#Why many Kashmiris are donating gold, breaking piggy banks for Iran

Thanks to Tauseef Ahmad and Sajid Raina and Aljazeera Online for the Headline

Kashmir has six centuries of history linked with Iran ( formerly Persia). Kashmir has historically been referred to as Iran-e-Sagheer or Little Iran.

The Kashmiris are donating aid to Iran in an effort to alleviate the human suffering caused by the onset of the conflict between the US and Iranian Governments.

The Indian Government through various administrative methods and recommendations to the donors are trying to ensure that the goods that are donated do not end up in the hands of any agressors .

The religious element of these donations are for humanitarian and also because of the historic link to Iran. The current estimate is that 2000 Iranian civilians have been killed in the conflict. The donations include cash, gold , jewellery, household goods, livestock and vehicles. The estimated monetary value is $64million.

There are also donations of medical kits assembled by local doctors and educational establishments .

Interesting to learn that Countries that you imagine are quite poor can raise significant amounts of money for Humanitarian aid and that there is a connection through History among the peoples in that area.

Volunteers handing over boxes labeled humanitarian aid and food supplies outdoors
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#HeadlineTherapy Mandelson nightmare haunts Starmer again

Thanks to Chris Mason and BBC News Online for the Headline

I neither care or am concerned about the future of Keir Starmer or Peter Mandleson.

What I am concerned about is the process that lead to the debacle of someone who was blatantly never fit for office but was some sort of Media Guru worshipped by the Labour Party and appointed their Ambassador to the United States.

The machinations existed to ensure Mandleson got the post that he wanted even though he was totally unsuited to the role and also as it seems was a worry to the Service that looks after the Security of the UK.

As I say I don’t give a fig for Starmer or Mandleson.

However, instead of some Media Personality like Mandleson, we imagine the debacle of inappropriate and possibly corrupt decsion making applying to an old person in a care home, a baby cruelly murdered by drug hazed parents or a young child accused of misbehaviour and excluded from school with no option other than to be home schooled.

These are all scenarios that happen in modern Britain, we have the same faceless ,nameless committees driven by unknown influences and concerns about budgets who should be working together to solve problems but hide behind their organisations and their job titles until something really does go terribly wrong and then the “case” is blasted all over the media and some head must roll.

In the case of Mandleson it’s some top bloke from the Foreign Office , Sir Olly no less, has to go.

In the other cases agencies, including Social Services, Charities, Health and Educational organisations, digging must be done and committees formed and enquiries started to determine who was actually responsible. It is always someone else’s fault.

Yet , my point is that the facts were there but were somehow shoved under a carpet or got lost in translation. I wasn’t really impressed by the journalist who seemed to have contacts to find out how the Foreign Office “reacted”, because it was too late. No lives were saved and the damage had been done.

We need to have talented and responsible people in office, no more hangers on or nepotisitically appointed good mates and friends of the media. And yes they need to be “cleared by security ” so they’re not a risk to themselves or us.Yes they can be human but not inhumane.

Four shadowed people playing chess with microphones and a crown as chess pieces under a single overhead light
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Bring it on.

Daily writing prompt
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

Twenty minutes a go I made a cup of coffee with my Aeropress in order to sit down and listen to my favourite Podcast “Oh My Dog” with Jack Dee, Seann Walsh and the heroic Sara who produces it.

My coffee has cinnamon and cocoanut oil added to it , so it’s an energising drink which I’ve recently discovered and helps me when the podcast has finished to get up and do my chores.

The podcast was very funny as usual, with a brilliant dog named Olly ( I think) singing and also something about “end dumps”, which has nothing to do with dogs at all.

I’m now ready for the day.Bring it on! Good decison to start the day!

Steaming coffee mug labeled Sunrise Brew, smartphone displaying 6:32 sunrise time, Bose headphones on wooden table by window
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JD Vance defends backing ‘great guy’ OrbαΌ€n’s campaign after landslide defeat

Thanks to Paul Kirby and BBC Online News for the Headline

The Hungarian election was boosted by a two day campaign visit to back Hungarian Prime Minister ( Now ex Prime Minister) Victor OrbαΌ€n by Vice-President of America JD Vance.

Vance’s visit was pointless and did not stop the opposition party ‘s leader Peter Magyar winning the election, indeed,it’s possible that the Hungarian’s were not happy with the American Vice President interfering in their election given the recent actions by the American Government on Foreign Policy .

No harm done, Vance has said that he will work with the new Hungarian Prime Minister, who in turn will be trying to undo a lot of the buddy buddy corruption that OrbαΌ€n put in place and take his rightful democratically elected spot in ensuring Hungary is run for the benefit of everyone not the benefit of the few.

