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My article for BBC Online about Pres Trump, NATO, and Ukraine: John Simpson: 2025 could be year for the history books as Trump shreds global norms www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 17 hours ago • 6 comments

As always, good article @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social 2025 could be as big a year to remember like 1968 or 1989 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 2025 will be remembered for Trumpmania destroying the US place in the world as the fount of law & freedom based on that law. Toxically incompetent.

submitted 18 hours ago • 1 comment

Trump’s methods at work: Reuters reports that the United States has threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite internet terminals if Kyiv does not reach a deal with the U.S. regarding critical mineral resources.

submitted 1 day ago • 20 comments

Something’s starting to happen…..

submitted 1 day ago • 5 comments

Film editor Andrew Hill cuts my interview with Shawn Yuan of BBC China for tonight’s Unspun World about Beijing’s view of the Ukraine crisis. Plus of course Trump’s war of words with Zelenskyy — and what’s happening in Syria. BBCTwo 11.05, or on iPlayer, BBC News Channel & World Service.

submitted 4 days ago • 4 comments

Pres Trump: ‘I think Europe has given $100bn [to Ukraine] and we’ve given, let’s say, $300bn plus.’ The most reliable figures show the EU has given $138bn to Ukraine, while the US has given $114bn. In 2024 Europe and Canada provided nearly 60% of NATO’s security aid to Ukraine.

submitted 4 days ago • 26 comments

One of the UK’s best known and successful human rights lawyers, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, is receiving vile threats to herself and her family as a direct result of her work on behalf of the British media tycoon Jimmy Lai, jailed in Hong Kong. Whoever, I wonder, could possibly be behind this?

submitted 6 days ago • 12 comments

What do Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, Donald Trump’s strong supporters, think now about his approach to Ukraine?

submitted 10 days ago • 18 comments

An alternative to Pres Trump’s Ukraine strategy: insist that Ukraine joins NATO and Russia stays out in the cold, until Putin agrees to pull back from some conquered territory and promises never to invade Ukraine again. Have Trump & Hegseth given up their best cards already?

submitted 10 days ago • 14 comments

John Bolton, scarcely a soft leftie, thinks they’ll be breaking out the champansky in the Kremlin. The German foreign minister thinks Trump has given away his key position by agreeing to meet Putin. Is this the art of the deal?

submitted 10 days ago • 13 comments

@johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social on #BBCTwo’s #UnspunWorld’ tonight 1105 speaks to Lyse Doucet about #Gaza, the #Palestinians, #Jordan+ #Trump+reveals the #EU is still spending more money on #Russian oil and gas than it gives to #Ukraine. “If you think the world’s going mad, ‘Unspun’ is worth a watch.”

submitted 11 days ago • 2 comments

One of my proudest moments: seeking out Marcel Proust’s family flat in the Boulevard Malesherbes in Paris,1976. It was now an office. Elderly lady in next room: ‘Who is it, Marie?’ Marie, sitting at her desk, looking at me: ‘No one, Suzanne. Just a Proustian.’ A Proustian — me.

submitted 12 days ago • 3 comments

Donald Trump is the first leading US politician to suggest that Ukraine might lose its independence and be reintegrated with Russia. He tells Fox News: “They may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday.”

submitted 12 days ago • 13 comments

Jimmy Lai, an immensely wealthy Hong Kong press baron, chose to return from safety abroad to stand with the supporters of freedom in HK. Today is his 1500th day in prison. Jimmy is a friend of mine and I have immense respect for him. He should be free!

submitted 16 days ago • 3 comments

Thank you so much, Jim.

submitted 16 days ago • 3 comments

Liz Truss was prime minister for 49 days before being forced out by her own party

submitted 16 days ago • 34 comments

Can’t say if the Ukrainian site Strana is correct in outlining Trump’s proposal for peace with Russia—face-to face talks, Easter ceasefire, Russia to keep the territory it’s captured, no NATO membership for Ukraine—but it leaves out one essential element: how to stop Putin coming back for more?

submitted 17 days ago • 15 comments

Really upset I couldn’t be at the memorial service at St Bride’s today for the magnificent Kim Sengupta of the Independent: immensely brave, highly intelligent, and a great writer. I miss him and his insights into world affairs immensely, but most of all I miss his company.

submitted 17 days ago • 1 comment

Dave Murphy & Dave Wilkins filming the start of tonight’s Unspun World (2305, BBC Two. What on earth is Donald Trump doing, and why is he doing it? Answers from top BBC correspondents. If it’s past your bedtime, catch it on iPlayer, or on BBC World and BBC World Service over the next four days.

submitted 18 days ago • 8 comments

Russia has designated two more journos from BBC News Russian as ‘foreign agents’. The BBC has condemned this, and promises ‘Our reporters will continue serving our Russian-speaking audiences just as they have done for almost 80 years: independently, fairly, and fearlessly.’

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

The Geneva Convention (which the US has ratified) forbids the permanent and forcible removal of citizens from their homes.

submitted 18 days ago • 34 comments

Can’t believe my good fortune at 80 to give a fundraising speech for my old Cambridge college Magdalene with a full house containing the Master, many old friends, Penny the lovely widow of my director of studies Arthur Sale, my tutor the superb Peter Grubb, & my charming grandson Noah.

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

Tonight's special #unspunworld from Latvia was an exceptional watch . We are plessed to have the fantastic @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

On tonight’s ‘Unspun World’ Russian special (11.05 BBC Two): the reason for Putin’s lasting support, plus the way he has turned on people who don’t conform — dissidents, the LGBT community, etc. If you miss it tonight, catch it on iPlayer or the BBC News Channel, or listen on BBC World Service.

submitted 25 days ago • 4 comments

#Unspunworld by @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social is excellent, a world affairs story or two covered cogently, unsparingly and in depth. I sometimes miss it on the move, but I’ve handily just discovered it’s a podcast too.

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment

Just about to launch into the haggis, neeps and tatties. I may be English, but I know that Burns is one of the finest poets and social visionaries that these islands have produced.

submitted 29 days ago • 14 comments

Prince Harry’s barrister, David Sherborne: ‘At her trial in 2014, Rebekah Brooks said, “When I was editor of The Sun we ran a clean ship.” 10 years later, when she is the CEO of the company, they now admit, when she was editor of The Sun, they ran a criminal enterprise.’

submitted 30 days ago • 7 comments

This 💯

submitted 30 days ago • 3 comments