Chris Melvin
@chrismelv.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Bitterly disappointing that the UK has lost its Measles elimination status again.
"UN health body says Britain is one of six countries in Europe and central Asia where disease has become re-established"
"UN health body says Britain is one of six countries in Europe and central Asia where disease has become re-established"
UK loses WHO status as measles-free after rise in deaths and fall in jab uptake
UN health body says Britain is one of six countries in Europe and central Asia where disease has become re-established
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Bitterly disappointing that the UK has lost its Measles elimination status again.
"UN health body says Britain is one of six countries in Europe and central Asia where disease has become re-established"
"UN health body says Britain is one of six countries in Europe and central Asia where disease has become re-established"
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Reminder that, as of the latest reports, Liam Ramos is still in prison in Texas - now for 5 days.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
January 27, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Reminder that, as of the latest reports, Liam Ramos is still in prison in Texas - now for 5 days.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
Reposted by Chris Melvin
The BBC coverage is absolutely terrible.
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
January 24, 2026 at 11:00 PM
The BBC coverage is absolutely terrible.
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
It leads on "sharply contested narratives"
It has a dramatic skew to the US government
It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
Reposted by Chris Melvin
“Better” cars just isn’t enough. As I put it recently in my advice to Irish cities, “Your goal SHOULDNT be to replace a million fossil fuel vehicles with a million electric vehicles. It should be to replace a million fossil fuel vehicles with 250K electric vehicles. The answer HAS to be FEWER cars."
March 21, 2024 at 8:51 PM
“Better” cars just isn’t enough. As I put it recently in my advice to Irish cities, “Your goal SHOULDNT be to replace a million fossil fuel vehicles with a million electric vehicles. It should be to replace a million fossil fuel vehicles with 250K electric vehicles. The answer HAS to be FEWER cars."
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Fascinating findings from the latest Public Attitudes to Science survey, funded by @ukri.org
Britain has a science problem, but not the familiar ones of hostility or ignorance...
Britain has a science problem, but not the familiar ones of hostility or ignorance...
January 20, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Fascinating findings from the latest Public Attitudes to Science survey, funded by @ukri.org
Britain has a science problem, but not the familiar ones of hostility or ignorance...
Britain has a science problem, but not the familiar ones of hostility or ignorance...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
This is one of the strangest and most screwed-up stories I’ve worked on. www.londoncentric.media/p/tiktok-lon...
Who's secretly filming fake TikToks inside Londoners' homes?
We tracked down the viral video account invading people's houses to spread false claims about immigrants.
www.londoncentric.media
January 24, 2026 at 6:55 AM
This is one of the strangest and most screwed-up stories I’ve worked on. www.londoncentric.media/p/tiktok-lon...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Notable that Labour's losses to the right (11%) are dwarfed by their losses within bloc (27%) and Don't Knows / WNVs (21%). Collectively 4.5 times as large. The argument that ONLY losses to the right matter in the constituencies Labour have to defend seems increasingly tenuous to me.
🧵/ How would Britain vote at the start of 2026: Our new study of 17,000 Britons breaks down current voting intention by factors such as age, socio-economic classification, past vote, and more...
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
January 21, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Notable that Labour's losses to the right (11%) are dwarfed by their losses within bloc (27%) and Don't Knows / WNVs (21%). Collectively 4.5 times as large. The argument that ONLY losses to the right matter in the constituencies Labour have to defend seems increasingly tenuous to me.
Reposted by Chris Melvin
WOW, this is the earliest known group of chess pieces in the world! 🤩
It includes two foot-soldiers, two mounted riders, an elephant with rider, a figure driving two horses, and a figure driving a three-horse chariot. Ivory, AD 700s.
Samarkand State Museum-Reserve, Uzbekistan. 📷 me
#Archaeology
It includes two foot-soldiers, two mounted riders, an elephant with rider, a figure driving two horses, and a figure driving a three-horse chariot. Ivory, AD 700s.
Samarkand State Museum-Reserve, Uzbekistan. 📷 me
#Archaeology
January 21, 2026 at 4:40 PM
WOW, this is the earliest known group of chess pieces in the world! 🤩
It includes two foot-soldiers, two mounted riders, an elephant with rider, a figure driving two horses, and a figure driving a three-horse chariot. Ivory, AD 700s.
Samarkand State Museum-Reserve, Uzbekistan. 📷 me
#Archaeology
It includes two foot-soldiers, two mounted riders, an elephant with rider, a figure driving two horses, and a figure driving a three-horse chariot. Ivory, AD 700s.
Samarkand State Museum-Reserve, Uzbekistan. 📷 me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Chris Melvin
This will get massively overshadowed today and as ever the devil is in the detail, but is should be one of the best things Labour has done. It has the potential to improve the lives and finances of millions of people.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
'A national project to turn the tide': Government unveils £15bn Warm Homes Plan
Long-awaited plan aims to help millions of families to cut energy bills by installing solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and insulation
www.businessgreen.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:17 AM
This will get massively overshadowed today and as ever the devil is in the detail, but is should be one of the best things Labour has done. It has the potential to improve the lives and finances of millions of people.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4524489...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
A pretty unambiguous top line judgement in the UK's "National security assessment on global ecosystems" report, released today:
"Global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity" Confidence: high.
