M. Kabir
@mkabir.bsky.social
Ph.D in International Relations, faculty, research interests in alliances and the geopolitics of Asia-Pacific. Read non-fiction, history, and IR books. 💙 Rumi’s poetry, Stephen King📚& dystopian novels.
🚫 NO DMs PLEASE, I WON’T RESPOND 🛑
🚫 NO DMs PLEASE, I WON’T RESPOND 🛑
Pinned
“The flames that dance with love-
O Beloved, be like that to me.
The burning heat within the fire—
O Beloved, be like that to me.
My candle burns with longing.
It cries with tears of wax.
Like the wick of a melting candle—
O Beloved, be like that to me.”
— RUMI 💙
O Beloved, be like that to me.
The burning heat within the fire—
O Beloved, be like that to me.
My candle burns with longing.
It cries with tears of wax.
Like the wick of a melting candle—
O Beloved, be like that to me.”
— RUMI 💙
February 11, 2026 at 4:28 AM
“The flames that dance with love-
O Beloved, be like that to me.
The burning heat within the fire—
O Beloved, be like that to me.
My candle burns with longing.
It cries with tears of wax.
Like the wick of a melting candle—
O Beloved, be like that to me.”
— RUMI 💙
O Beloved, be like that to me.
The burning heat within the fire—
O Beloved, be like that to me.
My candle burns with longing.
It cries with tears of wax.
Like the wick of a melting candle—
O Beloved, be like that to me.”
— RUMI 💙
Well. . . It’s very NORMAL 🙄😳
February 11, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Well. . . It’s very NORMAL 🙄😳
Bangladesh’s election Thursday is the country’s most consequential. It follows youth-led protests 18 months ago that overthrew the former PM Sheikh Hasina.
The vote, alongside a constitutional referendum on political reforms, will test the South Asian nation’s democracy.
apnews.com/article/bang...
The vote, alongside a constitutional referendum on political reforms, will test the South Asian nation’s democracy.
apnews.com/article/bang...
In their words: Bangladeshis talk about the election that could redefine the nation’s future
Bangladesh's national election is a pivotal moment for the country as voters head to the polls Thursday.
apnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Bangladesh’s election Thursday is the country’s most consequential. It follows youth-led protests 18 months ago that overthrew the former PM Sheikh Hasina.
The vote, alongside a constitutional referendum on political reforms, will test the South Asian nation’s democracy.
apnews.com/article/bang...
The vote, alongside a constitutional referendum on political reforms, will test the South Asian nation’s democracy.
apnews.com/article/bang...
Russia cannot launch an attack on NATO this year or next but is planning to increase its forces significantly along the alliance’s eastern flank, depending on the outcome of the war in Ukraine.
apnews.com/article/russ...
apnews.com/article/russ...
Russia can’t attack NATO this year but plans to boost its own forces, an intelligence chief says
A senior European intelligence chief says Russia cannot launch an attack on NATO this year or next but is planning to increase its forces significantly along the alliance’s eastern flank, depending on...
apnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Russia cannot launch an attack on NATO this year or next but is planning to increase its forces significantly along the alliance’s eastern flank, depending on the outcome of the war in Ukraine.
apnews.com/article/russ...
apnews.com/article/russ...
“No man has received from nature the right to give orders to others. Freedom is a gift from heaven, and every individual of the same species has the right to enjoy it as soon as he is in enjoyment of his reason.”
— Denis Diderot (1713–1784)
— Denis Diderot (1713–1784)
February 10, 2026 at 1:12 PM
“No man has received from nature the right to give orders to others. Freedom is a gift from heaven, and every individual of the same species has the right to enjoy it as soon as he is in enjoyment of his reason.”
— Denis Diderot (1713–1784)
— Denis Diderot (1713–1784)
Over 135 million viewers. . . Wow 😲, impressive!!
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was the most-watched halftime performance of all time with over 135 million viewers.
February 9, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Over 135 million viewers. . . Wow 😲, impressive!!
“I read these words which are the sum of all moral philosophy, and which cut short all the disputes of the casuists: When in doubt if an action is good or bad, refrain.”
— Voltaire (1694–1778)
— Voltaire (1694–1778)
February 9, 2026 at 3:40 PM
“I read these words which are the sum of all moral philosophy, and which cut short all the disputes of the casuists: When in doubt if an action is good or bad, refrain.”
— Voltaire (1694–1778)
— Voltaire (1694–1778)
“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
— Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny)
— Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny)
February 9, 2026 at 3:35 PM
“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
— Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny)
— Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny)
“To say that the world is not worth anything, that life is of no value, and to give evil as the proof is absurd, for if these things are worthless what does evil take from us?”
— Simone Weil
— Simone Weil
February 9, 2026 at 2:44 PM
“To say that the world is not worth anything, that life is of no value, and to give evil as the proof is absurd, for if these things are worthless what does evil take from us?”
— Simone Weil
— Simone Weil
“I think of your love, your calling to me.
And I dance the thousand dances of love,
all returning to you.”
— RUMI 💙
And I dance the thousand dances of love,
all returning to you.”
— RUMI 💙
February 9, 2026 at 6:01 AM
“I think of your love, your calling to me.
