Day 32 of #COVID_SSA And the first of the daily updates from @KingsGHI @assetKGHI monitoring the outbreak in the 46 sub-Saharan African countries. #SouthSudan reported their 1st case yesterday, the 39th of the 46 SSA countries to do so @NIHRresearch @DFID_UK @WHOAFRO

No more the automaticity of the "special relationship". This is all about transactional politics, the only language that Trump understands.

As the cabinet of curiosities is assembled, it's clear we need a more strategically ambiguous UK/US approach. Keep 'em guessing. Are they an adversary or a friend? Can they count on our UN votes? Will we buddy up with EU or them? Do they get to drop in on the King (poor him!)

No, Israel should not be banned from UEFA but the disgraceful behaviour of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam should lead to a lengthy exclusion of their club from all European competition thenational.scot/news/24711406.…

The world's 10 richest people saw their fortunes skyrocket by a jaw-dropping $64 billion after Trump's victory Tuesday night. Make no mistake: the ultra-wealthy and Wall Street will make out like bandits during the second Trump term. Everyone else will be left behind.

But while we are on the topic why do you impose so many costs on property developers to demonstrate mitigation of has to breeding wildlife, while ignoring the impact of your lack of regulation of fireworks? Have you done an impact study? @YvetteCooperMP @MayorofLondon

And a final plea - ban use of public money for displays with combustible fireworks. Given the many harms, and the compelling alternatives, there's no case, and no mandate for this. You need to set the tone. You wouldn't organise a smoking festival @MayorofLondon @YvetteCooperMP

Further restriction on release of fireworks on festivals. NARROW the permitted time intervals. 2330 to 0030 ONLY for Diwali, New Year and Chinese New Year. 1700-1900 and 2100-2400 for 5th November. @YvetteCooperMP @MayorofLondon

You need to RESTRICT not expand the permission to explode fireworks around festivals. Fireworks should be completely banned on the days before and after and the adjacent weekends to Diwali, Hallowe'en, Nov 5th, New Year and Chinese New Year @MayorofLondon @YvetteCooperMP

Please consider the following options 1. Ban private sales, with displays only permitted by registered and regulated professionals 2. Ban imports of fireworks, encouraging growth of a UK industry, properly regulated, with tight controls on noise and particulate pollution

Fireworks pollute our air, terrify our pets, and disturb wildlife. In London, things are out of control. We have been bombarded, intensively, by neighbours, on 7 of the last nine nights, until 2am. This is antisocial, and needs regulation @YvetteCooperMP @MayorofLondon

Where's wisdom, humanity, and much needed leadership coming from nowadays at the UN? Here is Mia Mottley PM of #Barbados. Ignore the YouTube title. This is about MUCH more than that, and all the more impressive for it 👍👏👏👏🇧🇧 Blessed are the peacemakers youtu.be/_got5rApjJ4?si…

There is iconography and text here on @x straight out of Goebbels' playbook, and @Nigel_Farage @reformparty_uk and ex @GBNEWS loons are doing nothing to denounce it among their fervent supporters. We need to go after the posters, the SM publishers (@elonmusk) and the apologists

Support for National Rally is concentrated in the North East and in Midi/ Provence, suggesting that levelling up may be a live political issue there too

More on "phantom" Reform UK candidates last week... Bylines Network writer David Goff tells me he tried and failed to discover any information about the Reform candidate in his constituency (North Northumberland). "Katherine Hales has no profile or picture on the reform…

Centre left progressive parties have trounced far right populist National Rally (Front National) in the 2nd round of parliamentary elections. Liberté, Égalité , Fraternité. Vive la France 🇫🇷lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeu…

It's good to talk, no? Really hopeful signs of a significant reset days after the election of our new progressive government. We did it. We voted for change. Now it's down to the politicians, whom we hold to account glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/national/…

It would have been nice if you had applied the same journalistic scrutiny to the last government, but you didn't did you? Because you are not a serious newspaper. You are parti pris.

To angry people here on X - a) the govt has to be represented by ministers in the Upper House, and b) it's been 14 years so it's good to see experienced cabinet ministers willing to serve and support new talent as their junior ministers. No ego. Would never happen with the tories

For first time in years we have a PM not leaking to friends in press. This is partly why they are so angry. An era has ended. Their era.

The Rwanda policy being scrapped is very welcome decision - but the task of rebuilding our asylum system to meet the challenges of this century is immense. The @churchofengland will keep calling for an effective system that treats people with dignity, prevents dangerous…