UK Column News - 5th March 2025

Mike Robinson, Charles Malet, Vanessa Beeley and Sandi Adams with today's UK Column News.

 

0.37 Who Wants Conscription, Anyway? 

GOV.UK: College kicks off UK-wide national security awareness sessions

International Legionnaires: Defend the Freedom of Ukraine, Europe, and the Whole World

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine: Thanks to a New Law in Ukraine, Foreigners Will Be Able to Serve As Officers in the Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard

Hope for Ukraine: How to Join the Ukraine Army

Jack Lopresti: ‘From Parliament to the International Legion of Ukraine: Former MP Jack Lopresti Now Serving in Ukraine’s Military

Jack Lopresti: Hear from me on @BBCSounds

BBC News: Oldham Man Jailed for Ukraine Terror Offence

X: UK Column Extracts

 

9.10 Iran on Notice; Prof David Miller Detained under Schedule 7 at Heathrow Airport

Spinwatch: ‘During his detainment, Professor David Miller (@Tracking_Power) was asked about whether he or his colleagues at @PressTV held “extreme views” or “opposed the Western way of life”, or if they “supported acts of terrorism in the UK, such as Southport”’.

GOV.UK: Protecting National Security: Statement by the Security Minister on New Measures to Tackle State Threats from Iran

 

12.43 National Security Is Now a High Priority for the UK Government

College for National Security: Guide to the UK National Security Community 2025

The Guardian: Video Released Showing Russian Hoax Call with UK Defence Secretary

GCHQ: Legal Framework

Intelligence Services Act 1994

Investigatory Powers Act 2016

 

17.43 The Corporations Benefitting from the Ukraine War

GOV.UK: UK Support to Ukraine: Factsheet

Association of Defense Communities: In Push for More Ukraine Support, McConnell Makes Case for Defense Manufacturing Communities

The Guardian: UK Defence Secretary to Fly to Washington to Discuss Ukraine

 

24.28 Join Us at Our Cheltenham Event — UK Column Is Member Funded, Please Join Us

Support Independent Journalism from the UK Column with only £5 a month

Access UK Column News Extra Today—UK Column Community

UK Column shop: UK Column On Location — Cheltenham — 5 April 2025

UK Column interview: Insight: Is China Still a Communist Country? With Carl Zha

Supporting Farmers for Food Security Symposium: 16 March 2025, Cheltenham

 

28.48 Farming Data, Farming Humans: the Road to Digital ID

Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Governing in the Age of AI: Building Britain’s National Data Library

UK Parliament: Data (Use and Access) Bill

 

32.00 Plans to Partition Syria

The Syrian Observer: Israel’s Strategic Ambitions in Syria: Fragmentation, the ‘David Corridor’, and Confrontation with Turkey  

VOA: Israel's Military Prepares to Defend Druze Community near Damascus

Middle East Eye: ‘Sheikh Hammoud Al-Hinnawi of Sweida, southern Syria, said that the Druze community “do not bear responsibility” for Netanyahu’s statements …’

Arab News: Syria state media says Israel strikes Tartus area

SOHR: Following negotiations with dignitaries | Security forces enter the station in Jaramana district

 

39.33 Destabilisation in the Horn of Africa 

GOV.UK: This Resolution Retains a Powerful Package of Sanctions to Further Degrade Al-Shabbab: UK Statement at the UN Security Council

Royal United Services Institute: Beyond the Axis: Yemen’s Houthis are Building their ‘Network of Resistance’

defenceWeb: Funding for Somalia’s New AU Peace Mission Hangs in the Balance

Forbes: Marjorie Taylor Greene Leads DOGE Committee Hearing On USAID

Middle East Forum: Gregg Roman, Executive Director

African Business: Somalia Points the Way to First Cashless Society

Central Bank of Somalia: ‘We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Somalia Instant Payment System(SIPS) …

IOM (UN Migration): Building Stronger Legal Identity Systems in Somalia: a Step Towards Better Governance

 

46.10 Attack on Religious Freedom in Ukraine

Tucker Carlson: Bob Amsterdam: How USAID Is Helping Zelensky Destroy Christianity With Fake Churches and Violence

GOV.UK: Freedom of Religion or Belief: Understanding This Human Right

Save the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

 

50.16 Israel-Russia Collaboration To Prevent Erdogan Neo-Ottoman Ambitions

ynetnews.com: Syria without Assad - Israel Warns Syria against Attacking Druze As Tensions Simmer near Damascus

Reuters: Russia Gambles to Keep Military Bases in Post-Assad Syria

Reuters: Turkish and British Officials to Discuss Post-Assad Syria in Ankara Talks

Reuters: Exclusive: Israel Lobbies US to Keep Russian Bases in a 'Weak' Syria, Sources Say

ynetnews.com: Israel Invited to Russia’s May 9 Parade, While 'Unfriendly' Nations Excluded

almayadeen.net: 'Israel' Refuses HTS, New Syrian Forces near Damascus: Netanyahu

The Economist: Israel’s Army Adopts a High-stakes New Strategy: More Terrain

ynetnews.com: Israel Strengthens Ties with Russia in Bid to Curb Turkish Influence in Syria

 

55.36 New Chief Executive of MHRA, Lawrence Tallon - Conflict of Interest? 

GOV.UK: New Chief Executive Appointed at MHRA

KHP Ventures

 

57.23 Gene Editing Mice to Make a Woolly Mammoth

Colossal Laboratories & Biosciences

UK Parliament: Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023