2025 has seen Russia steadily make progress on the battlefield - particularly in November. Which does seem linked to Trump's lack of support for Ukraine - however the economic impact of Ukrainian attacks on the Russian economy may well cripple it - potentially leading to public anger with Putin.

"School apologises after comparing Farage to far-right dictator" Quarrydale Academy took down their political display and then apologised, ironically apologising AFTER news of young* Farage's comments that "Hitler was right" and "Gas them" came to light. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

The remarkable thing here (thankfully), is that Farage just didn't outright deny it - he's well versed in the art of political manipulation and probably could have gone on the offensive claiming a witch hunt. Luckily he didn't and his response helps validate the accusations against him.

To be fair to Trump - it is Marco Rubio. Torpid Trump.

According to Putin - "the demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” The Soviet Union had once drawn up plans to invade western Europe - now it seems Putin has plans to invade Eastern Europe. With Ukraine currently holding back the tide against Russia.

"The hacker who breached NASA to prove that UFOs exist" Gary McKinnon is just basically a British eccentric who thought the US government hiding information about UFOs - the Bush administration wanted him extradited for a 70 years prison sentence. cybernews.com/tech/hacker-...

Aardman to celebrate 50 'cracking' years in home city The animation studio behind Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep is celebrating 50 years in the business with a major new exhibition in its home city - Bristol. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The rats are fleeing the ship as Trump approval plummets Not even a year in office and Trump's rating continue to plummet - his presidency, described as "one of the greatest and most destructive cons in American history" could ultimately destroy the Republican Party www.alternet.org/trump-republ...

"Afghan Taliban vow border cooperation after Tajikistan says attacks killed five Chinese" and wounded five more. One attack involved drones from Afghanistan dropping grenades at the Chinese workers. www.reuters.com/world/china/...

"Russia’s Claimed Capture of Pokrovsk Comes at a Steep Cost" Russia's gains in the war seem to be linked with Trump becoming president in January, with their most significant gains in November. The Trump admin has not been so forthcoming with intel and aid. www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/02/r...

"Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after floods and mudslides" The death toll from devastating floods and mudslides in Sri Lanka has exceeded 330 people, as the country grapples with one of its worst weather disasters in years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"Pope Leo urges Trump not to try to overthrow Venezuelan president with military force" The Pope has some advice for Trump - previously hailed by many of his supporters as the anti-war president. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

"Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years" This doesn't sound good - especially given the reforms to the justice system includes creating "swift courts" - all part of the UK government's plan to tackle delays dealing with court cases. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Meeting with Foreign Secretary disappointing, says detainee’s brother Gurpreet Singh Johal met with Yvette Cooper on Monday to talk about his brother, Jagtar Singh Johal I think Brexit Britain lacks the conviction to challenge other nations over certain issues www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Baby died after being left lying on cold and damp bed sheets at Welsh hospital He was also left without food, the cause according to the coroner was the "persistent and gross understaffing" of the unit - unfortunately shortages are likely to get worse. www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...

"M25 crash live as two lanes shut near Enfield after two cars and two lorries collide" Last time travelling back from London I took the train and there were long delays - this time stuck in a coach, which is just great. www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...

Starmer paraphrased: "We have to work with China – even if it threatens national security" Starmer appears to have laid the groundwork for a major concession to China, despite earlier saying that it poses “national security threats” to Britain. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

What's often overlooked outside of Iran is that even religious women who wear headcoverings themselves have supported the protests - this is because they don't want what they consider to be a personal religious choice mandated by the government - but the old guard is not ready to give up just yet.

"UK weather: Month’s worth of rain to fall in 24 hours as Met Office issues flood warnings" "The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings as the UK is set for a soggy start to the week" Nothing to do with #ClimateChange just normal winter weather. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Zarah Sultana triumphs at Your Party’s first conference The conference has shown that the Coventry South MP is in the ascendancy. It sounds like co-founder Corbyn will be taking a backseat in this new party - his main contribution being the name of the party. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Something interesting is happening in Iran (although possibly mainly certain urban centres like the capital Tehran). The dress code is increasingly being flouted by women and the government, dealing with multiple other issues, seems to be now lacking the will to enforce these laws.

He's even had his name printed on his t-shirt so he can remember who he is.

The mystery of the missing red hats at the foodbank.

If I didn't know any better I would assume that Farage’s secret fantasy became a new story - because he anonymously leaked the story himself to the RW press

Sultana claims new Corbyn party carrying out 'witch hunt' against activists Corbyn seemed quite happy away from the frontline of politics and just as an independent MP until he was persuaded to join this new party - the rift primarily seems to be a generation gap* www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"TRUMP CONSIDERING DUMPING PATEL" Pretty impressive for Patel to be so mired in scandal that Trump considers dumping him "The assignment of SWAT-qualified agents to guard his girlfriend are indicative of his lack of leadership experience, judgment and humility." extra.ie/galleries/tr...

