Stephen McDonell

Hong Kong travel agency backs out of Taiwan trip over controversial film screening Jetport Travel also distances itself from promotion of tour organised by e-commerce platform As One, says wording ‘crossed the line’.

Do not go and see movies in other countries!!

www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

天下大乱啦

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

The purging of the most senior generals also brings scrutiny on the next layer of officers who may be wondering who's next?
They also may not welcome promotion into the deadly zone where Xi's anti-corruption spotlight can be trained on you at any time. #China
CLICK LINK
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

Lyle Morris from Asia Society Policy Institute. "It's certainly a bad look for Xi and I think there's going to be significant turmoil in the PLA, with Xi and his leaders – especially in the PLA – for years to come." #China military crisis, CLICK TO READ, piece from me:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

Speculation has included "everything from leaking nuclear secrets to the #US to plotting a coup & factional infighting... even rumours of a gunfight in #Beijing," said Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian.
#China widespread purge of top generals. Piece from me.
CLICK LINK
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

Purging of #China's top general and other officers has left serious questions about what triggered the elite power struggles unfolding in the country - and what this means for China's warfighting capacity…
CLICK LINK
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Stephen's interesting article also serves as a reminder that the world is still turning elsewhere as Trump burns his country, and its influence, to the ground.

"The senior ranks of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are in tatters."

#R4Today

Good overview of the vacuum in military leadership in the PRC by @stephenmcdonell.bsky.social

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

The People’s Liberation Army is in crisis… a piece from me.
#China.
CLICK link to read:

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

The purging of the most senior generals also brings scrutiny on the next layer of officers who may be wondering who's next?
They also may not welcome promotion into the deadly zone where Xi's anti-corruption spotlight can be trained on you at any time. #China
CLICK LINK
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

Lyle Morris from Asia Society Policy Institute. "It's certainly a bad look for Xi and I think there's going to be significant turmoil in the PLA, with Xi and his leaders – especially in the PLA – for years to come." #China military crisis, CLICK TO READ, piece from me:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

Speculation has included "everything from leaking nuclear secrets to the #US to plotting a coup & factional infighting... even rumours of a gunfight in #Beijing," said Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian.
#China widespread purge of top generals. Piece from me.
CLICK LINK
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

Purging of #China's top general and other officers has left serious questions about what triggered the elite power struggles unfolding in the country - and what this means for China's warfighting capacity…
CLICK LINK
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Zhang Youxia: Purge of China's top general leaves military in crisis Zhang Youxia had been seen as a close ally of China's leader, Xi Jinping.

The People’s Liberation Army is in crisis… a piece from me.
#China.
CLICK link to read:

www.bbc.com/news/article...

‼️🩸A bloodbath for the German auto trade with China in 2025:

📉70% drop in mid-sized saloon car exports
📉38% drop in large engine cars
📉39% fall in small ones
📉54% drop in small station wagons
📉23% for larger ones

Awesome clip! Awesome song! Vale Rob Hirst…

A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.

Dingoes involved in death of Canadian backpacker euthanased Queensland government officials euthanase six dingoes involved in the death of a Canadian backpacker on K'gari, with more to be put down in the coming days.

Her parents have said that she wouldn’t have wanted any dingoes to be killed.
Such a sad story.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Six years ago, heading into locked-down Hubei province with @stephenmcdonell.bsky.social as the coronavirus became very serious.

We were then promptly kicked out...

#throwback #china #covid19

Developing | China’s top uniformed officer Zhang Youxia is among 2 generals under investigation Zhang, first vice-chairman of the CMC, and Liu Zhenli, chief of its Joint Staff arm, are suspected to have committed “serious violations”.

In #China another two generals have been purged in Xi Jinping’s ongoing crackdown inside the People’s Liberation Army. One of them is Zhang Youxia, the PLA’s top general…

www.scmp.com/news/china/p...

Yeah they have been toxic in New South Wales, causing a lot of misery, especially for working class people.

Crossing a flooded river in Northern China, c.1905 by missionary Arthur H Smith

For several years NATO allies and other coalition members absorbed 20%–50% of the total casualties in Afghanistan.

White House posts digitally altered image of woman arrested after ICE protest Guardian analysis shows images are the same, with Nekima Levy Armstrong looking composed in original but sobbing after alteration

Allegations that the White House has published digitally enhanced fake imagery of a woman involved in ICE protests to make her look worse… #US #Trump

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Pub owner says removing pokies made him feel like a criminal Mitch Crum thought removing pokies from his pub was a good thing, but the costly and confusing process made him feel like a criminal.

The battle of a #Sydney pub owner trying to remove pokies from his place to bring in live music and make it nicer. It seems insane that it is so difficult. I’m definitely interested in checking this pub out again when back in town. #Australia

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

YouTube video by Australian Music Vault Rob Hirst | Long Play Series

Great interview with Rob Hirst here talking about Radio Birman, James Baldwin, ACDC, Stand In Line, Only the Strong, Zeppelin, life late 70s/early 80s, heavy scene of Aussie pubs in early years, musical adaptation, politics and music etc etc... RIP Rob. #Australia

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWdq...

Plans for huge Chinese embassy in London approved by government - live updates Critics had warned of a potential threat to national security given the site's proximity to the City of London.

#China’s new embassy in #Britain has been approved, just weeks before a planned visit to #Beijing by the #UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer:

Click on link…
www.bbc.com/news/live/cl...

Wuchow, a treaty port in the Guangxi province opened to foreign trade in 1897, and situated on the left bank of the West river. The British Consulate (in 1911) and port jetty….

Quite the statement from the Prime Minister of Poland