Patrick Owens
@paddyo53.bsky.social
Reposted by Patrick Owens
this is the simple answer to people who keep saying NATO expansion matters. Sure, it matters because it presented an obstacle to Russian imperial ambitions. Putin didn't invade because he hated NATO expansion, he hated NATO expansion because he wanted to invade
December 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
this is the simple answer to people who keep saying NATO expansion matters. Sure, it matters because it presented an obstacle to Russian imperial ambitions. Putin didn't invade because he hated NATO expansion, he hated NATO expansion because he wanted to invade
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Sunrise promise at #Bamburgh beach,#Northumberland that turned into lots of clouds shortly afterm. I lovecl these moments in time.
#landscapephotography
#UK
#sunrise
#landscapephotography
#UK
#sunrise
December 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Sunrise promise at #Bamburgh beach,#Northumberland that turned into lots of clouds shortly afterm. I lovecl these moments in time.
#landscapephotography
#UK
#sunrise
#landscapephotography
#UK
#sunrise
Reposted by Patrick Owens
We said "there is no language moderate enough to avoid condemnation and sanction by a British establishment which is determined to support this atrocity for as long as the Americans want it to continue." Does the evidence say we're wrong, here?
The UK isn't a civilized country but even with that context the anti-speech laws around Palestine activism are shockingly harsh
Greta Thunberg arrested at London protest supporting Palestine Action
Climate activist was arrested for holding a placard supporting Palestine Action, police say
www.irishtimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
We said "there is no language moderate enough to avoid condemnation and sanction by a British establishment which is determined to support this atrocity for as long as the Americans want it to continue." Does the evidence say we're wrong, here?
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Czech outlet Deník N reports that SPD has blocked Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna’s planned visit to Ukraine and is pressuring to withdraw from the EU’s ammunition initiative. The move follows backlash from SPD supporters after Zůna stated that Czech participation in military aid would continue.
December 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Czech outlet Deník N reports that SPD has blocked Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna’s planned visit to Ukraine and is pressuring to withdraw from the EU’s ammunition initiative. The move follows backlash from SPD supporters after Zůna stated that Czech participation in military aid would continue.
Reposted by Patrick Owens
The European Commission has carried out one of its biggest logistical operations by relocating a full thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine.
The complex operation, carried out over 11 months, involved 149 shipments totalling 2,399 tonnes of equipment.
The complex operation, carried out over 11 months, involved 149 shipments totalling 2,399 tonnes of equipment.
December 23, 2025 at 9:52 AM
The European Commission has carried out one of its biggest logistical operations by relocating a full thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine.
The complex operation, carried out over 11 months, involved 149 shipments totalling 2,399 tonnes of equipment.
The complex operation, carried out over 11 months, involved 149 shipments totalling 2,399 tonnes of equipment.
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Also today, it’s the 86th anniversary of the formation of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 9 (or MI9) so it’s time to celebrate (some of) their secret and frankly preposterous work. There really were, for example, gold teeth with compasses in, and maps hidden in Monopoly sets
Odd this day
23 December 1939
medium.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Also today, it’s the 86th anniversary of the formation of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 9 (or MI9) so it’s time to celebrate (some of) their secret and frankly preposterous work. There really were, for example, gold teeth with compasses in, and maps hidden in Monopoly sets
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Do both.
And if solar parks are built near villages or towns, then offer the people who are potentially affected free electricity to offset their concerns.
Solar panels are not nuclear power stations. They can be removed with little environmental impact and can actually benefit biodiversity.
And if solar parks are built near villages or towns, then offer the people who are potentially affected free electricity to offset their concerns.
Solar panels are not nuclear power stations. They can be removed with little environmental impact and can actually benefit biodiversity.
The solution is right above us. Solar panels on existing buildings, car parks, and along highways generate clean power without sacrificing farmland or wild spaces. Let's use our built world first. #Renewables #Innovation
December 22, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Do both.
And if solar parks are built near villages or towns, then offer the people who are potentially affected free electricity to offset their concerns.
Solar panels are not nuclear power stations. They can be removed with little environmental impact and can actually benefit biodiversity.
