Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
It’s interesting to me how most Arab governments don’t actually give a toss about Israel, even if the masses think differently.
Looks like Iran is spraying missiles all over. Regional war it is. Iran now fucked utterly
Incredible how quickly our PB armchair generals are able to brush off their chesterfields pull down their maps and keep us informed with such precise and detailed insights.
I detest the phrase 'armchair general'. I think we can all know it is meant to deployed against those pretending expert and genuine insight into military and geopolitical matters from a comfy and ignorant place, but it invariably ends up being thrown about by anyone commenting with a contrary view to their target, to act as though commentary on a major global event is unreasonable unless one is an expert, or to treat even circulating media reporting conclusions as though pretending top level insight. Or you get children who think commenting on an event, with such information as is available, should be countered by suggesting peopel should be going to the front lines or something. Plus a lot of the time someone who might be more knowledgeable of a subject in general (maybe they were in the military) would not based on that experience know anything more about top level assessment and delivery.
It long ago lost it's use as a genuine criticism in most instances through overuse, since almost nobody on earth is an expert on, say, military strategising in the middle east, so is everyone always meant to be silent?
Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
It’s interesting to me how most Arab governments don’t actually give a toss about Israel, even if the masses think differently.
More pragmatic perhaps, plus it's more awkward for them to actually deal with Israel and its allies than the man on the street for whom it is all much simpler.
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
We did something similar; no shops built into the wall where we were. Amazing views.
We also visited the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors, near Xi'an. Fascinating.
Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
It’s interesting to me how most Arab governments don’t actually give a toss about Israel, even if the masses think differently.
Not sure how this will bring about regime change ?
Most people would celebrate if that did happen but it’s not just one branch that needs to pull the plug for the regime to fall.
Well Trump has warned about likely US casualties so maybe they will do limited boots on ground to assassinate key figures
I can’t see boots on the ground . And Iran has several branches of hideousness, not just the army but revolutionary guard who won’t be into regime change .
Trump doesn’t want boots on the ground, because he knows that ends up with coffins draped in American flags coming back.
He’ll happily rain Hell down from stealth bombers at 50,000 ft, because that’s of little actual risk to those who serve. Iranian air defences are all old Russian kit, useless against today’s airbourne threats.
I still don’t see how this leads to toppling the regime . And Trump telling Iranians to take their chance , how does this happen . Unless the army side with the protesters it’s going to see thousands more deaths .
I think it's abundantly clear that neither he nor Netanyahu seriously expect the regime to fall. They've got their excuses in early by pinning the failure on the Iranian people. They just want to destroy a load of stuff and possibly ensure that someone more compliant from the current regime comes to power and does a better deal.
Let's wait and see
You're probably right but yielding immediately to total pessimism is a bit premature. Maybe Trump actually does have a plan to take out the Ayatollahs. We are allowed a shred of hope
My hope is more with the Iranian people. Regardless of what Trump is aiming to achieve events may not develop as he intends.
I dunno
Who would have guessed that Trump could and WOULD successfully go into Venezuela and exfiltrate Maduro, to a New York jail, without losing a single Yankee life. It was a superb operation
Maybe they have something planned here, alongside the Israelis (who also have a deserved reputation for great military cunning and skill). It is not beyond plausible
I detest Trump but if he can do this, I would probably forgive him everything. It's a bit like that time it was revealed Ed Stewpot Stewart wrote Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, which never actually happend, but when it did, it was confusing, because it never happened
I agree with your sentiment but the whole point of Venezuela was to leave the current regime in place to avoid the need for any more costly military and peace keeping operations. If the same thing happens in Iran then the regime you hate will keep carrying on.
