Jarrod Watt
@jaywatt.bsky.social
Australian journo in Hong Kong; podcast editor/producer; Aus news correspondent RTHK3; journalism lecturer HKBU; ex SCMP, ABC, PBSFM, RRR; reformed music journo and bartender - https://jarrodwatt.com/
Pinned
Trump plotting a course or just sailing away from Epstein’s jetsam? Cartoon from @rowecartoon.bsky.social
Trade war, tech war… no w to let loose the memes of war
When a French government account publicly sparred with the White House over Greenland on X, it wasn’t a mistake.
It was part of a deliberate new strategy to fight online disinformation from Russia, China and, increasingly, MAGA-aligned voices in the U.S.
It was part of a deliberate new strategy to fight online disinformation from Russia, China and, increasingly, MAGA-aligned voices in the U.S.
French diplomats are taking on MAGA — one meme at a time
Paris is rolling out a confrontational online strategy to counter disinformation from the United States and beyond.
www.politico.eu
January 30, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Trade war, tech war… no w to let loose the memes of war
Why yes that *is* the fabulous Harry Harrison leading the crowd in a Reagan-era singalong by Blaze Foley downstairs at the Aftermath in Hong Kong…
January 30, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Why yes that *is* the fabulous Harry Harrison leading the crowd in a Reagan-era singalong by Blaze Foley downstairs at the Aftermath in Hong Kong…
Hong Kong man unable to undo seatbelt on bus:
“16 firefighters, 4 medics, 3 fire trucks, an ambulance and ambulance motorcycle were deployed to the scene. The passenger was freed and sent to Caritas Medical Centre.”
We presume the man is now in a stable condition.
hongkongfp.com/2026/01/30/h...
“16 firefighters, 4 medics, 3 fire trucks, an ambulance and ambulance motorcycle were deployed to the scene. The passenger was freed and sent to Caritas Medical Centre.”
We presume the man is now in a stable condition.
hongkongfp.com/2026/01/30/h...
16 firefighters, 4 medics, 3 fire trucks respond to man unable to take off bus seatbelt
Hong Kong bus operator Citybus has filed a police report after it found a piece of aluminium foil stuffed inside a seatbelt buckle, which reportedly left a passenger trapped for over 45 minutes.
hongkongfp.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Hong Kong man unable to undo seatbelt on bus:
“16 firefighters, 4 medics, 3 fire trucks, an ambulance and ambulance motorcycle were deployed to the scene. The passenger was freed and sent to Caritas Medical Centre.”
We presume the man is now in a stable condition.
hongkongfp.com/2026/01/30/h...
“16 firefighters, 4 medics, 3 fire trucks, an ambulance and ambulance motorcycle were deployed to the scene. The passenger was freed and sent to Caritas Medical Centre.”
We presume the man is now in a stable condition.
hongkongfp.com/2026/01/30/h...
What’s “yes, Minister” in Cantonese? “Hong Kong’s transport chief has said the govt will suspend a mandatory seat belt requirement for bus passengers & later revise the legislation, after the law was found to be only applicable to new buses registered from January 25.”
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
Breaking | Hong Kong to suspend bus seat belt rules over ‘deficiencies’ in law
Rules took effect last Sunday, but wording of law only applies to new buses registered from January 25 this year.
www.scmp.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:21 AM
What’s “yes, Minister” in Cantonese? “Hong Kong’s transport chief has said the govt will suspend a mandatory seat belt requirement for bus passengers & later revise the legislation, after the law was found to be only applicable to new buses registered from January 25.”
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...
Reposted by Jarrod Watt
The Supreme Court of Panama ruled that terms granted to a Hong Kong company to operate ports at either end of the Panama Canal breach the country’s constitution, handing President Trump a victory and denting China’s influence in the region
www.wsj.com/business/log...
www.wsj.com/business/log...
Panama’s High Court Rules Against Hong Kong Firm Running Canal Ports
Supreme Court rules that terms granted to CK Hutchison to run two ports on the Panama Canal breach the constitution, dealing a blow to China’s influence in the region.
www.wsj.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:54 AM
The Supreme Court of Panama ruled that terms granted to a Hong Kong company to operate ports at either end of the Panama Canal breach the country’s constitution, handing President Trump a victory and denting China’s influence in the region
www.wsj.com/business/log...
www.wsj.com/business/log...
Gosh it’s almost as if reporters at the SCMP have been banned from speaking about this: “Minnie Chan, then a reporter for South China Morning Post who has disappeared since late 2023…” sinocism.com/p/zhang-youx...
Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli case; National Conference on Science and Technology; Slow bull market; UK PM to China; US NDS
We still have no more concrete information than we had Saturday about the Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli case. The Wall Street Journal reports that in the official internal briefing he was accused of lea...
sinocism.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Gosh it’s almost as if reporters at the SCMP have been banned from speaking about this: “Minnie Chan, then a reporter for South China Morning Post who has disappeared since late 2023…” sinocism.com/p/zhang-youx...
