After Euro ultimatum in Kyiv today, Putin's going to do a surprise video address at midnight Moscow time (in 45 mins). Is he going to agree to ceasefire? Would be big surprise for him to cave under ultimatum... Double down? Go on a random history rant? Feels quite unpredictable.

Implement a 100% tariff and ruin a movie. The Second Last Samurai

A beautiful evening on the coast of Hoy. Just me and the Old Man, as the Scrabster-Stromness ferry passes below. #Scotland #Hillwalking #Orkney #Hoy #Sea #Coast #Walking

Superb 3 day trip from Strathfarrar to Strathcarron. Non-stop blue skies (it's what they all flock to Scotland for 😉)

Dragged the eldest over to Hoy for the day. Weather wasn't quite what was forecast with near constant clag and a biting wind, so we cut the route shorter than planned. She never complained once 😊 #hillwalking #Scotland #Hoy #Orkney

Absolutely gutted to learn that David Heavy Whalley has passed. A true hero who wanted nothing more than to help people. Mountain rescue owes him a debt of gratitude, as does the country, for his service at Lockerbie. Rest in peace Heavy. Xxx www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/heavy-w...

This is an amazing series of videos on YouTube put together by an ex-officer in the Finnish military discussing European capability going forward. I think there are four in total, one for each type of armament but this is the first... youtu.be/8ThNMEwLF7s?...

You can help Ukraine by donating to the Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal. www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukrai...

I’ll be speaking at this rally tomorrow. ✊🇺🇦 If you’re anywhere near London - come along! Let’s make some real noise!!

Tom Tugendhat appears to be doing a live contribution to @channel4news.bsky.social lying on his floor.

Memorials to Alexei Navalny, murdered a year ago by Putin's regime, will be held around the world tomorrow. Ireland's is at Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, 1pm, at the Memorial to Human Rights Defenders. All cities listed here docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Have written about JD Vance’s Munich speech. In what may prove to be the biggest week for European security since 1991, it’s time Europe listened to what Trump and his Vice President are telling us. open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...

TikTok repeatedly takes down a post promoting a Holocaust reading list, because it <checks notes> '...promotes hate...' What? Towards Nazis!?

Timely reminder

Local boys Saltfishforty sounding brilliant on @cerysmatthews.bsky.social programme this morning. Hope it makes up some way for disappointment of The Chair's storm-cancelled bug gig at Barras on Friday night. #CelticConnections #BBC6Music #Folk

Make a band meatier. Black Pudding Sabbath

This is a superb piece. The Shatner /Bezos scene is beautifully drawn and depressingly insightful...

Gorgeous afternoon out in Scapa Flow yesterday. All change in coming days though.

Brilliant weekend back in Glasgow. 25 years after our last gig together we were back for an afternoon of playing together in Jinty's. So many faces I hadn't seen for a quarter century. Fantastic!

Elon Musk has had a lot to say about the grooming gangs scandal. We looked at 24 hours on Musk's X timeline and found a range of false and misleading information being amplified. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

A quick blast on a short afternoon in Scapa Flow.

Word of the day is ‘pavonise’ (19th century): to strut about like a peacock, all puffed up with conceit.

If you want to know what's at stake when dominant social media platforms don't just allow the spread of hate speech and disinformation but actively promote it, ask the Rohingya

NEW: Andrew Norfolk broke the grooming gang story, 15 years ago. His exclusive interview on today’s News Agents is deeply powerful, not least for his anger about those political figures now exploiting it and the victims for their own purposes. Listen 👇 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Well that's my Instagram and Threads accounts deleted. Facebook slightly more complicated due to work commitments, but hopefully get shot of that soon too. What an absolute shower!

Somehow can't really imagine Trump doing this?

Today, in Orkney, we fought over a log through the streets of Stromness (we don't have many trees here, to be fair). Tomorrow we'll do battle over a small leather ball in the streets and lanes of Kirkwall. We do things differently here 😜 Have a great Hogmanay, whatever you're up to.

Missing Orkney's long summer evenings. Not long now though 😉

A brief hint of sunlight at the start of the shortest day here in Orkney. (Sunrise 0903, sunset 1518) Gives no sense of the severe gale force winds - now storm force and no sign of the sun.

Just discovered that #FingerPostFriday is a thing. My week has been made! Here's one from recent trip through Glen Affric

One of the things I always look forward to most at Christmas #MountainBothiesAssociation

So, apparently it's #InternationalMountainDay today. Magic! These days I'm as likely to potter around 'among' mountains as on top of them. Here's one of my favourite spots from recent years.

Sitting at my desk with freezing cold feet, remembering the hottest day of the year back in 2023. Maximum hill points to anyone who can name the peak I'm on 😉

First time going onto Adobe Stock to look for footage in a long while. My goodness you definitely need to tick this option now.

Had a fabulous 3 days walking the Affric Kintail Way last weekend. What a brilliant route, with three very distinct characters.