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
China is surprisingly relaxed, at least judging by my two days in Shanghai
I was expecting the post-Covid surveillance state, yet it was quicker and easier to clear customs and passport than most countries, and everything since has been a doddle, with mimimum sense of being observed
Indeed, due to the lack of crime and urban menace, it feels considerably more relaxed than quite a few western countries. Sadly
Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
Someone who understands the region. As rare as the harlequin toad
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
China is surprisingly relaxed, at least judging by my two days in Shanghai
I was expecting the post-Covid surveillance state, yet it was quicker and easier to clear customs and passport than most countries, and everything since has been a doddle, with mimimum sense of being observed
Indeed, due to the lack of crime and urban menace, it feels considerably more relaxed than quite a few western countries. Sadly
That’s because you’re a Western visitor, and not a Chinese national.
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
China is surprisingly relaxed, at least judging by my two days in Shanghai
I was expecting the post-Covid surveillance state, yet it was quicker and easier to clear customs and passport than most countries, and everything since has been a doddle, with mimimum sense of being observed
Indeed, due to the lack of crime and urban menace, it feels considerably more relaxed than quite a few western countries. Sadly
The electric bicycles all over the pavements worried us a bit.
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
China is surprisingly relaxed, at least judging by my two days in Shanghai
I was expecting the post-Covid surveillance state, yet it was quicker and easier to clear customs and passport than most countries, and everything since has been a doddle, with mimimum sense of being observed
Indeed, due to the lack of crime and urban menace, it feels considerably more relaxed than quite a few western countries. Sadly
That’s because you’re a Western visitor, and not a Chinese national.
Fair point
Tho again the locals don't seem particularly stressed. Shanghai feels like it always feels - big, amiable, brash, grand, greedy, shiny, only even richer than before
I accept this is the tinest anecdotal report from one weekend in one city
One thing I can say for sure, is that there is far less mask wearing here than in Taiwan
Vivid.🇮🇱 @VividProwess Israel is striking Iran. I am typing these words from inside the bomb shelter. We had sirens warning us that we should be on high alert and be ready for missiles coming our way. It can happen very soon. Pray for Israel. Pray for the people of Iran. God is with us. 6:22 am · 28 Feb 2026 · 575.5K
Hapoy Birthday Big G - but, if you are celebrating your 82nd birthday today - might your actual d.o.b be 29th Feb? In which case you are really still 20 and the youngest on the board?
Yes - very much so
If that's true (I can't tell) that makes you a "leapling", which is a 1 in 1500 person. Ish.
Iran is relatively defenceless in part because it cannot call on Russian support. Just like Venezuela. Any chance of Trump showing Ukraine some gratitude?
As a side issue what is going on with Starlink? The Russians have clearly been set back with its loss but why has it been denied and why now? Musk personally? We live in a remarkably incurious age. I'm a staunch pessimist on Trump/Putin but if the former can be convinced that his best chance of continuing the grift runs through Kyiv then he might just switch sympathies.
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
Riding on the Shanghai MagLev in 2005 was quite an expeience, even though it only lasts about 5 minutes.
Watching the cricket world cup is depressing, because even for T20 apparently next to nobody shows up to the games even with big teams judging by row after row of empty seats.
Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
Hmm, plausible
It’s been tried many times - first I can think of was Saddam Hussein flipping Scud (and derivative) missiles at his neighbours and Israel during the first Gulf War.
The response then and after (and probably now) is to shoot down as many of the missiles as possible, and the US goes after the launch sites.
Israel has stayed out of the retaliation (generally).
Trump had launched a new war Epstein, which is entirely justified Epstein, because Iran was an imminent threat Epstein. Thousands will die Epstein, and millions will be displaced Epstein, leading to global instability Epstein.
But at least we're not talking about him cheating at golf.
Target set is indicative of a strike to topple the regime. But in both Trump and Netanyahu framing, they're careful to say that they believe this is a task for the Iranian people. Allows some distance if the strikes fail to dislodge the regiume.
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
China is surprisingly relaxed, at least judging by my two days in Shanghai
I was expecting the post-Covid surveillance state, yet it was quicker and easier to clear customs and passport than most countries, and everything since has been a doddle, with mimimum sense of being observed
Indeed, due to the lack of crime and urban menace, it feels considerably more relaxed than quite a few western countries. Sadly
I went in by train, back in 2008, to watch the Olympics.
