director, Future Cities Project; author of 'China's Urban Revolution' and 'New Chinese Architecture.' Critic on architecture, environmentalism, and China.
London
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In 1978, China's urban population was 18%; today it is 65%.
In 1978 there were 193 Chinese cities; today there are around 650.
Thanks @spectator #Chinesewhispers @CindyXiaodanYu for a thoroughly enjoyable chat about cities, development & progress in China.
spectator.co.uk/podcast/hist…
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While we're worried about airline co-pilots' mental health, Wired magazine explored "the preponderance of neurodivergent furries (among pilots and aircrew) many of whom may consider aviation among their specific obsessions"
wired.com/story/furry-airlin…
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Austin Williams retweeted
The central underpinning of progressivism is that disagreement with progressivism is a sign of moral failure.
Therefore, a white progressive man is perfectly comfortable calling a brown woman "racist" in public for disagreeing with him with no sense of irony.
Tonight on Question Time, I debated Suella Braverman on what it means to be English. I think there’s one word for her position
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Austin Williams retweeted
🚨 MILTON FRIEDMAN (1978): Young lawyer asked Milton about when it is okay for a Govt to force a free citizen to act.
Did you get the nuance in Milton's question about the difference between "society" and "govt"...
Do you think a man should be free to sin?
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Austin Williams retweeted
📰 "They shall not pass!"
Ninety years ago, on 4 October, ten-year-old Betty Diamond stood on Cable Street and shouted: "They shall not pass!"
This Sunday, her face returns—carried on a placard by a new generation. Cable Street Jews, Stop the Hate, Our Fight and other Jewish activists and allies are forming a proud, unapologetically Jewish bloc to march through the East End for the 90th anniversary of the day Mosley's Blackshirts were stopped.
The battle against those who'd drive Jews from public life isn't over; it continues this Sunday 4 October.
Join us at 12pm at Aldgate East Station, when we shall pass.
jewishnews.co.uk/the-battle-…
@StopTheHate_UK
@JewishNewsUK
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Even @guardian can't sell this idea positively
theguardian.com/society/2026…
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Battle of Ideas Festival (17th-18 Oct)
The biggest & best debate festival around. battleofideas.org.uk/
Hundreds of debates: from drones to devolution; from council housing to the care sector, from reparations to riots
Here's a conversation starter
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Austin Williams retweeted
Thrilled to be taking #BatteFest to Finland this year for our first ever festival in Helsinki - Saturday 31 October
Debates on populism, language wars, AI, sovereignty, Gen Z, free speech - see battleofideas.org.uk/aatoste…
Brilliant speakers inc: @SallamariAnnala Timo Soini @Furedibyte Markku Ruotsila @lindahart_FI @Fox_Claire Janne Saarikivi @CatharineHoey Jarkko Tontti, @justgayice Aatos Heikkinen, Toni Haakila Costa @MitroKutvonen Binga Tupamäki @epkaufm Milla Veteläinen @JakeRWeston Elias Rosengrén @MaximumCities
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Austin Williams retweeted
London's students marching on October 7th in support of Gaza.
Here's Georgina Mumford explaining why she thinks young people have become more extreme...
See Georgina speak @ #BattleFest 2026, but above all come to SPEAK - FREE SPEECH ALLOWED!!!
DETAILS - battleofideas.org.uk/program…
TICKETS - battleofideas.org.uk/battle-…
The Met has urged a group of students planning to march on Wednesday, 7 October – the anniversary of the terror attack on Israel – to hold their protest on a different day.
📰l news.met.police.uk/news/dac-…
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Best competition of the year.
My choices:
1 - The Relaxing Mantis
2 - The Nervous Fish
3 - The Giraffes
The caiman & The waving insect
theguardian.com/artanddesign…
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Accusation by insinuation.
theguardian.com/artanddesign…
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Nothing says Green pillock like moralising snacks
Perfect start to @TheGreenParty conference here in Brighton.
Kimchi croissant with Gaza cola from my Kemptown local.
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Great opening Battle of Ideas debate on AI @ZHA offices
AI: ‘Amazing Innovation’, ‘Alarming Inevitability’ or Armageddon Imminent’
Thoughtful presentations, great audience & enjoyable atmosphere
#BattleFest @acadofideas
@KulveerRanger @jbkmartins @wework4her
photo: Will Clark
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It's OK. Andy Burnham wants to rejoin the EU.
@afneil
Around 40% of the residents of Saint Denis are 1st generation immigrants. Ie they came over themselves. How can anyone believe this is anything other than a recipe for total breakdown and civil war?
It began with leftist politicians actively seeking to reshape their society totally, year-zero style. Now it is self perpetuating and it’s hard to see how any govt can restore any kind of balance. France faces a terrible, bloody future
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.@KulveerRanger @wework4her @jbkmartins on policy, practice and planning education. Will views collide on whether AI is a tool or a takeover.
Thursday 1 Oct, 6:30pm, ZHA, Goswell Rd, London. This will not be an AI-scripted TED-talk. eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-amazin…
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The Battle of Ideas starts here!
Tonight's event is sold out, but tickets for the main mega-festival (17 - 18 October) are available here:
battleofideas.org.uk/battle-…
@acadofideas #battlefest
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Austin Williams retweeted
Kim Jong Nandy solves the social media problem: if you’re under 16, you’re no longer social.
Made with AI
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Austin Williams retweeted
FULL SESSIONS are still being released from #BATTLEFEST 2025
In the last week...
- Can the state revitalise British industry?
- Should 16-year-olds have the vote?
- Why do progressives hate the working class?
- Grooming Gangs, Post Office & Scottish Self ID
Watch audience contributions and get a ticket to 2026's festival to make your own!!!
CHECK THEM OUT HERE - piped.video/battleofideas
PROGRAMME - battleofideas.org.uk/program…
2026 TICKETS - battleofideas.org.uk/battle-…
Made with AI
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