The US has launched an unprovoked and illegal attack on Venezuela. This is a brazen attempt to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources. It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk, and should be condemned by anyone who believes in sovereignty & international law.

Way too angry to sleep.

Good morning to all the "I voted for Trump because I wanted America out of all those wars abroad" people.

Three million people live in Caracas, five million in the metro area. It's one of the densest cities in South America. Remember this in the morning when they try to spin this as anything other than a cold-blooded attack on a major civilian center.

They just really fucking love war don't they. A pathological obsession with slaughtering innocent people. Just obsessed with it. Horrible, horrible bastards.

Starting the year with the big questions: I reckon this is the longest distance I've ever seen on a road sign - what about you?

All change on the Beijing Subway - one new line, two lines(ish) became one, & the easternmost line just got even more eastern! Let's go & check 'em out! 🧵

If AUS PM @albomp.bsky.social wanted to know what's happening in Gaza, the West Bank & East Jerusalem, he could've invited UN Special Rapporteur @franceskalbs.bsky.social to visit the Lodge. Instead he invites Israeli President Herzog, who signed bombs to be dropped on Gaza. 😠 #auspol #FreePalestine

All change on the Beijing Subway - one new line, two lines(ish) became one, & the easternmost line just got even more eastern! Let's go & check 'em out! 🧵

Seeing out 2025 with a celebration of Chinese alcohol. Wine from Ningxia, Whisky from Fujian. The cheese, though, remains European. I'm hoping that that soon follows coffee, craft beer et al in becoming popular, trendy, & great quality, but made locally. 2026 maybe?

Six years ago today, the world lost a beacon of justice & charity. Someone committed in every sense to making life a little better for those who needed it. & the person who is, without a doubt, to thank for where I am in life & what I've done in it. youtu.be/BIYT6QNL1zI?...

A pair of gifts from a narrowboat in Cheshire, opened here - early - in Fengtai, Beijing (because we'll be in Thailand on the big day)

It can be a little annoying to find yourself in the furthest carriage of a 16 car train. But at Beijing North, at least, it does have that benefit of meaning you can get a good look at the old station building (back when it was called Xizhimen)

My upstairs neighbour – who I am yet to meet – regularly plays the piano. And they are very good! Right now, they're playing a very beautiful version of Angels We have Heard on High. If I ever meet them, I'll make sureI tell them that I like their playing. It's getting me through my endless work.

Do me a favor - if you read this, check in with someone you love & care for that you haven't spoken to for a while. Just say hi, let 'em know you love them. They might need it. They might not. No harm either way, eh?

While it's the 'Victims to Communism' memorial in the news right now, it's worth noting that there's enough Nazi memorials in Canada to justify an entire Wikipedia page. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoria...

Bumped into two young businessmen (about 12yrs old) selling some little trinkets on Wudaoying for some pocket money. Possibly the worlds worst businessmen - started haggling the price down when we already paying. We paid full price anyway - 20rmb for this stocking of gifts 😁

Always found it so disappointing that in the mid-00s Liverpool guitar scene so saturated with talent, it was the - lets be honest - pretty bland Wombats that made the biggest splash. Especially with the likes of Seal Cub Cubbing Club & Hot Club de Paris around. youtu.be/tTg1LOEW9G0?...

MS-13 gang members told Hondurans to vote for the Trump-backed right-wing candidate or “we’ll kill you and your whole fucking family.”

driving that panda, no fiat

Mr Wang’s family lived on the old Chinese railways for generations — great-grandfather on Jing-Zhang, grandfather on Jing-Han. Good pay, coal for winter, steady lives. He studied at Fulún, worked in Fengtai Station, then after Beiping’s liberation 1949 left the tracks to serve in the new government.

