"Before November ends, Russia will probably suffer its millionth casualty since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, based on current trends of about 1,000-1,200 soldiers killed or injured every day."

Dictatorships are often more fragile than they seem.

Boston may be an extreme example but the need for politicians, and our societies as a whole, to solve the interconnected inequality, housing & cost of living crisis is becoming urgent across much of the world. We cannot go on like this without it causing mayhem. apps.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/mone...

The document at the heart of the BBC’s crisis is unfairly selective and ignores most of the corporation’s output, writes David Aaronovitch. https://bit.ly/47EP1Fu

Let's honour those who defeated the Nazis & fought to give us our freedom by doing everything in our power to stop the scourge of fascism returning and ensure our democracy survives. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...

From someone who has lived in various parts of the free world (Britain, Europe & the US) & some places that are very much not free (Russia, Uzbekistan), and knows which is preferable, a heartfelt thank you to every veteran who fought & sacrificed for our freedom. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...

Whenever a vital British interest is at stake, you can always rely on Agent Farage to take the side of the malicious foreign actor seeking to damage Britain. #Putin #Trump #Russia #Brexit observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Whatever mistakes the BBC might make, we must not let this towering British national asset be destroyed by someone like Trump. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

We must never forget the people of all nations who fought off fascism & gave us the freedom, democracy & peace many of us still benefit from. Let's do everything we can to preserve it. Thanks too to the Dutch grave adopters for continuing to preserve this place & honouring the heroes buried there.

Trump cards: Why do the Chinese think they hold the cards to exploit Trump's America First Agenda? Read @ecfr.eu Director Mark Leonard's latest commentary! ⬇️

As an exiled Briton, I do find it striking that Britain's image overseas is often better than the folks at home might think. www.economist.com/britain/2025... From @economist.com

China is now making more money from exporting green energy technology than the US makes from fossil fuels. In all sorts of ways, America is making a historic blunder here.

The wake-up call: inews.co.uk/sport/rugby-...

My beautiful laundrette www.theguardian.com/football/202...

"For the first time in a while, Democrats now think they can see a pathway out of the gloom. Big victory margins are by far the best guardrail against midterm skullduggery." My column. on.ft.com/3LphRkt

It remains sickening that Putin & Russia inflicted their disgusting war on Ukraine, bringing death & destruction to millions of decent people. And it remains the case that increasing support to Ukraine is the only way to defeat this vile regime and stop it attacking others. ecfr.eu/article/the-...

This is what the insanity of America's gun & "stand your ground" laws lead to. The murder of an entirely innocent, hardworking mother of four kids. Sickening. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...

My lovely daughter Njira is a leading participant in Penn State University's huge THON appeal to support children with cancer & their families. Please consider a donation via the link below. donate.thon.org/participants...

Congress told us to “Go Fund Yourself.” And with your help, we can. Our federal funding might be gone, but we’re still here. Public media needs your support now more than ever.

I'm baffled by the debate about whether Democrat's should swing to the left (eg; Mamdani) or centre (eg; Spanberger). Surely the lesson of this week is that, as one of only two parties in a big country, they need to be a big tent. Do both & just pick the best candidate for each place & local voters.

Not the main issue here. Preventing imminent mass murder is. But it is noticable that self-proclaimed "superpower" China is usually nowhere to be seen when the difficult work of dealing with grave crises in the world needs to be done. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/o...

Like Bosnia & Rwanda before it, Sudan is facing a preventable massacre. But are the people in a position to do so willing to prevent it? Starting by putting pressure on the paymasters of the genocidal RSF in the UAE (Abu Dhabi & Dubai). #Trump #USA #NBA #ManCity www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/o...

A year after he was elected; are prices getting any cheaper, like he promised? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...

I'm surprised Trump is blaming other factors. I thought he'd take responsibility and reflect on what he could do better.... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...

CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1965: 20-1 CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1990: 75-1 CEO-to-worker pay ratio today: 280-to-1 Trickle-down economics was always a sham. Nothing has ever trickled down.

Still waiting for it to trickle down...

