Connect with us
DAPA Banner
DAPA Coin
DAPA
COIN PAYMENT ASSET
PRIVACY · BLOCKDAG · HOMOMORPHIC ENCRYPTION · RUST
ElGamal Encrypted MINE DAPA
🚫 GENESIS SOLD OUT
DAPAPAY COMING

NewsBeat

Why is Putin asking for Ukraine-Russia peace talks now?

Published

on

Why is Putin asking for Ukraine-Russia peace talks now?

Russia is losing its war against Ukraine. Proof of this has come from Vladimir Putin himself, who has issued a desperate call for a return to peace talks while his oil refineries burn and his bridges to occupied territory are pounded by Kyiv’s missiles.

Russia’s president has been badly rattled; his airports are closed, his military logistics chain has dangerously snapped, and public support is waning for a war he started, and for which Russia’s national media can no longer generate artificial enthusiasm.

His minions have been whining that an agreement they believe was struck with Donald Trump at the Anchorage summit with Putin last year – giving Moscow colonial ownership of 20 per cent of Ukraine – has been abandoned by the US president as he prepares to meet Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte.

Trump likes to back a winner. So far he has backed Russia, which invaded a democratic European nation at full scale in February 2022.

Advertisement
Vladimir Putin said he was ready for peace talks with Ukraine days after Ukraine’s renewed assault on Russian oil infrastructure sparked fuel shortages
Vladimir Putin said he was ready for peace talks with Ukraine days after Ukraine’s renewed assault on Russian oil infrastructure sparked fuel shortages (AFP/Getty)

Now may be the time for Rutte to explain to the 47th president of the US that his Nato allies are indeed pulling their weight without US help (aside from intelligence) in Ukraine.

All he needs to do is repeat what Putin said earlier this week, when he asserted that Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure and other logistics operations are an attempt to “destabilise society”.

And clearly, Putin believes this is working.

EUROPE: The Way Back

We’re campaigning to rebuild Britain’s future in Europe

JOIN US NOW

“Russia, as has been stated repeatedly, is ready for peace negotiations with Ukraine,” he said on Monday, in what amounted to a plea to get back to the days when Ukraine’s Western allies believed that Kyiv was losing and that some kind of peace should be agreed with Moscow.

Advertisement

“It is ready to proceed on the basis of the agreements reached back in Istanbul – agreements which, I would remind you, were initiated at the time by the Ukrainian delegation.”

Back then, the view endorsed by many in the British Foreign Office, and by serving officers in Britain’s armed forces, was that Ukraine should sue for peace. It was wrong back then, as The Independent argued – and it is evidently wrong again now.

Further proof comes in the repeated complaints from Kremlin officials that Trump does not appear to be the same enthusiast for Russia as he has been for most of the last 18 months – when he cut all military aid to Kyiv, and exaggerated what the US had spent by almost three times, saying it was $300bn (it was closer to $120bn), not to mention the repeated insults and bullying sessions endured by Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president.

A satellite image shows a smoke screen, designed to prevent Ukrainian attack, rising from Crimea Bridge on 22 June 2026
A satellite image shows a smoke screen, designed to prevent Ukrainian attack, rising from Crimea Bridge on 22 June 2026 (Reuters)

This week we have seen Russian Soviet-style revisionism on what the Anchorage summit delivered. It had been seen as a capitulation to Moscow by America’s allies.

But now, as Ukraine has gained momentum against Russia with complete domination of the Black Sea, and forced Moscow to consider a ban on diesel exports after Russian refineries were hit with long-range missiles, the Kremlin’s spokesmen sound hurt and outraged.

Advertisement

Trump has been distracted by his war against Iran, which has also enhanced Ukraine’s reputation after Kyiv offered anti-drone defences to America’s Gulf allies.

He has lost his war in the Middle East so far. Now he may be looking for an easy win, and this, the Kremlin knows, is an opportunity for Zelensky.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday that only one side had remained committed to the understanding agreed in Anchorage that Moscow could grab a chunk of Ukraine in return for “peace”.

For exclusive reporting from Sam Kiley and Bel Trew, sign up for our On The Ground newsletter here.

Advertisement

“The other side, as it now appears, has not been fully able to do its part,” he said, referring to the US – not Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that the Anchorage summit might have been a US “ploy to buy time to rearm the Kyiv regime”.

