This is a short clip with one reason why the UK hasn't proscribed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Apologies for the AI's difficulty with the word 'proscribe'. open.substack.com/pub/nusbacher

The Lion and the unicorn unleashed on the dragon. A reset with China, a head-of-government visit, a reduction in China's tax on British whisky, and the promise of visa-free travel for Brits in China. Only Starmer could go to China, I guess.

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, when we commemorate the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, and the victims of subsequent genocides. For last year's Holocaust Memorial Day, we shared a piece by our History student, Lucy Pollock, whose family were killed in the Holocaust.

Today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, we remember the millions of lives lost and reaffirm our commitment to stand against hatred and prejudice. #HolocaustMemorialDay #HMD2026

Last days to apply for the International Women's Day fencing event in Oviedo, Asturias!

That was unclear. The punitive tariffs aren't trade sanctions; they're sales taxes for Americans. They make imports less competitive, but if required the UK and the EU can reply with countervailing tariffs that make US products less competitive overseas. In an election year!

‘Right now, somebody in the FCDO is deciding which knighthood to offer Donald Trump’. - Me Key point from my interview about #greenland on @bbcarabic.bsky.social today: If the US wants to tariff up US prices in advance of their Nov congressional elections, Europe will consider retaliation.

I had some good challenge this AM from @steffanpowell.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social just now when I said that Tony Blair has a track record in the Middle East of achieving the square root of Fanny Adams. Sum: with the support of the Foreign Service and the Civil Service Blair could achieve.

I've been staying in this room every time I've been to the castle for three years. I love the battlements outside the window, but I particularly love the heraldic weathercock.

It's dark. It's cold. It's raining. Of course I'm out in Windsor Castle talking to my phone camera!

I’ve just spent some of my evening creating a brief video to add to the new short-short General Offensive! General Uprising! podcast on my Substack. This is all fairly rough-n-ready, and when I saw a bit of glare off my big screen I just slung Bill the Cat up there to block it. Bill by Kes Smith.

I went on a bit longer this time: what do you think? Also, what do you think my next short video should be about?

I'm starting to record some short current affairs videos, mostly looking at strategy, and mostly trying to keep it fairly large scale. First one off the blocks: Greenland.

With you on @lbc from 10pm - Trump discussing how to acquire Greenland, says White House with @rufusgifford.bsky.social & @nusbacher.bsky.social - Drink drive limit set to be cut in road safety - Pensioners could lose ticket to ride Tube for free Plus @winmc01.bsky.social on Jan 6th anniversary

Venezuela was a proof of concept: you can put a leader in the bag and put him on ice while you hand his successor a list of demands. Could work in Greenland, right? Could also be the beginning of Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign against … what was that guy’s name again? Vance! That was the guy.

I was going to put text on this photo to make a meme. I realised that if you don't recognise the still, it would take too much text to explain the joke. If you do recognise the still, you don't need text.

If the US government is going to ‘run’ #Venezuela for the foreseeable future, it’s going to be devoting a lot of civil affairs capability and nation-building resource to the task. After dropping the post-conflict reconstruction ball in Iraq, it’s going to be quite an opportunity.

The US signalled that it is willing to be cavalier about use of force in its sphere of influence; unhappy to see other acknowledged major powers (China and Russia) coming in without permission. This also signals to China and Russia that they can do likewise in their spheres.

Suppression of enemy air defence is the first mission of every air force. That was fairly spectacular in Venezuela this morning, and there are already indications of airmobile operations following. What is the US fighting for? It's the new great power spheres of influence.

Best wishes for 2026, people. Look after yourselves, pick your battles, achieve decisive results, and be prepared to cut your losses.

One more year without the Tom Bombadil Christmas Special I’ve been longing for.

Today I was Debbie Downer: Russia-Ukraine will not be over by Christmas. Putting a multinational force into Ukraine to enforce an unwelcome agreement on the Ukrainians would not end well. Sir Trevor on Times Radio pressed for hope: I think Putin could…retire. Men of his age retire all the time.

Today Ahmed al-Ahmad sanctified himself, his family, Islam and Australia with his courage and presence of mind. He looked death in his face. It appears that in the process he took a round. God bless him and heal him in body and spirit.

Demonising Jews, including Israelis, has consequences. Today is not the day to say that criticism of Israeli government policy isn't anti-Semitic; the language of abomination isn't criticism. Today is not the day to score points off Australian govt policy. Ask me tomorrow.

Jews being killed in Australia has me in a fury this morning as I walk through London. I'll think of something to say when I've calmed down a little.

Today’s German vocabulary word is Leidenschaft. Fun fact: it appears to have been coined in the 17th C by poet Philipp von Zesen so that he would have a German word for passion.

Yes, I can discuss Atlantic Bastion in 400 words. Yes, I weep blood to leave stuff out. www.lbc.co.uk/article/russ...

