Irish library system has 41 copies of Gary Stevenson’s Trading Game. Only one branch has multiple copies - 6 in Dalkey. Typical. The rich just horde everything - even charismatic socialists.

Rice x2

👀🇨🇳 "With Chinese ships suspected to have cut key undersea communications cables around the world, a Newsweek review of Chinese-language patent applications shows that engineers in China invented devices to sever such cables quickly and cheaply." By Didi Kirsten Tatlow:

Just fancy that … With Chinese ships suspected to have cut key undersea communications cables around the world, a Newsweek review of Chinese-language patent applications shows that engineers in China invented devices to sever such cables quickly and cheaply. www.newsweek.com/china-confli...

These extraordinary photos of the LA fires have been shared widely on social media, often without crediting the photographer. These are all the work of Ethan Swope, an LA-based photojournalist working for AP. You can follow his remarkable reporting here👇 www.instagram.com/ethanswopeph...

Melissa goes all in … respect. Remember that old joke? What’s a Greek urn?

✈️ BAKU, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Two passengers and one crew member on the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan told Reuters that they heard at least one loud bang as it approached its original destination of Grozny in southern Russia.

2 more Chinese generals fall in anti-corruption campaign in military www.scmp.com/news/china/m...

China named a new political commissar (General Chen Hui) for its large ground forces, an unexpected move that signals Xi Jinping is tightening military discipline. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Christopher Nolan’s next film announced as ‘mythic action epic’ The Odyssey

Check our explainer on Angela Merkel's time in office youtu.be/uR2KsEPeKWY?...

Echoes of Germany which delayed its 2023 China strategy until after a visit by Premier Li Qiang. This walk-on-eggshells approach to Beijing should be a thing of the past

Check out Didi Kirsten Tatlow's story about how China's ambitions in space are playing out in the dust of Chile's Atacama Desert

China's People's Liberation Army has released an electronic warfare ‘kill list’ for US carrier groups, including radars and sensors to be attacked in any future conflict www.scmp.com/news/china/s...

The EU is sanctioning Chinese firms and a North Korea minister over Ukraine war ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Here is the always enjoyable Marina Hyde on the Andrew-China spy scandal www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Guardian story on the UK-China Transparency report www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Report by UK-China Transparency about how Chinese AI chip firms blacklisted over weapons concerns gained access to UK technology ukctransparency.org/imagination-...

Hong Kong police to put up nearly 6,400 more surveillance cameras over 3 years www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Hong Kong police to put up nearly 6,400 more surveillance cameras over 3 years www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Check our our wide-ranging interview with economy expert George Magnus about China's economic prospects www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtJZ...

Breaking: European Commission launches a formal investigation into TikTok for its alleged role in violating the integrity of the recent Romanian election.

UK could end up isolated in terms of security from the US for this kind of appeasement policy for short-term trade gains www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...

Spy scandals be damned, Britain planning closer ties with China www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...

I think you’ll find the Chinese Ambassador prefers Tresor Dore of Zhangjiagang

Yicai: "Chinese commercial banks’ non-performing personal loans have swelled in the last few years amid a sluggish economy." The article describes the development of a market for non-performing loans, one of few areas in finance with much growth potential. www.yicaiglobal.com/news/chinese...

China picking diplomats steeped in e-vehicles and Communist Party doctrine ... doesn't augur well for small talk over the Ferrero Rocher and vol-au-vents sc.mp/53oo4?utm_so...

Apparently those scooters really are dangerous.

Think on…

Bloomberg: "A record 54 countries are spending more than 10% of their revenues on interest payments, according to the United Nations. Some, including Pakistan and Nigeria, are using more than 30% of revenue just to pay coupons." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

City are in crisis of course, but they are only three points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table. Something's up...

“By tracking social media, news reports and other sources, the platform documented a marked increase in public protests this year, mostly driven by economic grievances such as unpaid wages, stalled housing projects and demands for refunds from failed businesses” www.wsj.com/world/china/...

Drake Drops New Track Inviting Kendrick Lamar Out To Coffee So They Can Clear Things Up theonion.com/drake-drops-...

James Wade crashes out of World Darts Championship in second-round shock

On my own for the night and have gone full Geoffrey Palmer in Fawlty Towers.

They’re giving back. Selfless really

MPs fear the government is moving too fast to re-establish UK-China relations as some consider naming the alleged spy who used his relationship with Prince Andrew to get access to the heart of the British establishment www.theguardian.com/world/2024/d...