As we crossed the border the train stopped and we had a very nice relaxed chat with the border guard in our train compartment, as he casually looked through our rather abstruse reading material (both I and my travelling companion were recent philosophy graduates at the time).
What was a little less relaxed was the second border guard, subtly but still noticeably blocking the only exit to the compartment. I suspect if our chat had gone differently, or if our reading material had not met approval, the atmosphere would have changed rather suddenly.
Predictable response to events in Iran but overall impact on trade should hopefully be somewhat limited given Red Sea route shipping still hadn’t fully resumed
Houthis released a video of past shipping attacks last month and many in the freight business wondered why…
Iranian state TV apparently said political and industrial figures were targetted in the attack. You come for Isumbard Kingdom Brunel you better not miss
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
I thought that much / most of old Beijing had simply been demolished and built on, especially those areas known as hutongs. I've been listening to news reports about it since the 1990s.
Iran is relatively defenceless in part because it cannot call on Russian support. Just like Venezuela. Any chance of Trump showing Ukraine some gratitude?
As a side issue what is going on with Starlink? The Russians have clearly been set back with its loss but why has it been denied and why now? Musk personally? We live in a remarkably incurious age. I'm a staunch pessimist on Trump/Putin but if the former can be convinced that his best chance of continuing the grift runs through Kyiv then he might just switch sympathies.
DJT obviously told him to do it in order make the Russians more agreement capable. Musk wants to be rehabilitated in Magastan and isn't haunted by the racial demographics of Russia in the same way he is about other Western European countries so he doesn't really give a fuck about them.
Target set is indicative of a strike to topple the regime. But in both Trump and Netanyahu framing, they're careful to say that they believe this is a task for the Iranian people. Allows some distance if the strikes fail to dislodge the regiume.
The Trump and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran have finally begun. Though yes Trump is saying it is up to the Iranian people themselves to replace the regime, if the student protests come out en masse again and with the strikes fatally weaken the regime presumably he will then try and install Pahlavi in his place
Has our PM pronounced yet? Or is he busy shredding Mandelson documents
Australia announces support for US Israel action
UK offering military support to protect our interests though did not take part in present operations
Has the UK moved its missile into position?
We've asked Mauritius for permission to.
Only fair. Reuters reporting we’ve relocated our dingy, HMS Mandela, transporting our missile, to Iceland. In case the Iranians try and sneak past us via the North Pole.
I think Labour’s fundamental policy platform (aside from their total disinterest in planning) is fine it’s just been poorly communicated.
A better leader might be able to sell the policies better. But I’d not want a fundamental change in approach.
Very very true.
The time when communicating it proerly has slipped by but what we will now start to see is many plans, projects begin th have REAL impact and then it starts to become self communicating.
A slight 20 degree shift to the left as i proposed yesterday would optimise the benefits and bring about speedier and more relevant change, not a knee jerk left turm, more a gentle bend in the road.
The benefit of being in Government and being the only Party able to make change really can start to pay off now.
The Greens to out left are too extreme in many policy issues, Labour really need to tap in to the Social Care concerns of Davey, to the right Reform and various derivatives are also too extreme and Tories have very little new Policy to offer, what they offer is ill conceived and not budgeted and invariably it is Reform like and dangerously similar.
Leadership change when it comes (not if) has to optimise the opportunity. My guess is that it may now by in June / July as opposed to the Autumn. The Tories though I suspect will be first to blink.
Labours policy is to tax people and business to unsustainable levels. We may have to.pay but Labour will be screwed come the election Getting more money on benefits that working is unsustainable . Taxing business is increasing costs and results in price increases and loss of jobs.
