1. Here’s a combative interview in Der Spiegel with Pankaj Mishra about the war in Gaza, “Germany’s Reputation Has Been Badly Tainted by its One-Sided Support for the Israeli Government” https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/pankaj-mishra-on-the-war-in-gaza-germanys-reputation-has-been-badly-tainted-by-its-one-sided-support-for-the-israeli-government-a-12cab975-96cd-4187-aefc-edce56113b0c

2. To give you time to arrange to attend, ample notice I hope of a very interesting-looking five-day webinar series from Pearson, Challenging traditional methods: Understanding AI-driven innovations in language teaching, which runs each day from Monday 24^th to Friday 28^th March at 16:00 UK time.

Monday – Adapting assessment in the age of AI: From challenge to opportunity with Amanda Bickerstaff

Tuesday – Help, I’m competing against AI: Human vs artificial intelligence in language teaching with Ilya Gogin

Wednesday – AI in language teaching: 10 major evolutions you need to prepare for with Alex Asher

Thursday – Avoiding AI slop: Generating age and level-appropriate content with Luke Priddy

Friday – Less planning, more impact: Using AI to create effective lesson activities with Jay Bhadresha & Nina Hall

More info and registration here https://www.pearson.com/languages/community/webinars/ai-driven-innovation-in-language-teaching.html There’s a professional development certificate on offer after each session; complete the full series to earn a Credly by Pearson digital badge!

3. Two recent pieces from The Guardian on Sir Kazuo Ishiguro (or ‘Ish’, as he prefers to be known)

‘The definition of a classic’: Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Never Let Me Go’ at 20 https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/08/the-definition-of-a-classic-kazuo-ishiguros-never-let-me-go-at-20

‘AI will become very good at manipulating emotions’: Kazuo Ishiguro on the future of fiction and truth https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/08/ai-will-become-very-good-at-manipulating-emotions-kazuo-ishiguro-on-the-future-of-fiction-and-truth

It’s about time I read Never Let Me Go, I guess!

4. I’m not sure how many people will have heard of Noël Coward nowadays. In his day, which was probably the period between the two world wars, there were few more famous actors and writers worldwide. Here’s a well-written piece by Oliver Soden for Engelsberg Ideas about a less well-known side of his character, Noël Coward the spy https://engelsbergideas.com/portraits/noel-coward-spy-espionage/

5. And, finally and cinematically, a Films Division film from India, I am 20, directed by S. N. S. Sastry https://youtu.be/fA8h74ZW8Ok  Those born on Independence Day in 1947 were selected from different parts of India and interviewed to know their hopes and desires, ambitions, hobbies, fears and frustrations and the result is this unique film.

And here’s a follow up film from 2021, which documents how (some of) those twenty-year-olds developed https://youtu.be/AICnH7QYmvM