"....for more than a quarter of a century. He has literally done nothing more than be a gobshi*e". A reasonable summary of grifter, bigot & "the hypocrite's hypocrite" Nigel Farage's career as a professional politician & anti-British activist. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Trump, Rubio, Vance and co. decided to condemn 4 million (UN estimates) or more poor people to death from diseases such as HIV, malaria & tuberculosis because they thought it would be good for their political careers. What can you say about individuals like that? www.economist.com/middle-east-...

It's magnificent what people can do. Huge congratulations & immense credit to Rob Burrow's family, Sir Kevin Sinfield, Dr Jung, Leeds Hospitals Charity and everyone involved for everything they have done to build this groundbreaking MND Centre. www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/news/the-rob...

It's another lovely late Autumn afternoon here in New England.

I'd have loved to have been watching the Rugby League Ashes test instead. But American Football at Harvard is an interesting alternative. Some of the surprisingly colourful language I've overheard did at least remind me of watching @hullfcofficial.bsky.social at the Boulevard back in the old days.

That was a first. There was a college water polo game on in the big pool at MIT, whilst I was swimming in the smaller one. I've never exercised to the sound of a student brass band playing The Monkee's "I'm a Believer" at full volume before. Recommended. It encouraged me to do two extra lengths.🎺🎷

I am ashamed to say that I knew nothing about this story before. Surely there is more Britain can do to support the veterans of its nuclear tests and their descendants? on.ft.com/4qErFqE via @FT

An unfolding tragedy for the people of Mali. And a grim reminder that everything Russia touches turns to death and disaster. on.ft.com/49uzklg via @FT

It is no surprise that the utterly immoral United Arab Emirates is the main backer of the RSF group committing these horrific atrocities in Sudan. But the rest of us around the world bear responsibility for doing nothing about this conflict for far too long. news.un.org/en/story/202...

Best wishes to D66 in forming a coalition of the sane & honest after the Dutch election. Let Wilders go back to doing what he does best: ranting & whinging from the sidelines. It's clear by now that the far-right everywhere are not fit to run anything anywhere. www.reuters.com/world/dutch-...

It's bad news for most, especially the immigrant-dependent US, that the Trump regime is restricting annual refugee entries to 7,500, most of whom will be white Afrikaaner South Africans. Heck of a result for the rest of South Africa though.

Unemployment was the big issue during my youth. Today it is housing. This article explains its dangers well. "If European democracies cannot deliver on the basic promise of shelter, they invite not just economic dysfunction but political catastrophe". www.socialeurope.eu/europes-hous...

As a recent arrival in the US, it's staggering to learn that the Republican government of the world's wealthiest nation can't and won't feed millions of its kids. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/29/m...

Russia is basically a giant petrol station, rather than a balanced or developed economy. If we can stop it producing and selling petrol, then the Putin regime is pretty much ruined. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/w...

I'm delighted to be at the @bostonbruins.bsky.social game tonight against the, er, "Anaheim Mighty Ducks". Not sure if the visitors should have gone with a starting lineup of Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey & Louie. But I guess their coach isn't quackers (etc., etc....)

It's fantastic that the Rugby League Ashes are finally back. The Aussies might not be gods but they are bloody good. Let's hope England can match them. www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

Talented. Intensely competitive. An absolute pain the arse to the opposition. Brad Marchand is the kind of player every fan loves to have in their team. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/22/s...

"A stunning act of superpower suicide". www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/o...

"Trump has other peace plans, too. His latest for the Russia-Ukraine war is for Ukraine to surrender and give Putin what he is asking for. As usual, Trump’s moral cowardice is running neck-and-neck with his physical cowardice". @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social thedispatch.com/article/trum...

Infuriating quote from President Trump: “Both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing.” The Ukrainians are home. A home that’s been invaded by Russia.

For all sorts of reasons, there is nothing like Hull Fair. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

Carole Cadwalladr was right and we’d be in a better world if more people had listened.

I enjoyed this trip down memory lane to Uzbekistan, which has changed since I lived there over 25 years ago. But not completely. observer.co.uk/style/travel...