Betacross Tracks of 2025: 100 - 76 🧵

Betacross Tracks of 2025: 100 - 76 🧵

Often the hardest part of putting together my 100 tracks of the year list is not deciding on which song goes were, but on choosing which to cut form the longlist. This year, that longlist was 141 songs long. He's the 41 that just missed out. Consider them honorable mentions 🧵

Plans for a record-breaking £1.6bn investment in Liverpool City Region’s public transport, including new railway stations, rapid transit links and smart ticketing across the entire network, have been revealed. 🏙️ READ MORE: tinyurl.com/38yynbe4

Often the hardest part of putting together my 100 tracks of the year list is not deciding on which song goes were, but on choosing which to cut form the longlist. This year, that longlist was 141 songs long. He's the 41 that just missed out. Consider them honorable mentions 🧵

For decades, sustainable & responsible cities haven’t just been possible — they’ve been common sense, logical, ridiculously obvious! And yet we’ve failed to act. A better future through better cities is STILL possible with real leadership at every level. #ActionStartsHere @mayors4climate.bsky.social

got scranned

Can I get in early here to say - ignore the joy thieves that moan about you sharing your Spotify Wrapped. I love it. Look forward to seeing everyone's each year. A little window into their day to day life - the stuff that soundtracks their ordinary. Share & share away!

I'm a big fan of infrastructure. I'll often plan entire days, entire trips around it. But I don't really understand the intricacies. How it works, how it's built. How it changes, & changes things. Which means much of my spare time is just spent looking at big things and thinking 'wow, cool!'

Recently put together my '50 Tracks of the First Half of the Decade'. Was hoping to share them as little clips like I usually do so you could sample each song before listening, but that no longer seems to work. What a pity. But anyway - here's the list! 🧵

👉NEW -- British military trained in Israel amid Gaza genocide by John McEvoy Exclusive: Armed forces personnel have ‘studied on educational staff courses’ since October 2023, Ministry of Defence discloses

We were due to visit Japan for Christmas. Had started weighing up our options with the current geopolitical tension. I thank the Ambassador for making our decision for us by making it about lazy stereotypes of people no way involved. Absolutely no desire to visit now.

China's electrification transition is dramatic, and leaving us in the dust. So much for LNG-powered trucks! China and soon India are leapfrogging to the new. And our leaders pushing LNG and retreating on ZEVs look sad & vision-less in comparison. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/19/n...

Dan, RIP Mani. A member of two of the most iconic bands of all time. That's not bad going! Some next level bass lines that man gave the world, & for that we must be forever grateful. youtu.be/E86gWQs-ios?...

Truly a dark stain on the history of my hometown. So tragic, for Peter, & for Diane's family

“to use children as a weapon, as the home secretary is doing, is I think a shabby thing. I’m lost for words, frankly” Lord Dubs www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour...

Anyway since we're on China commentators, I also found out Drew Pavlou added his own picture to his Wikipedia page, which is quite funny isn't it?

Just found out that not only is China journo Melissa Chen married to former Mumford & Sons banjo player turned right wing commentator Winston Aubrey Aladar deBalkan Marshall, but that Mr Aubrey Aladar deBalkan Marshall is also the son of the owner of the Spectator! (both his & Chen's employer)

The new £26m Mersey Ferry took to the river for the first time in an historic moment for the Liverpool City Region. ⛴️ READ MORE: tinyurl.com/ms5z3c

If someone else tells a joke badly, you should immediately tell it again - properly - in their proximity. It's called the comedians code.

A good friend to many of the moral arbiters of the China Twitter space 👇🏻

Surely that would be uncomfortable for both

A tragic, moving, & important long read in the Guardian today that I really do think you should read, for Craig & the many Craigs in your hometown and every town. But also for the Pams, Stevens, Johns, Jodies, & Taras. & you, too - you can make a difference. www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...

Night kites over the business district

A beautiful performance by the NCPA Orchestra & Beijing Philharmonic Choir performing 炎黄风情 at the sleek & smooth National Center for Performing Arts. My first time inside, & my first full orchestra performance!

In typical British fashion, we've finally decided to jump on the Pasokification trend, a decade after it was cool.