Brian Whitaker
@brianwhitaker.bsky.social
Journalist, former Middle East editor of the Guardian newspaper. Author of 'Arabs Without God: Atheism and Freedom of Belief in the Middle East', plus several other books about the region. Website: al-bab.com
Deniers of chemical attacks in Syria claim employment tribunal’s ruling proves them right
al-bab.com/blog/2026/05...
al-bab.com/blog/2026/05...
Deniers of chemical attacks in Syria claim employment tribunal’s ruling proves them right
One of the gas cylinders implicated in the Douma chemical attack
al-bab.com
May 19, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Deniers of chemical attacks in Syria claim employment tribunal’s ruling proves them right
al-bab.com/blog/2026/05...
al-bab.com/blog/2026/05...
Satellite Imagery Reveals Strikes on Iranian Police Stations www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-...
Satellite Imagery Reveals Strikes on Iranian Police Stations - bellingcat
The US has released a list of military targets in Iran, including IRGC headquarters and missile systems. But Bellingcat has reviewed strikes against another type of target inside the Islamic Republic ...
www.bellingcat.com
March 5, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Satellite Imagery Reveals Strikes on Iranian Police Stations www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
OK. Green smoke. Coloured smoke grenades have existed for decades. They are for signalling purposes. They are not meant for riot control purposes. As with any smoke, they are irritating, but they are not meant for that purpose, so use as "riot control" agents is an off-label usage.
January 15, 2026 at 2:44 PM
OK. Green smoke. Coloured smoke grenades have existed for decades. They are for signalling purposes. They are not meant for riot control purposes. As with any smoke, they are irritating, but they are not meant for that purpose, so use as "riot control" agents is an off-label usage.
Anyone who does translation work should take a look at Grok's posts about Hebrew (x.com/search?q=gro...). Grok (Elon?) has ideas about good/bad translation that strike me as pretty weird.
1/3 In the last few days something odd has been happening with posts on X in Hebrew. Non-Hebrew speakers would click “translate” and, for some posts, would get a translation. Other posts, though, would trigger a message saying “Hebrew is not currently supported for translation”.
How X got into a muddle over ‘inflammatory’ posts in Hebrew
Over the last few days something odd has been happening with posts on X in Hebrew. Non-Hebrew speakers wishing to know what they were…
medium.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Anyone who does translation work should take a look at Grok's posts about Hebrew (x.com/search?q=gro...). Grok (Elon?) has ideas about good/bad translation that strike me as pretty weird.
1/3 In the last few days something odd has been happening with posts on X in Hebrew. Non-Hebrew speakers would click “translate” and, for some posts, would get a translation. Other posts, though, would trigger a message saying “Hebrew is not currently supported for translation”.
How X got into a muddle over ‘inflammatory’ posts in Hebrew
Over the last few days something odd has been happening with posts on X in Hebrew. Non-Hebrew speakers wishing to know what they were…
medium.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
1/3 In the last few days something odd has been happening with posts on X in Hebrew. Non-Hebrew speakers would click “translate” and, for some posts, would get a translation. Other posts, though, would trigger a message saying “Hebrew is not currently supported for translation”.
🧵1/6 UKLFI, the pro-Israel organisation whose chief executive claimed the Gaza war could increase the life expectancy of Palestinians by reducing obesity rates, has come up with another grotesque idea ...
August 22, 2025 at 8:22 AM
🧵1/6 UKLFI, the pro-Israel organisation whose chief executive claimed the Gaza war could increase the life expectancy of Palestinians by reducing obesity rates, has come up with another grotesque idea ...
Re Zelenskyy's attire: In WW2 Winston Churchill wore a one-piece "siren suit" for meetings with Roosevelt (at the White House), Eisenhower and Stalin.
August 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Re Zelenskyy's attire: In WW2 Winston Churchill wore a one-piece "siren suit" for meetings with Roosevelt (at the White House), Eisenhower and Stalin.
At least 365 people have been arrested at a demonstration in London in support of proscribed group Palestine Action, police say. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Palestine Action protesters arrested by police at London demo
Protesters simultaneously unveiled signs with the same message
www.bbc.co.uk
August 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
At least 365 people have been arrested at a demonstration in London in support of proscribed group Palestine Action, police say. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
1/4 Activists campaigning against Britain’s military presence in Northern Ireland faced surveillance and prosecution during the 1970s. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/01/07/s...
‘Seducing’ soldiers | Liverpool People's History
liverpoolpeopleshistory.org
July 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
1/4 Activists campaigning against Britain’s military presence in Northern Ireland faced surveillance and prosecution during the 1970s. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/01/07/s...
It seems very likely Bob Vylan will be prosecuted, if only to make an example of them. Worth noting, though, that it's the sort of case where juries sometimes turn bolshie and deliver the "wrong" verdict.
June 30, 2025 at 7:17 PM
It seems very likely Bob Vylan will be prosecuted, if only to make an example of them. Worth noting, though, that it's the sort of case where juries sometimes turn bolshie and deliver the "wrong" verdict.
bsky.app
May 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
May 18, 2025 at 11:03 AM
🧵UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) is getting a lot of attention following disgusting remarks by its chief executive, Jonathan Turner. For anyone not aware of the group's activities, here's some background ...
