1. This is as close as we have been to an end to the war, ever since October 7.
2. Close doesn't mean we'll get there.
3. Netanyahu is cornered and may well lash out in a completely apocalyptic way, including on Iran. Praying he'll be stopped.

Catching up with a criminal barrister friend re Palestine Action:

Opening line of the month:

Morgan McSweeney & Keir Starmer, centrist genuises? Right. Today's PMQ exchange w Farage should put that notion to rest: Labour clearly plan to recycle their strategy from 2024—attack Tories not on politics but on efficacy—against Reform.
Do I even need to explain how monumentally suicidal this is 😱

Hashtag personal news 🐥 of the best possible kind. Born a dozen days ago, healthy, happy & wise. We are infinitely grateful to @uclh,to our doula, to our loved ones, and for the rare privilege of safety&care in our darkening world. We now have one extra reason to keep fighting for a better one.

Still as true, even if it now seems like an even taller order. But what else are prayers for?

Setting aside the broader question of cultural boycotts and their efficacy, the difference between the headline and the subhead tells you everything you need to know about this non-story.

My Christmas highlight is undoubtedly this song sheet from a small Apennine church, with Happy Xmas/War is Over transcribed phonetically for speakers of rural Bolognese dialect 🥹

Once in a while Ryanair is nice enough to fly you right over Rome, and...

Found a name for my lo-fi album

Happy snow day to those celebrating 😍