Matthew Hartley

This. I've seen this at least 7 times and it never fails to draw a tear. I'm sure this man was not alone. Even now there will be silent heroes. The rest of us are humbled, and so grateful for the good in humanity.

@shanaka86 Mummy and daddy will need to go in and clear up the toddler's mess!

BREAKING: Donald Trump just posted the most revealing statement of the war. Not because of what it says about Iran. Because of what it says about the country that started it. “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.” Read the architecture of that sentence. The United States launched strikes that killed Khamenei and closed a strait that was open on February 27. The closure created a jet fuel crisis across Europe. And now the President is telling the countries suffering from the crisis his war created to either buy American fuel or send their own navies to reopen the waterway his campaign shut down. He started the fire. He is now selling the water. And he is mocking the neighbours for not helping him light the match. “Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” The hard part is done. But the strait is still closed. The IRGC still operates the toll booth. Nine vessels transit per day versus 138. A Kuwaiti supertanker burned off Dubai this morning. Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, said it best from the other side: “The enemy that claimed it had destroyed our air force, navy and missile forces has now set its operational ambition to opening the Strait of Hormuz, a strait that was open before the Ramadan War began.” Trump and Ghalibaf are describing the same paradox from opposite ends of the same burning strait. And now look at what “buy from the U.S., we have plenty” actually means. In January, the United States overthrew Maduro and seized operational control of Venezuelan oil exports. Nine hundred thousand barrels per day, redirected from China to American and European refiners under General License 52, with proceeds flowing to a US Treasury account. The US created alternative supply BEFORE launching the strikes that destroyed the existing supply route. It is now offering to sell that alternative supply to the allies whose energy it disrupted. The arsonist is the fire department. The toll booth operator is the rescue service. The United Kingdom is in COBRA meetings today because of this. Petrol has risen to 152 pence per litre. Diesel is at 181 pence. Jet fuel prices have doubled. Household energy bills are forecast to rise £300 by July. The OECD has downgraded UK growth to 0.7 percent, the largest cut among G20 economies. Ten-year gilt yields have hit levels not seen since 2008. The Bank of England is frozen at 3.75 percent, unable to cut into an energy-driven inflation rebound. Starmer says he “won’t buckle” and will not send warships. Trump says the UK has “delayed courage.” The special relationship is now a transaction where one side sets the terms and the other absorbs the cost. “The U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.” This is not a statement about Iran. This is a statement about the post-war order. The United States is explicitly telling its closest ally that the era of guaranteed security is over, that Hormuz is someone else’s problem, and that American fuel is available for purchase at market rates. The country that spent 80 years guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the world’s most important chokepoint is now telling its allies to buy their way out of the crisis or fight their own way through it. The strait was open before the war. It is closed now. And the country that closed it is selling jet fuel to the countries that cannot get any. That is the 2026 world order in one Truth Social post. open.substack.com/pub/shanakaans…

🇮🇹 The speech that all of Italy heard. And that the world must hear. In a country that will host the Olympic Games, Italian Senator and Vice President of the Human Rights Commission Filippo Sensi took the floor and said what should have been said out loud long ago. He called it a disgrace that the International Olympic Committee disqualified Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych. Not for doping. Not for violating fair play. But for… memory. For a helmet bearing the faces of Ukrainian athletes — his friends, colleagues, champions — killed by Russia. The IOC stated that the helmet “did not comply with regulations.” And then Sensi asked a question that brought silence to the chamber: Does aggressive war comply with regulations? Is there a separate technical protocol for it? The correct angle of a missile strike? The permissible size of a crater? An athlete prepares for the Olympics for years. A Ukrainian athlete trains between air raid sirens, in shelters, under news of the dead. He overcomes fear, exhaustion, and loss. And he steps to the start line not only for a medal — but for the right to exist. And he is suspended… for remembering. Because memory is the most dangerous substance. It is hard to add to a prohibited list. But apparently, someone would very much like to. The senator named names. Just a few among more than 650 Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia: ▪️ Yevhenii Malyshev, 19, biathlete — killed in Kharkiv. ▪️ Mariia Lebid, 15 — missile strike in Dnipro. ▪️ Dmytro Sharpar, 25, figure skater — killed in Bakhmut. ▪️ Volodymyr Androsiuk, 22, track and field athlete — also Bakhmut. ▪️ Daria Kurdel, 20 — missile strike in Kharkiv. ▪️ Alina Perehutova, 14 — standing in line for water with her mother in Mariupol. ▪️ Maksym Halinichev, 22, boxer — killed defending Luhansk region. ▪️ Viktoriia Ivashko, 9, judoka — missile strike in Kyiv. ▪️ Kateryna Diachenko, 11, gymnast — airstrike on Mariupol. ▪️ Karina Bakur, 17, world kickboxing champion — shielded her father with her body. These were the faces Heraskevych wanted to carry with him to the start line. So that they would “compete” alongside him. So that their dream would not die with them. And for that, he was punished. Because it turns out that the faces of murdered athletes violate regulations. But their absence on the track does not. In his speech, Sensi said the most important thing: The Olympic Committee did not lose an athlete. It lost its most valuable medal — its conscience. Sport without memory is just a show. Sport without humanity is just decoration. Sport that fears truth is not about peace. The Olympic movement was born from the ideals of honor, dignity, and unity. Yet today Ukrainian athletes must prove not only their strength — but their right to remember their fallen. And if memory becomes a violation of regulations — then the problem is not the helmet. The world must hear this. Because silence is also a position. And indifference is also a choice. Memory cannot be disqualified. And conscience cannot be added to a prohibited list. 🇺🇦 We remember every one of them. And we will not allow their names to be erased.

