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https://www.ft.com/content/0311cae9-f35b-4e7a-952b-e26aba870549 Ali Motahhari, a former Iranian parliamentarian, called for pragmatic engagement. "We should negotiate with HTS," he said, noting that the militant group, while opposed to Shias, also shared Iran's opposition to Israel.

So we have an Islamist outfit (magically appearing 2 weeks ago) virtually unopposed in taking power? No or little  Government army?
Something smells!

In the meantime I'd advise those Syrian girls in Ballaghadereen to hold off on going home just yet.

It's definitely not a goodies and baddies story. Time will tell who the better option was.

Syria is a basket case, the Islamic state is 10% worse than Assad, who was/is a complete Cnut. None of these places will ever have a democracy based on religion/race being the deciding factor

Life has no importance

I just saw a  Syrian post about the North "it is a basket case. None of these places will ever have a democracy. It's all based on religion/race being the deciding factor "

Allentown
Goodnight Saigon
Piano man

https://www.ft.com/content/6ff18bb5-f469-4b6e-8092-86f8b2ae3c05
Assad and family have arrived in Moscow, Tass reports
Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family after fleeing the country, Russian state newswire Tass reported on Sunday, citing a source in the Kremlin.

A huge loss to the Sunday World.
RIP

Got gifted 6 bottles of red and white Lebanese wine.

Anyone tasted it before?

Trying to decide if I should drink it or 'gift it'

If it's Chateau Musar I would keep it

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/12/06/storm-darragh-live-updates-met-eireann-weather-warnings/#92315
While Irish airports are yet to report any major disruption stemming from the storm, Amsterdam's Schiphol airport has cancelled more than a hundred flights due to heavy winds caused by it, the airport, one of Europe's main hubs, said in a statement.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2024/12/04/sean-moran-gaa-football-review-committees-perfect-storm-creates-template-for-future-reforms/
At least as important a factor, though, was the consensus sentiment that football needed help. For all that we had a great championship with unexpected winners, there is a crisis for the GAA in the collapse of attendance, especially in Leinster and an improved game may not be a comprehensive response.But it will be a start.

I'm not sure that any change in the rules will help the Leinster championship.

Neither do I. The GAA killed the golden goose

It looks like it is going to be bad with electicity wires down and flooding.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2024/12/04/sean-moran-gaa-football-review-committees-perfect-storm-creates-template-for-future-reforms/
At least as important a factor, though, was the consensus sentiment that football needed help. For all that we had a great championship with unexpected winners, there is a crisis for the GAA in the collapse of attendance, especially in Leinster and an improved game may not be a comprehensive response.But it will be a start.

France is on the verge of a vote to take down the Government
South Korea had a short lived military coup. That was just yesterday
Trump is around the corner.

The CSO data today showed why people did not want change
"Average weekly earnings were €955.49 in Quarter 3 (Q3) 2024, up 5.3% from €907.10 in Q3 2023"

How much house will €955.49 per week buy?

FF have 43 seats. Compared to peak FF that is down at least 30. I suppose the main beneficiaries of FF downsizing would be independents and SF.

https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/club-hurling

Na Fianna  6/5
Sars      3/1
SN        7/2
Loughrea  4/1

Great vote management by FF, pretty good by SF and a mixed bag by FG.  It's FFFG for the foreseeable future in Ireland until there's another major crash.  SF just couldn't convince enough people that they would actually change things.  They leaked votes to nearly everyone.  I'm not sure where SF go from here?  A left leaning transfer pact going into an election looks essential not as an after thought the day before voting.  I can't see Mary Lou leading them into the next election.  She's good with people but got stuck on the detail in some interviews.

A crash that brings down house prices is overdue. If the rule is that smaller parties in coalitions get shafted in the next election, a second rule is that large parties get shafted when house prices fall.


   https://www.ft.com/content/49cca8d7-7b6e-47e3-a50c-9557d7c85fc0

   Talk of bubbles in tech or AI, or in investment strategies focused on growth and momentum, obscures the mother of all bubbles in US markets. Thoroughly dominating the mind space of global investors, America is over-owned, overvalued and overhyped to a degree never seen before. As with all bubbles, it is hard to know when this one will deflate, or what will trigger its decline.