Don't forget this absolutely crackers MTD (Making Tax Digital) nonsense inflicted on the self-employed (I think landlords as well). A pointless waste of time for the sake of bureaucracy and enriching the third party private sector firms necessary, because for some bloody reason it's not possible to submit the pointless quarterly information to HMRC directly.
It includes anyone who has income not from employment above the relevant threshold.
It can be got round to some extent by registering a limited company.
Indeed, but “to some extent” means annual returns not quarterly - you still have to use (and pay for) third party software to submit those returns. HMRC are literally turning off their in-house software that allowed you to do it fairly easy online.
In other words, the Government now requires you to pay for the privilege of giving them money.
Trump just turned off the US equivalent (after lobbying by tax accountants) which helped individuals submit a tax return.
Is AI not going to help you ? Surely by next year you should be able to vibe code you own ap ? (That was addressed to @Leon )
"Kemi Badenoch repeats her call for social media ban on under-16s She has repeated her calls for a ban on social media for children - and says she has personal experience of the harm the internet can do."
Looks like Iran is spraying missiles all over. Regional war it is. Iran now fucked utterly
Incredible how quickly our PB armchair generals are able to brush off their chesterfields pull down their maps and keep us informed with such precise and detailed insights.
I detest the phrase 'armchair general'. I think we can all know it is meant to deployed against those pretending expert and genuine insight into military and geopolitical matters from a comfy and ignorant place, but it invariably ends up being thrown about by anyone commenting with a contrary view to their target, to act as though commentary on a major global event is unreasonable unless one is an expert, or to treat even circulating media reporting conclusions as though pretending top level insight. Or you get children who think commenting on an event, with such information as is available, should be countered by suggesting peopel should be going to the front lines or something. Plus a lot of the time someone who might be more knowledgeable of a subject in general (maybe they were in the military) would not based on that experience know anything more about top level assessment and delivery.
It long ago lost it's use as a genuine criticism in most instances through overuse, since almost nobody on earth is an expert on, say, military strategising in the middle east, so is everyone always meant to be silent?
That would work for me, if world leaders accepted the same stricture.
That is one place I've always wanted to visit, mainly because of its colonial history. I'd be interested to hear what you make of it.
I'm only here one more night!
But I've been before several times. It's a great city, probably my favourite in China, even including Hong Kong
It has sass, spice and that splendid new skyline. The food can be great, the people are noisy and pushy - but easygoing. Live and let live. It is exceptionally safe and clean, almost like Tokyo, and the colonial architecture gives it a Victorian grandeur absent elsewhere in east Asia
The French concession and the old British side streets are often exquisitely charming - European urbanism given Chinese vibes
Downsides: it's numbingly big, can be rainy and humid, there's not much DEEP history - unlike Beijing or Xian etc
Everyone should come once in a lifetime, and right now is pretty much perfect. As I mentioned last night, for a variety of confluent reasons China is insanely cheap right now. My SUITE at the Radisson Blu 5 star - in a perfect location - is costing me £70. Less than a Premier Inn near Newent. And this is true right across China. Come now!
Thanks. My wife wants to do a China trip in September. You've helped persuade me.
Do Beijing as well, and get the amazing high speed trains between! The history in Beijing is stupendous, the summer and winter palaces, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby. It's just not as livable and charming as Shanghai. The streets are tediously wide, it's built for parades and tanks
If you want an interior city Chengdu is fab, alternatively Yunnan is a wild subtropical region with Tibetan mountains and proper jungles. Shenzen is futuristic and from theere you can go to Guangdong and Hong Kong. You will have an amazing holiday, and the fast trains make it super easy and cheap
When I visited Beijing it was possible (though not strictly legal) to visit one 'approved visitor centre' along the Great Wall and then walk along the wall to the next visitor centre.
We did this in the snow, with not a soul in sight. The (oh fine, I'll say it) noom on the semi-ruined winding wall rolling off into the distance with snow all around was incredible.
A very welcome contrast to the 'renovations' of the visitor centre, with shops built into the wall itself.
