists won. The story isn’t the rise of right wing populism, it’s the polarisation of politics at the expense of the centre. It might well be happening here too, good news for Corbyn.
This result seems very much Spanish related. Vox looks like an attempt to get back to the nasty days of Franco. Nationalistic, against Catalonian independence, pro cruel sports like bull fighting. Anti abortion and same sex marriages. Anti Islam (though pro immigration from Latin countries). Macho and anti feminist. And interestingly, not a great objector to the EU. I don't see there being another populist party in the EU like Vox.
A pro-EU Socialist party wins - Corbyn take note. The result in Spain does seem to mirror what appears to be happening here, with he collapse of the centre-right. If Labour were to come out strongly in favour of a new EU referendum, they could do very well electorally.
Huawei: US official warns 'no safe level' of involvement with tech giant 1 minute ago Share please log in to view this image Image copyrightPA The US has warned that its intelligence sharing with other countries would have to be re-evaluated if those countries use Huawei to build their 5G networks. Senior US official Rob Strayer said any such role for the firm posed an "unacceptable risk" to security. It has been reported that the UK might allow the Chinese telecoms firm into the non-core parts of its 5G network. But opponents of the plan have raised concerns about Huawei's ties to the Chinese government. Last week, a leak from the UK's National Security Council indicated the government had decided to allow the Chinese telecoms firm to have a limited role in bringing 5G to the UK. The US expressed serious concerns at the reports as, along with Australia and New Zealand, it says the Chinese firm is a security risk because of its ties to the state. But China's ambassador in London Liu Xiaoming said Britain should resist pressure from other nations, and that the company had a "good track record on security". 'Stakes couldn't be higher' Mr Strayer, the deputy assistant secretary for cyber and international communications at the US state department, said: "If countries put unsecure and untrusted vendors into their 5G networks, in any place, we're letting countries know that we're going to have to consider the risk that that produces to our information-sharing arrangements with them. "We'll evaluate that risk. At this point, though, we can't make any firm commitments about how that's going to affect our information sharing relationship in the future." 5G is the next - and fifth - generation of mobile internet connectivity, promising much faster data download and upload speeds, wider coverage and more stable connections. It promises download speeds 10 to 20 times faster than we have now. please log in to view this image Rob Strayer said a "truly monumental decision" was being made In an interview with the BBC, Mr Strayer said: "We think the stakes couldn't be higher with regard to 5G technology, because of all of the things we build out over the coming years on top of that tech. "This is truly a monumental decision being made now... we think there's unacceptable risk in letting untrusted vendors provide that base infrastructure because they could disrupt any of those critical services. "In addition we're concerned about the ability for a government that has the track record... that China has, to potentially have access to that massive increase in data, personal data in many cases, that could be used in nefarious ways." He earlier told journalists that even allowing an "untrustworthy" operator into the "edges" of the network created risks of espionage or sabotage. He added: "We should be concerned about all parts of the 5G network. No part of the 5G network should have parts or software coming from a vendor that could be under the control of an authoritarian government." It is understood that telecoms operators, who use Huawei equipment in their networks, have been asked to attend a meeting with officials at the US Embassy in London on Tuesday. Mr Strayer is understood to be travelling to the UK for the talks.
The meeting scheduled for tomorrow could have a huge impact on the timescale of 5G roll-out in the UK, but other OEMs will be rubbing their hands at the thought of Huawei being banned. There will be quite strong opposition from the operators I'd imagine, as they have invested millions into Huawei already for 2G/3G/4G networks.
Tim Graham@Timg54 10h10 hours ago More Copy link to Tweet Embed Tweet I see on the news this morning that @Conservatives, (the Party I have always voted for) are proposing a tax increase for the over 55s to pay for social care. We spend £14.5 Bn on foreign aid and are giving £39++ to the EU (for nothing in return). I am over 55, guess how I feel?
I’m guessing he feels like a selfish old ****. That’s because he’s always voted Tory. I’m also over 55.
Actually for what this was originally about, funding social care for the elderly, I think it should be integrated into taxation for everyone, and the wealthy should of course pay more. But once it’s in general taxation the cash could go anywhere. Perhaps we need to reclaim National Insurance for paying for the things it was meant to originally, a proper hypothecated tax, like health taxes in European countries. I just thought the bloke who’s tweet you posted was a bit of a dick. When he ends up demented and his family are struggling to find a decent place for him to be looked after, I hope they remember his attitude for paying for it. The idea is that we all pay for everyone to be looked after well when they need it, and individuals do not need to sell their houses or get into debt.
