leicsmac

India now have a comparable population figure, but sadly nowhere near the same degree of infrastructure production in that regard. Vance almost certainly will be the Repub nominee in 2028, but the midterms later this year will likely tell us a lot about whether he'll win or not.

The whole aspect of consumerism and how that plays into sustainability is a whole other discussion. Lots to be said, too.

From the article itself: "Coal currently accounts for half of China's energy production, down from three-quarters in 2016. China, the world's second-largest economy, is also the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter. This spike in coal construction and commissioned projects comes as China massively expands its renewable capacity, which now covers growth in electricity demand. Solar capacity, for instance, jumped by 212 GW in the first six months of 2025. This year alone, the country is on track to install enough new renewable energy to cover the energy needs of Germany and the UK combined. Germany, according to its Federal Network Agency, added roughly 20 GW of renewables to its grid in 2024, bringing its total to 190. China will add 500 GW in new wind and solar power in 2025 alone. Beijing's push has led to a 1% drop in six-month emissions year-on-year, according to the UK-based climate and energy website Carbon Brief, yet China's increased reliance on coal threatens to derail its pursuit of gas emissions reductions." Are any of the other players doing anywhere near that much in terms of getting themselves off non-renewable reliance? The US certainly aren't, they don't appear to care at all in terms of policy on the matter. FWIW that's a pretty good article highlighting the progress while still rightly saying there's a fair way to go, but they're catching up fast. So yes, they are taking the problem seriously.

"Questionable" is certainly one word to describe it, yes. And this is another example of how this administration find the words "due process" dirty, too. But yes, like similar figures from similar autocratic top-heavy regimes since time immemorial, they certainly don't "muck around". Whether or not that's actually a good thing for the present or the future is clearly a matter of debate.

For me there are only two possible explanations there now. Either they think (in spite of all the evidence) that things "won't be that bad", or they're actually perfeectly fine with all the abuses of power visited upon other people as long as they themselves benefit in some way or other. I'll let other people parse which might be which and if there are any other possible explanations. I'm thinking that the way this has gone, there had to be at least some.

Yeah, that's about the size of it. The US isn't the only power to have enough Might to Make Right. Which is yet another reason why that entire ethos doesn't end well for anyone.

Satire? Poe's Law makes it so difficult to tell these days. At least Farage has the nous to admit the flagrant violation of international law.

Also, I take no pleasure whatsoever in having my own opinion of both Trump and his administration confirmed by their actions more and more. Perhaps though, as the mask continues to slip, there will be less and less defending of what he and they are up to.

That quote could have been lifted directly from IngSoc in 1984. Stop this timeline, I want to get off

Another possibility is that someone in Maduro's government with enough access to him sold him out.

Yeah, it's too "clean", so it's entirely possible that there's been some kind of agreement reached in the background. Still reprehensible that the US thinks it can still apply the Monroe Doctrine like it did to Allende in Chile in the year 2026, though.

You'd think Littler will have too much given the occasion, but GVV will likely make it close, at least at the start.

China are doing a lot of questionable things. Opposing green energy is not one of them. In fact, they're the only big power taking that problem even vaguely seriously, given the speed and capacity that they're building renewable infrastructure.

Not sure it's moral grandstanding to point out that the Might Makes Right bullshit that the US and other parties are currently engaged in ends terribly for everyone. Or if it is, it's also accurate. Act like animals, fall like animals.

"This place ain't no such thing as civilized. It's man so in love with greed that he has forgotten himself and found only appetites.”

This administration doing its usual abuse of power but without any kind of pretence anymore. The UK diplomats have some serious work to do.

I wonder whether any national football authority might actually decide to boycott the World Cup next year and encourage others to do likewise? Probably not given FIFA would likely hand out a ridiculous sanction for it, but...

From what it looks like, they wanted him alive. When this comes up at the UN, will the UK actually show some courage and vote for any resolution denouncing it? The only good thing that might come from this is even the most sheltered and naive person can see the current US administration for what they really are now, and it's going to be difficult, even for them, to lie about "peace" when they've done this.

He's so good when the format gets longer. As per above, so consistent at scoring.

I think once he's that much into a tournament that he has time in the match to overcome any temporary dip in standard, there's no one who can really stop him.

Littler stepping on the accelerator again.

I'm going to be honest, I'm pretty sure that was apparent around five or more years ago.

He's such a bloody hypocrite. Definitely agree with the second sentence. "The world is not divided between East and West. You are American, I am Iranian, we don’t know each other, but we talk together and we understand each other perfectly. The difference between you and your government is much bigger than the difference between you and me. And the difference between me and my government is much bigger than the difference between me and you. And our governments are very much the same." - Marjane Satrapi

When he's on form he's utterly brutal.

Anyhow, I'm having that whisky I was talking about earlier. This discussion can continue another time. Once more, going into another new year: That last part is as important as it has ever been.