Ryan Houghton

1/ Totally unserious. But journalists should take it seriously and ask Swinney this: if Scotland had to bear the full costs of Scottish assets - which is what this would mean - how could that possibly cut bills in Scotland?

Bob Mueller was one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI, transforming the bureau after 9/11 and saving countless lives. But it was his relentless commitment to the rule of law and his unwavering belief in our bedrock values that made him one of the most respected public servants of our time. Michelle and I send our condolences to Bob’s family, and everyone who knew and admired him.

Great letter in today's FT on the ICJ's Chagos "ruling", by a proper lawyer... 👇

Make the Microsoft CEO search for an email on Outlook live on camera

Desperate spin: the draft agreement with Mauritius is not ratified and unless it's ratified it has no legal status. Which court would has jurisdiction anyway?

NEW: The Supreme Court has held that IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf…

If you’re thinking of weighing in about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, bear in mind that now he has been arrested, and now released under investigation, proceedings are ‘active’ and that means contempt of court laws apply…

@chesscom 112

guess how many chess pieces are in the jar! 👇 closest guess wins a player signed #SCCFinals poster!

Wondering where the sunshine has gone? Spare a thought for northeast Scotland; Aberdeen Dyce hasn't recorded any sunshine since 21 January! This is provisionally the longest sunless period here since records began in 1957 ☁️

Great appointment.

British soldiers home from Afghanistan after doing nothing to help the USA

That's not true. The treaty hasn't been ratified. Unless and until it is ratified it is null and without effect.

Most foreign policy issues are difficult and complicated. Greenland isn’t one of them. Let’s have a look at seven points: 1. The U.S. needs Greenland for its own defense - Golden Dome, radars, basing. ▶️ The United States can do virtually anything it'd like in Greenland, security-wise, without taking possession of it. The 1951 Greenland Defense Agreement, which was renewed in 2004, allows the United States to build bases there, station troops, and more. 2. Greenland is about to fall into the hands of Russia and China, and the U.S. can’t let that happen. ▶️ The U.S. once had 10,000 U.S. troops in Greenland; now there are around 200. If there is an imminent threat of Chinese or Russian takeover (there isn’t), perhaps start by increasing that number? 3. Russian and Chinese ships are swarming Greenland and the Danes can’t fend them off. ▶️ If Russian and Chinese ships are really menacing the island, the U.S. Navy could sail around it right now en masse. It isn’t. 4. The U.S. needs to own Greenland because "you don't defend leases." Even if Denmark allows full access, there’s a difference between owning and renting. ▶️ This is the No One Washes a Rental Car theory of international relations. In reality, the United States is committed to defending many allies whose territory it does not own. Trump himself defended Israel just last year. The whole point of alliances is mutual defense of one another's territory. That doesn't require seizing it.  5. The Danes are bad allies, so they should hand over Greenland. ▶️ Denmark has been a model ally. Not so long ago, Danes fought for America’s defense rather than the other way around. Among 40-plus allies and partners in Afghanistan, Denmark lost the most soldiers as a percentage of its population. Our allies defended the U.S., which, by the way, none of them owns. 6. This is the new Manifest Destiny. We’re an expansionist, frontier people. Greenland should, one way or the other, join the ever-growing Republic. ▶️ The post-1945 order is predicated a prohibition against conquest. Countries don’t acquire the territory of another without their consent. Iraq doesn’t get Kuwait, Russia can’t have Ukraine, Canada won’t be the 51st state, and the U.S. doesn’t compel Greenland to join. We’ve seen a world before in which conquest abounds. It’s the law of the jungle. 7. This isn’t real, just some fun administration trolling of the ever-nervous Europeans. ▶️ It is at a minimum a major distraction from real issues the transatlantic allies should focus on: Russia, Ukraine, Iran, China. Prodding allies to distrust our word and intentions does not amount to good policy. Most foreign policy issues are difficult and complicated. Greenland isn’t one of them. The sooner this manufactured crisis fades, the better.

4. It's - obviously - all about politics The Scottish Government's Tax Advisory Group (of which I am a member) had no involvement in the decision-making process. This was an entirely political measure.

@PeterPrinsley Your knowledge of constitutional convention is as strong as your knowledge of carry over procedure

@waitbutwhy Incorrect, try this hrhiggins.co.uk/products/vienn…

Cheap coffee tastes better than fancy coffee

'His first thought was this is not good enough, let me make a difference' Hamish Weir spoke to #BBCBreakfast about the enduring legacy of his father - the late British Lions Rugby Union player Doddie Weir - as he launched this year's Doddie Aid to support research into MND bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

I'm seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.

Managed not to split the cork.