I'm not sure you'd get away with it these days, at least not without a guide.
I thought that much / most of old Beijing had simply been demolished and built on, especially those areas known as hutongs. I've been listening to news reports about it since the 1990s.
An example would be Da Shi Lan.
There had definitely been lots of redevelopment between my first visit (winter 2005/6 I think) and the summer of 2008. Still full of history as Leon says both times, though - the forbidden city is rightly one of the world's wonders, as well as Tiananmen square for less pleasant reasons.
I think Labour’s fundamental policy platform (aside from their total disinterest in planning) is fine it’s just been poorly communicated.
A better leader might be able to sell the policies better. But I’d not want a fundamental change in approach.
Very very true.
The time when communicating it proerly has slipped by but what we will now start to see is many plans, projects begin th have REAL impact and then it starts to become self communicating.
A slight 20 degree shift to the left as i proposed yesterday would optimise the benefits and bring about speedier and more relevant change, not a knee jerk left turm, more a gentle bend in the road.
The benefit of being in Government and being the only Party able to make change really can start to pay off now.
The Greens to out left are too extreme in many policy issues, Labour really need to tap in to the Social Care concerns of Davey, to the right Reform and various derivatives are also too extreme and Tories have very little new Policy to offer, what they offer is ill conceived and not budgeted and invariably it is Reform like and dangerously similar.
Leadership change when it comes (not if) has to optimise the opportunity. My guess is that it may now by in June / July as opposed to the Autumn. The Tories though I suspect will be first to blink.
Labours policy is to tax people and business to unsustainable levels. We may have to.pay but Labour will be screwed come the election Getting more money on benefits that working is unsustainable . Taxing business is increasing costs and results in price increases and loss of jobs.
Don't forget this absolutely crackers MTD (Making Tax Digital) nonsense inflicted on the self-employed (I think landlords as well). A pointless waste of time for the sake of bureaucracy and enriching the third party private sector firms necessary, because for some bloody reason it's not possible to submit the pointless quarterly information to HMRC directly.
It includes anyone who has income not from employment above the relevant threshold.
It can be got round to some extent by registering a limited company.
Indeed, but “to some extent” means annual returns not quarterly - you still have to use (and pay for) third party software to submit those returns. HMRC are literally turning off their in-house software that allowed you to do it fairly easy online.
In other words, the Government now requires you to pay for the privilege of giving them money.
Trump just turned off the US equivalent (after lobbying by tax accountants) which helped individuals submit a tax return.
Is AI not going to help you ? Surely by next year you should be able to vibe code you own ap ? (That was addressed to @Leon )
You have to get approval from HMRC to use their API, I think?
There are a number of projects on github but whether they have submitted for approval I don't know.
Iran is relatively defenceless in part because it cannot call on Russian support. Just like Venezuela. Any chance of Trump showing Ukraine some gratitude?
As a side issue what is going on with Starlink? The Russians have clearly been set back with its loss but why has it been denied and why now? Musk personally? We live in a remarkably incurious age. I'm a staunch pessimist on Trump/Putin but if the former can be convinced that his best chance of continuing the grift runs through Kyiv then he might just switch sympathies.
What happened with Starlink was this
- the Russians were buying terminals in third countries and using them for communications. - The Ukrainians were using it on a vastly greater scale. They had both official terminals bought/donated via the government. They also had a huge mass of terminals used by the military that were privately purchased. - this meant that Ukraine as an area is full of Starlink terminals. With little idea of who owned what. - the Ukrainian government was working with Starlink to shut down Russian usage, but it was battling the hydra. - a whitelist of Ukrainian terminals was the obvious answer. And repeatedly suggests by Starlink. - But the Ukrainian government wasnt keen on this, since so many civilians used them. And those with private terminals in the military worried that registered terminals would be treated as property of the military and reassigned. - then the Russians started using them on drones, as the Ukranians have long been doing. - This was a big enough issue that the Ukrainian government gave in and setup the white list. Starlink immediately implemented the use of the list. - so any Starlink terminal that isn’t on the whitelist, in Ukraine, doesn’t work now. - this cut off both Russian drones and their use of it for Command, Control & Communications - It seems the later (C3) was in use more than even the Russian command realised.
