AFCON, often intriguing, always important, has given us a timely reminder of one of the great anti-imperialists, Patrice Lumumba. This weekend's Morning Star column.

how wonderful that he should be found at home, immersed to his lips for life in those Arctic waters!

Four of the top five averages posted at this year's World Darts Championship are from Luke Littler and Gian van Veen. Littler has had an average of over 100 in all but one of his five matches.

Not sure anyone still does this but here are five pieces I particularly enjoyed working on in 2025. First, with Bodø/Glimt exploring the traditions that underpin an astonishing tale: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Throughout their win vs Botswana at AFCON, a DR Congo supporter replicated the stance of Patrice Lumumba, a key figure in African and Congolese independence who was assassinated in 1961 following a joint plot between political opponents, Belgium, the US, and UK 🇨🇩

🤖 image processing for #JWST 🔭 data (MACSJ0553-3342). RGB Filters: 444, 356, 277 PI: Fujimoto, Seiji, program 06882. CRVAL: 88.324482, -33.704229 Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.

Who knows what day it is? But what I DO know is you have about a week left of the @northodoxpress.bsky.social Xmas #sale! So, if you DIDN'T get that book-shaped present you wanted, maybe now is the time to treat yourself? I can recommend retro #SciFi #ShortStories "A Short History of the Future"!

Today’s Daily Cartoon, by P. C. Vey. #NewYorkerCartoons

The length Trump has gone to cover this Epstein mess is certainly worthy of impeachment. Now we need to stay vigilant and watch for files being scrubbed, destroyed, disappeared, you name it - and they will refuse to release some files under the phony guise of their federal "investigation."

AFCON flag of the day: Zambia. Official info- "Green represents the nation’s agriculture and flora, red the struggle for freedom, black the Zambian people and all black Africans, and orange for copper and natural resources. The eagle represents the people’s ability to rise above problems."

Today's AFCON flag of the day: Equatorial Guinea. Features the country's coat of arms, which bears the motto "Unity, Peace, Justice" plus a silk cotton tree and six stars representing the five islands and the mainland.

Luke Littler with an average of 107 and 71% on doubles vs Mensur Suljovic #darts

May we all follow in Gary’s footsteps. 🖋️ Benjamin Schwartz, from 2021 #NewYorkerCartoons

A cartoon by Niall Maher, from 2024. #NewYorkerCartoons

Deer urine glows under ultraviolet light and may pop out of the dark like highway reflectors for other deer.

Interview in Italy with Carlos Cuesta, the 30 y/o Parma head coach & Arteta confidant. He has a fascinating story. On percolating ambitions in mum's coffee shop, climbing the ladder via social media, the empathy in young managers & toughest decision of his life: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The permanent constitutional condition of the manufactured man, thought Ahab, is sordidness.

'I like writing about women making terrible decisions' Novelist @cdelull.bsky.social is on the final episode of Northern Voices for 2025 talking about writing bisexuality, her book Cacoethes and sassy, female-led fiction. on.soundcloud.com/GkbhsBZagkm5...

Well, we've dusted the abacus down and used all our fingers and toes and can announce that: We've had the best sales year ever with Q4 blowing the bloody doors off. Many thanks to all our authors, readers booksellers and librarians. Bloody magic. @thebookseller.com

🚨COVER REVEAL🚨 We're ecstatic to share the cover for Rose and Renzo, the incredible new novel from Carolyn O'Brien! Coming In May, this hugely engrossing historical novel set in 1930s Manchester can be preordered with 25% off with the code NORTHODOXMAS share.google/D0VQroTwcx3e...

VICTOIRE

A little panorama at sunset last night up on E. Camino Cielo, 4000 feet above Santa Barbara. #panophotos #Pano #Panorama #Sunset #LaCumbrePeak #SantaBarbara #Photography

Bark spiders are some of nature’s best engineers. They spin webs that stretch across entire rivers in Madagascar; their silk is stronger than steel—and the toughest on Earth. But only females craft the mightiest webs, according to a new study. https://scim.ag/4pmXX8B

If y’all even knew how much Norman Rockwell agonized over this picture. Even getting the jacket just right.

Our Christmas sale is still going and all orders are 25% off with the code NORTHODOXMAS! Are you a fan of Stephen King's Mr Mercedes? Then you you need to check out Malcolm Havard's Manchester set Honey Talker series! Order book 1 here: share.google/tkmlAdhPoQ1P...

Honoured to see The Executioner's Blade on Womble's festive recommendations list. If you're tempted by a "hugely refreshing and inventive story" (Womble's words, not mine), you can get 25% off with the code NORTHODOXMAS at @northodoxpress.bsky.social checkout. www.northodox.co.uk/product-page...