Albanese calls for ‘peaceful, democratic transition’ of power in Venezuela after US capture of Nicolás Maduro Australian prime minister says government has ‘long held concerns about the situation’ in South American country

Coward

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

It’s 8 a.m., and I’ve already misplaced my sanity.

My hopelessness waves to your hopelessness.

Flying fox shooting in Queensland: what’s changed and why it matters - Bats and Trees Society of Cairns Queensland has quietly reversed plans to phase out flying fox shooting. Learn what’s changed, why it matters, and how endangered bats are affected.

🦇 #Petition
Please take action for #FlyingFoxes in #Queensland
batsoc.org.au/flying-fox-s...

Three million people live in Caracas, five million in the metro area. It's one of the densest cities in South America. Remember this in the morning when they try to spin this as anything other than a cold-blooded attack on a major civilian center.

The #FIFA Peace Prize entitles you to one free military campaign in the CONMEBOL state of your choice.

queen

early discworld is not as polished as later discworld but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's still pretty good

I’m excited

Biljana Đurđević
The Last Days Santa Claus, 2001

Killing the Dead by John Blair review – a gloriously gruesome history of vampires Shroud-chewers, lip-smackers and suckers populate this fascinating study of ‘the unquiet dead’ across the centuries

Killing the Dead by John Blair review – a gloriously gruesome history of vampires

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...

Terror, androgyny and benevolence: a brief history of angels in Christianity A surprising number of people say they are open to the existence of angels. Their Old Testament identities are very different, however, to how they are seen today.

Terror, androgyny and benevolence: a brief history of angels in Christianity

theconversation.com/terror-andro...

Nigel Thomson
Cliff, 1981

Medieval peasants probably enjoyed their holiday festivities more than you do The Middle Ages weren’t as dreary and desperate as you’d think, and peasants often had weeks of idle time during the holidays. On Christmas Day, the party was just getting started.

Medieval peasants probably enjoyed their holiday festivities more than you do

theconversation.com/medieval-pea...

We became smug and complacent about gun control.

Australia’s gun lobby says it’s ‘winning’ the fight against firearm control as numbers surge There are now more than 4m guns in the community – almost double the number recorded in the years after the Port Arthur massacre that prompted a national crackdown

What happened at Bondi is a tragedy and a crime. If there's one thing I hope for, it's that we don't fall into "now is not the time to talk about gun control" bullshit.

Now is EXACTLY the time to talk about gun control. We need to stop this from happening again. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

I don’t understand why people ask you a question if they don’t want an honest answer. I was asked by someone what I would like for Christmas, but apparently a secluded castle on the Scottish coast “isn’t realistic.”

Death as a Rider, 1897
Christian Griepenkerl

Eyes open 🥹
Recently we were asked if we could show the size of a microbat newborn; this pup was around 5 days old and weighed just 1.3 grams.
We were lucky enough to capture this photo just as her eyes were opening for the first time!

The Devil’s Chair Photo: Fran Halsall

The Stiperstones in Shropshire are a series of distinctive rocks that include 'The Devil’s Chair'.

The Devil was carrying the stones in his apron when a string broke, causing him to drop them.

Annually, on 21st December, local ghosts meet at the stones for their spooky AGM 👻
#FolkloreThursday

Australia’s kids are saved! The social media ban is here and all the teens are outside touching grass | First Dog on the Moon (Vaping, shoplifting Labubus and getting bullied in person)

So good
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Ryoko Kimura
Beauty of my Dish - Banquet of Mermaids (2018)

Why on earth would Meghan still want to be called the Duchess of Sussex? | Arwa Mahdawi She and her husband seem keen on their titles and accolades, and less enthusiastic about putting in the work that ordinarily goes with them, writes Arwa Mahdawi

“…two things can be true at once: one can acknowledge that Meghan was treated poorly while also noting that she and Harry seem awfully keen to enjoy all the privileges of royalty, without many of the responsibilities.” 👏
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Garden of memory: the house of a dictator Once a playground of tyranny, now a sanctuary of remembrance — how Uruguay turned its dark past into living history

Garden of memory: the house of a dictator

www.meer.com/en/100165-ga...

Operation Condor: the secret system that terrorised exiled South American dissidents 50 years ago Many of Operation Condor’s crimes remain shrouded in impunity and silence, 50 years after its creation.

Operation Condor: the secret system that terrorised exiled South American dissidents 50 years ago

theconversation.com/operation-co...

The news has been coming so fast, I did another later which might not otherwise see the light.