JD Vance showed himself up by backing OrbαΌ€n. I wish the new Government success.

Hungarian Parliament building lit up at dusk reflecting on the Danube River in Budapest
The Hungarian Parliament building glows warmly along the Danube River as storm clouds gather above.

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Do not Visit. (at the moment)

Daily writing prompt
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

Never is a very finite result, one that life or nature may just take you by surprise and over-ride.

I, for one take comfort that in one lifetime I cannot “visit” every single place on Earth. Let us stick to planet Earth as if we look at infinity then it becomes more unlikely that anyone will visit Everywhere.

There are some places that for whatever reason look a bad option to visit, but it’s not always the place , sometimes it’s circumstances or people that are the problem and the situation may be transitory. Generally if there’s a Foreign Office recommendation not to visit then I wouldn’t want to , as it is probably dangerous.

Woman reading a foreign office travel warning document
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#HeadlineTherapy Want to help garden birds?Don’t feed them in warmer months says RSPB

Thanks to Justin Rowlatt and Ema Sajljak and BBC News Online for the Headline

This Headline hit me like a brick , as we had a very sick pigeon in the garden who we brought to a wildlife centre who diagnosed it as having trichomonosis. The poor thing could hardly move and had been blown off the fence. So unfortunately it had to be euthanised .

The latest series of BBC Springwatch hinted at this aswell , with Chris Packham being very brave in saying that feeding the birds may not be good for them and that maybe we should stop doing it , but he also said that it gave such a lot of pleasure to people that maybe it would be a step to far.

However, bird populations are declining , particularly finches and sparrows. Pigeons on the whole are hardy creatures , and we thought the poor bird had “bird flu” but pigeons are nearly totally resistant to ” bird flu” and the main carriers are wildfowl, seabirds and raptors.

Trichomonosis or “Tricc” as the girl called it is very contagious , and her advice was not to feed the birds for a few days until they had dispersed. However, as it is getting warmer and they are probably better searching for their own food, we’ve decided not to feed until the weather gets colder again.

Translucent nematodes swimming in water under a microscope
Protozoa

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Just being there

Daily writing prompt
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

I don’t mean to exclude other people and it’s very tough if you don’t have family. To be honest just my family being there is enough. I know they’ve got my back. If you haven’t got family then look to build a family with other people without family.

Partially open wooden door with sunlight illuminating adjacent room and floor
Welcome

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Ginger

I recently have fallen in love with Ginger, even the man in the shop has noticed my admiration for this nobbly spice. No not the pop star with the hair, the actual spice. I’m buying big chunks of it now as I used to try and buy broken bits and would have it lying around in the kitchen or in my fridge for ages. It dried out and I would do my best to get the last bit of flavour out of it.

Now even in the quantities I’m buying ( I’ve had to use a second source, the vegetable market) it won’t last a week. My secret is washing the ginger then letting it dry and then grating what I need off of it. I’m mainly using it for drinks , so I boil it up and then sieve the pithy bit and presumably the skin off of it. I must admit I wonder if it’s a bit like the potato and that the best nutrition is just under the skin.

However, the next phase will be to add it to cakes. I’ve already added it to stir frys and no one has complained.

So here’s to ginger, it’s a wonderful spice.

Fresh ginger root and thin ginger slices on a wooden cutting board with a knife
AI Generated Image.(In my experience Ginger is a lot more nobbly and cannot just be sliced, so grater is best )

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#Headline Therapy French cement giant guilty of financing militant groups including Islamic State

Thanks to James Gregory at BBC News Online for the Headline.

Unfortunately the criminal activity of requesting “protection money” by violent and extremist groups like IS (Islamic State) continues to this day and a French Muliti-National concrete firm found itself in hot water because in order to “do business” in Syria during their civil war they paid large amounts of money both to protect their employees, enable them to safely travel to work and also protect their premises. Lafarge paid groups about Β£4.83million to keep their plant operating in North Syria.

Lafarge had invested heavily in Syria , and the French Court said that their actions were purely for financial gain and they ignored the implications of the money being used by terrorist groups to attack other targets.

Even some of their employees have been jailed including the CEO and Lafarge which is now Swiss owned is saying that they are hoping that the legacy of the case will soon be over, however , there are still some investigations continuing into crimes against humanity.

Sad that in an area where infrastructure is being destroyed that a Company protects it’s assets in order to rebuild damaged areas by financing the very people who are destroying those assets.

Collapsed bridge over river with burning city and smoke-filled skyline
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The Zero

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite restaurant?

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