All that is needed to deal with asylum claims:

1. Allow applications at any UK embassy or consulate in the world.

2. Deal with all applications / appeals in the UK within 28 days.

Rwanda is an expensive political gimmick.

With growing tension in the Middle East, Baghdad finds itself trying to balance between the US and Iran. However, little attention is paid to the people of #Iraq . Sarah Edgcumbe 〓〓 discusses the challenges facing Iraqi Roma and Gypsies. Read here loom.ly/eH2LJXs

“Nemir figured that if he could replicate Joyce’s linguistic feat in Kurdish, with all its grammatical and historical texture, then nobody would be able to dismiss it as an inferior language.” On translating “Ulysses” into Kurdish: buff.ly/43VWkVO

On #WorldArtDay I want to introduce you to some incredible contemporary artists from Uzbekistan. From textiles to miniatures, photography to print making, these Central Asian artists are putting their creative mark on the art world. 🧵

This campaign is so close to getting a debate in parliament: only 15k signatures needed. Please sign, share, let people know about this.

Please sign/share - petition calling on the UK govt to establish a Gaza family reunion scheme. Like the one for Ukraine. The call comes from a collective of Palestinians from Gaza and others. They'd like 100,000 signatures by 18 April so don't be shy! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/6485…

For too long, @conservatives have taken Salisbury & South Wiltshire for granted. That's why I'm fighting for change: to get Salisbury the fair deal we deserve. #GeneralElectionNow #salisbury #tisbury

🧳Today's City A.M. travel🧳Megan Eaves-Egenes on a posh USA train and Sophie Ibbotson on a posh UK picnic !!

cityam.com/from-mountains…

cityam.com/the-poshest-pi… #Travel

While #China 's geopolitical and economic rise is well documented, its influence on the global narcotics trade is less well known. Marcus Andreopoulos and Dr Sajjan Gohel analyse the role of Chinese technology in the global drugs trade. Read here loom.ly/070yBhY

.Larisa Brown’s The Gardener of Lashkar Gah sticks in my mind - it’s one of the best & most distressing books I’ve read on contemporary Afghanistan. My review has been published this week by Royal Society for Asian Affairs.
tandfonline.com/eprint/RUCWINA…

I reviewed Justin Marozzi’s new anthology of writing from Afghanistan for Royal Society for Asian Affairs & highly recommend it as an introduction to the country’s rich literary heritage & culture. tandfonline.com/eprint/PCI57E9…

When the Afghan Government collapsed and the Taliban took control in summer 2021, too many otherwise well-informed people were shocked. The diplomatic recognition of the Taliban need not come as such a surprise.

- My latest blog for Royal Society for Asian Affairs.

rsaa.org.uk/blog/who-will-…

One of the important things about Royal Society for Asian Affairs its long & continually evolving views on current affairs. We’ve made available for free 15 journal articles about Palestine & Israel, published in Asian Affairs from 1918 to 2011. tandfonline.com/journals/raaf2…

My book 'Getting Out: The Ukrainian Cricket Team's Last Stand on the Front Lines of War' will be released with Pitch Publishing on 1.4.24.

The page below has an introduction to the wondrous true story. Sign up for information on how to pre-order:

mailchi.mp/28c075c49f4d/g…

Direct flights from London to Tbilisi finally restart in May, so Sophie Ibbotson wrote about her favourite city for Telegraph Travel.
telegraph.co.uk/travel/destina…

Here's the latest footage and snow report from Les Gets Portes du Soleil, where higher slopes are in good condition but off-piste slopes are ready for a refresh – thanks to Sophie Ibbotson John E Fry and Ski Weekends ❄️

Any exciting new books about Asia being published in 2024? I need ideas for Royal Society for Asian Affairs’ Reading Room. We’ve recently read Leon McCarron’s Wounded Tigris, Togzhan Kassenova’s Atomic Steppe, & Matthew Teller’s Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, & Noo Saro-Wiwa’s Black Ghosts is up next.

.Sophie Ibbotson has written about Hidden Kazakhstan for Wanderlust magazine wanderlust.co.uk/discover/air-a…

Four scenes from the Snow Queen, illustrated by artist Yasemin Wigglesworth. This is my favourite part of the Christmas decorations at NTKingstonLacy.

If you live in a rural community in the UK, please complete Future Economic Rural Network (FERN)’s survey on the government’s proposed income threshold for immigrants.