Stephen McDonell
@stephenmcdonell.bsky.social
BBC China Correspondent based in Beijing. Previously ABC Australia China Correspondent.
I know there is a lot of weird in the world right now but have a read of this... #Australia:
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Nicolas Cage shrine amid weird pranks at Mount Gambier deputy mayor's home
A Nicolas Cage-themed shrine is the latest of a series of celebrity-themed pranks that Mount Gambier's deputy mayor says have befallen his home in recent weeks.
www.abc.net.au
January 19, 2026 at 8:24 AM
I know there is a lot of weird in the world right now but have a read of this... #Australia:
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
January 18, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
January 18, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Mobilizing to prevent a threatened U.S. invasion.
BREAKING: A full-scale airlift is running around the clock, transporting troops and military equipment to Greenland.
The operation is extensive, “beyond anything we’ve tried before,” a source tells DR. Danish F-35 fighter planes and warships from European allies involved.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
The operation is extensive, “beyond anything we’ve tried before,” a source tells DR. Danish F-35 fighter planes and warships from European allies involved.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
Stor operation i gang: Fly strømmer til Grønland med europæiske soldater
I flere døgn har militære transportfly fløjet i pendulfart mellem Danmark og Grønland. Fredag aften landede et stort antal soldater i Nuuk.
www.dr.dk
January 16, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Mobilizing to prevent a threatened U.S. invasion.
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
"Can anyone help me?" Daidai asked on social media. Then this happened... #China
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Chongqing: Thousands descend on village after Chinese woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 11:26 AM
"Can anyone help me?" Daidai asked on social media. Then this happened... #China
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
No surprise really. People are good and will help one another. Thanks for sharing this. Now I want twice cooked pork!😂 That sounds delicious.
January 16, 2026 at 6:17 PM
No surprise really. People are good and will help one another. Thanks for sharing this. Now I want twice cooked pork!😂 That sounds delicious.
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
"Eventually, Daidai posted that her celebration was over, urging any more visitors to enjoy the region but not visit her home. After sleeping for only 4 hours over 2 days, she said she was exhausted." She said her dad was very happy. #China
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands descend on village after woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 6:07 AM
"Eventually, Daidai posted that her celebration was over, urging any more visitors to enjoy the region but not visit her home. After sleeping for only 4 hours over 2 days, she said she was exhausted." She said her dad was very happy. #China
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Couldn't find local good news story for today so I offer this instead.
"Can anyone help me?" Daidai asked on social media. Then this happened... #China
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Chongqing: Thousands descend on village after Chinese woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Couldn't find local good news story for today so I offer this instead.
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
"I thought maybe a dozen people would come," Daidai told Chinese media.
The rest is now lore
The rest is now lore
"Eventually, Daidai posted that her celebration was over, urging any more visitors to enjoy the region but not visit her home. After sleeping for only 4 hours over 2 days, she said she was exhausted." She said her dad was very happy. #China
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands descend on village after woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 11:32 AM
"I thought maybe a dozen people would come," Daidai told Chinese media.
The rest is now lore
The rest is now lore
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
When a woman in #China turned to social media for help...
"The banquet celebration, by then huge in size, went on for two days – 1,000 diners on 11 January became 2,000 the next day – with bonfires into the night and much partying, accompanied by a band..." CLICK LINK:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"The banquet celebration, by then huge in size, went on for two days – 1,000 diners on 11 January became 2,000 the next day – with bonfires into the night and much partying, accompanied by a band..." CLICK LINK:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands descend on village after woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 5:04 AM
When a woman in #China turned to social media for help...
"The banquet celebration, by then huge in size, went on for two days – 1,000 diners on 11 January became 2,000 the next day – with bonfires into the night and much partying, accompanied by a band..." CLICK LINK:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"The banquet celebration, by then huge in size, went on for two days – 1,000 diners on 11 January became 2,000 the next day – with bonfires into the night and much partying, accompanied by a band..." CLICK LINK:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Oddly I find peas the most interesting part of that. I didn’t know Canada was a big pea exporter.
