Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
National & financial security. Former UK civil servant and financial intelligence professional. Senior Associate Fellow @rusi.bsky.social CFS. Loves ideas, cult fiction, anomalous stuff and landscapes.
Views own.
Views own.
Pinned
Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
· Sep 12
“People sometimes tell me that they prefer barbarism to civilisation. I doubt if they have given it a long enough trial…they are bored by civilisation; but all the evidence suggests that the boredom of barbarism is infinitely greater.”
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
The National Crime Agency has exposed a billion-dollar money laundering network that bought a bank in Kyrgyzstan to help Russian actors evade sanctions and route payments connected to Moscow’s military ambitions.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nca-uncovers...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nca-uncovers...
NCA uncovers billion-dollar Russian war laundering network
The National Crime Agency has exposed a billion-dollar money laundering network that bought a bank in Kyrgyzstan to help Russian actors evade sanctions and route payments connected to Moscow’s military ambitions.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The National Crime Agency has exposed a billion-dollar money laundering network that bought a bank in Kyrgyzstan to help Russian actors evade sanctions and route payments connected to Moscow’s military ambitions.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nca-uncovers...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nca-uncovers...
👌🏼
There’s a distinct theme binding key actors in a saga that saw Donald Trump pardon a man convicted over a massive nursing home scandal.
Fraudsters Lobbied Fraudster to Grant Presidential Pardon to Fraudster
There’s a distinct theme binding key actors in a saga that saw Donald Trump pardon a man convicted over a massive nursing home scandal.
trib.al
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
👌🏼
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Will Donald Trump push ahead with plans for space-based lasers? In The World Ahead we explore the five trends to watch as military competition in space grows more intense
Military competition in space will intensify
As the race to dominate space intensifies, here are five areas to watch in 2026
econ.st
November 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Will Donald Trump push ahead with plans for space-based lasers? In The World Ahead we explore the five trends to watch as military competition in space grows more intense
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
A Royal Navy patrol ship has intercepted two Russian vessels off the UK coast, the Ministry of Defence has said.
November 23, 2025 at 6:32 PM
A Royal Navy patrol ship has intercepted two Russian vessels off the UK coast, the Ministry of Defence has said.
👇
Dear UK: You don’t pay enough taxes to have an NHS that doesn’t run on immigration and immigrant labour.
Sorry to be brutally honest but it’s how it is
Sorry to be brutally honest but it’s how it is
November 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
👇
November 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Ringing endorsement.
WELKER: Was this 28 point plan written by Russia?
BESSENT: I have no information on that
BESSENT: I have no information on that
November 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Ringing endorsement.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Difficult to see how a Trump administration so wracked with delusion and infighting won't screw up a US military attack on Venezuela
FWIW, RUMINT, but pretty reliable:
1. Vance key to US embrace of Russia plan on Ukraine, Rubio (and even Trump) out of the loop.
2. Vance-Rubio relations “awful.”
3. Rubio told the senators exactly what they said he told them.
4. Hegseth paranoid he’ll be shoved out, Driscoll will replace him.
1. Vance key to US embrace of Russia plan on Ukraine, Rubio (and even Trump) out of the loop.
2. Vance-Rubio relations “awful.”
3. Rubio told the senators exactly what they said he told them.
4. Hegseth paranoid he’ll be shoved out, Driscoll will replace him.
November 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Difficult to see how a Trump administration so wracked with delusion and infighting won't screw up a US military attack on Venezuela
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
1) Start the worst European war since 1945 and commit every imaginable war crime
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
November 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
1) Start the worst European war since 1945 and commit every imaginable war crime
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Monday coming
November 23, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Monday coming
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Remember Trump's minerals deal that would guarantee Ukraine?
Good. Me either.
Good. Me either.
November 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Remember Trump's minerals deal that would guarantee Ukraine?
Good. Me either.