Plot lines for second series of the Trump Show are getting both darker and more Simpsonesque…
Trump sues IRS, Treasury Department for $10 billion over tax return leak reut.rs/4qVu2p4
Trump sues IRS, Treasury Department for $10 billion over tax return leak
U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his family on Thursday sued the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department for $10 billion for disclosing their tax returns, according to the lawsuit.
reut.rs
January 30, 2026 at 5:09 AM
Plot lines for second series of the Trump Show are getting both darker and more Simpsonesque…
Trump plotting a course or just sailing away from Epstein’s jetsam? Cartoon from @rowecartoon.bsky.social
January 30, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Trump plotting a course or just sailing away from Epstein’s jetsam? Cartoon from @rowecartoon.bsky.social
Reposted by Jarrod Watt
Cool, please send all the billionaires 🚀 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
A potentially habitable new planet has been discovered 146 light-years away – but it may be -70C
The Earth-size planet HD 137010 b has a ‘50% chance of residing in the habitable zone’ of its sun-like star, scientists say
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:51 AM
Cool, please send all the billionaires 🚀 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Hong Kong has some thoughts about new seat belt laws on public buses… Harry Harrison’s cartoon
January 29, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Hong Kong has some thoughts about new seat belt laws on public buses… Harry Harrison’s cartoon
Correction #cartoon from the great @cathywilcox.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Correction #cartoon from the great @cathywilcox.bsky.social
One for media/opinion merchant news watchers in Hong Kong: Paul Krugman is calling for a "colour revolution" in the USA... put the kettle on, pull out some old 2019 pics, let's see if this takes off as topic du jour from Toronto to the South China Sea... paulkrugman.substack.com/p/minnesota-...
Minnesota is the Beginning of an American Color Revolution
Ordinary people are ready to save democracy
paulkrugman.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:34 PM
One for media/opinion merchant news watchers in Hong Kong: Paul Krugman is calling for a "colour revolution" in the USA... put the kettle on, pull out some old 2019 pics, let's see if this takes off as topic du jour from Toronto to the South China Sea... paulkrugman.substack.com/p/minnesota-...
Fascinated by the timing of this speech.
- Conducting a press conference on Wednesday, Xiao said Canberra & Beijing, as well as the company’s owners, had discussed the port in the months since the 2025 election. “Suddenly we hear the government of Australia wants to take it back."
Suddenly? Wow
- Conducting a press conference on Wednesday, Xiao said Canberra & Beijing, as well as the company’s owners, had discussed the port in the months since the 2025 election. “Suddenly we hear the government of Australia wants to take it back."
Suddenly? Wow
China’s ambassador warns Albanese reclaiming Port of Darwin will force Beijing to intervene
China’s ambassador warns Albanese reclaiming Port of Darwin will force Beijing to intervene
Xiao Qian hits out at Labor’s policy to force the Chinese-owned company Landbridge to sell its 99-year lease on the port
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China’s ambassador to Australia says plans by the Albanese government to remove the Port of Darwin from Chinese ownership will put at risk future trade growth and force an intervention by Beijing.
Ambassador Xiao Qian hit out at Labor’s policy to force the Chinese-owned company Landbridge to sell its 99-year lease on the port, sparked by pre-election national security concerns from both Labor and the Coalition. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Fascinated by the timing of this speech.
- Conducting a press conference on Wednesday, Xiao said Canberra & Beijing, as well as the company’s owners, had discussed the port in the months since the 2025 election. “Suddenly we hear the government of Australia wants to take it back."
Suddenly? Wow
- Conducting a press conference on Wednesday, Xiao said Canberra & Beijing, as well as the company’s owners, had discussed the port in the months since the 2025 election. “Suddenly we hear the government of Australia wants to take it back."
Suddenly? Wow
* Singapore: Taxis have had electronic payment capabilities for over a decade, allowing card payments via terminals
* Mainland China: Digital payments have dominated taxi fares for over 5–10 years via Alipay and WeChat
* Hong Kong: See you on April 1st, 2026
Whoever's scripting this is hilarious.
* Mainland China: Digital payments have dominated taxi fares for over 5–10 years via Alipay and WeChat
* Hong Kong: See you on April 1st, 2026
Whoever's scripting this is hilarious.
January 28, 2026 at 11:43 AM
* Singapore: Taxis have had electronic payment capabilities for over a decade, allowing card payments via terminals
* Mainland China: Digital payments have dominated taxi fares for over 5–10 years via Alipay and WeChat
* Hong Kong: See you on April 1st, 2026
Whoever's scripting this is hilarious.
* Mainland China: Digital payments have dominated taxi fares for over 5–10 years via Alipay and WeChat
* Hong Kong: See you on April 1st, 2026
Whoever's scripting this is hilarious.
