intel, iran, Israel, Military, NATO, Nuclear, RussiaLeave a comment

Likelihood of world war is now a risk – ref “The Coming Storm“ Westad and parallels to 1912

Colin Henderson

Currently state analysis in context of potential for regional or World War. Examples: Note introduction of Bolivia as a direct and unpredicted new thread, along side Russia /China relations actively managed by China which could lead Putin to move asynchronously. ANALYSIS Prompt We appear to be in a high risk of a regional or even world war. Breakdowns in diplomacy now exist : Russia / china, us/ Israel, us/china, Iran/ Saudi, UAE,, quatar. Yemen remains a wild card. Output The risk architecture is real but worth disaggregating — not all breakdowns are equal, and some of the apparent fractures are … Continue reading Likelihood of world war is now a risk – ref “The Coming Storm“ Westad and parallels to 1912

Israel, USLeave a comment

AIPAC Defeats Massie in Kentucky Primary — Most Expensive House Race in US History

Colin Henderson

Something I have been following and now becomes official. Israel controls US Middle East foreign policy ——— AIPAC Defeats Massie in Kentucky Primary — Most Expensive House Race in US HistoryRep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who had introduced a bill to require AIPAC to register as a foreign agent under FARA, lost his primary Tuesday to Trump-endorsed Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. Pro-Israel groups — AIPAC’s super PAC and two affiliates — poured over $15.8 million into the race. Total ad spending exceeded $32.6 million.New today: Result confirmed Tuesday night. Massie’s FARA bill dies with his seat; no successor sponsor identified.Why it … Continue reading AIPAC Defeats Massie in Kentucky Primary — Most Expensive House Race in US History

Disinformation, Geopolitics, IsraelLeave a comment

Morning Briefing — Wednesday, 20 May 2026 · 07:00 EST · 1,240 words

Colin Henderson

Today’s environment is dominated by a single compound risk: the Iran-Hormuz conflict is again teetering between diplomatic opening and resumed military action, with Trump’s Monday strike cancellation buying hours rather than resolution. Simultaneously, two significant data releases this morning sharpen the domestic economic picture: UK April CPI is out today (ONS), and Ukraine continues its attrition shift. The common thread running through today’s briefing is postponement — of attacks, of AI compliance deadlines, of hard choices on European defence sovereignty. 1. What Changed Iran: Trump Cancels Tuesday Strike, Negotiations Resume — BarelyTrump announced Monday he was standing down a planned … Continue reading Morning Briefing — Wednesday, 20 May 2026 · 07:00 EST · 1,240 words

AI_factoriesLeave a comment

Google and Blackstone to Create New AI Cloud Company

Colin Henderson

Investment firm to put $5 billion toward venture using Google’s chips WSJ: By Lauren ThomasFollow  and Cara LombardoFollow Updated May 18, 2026 at 9:37 pm ET A Google Cloud pavilion at a conference in Barcelona in March. Angel Garcia/Bloomberg News Alphabet’s GOOGL -2.57% Google and Blackstone BX -1.32% plan to create an artificial-intelligence cloud company to rival the likes of CoreWeave CRWV-5.72% using Google’s specialized chips. The duo said Monday they plan to launch the unnamed U.S. company with $5 billion in equity capital from Blackstone, confirming an earlier report by The Wall Street Journal. The venture, the biggest attempt yet by Google to sell and monetize its own chips to external parties, will sharpen a rivalry … Continue reading Google and Blackstone to Create New AI Cloud Company

Geopolitics, iranLeave a comment

Morning Briefing — Tuesday, 19 May 2026 · 7:15 AM EST · ~1,100 words

Colin Henderson

Today’s briefing is dominated by the fragility of the Iran-US ceasefire, under simultaneous pressure from a new IRGC territorial redefinition of the Strait, a drone strike on the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant, and Trump’s renewed ultimatum. In parallel, British political instability has entered its most acute phase, and US midterm voters go to the polls today in six states. The through-line across today’s news is institutional stress — the ceasefire framework, UK governance, and the EU’s regulatory architecture are all operating at or near their tolerance limits. 1. What changed Hormuz: Trump sets new deadline as MOU talks reach closest … Continue reading Morning Briefing — Tuesday, 19 May 2026 · 7:15 AM EST · ~1,100 words

iran, UKLeave a comment

Describes issues in US-Iran talks in 2026, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme and US sanctions