His deputy, Sergei Ryabkov, also accused the US of departing from the “fundamental understandings” reached in Alaska, according to Interfax.

“We also see Washington’s line moving closer to the most rabid anti-Russian policies pursued by the US’s closest European allies – namely, the UK and France,” Moscow’s news agency RIA quoted Ryabkov as saying, after Zelensky and Trump met at the G7 last week.

Advertisement

Crimea, illegally seized by Russia in 2014/15 and occupied ever since, has been especially badly hit by Ukraine’s air campaign.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet, announced “enforced temporary measures” this week, including the shutting down of public transport at 10pm, and the closure of large shops and cafes at 8pm.

Fuel shortages are beginning to cripple Russia’s greatest prize in Ukraine.

Russia’s grip on power over its federation of states may be slipping following Ukraine’s successful attacks on its infrastructure, even in Moscow
Russia’s grip on power over its federation of states may be slipping following Ukraine’s successful attacks on its infrastructure, even in Moscow (Reuters)

The UK and European allies have been struggling with how to expand their defence capabilities rapidly without crippling their national budgets.

Britain’s former defence secretary, John Healey, and his deputy, Al Carns, contributed to the collapse of Keir Starmer’s government when they resigned over what they said was inadequate funding for their ministry.

Advertisement

Turmoil in No 10 was seen in Moscow as a victory for the Kremlin’s destabilising efforts.

When Starmer resigned, Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin’s main envoy to the US, said on X: “We did this jointly by exposing Starmer’s warmongering and consistently wrong policies on immigration, crime, energy and economy. He failed to protect Britain and was destroying Western civilisation.”

Russia is already engaged in hybrid warfare against the UK and other allies of Kyiv. It has sabotaged efforts to support Ukraine, across the continent and inside the UK, with bombs and arson attacks.

On social media, it is leading the world in disinformation that undermines leaders, foments far-right extremism, and perpetuates lies that, for example, London is a hotbed of violent crime, when in fact violent crime in the capital is at its lowest point for decades.

Advertisement

But Russia has the West rattled, and grappling with defence spending it can ill afford in order to see off the threat even from a relatively small Russian economy, which itself is being crippled by war and sanctions on its oil economy.

There is an alternative, though, which Europe, and even the US, may seize. That is to reinforce Ukraine’s success against Russia; to help Kyiv not merely to freeze the front lines, but to break the spine of the Russian logistics operations so that Moscow’s front collapses entirely.

Ukraine may be able to achieve this anyway, with what is already a ferocious medium-range campaign of attacks inside Russian-occupied territory.

A defeated Russian army is dangerous to the tenants in the Kremlin. Putin knows that: as a student of his country’s history, he will be mindful of when Moscow’s forces returned from ignominy in WWI and helped topple the tsar.

Advertisement

Russia is a federation of states – an empire run from Moscow, mainly by white men. The leaders and citizens of Ingushetia, Dagestan, Tartarstan, Bashkortostan, Sakha, Tuva, and Buryatia may welcome a Russian military collapse, and rise against Moscow’s colonial rule over their lives. They are, after all, supplying a vast amount of the men who are being slaughtered at a rate of around 35,000 a month in Putin’s war against Ukraine.

Far from agreeing to restart talks based on absurd demands for Ukrainian neutrality, perpetual military weakness and territorial loss, Ukraine’s allies (plus America) can seize the opportunity noted by Putin, and help rid the West of this threat from the Kremlin – for the time being, anyway.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

NewsBeat

World Cup 2026: Scouting Panama – what England can expect

Published

on

Panama players pose for a team photo at the World Cup

During their first two games, Panama have taken a dynamic approach depending on the phase of play the game is in.

From opposition goal-kicks, Panama have stepped up to press aggressively in a 4-4-2 shape.

If the opponents have quality on the ball and find themselves in possession higher up the pitch, Panama’s high press falls into a mid-block, and they move from a 4-4-2 into a 5-3-2. Their focus is on making it hard for teams to play through them.

As Croatia, in particular, grew into the game, Panama took an even more defensive approach.

Advertisement

Their 5-3-2 became a 5-4-1, a shape they adopted with a deeper defensive line for large parts of the game.

So what does this mean for England?

