Ahead of the big showdown in Maastricht, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen debates 7 other #EU election lead candidates for the 1st time, VDL launched her campaign website. It's got bright orange and purple hues & a spiffy new logo ursula2024.eu/about

via International Intrigue 🌐: #Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s office says he's raised possibility of a further IMF bailout - its 24th – because notwithstanding growth & efforts to stabilise spending it still owes around $24B in debt & interest (triple what its central bank has in the vault)

Interesting reversal in #SolomonIslands , where #China -friendly leader Manasseh Sogavare pulled out of the race to continue as PM. The controversial 2022 security pact Sogavare signed with China will face new scrutiny. abc.net.au/news/2024-04-2… via ABC Australia

#Israel #Gaza #humanitariancrisis #campusProtests

Maybe it's the genocide

Our fellow traveller, who grew up in Gravesend, a town in northwest #Kent , tells us about childhood holidays in #Broadstairs . It was the days before the takeaway cup rashmee.com/our-english-wa…

#running #marathon #thisweekthosebooks open.substack.com/pub/thisweekth…

In light of the spreading protests across #American campuses, worth recalling what Catherine the Great reportedly said: “A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache”.
A good quote for the times we live in.
rashmee.com/the-age-of-pro…

Everything you wanted to know about #marathons …and then some. In just 4 minutes. Have a listen #thisweekthosebooks open.substack.com/pub/thisweekth…

#India #elections #thisweekthosebooks : we have stories about nation-building, re-branding and a tea shop boy's rise (hint: it’s not what you think)
Ramachandra Guha Aravind Adiga Andrew Whitehead beena sarwar Dr. S.Y. Quraishi
thisweekthosebooks.substack.com/p/india-jumbo-…

#marathons – in the long run.
#thisweekthosebooks

In the running world too, echoes of 1968! #marathon #thisweekthosebooks open.substack.com/pub/thisweekth…

‘Wish you weren’t here’: Postcard from #Venice , Canary Islands… #tourism rashmee.com/wish-you-weren…

“The trip to Pakistan never took place,” Zdechovský said in an email. He’d been invited as a member of the Parliament’s official delegation to South Asia, he said, but “after consideration of all the elements of the journey, I declined the invitation.”

Per POLITICOEurope:'Maleeha Chairman Arshad confirmed the authenticity of the invitation letter (to Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, that he did visit '3 months ago' & that it's an Overseas Employment Promoter, an official #Pakistani government designation...'

At the Conservative party conference in October 2016 Boris Johnson referred to Africa as “that country.” Fact: there are more than 50 countries in Africa. Another Fact:
Boris Johnson (Eton and Oxford) was then the UK’s Foreign Secretary.

The nine members of the transitional presidential council were installed this morning at the National Palace.

Ariel Henry has formally resigned.

Oh my god that picture of dad 🤣🤣🤣

Portugal needs to ‘pay the costs’ of slavery and colonialism, says president - if this means Portugal would consider paying reparations for its historic role in the slave trade, it would be the first European government to do so. theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

It's a-coming!