Colin Henderson

Research Briefing Published Friday, 24 April, 2026 Describes issues in US-Iran talks in 2026, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme and US sanctions. On 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States began a series of strikes against Iran. They said they aimed to induce regime change in the country and target its nuclear and ballistic missile programme. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the strikes. Iran has appointed Khamenei’s son as his successor and launched a series of counter-strikes against Israel, US military bases in the region, and military and civilian locations in Arab … Continue reading Describes issues in US-Iran talks in 2026, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme and US sanctions

Economy, Geopolitics, iran, IsraelLeave a comment

Morning Briefing — Monday, May 18, 2026 · 9:31 AM EST · ~1,150 words

Colin Henderson

Today’s briefing is dominated by a single escalating thread: the Iran conflict is approaching a decision point. Three signals converged over the weekend — an Iranian proxy drone strike on the UAE’s nuclear power plant, Trump’s “clock is ticking” social media post following a call with Netanyahu, and a confirmed White House NSC session Tuesday to review military options. The news environment is materially more kinetic than Friday. Diplomatic space is compressing. 1. Top Stories — What Changed Drones strike Barakah nuclear plant perimeter in the UAEThree drones entered UAE airspace Sunday; two were intercepted, one struck an electrical generator … Continue reading Morning Briefing — Monday, May 18, 2026 · 9:31 AM EST · ~1,150 words

AILeave a comment

Artificial Intelligence: Council and Parliament agree to simplify and streamline rules 

Colin Henderson

Today, the Council presidency and European Parliament negotiators reached a provisional agreement on a proposal to streamline certain rules regarding artificial intelligence (AI). The proposal forms part of the so-called ‘Omnibus VII’ legislative package in the EU’s simplification agenda. The package includes proposals for two regulations aiming to simplify the EU’s digital legislative framework and the implementation of harmonised rules on AI. The Commission had proposed to adjust the timeline for applying rules on high-risk AI systems by up to 16 months, so that the rules start to apply once the Commission confirms the needed standards and tools are available. The Commission had also proposed further targeted amendments to … Continue reading Artificial Intelligence: Council and Parliament agree to simplify and streamline rules 

DisinformationLeave a comment

How should organizations better manage disinformation

Colin Henderson

This Reuters piece got me thinking about hantavirus as a prime example of combined active and uninformed disinformation. Prompt Most people manage this kind of information by ignoring it. How should organizations better manage disinformation. Hantavirus outbreak tests post-COVID health communications playbook – https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/hantavirus-outbreak-tests-post-covid-health-communications-playbook-2026-05-15/?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=notifications&utm_campaign=2025_engagement Output Good material. Here’s the analysis you’re actually asking for — not the outbreak itself, but what it reveals about the disinformation problem and how organizations should respond. Disinformation Management: What Hantavirus ExposesThe Core Problem Isn’t Ignorance — It’s InfrastructureThe disinformation ecosystem around hantavirus wasn’t improvised — it behaved more like standing infrastructure: a network of … Continue reading How should organizations better manage disinformation

EconomicsLeave a comment

Morning Briefing — Sunday, 17 May 2026 · 08:00 EST · ~1,180 words

Colin Henderson

Today’s news environment is dominated by the Iran-US ceasefire entering its most volatile phase yet, with a drone strike on a UAE nuclear facility this morning adding hard escalation signal to a week of rhetorical brinkmanship. The Trump-Xi summit aftermath lands in parallel — headline deals claimed, substance disputed — while a WHO-declared Ebola emergency in the DRC adds a second systemic risk thread. The Middle East and global health tracks are reinforcing each other as stressors on an already thin policy bandwidth in Washington. 1. Top Stories — What Changed ⚑ Drone hits UAE Barakah nuclear plant generator — … Continue reading Morning Briefing — Sunday, 17 May 2026 · 08:00 EST · ~1,180 words