I was writing a piece today that considers the North Atlantic, and the new US National Security Strategy is going to require the US either to have some fairly solid alliances with European states with navies … or concede the North Atlantic to Russia.

The Russian and American talking heads gave the Putin line in fluent Arabic last night. Through my excellent interpreter I said that Zelenskiy has to engage with 🇺🇸 advocating for 🇷🇺, and needs to be held back by 🇬🇧/🇪🇺. The only peace Putin and Witkoff are offering 🇺🇦 is defeat.

I offered a fairly grim bet with @benkentish.bsky.social last week: Russia wouldn't take a ceasefire offer, just in effect a surrender. Ben didn't take the bet, which was wise. VV Putin thinks he's winning: why would he stop?

I’m just now listening back to the podcast we recorded earlier today with Venetia Rainey and James Crisp on the @telegraph.co.uk Battle Lines podcast. The realities of modern war and the potential of conscription isn’t always what people think it is.

Yelena said in this interview that the British response to the Russian Navy seabed warfare ship was ‘hysterical’, and that we should pay attention to the Russian surrender terms sent to Ukraine. So I read those terms, and they caused hysterics.

The ‘Russian Wish List’ terms of surrender that the US put to Ukraine have the US mediating between Russia and NATO. This isn’t a thing, because the US is part of NATO. The Russian who wrote this, knows this. Steve Witkoff apparently missed this, unless someone has agreed to take the US out of NATO.

Yes, I accused Russia’s cable-seeking spy ship of piracy on the high seas (if it cuts a cable), and I might have written at least one cheque that the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff couldn’t cash. Also, when my Russian oppo said Yantar conducts pure ocean research I couldn’t hold back giggles.

Hehe… und ihr dachtet, Rauchen an der Zapfsäule sei gefährlich? 😂

Last night I had a lot to say to @bbcmaryam.bsky.social about Chinese intelligence operations in the UK. The surrounding text suggested all sorts of other things the viewer could pay attention to if I was insufficiently engaging.

Just off the phone with a print journalist, talking about the UK Defence Secretary shouting at the Russian spy vessel Yantar in UK waters. He’s shouting because he doesn’t want you to hear today’s Parliamentary defence committee’s fairly damning report on UK capabilities.

Just went on Times at One with @dannythefink.bsky.social to talk about #Iran as a threat outside the region. As I was talking it was dawning on me that people who aren’t in the trade don’t really understand how much operational dirty work and influence the Iranians are up to overseas.

Palestine Action would be nobodies if they weren't proscribed. It's stupid policy to make police arrest loads of people on terrorism charges for peacefully supporting a gang of vandals. Police have better things to do. www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/2025...

I have discovered the CEEFAUX Bsky feed and I may be some time.

11 years ago I had the honour of laying a wreath at Cenotaph. On 11 November we recall that remembrance is a duty.

My comment to Tanita Sims on @radionewshub.bsky.social today: the terms of the Gaza ceasefire haven't been worked out, and #Hamas has made clear that they aren't going to comply with the ones that have, so Israel will continue to destroy Hamas capability.

Russian lady was — honest to gawd — threatening me (well all of NATO) with red war if we give the Ukrainians ‘long range capabilities’ (Tomahawks and more Storm Shadow). Me: nice airbase you’ve got in Saratov; shame if somebody broke it (not in exactly those words). @bbcarabic.bsky.social

Most interesting: the US view that Hamas shooting Palestinians is a ceasefire violation. I said to @sandywarr.bsky.social this morning that for generations we have been ready to let Middle Eastern dictators do as they please with people from their own ethnic groups.

Hamas Telegram channels are being clear: this is a rebuilding phase, and Hamas aren’t letting go of their control over Gaza. This explains their shooting dissidents (and posting the videos), and it explains the delays in releasing dead hostages.

Points this AM from my chat with @sandywarr.bsky.social on @lbcnews.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk: Rafah crossing isn’t for aid, it’s for moving people betw Gaza and Egypt. 560T/day of aid are moving into Gaza, which is not enough for 2.4M people. US view that Hamas killing Palestinians violates ceasefire

Dear everyone who has posted anything this morning not directly related to the hostage/prisoner exchange at the Gaza border: please forgive me for all the things I thought about you.

Bibi Netanyahu is going to come back from Sharm where a complete realignment of the region is announced, to a government visit from Indonesia, a whole new world, and hostage family hostility gone. They’ve got to be printing the election posters now.

Just off a call with Carole Walker on Times Radio. I have to find a better way of saying Hamas are 'methodologically Maoist', but sure as shootin' they are going to ratchet back to a rebuilding phase. They're not giving up, and threats to kill leadership aren't bothering them.

My rant on @lbc.co.uk this morning: @ianpayne.bsky.social asked what questions were asked by the UK PM chairing Cobra yesterday. The big Q was whether this was the first of a planned series of synagogue attacks. The second: why is the Home Sec arresting protesters and failing to protect British 🧵