Good. Me either.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Chinese underground organisations are taking over one of the world’s biggest illicit industries—international money-laundering networks that facilitate crimes from drug smuggling to cryptocurrency theft econ.st/3LScP08
Illustration:
Illustration:
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Chinese underground organisations are taking over one of the world’s biggest illicit industries—international money-laundering networks that facilitate crimes from drug smuggling to cryptocurrency theft econ.st/3LScP08
Illustration:
Illustration:
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Germany wants to build Europe’s strongest army – a new conscription bill is moving that closer
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
Germany wants to build Europe’s strongest army – a new conscription bill is moving that closer | CNN
Earlier this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to build Europe’s strongest army – a tall order for a country whose military has undergone years of neglect.
www.cnn.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Germany wants to build Europe’s strongest army – a new conscription bill is moving that closer
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
The Witkoff-Dmitriev pact is a victor’s peace, but Ukraine hasn’t been defeated. The Russian military has barely advanced since 2022, at a price of roughly a million casualties. wapo.st/3XcRot6
Opinion | Ukraine needs Russia’s frozen $200 billion immediately, Europe
With Trump seeking Kyiv’s capitulation to Russia, now is the moment for decisive European action.
wapo.st
November 23, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The Witkoff-Dmitriev pact is a victor’s peace, but Ukraine hasn’t been defeated. The Russian military has barely advanced since 2022, at a price of roughly a million casualties. wapo.st/3XcRot6
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
contrasty marazion
November 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
contrasty marazion
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe'
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe'
According to the former Trump adviser, 'This White House wants Ukraine to capitulate to Russian demands to end this war, without proper consideration of all the factors at play.'
www.lemonde.fr
November 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe'
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Poland: 'Be Ready' civilian training campaign launched. Aiming to train more than 500,000 people by the end of 2026... h/t @sarahkirchberger.bsky.social #civilprotection #societalresilience
Poland has launched a voluntary civilian training initiative called “Be Ready,” offering courses in first aid, survival, cybersecurity and emergency response.
November 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Poland: 'Be Ready' civilian training campaign launched. Aiming to train more than 500,000 people by the end of 2026... h/t @sarahkirchberger.bsky.social #civilprotection #societalresilience
I hope he said that with a single eyebrow raised.
November 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I hope he said that with a single eyebrow raised.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
BBC News - How Jodrell Bank kept an eye on Cold War Soviet missile launches - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Jodrell Bank kept an eye on Cold War Soviet missile launches
How did a giant radio telescope in Cheshire help the West monitor the Soviet Union's nuclear missiles?
www.bbc.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
BBC News - How Jodrell Bank kept an eye on Cold War Soviet missile launches - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Saw this in Liverpool yesterday. IT. WAS. FABULOUS.
November 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Saw this in Liverpool yesterday. IT. WAS. FABULOUS.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Iran’s intelligence minister said on Saturday the Islamic Republic's enemies are seeking to target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warning about attempts to incite another wave of unrest in the country.
iranintl.com/en/202511223504
iranintl.com/en/202511223504
Iran's adversaries trying to target Khamenei, intelligence minister says
Iran’s intelligence minister said on Saturday the Islamic Republic's enemies are seeking to target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warning about attempts to incite another wave of unrest in the country.
iranintl.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Iran’s intelligence minister said on Saturday the Islamic Republic's enemies are seeking to target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warning about attempts to incite another wave of unrest in the country.
iranintl.com/en/202511223504
iranintl.com/en/202511223504
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
The success of Chinese money-laundering networks is due to technical innovation, trade surpluses and strict capital controls. We explain how the illicit industry works
How Chinese underground banks became the world’s biggest money-launderers
They connect rich Chinese, drug cartels and North Korean hackers—without anyone meeting
econ.st
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The success of Chinese money-laundering networks is due to technical innovation, trade surpluses and strict capital controls. We explain how the illicit industry works
Is Adrian Chiles in charge of the BBC News website?
November 22, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Is Adrian Chiles in charge of the BBC News website?
Night all. See you for more lunacy in the morning.
November 21, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Night all. See you for more lunacy in the morning.