The problem most over 55s have with this suggestion is that many will have been paying tax, NI and pension contributions for 40+ years and you arrive at the payback point where you need to use what you've spent your entire working life contributing to and are told "sorry, that's not enough, more please". Mainly through the incompetence of successive governments who have played politics with our money and have let our services wither on the vine...
i thought his attitude was because only over 55s were expected to pay and not all taxpayers i could be wrong though hes probably already past demented if hes voted tory all his life
As it stands people who have any assets will have to get rid of them to pay for good quality care in their old age anyway. Is it so bad to say, if you are earning and over 55 you pay a bit more tax but won’t have to sell your house to pay for the care you might need later? And all the current youngsters will have to pay it too when they reach 55, it’s not only for the current population. Of course a lot of the current youngsters will also be paying off student loans, which we old gits escaped. Still more sensible to get everyone to pay for it when they are earning, progressively.
actually i think the tories might have a vote winner on their hands aged based taxes how many can they come up with extra taxes for education to be paid by under 50s as they are more likewly to have kids extra taxes for 20 to 30 year olds for prisons higher tv licence fees for the disabled as they are more likely to be housebound watching tv all day etc etc
Not that i think its right but for the hardcore socialists here, is it not the right thing to do for the old to sell their house to pay for care so that properties arent passed on from generation to generation?
We are going to need a lot of immigration to cope with the natural burden of an ageing society of small families.
Vodafone denies Huawei Italy security risk 3 hours ago please log in to view this image Image copyrightAFP Vodafone has denied a report saying issues found in equipment supplied to it by Huawei in Italy in 2011 and 2012 could have allowed unauthorised access to its fixed-line network there. A Bloomberg report said that Vodafone spotted security flaws in software that could have given Huawei unauthorised access to Italian homes and businesses. The US refuses to use Huawei equipment for security reasons. However, reports suggest the UK may let the firm help build its 5G network. This is despite the US wanting the UK and its other allies in the "Five Eyes" intelligence grouping - Canada, Australia and New Zealand - to exclude the company. Australia and New Zealand have already blocked telecoms companies from using Huawei equipment in 5G networks, while Canada is reviewing its relationship with the Chinese telecoms firm. In a statement, Vodafone said: "The issues in Italy identified in the Bloomberg story were all resolved and date back to 2011 and 2012. "The 'backdoor' that Bloomberg refers to is Telnet, which is a protocol that is commonly used by many vendors in the industry for performing diagnostic functions. It would not have been accessible from the internet. "Bloomberg is incorrect in saying that this 'could have given Huawei unauthorised access to the carrier's fixed-line network in Italy'. "In addition, we have no evidence of any unauthorised access. This was nothing more than a failure to remove a diagnostic function after development. "The issues were identified by independent security testing, initiated by Vodafone as part of our routine security measures, and fixed at the time by Huawei." A Huawei spokesperson said: 'We were made aware of historical vulnerabilities in 2011 and 2012 and they were addressed at the time. "Software vulnerabilities are an industry-wide challenge. Like every ICT [information and communications technology] vendor, we have a well-established public notification and patching process, and when a vulnerability is identified, we work closely with our partners to take the appropriate corrective action." please log in to view this image Several European telecoms operators are considering removing Huawei's equipment from their networks. But the firm's cyber-security chief, John Suffolk, has described the firm as "the most open [and] transparent company in the world". In January, Vodafone "paused" the deployment of Huawei equipment in its core networks in Europe until Western governments resolved their security concerns about the company. Huawei has been accused of being a potential security risk and of being controlled by the Chinese government - allegations it has always firmly denied. With the introduction of the 5G network in the UK approaching, telecoms operators say the way it would work, in a highly integrated system alongside 4G, means that excluding Huawei is not realistic without significant cost and delay, That would include potentially removing existing hardware, leading to the UK falling behind other countries. The company is the world's third-largest supplier of mobile phones, behind Samsung and Apple.
My son has his Modern Studies higher exam tomorrow - any pointers for Question 1 (b) from his mock exam?
is this really a good use of police and court time the blokes a dick but six arrests seems a bit overkill Man appears in court over 'grossly offensive' Grenfell Tower bonfire video Paul Bussetti is accused of sending the video on WhatsApp and later causing it to be uploaded to YouTube. Fill 2 Copy 11 Created with Sketch. Tuesday 30 April 2019 11:50, UK Grenfell Tower please log in to view this image Image: The video showed victims of the fire being mocked Why you can trust Sky News A man accused of filming a burning model of Grenfell Tower and sharing the video on WhatsApp has pleaded not guilty to two charges. Paul Bussetti, 46, of South Norwood in southeast London, has appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court after allegedly sending the "grossly offensive" clip to a group on the messaging app last year. The second charge alleges he was also responsible for the footage of "menacing character" ending up on YouTube, which caused it to circulate online. please log in to view this image Image: Paul Bussetti denies two charges in relation to the video In the clip, a cardboard model of Grenfell Tower was seen being burnt at a bonfire party in southeast London. After it emerged online, sparking outrage, police arrested six men, with a seventh interviewed under caution. Bussetti is accused of first sending it on WhatsApp on 3 November - some 16 months after the blaze at the block of flats killed 72 people on 14 June 2017. He appeared in court dressed in a dark grey suit to contest both charges under the Communications Act 2003, speaking only to confirm his details and enter his pleas. He was released on unconditional bail to go on trial at the same court on 29 July.
I agree plus I actually like the bloke and certainly not going to join in with the rest of the moaners As I see it the bloke is doing well for the USA