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Downing Street ‘concerned’ after US pilot avoids UK trial for strangling Cambridge woman

Published

on

Cambridgeshire Live

Sarah Steele said Cambridgeshire’s police force did not contact her until months after the incident

Downing Street has said it is “very concerning” that an American fighter pilot was able to avoid a trial under English law for strangling a woman in Cambridge. Captain Jacob Wulfson was tried at a court martial on a US airbase despite his alleged crime taking place while he was off-duty.

The case was not investigated by the local police and was instead handed to the US military, as first reported by the Guardian. Mr Wulfson’s victim Sarah Steele said she was treated “incredibly aggressively” by the pilot’s defence team and felt like she was the one on trial.

Advertisement

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman questioned why the case never reached the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service). He said: “This is clearly a deeply distressing case, our thoughts are with the victim. She’s shown incredible bravery not only in her initial report to police, but also in coming forward to speak to the media to help get justice for others.”

He said the Government was “going to look really carefully at what’s happened here, and we must stress that we’re still establishing the facts”. He added: “But of course this is very concerning that a case like this never reached the CPS, but was investigated by US airbase police and heard in front of an all-male panel of air force officers.”

Cambridgeshire Constabulary said that, in December 2023, information shared by the US air force (USAF) “indicated that the victim did not wish to be contacted” by them.

“Following a welfare visit in February 2024, the victim directly confirmed to Cambridgeshire Constabulary officers that she wished the matter to remain under the investigation of the USAF,” a spokesperson added.

Advertisement

But Ms Steele told the Guardian that Cambridgeshire Constabulary did not get in touch to discuss whether she wanted the case to be handed over. When they spoke to her months later, she feared the investigation would have to start again or the pilot might flee the country if the case if local police took over, she said.

Justice minister Jake Richards earlier described the case as “really serious” and said there are “issues” around the military courts system. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “It’s a really serious case. It’s very good that it’s being raised by yourselves and others. I’m going to take it away back to the Ministry of Justice and make sure that we are looking into the details of this later.”

He added: “There are issues around military courts, whether that is in America or indeed our own, and how that interplays with our criminal courts and our civil courts. That’s always an area that we look at.” He said there should be a “really thorough and objective look at this case”.

Ms Steele, an academic, met Cpt Wulfson on a dating app and eventually arranged to meet at his flat while he was working at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. She left his flat the next morning feeling that something was wrong, later accusing him of non-consensual sex, drugging, and strangling her, the Guardian reported.

Advertisement

He was charged with sexual assault and aggravated sexual contact, and was ultimately found guilty of strangulation, but acquitted of the other charges. The judge in the court martial was a US air force colonel and the jury was a panel of eight air force officers.

Some British terms had to be explained to the panel, and Cpt Wulfson’s “enemies killed in action count” as an F-35 pilot was used as mitigation for his sentence, the newspaper said.

Speaking about the trial, Ms Steele said: “It was a very difficult system to be in, and at times I was treated incredibly aggressively, and I felt like I was on trial, and it became a character assassination. People are attacking you with assertions that are trying to undermine, say that you’re lying, say that you’re a problem, say that you’re all manner of evil things and that you’re creating this, and you’ve got to wade through that staring in the face of the accused.”

Ms Steele’s case would likely have been tried at a crown court had it been handled by the CPS. The court martial handed Cpt Wulfson a sentence of six months at a correctional facility at RAF Lakenheath.

Advertisement

Calling for clearer guidance on who should prosecute such cases, she said: “I think it’s really important that for the interests of justice and for the rights of victims, that we have clear framework discussion around this.”

There are around 12 active US air force bases across the UK. The US military justice system has a distinct legal framework and is separate from British civilian courts.

Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy called on David Lammy to “urgently review” the case. In a letter to the Justice Secretary, he said: “Under the Nato Status of Forces of Agreement 1951, US military authorities only have primary jurisdiction to prosecute in cases where an offence was committed on duty, towards another armed forces member, or towards a dependent.

“This case should have been fully investigated by the English police and prosecuted in our courts, with the defendant tried by a jury and the sentence determined by a judge. Therefore, I ask you urgently to review what happened in this case, confirm who decided to relinquish UK jurisdiction, and ensure that justice is served.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Updated Local Plan for Stockton set to take shape

Published

on

Updated Local Plan for Stockton set to take shape

Councillors have agreed to begin the process of revising the Local Plan for Stockton, which has guided development since 2019.

