A journalist whose (brilliant) reporting was submitted as evidence in the legal challenge against the UK deportation plan finds herself denied entry to Rwanda. Something for MPs and peers to reflect upon this week.

Alongside all the mourning there is comfort in how the Sudanese people have pooled their few resources and opened up their homes - a reminder that a country is not a place, but a spirit.

My column on one year of Sudan's war.

theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Nuclear deterrence certainly exists. And works. It just doesn't do anyone any good.

My profile of the remarkable Russian volunteer Alexander Demidenko through the accounts of his friends, family and the Ukrainian refugees he helped return to their home country. Demidenko died last week in jail after being tortured
theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

'Iran wouldn't dare attack if Trump was POTUS'

Friend, don't be gaslit.

Iran attacked 2 US BASES while Trump was in office.

Over 100 US soldiers got brain injuries, but Trump WH tried to bury the story.

By Julian Borger
theguardian.com/us-news/2021/s…

Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman has a remarkable quote from a source with knowledge of Israeli discussions on Iran: 'If the talks were broadcast live on Youtube, you'd have 4 million people clamoring at Ben Gurion airport trying to get out of here.' ynet.co.il/news/article/b…

Journalism schools ought to do modules deconstructing the glory of Sam Jones intros.

theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

Self-inflicted wound from the BBC. Mark’s books/journalism on defence & intelligence have been world-class. What a loss.

Two Israeli officials 'said that one possible response — a retaliatory strike that some members of the cabinet had proposed — was called off after Prime Minister of Israel spoke to President Biden on Saturday, and b/c the strikes caused relatively minor damage.' Ronen Bergman
nytimes.com/live/2024/04/1…

There seems to be a lot of anger in Ukraine today. US spent more than a billion in interceptors alone yesterday (to defend against an attack provoked by Israel itself), but total support for Ukraine in 2024 has been … 300 million

Preventing further escalation may hinge on both sides feeling able to claim victory—Iran on the basis of what gets through, and Israel on the basis of what doesn’t. No guarantee that’s what happens, of course; but escalation isn’t inevitable, contrary to some commentary.

Looks like UK is involved in trying to help shoot down Iranian drones and missiles tonight as rumours swirl of involvement of RAF Typhoons from Akrotiri

Downing St operational update coming soon

One important factor is whether Iran launches ballistic missiles. I’d guess that such missiles will be launched—*if* indeed they are—about 1-2 hours from now. For various reasons, their use would probably increase the likelihood of further escalation.

Angela Rayner & I both grew up in poverty on council estates. We both left school without any qualifications. We both worked hard against almost insurmountable odds to get where we are today & we both now hold a truth twisting, law breaking government to account.

No wonder…

“Thank God Demidenko was there to help us.” How Russia tortured and killed a volunteer whose house near the border was the last stop for nearly 1000 Ukrainians escaping the country as part of a modern day underground railroad. Read Pjotr Sauer theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

US says China sending Russia engines for drones & cruise missiles, machine tools for ballistic missiles, chips for missiles, tanks & aircraft. Chinese & Russian groups working to jointly produce drones in Russia
- partly based on newly declassified intel
on.ft.com/3xxqPVV

Reflections on the OJ Simpson trial, 30 years on. Latest column theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

JUST POSTED: Donald Trump will make history on Monday as the 1st ex-president to face a criminal trial. I explain why a case involving a hush-money payoff to a porn star is an appropriate first trial for Trump.

motherjones.com/politics/2024/…

Süddeutsche Zeitung takes up latest in story of filmmaker Nina Gladitz’s decades’ long effort to bring Leni Riefenstahl to justice, reported as The Guardian Long Read in 2021. Age-old tale of perpetrator silencing their victim. Time to act, WDR!
theguardian.com/news/2021/dec/…

In 2016, we asked Ian Jack to write about Trident for The Guardian Long Read, and he produced this masterpiece —which makes very clear, over 10000 words, that the purpose of “our nuclear deterrent” has little to do with keeping us safe.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/f…