Wil Barber

This is such a good piece, absolutely vital reading

Journalists seem to have done extremely well at incorporating written social media into their day-to-day but genuinely can't think of many who have adopted tiktok or short forum video (@sstapczynski.bsky.social only person that springs to mind). Perhaps this is part of the problem?

Humphrey’s world: how the Samuel Smith beer baron built Britain’s strangest pub chain Since the 1970s, Humphrey Smith has acquired scores of pubs and historic properties around the UK. But time after time, he has left the buildings empty. Why has he allowed his empire to moulder?

The Guardian long read on the strange world of Samuel Smith pubs is as brilliant as everyone has said. The sheer amount of reporting that has gone into this piece is palpable in every line. Late entry for best British business story of the year? www.theguardian.com/news/2024/de...

South Korea's Yoon faces second impeachment vote over martial law bid A defiant South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a second impeachment vote on Saturday over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, a move that shocked the country, split his party and imperilled his presidency half way through his term.

South Korea lawmakers vote to impeach President Yoon over martial law bid - www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

This surely can't be true...any British Empire historians out there who know more about this?

London saw a surprising benefit to fining high-polluting cars: More active kids Four in 10 London children stopped driving and started walking to school a year after the city's clean air zone went into effect.

Road charging is never popular but what an amazing side benefit, with 40% of children switching to active ways of getting school: grist.org/cities/londo.... Meaning much broader health benefits for these children in addition to reduced exposure to harmful emissions

How to break up with your X Four rules for exiting the site formerly known as Twitter

“To nick a phrase from the great Victor Lewis-Smith, it is like having a pissing area in a pool. Many British bathers, aghast at the sight of Musk using his platform to nurture a safe space for hate speech, have decided it is time to get out, rinse off, and find a new home.” on.ft.com/3YPjHQa

Dodge this