And if solar parks are built near villages or towns, then offer the people who are potentially affected free electricity to offset their concerns.
Solar panels are not nuclear power stations. They can be removed with little environmental impact and can actually benefit biodiversity.
Reposted by Patrick Owens
I think this is called "a cry for help"
1/3
1/3
December 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I think this is called "a cry for help"
1/3
1/3
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake
Reform UK's biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation
bylinetimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Plus... ‘bonus’ content (for those who aren’t already aware/heartily sick of hearing about it): I’ve written a sort of review of the year, which, if you like absurd trivia like this, you may enjoy...
Christopher’s Christmas Cracker 2025
Christopher’s Christmas Cracker 2025 An explanation of what follows Every year, historian John Julius Norwich published a Christmas Cracker — a collection of anecdotes, trivia and witticisms …
medium.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Plus... ‘bonus’ content (for those who aren’t already aware/heartily sick of hearing about it): I’ve written a sort of review of the year, which, if you like absurd trivia like this, you may enjoy...
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Came across Clarissa Dickson-Wright’s autobiography in a charity shop. It is everything a devotee of weird history could hope for
December 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Came across Clarissa Dickson-Wright’s autobiography in a charity shop. It is everything a devotee of weird history could hope for
Reposted by Patrick Owens
“Russia has decided that the UK is Russia's enemy, and there's nothing we can do to change that as long as Putin is in power. The choice is whether to be an undefeated enemy or a defeated one. That's all the choice we get.”
Everything we can see tells us that Putin is never going to admit that the West is not, in fact, an existential threat to Russia, because he personally depends on the idea. And of all the parts of the West that are seen as an existential threat to Russia, the UK is hated most of all.
December 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
“Russia has decided that the UK is Russia's enemy, and there's nothing we can do to change that as long as Putin is in power. The choice is whether to be an undefeated enemy or a defeated one. That's all the choice we get.”
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Ukraine keeps defying the possible through tactics we have never seen before. We must keep putting pressure on Russia.
Speaking with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Speaking with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social
December 20, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Ukraine keeps defying the possible through tactics we have never seen before. We must keep putting pressure on Russia.
Speaking with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Speaking with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov:Russia is preparing to occupy the Baltics,accelerating its aggression plans to2027Russia views the Baltic states as a target for occupation,while Poland,under current plans,is considered a target for strikes without a full-scale takeover,he said
December 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov:Russia is preparing to occupy the Baltics,accelerating its aggression plans to2027Russia views the Baltic states as a target for occupation,while Poland,under current plans,is considered a target for strikes without a full-scale takeover,he said
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Reposted by Patrick Owens
The Ukrainian fortress.
No chance that Ukrainian forces will withdraw from this.
No chance that Ukrainian forces will withdraw from this.
December 20, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The Ukrainian fortress.
No chance that Ukrainian forces will withdraw from this.
No chance that Ukrainian forces will withdraw from this.
Reposted by Patrick Owens
💥On his flight to the EU summit, Viktor Orbán revealed what appears to be direct coordination with Vladimir Putin: Hungary would be spared Russian countermeasures if Orbán votes against the EU’s confiscation of frozen Russian assets: "So we Hungarians have protected ourselves."
December 17, 2025 at 9:57 AM
💥On his flight to the EU summit, Viktor Orbán revealed what appears to be direct coordination with Vladimir Putin: Hungary would be spared Russian countermeasures if Orbán votes against the EU’s confiscation of frozen Russian assets: "So we Hungarians have protected ourselves."
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Putin to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte:
What nonsense is he saying? I'd really like to ask him: Listen, what are you saying about a war with Russia?
You can read, right? Then read the new US National Security strategy. The USA is the key player in NATO, the main sponsor of NATO.
What nonsense is he saying? I'd really like to ask him: Listen, what are you saying about a war with Russia?
You can read, right? Then read the new US National Security strategy. The USA is the key player in NATO, the main sponsor of NATO.
December 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Putin to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte:
What nonsense is he saying? I'd really like to ask him: Listen, what are you saying about a war with Russia?