Time to speed up action, then?
www.gov.uk/government/p...
"Global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity" Confidence: high.
Time to speed up action, then?
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security
This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.
www.gov.uk
January 20, 2026 at 9:36 PM
A pretty unambiguous top line judgement in the UK's "National security assessment on global ecosystems" report, released today:
"Global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity" Confidence: high.
Time to speed up action, then?
www.gov.uk/government/p...
"Global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity" Confidence: high.
Time to speed up action, then?
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
We at New Scientist have put together a list of the 21 best ideas of the 21st century so far - you can see the full list here, but in this thread I will pull out a few of my favourites www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
New Scientist’s guide to the 21 best ideas of the 21st century
A quarter of a century in, this is our definitive pick of the ideas in science and technology that are already transforming the world
www.newscientist.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:36 PM
We at New Scientist have put together a list of the 21 best ideas of the 21st century so far - you can see the full list here, but in this thread I will pull out a few of my favourites www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
January 18, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Adelaide and the crisis of free speech iandunt.substack.com/p/adelaide-a...
January 16, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Adelaide and the crisis of free speech iandunt.substack.com/p/adelaide-a...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Robert Jenrick: an apology. thecritic.co.uk/fran...
January 15, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Robert Jenrick: an apology. thecritic.co.uk/fran...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
sales of internal-combustion engine collapsing in China, down by half since 2017. EVs have taken over
And, China's car exports are soaring.
US automakers getting completely left behind as they abandon EVs. Losing market share worldwide
www.ft.com/content/5b13...
And, China's car exports are soaring.
US automakers getting completely left behind as they abandon EVs. Losing market share worldwide
www.ft.com/content/5b13...
January 15, 2026 at 5:27 PM
sales of internal-combustion engine collapsing in China, down by half since 2017. EVs have taken over
And, China's car exports are soaring.
US automakers getting completely left behind as they abandon EVs. Losing market share worldwide
www.ft.com/content/5b13...
And, China's car exports are soaring.
US automakers getting completely left behind as they abandon EVs. Losing market share worldwide
www.ft.com/content/5b13...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Bluesky going to work over on Twitter
January 15, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Bluesky going to work over on Twitter
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Gratifying to see that some Labour MPs are now engaging with the bloc politics argument that @profjanegreen.bsky.social @psurridge.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk @robfordmancs.bsky.social @timbale.bsky.social and I have all been making.
labourlist.org/2026/01/avoi...
labourlist.org/2026/01/avoi...
'Avoiding the iceberg' - LabourList
Labour’s polling crisis isn’t about Reform voters but losing progressives. To avoid electoral collapse, the party must clarify its values and unite its bloc.
labourlist.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Gratifying to see that some Labour MPs are now engaging with the bloc politics argument that @profjanegreen.bsky.social @psurridge.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk @robfordmancs.bsky.social @timbale.bsky.social and I have all been making.
labourlist.org/2026/01/avoi...
labourlist.org/2026/01/avoi...
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Superb and absolutely damning long read on HS2.
www.ft.com/content/3f73... How the UK ended up building the world’s most expensive railway
www.ft.com/content/3f73... How the UK ended up building the world’s most expensive railway
January 13, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Superb and absolutely damning long read on HS2.
www.ft.com/content/3f73... How the UK ended up building the world’s most expensive railway
www.ft.com/content/3f73... How the UK ended up building the world’s most expensive railway
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Ukip have submitted a new logo and slogan to the Electoral Commission, swapping the £ pound sterling symbol for a cross, that looks very much like it is modelled on the Iron Cross used by Prussia & Germany 1871-1918 and Hitler's Nazi regime from 1933-45
January 13, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Ukip have submitted a new logo and slogan to the Electoral Commission, swapping the £ pound sterling symbol for a cross, that looks very much like it is modelled on the Iron Cross used by Prussia & Germany 1871-1918 and Hitler's Nazi regime from 1933-45
Reposted by Chris Melvin
January 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Chris Melvin
Stuff like this should lead to the suspension of the USAfrom international sporting associations
US vetoes most Ethiopian athletes for the World Crosscountry Championships in Florida by denying their visas. Ethiopia will be unable to record a team result in either the U20 men’s or U20 women’s races, ending its 44-year medal streak.
I’m sure the Olympics and World Cup are going to be fine. 😡
I’m sure the Olympics and World Cup are going to be fine. 😡
U.S. denies entry to 14 Ethiopian athletes ahead of World XC Championships - Canadian Running Magazine
According to a report from LetsRun.com, only four of the 18 Ethiopian U20 athletes had their U.S. visa applications accepted
runningmagazine.ca
January 11, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Stuff like this should lead to the suspension of the USAfrom international sporting associations