I'm excited to share the cover of my latest book, China's African Empire. It's the story of China's stealth colonialism in Africa, from its hunt for unicorns in 15th cent. to today's creeping control of data across the entire continent.Thanks to@headofzeus.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social

Delighted to be in Bucharest signing copies of my book, Children of the Night (Copiii Noptii), at one of the most beautiful bookshops in Europe. There’s never been a more important time to understand Romania’s epic and complicated history. Also, there’s a good chapter on Dracula! 🧛‍♂️🇷🇴🇬🇧

File on 4 Investigates - The Tyre Scandal - BBC Sounds How the UK's end-of-life tyres are causing health and environmental damage in India.

This is a humdinger. Important programme proving that UK exports pollution in huge quantities to villages in India: ill health, even death as a result. What’s the gvt doing? Thanks to brilliant @annameisel.bsky.social and @carljohnston.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Millions of UK tyres meant for recycling sent to furnaces in India The illegal makeshift plants cause serious health problems and huge environmental damage.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Brilliant original journalism from BBC. How drivers in UK are inadvertently poisoning villagers in India. It’s a must-listen, and should change Gvt policy. Thanks to brilliant @annameisel.bsky.social and @carljohnston.bsky.social

Russia plotting to kill on UK soil again, this time journalists. Court finds huge cell of Russian-sponsored spies trying to murder Putin critics here. And yet Trump thinks Russia does no wrong!

ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard...

Historic moment, British-Israeli hostage freed in first batch of three. Look at the send off from Hamas. Does it look like they’re defeated…. 🕊️

Thanks Ben, and Happy New Year!

Children of Ukraine FRONTLINE examines how thousands of Ukrainian children have been taken and held in Russian-controlled territory since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

I made an hour long documentary about this early in the year, for both Channel 4 in the UK and Frontline America. www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontli...

Romania’s on the cusp of political breakdown after elections were annulled. Communists, fascists and ex-Securitate battle for control. Seeded in 100 years of coups, assassinations, death cults and multiple dictatorships, there’s a pattern here. My book Children of the Night explains all.

Thanks Gemma. It’s scandalous, and the silence from university bureaucrats is scandalous too.

Christmas signing at magical Hatchards. Children of the Night is a great present for history buffs…as is Dictatorland. 🎁

I'm new here. If you follow me on the other side, please do the same here so we can all link up again. Here to talk about books, writing and documentary making. Seems a little less intense than the other place. Thank God.