"15 years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are," says Kemi Badenoch.

Any ideas what may have happened in the interim?

Reform UK, backing US farming, not British farmers.

Lee Anderson’s keen to point out salads are chlorine washed, but he’s not keen to point out that you don’t need to with chicken you can cook chicken so long as it’s reared in reasonable conditions.

But you can’t cook salad.

Thales Belgium, one of Europe’s main weapons producers, warns its rocket factories are increasingly being overflown by drones, including near its explosive assembly site in Liège.

The elegance of autumn.

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus): This brilliantly coloured 21cm (8.3in) woodpecker species is native to forested areas with oaks from south west USA to Colombia. Remarkable photo by Jay Spring taken in Orange, California, USA. For more of Jay's shots see: www.springphotos.net #woodpecker

In numbers: Renewables have turned Spain into one of Europe's cheapest electricity markets Wind and solar met almost half of Spain’s electricity demand in the first half of 2025 (46%), up from 27% in the same period in 2019.

Thanks to a big push in #solar and #wind, Spain🇪🇸 has cut the role of gas and coal in setting power prices: now fossil fuels influence the grid just ~19% of the time (down from ~75% in 2019), making Spain one of Europe’s cheapest electricity markets. 💡⚡🔌

Good morning, BlueSky.

#Photographer Bernd Nowack Shares the Story Behind Viral #Photo of the #Moon Perfectly Centered Behind a #Tree

Link for more info: mymodernmet.com/full-moon-tr...

Out for launch day date night. Pub loo graffiti says "Fuck the Tories (NOT SEXUALLY)" which is an important clarification I guess.

This is what Earth Rising from the Moon looks like.

Credit: JAXA / NHK

Looks like a perfect marble

There has been continued sabotage against telecoms infrastructure along roads of southeast Sweden. These are the roads, ports and railways necessary for moving troops to Gotland

Yesterday it was revealed that a fiber optic cable undergoing maintenance has been cut on several spots along highway E22

And now for something completely different…

Hans Dahl (Norwegian, 1849–1937, born in Hardanger, Norway)
Midnight Sun over the Fjord, c. 1900
Oil on canvas
100 × 67 cm
Private collection

Most flood fatalities occur in vehicles. It only takes 12in of water to sweep a car away.

Small decisions like turning around, not driving through a flooded roadway, around barricades, & delaying travel until conditions improve, can make a big impact.

Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

I'm sure this is posted in good faith, but a link to the source would help

Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa): 108cm (43in). This is a medium-sized wild cat occurring from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia into southern China. Total population is suspected to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. #cloudedleopard #leopard #wildlife #nature #bluesky

I painted this big one yesterday 🎨
‘In The Woods’
Acrylic on canvas 36x28”

In an interview on BBC TV Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would create a "Removals Force" - i.e. a copy of ICE in the USA to police immigration

ICE uses masked goons to round up people off city streets who look like illegal immigrants (i.e. brown people)

Do we really want that in the UK?

So once again I have said to someone, “I’m confused by this exchange. Here’s a recap of how I experienced it. What did I misunderstand?”

And they objected, “how dare you project all that on to me”, without explaining anything of what they thought or meant.

What the heck do neurotypicals want?!?

Sky Sports face boycott calls as Gary Neville explains why he took down a Union Jack flag - Fan Banter Sky Sports face boycott and sack calls as Gary Neville explains in a LinkedIn post why he took down a Union Jack flag. The former footballer turned pundit for the broadcaster explained in a video why ...

fanbanter.co.uk/sky-sports-f...
Fair play to Gary Neville for putting his head above the parapet, and saying it as it is. Takes proper courage, for someone of his profile to speak out knowing the kickback he’s going to get from the rightwing media, and the bigoted keyboard warriors.

Western Rosella (Platycercus icterotis): 30cm (11.8in). This is a species of parrot endemic to southern Western Australia. The head and underparts are bright red, and the back is mottled black; a yellow patch at the cheek distinguishes it. Great photo taken by Nathan Watson in Australia. #rosella

Goody-bag merch from Tory Conference branded "When Labour negotiates Britian loses" and signed "Kemi Badenoch".

It helps to be able to spell the country you say only you are competent enough to run.

Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters Nigel Farage’s party promised to revive local authority finances by slashing wasteful spending

Nigel Farage, mouthpiece for the far-right 'ReformUK' party, pledged to 'slash local authority spending'.

Reality: Kent's Cabinet Reform member discovers services were already “down to the bare bones”.
on.ft.com/4gZwmqX

Tax authorities examine finances of key Nigel Farage ally Exclusive: HMRC conducts scoping exercise into Reform UK backer ‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s income from business and wealth

Tax authorities examine finances of key Nigel Farage ally

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

St. John's, Newfoundland Canada #Newfoundland #canada #autumn #photography

Now what's she's done there is confuse freedom with toasted sandwich maker hasn't she ?!

🇨🇳 China unveils mobile drone launch system, initially for light shows but with clear military potential — TWZ

The system has set a world record for having more than 11,000 drones in the air at the same time.

Reform UK's Kent council tax going up by 5%.

They didn't find cuts through the failed DOGE.

This was their flyer in May 2025.

What you’re seeing here are different chemical elements

Red = hydrogen.
Blue = oxygen.

This is the Crescent Nebula, Ian & I took this photo with a 17” scope in the California’s desert for our February calendar image