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First impression was that it's straight out the chapters in 'Killer in the Kremlin', an account on the 1999 apartment bombings in Moscow and more.



but now I read some bizarre stuff on CBS News: US informed Russia of pending terror attack under "Duty to Inform""A U.S. official tells CBS News the U.S. has intelligence confirming the Islamic State's claims of responsibility, and that they have no reason to doubt those claims.

Some light relief this evening with Iceland beating Israel 4-1 in the euro play offs.

The mood was not so sporting in the aftermath of the draw when Iceland coach, respected veteran Norwegian Age Hareide said among other things, "that he would have preferred not to play against Israel, but Iceland cannot refuse it due to impending punishments from UEFA. Hareide said that his opinion was that this game should not have been played because of the situation in Gaza and what the Israelis had done to women, children and other innocent citizens in the area."

naturally Israel zionists went apeshít, none other than  zionist Avram Grant entered the domain
"I saw what Iceland's coach said. I don't know him personally, but I'm upset that he should mix sports with something he has no knowledge of. But I want to ask him a few questions. First, I would like to state that I am against the victimization of ordinary citizens and it saddens me when this happens.

But one must remember that it all started with the massacre of Hamas members. So I want to ask the coach: Why didn't you say anything about the massacre in Israel on October 7? Why didn't you say: I am broken because of all the women who were raped, because of the children who were beheaded, because of the old people who were burned alive? Because of parents who were shot in front of their children,"

Hounded by Israeli reporters at press conferences before the game tonight, Age replied
"I come from a nation where freedom of speech prevails and you can express your opinions. As for this, I think some of what I said got washed up in translation and taken out of context. I am interested in politics, I know all about the hostage situation, and I also said later that the hostages should be freed, the hostilities should be stopped and peace should be established. I come from a peaceful nation and do not take a position in politics. We play against footballers and that is the most important thing. Many of Israel's players have played across Europe and I have nothing against them."

Avram Grant called out the Iceland coach as a hypocrite
Do you understand what the Israelis have been through, will you shake their hand before and after the game tomorrow?

Age Hareide
"Yes of course these are footballers like us and I don't think it's right to get into political discussions around this game. They are often misunderstood in translation. I just wanted to say, we play football and we have to play this game. The tournaments and games have been planned for a long time and we didn't know who we would face. We are also going to play with Israeli footballers, not with the Israeli people, that is the most important thing."

And then there is the result Iceland 4-1 Israel

[continue on with your studies and work for a better future]

Allister talking through his hole. He was the only Prod in his Queens law class in...1974?

I'm not sure that's what he said.
He said that he was the first person in 10 years from his school, while there were 12 from St Whatever's.

Though I still wouldn't rule out that he was talking through his hole.

First post underneath the video dispels that myth right away.

Far be it from me, but Bryson was right in his reply (jesus, I can't believe I'm typing this) but continue on with your studies and work for a better future, it's what was driven into us from the 70's on, get an education as you won't be able to walk into a job in the shipyard/Shorts/Civil Service/Peelers like our Protestant neighbours.

Equality can be a bollox when you're used to entitlement.

Jim's bitterness in relation to the current judiciary is great 

It says everything when the likes of Jamie and Co are only figuring this out now.

Jamie didn't take his bigotry to task, with him full of resentment and fear (supposedly) being surrounded by GAA shirts at law school. Jamie's message was plough on son to the end, we need bigot lawyers (not lawyers without bigotry).

Both teams were flat out at the end but Tyrone were that bit more more clinical when it was required.
I'll look forward to a rematch should Monaghan get past Cavan. McManus looks even sharper than last year and the return of Mohan adds much needed gravitas, just waiting now on O'Hanlon to get fit.

Let's wallow for a while.

The Belfast Telegraph ran the above story during the week, which I thought was a teeny weeny bit presumptuous...

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/uefa-admits-europa-league-final-in-dublin-could-prove-extremely-challenging/ar-BB1jLNjt

Phew, can't imagine the chaos/mayhem that might have been with 100,000+ insanely drunken orcs running riot around Dublin.

Watched Oppenheimer the other night, thought it was very good and while I knew the general history behind his involvement, this gave a bit more depth about him.

I thought it was top class all around and totally deserved the Oscar hattrick. The film succeeded on so many levels

Better team won, but why gift possession back to England with 90 seconds left?

I doubt Ireland had enough power and energy to ruck and recycle it in their own 22 for 90 seconds. England had already been bossing them for a while physically.

Wouldn't be a ruck, would be a maul with ball in hand... is a difference. Bad decision

Mauling is even harder to do for that long. At least in a series rucks you get breathers.

Anyway, once England know you can't or won't kick the ball away, they can push practically everybody up to the gain line.  Chances are Ireland would have lost possession or infringed.

The decision led to defeat... anything else is hypothetical tho when he kicked it, I immediately thought, "wat the hell he do that for?!!"

