Andrew Levi

Bring in a guest interviewer. You’d be a great interviewee!

It would be very easy for a few well-connected journalists to check with the White House …

Usually heads of government don’t say such things to each other in public, or say in public that they’ve said such things to each other (or claim to have!) in private. These are unusual times …

Well, he’s said it in public …

With thanks to @hhesterm.bsky.social from the video of whose inaugural lecture as professor at the Diplomatic Academy, Vienna, the extract was taken. And, of course, to Sally herself. /2. End

bsky.app/profile/hhes...

The excellent Sally Langrish - the UK government’s chief international lawyer (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legal Adviser) - sets out in one minute what international law is & why we need it.

We’re lucky to have her. And the law she helps us respect & navigate.

Have a listen. /1.

“special unconditional surrender”

And here’s Kemi Badenoch:

It’s just not a thing you say if you’re aware that Cyprus isn’t in NATO.

BlackRock limits withdrawals as redemptions rattle private credit fund BlackRock said on Friday it has put limits on withdrawals from a flagship private credit fund after a surge in ​redemption requests, amid rising investor worries over the once red-hot asset ‌class.

Are we nearly there yet?

“… mounting concerns of an ​economic slowdown from ⁠a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, AI-fueled disruptions, and loan defaults”.

A mini 🧵/1.

www.reuters.com/business/bla...

I find it likely that future wars will not only be fought over earth’s resources but over earth itself - between those who desperately want to stabilise and heal various earth systems, and those who insist on destroying them.

(4) draw the consequences, which include: (a) respect for law, constitutional democracy & human rights, (b) international common cause, not ethno-national discord & cruelty.

If not, there’s a storm brewing which will sweep away even the strongest of us. Far sooner than many have understood. /4. End

(2) regulate AI & other disruptive technologies & processes, as a necessary but not sufficient condition for ensuring (1)

(3) stop pretending “MAGA”, “MEGA” - or any other kind of “GA” - is achievable, in any serious meaning of “great again”, without that close cooperation /3.

The USA/Europe/G7 (half the global economy, three quarters of global military power) need to cooperate closely, consistently & effectively to:

(1) guide & control geopolitics & geoeconomics along secure, predictable paths /2.

BlackRock limits withdrawals as redemptions rattle private credit fund BlackRock said on Friday it has put limits on withdrawals from a flagship private credit fund after a surge in ​redemption requests, amid rising investor worries over the once red-hot asset ‌class.

Are we nearly there yet?

“… mounting concerns of an ​economic slowdown from ⁠a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, AI-fueled disruptions, and loan defaults”.

A mini 🧵/1.

www.reuters.com/business/bla...

You decide:

Deputy PM & Leader of the Opposition made basic errors on BBC Breakfast.

Lammy: Cyprus is in NATO. (It isn’t).

Badenoch: need for HMS Dragon to deploy to the region because we “need to take out the archer, not shoot down arrows”. (It’s a Type 45 destroyer: anti-missile (“arrows”)).

Worrying.

Possible.

But most unlikely from any publication owned by Axel
Springer.

Excellent joke.

That isn’t who Axel Springer are. So, no: extremely unlikely.

👍

😬

Good comments, Anthony.

Do you agree with the nuclear point? (Seems quite likely to me, in the terms stated).

🤷‍♂️ My evidence is that the Chancellor of Germany has made an unequivocal, falsifiable statement about what he said in a private meeting with the US president.

Anyone wanting to falsify it, is welcome to: find a well-sourced report which does so.

If they can’t, the sensible conclusion is obvious.

Well he’s said it in public. I’m sure that’ll be drawn to the relevant people’s attention.

He did say it to Trump’s face. In private. (If you’re saying Merz is lying about that, fine. But you’ll have to accept that I and many others will think you’re talking unevidenced nonsense. Sorry).

Sure. But we know what he says he said in private. Given that he’s now said it in public, I’d have thought there’s a 100% chance that Trump is aware of it, or will be very soon.

Sanchez has said nothing to Trump.

I’m with you on legality. (There’s context, interpretation etc. But that has to be addressed in good faith, with a deep understanding of the intent, evolution & - fundamental - relevance of international law).

On Iran, I tried to summarise the legal positions earlier ⬇️

bsky.app/profile/andr...

He certainly said it in public (see video).