You can read, right? Then read the new US National Security strategy. The USA is the key player in NATO, the main sponsor of NATO.
What nonsense is he saying? I'd really like to ask him: Listen, what are you saying about a war with Russia?
You can read, right? Then read the new US National Security strategy. The USA is the key player in NATO, the main sponsor of NATO.
Reposted by Patrick Owens
There are a lot of stories like this that seem not to effect the overall narrative of the war for some odd reason.
www.theconcis.com/p/novorossiy...
www.theconcis.com/p/novorossiy...
Novorossiysk Was Russia’s Last Sanctuary. It Just Fell.
The Black Sea Has No Safe Harbor Left for Russia
www.theconcis.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
There are a lot of stories like this that seem not to effect the overall narrative of the war for some odd reason.
www.theconcis.com/p/novorossiy...
www.theconcis.com/p/novorossiy...
Reposted by Patrick Owens
After contact from Full Fact, the Times has corrected a headline that wrongly claimed analysis found that “migrants’ partners” cost Britain £5.6 billion over their lifetime.
Here’s why that isn’t quite right 👇
Here’s why that isn’t quite right 👇
The Times corrects inaccurate headline about cost of ‘migrants’ partners’ – Full Fact
A new figure from the Migration Advisory Committee estimates the total net lifetime fiscal cost of people who arrived in the UK in 2022/23 through the Partner route of the Family visa—which includes…
fullfact.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
After contact from Full Fact, the Times has corrected a headline that wrongly claimed analysis found that “migrants’ partners” cost Britain £5.6 billion over their lifetime.
Here’s why that isn’t quite right 👇
Here’s why that isn’t quite right 👇
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Reflections on the European Council decision to borrow €90 billion and lend it to Ukraine. Tl; dr: Ukraine benefits, but not enough; Putin & Trump will be encouraged; the EU & individual member-states have shown that it’s still too easy to intimidate them. 🧵1/13
December 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reflections on the European Council decision to borrow €90 billion and lend it to Ukraine. Tl; dr: Ukraine benefits, but not enough; Putin & Trump will be encouraged; the EU & individual member-states have shown that it’s still too easy to intimidate them. 🧵1/13
Reposted by Patrick Owens
The Dutch sold live eels from ships on the London Thames for 600 years, only leaving in 1938.
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
December 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The Dutch sold live eels from ships on the London Thames for 600 years, only leaving in 1938.
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
But by the 1930s they weren't transporting eels in these ships anymore. The ships stayed parked on the Thames as an antiquarian storefront & the Dutch refilled them from modern tankers.
🗃️🧪
Reposted by Patrick Owens
"It's a total mess here.We were just being killed,thrown into a meat grinder.Our entire company is completely wiped out.In two days, those f*ckers [Ukrainians] killed everyone."
A Russian soldier from the 27th Motor Rifle Brigade described the situation near Kupiansk, Donetsk region.
A Russian soldier from the 27th Motor Rifle Brigade described the situation near Kupiansk, Donetsk region.
December 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"It's a total mess here.We were just being killed,thrown into a meat grinder.Our entire company is completely wiped out.In two days, those f*ckers [Ukrainians] killed everyone."
A Russian soldier from the 27th Motor Rifle Brigade described the situation near Kupiansk, Donetsk region.
A Russian soldier from the 27th Motor Rifle Brigade described the situation near Kupiansk, Donetsk region.
Reposted by Patrick Owens
Too many people are stuck in hospital because there isn't the social care they need.
Our plan for a dedicated winter discharge unit would get thousands out of hospital and home in time for Christmas.
@alisonebennett.bsky.social
Our plan for a dedicated winter discharge unit would get thousands out of hospital and home in time for Christmas.
@alisonebennett.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Too many people are stuck in hospital because there isn't the social care they need.
Our plan for a dedicated winter discharge unit would get thousands out of hospital and home in time for Christmas.
@alisonebennett.bsky.social
Our plan for a dedicated winter discharge unit would get thousands out of hospital and home in time for Christmas.
@alisonebennett.bsky.social