Russians now bombing random seaside parks, for no discernible reason except terrorism

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The first poem I studied in-depth as a schoolboy in south Wales. Still remember it almost word for word. And still transfixed by the bleak beauty of R S Thomas (poet) poems.

Two hugely under-reported arrests.
Russian authorities have always stayed away from harassing, let alone arresting employees of the two biggest global news agencies. Another red line crossed.

Timely, moving and much-needed reminder to vote in June's European Parliament elections. If you don't, others will decide Europe's future for you.

It’s easy to focus on the tedious side of Brussels and take European values for granted when you are on the inside. But change your angle and it’s a whole different story. Georgia is really the best advertisment for the power, the appeal and the promise of Europe.

Tens of thousands of Georgians protesting the Russia-inspired foreign agents bill that will derail the country from the European path and drift back into the Russian orbit. #NoToRussianLaw 🇬🇪🇪🇺

Media freedom ‘perilously close to breaking point’ in several countries theguardian.com/media/2024/apr…

As for most of the last 20 years, the talk about European values may come from the west but the fight to defend them is largely taking place in the east.

“Move past the horse-race numbers and the gotcha moments, and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalise our politics and focus on what’s actually at stake.” Good advice for political reporters from Biden. theguardian.com/us-news/2024/a…

The Conservatives have become a “nationalist party of the right” says Tory MP defecting to Labour. theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

Tavr complains that the west has so far only supplied weapons to produce “a stalemate that is perhaps comfortable for the west, even though civilians keep dying”. theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

Holding hostages is a war crime. Civilians should never be treated as bargaining chips. Hamas and Islamic Jihad should immediately, and safely, release all civilian hostages. theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

I’m struck by the echo that one specific bit of Macron’s speech elicited: “Our Europe is mortal. It can die, and it all depends on our choices”. This is the definition of Pocock’s Machiavellian Moment: the moment when a polity becomes aware of its own mortality.

Donald Trump thinks telling someone they’re fired is something to laugh about.

I guess that’s how you look at the world from Mar-a-Lago.

Interesting observation by John Le Carré in the Pigeon Tunnel - autobiography and Apple TV film - “The cat sat on the mat is not a story; but the cat sat on the dog’s mat is.” Conflict is essential to any story.

Still true 10 years on

Travel free around Europe for a month (if you’re 18!) get you kids to apply now. 🚆

Some of the many reasons journalists are not trusted by the the public they produce news for. Data from Reuters Institute polling.

'In a world of super-abundant information there is a real premium on curation, on saving rather than wasting people’s time.' Totally agree with these seven tips on countering news avoidance from Reuters Institute