Great book by former head of GCHQ, David Ormond, on crises and how to survive them, from natural disasters to pandemics and cyber attacks.

What a beautiful find by Stephen Hitchen FCDO, memorial to Gertrude Bell. Persian poem reads:
Fate is but a hand with five fingers/ when seeks to command his desire
Puts two on their eyes and two on their ears/ and one their lips commanding “silence”.

The CDS reconfirms the assumption that the aid to #Israel was also defending #Iran to avoid a wide scale war:

The reason British jets joined those of the United States, France and others in defending Israel was to prevent the conflict with Hamas escalating toward all-out war.

Only two years ago we had a hard time getting our kids to local schools and now schools have so many vacancies. So #Brexit and crack down on #immigration is working and proponents happy? Now how do we deal with low birth rate and dwindling work force? theguardian.com/education/2024…

Another great work by Marianna Spring on the fake #SadiqKhan video and how #AI and the speed such information spreads could lead to social unrest. Luckily we don’t prosecute people for making fake videos but how can we counter malicious intentions of our adversaries?

If this is correct, it’s fair to say that what US/partners did was as much about protecting #Iran as it was about defending #Israel . Mass casualties could have already caused all hell to break loose but as it stands it’s harder for Israel to decide how to retaliate.
#RAF #IDF

'Don't Play the Ethnic Card in Iran'
My latest for Middle East Forum Observer: An explanation why the US, Washington think tanks, Israel & Arab states shouldn't promote ethnic separatism in #Iran , written in response to Mordechai Kedar مردخاي كيدار מרדכי קידר arguing opposite:

meforum.org/65715/dont-pla…

Finished this by Rory Stewart! Such a great book to listen to specially at a time when #Conservatives are on the verge of losing power. I was for him to be PM but Tories didn’t appreciate his multifaceted personality and moderate ways. The “odd man” could be their saviour!

Interesting taking into account #Japan has quite a tough #immigration policy. So what’s a sound solution to aging populations if not immigration? (Not a rhetorical question) bbc.com/news/business-…

Oxford University has just discovered the “Guardian Council”! This of course all started with the admissions and will now go after the academics. thetimes.co.uk/article/oxford…

Excellent observation on “reconstruction” efforts post war and resilience of US logistics in MENA.
#Gaza #Israel #Iran #MENA

Don’t miss this French series on BBC iPlayer, so well made.
#BBC #France #Cœursnoirs #Iraq

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…

How can events in the Middle East affect our cup of tea of which we drink 100 million per day in UK!
#RedSea #Houthis #Yemen #Iran #tea bbc.co.uk/news/business-…

This is a very good explainer on the #universities and foreign students. Basically foreign students are subsidising home students and unless the government (tax payer) is happy to pay there’s not much that can be done. It’s simple economics for cash strapped universities.

Scandalous from where we are sitting (my daughter waiting for her offers) but that’s how UK operates and prospers from property to health, education and services. It’s either higher taxes like European countries or relying on foreign money. Is there a middle way?
#Russellgroup

So much for patriotism and all that! This is probably why the CGS is raising the idea of #conscription .
#Army #Russia

The largest poll of 18-30 year olds in France signals a more tolerant attitude and distancing from strict laïcité!
#France #religion #Islam #Laicite

It seems that #DublinRiot started through #misinformation . This just shows the risk we face and the carnage that can be brought about by adversarial state actors if a simple fake news can create such a havoc.

No compromise on food in 🇫🇷: fois gras and baguette any time and at any price!
#France

Quite a contrast to how #China has completely ignored #Iran over years of sanctions. Chinese banks have increased lending to #Russia from $2.22bn to $9.7bn over 14 months to March. Iranians promoting the pivot to East need to wonder why!
ft.com/content/96349a…