Councillor Richard Eglington, cabinet member for housing and transport at Stockton Borough Council, said: “The Local Plan is a really important document and it cannot be understated what a huge piece of work this will be.

“As things progress, we will continue to provide updates and how residents will be able to have their say once a consultation is launched.

Advertisement

“You can keep up to date with the latest developments by visiting the dedicated Local Plan web page.”

A scoping consultation will give residents, businesses, and organisations the chance to share their views and feedback.

It will also guide planning decisions and shape the long-term vision for the area.

Details on how to take part will be shared once the consultation period begins.

Advertisement

Anyone interested in receiving updates can register on the council’s website at www.stockton.gov.uk/local-plan.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Daniel Radcliffe stars in ‘unbearably tense’ thriller hailed as a must-watch

Published

on

Wales Online

Daniel Radcliffe’s gripping thriller Escape from Pretoria is now available to stream for free and is a must-watch for fans of edge-of-your-seat drama

Daniel Radcliffe’s riveting thriller Escape from Pretoria can now be watched at no cost.

Advertisement

The 2020 release, based on actual events, features the Harry Potter star as Tim Jenkin, a South African anti-apartheid campaigner jailed for his political involvement. Drawing from Jenkin’s autobiography Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Prison, the narrative chronicles his audacious scheme to flee Pretoria Prison with two fellow prisoners after receiving a 12-year sentence.

The nail-biting thriller is helmed by Francis Annan, who co-penned the script with L. H. Adams. Following its debut, the production has garnered acclaim for its tension-filled narrative and Radcliffe’s captivating portrayal.

In their assessment, The Sun branded it “unbearably tense”, drawing parallels with Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning thriller Argo while commending its polished direction, reports the Mirror.

MovieWeb, meanwhile, emphasised its brisk pacing and nerve-wracking sequences, noting the film contains numerous “hold your breath” moments while lauding Radcliffe for consistently pursuing bold and demanding projects.

Eye for Film similarly commended the production, describing it as a gripping thriller that delivers beyond mere entertainment. Their critique observed that it illuminates the enduring consequences of apartheid while recounting a remarkable true account.

Daniel Radcliffe heads a formidable ensemble cast in Escape from Pretoria. Daniel Webber portrays Stephen Lee, while Ian Hart takes the role of anti-apartheid campaigner Denis Goldberg.

Mark Leonard Winter appears as Leonard Fontaine, Nathan Page plays Mongo, and Grant Piro takes on the role of Captain Schnepel.

Having recently aired on Film4, Escape from Pretoria is now freely available to stream on Channel 4 with adverts, according to Digital Spy.

For those who prefer uninterrupted viewing, a Channel 4+ subscription provides ad-free streaming, complete with a seven-day free trial. The film is additionally accessible via Netflix.

Fans wishing to explore more of Radcliffe’s back catalogue will find plenty to enjoy on Prime Video. Highlights include Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, in which the actor transforms into legendary parody musician “Weird Al” Yankovic.

For a considerably darker offering, the 2016 thriller Imperium sees Radcliffe portray an FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a violent white supremacist organisation.

Also available to stream is the action-comedy Guns Akimbo, in which Radcliffe plays an ordinary computer programmer thrust into a brutal underground contest where he must fight to survive.

Escape from Pretoria is available to stream on Channel4.com

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Cambridgeshire rabbit celebrates 15th birthday as one of world’s oldest

Published

on

Cambridgeshire Live

The rabbit was adopted from Woodgreen more than a decade ago

A Cambridgeshire rabbit rescued more than 10 years ago has been named as one of the world’s oldest living rabbits. Archie Bunn was adopted from Woodgreen in Godmanchester and has since lived with owner Andrea Lees from St Neots.

Advertisement

On May 28, Archie turned 15 – just weeks after lionhead rabbit Herbie was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living rabbit at 15 years and 246 days.

Archie Bun, also known as Mr Ears, first met Andrea when she was looking for a furry companion in 2013. “We knew as soon as we saw him,” said Andrea.

She added: “All the other rabbits were being a little shy, but not Archie Bun. He was sitting up tall and proud on a box in his enclosure as if he was waiting for us. We laughed and started singing the lyrics from Lionel Richie’s Hello – ‘Is it me you’re looking for?’ – it turns out, it was.”

Archie joined Andrea’s family just a few weeks after his second birthday. In the years since, Archie has settled in with Andrea’s other rabbit Bobby. Andrea added: “As Bobby grew older and her back legs weakened, Archie Bun was forever by her side. He looked after her and protected her. It was beautiful to see.”