January 16, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Oddly I find peas the most interesting part of that. I didn’t know Canada was a big pea exporter.
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
A villager's call for help brings thousands:"The response has also been driven by what seems to be a yearning in #China for people to get back in touch with community cultural events, as well as a need for positive experiences when life can, at times, seem very dark..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands descend on village after woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 3:17 AM
A villager's call for help brings thousands:"The response has also been driven by what seems to be a yearning in #China for people to get back in touch with community cultural events, as well as a need for positive experiences when life can, at times, seem very dark..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
“Her appeal for help attracted more than a million likes and the response on the ground was like a scene from a cheesy feel-good movie, as thousands of cars poured in…” #China CLICK LINK TO READ, a piece from me:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands descend on village after woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 1:01 AM
“Her appeal for help attracted more than a million likes and the response on the ground was like a scene from a cheesy feel-good movie, as thousands of cars poured in…” #China CLICK LINK TO READ, a piece from me:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
What happened when Daidai turned to social media for help slaughtering a couple of pigs in her village? A piece from me, CLICK ON LINK TO READ. #China
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands descend on village after woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 12:46 AM
What happened when Daidai turned to social media for help slaughtering a couple of pigs in her village? A piece from me, CLICK ON LINK TO READ. #China
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What happened when Daidai turned to social media for help slaughtering a couple of pigs in her village? A piece from me, CLICK ON LINK TO READ. #China
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands descend on village after woman's social media plea
The woman appealed for help after realising her father could not slaughter the pigs for a village feast alone.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 12:46 AM
What happened when Daidai turned to social media for help slaughtering a couple of pigs in her village? A piece from me, CLICK ON LINK TO READ. #China
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not long before "London Bridge" collapsed, I was on the bridge portion with a bunch of mates jumping up and down on it and laughing that we could bring it down. Then we saw the news that, gulp, it happened...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
'No joke, London Bridge has fallen down': Trapped on a crumbling Apostle
Seconds after her cousin reassured her crossing it was safe, the famous Great Ocean Road formation started collapsing beneath Kelli Bryers's feet, setting off a terrifying ordeal.
www.abc.net.au
January 15, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Not long before "London Bridge" collapsed, I was on the bridge portion with a bunch of mates jumping up and down on it and laughing that we could bring it down. Then we saw the news that, gulp, it happened...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
The founder of "Are You Dead?" told me today they've decided to change the name, adopting the "English" title "Demumu" globally, including in #China. They're hoping it'll attract users who didn't like the old name.
CLICK ON LINK TO READ the original story from me:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ the original story from me:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Are You Dead?': The viral Chinese app for young people living alone
A new bleak-sounding app has been downloaded in droves by many youth who live by themselves - and fear dying alone.
www.bbc.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:34 AM
The founder of "Are You Dead?" told me today they've decided to change the name, adopting the "English" title "Demumu" globally, including in #China. They're hoping it'll attract users who didn't like the old name.
CLICK ON LINK TO READ the original story from me:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
CLICK ON LINK TO READ the original story from me:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
"Australia’s longest waterway is under such dire threat of collapse that the entire lower Murray River ecosystem, which stretches nearly 1000 kilometres from western NSW, through Victoria and to the sea in South Australia has been classified as critically endangered."
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Water wars ahead now Australia’s longest river officially critically endangered
The lower Murray River has been designated critically endangered by the Albanese government as it blasted the environmental management of the former Coalition government.
www.smh.com.au
January 15, 2026 at 1:11 AM
"Australia’s longest waterway is under such dire threat of collapse that the entire lower Murray River ecosystem, which stretches nearly 1000 kilometres from western NSW, through Victoria and to the sea in South Australia has been classified as critically endangered."
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
Reposted by Stephen McDonell