And I dance the thousand dances of love,
all returning to you.”
— RUMI 💙
And I dance the thousand dances of love,
all returning to you.”
— RUMI 💙
Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media tycoon and a fierce critic of Beijing, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in one of the most prominent cases prosecuted under a China-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced the city’s dissent.
apnews.com/article/hong...
apnews.com/article/hong...
Hong Kong ex-media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison in national security case
Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media tycoon and a fierce critic of Beijing, is sentenced to 20 years in prison in one of the most prominent cases prosecuted under a China-imposed nation...
apnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media tycoon and a fierce critic of Beijing, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in one of the most prominent cases prosecuted under a China-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced the city’s dissent.
apnews.com/article/hong...
apnews.com/article/hong...
Thank you 🙏 very much @mlipsitt.bsky.social for including me! I appreciate it!
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
go.bsky.app/jpHzP5
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
go.bsky.app/jpHzP5
February 9, 2026 at 2:15 AM
Thank you 🙏 very much @mlipsitt.bsky.social for including me! I appreciate it!
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
go.bsky.app/jpHzP5
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
go.bsky.app/jpHzP5
Center-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro recorded a thumping victory over hard-right populist André Ventura in Portugal’s runoff presidential election Sunday, according to official results with 99% of votes counted.
apnews.com/article/port...
apnews.com/article/port...
Moderate candidate scores an emphatic win over a populist in Portugal's presidential runoff
Center-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro has won Portugal’s presidential runoff election against hard-right populist André Ventura.
apnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Center-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro recorded a thumping victory over hard-right populist André Ventura in Portugal’s runoff presidential election Sunday, according to official results with 99% of votes counted.
apnews.com/article/port...
apnews.com/article/port...
The transatlantic partnership:
What a Shame!!! 😳🤦♂️
Source: Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
What a Shame!!! 😳🤦♂️
Source: Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
February 8, 2026 at 9:06 PM
The transatlantic partnership:
What a Shame!!! 😳🤦♂️
Source: Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
What a Shame!!! 😳🤦♂️
Source: Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Today in History:
February 8, 1904
The Russo-Japanese War begins:
Following the Russian rejection of a Japanese plan to divide Manchuria and Korea into spheres of influence, Japan launches a surprise naval attack against Port Arthur, a Russian naval base in China.
February 8, 1904
The Russo-Japanese War begins:
Following the Russian rejection of a Japanese plan to divide Manchuria and Korea into spheres of influence, Japan launches a surprise naval attack against Port Arthur, a Russian naval base in China.
February 8, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Today in History:
February 8, 1904
The Russo-Japanese War begins:
Following the Russian rejection of a Japanese plan to divide Manchuria and Korea into spheres of influence, Japan launches a surprise naval attack against Port Arthur, a Russian naval base in China.
February 8, 1904
The Russo-Japanese War begins:
Following the Russian rejection of a Japanese plan to divide Manchuria and Korea into spheres of influence, Japan launches a surprise naval attack against Port Arthur, a Russian naval base in China.
Oh yeah. . . TOTALLY normal. . . It’s all GOOD!
February 8, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Oh yeah. . . TOTALLY normal. . . It’s all GOOD!
Japan's ruling party, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is projected to have won Sunday's snap election by a landslide. Takaichi's Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) is set to win two-thirds of seats in Japan's House of Representatives.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Japan's governing party on course for landslide election win
A coalition led by current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to clinch a decisive win, an exit poll suggests.
www.bbc.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Japan's ruling party, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is projected to have won Sunday's snap election by a landslide. Takaichi's Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) is set to win two-thirds of seats in Japan's House of Representatives.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
“I hate victims who respect their executioners.”
— Jean-Paul Sartre
— Jean-Paul Sartre
February 8, 2026 at 4:34 PM
“I hate victims who respect their executioners.”
— Jean-Paul Sartre
— Jean-Paul Sartre
“Falsehood is not easily exposed when it has had an early start in advance of truth.”
— Frederick Douglass
— Frederick Douglass
February 8, 2026 at 3:52 PM
“Falsehood is not easily exposed when it has had an early start in advance of truth.”
— Frederick Douglass
— Frederick Douglass
“When the heart is pure, it reflects the whole universe.”
— RUMI 💙
— RUMI 💙
February 8, 2026 at 4:26 AM
“When the heart is pure, it reflects the whole universe.”
— RUMI 💙
— RUMI 💙
Epstein revelations have toppled top figures in Europe while US fallout is more muted.
👉🏼 Not “muted”. U.S. fallout has been nonexistent! 😬
apnews.com/article/jeff...
👉🏼 Not “muted”. U.S. fallout has been nonexistent! 😬
apnews.com/article/jeff...
Epstein revelations have toppled top figures in Europe while US fallout is more muted
The Jeffrey Epstein files have rocked Europe's elite, revealing ties to a prince, an ambassador, and top politicians.
apnews.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Epstein revelations have toppled top figures in Europe while US fallout is more muted.
👉🏼 Not “muted”. U.S. fallout has been nonexistent! 😬
apnews.com/article/jeff...
👉🏼 Not “muted”. U.S. fallout has been nonexistent! 😬
apnews.com/article/jeff...