Trump has never given a flying f*ck about who lives or dies if it is not him or his supporters, and he will not be starting now. If 500k civilians were killed, he would not give a hoot.
I'd suggest he has 3 or 4 priorities:
1 - His reputation, as he sees it. 2 - His bank account, and enriching his family - whether legally or criminally. 3 - Protecting himself, which means distracting from his programme to take away votes in the mid-terms from the 10-20 million people he is targeting from groups he think will collectively vote against him, which would stop his regime doing what he wants, and eventually lead to justice coming for him. 4 - Maybe next getting on next week's front pages. The model of Trump as a man treating life as an attnetion-seeking competitor in a TV game show seems fair.
Trump had launched a new war Epstein, which is entirely justified Epstein, because Iran was an imminent threat Epstein. Thousands will die Epstein, and millions will be displaced Epstein, leading to global instability Epstein.
But at least we're not talking about him cheating at golf.
Iranian state TV apparently said political and industrial figures were targetted in the attack. You come for Isumbard Kingdom Brunel you better not miss
Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
Looks like Iran want to drag everyone in and go for the protracted war. Missiles now attacking Kuwait
Why the F is Iran attacking all its naybs?
So that if they retaliate they are aiding and fighting alongside the Zionist Entity which will cause varying amounts of internal political friction. Thus they might feel inclined to pressure DJT to stop.
It’s interesting to me how most Arab governments don’t actually give a toss about Israel, even if the masses think differently.
It's Palestine they don't really give a toss about.
Comments
It long ago lost it's use as a genuine criticism in most instances through overuse, since almost nobody on earth is an expert on, say, military strategising in the middle east, so is everyone always meant to be silent?
We also visited the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors, near Xi'an. Fascinating.
Iran is the problem.
I was expecting the post-Covid surveillance state, yet it was quicker and easier to clear customs and passport than most countries, and everything since has been a doddle, with mimimum sense of being observed
Indeed, due to the lack of crime and urban menace, it feels considerably more relaxed than quite a few western countries. Sadly
That ended in a ceasefire agreement between a rag-bag insurgency mob and the world's number 1 military power.
Several US bases in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain are under attack by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. (Fars)
Tho again the locals don't seem particularly stressed. Shanghai feels like it always feels - big, amiable, brash, grand, greedy, shiny, only even richer than before
I accept this is the tinest anecdotal report from one weekend in one city
One thing I can say for sure, is that there is far less mask wearing here than in Taiwan
Vivid.🇮🇱
@VividProwess
Israel is striking Iran. I am typing these words from inside the bomb shelter. We had sirens warning us that we should be on high alert and be ready for missiles coming our way. It can happen very soon. Pray for Israel. Pray for the people of Iran. God is with us.
6:22 am · 28 Feb 2026
·
575.5K
https://x.com/VividProwess/status/2027630498982355054?s=20
https://x.com/peanutnewz/status/2027641794394022049?s=20
https://x.com/paul__johnson/status/2027680206446600200?s=20
As a side issue what is going on with Starlink? The Russians have clearly been set back with its loss but why has it been denied and why now? Musk personally? We live in a remarkably incurious age. I'm a staunch pessimist on Trump/Putin but if the former can be convinced that his best chance of continuing the grift runs through Kyiv then he might just switch sympathies.
The response then and after (and probably now) is to shoot down as many of the missiles as possible, and the US goes after the launch sites.
Israel has stayed out of the retaliation (generally).
Trump had launched a new war Epstein, which is entirely justified Epstein, because Iran was an imminent threat Epstein. Thousands will die Epstein, and millions will be displaced Epstein, leading to global instability Epstein.