Advertisement

Today, Archie Bun continues to enjoy a full and happy life in St Neots. Samantha Ryan, Woodgreen’s behaviour and training specialist for small pets wished Archie Bun a happy birthday.

Samantha said: “Archie Bun’s 15th birthday not only places him alongside the world’s oldest living rabbit, but also shows that rabbits are a long-term commitment; a message we’re particularly eager to share ahead of this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week (June 22 to 26).

“While many people are surprised to learn that rabbits can live for 10 years or more, Archie Bun’s story is a touching reminder of the lifelong bond that can develop between rabbits and the people who love them, and shows just what can be achieved when rabbits receive the care they need to live full lives. Happy birthday Archie Bun.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

‘The care I was shown by my adopted father inspired my social work journey’

Published

on

Belfast Live

Melissa Thompson was placed into foster care at 14 months old and was inspired by the care and compassion she was shown

A woman who was placed into foster care at just 14 months old is following in the footsteps of her late adopted father as she graduates as a social worker.

Advertisement

Melissa Thompson is graduating today with a Bachelor of Social Work from Queen’s University Belfast, reaching a goal she has held since early childhood.

Placed into foster care at just 14 months old and adopted at the age of eight, Melissa’s early experiences shaped both her outlook and her ambition.

She said: “The care and compassion I was shown through my own experiences with social workers, inspired me from I was around four years old age. I was also influenced greatly by my adopted father, who was a social worker himself.”

Melissa speaks warmly of her father, Thomas Thompson, describing him as the person who guided and inspired her most. Prior to losing him in 2017 when Melissa was just 18, she made him the promise that she would graduate with a degree in social work.

Advertisement

Whilst he may have jokingly described her decision as “crazy”, following in her dad’s footsteps is something Melissa approaches with both pride and determination.

Melissa added: “My mum and dad were always supportive of my decisions and only wanted what was best for me. My dad was the most selfless, caring and funny man anyone ever met. His ultimate dad-quote was ‘I may not always be right, but I’m never wrong!’

“He was an incredible social worker and was loved and valued by every person that came into contact with him. If I can be even a fraction of the social worker he was, I will have succeeded. He was my best friend and my hero, and I’ll miss him for the rest of my life.”

Melissa’s route to graduation has not been without challenges. Health issues and surgery meant she had to pause her studies, and when she was preparing to return in 2022, she discovered she was expecting her son Harvey, who is now three.

Advertisement

“I was terrified to leave Harvey and at the prospect of studying full time with a child, but he was also the thing that drove me. I wanted to give my son a better life and fulfil the promise I made to my dad.”

Resuming her degree when Harvey was just seven months old, Melissa credits the support of those around her with helping her to persevere.

She said: “I most definitely would not be here without the unwavering support of my partner, my family, my tutors and the Care Experienced Support Team at Queen’s. Throughout my studies, my mum was a the most amazing support with Harvey, and my fiancé, Dawid was working constantly to provide for us.”

Maintaining connections with those who supported her is a value that permeates throughout Melissa’s journey. She describes maintaining contact with the social workers who supported her in her early years in care, including one who was newly qualified at the time and went on to become Head of Service for the Trust before recently retiring.

Advertisement

“She is one of the good ones,” notes Melissa. “A woman who dedicated so much of her time, career and life, and saved so many children from further harm and trauma.”

Despite the challenges she has faced, Melissa is immensely proud of her perseverance, allowing her to achieve something “truly meaningful,” going on to make that difference in the lives of others.

Looking back, she has a clear message for her younger self: “Do not worry about a thing. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for and every little trauma and adverse experience you have gone through will be worth it in the end.

“Be patient with yourself. You’re living for the first time and you will undoubtedly make mistakes, but it’s all part of life. Keep going, no matter how hard it gets. You’ve got this.”

Advertisement

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

‘I’m 98 but I still do my 40 press-ups every day’

Published

on

An elderly man doing a press-up on grass in a garden.

Age is just a number – and that’s especially true of the super-sprightly Bill Kober.

The 98-year-old, who lives in Woodbridge, Suffolk, does at least 40 press-ups every day without fail – 20 in the morning and another 20 in the evening.

