"Shame!" shouted many Ukrainian lawmakers as a majority formed from Zelensky's ruling party, pro-Russian oppo bloc & Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna voted to, in effect, dismantle Ukraine's independent anticorruption institutions. My story on a grim day: ft.com/content/21cf3d…

Today, hundreds of Israelis marched in the center of Tel Aviv against the starvation of Gaza at the hands of the Israeli government. Some protesters held sacks of flour, others held photos of Palestinian children killed by Israeli airstrikes or from hunger.

I’m both in shock and in awe Shocked at such a stupid and cack-handed move by Zelensky. And in awe of the foundations of Ukrainian democracy are so strong that they can protest openly at bad government.

This did not just happen overnight, even if it feels that way. This is a shift months in the making. I wrote last week about it coming to a head – and got a lot of criticism from many of the same people now condemning Zelensky. Read this for context: ft.com/content/22f4d5…

Smotrich on Army Radio now: I'm working meticulously the last two years in Judea and Samaria to implement de facto annexation. Slowly but surely, we'll get to formal annexation.

חיילים, סדיר ומילואים, הורים של חיילים, סבים של חיילים, כבר אין דרך אחרת: סרבו לשרת בעזה. סרבו, סרבו, סרבו. החטופים ומשפחותיהם האומללות נבגדו בידי ממשלת ישראל. הרעב ההמוני בעזה הוא עובדה מחרידה ונחרצת. ההרג היומי במרכזי חלוקת המזון איננו הגנה עצמית אלא פשע מלחמה מזעזע. החוק

Israel will probably survive, hopefully replace its vile government, and perhaps allow its moderates to step in, clear up the horrible political mess and extinguish the international calamity. Its young people, from Nova survivors to traumatized soldiers, will then be able to

We stand with healthcare workers in Gaza who are doing lifesaving work in most unimaginably challenging and horrific circumstances. Tedros and his team have my full support.

Here's the proof of that story we've read in that book 🥺😮

Our shrinking and ageing world. Have smartphones played a role in our declining fertility? How will we look after our elderly people? Is migration the answer? The Gideon Rachman Review discusses with demographer Nicholas Eberstadt. on.ft.com/3IKlbVV via @financialtimes

This is an admission that the US-Israeli premise for months--that intensified military action and growing civilian suffering will help free the hostages--has been tragically misguided. There is no defensible rationale for a policy that is causing so much human suffering and

Some shocking revelations, especially about India, and later how smartphones may be a factor. Listened to the episode a few days ago and don't remember hearing how poverty may be a defining reason too. Our shrinking and ageing world ft.com/content/43a007… via @ft Gideon Rachman

Fascinating and slightly chilling account of efforts to halt the ongoing rehabilitation of Stalin

Demograaf Nicholas Eberstadt geïnterviewd door ⁦Gideon Rachman⁩. Over de bijna gelijktijdige wereldwijde daling van het geboortecijfer en de introductie van de smartphone, China als een groot Turkije qua skill sets en over Afrika. podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the…

What a truly horrible post and a million miles away from true British values

My parents were murdered on October 7th, and if anyone is slapping us in the face, it's people like you, who for the past 20 years have failed to prevent violence and bloodshed in Israel-Palestine, whilst making inflammatory remarks. Your administration could stop the war

Would Republicans swallow a Trump pardon — or some other form of clemency — for Epstein’s longtime accomplice, Maxwell? I think they would. They might sputter, initially, but I think they would. The Fifth Avenue Principle, enunciated by Trump in the 2016 cycle, is solid. Watch.

A snow leopard cub has been born at Chester Zoo.

So having told us that Britain no longer has free speech and is being wrecked by immigration, Vance and Trump both choose to spend their holidays here. What is this? Disaster tourism?

This is important testimony that cuts through all the bluster from the Israeli government and the American contractors