But at least we're not talking about him cheating at golf.
@dolidaydream.bsky.social
Is Jeffrey Epstein the first person to start a war posthumously?
UK offering military support to protect our interests though did not take part in present operations
Target set is indicative of a strike to topple the regime. But in both Trump and Netanyahu framing, they're careful to say that they believe this is a task for the Iranian people. Allows some distance if the strikes fail to dislodge the regiume.
As we crossed the border the train stopped and we had a very nice relaxed chat with the border guard in our train compartment, as he casually looked through our rather abstruse reading material (both I and my travelling companion were recent philosophy graduates at the time).
What was a little less relaxed was the second border guard, subtly but still noticeably blocking the only exit to the compartment. I suspect if our chat had gone differently, or if our reading material had not met approval, the atmosphere would have changed rather suddenly.
🚨 BREAKING: Houthi movement announces the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and warns that they will target U.S. and Israeli ships.
@AllieRenison
Predictable response to events in Iran but overall impact on trade should hopefully be somewhat limited given Red Sea route shipping still hadn’t fully resumed
Houthis released a video of past shipping attacks last month and many in the freight business wondered why…
You come for Isumbard Kingdom Brunel you better not miss
Explosions in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. (AFP)
Second wave of strikes underway. Explosions in Tehran and Shiraz.
An example would be Da Shi Lan.
Just posted. Suddenly it’s making a lot more sense.
https://bsky.app/profile/willharrisinva.bsky.social/post/3mfvwvryhmk2e
One dead in Dubai from falling missile debris.
Is AI not going to help you ?
Surely by next year you should be able to vibe code you own ap ?
(That was addressed to @Leon )
She has repeated her calls for a ban on social media for children - and says she has personal experience of the harm the internet can do."
https://news.sky.com/video/kemi-badenoch-repeats-her-call-for-social-media-ban-on-under-16s-13511455
There are a number of projects on github but whether they have submitted for approval I don't know.
NEW THREAD
- the Russians were buying terminals in third countries and using them for communications.
- The Ukrainians were using it on a vastly greater scale. They had both official terminals bought/donated via the government. They also had a huge mass of terminals used by the military that were privately purchased.
- this meant that Ukraine as an area is full of Starlink terminals. With little idea of who owned what.
- the Ukrainian government was working with Starlink to shut down Russian usage, but it was battling the hydra.
- a whitelist of Ukrainian terminals was the obvious answer. And repeatedly suggests by Starlink.
- But the Ukrainian government wasnt keen on this, since so many civilians used them. And those with private terminals in the military worried that registered terminals would be treated as property of the military and reassigned.
- then the Russians started using them on drones, as the Ukranians have long been doing.
- This was a big enough issue that the Ukrainian government gave in and setup the white list. Starlink immediately implemented the use of the list.
- so any Starlink terminal that isn’t on the whitelist, in Ukraine, doesn’t work now.
- this cut off both Russian drones and their use of it for Command, Control & Communications
- It seems the later (C3) was in use more than even the Russian command realised.
Trump has never given a flying f*ck about who lives or dies if it is not him or his supporters, and he will not be starting now. If 500k civilians were killed, he would not give a hoot.
I'd suggest he has 3 or 4 priorities:
1 - His reputation, as he sees it.
2 - His bank account, and enriching his family - whether legally or criminally.
3 - Protecting himself, which means distracting from his programme to take away votes in the mid-terms from the 10-20 million people he is targeting from groups he think will collectively vote against him, which would stop his regime doing what he wants, and eventually lead to justice coming for him.
4 - Maybe next getting on next week's front pages. The model of Trump as a man treating life as an attnetion-seeking competitor in a TV game show seems fair.
I’m sure that several have been started where the death of one individual was the causus belli.
There’s a long, long history of starting wars to distract from inconvenient domestic issues.
And there’s the War of Jenkins Ear, of course.