Accusing Iran of arresting visitors as an excuse to make them hostages.

Governments likely to be pressured in this way should very visibly warn all their citizens not to visit Iran. Even if you have never been involved in anything political related to Iran, even if your activity there is beneficial, even if it is just a holiday, even if it is visiting friends and family — do not go!. Especially, if you have Iranian relatives — do not go!.

It would be best to have airport ground personnel give these warnings, and give them at the time of selling tickets too.

"We are not suckers; tell your family now not to ask us to be suckers. If Iran makes you a hostage, we will not give Iran anything to try to procure your release. If you don't want to be a hostage, now is your only chance to avoid it. Don't go to Iran!"

*I Stopped to Watch [School] Recess in My Neighborhood — and Security Was Called.*

The Jan 6 investigation committee has subpoena'd five Republican members of Congress to testify.

An Australian MP is demanding a "Christian lobby" stop using her picture on a hostile leaflet, on grounds of copyright.

I don't know the details of the "religious discrimination bill", or why they call it that. (The coverage of that bill in The Guardian presumed too much background for me to understand it without too much work.) On general principles, if an incumbent elected official in a mainly Christian country is attacked by a "Christian lobby", I probably I disagree with that lobby. Most likely I would agree with MP Sharkie if I knew what the issue was.

However, it is clear that freedom of political speech includes the freedom to show a picture of a candidate you oppose. It is an injustice for copyright law to interfere with that.

One of several causes of the US shortage of milk substitutes for babies is too many mergers.