OTD in 2003 the USA invaded Iraq. It's good they elected a president determined to end forever wars that start for made up reasons & end up as a quagmire they can't win.

Putting two stories together...

In this dumb and dishonest Age of Trump, it is such a novelty to get to listen to a politician who knows history, facts, and how to celebrate something other than himself.

Just a reminder that the Washington Treaty defines the geography of NATO’s mutual defense pledge — at U.S. insistence in 1949 — to prevent allies from committing us to their wars outside of Europe.

How come the #BBC politics reporters "understand" what Mandelson thinks about his sacking ("no criminality", etc). Do they have some telepathy device?

If I were Putin and needed more money for my war, I turn off the supply of oil from Venezuela and the Gulf. That would teach the West to sanction me! You're right - it could never happen!

The King is supposed to be visiting the USA *next month*. This is the definition of a diplomatic nightmare. In all seriousness, I would urge him to pull a sickie.

Right wing Americans can crow all they want, but we’re not sending 18 year-old squaddies from Wigan to get their heads blown off in another American war for oil launched to justify stitching up the U.S midterm elections and covering up Trump’s involvement with Epstein.

So, any other news yesterday? Anything important?

Given ChatGPT recommended this person should walk to the car wash to get his car washed it is hardly surprising to hear that it isn’t great at recommending when people should go to the hospital

BBC News surpassing itself.

Maybe I've missed something , but can anyone explain why the #BBC insists on this convoluted disclaimer, "the BBC UNDERSTANDS that Lord #Mandelson has not behaved criminally or benefitted financially..." What's the point? Why say it at all?

"A U.S. Navy sailor was medically evacuated Saturday afternoon from an American nuclear-powered submarine by Danish military forces... The sailor is being treated at a hospital in Nuuk, Greenland's capital." abcnews.com/Internationa...

Does he realize how ridiculously guilty he sounds?

Okay, this is quite outstanding from Bedford Council.

We go now to sports and politics:

The Daily Telegraph currently owned by a private equity vehicle RedBird IMI - based in the UAE and led by Italian American Gerry Cardinale and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Patriotic news. For patriotic people. Who don't want to pay taxes.

🆕 BLOG A public inquiry found Gibraltar's Chief Minister made 'grossly improper' attempts to interfere in a criminal investigation. Now his government is responsible for implementing reforms to prevent this happening again. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/grossly...

Ok! Mar-a-Lago

Or, indeed, at all.

Jeez, he's mixing up Greenland with ICELAND!!!! Make it stop!

tRump just let the cat out the bag - AI centres need double the power of the country. So the tech bros are building the capacity and using any old fossil fuel they can get their hands on.

America’s 250th anniversary is going well 😵‍💫

I am calling for a complete and total boycott of the Mercator projection in all news stories about Greenland until every member of the American public has seen this

And here we are: the entire transatlantic alliance is now talking about Greenland, instead of talking about ending the war in Ukraine.

Jon Stewart can’t ignore the irony of Trump threatening to bomb Iran for shooting protesters

"I would like to interrupt this council meeting with an anecdote about the time I confronted a caricaturist in Leicester Square about the quality of his portrait of The Jackson Five" "Sorry but I don't see how that's germane" "That's EXACTLY what I said"

This is beyond shocking - how can this be allowed to happen? Why on earth can’t they be released on bail? They have a right to a fair trial, appropriate medical treatment, & the removal of punitive Prison Service conditions. Govt’s ban on Palestine Action is simply intolerable

Best ever thread. Enjoy. Thanks for sharing Tom.

A new year’s wish that we all start framing paying taxes as positive and patriotic contribution to a better world for all. Thank you Anthony Joshua! I’ve just paid mine too. They were quite a lot less than yours, but for some reason most historians don’t earn £68.5m.

They threw apple crumble at the display case; police have taken them into custardy...

In the Netherlands, where the Dutch invest in safe cycling, the over-65s cycle around a quarter of their journeys, while the over-80s cycle around 10% of theirs. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and cycle lanes don't 'restrict freedom', they expand it.

But his retirement plans are now in “disarray” and “ruined” cos he’s going to have to find an additional £208.33 per month? He has £2-4 million in savings/investments but claims he is not “cash-rich” and his house was his only “pension” Seriously @Telegraph, where do you find these people?🤣🤣🙄 9/9

Why does #BBCNEWS keep showing #chrismason making a fool of himself discussing growth with the PM?

In the Netherlands, over 40% of rail passengers arrive by bike. Since 2012 the country has invested €400m+ to add 200,000 new bike parking spaces at stations. The result? More rail use, fewer car trips, lower congestion and emissions, better public health - and far more efficient use of urban space.

So, under the proposed refugee plans from the UK Home Secretary, would Olympic hero, Sir Mo Farah, be offered a knighthood or a ticket back to his birthplace, Somalia?

Jonathan Pie is on fire. youtu.be/iCMnJ4KicW8?...

On Veterans Day we honor those courageous men and women who answered the call and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution 🙏

Orrrrrr you could just put HEPA filters into every workplace and allow people to work from home again instead of forcing them into offices infecting one another. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Underground, Overground My hunt to find locations where you can see Underground trains traveling over Overground trains (or vice versa) continues. This vantage point near East Putney station has views of tube trains traveling over the railway. I waited 30 mins to get this shot.

Celebrity Traitors

An advisory opinion

London is proud to host Japan's Grand Sumo Tournament this week - it's fantastic to see the the teams using our cycling infrastructure to get around.

#BBCNews Just reported that British medics had rejected Donald tRump's theory about paracetamol and autism, as if he was an expert in the field in his spare time. No mention of why it was rejected, or whether it was bonkers and dangerous. Why not say, "He's a dangerous, lying idiot."

Interesting how you never see the head of this school on Question Time or elsewhere opining on the culture-war topic of the day.

Who else thinks Putin will agree to handing back the invaded parts of Ukraine, if tRump gives him back Alaska?

The Monty Python law: “this is getting silly” is a good point at which to consider changing course.

Desperation of people in Gaza is visible from space in extraordinary image from Planet Labs PBC captured on Saturday afternoon showing crowds on and around aid trucks north of Morag Corridor. The same scene is visible at street level in numerous videos like this one: www.instagram.com/p/DMkmVvNo6nj/