Rishi Sunak dumps scheme to copy Donald Trump and move British Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. A Downing Street spokesperson tells Middle East Eye 'there are no current plans' to move embassy from Tel Aviv.

middleeasteye.net/news/uk-scraps…

Rishi Sunak dumps scheme to follow Donald Trump example and move British Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. A spokesperson tells Middle East Eye 'there are no current plans to change the location...'.

middleeasteye.net/news/uk-scraps…

Now let the King go too

Richard Heller and I talk to Sri Lankan migrant worker Fernando Sugath about his long struggle to put on cricket matches in the only public space available: a Beirut car park. Assisted by a Jesuit priest, a local bookseller, and the British ambassador:

chiswickcalendar.co.uk/episode-103-th…

That Parkinson show was something. Watch this.

Back in 1893 the Tory MP for Thanet James Lowther gave a speech saying the country was being 'overrun' by 'destitute foreign migrants' who should go back to where they came from. He was talking about Jews, including my great-great-grandparents.

Downing Street deny that this video, which was posted on the official UK Prime Minister Twitter account, breaks civil service political impartiality rules, despite repeated references to the Conservative Party, which he describes as a 'compassionate party'

So good to read this Telegraph obituary of Humayun Khan, Pakistan diplomat who managed relations with India with such wisdom and was a distinguished High Commission to Delhi and London:

Fascinating discussion about Twitter, free speech and Elon Musk with Nicky Campbell just now. To illustrate the terrible dangers of untrammelled free speech I cited our investigation into Facebook becoming broadcaster of genocidal hate speech in India:

middleeasteye.net/big-story/face…

Sunak was imposed by the markets in a financial coup d'etat. No-one voted for him. The reappointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary suggests we can expect austerity economics mitigated by ugly populism. My new column for Middle East Eye:

middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-ris…

Sunak was imposed by the markets in a financial coup d'etat. No-one voted for him. The reappointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary suggests we can expect austerity economics mitigated by ugly populism. My new column for Middle East Eye:

middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-ris…

No-one voted for Sunak. The financial markets have taken over management of the British state in a financial coup d'etat. They will insist on savage cuts. Can Sunak carry them without any democratic mandate? My new column for Middle East Eye:

middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-ris…

With murderous attacks on Muslims taking place from Bosnia in 1995 to China today, Peter Oborne dismantles the falsehoods that lie behind them, and he opens the way to a clearer and more truthful mutual understanding that will benefit us all in the long run.

NG 13000

Wendy Wimbush, clergyman’s daughter who was “good at sums' and went onto become BBC scorer, is our latest Podcast guest. She's pure delight. Many thanks to Roger Alton for standing in for me:

chiswickcalendar.co.uk/episode-102-we…

Interesting piece on Ukraine from former Indian diplomat MK Bhadrakumar

indianpunchline.com/us-breaks-ice-…

Wording of Johnson's statement wretched.
Johnson says he “reached out” to Sunak and Mordaunt to unite “in the national interest” but “sadly” they rejected him.
Implying that his leadership is in the national interest while theirs isn’t.

Those who backed Johnson have serious Qs to answer - a stunning lack of judgement. They backed a known liar, a lawbreaker, a serial adulterer, a man with a record of racist and Islamophobic statements, and someone who may well have misled Parliament. This should not be forgotten

The greatest cricketing rivalry in the world. What a magnificent match between superb opponents.