Trump's war farrago to cost each Brit an extra £480 in 2026

Op-ed: Trump's reckless and badly planned excursion into starting a war with Iran will cost each British citizen - many of whom are already broke - £480 more in 2026. Thanks President Trump. I think we can extrapolate that prediction to many other countries to varying amounts.

The extra cost of living due to the Iran war is, as predicted, due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump and his team appear to have failed to foresee, which has forced up energy and gas (petrol) prices.

The £480 is based on the projected difference in household income, adjusted for size and composition as a result of inflation pushing up oil prices and the projected household energy price cap rising to £1929 in July.

Note: More than 2 child families in receipt of child benefit  will see income increases! These are low income families that have been catapulted into a decent income level thanks to Starmer's generosity on welfare which the country cannot afford and which takes away from defence which needs urgent financial support in a more dangerous world.

Source: The Times 13th April 2026.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

The Quiet Power of a Biodiverse Skin Microbiome

The skin is often described as the body’s largest organ, but it is also one of its most complex ecosystems. Living across its surface is a vast community of bacteria, fungi, and microscopic organisms that together form the skin microbiome. Far from being passive passengers, these microbes play an essential role in regulating immunity, maintaining barrier function, and protecting us from pathogens. A biodiverse microbiome is particularly important: the wider the variety of microbes, the more resilient the system becomes.

As we age, this diversity naturally declines. Reduced sebum production, drier skin, and slower cell turnover create a less hospitable environment for beneficial microbes. Modern habits—frequent washing, harsh soaps, indoor living, and limited environmental exposure—accelerate this loss. When diversity falls, the skin becomes more prone to irritation, inflammation, and slower healing. In this sense, maintaining a healthy microbiome is not cosmetic; it is a meaningful part of supporting whole‑body health.

One of the most effective ways to nurture microbial diversity is surprisingly simple: connect with nature. Outdoor environments expose the skin to a rich array of harmless environmental microbes—what immunologists call “old friends.” These organisms help train the immune system, reinforce microbial balance, and counteract the narrowing effect of indoor, sanitised environments. Even a daily walk in a park or woodland can subtly enrich the skin’s microbial landscape.

Equally important is reducing unnecessary disruption. Gentle, pH‑balanced cleansers, less frequent full‑body washing, and regular moisturising help preserve the skin’s natural habitat. A biodiverse microbiome thrives when the barrier is intact and the environment is stable.

In an age of over‑sterilisation, rediscovering the value of microbial diversity—on our skin and in the natural world—offers a quiet but powerful way to support long‑term health.

Recommended read: Rebecca Seal's book: The Allergy Epidemic and What We Can Do About It. Published on April 23rd 2026 by Headline Home at £22. This covers the issue of skin microbe biome and how it impacts the immune system. As does the stomach which is vital to maintaining a healthy immune system. Avoid antibiotics and protect your skin and stomach. 😉👍

A healthy cat caregiver is a better cat giver!! Sorry if that sounds like lecturing.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

18 negatives to Trump's Iran war and zero positives

Op-ed: Trump's elected Iran war has created a plethora of negative outcomes - listed. There will be more. Many more I suspect. And I can't think of any positives because the war was unnecessary. Yes, Trump has severely damaged Iran's military equipment but they can rebuild. They will rebuild and the damage by all accounts is less than boasted by Trump and his cronies. 

"Iran still has thousands of ballistic missiles in its arsenal that it could use by retrieving launchers from underground storage areas, according to American officials familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments," said a recent intelligence report

Negatives (not an exhaustive list):

