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Stephen Biko

@bikointellect.bsky.social
69 followers 163 following 60 posts

Consultant and Researcher on African Politics and International Relations. Supporter of the Arsenal. Ailurophile

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Reposted by Stephen Biko
Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Classified documents provided to Congress include an assessment by the U.S. intelligence community that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out the option of developing a nuclear weapons program, per U.S. officials www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
Saudis have not ruled out developing nuclear weapons, U.S. intelligence assesses
The sobering outlook has compounded concerns from some U.S. lawmakers about President Donald Trump’s agreement to assist the kingdom with establishing a civilian nuclear program.
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
El diálogo y la pluralidad enriquecen la educación global. 📚🌍 Te invitamos a profundizar en nuevas perspectivas con el Máster en Cultura y Pensamiento de los Pueblos Negros en la UCM. Súmate a una reflexión constructiva y rigurosa sobre las narrativas de la historiografía africana. ¡Inscríbete!👇
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
🌍El mundo se está fragmentando. Desde la dinámica del BRICS+ hasta las nuevas estrategias entre EE.UU.y África,el viejo guion ya no sirve.¿Cómo afronta la región de África Austral esta nueva realidad?🇿🇦🇦🇴🇿🇼🇿🇲 Únete a la conversación. 🗓️4-6 de mayo 2026,de 10:00 a 18:30 horas. youtube.com/@ucmpolitica...
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Aron Lund @aronlund.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
I feel like if the White House staff had included a medieval magician trained to look for bad omens, U.S. strategy would have been different
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Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Sunday reading - I wrote about the coherence fallacy: The MAGA regime will continue to escalate because they are ideologically, temperamentally, and psycho-politically incapable of anything else. But there is no strategic genius at work here.
steady.page
Donald Trump Does Not Have a Plan
He has dictatorial desires. But not everything is a brilliant distraction or part of a cunning masterplan. Incompetent agents of malice are not omnipotent supervillains.
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Queen Gooner @sofire.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
I understood it at the time but I wish we hadn't loaned out Ethan.
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War on the Rocks @warontherocks.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
A new statement from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula elevates China from a peripheral target to a declared enemy. Beijing’s global footprint could now carry sharper security consequences.
warontherocks.com
China Now Finds Itself in al-Qaeda’s Crosshairs
Could China replace the United States atop the target list of transnational jihadist groups like al-Qaeda? A recent statement released by Sheikh Saad bin
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Isaías 60:22 ✨️💛
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Máster Cultura y pensamiento de los pueblos negros @pueblosnegrosuc.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
🧐Nueva entrada en nuestro blog🤩 ✍️Escrito por Sheila Semo. Estratega de marca y consultora de comunicación digital. culturaypensamientodelospueblosnegros.com/relaciones-d...
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arseblog @arseblog.com · 08/12/2025
p1r.es
Where we are
Morning. I went back this morning to try and find something I thought I’d written in our big season preview back in August, but it must have been elsewhere. Maybe it was something I said on the podcast. I can’t recall exactly, and I don’t suppose it matters too much really. Basically though, my contention […] The post Where we are appeared first on Arseblog ... an Arsenal blog.
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Iwiri 💫 @iwiri.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
We need more positive folk on Bluesky and to get away from crappy X
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Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
"Faced with a choice between engaging in the slow, uncertain work of democratic restoration or using the well-oiled authoritarian machinery at their fingertips, many opposition-turned-incumbents find the latter path more tempting." —Donghyun Danny Choi, Fiona Shen-Bayh muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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arseblog @arseblog.com · 02/10/2025
p1r.es
Episode 847 – European rotation
Welcome to another episode of the Arsecast – the Arsenal podcast. In this episode I’m joined by Tim Stillman to look back at Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos. An early goal settled the nerves, but European games can be tricky, that proved to be the case here. Arsenal had chances to score, but so […] The post Episode 847 – European rotation appeared first on Arseblog ... an Arsenal blog.
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Miguel Delaney @migueldelaney.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Royal Union St Gilloise host Newcastle as maybe the game's most overperforming club They are part-owned by Bloom and use Brighton's famous analytics, but owner Alex Muzio also explains how they're doing things their own way - from bonuses to injuries www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
independent.co.uk
Meet the man behind Belgium’s Brighton plotting Champions League disruption
Alex Muzio has transformed Union Saint-Gilloise from second-tier strugglers to Champions League hopefuls. Miguel Delaney went to meet the protege of Brighton owner Tony Bloom to find out more
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Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 25/09/2025
Police fire rubber bullets and tear gas as hundreds protest chronic power outages in the island country.
bit.ly
Madagascar imposes curfew after violent protests against water, power cuts
Police fire rubber bullets and tear gas as hundreds protest chronic power outages in the island country.
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Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 26/09/2025
A new web of partnerships is likely to have novel consequences for Pakistan’s security calculus.
foreignpolicy.com
What the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Pact Means for South Asia
The mutual defense agreement could make Islamabad even more risk-tolerant.
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Unofficial BBCNews (World) Bot @bbcnews-world-rss.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
French navy seizes nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine off West African coast
bbc.com
French navy seizes nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine off West African coast
French authorities say the "remarkable seizure" was found on board a fishing boat following a tip-off.
