Had the pleasure of contributing to Monocle Radio, commenting on the top stories today w/ @andrewmueller.bsky.social @burcuozcelik.bsky.social. Particularly important discussion on the impact of urban warfare on Gaza.

My views on how the practice of violence prevention can better adapt to contexts affected by organised crime: globalinitiative.net/analysis/loc...

Really interesting study of how criminal governance can emerge in a UK city: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

The increasing occurrence urban warfare is one aspect of a broader trend: the blurring between warfare and civilian life. @2eatsoup.bsky.social writes a great think piece for @icrc.org on how the use of technology is allowing these two spheres to come even closer: blogs.icrc.org/law-and-poli...

It’s Friday and even before I finish work I got a treat: this dog sitting next to me in a cafe came to say hi several times. Why can’t life (and humans!) be as simple as dogs?

Excavators are an integral part of current military activities in Gaza - the role of urban destruction for control of cities in current urban war is high (also seen in Syria by Assad regime). www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

As a @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social PGR student, I am supporting this: chng.it/SCV27VmhPJ

A grim picture. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

The problem is not so much attacks on Maiduguri, but the insecurity of the myriad small and medium towns around it. They are all connected, and attacks in one sector or major road affect all of them. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Khartoum residents speak of widespread fear, looting and rape during RSF forces' presence in the city, which is one of Africa's largest and has just been recovered by Sadanese military. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/w...

Not another war, please. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/w...

Wonderful rainbow on my way home today. London does have its weather wonders.

Cities are at the forefront of climate risks and disasters in the current climate crisis: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The @oecd-ocde.bsky.social States of Fragility 2025 report reflects the increasing global concern with urban insecurity. It says rapid urbanisation requires urgent attention to security provision and offers opportunities for organised crime in cities. www.oecd.org/en/publicati...

What better news could China get today than that the largest country in Latin America is deeply concerned about tariffs on its steel exports to the US? Brazil is a top exporter and the tariffs would be a watershed moment for the bilateral relationship. oglobo.globo.com/economia/not...

Urban areas are once again the frontlines of conflict in Sudan. This means more fighting in densely inhabited areas, more urban infrastrucutre and housing that will have to be rebuilt and more displacement to other urban areas unprepared to cope. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

The gutting of US aid may well be one of the most impactful events in global politics, security and stability in years. apple.news/ALIe_0gc-QJO...

The study of urbicide and (problematic) postconflict urban reconstruction has a bright future ahead of it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The potential (some would say likely) proliferation of combat drones poses a human security risk to densely inhabited areas. warontherocks.com/2025/02/the-... @warontherocks.bsky.social

I suspect USAID is first because it's "foreign aid" and fewer Americans will object. But once the precedent is established, expect unilateral dismantling of domestic institutions too

It's often secondary cities and towns that suffer from conflict in rural areas. This seems to be the case with illicit economies and combat around Goma and Rubaya, DRC: globalinitiative.net/analysis/m23...

One more city to add to the long list of those in war today: Goma, in the DRC, is again the site of battles between gov and M23 for control of strategic site of mining region.

Behind the personal tragedies unfolding in Gaza, this story is a very concrete evidence of urbicide - the destruction not 'only' of lives or buildings but of cities and communities. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/w...

Urbanisation has made secondary cities even more critical for armed conflict trajectories. In Syria, fall of Aleppo was a key moment in Assad regime's fall. Now same seems to be happening in Sudan w/ the army capture of Wad Madani, country's 2nd city. www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250114-sud...

Cheesy but sincere post: I’m cautiously hopeful about Syria. After so much bad news in world affairs not just lately but over the past decade, this is a rare opportunity for a genuine success in transitioning from conflict to peace. Many challenges remain.

Syrian cities face a new phase of the conflict, showing how valuable urban areas are for rebel groups. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/w...

Interesting account of how improving governance in towns and cities has helped Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to achieve their conquest of Aleppo and resist the Assad regime: warontherocks.com/2024/12/the-...

I'm looking fwd to moderating this panel on criminal governance and transnational crime in the triborder Amazonian city of Letícia/Tabatinga on 04 Dec. Come along! gitoc.heysummit.com/talks/illici...

A really dramatic moment for Brazilian democracy. High-ranking chiefs of the armed forces testified to the Federal Police about intent by Bolsonaro admin ppl to declare state of siege + stage coup, says @oglobo.globo.com. oglobo.globo.com/politica/not...

New report shows how transnational organised crime has affected governance and security in cities on tri-border area of Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Analysis by our Amazon Basin Observatory of Illicit Economies. globalinitiative.net/analysis/ill...