Despite his age, the pensioner is also partial to a bit of Pilates, and recently mastered the “crow” pose.

“Only in my later years have I realised that I’ve got this ability, and so I do it because I’m able to and, as they say, use it or lose it, and I don’t want to lose it,” he said.

Advertisement

“I want to be as fit as I can be.”

Among other benefits, press-ups can improve your upper body strength and core stability and strength. Over time, they can also help improve your ability to do everyday tasks.

But what’s the key to the perfect push-up, according to Bill?

“A good straight back which gives you a nice tight buttock,” he said.

Advertisement

“If I stuck £20 note in between your buttocks, you’ve got to grip over it so that no-one can take it.”

According to the NHS, adults aged 65 and over should be physically active every day and do activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility at least two days a week.

They should also do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, such as swimming, if they are already active.

Doing regular exercise can reduce the risk of major illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer, and lower the risk of early death by up to 30%.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Jeffrey Donaldson exposes the limits of political self-righteousness

Published

on

Belfast Live

“It turns out that public declarations of righteousness tell us remarkably little about private character and are not a substitute for integrity.”

Advertisement

Christianity belongs in politics. That sentence may surprise some readers, but I believe it. Just as socialism, liberalism, conservatism and every other worldview have a legitimate place in a democracy, so too does Christianity.

Politicians do not stop being people of faith when they enter public life, nor should they. The problem begins when faith stops being a source of values and starts becoming a claim to moral superiority.

Jeffrey Donaldson’s convictions for multiple historical sexual offences have prompted understandable shock within unionism and beyond. The BBC’s Spotlight documentary, which aired allegations about aspects of his private life has added another layer to an already extraordinary political collapse.

Yet one of the broader political questions raised by the affair has remarkably little to do with Donaldson himself and more to do with whether parts of Northern Ireland’s political culture confused Christianity with self-righteousness.

Advertisement

For decades, politicians, particularly within the DUP, have approached issues such as marriage equality, abortion, and LGBT rights as moral battles. Political language often moved beyond the language of governance and into the language of judgement, and society was presented as divided between those defending Christian values and those driving moral decline.

There is nothing unusual about politicians allowing faith to shape their convictions. The difficulty arises when political identity becomes dependent on asserting who is righteous and who is not. Christianity, at least in its scriptural foundations, does not sit comfortably with that posture.

Jesus belongs in politics in the sense that his teachings about justice, mercy, and human dignity inevitably shape how believers view public life. But the Jesus of the Gospels did not seek out sinners in order to shame them. He sought them out to show them compassion. He repeatedly warned against those who advertised their own righteousness while remaining blind to their own failings.

He spent time with tax collectors, spoke with those on the margins, and consistently clashed with the religious authorities of his day. His most pointed criticism was often directed not at those living imperfect lives, but at those who believed themselves to be morally secure.

Advertisement

For years, some of our politicians spoke as though morality could be legislated and virtue measured by whom you condemned. It turns out that public declarations of righteousness tell us remarkably little about private character and are not a substitute for integrity.

However, this is not the first time that we have witnessed such hypocrisy. Iris Robinson famously described homosexuality as an “abomination” while speaking with apparent certainty about moral order in society. Her subsequent affair with a 19-year-old boy undermined the authority from which she had spoken.

The point is not that politicians should be expected to be morally perfect. They will fail, as all people do.

Once a politician’s legitimacy rests on being seen as more righteous than others, their public role is subsequently judged on performance of virtue rather than on policy or competence, creating a fragile political identity which can collapse dramatically when private life diverges from public image.

Advertisement

It also distorts the political conversation itself. Instead of debating how to govern a diverse society, politics becomes a contest over moral boundaries, who belongs, who does not, and whose way of life is acceptable.

In such an environment, contradiction is almost inevitable. Human beings are imperfect, and political systems that rely on displays of purity tend to produce instability when those imperfections inevitably surface.

This is not a uniquely Northern Irish phenomenon. Across different political traditions and countries, movements that centre on moral certainty often struggle most with moral complexity. The more politics becomes about declaring what is right and wrong in absolute terms, the less room there is for the messy realities of human behaviour.

If anything, it runs counter to the core of the Christian message. The Gospels repeatedly emphasise humility, repentance and the universality of human imperfection, warning against those who are convinced of their own righteousness. That is why the danger in politics is the transformation of Christianity into a tool of self-justification.