Reposted by Jarrod Watt
The government said on Wednesday that the support fund for Wang Fuk Court residents has reached HK$4.5 billion, around HK$1.2 billion of which is earmarked for financial measures supporting those affected by the blaze.
Wang Fuk Court blaze fund reaches HK$4.5bn - RTHK
The government said on Wednesday that the support fund for Wang Fuk Court residents has reached HK$4.5 billion, around H...
news.rthk.hk
January 28, 2026 at 6:54 AM
The government said on Wednesday that the support fund for Wang Fuk Court residents has reached HK$4.5 billion, around HK$1.2 billion of which is earmarked for financial measures supporting those affected by the blaze.
Yep, world peace getting absolutely disrupted in the goolies right but… seven years wait and Hong Kong intellectual nihilist electro punks David Boring have landed their sophomore vinyl… alert the Melbournese at @3rrrfm.bsky.social and #PBSFM it’s red hot davidboring.bandcamp.com/track/earth-...
January 28, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Yep, world peace getting absolutely disrupted in the goolies right but… seven years wait and Hong Kong intellectual nihilist electro punks David Boring have landed their sophomore vinyl… alert the Melbournese at @3rrrfm.bsky.social and #PBSFM it’s red hot davidboring.bandcamp.com/track/earth-...
I don’t see any climate scientists taking “Told you so” victory laps but it sure would be nice if they got some credit for “as predicted” abnormal temperatures recorded during climate crisis summer in the mid 2020s
January 28, 2026 at 5:18 AM
I don’t see any climate scientists taking “Told you so” victory laps but it sure would be nice if they got some credit for “as predicted” abnormal temperatures recorded during climate crisis summer in the mid 2020s
Reposted by Jarrod Watt
The right honourable @grogsgamut.bsky.social has far more patience than I - everything he says here I tend to scream briefly in much swearier shorthand watching the annual, seasonal struggle of Australia’s volunteer firefighters to defend & protect an actual threat to Australian life and property.
In which I have a look at AUKUS and tbh lose my shit at how dumb it is. @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...
All the money, none of the submarines: AUKUS deal paying upfront for hopes and dreams
When Kerry Packer bought Channel 9 back from Allan Bond for effectively half the price Bond had sold it to him, Packer famously said “You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I’ve had mine”.
thepoint.com.au
January 28, 2026 at 12:38 AM
The right honourable @grogsgamut.bsky.social has far more patience than I - everything he says here I tend to scream briefly in much swearier shorthand watching the annual, seasonal struggle of Australia’s volunteer firefighters to defend & protect an actual threat to Australian life and property.
You know what a proper “pub test” for Australian journos might be? Find out what kind of day at work people had on day one of a heatwave - instead of the binary FIRE FEAR versus Aussies have FUN in the heatwave SUN! Find some bakers, sparkies, any poor bastard with a shovel… I’ll click on it. Ta…
January 27, 2026 at 12:19 PM
You know what a proper “pub test” for Australian journos might be? Find out what kind of day at work people had on day one of a heatwave - instead of the binary FIRE FEAR versus Aussies have FUN in the heatwave SUN! Find some bakers, sparkies, any poor bastard with a shovel… I’ll click on it. Ta…
Surprised myself at how emotional it is to play this remade Warumpi Band classic from 1987 on Hong Kong radio to mark January 26 in Australia... today's segment all about the new 50 degree reality of summer down south in the Great Southern Land youtu.be/OSFGK9HlEto?...
Christine Anu My Island Home
YouTube video by muzicanoz
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 4:36 AM
Surprised myself at how emotional it is to play this remade Warumpi Band classic from 1987 on Hong Kong radio to mark January 26 in Australia... today's segment all about the new 50 degree reality of summer down south in the Great Southern Land youtu.be/OSFGK9HlEto?...
Hong Kong commuters have some feedback on new laws for seatbelts on public buses: Harry Harrison's cartoon
January 27, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Hong Kong commuters have some feedback on new laws for seatbelts on public buses: Harry Harrison's cartoon
For all the journalists who DM'd me about SCMP journalist Minnie Chan and went on to report exactly.... ZERO upon the two year anniversary of her disappearance, here's a link to a story probably worth following up. @tanganzhu.bsky.social she is not forgotten. chinadrew.substack.com/p/the-demise...
The demise of Zhang Youxia hits different
I was genuinely surprised by the announcement of Zhang Youxia's detention. I shouldn't have been. But this feels personal.
chinadrew.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM
For all the journalists who DM'd me about SCMP journalist Minnie Chan and went on to report exactly.... ZERO upon the two year anniversary of her disappearance, here's a link to a story probably worth following up. @tanganzhu.bsky.social she is not forgotten. chinadrew.substack.com/p/the-demise...
Turns out there's people who answer polls and there's people who get up offa that thang and get out on the streets for a march and a singalong on this date in Australia...
January 26, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Turns out there's people who answer polls and there's people who get up offa that thang and get out on the streets for a march and a singalong on this date in Australia...