@mpolachowska

Magic Weapons: Drones As Russia’s disruption campaign increases in scale, it is clear that using drones against civil aviation comes close to being a magic weapon.

Magic Weapons: Drones | "As Europe dithers, Russia’s successful drone offensive intensifies." @edwardlucas.bsky.social

Autocracy, Inc Sneak peek at the new preface

Read the new preface:
open.substack.com/pub/anneappl...

A desperate, opportunist press and vicious politicians: no wonder the debate on refugees is so awful | Jane Martinson Migration is one of the most important issues of our time and needs serious consideration. History will damn much of the UK media for failing to do that, says Guardian columnist Jane Martinson

The circle of hell.

@janemartinson.bsky.social: “What of the #BBC? Can it be and remain an honest broker? Can it reflect the views of those living in the country’s poorest neighbourhoods, who feel ignored by the media and politicians alike, and the concerns of refugees and those who support them?”

“It's a debate mired in political opportunism and submerged in mendacity, so that's a big ask of the BBC, but it must deliver.”

Every word of this by @janemartinson.bsky.social worth reading, in my view.

Ukraine Parliament ex-speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier,

BREAKING: Ukraine Parliament ex-speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv

Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier
euromaidanpress.com/2025/08/30/u...

Julie Skentelbery - Baby beavers born in the wild in Cornwall - BBC Sounds Laura Snell from Cornwall Wildlife Trust tells Julie the exciting news

Something good and hopeful for a change: 🦫😊

Vorige week hadden we ons Tweejaarlijkse Forum on European Culture deze keer onder het motoo Art Against the Tyrants. Met oa @anneapplebaum.bsky.social en de Oekraïnse filosoof Volodymyr Yermolenko. Mijn gesprek met deze twee over democratie, oorlog en Oekraine kan je terugkijken.

Donald Trump’s statement after Israeli attack on Iran:

Donald Trump’s statement after Israeli attack on Iran:

Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns "According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said

⚡️Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns.

"According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

Russia's Dizzying Drone Offensive After Ukraine struck bomber bases, evidence of the Kremlin's industrial transformation

Russia's Dizzying Drone Offensive
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...

so no, I don't think anything about X is better, and I like the fact that I find interesting and sometimes unexpected things to read here. Thanks to everybody for posting.

Something of a mini exodus at Channel 4, following the coming departure of Alex Mahon. Strategy chief Khalid Hayat is off, as is highly rated commissioner Ollie Madden.

Changing of the guard with a new chair and CEO coming in. Crucial moment for Channel 4 as pressure increases on broadcasters.

'It’s reminiscent of what I experienced in the Soviet Union'

Former Trump advisor Dr. Fiona Hill speaks to @markurban.bsky.social and Amber Rudd about the rise of authoritarianism and the atmosphere in Washington during Trump’s second term

#Trump

Thank you to @amnesty.org Media Awards for nominating us for Best Written Feature for our investigation into Press House in Gaza. It was part of the Gaza Project by @forbidden-stories.bsky.social. There's been no accountability for the deaths of Palestinian journalists. This is for them.

NATO's Rutte calls for 400% increase in air defenses to counter Russia, Bloomberg reports "Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

⚡️NATO's Rutte calls for 400% increase in air defenses to counter Russia, Bloomberg reports.

"Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Professor Lucy Easthope, emergency planner Lucy Easthope, emergency planner, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.

Fascinating. Born in Merseyside in 1978, Lucy cites the impact of watching the Hillsborough football disaster on TV as a child as one of the driving reasons of her decision to pursue a career in disaster management. She talks to @laurenlaverne.bsky.social

Tanks And The Dream of Victory After more than a century of action these machines defy the naysayers

Tanks And The Dream of Victory
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...

Why Juno Beach Still Matters - And What It Demands of Us Today It was 81 years ago today that Canadians stormed the beaches of Normandy.

At Juno Beach I realized that the democratic values that I had taken for granted didn't just happen.
They were paid for at an immense cost of lives and sacrifice.
Would we be willing to pay the same sacrifice if the darkness descended again?
My reflection on June 6.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says The drone attack on Bryansk was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities overnight on June 6.

⚡️ Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says.

The attack was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities the same evening.

Putin won

Such joy.

Patch of pansy flowers seeming to have angry faces.

“WHO YOU CALLING A BUNCH OF PANSIES?!?”

Congrats - not surprised at all!

A little gobsmacked by this - No1 on Apple pods on our launch weekend for @crisisroompod.bsky.social which I co-host with Amber Rudd & @mpolymer1.bsky.social decoding international security developments weekly - sign up wherever you get your podcasts

Our Secret Afghan Allies How far has the UK failed its former partners in the counter-terrorist fight?

Our Secret Afghan Allies
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...

Thanks to @resfoundation.bsky.social for hosting a great event to launch my book "Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails" last night.

& thanks to trade guru Allie Renison for taking part too 🙏

You can watch the event back here 👇📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS4_...

Russian attacks kill 3, injure 15 in Ukraine over past day The attacks took place as Russian and Ukrainian delegates are set to meet in Istanbul in what would be the first direct negotiations between the two parties since 2022.

⚡️ Russian attacks kill 3, injure 15 in Ukraine over past day.

A drone attack against Odesa and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi in Odesa Oblast injured three people, one of whom is in a critical condition, Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

A brave and thoughtful journalist!

Farewell to Andrew Norfolk, a fearless Times reporter He worked diligently to expose the abuse of girls by grooming gangs, while others in positions of power looked the other way

Dreadful news from The Times. Former Press Gazette journalist of the year Andrew Norfolk, who exposed the scandal of grooming gangs, has died aged 60 www.thetimes.com/comment/the-...