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
@pueblosnegrosuc.bsky.social realiza una labor excepcional educando a la sociedad sobre las complejas realidades de los pueblos africanos y las comunidades afrodescendientes. Para inscribirse en el máster,haga clic en el enlace: www.ucm.es/cfp/estudios... O escriba a📩 jicastie@ucm.es
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Dana El Kurd @danaelkurd.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
I have been working for 2 years on the Handbook on Authoritarianism in the Arab World. 30 contributions. It's finally done and submitted. Stay tuned for publication, open access. I hope it's a useful resource for students, scholars, and everyone interested in the topic of authoritarianism.
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João Fusco Ribeiro @joaofuscoribeiro.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Just received the cover of the latest edited volume by Helder Fonseca, Lena Dallywater, and Chris Saunders. It was a privilege to co-author a chapter on Communist agency in Angola’s complex (and violent) transition to independence. The book will be available by the end of the year.
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Chatham House @chathamhouse.org · 08/08/2025
Countries like Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Poland are openly reconsidering their nuclear postures in light of eroding US security guarantees.
chathamhouse.org
Eighty years on from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world should not forget the devastation wrought by nuclear weapons
The breakdown of nuclear diplomacy, misleading talk of ‘limited’ nuclear war and a lack of public awareness have produced a dangerously heightened risk.
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Hari/ഹരി/हरि/هري @hariprasad.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
"In sum, the situation is unstable because it cannot be made stable. It produces opponents and enemies in abundance, without gaining new friends at home — all while barely standing on a single, unsteady leg." - Yassin Al Haj Saleh newlinesmag.com/argument/the...
newlinesmag.com
The Ordeal of the Syrian Nation-State Today
The new Syrian government’s base is narrow and its politics sectarian. No “state” can unify a nation while aggressively alienating wide segments of its people, nor has it any right to demand patriotis...
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Descrita alguna vez como la mujer más peligrosa de África, el poderoso e inspirador legado de #AndréeMadeleineBlouin no debería de ninguna manera quedar relegado a las notas a pie de página de la historiografía africana. culturaypensamientodelospueblosnegros.com/los-legados-...
culturaypensamientodelospueblosnegros.com
Los legados olvidados de las luchadoras por la libertad africana: Un estudio de caso de Andrée Madeleine Blouin
Escrito por Sheila Semo «Si la historia de África la hubieran escrito africanos y mujeres, creo que encontraríamos muchos héroes anónimos». Presidenta Sahle-Work Zewde (primera mujer presidenta de Eti...
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Nick Brumfield @nickjbrumfield.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
The Six Degrees of Tom Mboya
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Nick Brumfield @nickjbrumfield.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
With Mamdani's win, all of politics is East African politics
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Este libro examina críticamente la interacción entre #religión, #diversidad y #gobernanza secular, cuestionando los enfoques convencionales para gestionar el pluralismo en contextos contemporáneos. Es una lectura realmente excelente: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
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Aron Lund @aronlund.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Reports of a prisoner/hostage exchange deal under negotiation, which could free Elizabeth Tsurkov. www.naharnet.com/stories/en/3...
naharnet.com
Hezbollah captives may be freed as part of deal involving Israeli-Russian researcher
There is an available chance to reactivate the file of the release of Lebanese captives held by Israel in conjunction with the expected release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was...
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Caitlin Clemmow @caitlinclemmow.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Out now and open access in Aggression & Violent Behaviour, our latest paper examines the overlap between intimate partner abuse and susceptibility to violent extremism, available here - doi.org/10.1016/j.av...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Jornada #Geopolítica de los #hidrocarburos en el #África Atlántica Fecha: 21 de mayo, de 9:45 a 16:00 horas. Podrá verse en directo en el canal de Youtube de la Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología de la UCM. youtube.com/@ucmpolitica...
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Aron Lund @aronlund.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Sharaa is trying to woo Trump with investment opportunities and Republican oil men, and has suggested they could meet during Trump’s upcoming Gulf trip. @jmalsin.bsky.social @wsj.com www.wsj.com/world/middle...
wsj.com
Syria Dangles Oil, Peace for U.S. Help on Sanctions
The former Islamist rebels who run the new government are looking to convince a skeptical Trump administration
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Hi All, The discussion about European states pivoting to China is based on some weak assumptions. First of all, Europe must establish its strategic independence before everything. Exchanging an autocratic US for a dictatorial China is no way to do that. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com
The Perils Of A European Pivot To China
Exchanging One Dominant Force For Another Wont Provide Security Or Stop European Decline
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Chatham House @chathamhouse.org · 14/04/2025
Despite the bitter exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS and their formation of the rival AES, the destinies of the two blocs remain deeply intertwined, write @paulmelly.bsky.social and @dideberg.bsky.social.
