1. An interesting piece from Chatham House on the relationship between China and India, which they suggest will be of ‘greater long-term significance’ than the relationship between the US and China https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/2025-04-23-how-china-india-relations-will-shape-asia-global-order-bajpaee-jie.pdf

The China–US relationship is widely regarded as the key defining geopolitical relationship of the 21st century. But relations between China and India arguably hold greater long-term significance. These two Asian nations are the world’s most populous countries (together accounting for almost 40 per cent of the global population), and its second largest and soon-to-be third largest economies, respectively. Both are competing for influence and leadership amid the emerging multipolar global order. Yet, despite its importance, the China–India relationship is poorly understood outside of those two countries. This research paper traces the trajectory of, and key factors behind, that relationship and challenges several misconceptions.

2. The next NATESOL event, at 16:00 UK time next Wednesday, 30^th April, is Teaching English in a Multilingual World: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges with Mai Nguyen. More info and registration here https://www.natesol.org/event-details/teaching-english-in-a-multilingual-world-navigating-opportunities-and-challenges

Here’s the abstract for Mai Nguyen’s talk: As English continues to function as an international language, multilingualism has become the norm in language classrooms worldwide. This talk explores the dynamic relationship between English language teaching and multilingual contexts, with an aim to discuss both opportunities and challenges for language teachers and researchers. Drawing on my recent research on World Englishes in Vietnam and Indonesia, I will present cases where English teachers in these contexts have made efforts to teach English as a language that exists in multiple varieties to school learners. I will also highlight practical strategies for promoting inclusive, responsive practices, such as integrating localised English samples and encouraging students’ home languages and cultures in English lessons. At the same time, challenges, such as the strong influence of native-speaker ideals on local teaching materials and on what teachers and students believe makes a good English learner and speaker, will be critically examined. By connecting research and practice, this session hopes to offer insights and strategies while also promoting discussion on how to make English language teaching and learning more equitable, effective, and relevant in today’s multilingual world.

3. Two-minute readings by professional actors from each of the six books shortlisted for the International Booker Prize https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/watch-the-international-booker-prize-2025-shortlist-films

Try Ambika Mod’s reading from ‘Heart Lamp’ by Banu Mushtaq? https://youtu.be/C2XZ8R2U_k4

4. Two potentially related stories?

One from Literary Hub, On the Real-Life Story of Deep-Cover Russian Spies Living As American Families https://lithub.com/on-the-real-life-story-of-deep-cover-russian-spies-living-as-american-families/

and the other from Timothy Snyder on The Next Terrorist Attack – And What Comes After https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-terrorist-attack

5. And, finally, to my surprise and pleasure, free to watch on the Mosfilm YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@Mosfilm_eng/videos, along with lots of other classics of Russian cinema, the whole of Andrei Tarkovsky’s film, The Mirror https://youtu.be/NrMINC5xjMs