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Frankly, you have to be rather naive to have ever doubted that this will end in any other way than an exchange of land for an end to fighting. Whether it's fair or what you'd like to see happen is another matter.

A settlement agreement is exactly that. Whether Russia behave themselves thereafter is a separate issue.

It was a yes or no question. The answer is that there will be a negotiated settlement. Whether Ukraine likes it or not, and whether it's done fairly, does not alter the fact that there will be a negotiated end to the conflict which results in Ukraine keeping some Ukrainian land.

The identity of the perpetrator is a fact. I'm not responding to the rest as I have no interest in a discussion with you.

The issue previously has been people making predictions before knowing the ethnicity of the perpetrator. Once known, reasonable assumptions can be made.

Do you still believe that this will not result in a negotiated settlement?

I'm not sure Trump has won anything. Ukraine are losing on the ground though, and were never going to get Trump support for an ongoing war.

Indeed. Crimea has long gone, and at least the coastal area linking it with Russia will be ceded. I'm not sure that NATO has much life left, but if it does, the US won't have Ukraine as part of it.

What's happening is what was always going to happen, despite the protestations of a few in here, namely that there will be a negotiated settlement with Ukraine ceding land. It still staggers me that people swore blind that would never happen.

At least you'll only need a small pension pot. Every cloud.

It was brutal, but deserved. "Her script doesn't allow her to listen to the answer" was brilliant. I'm not sure I can remember a less intelligent Tory leader.

There you go again. I've never once called you a name. Not under this login anyway.

As I say, you dish it out so stop whining when you get a bit back.

But he dishes it out so he's fair game imo.

No idea, it's lunacy. Anyways, I want to know how to pronounce Musk's sons name - X Æ A-12 I'm going with Burt.

It's got it's own police drama on BBC, Virdee. It was quite entertaining, but didn't quite persuade me that a city break in Bradford was preferable to Bath.

Which they seemingly haven't. I'm not sure Israel are saying that the Palestinian captives will be released on Saturday in exchange as per the original deal. Both sides need to do the right thing but it won't stop dinlo's like Hypo struggling to see that.

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who says that Israel has "failed to keep its promises" regarding the ceasefire deal. Speaking to press afterwards, Erdogan adds "the Israeli occupation should end once and for all". Their occupation "remains the core problem", he adds. Erdogan says Turkey is sending aid to Gaza, and will continue to do so, while also calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state". Some sense at last.

H&L promote some very average funds, but mostly I think their wealth shortlist is pretty reliable. That said, there's plenty of funds better than those they promote, and I'm always wary of funds that have a good year or so. I use Trustnet for fund information and comparison. Really useful site. Although I use H&L, my main issue is that their platform fees are a tad high.

Clued up, no, but I listen to people who are!! I did it my way for years and pushed my retirement back several years as a consequence. If hate to see anyone do the same.

My only comments would be to 1. take expert advice and listen to their suggestions; 2. using your ISA allowance is sensible and allows you to draw down capital tax free and is a sensible way to supplement income in retirement; 3. ask yourself whether it's wise to wait 10 years and miss out on 10 years of investment returns; 4. being mortgage free is great, but the equity in your home isn't working for you; 5. take advantage of tax breaks rather than being worried by the tax system.

Not really. Inheritance tax planning involves exactly that, planning. Box clever, and the system can work for you, not against you. I take advantage of the higher rate tax relief to keep my tax down, so I essentially get free money every time I pay into my pension, and a reduction when I submit my return. I hold my fund within a SIPP. Two advantages. Firstly, how much cash I take, and when (after age 57), is up to me. I will make sure that I draw down within the standard rate tax limit, meaning that I'm gaining from the pension tax system, not losing. Secondly, a SIPP will survive me and can be left to beneficiaries without paying inheritance tax. Here's James Hay's brief summary on the tax position - "What is the tax treatment of my SIPP when I die? One of the advantages of a Self-invested personal pension (SIPP) is the tax advantages on your death. Death benefits are normally paid without incurring inheritance tax and if you die before age 75, there is generally no income tax liability, subject to the 2 year time limit. If you die after the age of 75, the death benefits will be subject to income tax at the recipient’s marginal rate". In summary, use the system to your advantage, and take some proper advice. Your existing pension funds may well be transferrable into a SIPP and whether that's possible, or wise is something to consider. I know excellent people who'll guide you - PM me if you wish.

For context, Israel have seemingly breached the agreement to allow aid in and injured people out. Hopefully they can sort it out sharpish and get the Israeli hostages and Palestinian captives home.

It's 55 at the moment but goes up to 57 in 2030. I'm caught by the changeover.

That's my understanding as well.