Quote from: Jacob on January 23, 2026, 04:44:11 PMI think it's less about Canada and more about how modern day Scots often like to cast themselves as a oppressed colonial victims of British oppression (like Ireland or Quebec, for example) when the Scots were fairly vigorous participants in the British imperial enterprise not only in terms of leadership, but also in terms of the rank and file participation and of economic benefits.
Quote from: Grey Fox on Today at 11:44:56 AMWe're about to be fighting them so probably not.
Quote from: celedhring on January 21, 2026, 09:45:29 AMThe entire network around Barcelona has been shut down while it's inspected for damage (the second accident was due to a retaining wall collapsing due to windstorms). I think it's a bit of an overreaction but better safe than sorry I guess.how do trains suddenly go off rails like that?
The other accident is a tragedy. The one train went off its rails right as there was another oncoming train.

Quote from: Duque de Bragança on January 22, 2026, 11:41:16 AMAt lastthe UK also just intercepted a Russian fleet in the North Sea.QuoteWe will let nothing pass': France intercepts Russia-linked oil tanker in Mediterranean
FRANCE
France's navy on Thursday intercepted an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia's sanctioned "shadow fleet" in the Mediterranean Sea. French President Emmanuel Macron said the operation, which took place between Spain and Morocco, was carried out with the help of several allies.
Issued on: 22/01/2026 - 16:24
1 min Reading time
By:
FRANCE 24
France's navy, with the help of allies, on Thursday boarded a tanker alleged to be from Russia's sanction-busting "shadow fleet" in the Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron said.
"This morning, the French Navy boarded and searched an oil tanker from Russia, subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag," he said on X.
"The operation was carried out on the high seas in the Mediterranean, with the support of several of our allies," he added, saying the vessel had been "diverted".
"We will let nothing pass," said Macron.
"The activities of the shadow fleet help finance the war of aggression against Ukraine," he added.
"This morning, the French Navy boarded and searched an oil tanker from Russia, subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag," Emmanuel Macron said on X.
Local maritime authorities said the navy seized an oil tanker called "Grinch" between Spain and Morocco.
"After the team boarded, an examination of documents confirmed the doubts as to the regularity of the flag," the Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture said.
The ship "is currently being escorted by the national navy to a point of anchorage for further verifications", it added.
"We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions," Macron said in a post about the interception, with a photo showing a French helicopter hovering over a ship.
Western countries have slapped sanctions on a number of oil tankers accused of transporting Russian oil in defiance of sanctions imposed by the US, EU and UK following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
A figaro article adds the UK and other allied countries were involved
https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/la-marine-francaise-a-arraisonne-un-petrolier-en-provenance-de-russie-en-mediterranee-annonce-emmanuel-macron-20260122
Another Figaro article says Zelensky approved, unsurprisingly:
https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/en-direct-forum-de-davos-apres-sa-volte-face-sur-le-groenland-donald-trump-presente-son-conseil-de-paix-et-rencontre-volodymyr-zelensky-20260122QuoteLe président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky a salué jeudi l'interception par la marine française d'un pétrolier russe sanctionné en Méditerranée, affirmant qu'une telle action était «exactement le genre de décision nécessaire» pour empêcher les revenus pétroliers russes de financer la guerre en Ukraine.
«Les navires doivent être saisis. Et ne serait-il pas juste de confisquer et de vendre le pétrole transporté par ces pétroliers ?», a-t-il déclaré sur X.
More of the same, he added.

Quote from: celedhring on Today at 04:55:05 AMHow realistic would that be in reality? I assume our merchant vessels only carry small arms, but an oil tanker in 1850 would absolutely dwarf everything, and with a double hull and I presume a million other safety measures to avoid spills, it might be impervious to cannon fire from that era?the ship's hull wouldn't be thick enough, I guess.



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