@100Climbs Playground spat from grown up caught in the wrong. This can't go on, can it?

THIS is BOX OFFICE. They are tearing strips off each other.

Simon Yates is retiring. Here is a tribute to one of his greatest cycling moments. 🥹 🔊🎶

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview in March 2025 with the understanding it would only be released after her death. This is her final message from it.

@faustocoppi60 Integrity and dignity combined to make a magnanimous result for all. Chapeau.

Anna van der Breggen lets Kasia Niewiadoma take the silver medal because she remained in her wheel since Demi attacked. That's class. 🎩 #EuroRoad25

Robert De Niro roasting absolute shit out of Donnie on the Kimmel show is one of the best things that I’ve ever seen.

@PL1C1B @1963Firestick @Bikery1966 Surely then, you appreciate that a close pass, no matter how safe, is potentially 1. A threat 2. Risky. 3. Unnecessary. Not much place for common sense.

500m of riding and 4 drivers reported for close passing a cyclist. All 4 drivers will be receiving a Notice of Intended Prosecution for driving without consideration for another road user.

@PL1C1B @1963Firestick @Bikery1966 Why pass close at all?

@vismaleaseabike The right man won! Chapeau Wout. 🏆

🇫🇷 #TDF2025 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐕𝐀𝐍 MONTM𝐀𝐄𝐑𝐓RE! ❤️🇫🇷

@itvcycling It's so true, THE voice of the Tour IS Phil Liggett. Fabulous to see and hear him reminisce. There should be a series. Truly lovely man. Thankyou.

"We became attached at the hip, we did everything together, we didn't realise it" Phil Liggett on Paul Sherwen, and David Saunders.

@100Climbs It's an appalling waste of resources. Ringinglow, from Norfolk Arms up, didn't need it. Money changing hands for this is basic corruption.

Every road to the west of the city destroyed.

@laflammerouge16 Regardless of who or what, or even why, the overwhelming sentiment from stage 1's action could be more evidence that respect in the peloton has gone. Whilst it's exciting, the dignity of the sport is being lost as rules are not applied consistently and others are ridiculous.

In 2 Km Philipsen left the race road taking a shortcut because he couldn't pass a Cofidis and then he raised the hands during a sprint touching an opponent According to UCI rules, these are two yellows #TDF2025

@mattybrennan__ @vismaleaseabike Maybe time for an upgrade on the nickname? No rubbish for this Binman. Any improvement on this?

Tour of Norway 🇳🇴

@CyclingEve Absolutely 💯.

I hope the Belgian media remember this when they want to have a go at him again....Wout is an absolute legend, not only having a great palmarès himself, but also emptying himself for his team leader....

Cycling is the most weird and wonderful sport, honestly in what other competitive endeavour can you almost get knocked over by a goat, pet a taxidermy fox, and meet the pontiff, within the same race 🤯 #GirodItalia

@carltonkirby @carltonkirby Hope you don't mind. I saved this from last time. How right you are. The little guy does have a big heart who's hard as stone. This time he's in pink to the finish. Bike racing eh?!

Time for "Long Odds Lotto" where each day I give you a long-shot that one day might just happen! ... Stage 4 Giro: 200-1 Tord Gudmestad. Leadout star for Sam Bennett. Default team option on technical finish.

Me every morning.. 😅

@NairoInGreen Try the women's races too. Every time it's different.

This is the sport "Pogacar", "Roglic" and "Vingegaard" stole from me I'm floating