What's in the news?

[HairyHeretic]

Fascinating look at how Terrorist attacks are having the opposite intended effect.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/what-does-it-mean-if-terrorism-no-longer-terrorizes-us/ar-BBC70rf?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

I grew up in Northern Ireland. Terrorism was a daily fact of life of me, and to be honest, it was rarely a worry any more than say getting knocked down crossing the road was.

[Lustful Bride]

Man shot outside of Notre Dame in France after he attacked police with a hammer.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/man-shot-after-attacking-police-outside-paris-notre-dame/ar-BBCaxIp?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Lustful Bride]

I just...I highly disagree with this ruling. 6 months for excacerbating a 16 year old's heart condition which led to their death.

That's a slap on the wrist! That family will never get their child back! augh!

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/fatal-bathroom-fight-sentence-teen-gets-6-months-in-program/ar-BBCa6WG?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Lustful Bride]

Russian hackers now suspected of fostering crisis in Qatar.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/sources-russia-planted-fake-qatar-crisis-news/vi-BBCbOKG?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[ShadowFox89]

 And Trump is taking credit for it....

[Lustful Bride]

IS claims responsibility for attack that killed 12 in Iran today. And the Revolutionary guard instead is placing the blame on Saudi Arabia and the US.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tehran-governor-says-attacker-set-off-suicide-vest-at-mausoleum-of-khomeini/ar-BBCd65x?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15


Whenever I see conspiracy theories like that I always scoff. I wish my government was actually competent enough to pull off the conspiracies people think its capable of.  

[Callie Del Noire]

IS claims responsibility for attack that killed 12 in Iran today. And the Revolutionary guard instead is placing the blame on Saudi Arabia and the US.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tehran-governor-says-attacker-set-off-suicide-vest-at-mausoleum-of-khomeini/ar-BBCd65x?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15


Whenever I see conspiracy theories like that I always scoff. I wish my government was actually competent enough to pull off the conspiracies people think its capable of.

From their point of view (the Ayatollahs) we DID inflict the Shah on them after over throwing the legitimate (and more tolerant but socialist) government of the time. Some of them have very real scars from the Shah's US trained 'interrogators.

[Lustful Bride]

Explosive device thrown over fence of US embassy in Kiev. No casualties or injuries reported.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/explosive-device-thrown-into-us-embassy-compound-in-kiev-police/ar-BBCgJp8?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Lustful Bride]

US fighter jet shoots down drone that was firing at Coalition forces near Syria.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-shoots-down-drone-that-fired-on-coalition-forces-near-syria-camp/ar-BBCjOQK?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Lustful Bride]

People still in need of clean water in the US :(

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/report-15-million-americans-drinking-water-tainted-by-toxic-chemical/ar-BBCjZwb?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Oniya]

So - ah - what's it mean when you have a 'hung Parliament'? 

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/08/europe/uk-election-2017-results-theresa-may/

[gaggedLouise]

So - ah - what's it mean when you have a 'hung Parliament'? 

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/08/europe/uk-election-2017-results-theresa-may/

In the end, May may be the one who will hang for it. Heard someone on the morning news saying that the decision to call an early election was "the worst strategic mistake I can think of by any British PM since 1945".

The equivalent to the phrase in Swedish is dött lopp, "dead run". 

[Oniya]

In the end, May may be the one who will hang for it. Heard someone on the morning news saying that the decision to call an early election was "the worst strategic mistake I can think of by any British PM since 1945".

The equivalent to the phrase in Swedish is dött lopp, "dead run". 

Sorry, it was late when I typed that.  *tries again*  What sort of implication does this have for the UK?

[HairyHeretic]

Given that they're partnering up with the DUP, nothing good.

[Trigon]

Sorry, it was late when I typed that.  *tries again*  What sort of implication does this have for the UK?

My understanding is that it means that, effectively, they (the Conservatives) can't really do anything. They would have to ally with a smaller party to form a government, but it's a highly unstable coalition at best (especially since there are significant differences between DUP and the Conservatives). It would be difficult to get any legislation, since the other parties can effectively filibuster anything they don't like.

At the very least, a hard Brexit definitely won't be happening now, since even the DUP doesn't want that.