Advertisement

Donaldson’s downfall will rightly be remembered for the severity of his criminal conduct. Nothing about the wider political implications should obscure that. Nor should it be used as a lens through which to judge every politician of faith.

But it invites a more uncomfortable reflection on a political culture that, for a time, placed heavy emphasis on moral certainty.

As such, voters should not distrust Christians but be wary of anyone who asks to be judged by their sermons rather than their actions.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Millionaire shares four golden rules every lottery winner must follow straight away

Published

on

Belfast Live

A self-made millionaire has shared the four essential steps every lottery winner should take immediately to protect and grow their windfall after hitting the jackpot

A millionaire has shared his four essential steps lottery winners must follow if they suddenly come into a life-changing sum of money. Mark Tilbury, who left education at 16 and subsequently built a multi-million-pound enterprise, shares money-making guidance through his YouTube channel to numerous followers and now proudly claims earnings “over 50 million.”

He’s dedicated to helping others become “financially free,” providing insight on topics ranging from banking to taxation and investment strategies. Mark has recently addressed the vital actions you ought to take should you ever find yourself fortunate enough to scoop the lottery jackpot.

Advertisement

In a recent video entitled You Won the Lottery, Now What?, Mark laid out four particular measures to help protect your winnings – including one that could prevent you from “ever running out” of money.

Mark stressed: “What to do in your first 24 hours after winning $50,000,000 (around £36,504,344). Step one: sign the lottery ticket, just in case it gets lost or stolen, so you can prove it’s yours,” reports Belfast Live.

He further advised winners: “Step two: stay calm and collect your prize secretly to avoid unwanted attention. Step three: get a lawyer from a big firm that specialises in trust and estate planning.

Advertisement

“Step four: make it last forever by figuring out how much you want to spend per year, then multiplying that by 25 and investing it in the SandP 500. That way, you should be able to withdraw four percent per year without it ever running out.”

Back in 2023, Anita Pires, a call centre operator for the National Lottery, revealed that verifying a winning ticket is an “incredibly rigorous” process and that “no stone is left unturned.”

The procedure involves a series of checks, including where the ticket was purchased and the day and time of the transaction. If these details stack up, the claim is then “further investigated” before any winnings are paid out.

She further noted: “The most important thing for ease of validation is to be in possession of your ticket and the required validation information. For instance, if you paid by card in a retailer, this transaction would show on your bank statement.”

Advertisement

Anita recommends that players who purchase a physical paper ticket sign the back of it immediately after buying, as an extra security measure to establish ownership should they strike it lucky.

However, should the worst happen and you misplace your ticket, all is not necessarily lost – provided you have a legitimate claim and submit it in writing to Camelot within 30 days of the draw.

An investigation into the claim will then be launched, and as long as no other valid claims have emerged within 180 days, Camelot holds the discretion to award the prize.

Advertisement

For further details on how to claim a prize, visit the National Lottery website.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

The end may be near but my memories of Tartan Army in USA will last a lifetime

Published

on

Daily Record

Scotland fans have embraced every minute of this journey, from the stadiums to the streets, and created memories that will last far longer than any group-stage exit.

Advertisement

There’s a feeling around Miami that the Tartan Army just want to be put out of their misery.

Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse after our 3-0 drubbing by Brazil, every result we needed has gone against us.

Even two of the biggest bankers – South Africa and Ecuador – produced stunning upsets, beating South Korea and Germany to leave Scotland’s hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.

It brought home the uncomfortable truth that we probably haven’t done enough.

Advertisement

The reality is we’ve simply not been good enough over the course of our three group games.

We never found the kind of performance Ecuador produced against Germany when it mattered most. One solitary goal was always unlikely to be enough, and now elimination is staring us squarely in the face.

The hard truth is we should never have been relying on other teams to do us a favour. We should have taken care of our own business.

Yet, despite all that, the Scotland fans who made the journey to Miami aren’t drowning in disappointment.

Advertisement

We waited 28 years to see Scotland at a World Cup again. If this is where the adventure ends, then so be it.

For everyone who travelled out to America, it’s been the trip of a lifetime.

No one will leave with too many regrets. They’ve embraced every minute of this journey, from the stadiums to the streets, and created memories that will last far longer than any group-stage exit.

For many, simply getting here was enough. Let’s just hope it isn’t another 28 years before we’re all doing it again.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025