I walked out of room saying that little f'ecker is just going to kick away possession and England are  going to lay siege until they score. It was a brainless choice by Connor Murray

I loathe that hand slap and the  (volleyball) palm push into the net. I say bring back the manly punch as the only option for scoring a goal with the hand.

Monaghan vs Tyrone massive now.

Only if Monaghan win,

unlikely though.

Not that I'm that much into cryptocurrency but why purchase anything other than bitcoin?

Interesting judgement highlighting another flaw in the conflicting rules of the association.

Which flaw are you referring to? How did the DRA manage to come to a decision like this when the findings of the report on the allegations against  RG have not yet been concluded?

I turned on ITV news yesterday evening and was expecting updates on all important troubled spots in the world but lo and behold the top news items were all about the Royals and the death of this 535th in line to the throne.
Found dead alone, no others involved? hmmm,

One of the Rothschilds kicked the bucket as well over the weekend, closely connected to the Royals allegedly.

Tough time for the house of Windsor, thoughts and prayers with them at this time!

It turns out he didn't die alone but alongside him lay his trusty shotgun. There's nothing suspicious as regards the death which was due to the large part of his head being blown to smithereens.
Could this spark off copycat suicides, with the Werther effect running rampant through the Royals and their followers?

The 4 step rule needs changed to 6, which most player are taking anyway running hard. Player way fitter now than 30yrs ago.

Yeah change it to 6 and enforce it, 6 steps is nothing now and letting it go isn't doing any harm, actually think it would do more harm to enforce the 4 steps

The 6 steps rule would end up being enforced as the 4 steps are now
8 steps would then become the norm, quasi AFL.

[striking]

No more rule changes until we can properly enforce the rules we have. Can barley go 1 week without seeing 2 refs who have very different interpretation of the rules.

Players constantly blew for touching ball on the ground when the rules actually allow you to.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportsjoe.ie/amp/gaa/gaa-rules-ball-ground-169516

Certain refs enforcing third man in when it suits and ignoring it other times etc etc

Touching the ball on the ground if knocked to the ground while in possession.. standard rule and strange why anyone doesn't know it

You can't though just randomly touch on the ground or strike it without being initially in possession

Majority of time the player who has the ball gets knocked to the ground he envibilty touches it on the groubd he gets blown for it. Never seen this rule implemented

You didn't in your first post. You said players getting constantly blown for touching the ball on the ground when the rules actually allow you.. That's not the case nor is it even close to the majority of times that the ball is actually touched on the ground in the game.

This is the annoying thing when gobshites behind the fence haven't a "scobby doo" about the rules but give off regardless

When would a player be on the ground touching the ball without having first been in possesion of it??

Jesus use a bit of common sense. Anytime a player touches the ball on the ground its because he was originally in possession and forced to the ground.

How many times in a game do you see a player tackled, falls to ground and touches the ball. He immediately gets blown and a free given against him even though he is actually allowed to play the ball on the ground as he was originally in possession.

Its not at all correct you keep saying touches, he's not playing the ball, he touches the ball its a foul.. if he's in  possession and falls to the ground he can play it.. In most cases he's touched it incidentally and that's a foul

How would you play the ball without touching it?

Going around in circles here..

You can't touch the ball on the ground, If you are tackled with ball in hand you can play the ball by striking it along the ground while the ball is on the ground.

Definition for not playing the ball for me (with the whistle) is an incidental touch and not striking it away after having it in possession initially..

This is more common, as the player that falls to the ground is surrounded and he makes a failed attempt trying to lift the ball touches the ball (not trying to play/strike/add in whatever word that suits the attempt)

I have many times said "play on" when a player has done that which is usually followed by "he's touched the ball on the deck ref!"

There's a clear difference, I can't help you if you struggle with that

My original point was there shouldnt be any changes to the rules until we enforce the ones we have.

Touching the ball on the ground was one example. Could easily talk about the 4 steps which are never enforced or the 3rd man into a meele who is usually never sent off (unless its tyrone) or the player closed fist punching a player during a "tackle" which is never punished.

In the 1995 AI final, Canavan  was not in possession of the ball when it fell to ground, he just managed to parry the ball with one hand before it fell to ground. Didn't the ref get it right that day?

"Gallagher had been temporarily barred by the Ulster Council as they commissioned a safeguarding panel to look into domestic abuse allegations pertaining to his private life."

Not really sure what the point of this was. If they catch wind of brown envelope payments, drug use, various forms of abuse etc.., I wonder is this just the start of the panel's investigations into member's private lives?

The allegations of abuse were made in a very public dramatic manner, the GAA had no other choice, they are mandated to investigate allegations of violent male abuse against women and while the investigation is ongoing the accused has to stand down. But it should have been a country wide sanction.

While ex Ulster gaa president Mick Duffy was being investigated for serious child abuse cases he still was allowed to mingle and shake hands with the high and mighty on Ulster final  day at Casement, while his now adult victims had to witness that, i.e. until  a journalist brother of one of the accusers persuaded a newspaper to out Duffy.