[Callie Del Noire]

Given that they're partnering up with the DUP, nothing good.

Agreeed, any monster built by Ian Paiseley must make for a grand coalition partner.

[Missy]

Whats so bad about the DUP???

[Trigon]

Whats so bad about the DUP???

They are a very reactionary political party, in particular anti-LGBT, anti-abortion, and climate science deniers. But, if it's any consolation, I don't think their alliance with the Conservatives will amount to very much.

[Lustful Bride]

I don't have words.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/bo-dietl-mark-viverito-resign-backing-faln-militant-article-1.3232263

[gaggedLouise]

Three men in the UK admit to having converted a big, disused anti-nuclear bunker to a large-scale pot factory

^_ ^

[Lustful Bride]

Tomorrow Puerto Ricans will vote on their status. In the 5th such vote since the 60s. Whether to remain a territory, become a state or be independent.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-crisis-drags-on-puerto-ricans-weigh-us-statehood-at-polls/ar-BBCmGZw?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

I honestly don't know what way it will swing. But maybe they should go one way or the other. Since sitting on the fence as they always have is part of what led them to the current financial crisis.

[Missy]

Tomorrow Puerto Ricans will vote on their status. In the 5th such vote since the 60s. Whether to remain a territory, become a state or be independent.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-crisis-drags-on-puerto-ricans-weigh-us-statehood-at-polls/ar-BBCmGZw?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

I honestly don't know what way it will swing. But maybe they should go one way or the other. Since sitting on the fence as they always have is part of what led them to the current financial crisis.

Without some major shift, it's exceedingly unlikely another referendum will change the status qou, more thna likely all we'll see tommorow is that nothign significant has changed. To be honest territory limbo is pretty bad for them overall, as has been seen, I think the best option would be for congress to present a referendum without the option of remaining a territory and settle the issue in finality. Might be complicated reasons for not doing it that way, but really if they're not ready for statehood I'd rathr they went independent anyway.

[Lustful Bride]

Without some major shift, it's exceedingly unlikely another referendum will change the status qou, more thna likely all we'll see tommorow is that nothign significant has changed. To be honest territory limbo is pretty bad for them overall, as has been seen, I think the best option would be for congress to present a referendum without the option of remaining a territory and settle the issue in finality. Might be complicated reasons for not doing it that way, but really if they're not ready for statehood I'd rathr they went independent anyway.

I want to see the island become a state myself....but if you love something, you must be ready to let it go. :(  If independence is the best chance for them to turn things around and fix their problems....then they should be independent.

[Orval Wintermute]

Sorry, it was late when I typed that.  *tries again*  What sort of implication does this have for the UK?

Unlike 7 years ago when there was a formal coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats where legislative priorities were agreed up front, what seems likely is a 'supply & confidence' arrangement where the DUP agrees to vote with Conservatives on the Budget and The Queen's Speech* but the DUP are free to do what they like on other issues.

Now because it's the DUP providing the 'confidence' it has huge constitutional implications, certain powers and responsibilities are devolved from Westminster to the North Irish Assembly such as education, so it is possible that DUP members will be asked by the Conservatives to vote for changes to education that will effect England but not Northern Ireland aka: The West Lothian question

The other major problem right now is the North Ireland Assembly, as part of the Good Friday agreement there was a power sharing deal in Northern Ireland but earlier this year the DUP and Sinn Fein got into an argument over the DUP's leader that ended up with Sinn Fein forcing new elections to get rid of her. Unless Sinn Fein and the DUP can reach an agreement in the not too distant future political control will revert from the North Ireland Assembly back to Westminster, which nobody wants to see happen. The mediators for those talks are the UK Government, so there is a serious concern that Sinn Fein won't restart the talks because how can the UK Government be an honest broker when it is relying on the DUP for support?


*The Queen's Speech is written by the Government outlining their plans for the year and the Queen reads it out at the State opening of Parliament, the House of Commons then votes to approve the speech. Losing that vote is complete disaster and basically leads to new elections.

[MiraMirror]

This isn't related to the scale of news here, but...

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/adam-west-dead-batman-star-832264

Adam West has died at 88 from leukemia.