May 11, 2025 at 7:42 AM
🧵UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) is getting a lot of attention following disgusting remarks by its chief executive, Jonathan Turner. For anyone not aware of the group's activities, here's some background ...
🧵(1/5) The war in Gaza may be improving the health of Palestinians and increasing life expectancy, according to the head of UKLFI, a British organisation that works to stifle criticism of Israel.
May 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
🧵(1/5) The war in Gaza may be improving the health of Palestinians and increasing life expectancy, according to the head of UKLFI, a British organisation that works to stifle criticism of Israel.
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
Amnesty International has documented the Saudi authorities’ increasing crackdown on freedom of expression, targeting citizens and foreign nationals, many sentenced to lengthy prison terms solely for peacefully exercising their right to free expression. www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actio...
Saudi Arabia: Upcoming Hearing For Detained British National
We are Amnesty International UK. We are ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights.
www.amnesty.org.uk
May 3, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Amnesty International has documented the Saudi authorities’ increasing crackdown on freedom of expression, targeting citizens and foreign nationals, many sentenced to lengthy prison terms solely for peacefully exercising their right to free expression. www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actio...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
‘Kennedy told reporters that there were "many, many good ways to treat measles and doctors need to know that and to know those methods.’
One problem; there is no treatment for measles. Signed, a doctor who’s been forced to deal with measles because of this stupid fraud.
One problem; there is no treatment for measles. Signed, a doctor who’s been forced to deal with measles because of this stupid fraud.
RFK Jr. asks CDC for new measles treatment guidance amid his unfounded claims
Kennedy claimed that drugs like budesonide and clarithromycin "have been shown very effective" for measles, but doctors say they don't fight the infection itself.
www.cbsnews.com
May 2, 2025 at 3:11 AM
‘Kennedy told reporters that there were "many, many good ways to treat measles and doctors need to know that and to know those methods.’
One problem; there is no treatment for measles. Signed, a doctor who’s been forced to deal with measles because of this stupid fraud.
One problem; there is no treatment for measles. Signed, a doctor who’s been forced to deal with measles because of this stupid fraud.
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
The Fisher Bendix factory in Kirkby had been built with government help to ease unemployment in the area but it wasn’t a success. In 1972 when the owners tried to shut it down workers occupied the factory and later began running it themselves. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/01/07/b...
Under new management: the Fisher Bendix story | Liverpool People's History
liverpoolpeopleshistory.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:38 AM
The Fisher Bendix factory in Kirkby had been built with government help to ease unemployment in the area but it wasn’t a success. In 1972 when the owners tried to shut it down workers occupied the factory and later began running it themselves. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/01/07/b...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
The International Garden Festival in 1984 attracted more than three million visitors and helped to regenerate Liverpool. But what benefit did the visitors get from it? liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/04/13/i...
The International Garden Festival: a treat for ʽcomfortable Britain’ | Liverpool People's History
liverpoolpeopleshistory.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:38 AM
The International Garden Festival in 1984 attracted more than three million visitors and helped to regenerate Liverpool. But what benefit did the visitors get from it? liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/04/13/i...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
In 1971 there were two notable court cases in Liverpool where black men accused of possessing cannabis were acquitted after claiming police had planted it – a practice known in the force as "agriculture". liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/01/07/p...
Police, drugs and ‘agriculture’ in Toxteth | Liverpool People's History
liverpoolpeopleshistory.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:52 AM
In 1971 there were two notable court cases in Liverpool where black men accused of possessing cannabis were acquitted after claiming police had planted it – a practice known in the force as "agriculture". liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/01/07/p...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
Litttlewoods football pools once provided jobs for thousands of Liverpool women. Former employees describe what it was like to work there. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/03/13/l...
Littlewoods Pools: where women ‘never had time to get bored’ | Liverpool People's History
liverpoolpeopleshistory.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Litttlewoods football pools once provided jobs for thousands of Liverpool women. Former employees describe what it was like to work there. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/2025/03/13/l...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
Liverpool People’s History is intended as a collaborative project and public participation is strongly encouraged. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/about-liverp...
About the People’s History website | Liverpool People's History
liverpoolpeopleshistory.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Liverpool People’s History is intended as a collaborative project and public participation is strongly encouraged. liverpoolpeopleshistory.org/about-liverp...
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
Same story, posted same time:
Bluesky - 393 reposts, 551 likes
Twitter/X - 3 retweets, 7 likes
Bluesky - 393 reposts, 551 likes
Twitter/X - 3 retweets, 7 likes
March 22, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Same story, posted same time:
Bluesky - 393 reposts, 551 likes
Twitter/X - 3 retweets, 7 likes
Bluesky - 393 reposts, 551 likes
Twitter/X - 3 retweets, 7 likes
Reposted by Brian Whitaker
This is unbelievable in that way that only Trump stories can be. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/n...
Decades Ago, Columbia Refused to Pay Trump $400 Million. Note That Number. (Gift Article)
A quarter century ago, the university was looking to expand. It considered, and rejected, property owned by Donald Trump. He did not forget it.
www.nytimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 12:16 AM
This is unbelievable in that way that only Trump stories can be. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/n...