Kash Patel eliminated a crucial "Five Eyes" position in London after lying about doing it, compromising an intelligence-sharing agreement between that had held strong since 1938. “It was a jarring introduction to Mr. Patel’s leadership style for British officials.” www.rawstory.com/kash-patel-2...

We shall remember them.. Today and always, those who sacrifice their lives so that we can be safe, yesterday, today and tomorrow. With an image of one of the most impactful installations I have ever seen to honour them.. It took 300 people a year to make 888,246 flowers and install them

Agree

#BBCNews - South Africans trapped in Donbas after joining Russia-Ukraine war, Ramaphosa says www.bbc.com/news/article... #UkraineWar

The Russian president has ordered his officials to draft proposals, saying: ‘If the US . . . conducts such tests, then Russia must also take appropriate retaliatory steps’ on.ft.com/3JMGJSA

A few reached out asking about my silence on social media.. I have decided to take a step back in life to reflect and use my free time and few years ahead to restore this old walled garden on Rathlin island and re-open it as a vibrant haven.. On left garden now, on right an inspiration from Scotland

Turkey-Syria defense cooperation in effect: “One source said around 300 Syrians, mostly soldiers, but also some police officers, are currently being trained at two bases in central and eastern Turkey.” www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...

In other words, the coalition of the willing is unwilling to help until Ukraine doesn't need its help. Surely at some point someone has to realise that this approach just incentivises Putin to keep the war going?

Outstanding news that should be shared.

Hi All, Book deals on both sides of the Atlantic for War and Power: Who Wins Wars and Why--my latest book. If you want to buy a signed first edition from the UK bookseller Toppings, you can order it from this link. www.toppingbooks.co.uk/books/philli...

📣 I'm actively looking for new journalism assignments, writing or editing gigs, or other work that uses my communications skills, ideally to make positive social, cultural, or environmental impact. Check out what I do and hit me up if you have projects that might be a match! www.jenniferhattam.com

Strangely reassuring

Wow! I have found that Musk's support of Advance UK and Operation Raise the Colours (the flags campaign) has skewed the X algorithm so that Tommy Robinson posts now have greater reach than those of Nigel Farage. Statistics in this thread.

Elon Musk, one of the world’s most powerful and richest men is posting far right ideology. Remigration is commonly seen as a far right concept of ethnic cleansing. To deport migrants and their descendants to their place of racial ancestry. That would include me. Why are we not talking about this?

The EU is weighing legal ways to bypass unanimity in foreign policy, Bloomberg reports. A group of 12 countries backs shifting to qualified majority voting to speed up decisions on Ukraine and Russia, often blocked by Hungary. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The first ever successful & impactful cyber-physical attack on European critical infrastructure outside of Ukraine? “Russian hackers took control of a Norwegian dam this year, opening a floodgate and allowing water to flow unnoticed for four hours, Norway’s intelligence service has said.”

The disappearance of U.S. aid in Nigeria's northeast has threatened a school that supports children who are victims of Boko Haram extremists.

Key question:

What it’s like to be a Middle East Studies Professor in fall 2025 - my new post surveys the field, and my colleagues. Basically it sucks and it’s getting worse. But we haven’t given up. abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-its-lik...

“Europe is risking its political soul. It has put itself in a situation in which leaders cannot say publicly what they are actually trying to do. That is a recipe for distrust and a poison for democracy” on.ft.com/3HH41Ze

Conversation with Paul Krugman appeared just a little while ago. We discuss the war in Ukraine, and the appalling state of military analysis, the power of groupthink, etc. We also delve into my new book, War and Power. Enjoy. open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

With the recent flurry of diplomatic activity this past week, there has been renewed interest in the proposed 'Multinational Force Ukraine'. I write here on the proposed structure of this Reassurance Force, its pros, cons, and the question over its strategic utility.

Trump unpromptedly shows reporters a photo of Putin and himself, who he says may be a guest at next year's World Cup in the US: "I'm going to sign this for him... I thought it was a nice picture of him." Putin bombed an American non-military factory in Ukraine yesterday.

Agree

BREAKING: A Ukrainian citizen suspected of participating in the undersea explosions in 2022 that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany has been arrested, German prosecutors said.

I have not heard anything at all from government ministers nor the opposition nor many media outlets about the dangers of this epidemic of sweeping casual racism. It is sometimes seen as comical - as with Rupert Lowe and the rowers - but it is dangerous and dehumanising

Lol

People applying to live or work in the United States will now be screened for "anti-Americanism," including having their social media checked, authorities announced, in a tightening of restrictions that has alarmed immigration advocates and lawyers. https://cnn.it/4oJGgA8

More dangerous and inflammatory casual racism from Tommy Robinson and his online army having dangerous consequences in the north-east of England in promoting everyday xenophobia, online & real world racism against anybody who is not white. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Hi all, my latest book, War and Power, is out in 8 days time in the U.K. and Europe (a little longer in the USA and Canada). I was allowed to release an excerpt in my Substack of yesterday. I hope you like it. ,

Hi All, As we are now less than 10 days from the release of my latest book, War And Power, I have been able to send out this piece which has an excerpt from the introduction if you want to know more. I hope you find it worthwhile. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.

"U.S. President Trump put the onus on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to end the war with Russia ahead of their meeting in Washington on Monday — a stark contrast to the red carpet he rolled out days earlier for Russia’s leader Putin." @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/trum...

"Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Israel to call for an end to the Gaza war and a deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas." @bbcnews-world-rss.bsky.social www.bbc.com/news/article...

War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength - and Germany violates human rights more than El Salvador. on the upsidedown world of the new State Department human rights reports www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Crimea is the original sin in the war. The West should not have encouraged Ukraine to give it up in the first place but put all the pressure they can to push Russia out instead. Crimea was a big green light for Russia. Enormous shame on Obama and Merkel for appeasing Russia.

"Canada’s response to the extreme weather threat is being upended as the traditional epicentre of the blazes shifts as the climate warms" @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Every journalist and presenter should put this argument to Nigel Farage and all his Reform UK MPs every time they bleat on about ‘protecting women and girls’. The far right by definition is misogynistic and they are no exception. Their racist approach do a huge disservice to the issues & victims

In other words: They lied.

Spot on @dominicwaghorn.bsky.social news.sky.com/story/vladim...

Clear pattern emerging: impact of new taxes on private schools, non-doms and large farms is far smaller than typically suggested. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Wow. The University of Chicago, a world-class institution whose humanities faculty in the past has included Homi Bhabha & Lauren Berlant & Ralph Ellison & Hannah freaking Arendt, is getting rid of basically every graduate department involving the acknowledgment that other cultures & languages exist.

The ability of the Trump administration to come up with historical examples of Things You Absolutely Should Not Do Again, and propose doing them again, is amazing. We go straight from "Let's have a re-run of Munich 1938" to " Let's replicate the West Bank". www.thetimes.com/article/edd3...

“It’s safe to say that Trump does not have a single policymaking person who knows Russia and Ukraine advising him,” said Eric Rubin, a former career diplomat who served as US ambassador to Bulgaria during Trump’s first term. www.ft.com/content/89f3...

Consistent weakness toward Russia. (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/o...

The Syrian and Turkish MoDs signed a joint military cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Syrian Arab Army, developing its institutions and structure, and supporting the comprehensive reform of the security sector. sana.sy?p=2261361

Hopefully he is ready for a long rundown of historic gibberish and stories

Magnificent debunking of this hysterical Telegraph article.