Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mark Urban

@markurban.bsky.social

24K followers 660 following 690 posts

Host @crisisroompod.bsky.social writes for Sunday Times, ex-BBC guy covering war & peace + sometime Newsnight presenter 1990-2024, IWM trustee, author Big Boys Rules, Generals, Rifles, Task Force Black, The Tank War, Skripal Files, Red Devils, Tank & more!

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 5h

Gaza update at 11.30am UK time:
- a ceasefire has gone into effect 90 minutes ago
- Israel has moved to its Phase 1 withdrawal line (but still occupies >50% of the Strip
- the IDF has pulled out & is standing down some reserve units
- aid deliveries set at 600 trucks a day

12 33

Reposted by Mark Urban

The Crisis Room Podcast @crisisroompod.bsky.social · 5h

🧵 @markurban.bsky.social @mpolymer1.bsky.social

Reposted by Mark Urban

The Crisis Room Podcast @crisisroompod.bsky.social · 22h

🚨 New episode alert!

Former National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill joins Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social for a rare, wide-ranging interview – from Trump to terror attacks, and migrant returns deals with the Taliban

Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧

1 2 2

Reposted by Mark Urban

Markus Balázs Göransson @mbgoransson.bsky.social · 2d

This is a really interesting piece, well worth your time.

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 2d

How 7th October changed the Middle East and wider world markurban.substack.com/p/two-years-...

Two Years That Changed the Middle East

Some thoughts about this anniversary

markurban.substack.com

1 2

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 2d

How 7th October changed the Middle East and wider world markurban.substack.com/p/two-years-...

Two Years That Changed the Middle East

Some thoughts about this anniversary

markurban.substack.com

1 1 9

Reposted by Mark Urban

The Crisis Room Podcast @crisisroompod.bsky.social · 6d

“I’m surprised the march leaders haven’t said it’s not appropriate.”

After the Manchester synagogue attack, Amber & @markurban.bsky.social debate Palestine Action’s planned march and whether Sir Mark Rowley should ask Home Sec Shabana Mahmood to cancel it

🎧 The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com

2 1 4

Reposted by Mark Urban

The Crisis Room Podcast @crisisroompod.bsky.social · 7d

🚨Special episode alert

Following the Manchester synagogue attack, the team unpacks what happens next. Plus, @markurban.bsky.social responds to rising anti-Semitism, and The Crime Agents' Andy Hughes breaks major news from the scene

Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧

#manchester

1 3 6

Reposted by Mark Urban

The Crisis Room Podcast @crisisroompod.bsky.social · 7d

Assassinations & apologies - spying in the Middle East is a dangerous game...

The team explain how secret operations work - plus @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social explain how they almost crossed paths thanks to a botched Mossad operation

The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧

1 2 7

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 8d

On this week’s @crisisroompod.bsky.social

we discuss bungled Middle East assassinations, Trump’s peace plan and that extraordinary gathering of generals in America t.co/UP28nkCqeO

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-crisis-room/id1815989479?i=1000729602372

t.co

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 9d

I think I might swap Baghdad for Rome or Istanbul! But completely understand the appeal of the appeal of the other two

1 2

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 10d

Depends on the incident. Recent Danish and Norwegian ones have been associated by some with Russian ships offshore. But frankly you could recruit locals to do it

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 10d

there's quite a few experimental systems Richard, and I think there have been promising trials results. but someone needs to grip it, empower the armed forces to get systems into action quickly

1 1

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 10d

wrong paradigm. a new sector of companies if offering drones and counter-drone solutions. It was said there were 200 firms doing the latter at the recent DSEI fair. Most don't operate like the old 'primes'. They are keen and hungry so solutions should have been found after Lakenheath

1 1

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 10d

If you wondered whether the UK could do any better than Denmark if its airports were being buzzed by drones

The Crisis Room Podcast @crisisroompod.bsky.social · 10d

'The UK hasn't raised its game'

Amber & @markurban.bsky.social dive into the UK’s drone defence and ask - could we actually stop a hostile drone if it entered British airspace?

Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧

#uk #droneattack #defence

3 7

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 11d

I know I know 😬

1 2

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 11d

thank you

1 1

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 11d

oh - on CNN or her podcast?

1 1

Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 11d

The question of moralising - how a press pack can fall in behind a particular view of a conflict is a fascinating one. In Bosnia for example it was down to a small number of thought leaders who influenced the wider pack