Sam Dowling

After a babysitting fail so glad we managed to get an extra ticket for this eve’s @divinecomedyhq gig at @BarbicanCentre . Who knew #Cassanova was a lullaby record?!? #frontrow #divinecomedy #barbican #parenting

@JohnSimpsonNews You, @JonSnowblog and Kate Adie were inspirational when I was planning my route into journalism. Huge respect and admiration for your approach and your integrity.

I’ve just spent an enjoyable hour blocking people who can’t be polite when they disagree with me. If you’re rude, threatening, ageist or abusive, straight down the toilet you go. Simple pleasures... Why not just disagree without being offensive? That way I’ll listen to you.

@EthanLevins2 Apple Maps vs Google Maps

I talked to a few sources in Israel and the frustration with the ceasefire is deep. The are incredibly unhappy there, whether in the army or the government: 1) An Israeli official described the announcement as a "complete surprise," claiming the White House provided a last-minute notification rather than engaging in a joint strategic rollout. 2) Just 24 hours prior, senior Israeli officials were publicly telling reporters they did not expect any ceasefire in the near future. They were blindsided. 3) I was told that there was an operation to assassinate Mojtaba Khamenei, which Netanyahu was heavily invested in, which he had tried to convince Trump to wait for. 4) Security officials have leaked concerns that the 14-day pause provides a critical "breather" for Iran to hide or further bury its uranium stockpiles that were recently exposed by Israeli strikes. 5) Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are already threatening that they will collapse the government if the two-week pause transitions into a permanent arrangement without the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. 6) While Tel Aviv saw jubilant celebrations from hostage families, residents in the Upper Galilee view the pause as a security failure that leaves them under the threat of Hezbollah. In the north they are deeply concerned that they will never be safe again. 7) Some in the Mossad still believe that Israel was on the verge of toppling the Islamic Republic. Those reports were shown to the Trump administration which ignored them. 8) Israeli intelligence is certain that while strikes damaged the Natanz and Minzadehei facilities, the core material was not neutralized. All this to say, there is a sense of coitus interruptus in Israeli security circles. They had more targets they wanted to pursue and are now concerned that Trump will force them to stop in Lebanon. Having said that, the plan is now to escalate in Lebanon and Gaza in order to have some achievements. It is difficult for the security establishment to deal with the fact that Hamas, Hezbollah and the IRGC are Mall still in charge after all this time and all this effort. any are blaming Netanyahu for this outcome.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) intends to almost quadruple its usual prices for a round-trip train ticket from the center of Boston to Gillette Stadium during the 2026 World Cup. According to the MBTA website, the authority usually charges people $20 for a return ticket from train stations in the center of Boston for special events such as New England Patriots games in the NFL, New England Revolution in MLS, or concerts. However, soccer fans who attended the exhibition match between France and Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxoboro on Thursday saw the price increased by 50 per cent, up to $30 per-person, without any options of concessions. The purchase regulations stated that children under 11 would need to possess a valid ticket. Yet even the prices charged on Thursday are set to more than double during the World Cup this summer, while they will be almost four times the usual prices asked of NFL and MLS fans. Exclusive story from @AdamCrafton_ and @mjshrimper here ⬇️ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/71501…

Seeing a lot of staff announcing their last day/s working for the NHS on LinkedIn today. Expertise and organisational memory being lost and large sums in redundancy being paid out. I wonder how long it will be until the NHS realises it needed them?

Outrageous! #theft

Are you SERIOUS, Pentagon?

@amanpour Read the full exclusive from @noahjrobertson & @ellen_fra here: washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

@SebPillon @threadreaderapp #unroll please

Let's take a trip through some real life examples shall we? Important to remember that specialists are employed by Trusts and NHSE who largely dictate how they should work. Speaking out is hard and I'm sure many don't relish working like this (happy to be challenged on that!)

Today, a 5 year old child in Lebanon will have known 2 wars and possibly been forced to flee their home twice. “Long after the bombs stop, the children of Lebanon will still be reeling from the psychological impact of the multiple conflicts that they’ve experienced.” link.nbcnews.com/view/69a0d037f…

Ukraine has initiated a travel ban to EU countries and sanctions against nearly 130 Russian commanders. A document containing their personal data, as well as information about around 300 of their relatives, has been submitted to the European Union.

@LoubugWindsor @BBCNews The hereditary peers caucus by party and hold elections by party to select the next lab/tory/lib dem hereditary to take a seat when one from that party grouping dies! And same applies to the crossbenchers/unaligned.

@BBCNews Labour has eradicated any truly impartial Lords, only Party loyalists remain.

Hereditary peers to be removed from Lords as bill passes bbc.in/4seAibO

NEW: Trump says Starmer, “should be giving us, without question or hesitation, things like bases”. (New York Post) Astonishing that he thinks he can issue commands to the leaders of foreign nations, including allies. Countries need to keep telling him “no”. Sovereignty matters.

Well, This Is Why is certainly getting noticed… Not far off 300k views on yesterday’s episode over on Yourube. We’re trying to do a lot more video content so let me know your thoughts. Europe is finally standing up to Donald Trump. This Is Why. youtu.be/qEPomvKTwh4?si…

Love this! Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

The Embassy of Iran in South Africa sent a message to the Embassy of Ukraine informing us about the opening of a book of condolences for the deceased ayatollah and his associates. Ukrainian Ambassador Dr. Olexander Scherba sent them a response. Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador, Since you notified the Embassy of Ukraine of the book of condolences for the deceased Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran’s military leadership, I feel compelled to remind you of the following. As military allies of the Russian Federation, the deceased leaders of Iran had on their hands the blood of thousands of Ukrainian citizens – men and women, children and elderly – killed with the help of the infamous Iran-made “Shahed” drones and other military know-how so eagerly provided to Russia by your government. Your leaders were complicit in bringing endless grief to Ukrainian civilians. Being a person of faith, I try not to rejoice in the death of other people, even those who chose to be tormentors of my country, who did nothing bad to theirs. But as someone who has spent three years to the tune of Iran-created machines of death howling every night in the sky over Kyiv and other peaceful Ukrainian cities, I cannot help but wish for every culprit to meet the justice they deserve. If not by human law, then in the face of God Almighty. Ambassador, I do not know you personally and have no grudge against you. Sometimes, good diplomats must speak for bad leaders and their policies. But I hope you understand that I won’t express condolences for someone whose death I do not mourn. Sincerely, Dr. Olexander Scherba Ambassador

Hopefully it includes growing credit unions and mutuals- supporting local need & community connections. I never managed to get a credit union off the ground when in Parliament, despite working with @ABCULCUs & @ShaunSpiers1, But wouldn’t a Parly CU focus minds & raise awareness?

Full programme on @channel5_tv and discussion of the findings here channel5.com/show/andrew-ca…

Yesterday we conducted snap polling for @channel5_tv following the fall out from Andrew’s arrest. Here is what we found. Half of the country think worse of the Royal family as a result of Andrew’s relationship with Epstein.