chathamhouse.org
Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africa’s security
Despite the bitter exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS and their formation of the rival AES, the destinies of the two blocs remain deeply intertwined.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 11/04/2025
Trump is pushing students towards Britain – ministers, don’t let your immigration obsession stand in the way | Polly Toynbee
theguardian.com
Trump is pushing students towards Britain – ministers, don’t let your immigration obsession stand in the way | Polly Toynbee
Beleaguered UK universities have a golden opportunity. If the government passes it up, it risks billions in revenue, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
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Sheila Semo @sheilasemo.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Hace unos meses escribí un artículo sobre las realidades socioculturales invisibles de las mujeres inmigrantes en Ceuta. culturaypensamientodelospueblosnegros.com/las-realidad...
culturaypensamientodelospueblosnegros.com
Las realidades socioculturales invisibles de las mujeres subsaharianas y marroquíes en ceuta
Escrito por Shyla Semo. Estratega de marca y consultora de comunicación digital. Ha trabajado en la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito (UNODC), el programa de las Naciones Unid...
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Gregg Carlstrom @glcarlstrom.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Been hearing about this too. The Israeli whitepaper is said to further argue that Turkey supports Hamas, and Turkey supports the new Syrian government, and thus, through some bizarre transitive property of the Middle East, Ahmed al-Sharaa must be Hamas www.reuters.com/world/israel...
reuters.com
Exclusive: Israel lobbies US to keep Russian bases in a 'weak' Syria, sources say
Israel is lobbying the United States to keep Syria weak and decentralised, including by letting Russia keep its military bases there to counter Turkey's growing influence in the country, four sources familiar with the efforts said.
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Jason "Red5" Lyall @jaylyall.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
A Thousand Snipers in the Sky: The New War in Ukraine - 70% of Ukrainian and Russian casualties now inflicted by drones, replacing artillery - drones now kill more armored vehicles than all other weapons *combined* - Ukraine built more than 1 million drones in 2024, aiming for 3-4 million thus year
nytimes.com
Drones Now Rule the Battlefield in the Ukraine-Russia War (Gift Article)
Drones have changed the war in Ukraine, with soldiers adapting off-the-shelf models and swarming the front lines.
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Orbinho @orbinho.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
A lot of truth in this piece. www.gobb.ie/p/pass-the-r...
gobb.ie
Pass the remote: Football TV punditry has never been worse
The offerings from Sky Sports and TNT on the Premier League and wider football world is an insult to fans and in grave need of overhaul.
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Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
This turned out to be the longest piece I’ve ever written for the newsletter. But please note: I do provide audio versions (read by me, not AI) to make these long pieces a little more accessible and digestible. MAGA, the German Far Right, and the Transnational Assault on Democracy:
thomaszimmer.substack.com
MAGA, the German Far Right, and the Transnational Assault on Democracy
A reflection on the German far right, Elon Musk’s interference in the German election, and why the MAGA-AfD alliance isn’t nearly as irresistible as they want us to believe
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil former leader Bolsonaro knew and agreed to a plan to poison President Lula, top prosecutor says.
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Stefan Bienkowski @sbienkowski.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Arsenal have the 4th largest transfer budget and the 5th largest wage budget in the Premier League. That's a remarkable feat from Mikel Arteta. Regardless of whether they catch Liverpool or not in the coming months. This week's free newsletter: tinyurl.com/4pkujywr
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Attributed to Napoleon, who ended democracy in French, this quote was also used by Anders Breivik, the far-right anti-immigrant terrorist who murdered 77 people
Trump says: "he who saves his country does not violate any law" and is cheered on by Elon Musk, who posts 14 American flags
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Kara Swisher @karaswisher.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
This guy is as dumb as a box of hammers
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Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Last night, the Senate confirmed Russell Vought. I wrote a long profile of him: He’s one of the architects of Project 2025, an avowed Christian nationalist, and a radical ideologue of the “post-constitutional” Right. Some thoughts on a man who is at war with pluralistic democracy: 🧵
thomaszimmer.substack.com
Meet the Ideologue of the “Post-Constitutional” Right
Russell Vought, one of the architects behind Project 2025, believes there is nothing left to conserve. He desires revolution – and to burn down the system
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 05/02/2025
america's most hilariously wrong pundit is active here now i guess. a taste of his work.
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Daily Star @dailystar.co.uk · 27/11/2024
Scientists Believe Aliens Are Sending Interstellar Messages to Each Other—And We Can Eavesdrop on Them
popularmechanics.com
Scientists Believe Aliens Are Sending Interstellar Messages to Each Other—And We Can Eavesdrop on Them
The method involves detecting alien messages while they’re whizzing between planets.
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Wadan Fernandez, an undocumented immigrant, said he came to the U.S. to start a new life. He overstayed his tourist visa and has been working in construction. “I love Mr. Trump,” Fernandez said. “Of course he could send me back at any moment, but if he did, I would still love him.” (gift link)
nytimes.com
A Pennsylvania County and the Political Tensions in America
Two weeks in the life of Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County, one of the many places that shifted to the right in this year’s election.
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Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
1. Since we can now do threads, a quick summary of a piece I have just put up on Trump's foreign policy approach, which differs some from @dandrezner.bsky.social www.programmablemutter.com/p/how-chaoti...
programmablemutter.com
How chaotic is Trump II going to be?
It matters whether you think his approach is transactional or personalist
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