Some brilliant pics by @tomjenkinspix.bsky.social showing the difference between taking a photo of something and taking a photo *of* something #WRWC2025 #RUGBY #RWC2025

This is, of course, absolutely false. @fullfact.org

A well worthwhile use of half an hour a week.

Might be of interest to @swilkenkc.bsky.social

The Bedale (North Yorkshire) hoard of 9th Century Viking silver contained a substantial component of silver originally minted in Baghdad, Tehran and Isfahan. Fascinating read by ‪@jk-viking.bsky.social‬ theconversation.com/vikings-were...

For anyone interested in the HMO/asylum political dynamic (as opposed to the hotels) it came through loud and clear in County Durham during the local elections on.ft.com/4lzwjml

So sayeth the resident of Dubai.

Dutch uncle time: if the UK ever wants to become pro-European, apply, go through A49, join, and become European again, i. Ditch the Extrawurst Großbritannien attitude, and ii. Stop listening to anti-European charlatans Ends

A child at Alder Hey hospital has died of measles. The tragic death came less than a week after medical officials at the children’s hospital warned that cases of the virus were on the rise, severely endangering the health of some of those affected. 🧵 www.alderhey.nhs.uk/... 1/10

The story of John Smythe is a great one, but this item misses his role as senior official on a captured German ship that was taking people home to the W Indies. He was asked if the ship could take ppl back to the UK to find work. The name of the ship? Empire Windrush. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's grim up north.....

Mad fact, courtesy of Marty Morrissey on RTÉ: 1951: British Open held at Portrush, Tipperary All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2019: British Open held at Portrush, Tipperary All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2025: British Open held at Portrush, Tipperary All-Ireland Hurling Champions #speirgorm #hurling

Important stuff if you're born between 1970 and 1990. Also, for those of us born before 1970, and have not had measles, mumps or rubella (german measles) or their vaccines, you can ask your GP surgery for the MMR vaccine.

Another - not large - eruption from the Sundhnúksgígar fissure system near Grindavik 🇮🇸. You have to say the quality and quantity of information given to Icelanders is impressive. Where else can you get air quality data updated every 10 mins? #Iceland #Grindavík #Volcano

So it begins! Durham's biggest day of the year! #thebigmeeting #durhamminersgala

30 yr on from the Srebrenica genocide. Now, Republika Srpska runs the local police and flies Serb flags across the region. Its leaders do not just deny the genocide, they glorify the killers. The remains of those killed continue to be identified and buried www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

You have to say, the breadth and sheer pointlessness of Private Members Bills is incredible. The Letter Boxes (Positioning) Bill. To require letter boxes in new buildings and new front doors to be positioned in accordance with Standard BS EN 13724:2013.

Russian finds out that which side of a line you are on that everyone agrees on is important. #SlavaUkraine www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...

Earlier this week I rewatched the Laurence Rees outstanding The Nazis: A Warning from History on iPlayer. Don't know what it was about this post that made me think of that...

"...knowing Freddie as I did, I knew they’d really make a show of it." Oh they did. They really did....

Excellent thread on the Torrey Canyon and the frankly bizarre set of circumstances studying its brief moment of infamy. At the time I relied on Blue Peter to explain the whole thing, and it didn't make sense then either.

This is bad news for The King.

If anyone wants a perfect example of "lawyers aren't their clients" I offer Paul Tweed, Belfast solicitor. He has recently represented Gerry Adams, and not long ago represented Ian Paisley.

What’s Kerch bridge doing? 🙂

48 years ago today The BBC announced a ban on the new Sex Pistols single 'God Save The Queen' saying it's, "in gross bad taste". #punk #punks #punkrock #GodSaveTheQueen #sexpistols #history #punkrockhistory

CPR training is on the curriculum, but many students are still missing out.The government needs to implement systems that ensure every student actually receives this vital training. I've just signed Resuscitation Council UK's CPR in schools petition! Will you? action.resus.org.uk/cpr-in-schoo...

@neheritagelib.bsky.social .... If you're interested....

In the early hours of this morning in 1943 (16/17 May), 133 brave airmen from RAF 617 Sqn launched the legendary #Dambusters Raid. Flying low with bouncing bombs, they breached enemy dams—but 53 never returned. 💔 Their courage echoes through history. 🕊️ Lest we forget. #WWII #RAF617 #OTD ✈️🌊

As someone who in the course of my professional career was spat at, had blood thrown on them, punched, kicked, headbutted, attacked with a bottle, scaffolding pole, sharp implement and a syringe or two, I endorse this message.

One of my great memories of doing this as a lad. Starting at midnight in the moors, past the (then) golfballs of Fylingdales and ending at the coast in the afternoon. www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...

Great Arte interview with @fromtga.bsky.social on Europe / Ukraine / US, where we are, how we got there and where we might go. In English, German subtitles. www.arte.tv/de/videos/12...

In your work life / career you get three magic bullets. Use them wisely.

I'm sure she did!!!

5 May 1949: Europe said never again. The Council of Europe was born – to defend human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Watch the video & hear Ernest Bevin’s powerful opening words. Happy Birthday, Council of Europe. Let’s keep moving forward.

Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender was signed at 2.41am on 7 May in a school in Reims, France, where the Allied High Command resided. Wim Wenders explores the place that, for one night 80 years ago, became the centre of the world. The Keys to Freedom – A Wim Wenders film youtu.be/slcNOnogtps

The Armed Forces of Ukraine will join a spectacular procession to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe. Their involvement reminds us that Ukraine is now at freedom’s front line. Veterans will be at the heart of the events, watching the parade from Buckingham Palace. #VEDay80

At the same site from 1907 - Dawdon Colliery, accompanied by some incredible shots by @andyeprr.bsky.social 's father Des from 1990. The Dawdon pit pinched its name from Dawdon Hill Farm which stood close to the site near the Chemical Works, predating this place by some time.

A (County Durham born) fascinating woman.

Agree with all of this.

#OTD in 1915, the 2nd Battle of Ypres began. It saw the first use of asphyxiating gas on the Western Front. This animation show how the battle developed. #history #WW1 2nd Battle of Ypres Animated Map youtube.com/shorts/0OGTC...

#OTD 110 yr ago, my grandfather Joe, with his mates in the 8th Durham Light Infantry, went into combat for the first time. It was in the immediate aftermath of the first major use of chemical weapons in the Great War.

I'm not saying that Vance has angered God, but if he offers to pray for you, it might be best to politely decline

As Northumbrians we can start a fight over anything.

You line up for the parents race at school. Everything looks good. You're ready for this. Then you remember that one of the children in your child's class has the name "Fraser-Pryce"... www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Every police officer in the UK looking at their summer holiday booked in September with increasing levels of glumness

That's some pretty specialist White Van graffiti...

#OnThisDay Heute vor 80 Jahren, am 11. April 1945, wurde das Konzentrationslager Buchenwald von US-amerikanischen Soldaten befreit. Das bereits im Juli 1937 errichtete „KZ Buchenwald“ war eines der größten Konzentrationslager Deutschlands. 🧵

Threads is just so good, I fear what "updating it" will look like....

2. There's the silly: after being mocked for setting tariffs to trade deficit / exports, the White House retorted that they didn't do that at all – they used this fancy formula. 

How convenient that the two fitted parameters, ε=4 and φ=0.25 multiply to 1, leaving...yes, trade deficit / exports.

What we all need right now. Owlkitty is back... youtu.be/4tc6h2RGGWM?...