1. Thousands of innocent Iranians killed by US bombs. High casualties across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and U.S. forces.
2. The possibility that the Iranian regime will become more dictatorial when the war finishes.
3. The Strait of Hormuz now potentially subject to a toll imposed by Iran which will strangle shipping going forward for an indefinite time.
4. Europe's stagnant economy - including the UK - will be further battered by inflation due to the Iran war due to higher oil prices, and higher interest rates.
5. NATO is ruptured thanks to the war as Trump believes that NATO countries should have stepped in and assisted the US. But the US did not keep NATO in the loop. Nor did Trump seek the approval of Congress. Many European leaders see the war as illegal.
6. Russia has received a much needed economic boost due to a sanctions break (Trump's decision) and elevated oil and gar prices. This will assist Russia in its illegal war against Ukraine where hundreds of thousands have been killed. Trump's decisions are often immoral.
7. The relationship between Israel and the US is frayed because many in the US believe that Israel dragged the US into this unnecessary war. This is Bibi's war. He loves to batter the Arabs as it keeps him in power! True.
8. Gulf nations have had their peace, quiet and stability rudely interrupted indeed destroyed to a certain extent because of Iran's attacks on them. They are losing tourists by the bucket full. And those who planned to emigrate to the Gulf will now think twice.
9. The US has spent $50 billion on the war. The US has a massive national debt that will, one day, cripple the country. Trump does not give a damn about the country's national debt because he likes to leverage debt in a business sense. The higher inflation due to the war will make servicing this debt harder. The U.S. national debt has surged past $38–39 trillion, rising by billions per day and pushing debt‑to‑GDP above 120%. Interest payments now exceed $1 trillion annually, outpacing many federal programs and eroding fiscal flexibility. As borrowing accelerates faster than economic growth, the government becomes more vulnerable to rising bond yields, investor anxiety, and policy missteps. The mounting debt strains budgets, fuels inflation pressures, weakens confidence in U.S. Treasuries, and risks crowding out future public investment—leaving the country more exposed to shocks and less able to shape its own economic destiny.
10. The majority of US citizens are against the Iran war started by choice by Trump. No need for it arguably. The country is polarised. The US is still at war with its own public!
11. Trump's Iran war is also arguably already lost as Trump has already committed war crimes! If he needs to do that, he has lost the war in my view.
12. Severe regional destruction including critical infrastructure and energy facilities which will affect energy prices for a decade going forward?
13. Risk of wider regional escalation drawing in multiple state and non-state actors.
14. Supply side disruptions - LPG and fertiliser for example.
15. A dent to Trump's support from his once highly supportive MAGA fans.
16. Trump's credibility severely damaged.
17. Trump's lack of ability to control Bibi Netanyahu who will not stop bombing Lebanon! More instability.
18. China is strengthened by the war perhaps indefinitely. Why? The country has done a deal with Iran to let their ships pass the Strait of Hormuz and there is damage to the US and the Gulf States but China marches on untouched.

Positives:

1. None that I can think of! Please comment.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Trump creates permanent Hormuz chaos with Iran demanding bitcoin toll

Before this elected war, due to Trump's recklessness and poor thinking, all was well in the Strait of Hormuz. No problems. 120 ships came and went unhindered for years until Trump blundered bigtime.

Now, no matter what happens with this unnecessary war, it seems likely that Iran will be charging shipping companies huge amounts of money in bitcoin to pass through the strait as a form of toll, depending on the origin and I suppose destination of the ship and whether it carries cargo or not.

The point is that there will be a Hormuz toll system in place for the indefinite future it seems to me and well after this crazy and sad war has ended.

This will have a very negative impact on world trade in the future. And it will create more friction between nations. 

Iran has realised that they have a massive amount of leverage when in charge of the Strait of Hormuz and they are prepared to use it both to hurt Western trade and to bring in much need income.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Trump has already committed a war crime in his deranged threat

Trump has already committed a war crime in his threat to destroy Iran because a threat of this nature is itself a war crime. View this video to see that explained.

It is a really impressive video (not so much if you worship Trump). What Trump said is astonishing. Utterly reckless. Demented in fact. Irresponsible and so on leading to many people seriously thinking about replacing Trump through incapacity to discharge his duties as president. In other words he is as nutty as a Christmas cake.

The people who worship Trump and can't ever see him doing anything wrong are the ignorant and unenlightened. They really are. Can't blame them often for being ignorant and uneducated but if you see people praising Trump after these latest mad threats you'll have to agree with me.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.