One of our students, Nick Davis, made an extraordinary discovery whilst researching for his history dissertation at
Girton College, Cambridge. Tomorrow his findings will feature on the front page of The Sunday Times Magazine.
Today's online version is here: www.thetimes.com/article/00b2...
One of my favourite things: Sunday concerts by the students of Girton College, Cambridge - some major in music, others in physics, maths, languages, all sorts! This pic shows the Coronation Scene from Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov ... & they gave me the chance to debut as a cymbal player (high stress)!
Fascinating "in conversation" with Prof Angela Stent on 'The Russia-Ukraine War & the New World Disorder'. Whilst the subject matter gave little cause for celebration, the event was to mark the foundation of Cambridge University's Girton College so there was every excuse to clink glasses after!
Not-so-secret: Recent news of secret #UAE run prisons in south #Yemen was reported years ago multiple times by the UN Panel of Experts (e.g. left). This is why it was so appalling when the UN #HumanRights Council voted in 2021 to end investigations (right) after lobbying by the #Saudi-led coalition.
It's hard to believe that today marks 10 years since our PhD student #GiulioRegeni was abducted whilst on fieldwork in #Egypt. He was tortured and murdered. Justice has not been done. As ever, I lit a candle for Giulio in our chapel. We will never forget. #veritapergiulioregeni #giustiziapergiulio
I spoke to #India's NewsX TV on #Gaza, #Iran, #Syria, #Yemen, conflict drivers & peace. Here's an extract on the risks of 1-dimensional news coverage (Yep, there's a certain irony to having only 2mins to articulate the perils of over-simplification..). Full interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHGJ...
What are the potential benefits & risks of recent conflict between #Saudi & #UAE backed groups in #Yemen? I tried to sum them up in 90 seconds for #Israel's "Middle East Now" programme.
Delegates at the #Yemen Dialogue in #Riyadh have (controversially) announced the disbandment of the #UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). Al Jazeera asked how it came to this. Here's my answer in 90-seconds. For the whole interview, including what might be next: youtu.be/Hr9_p4gjvVA
I spoke to Al Jazeera "Newshour" today about what's next for south #Yemen & the #Saudi-#UAE confrontation. Is it over for the separatist President, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, following his dramatic escape to Somalia & on to UAE? Here's a 1-minute clip. For the whole interview, go to: youtu.be/fitifoLWOlM
#SaudiArabia is following through on its red lines. Here's a 1-minute clip of my interview on Al Jazeera following Saudi air strikes on military positions occupied by (#UAE-backed) separatists in east #Yemen. [Longer version here: youtu.be/x9mFv-UHgGw]
Will a #UAE withdrawal from #Yemen be enough to calm things down with #Saudi? Below are my thoughts for France 24. For the whole interview, go to youtu.be/aonU1m7Emvs
Why is the clash between #Saudi & #UAE playing out in #Yemen so dangerous this time? Here's a clip from my interview with BBC News. To hear it all, go to youtu.be/yUuiSeOD1VU
My comments for ABC's breakfast show this morning on the dangerous rift between #SaudiArabia & #UAE playing out in #Yemen
The risk of open conflict erupting between nominal allies #UAE & Saudi Arabia is now high in Yemen. This morning, #SaudiArabia released its clearest statement to date, calling UAE actions "highly dangerous" & issuing a 24 hour ultimatum for its complete withdrawal from Yemen.
#AlQaeda in #Yemen shows solidarity with #BondiBeach shooters in new 5-page statement "The Hand of Muslim Mujahidin Reaches Sydney". As Yemen teeters on the edge of conflict in the south, it's important to note that civil war will benefit local terror groups who still aspire to international ops.
Here's my stab at a 90-second overview of the developing conflict in #Yemen for BBC Newshour. For the whole interview, go to: youtu.be/IVyrQ1Yp6II
Yes, I know it's Xmas, but #Saudi has released a statement condemning advances by #Yemen's (UAE-backed) southern separatist forces east up to the border with #Oman. Question is: Will it prompt withdrawal, or could Yemen's civil war flare up again? If the latter, the real winners will be the Houthis.
New UN Security Council statement voices "strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, & territorial integrity of #Yemen" & to the PLC
This equates to a condemnation of recent advances by UAE-backed southern separatist forces eastwards into #Hadramawt & #Mahra.
Excited to deliver the Christmas lecture of the Cambridge & Oxford Society in #Tokyo! Special thanks to HIH Princess Takamado - as gracious, vivacious & tenacious as ever in flying the Cambridge (& especially the Girton) flag!
Major advances made by hashtag#UAE-backed southern separatist forces in hashtag#Yemen have rattled the anti-Houthi government & threaten to further divide the country after a decade of civil war. Here are my comments for France24. www.france24.com/en/live-news...
3. Are southern forces acting to oust terrorist groups? To some extent. The influence of the #Houthis & groups like #alQaeda has grown in Yemen’s south-east. But alliances are complex & there’s more to it.
2. Are southern forces really restoring security? Perhaps. The government proper (PLC) is weak, split & ineffective.
Now to address a few media claims:
1. Are southern forces just taking back their historic lands? Not really. A southern state (stretching across & beyond the old Protectorates) lasted only 23 years 1967-90. But nostalgia for it runs high.
This eastwards expansion would bring 2 major wins to UAE-backed southern separatists in #Yemen
1. Consolidation of their power across the south in advance of any Saudi deal with the #Houthis in the north
2. Control of lucrative coastline, ports, energy resources & trade routes
Thread: A geopolitically significant shift is underway in #Yemen. #UAE-backed southern forces gaining territory in the eastern governorates at the expense of #Saudi & Omani influence. This video is from Mahra in the far east, near the border with #Oman.
We're getting festive at Girton College, Cambridge University! 🎄
@girtoncollege.bsky.social
In a remarkable speech, #Oman's Foreign Minister calls out the dangerous uptick in foreign interventions. From invasion, annexation & occupation to proxies, mercenaries, assassination & gunboat diplomacy, violations of international law are becoming normalised. www.fm.gov.om/remarks-by-h...
Loved doing this episode of "Empires of Faith" with Mattias Hessérus! From #Arabic #poetry & jihadi narratives to #Yemen’s civil war & and what it would take to build regional peace. Watch it here: youtu.be/3jFeQrk1u-U
Great to see this shoutout for #poetry at Girton College, University of Cambridge, in the Times Literary Supplement! We have a buzzing poetry scene & we're looking forward to celebrating alumna poet Veronica Forrest-Thomson (1947–75) this Saturday. Details here: www.girton.cam.ac.uk/events/veron...
It was wonderful to welcome the Chancellor (Lord Chris Smith), Vice Chancellor (Prof Deborah Prentice) and eminent speaker (historian Prof Jeremy Adelman) to Girton College, University of Cambridge, this week for our inaugural Global History Lecture!