Reform UK is busy pumping AI nostalgia videos across social media - one of the key features of the good old days apparently was "smoky skies" - the good old days of smog, air pollution and higher respiratory illnesses. Oh yes and of lower life expectancy.

This is the very raison d'être of GB News, they've been helping to drive UK news to the right, and have been criticised by OFCOM on multiple occasions for being in breach of impartiality and accuracy. They're almost like a right-wing Facebook page that has become a TV channel.

"Melania 'meme coin' value bottoms out as Trump brands collapse: WSJ" Only a seasoned financial analyst could have predicted this would have happened 🙃 www.rawstory.com/melania-meme/

"Fourteen-year-old dies after motor neurone disease diagnosis" The family of Kyle Sieniawski, 14, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, confirmed his death in a tribute on Friday describing him as a "beautiful boy" that made them smile "a million times and more". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"Your Party conference thrown into chaos as Zarah Sultana boycotts first day" With Reform lurking on horizon it's shame this party appears to getting off to a chaotic start - the Greens by contrast seem to be more organised and coherent. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

This seems like a weird combination of Dr Strangelove and Laurel and Hardy, what makes it doubly idiotic is that not asking for the return would have mean it would have been more likely to be destroyed in a control explosion and then disposed of without any analysis.

Looks like Musk (accidentally on purpose perhaps) rolled out a transparency tool on X that shows you where accounts are based (probably since he's still being exiled from the Whitehouse). Although he later removed the bit that shows you *where* accounts were created, still it further validates -

"Russia accidentally destroys its only way of sending astronauts to space" For the first time since 1961, Russia has lost the ability to launch crewed rockets. Ooops www.independent.co.uk/space/russia...

"Prostate cancer screening should not be offered to most UK men, say experts" Only"men with specific genetic mutations that lead to more aggressive tumours should be eligible" they say. Critics note that this would exclude "black men who have double the risk" and also* www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Copying Denmark’s hardline asylum policy a ‘terrible idea’, Danes say Danish politicians* have said copying Denmark’s “inhumane” hardline asylum policy is a “terrible idea” that will lead to more racism and actually hinder integration and acceptanace. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

"Only fools and horses work" - could be the internal Reform UK slogan.

The "service could run empty more than 100 times. The move has left rail insiders fuming at the decision by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR)." This is where the government should step in and remedy what appears to be a wasteful as well as inconvenient decision.

While Emmy-winning filmmaker Peter Ettedgui described Farage as his "vicious, persistent tormentor" - a retired British Army officer (name withheld) said Farage had told him that he admired Hitler and sang “Gas ’Em All” about minority groups while expressing "a lot of openly racist views"

It still hasn't dawned on large swathes of the British public that Brexit has ushered in a new economy (plus the effects of Covid and the Ukraine war). The public however are associating a rise in costs with refugees and immigrants in general, sentiments fuelled by the media and many politicians.

"At least 460 killed in south-east Asia floods and landslides, reports say" "More than 300 people killed on Indonesia’s Sumatra island with 162 reported dead across Thailand" #ClimateChange appears to be responsible yet again for this event. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

If anyone is still on the hell site formerly known as Twitter, please post this…

"Data copied in Kensington and Chelsea cyber attack" The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) confirmed that "some data was copied and taken away" during a recent cyber attack. The same Borough that destroyed its Grenfell evidence. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to" "Woman cancels all benefits including disability living allowance for daughter after policy change announcement" A struggling low-paid carer from Ghana has cancelled her benefits. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

If I had just heard of this, and not seen an image, I'd have just imagined Italians protesting in outrage against this affront to their cuisine and culture. But now realised I have an erroneous stereotype in mind.

Oh dear. He’s woken up and smelt the sulphur.

"Humans eventually deported me."

"British voters divided over immigration as Reform UK soars in the polls" Nigel Farage and his right-wing populist party, Reform UK, are soaring in the polls - and Farage, despite recent allegations of racism, is favourite to become the next Prime Minister. www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/...

Nigel Farage accused of ‘persistent’ racial abuse by ex-schoolmate who rejects claims it was ‘banter’ Reform UK leader accused by former classmate, Peter Ettedgui, of growling ‘Hitler was right’ and hissing ‘gas them’ while they attended Dulwich College. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

"Rescue efforts end at Hong Kong tower block fire as death toll reaches 128" Just horrifying to imagine it was for those caught up in this disaster and 200 are still unaccounted for. Possibly external insulation added in 2024 could have caused the fire* www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...