Morning all. Photographer Niall McDiarmid Summerstown, London, 2017.

Oh, I see, so *now* everyone in Sunderland is happy to be in Europe.

“We are experiencing 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 on 14 June [vote on a far-right proposal to cap the population at 10M]. A yes vote would push us into isolation. The cap would be absolute and binding” --- Beat Jans, member of the Swiss federal govt www.tagesanzeiger.ch/10-millionen...

This is a cool photo of crescent Venus. And the Moon, too. Image credit: Iván Éder

Hi, tax law professor here. Trump and sons are NOT exempt forever (or anytime) from tax audits. Writing these words on paper signed by Todd Blanche doesn't make it a thing. In fact, I'm absolutely certain they'll all be audited in the future.

This is flying under the radar, but Trump's cronies have started their own organization to plan 250th anniversary events. Not only is their "Freedom 250" receiving taxpayer funds, it's also soliciting big donations from corporations in exchange for face time with Trump. Everything is for sale.

Bad-Württemburg becomes first Land to elect a President with Turkish roots.

After 12 years, the EU flag is back on Hungary’s Parliament building — the new Speaker’s very first decision. A happy Schuman Day indeed.

For context this is approaching the number of British military dead in WW2 (384,000). All in a totally pointless war launched for delusional reasons.

I fear Labour people risk falling into an ecological fallacy visible from space when reacting to these results. Here is what is very clear in results so far: Labour are losing *seats* to Reform, but... Labour are losing *votes* to the Greens Greens split the vote, Ref comes thru middle

Let’s take this as fact and return to the point. How does stratifying the privilege and advantages conferred by this terrible system so that fewer people get these outsized (non-educational) advantages reduce inequality? How does increasing the number of have-nots help?

As of today, the Anti-SLAPP Directive becomes a reality across all EU Member States. A powerful tool to address abusive lawsuits used to silence the truth. Proud to have worked with colleagues in @europarl.europa.eu to make this happen.

Exactly. And larger charities are now chasing the smaller grants that smaller charities use, because they too are struggling. The funding pots are getting fewer, but the need for the service provision is increasing.

Can we stop focusing on single statements and pretend they influence US policy? Trump wants to reduce US support for European defence. Merz’s statements (or any other) are a pretext, not the cause. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... How Germany’s Merz torpedoed his plan to contain Trump

One of several Cumbrian strongholds owned by the Clifford family. Others included Brough and Brougham.

Slightly diminish a book Realistic Expectations

Long and informative thread on direct democracy initiatives to reduce immigration into Switzerland. Need to keep clicking the 'read reply' links in places to follow the full thread.

🎧 The Skewer is back! This week: Cogs in the War Machine, Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Mandelson, and The Incredible Starmer — you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. BBC Radio 4, tonight 11:15pm 👉 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... #TheSkewer​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Millions in India stripped of vote before critical state election, as government seeks to ‘purify’ electoral roll www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Extraordinary

even the Iranians are trolling "quiet Trump"

I love listening to @nickferrarilbc.bsky.social and his callers. It's like the good old days, listening to the elderly gents in the public bar of a cosy English pub.

Since 2021, there are nearly 23,000 book bans in US public schools, an unprecedented number in modern US history. This wave of censorship,often driven by conservative agendas, has spread to nearly every state I admit: until yesterday’s #Museumsnacht, I wasn’t even aware that book bans still existed

Happy #LadyDay

The wheels of justice....

Announcement on a Swiss train just now: “After passing through the tunnel in Puidoux, a unique panorama over Lake Geneva will open up before you. Even if you make this commute day after day, to work or to university @unil.bsky.social, take a moment to pause and enjoy it” @bahnansagen.bsky.social

Did I imagine it, or did Jan Halper Hayes tell @lewisgoodall.com that Trump's Iran war is about ending the 47-year war in the Middle East? Huge if true.

When the far right launched its proposal to slash funding for the public broadcaster, it initially enjoyed the support of a majority of Swiss voters During the campaign, however,the support steadily eroded in light of broad cross-party countermobilization, with the prop finally being rejected today

Scorchio!

Just imagine if freedom of movement were a fundamental right. The EU is very good at giving its citizens rights.

NEW: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States has asked Ukraine for help intercepting Iranian-made Shahed drones, citing Ukraine’s battlefield expertise. Zelenskyy said any assistance will come only if it does not weaken Ukraine’s own defenses.

Dyathinkhesaurus Rex? #thearchers

This isn’t what you’d expect from the winner of the FIFA peace prize.

America, girl — how far you have fallen

“The victims were between seven and 12 years old, according to Iran's Tasnim and Fars news agencies.”

Gorton and Denton results. labour comes third. Ouch. Greens: 14,980 Reform: 10,578 Labour: 9,364

The belittled Prince Beak opens Investigation. Lizard sheds tail. Tail writhes, fascinates, does bird. Lizard grows new tail. Free to scamper Or totter to me. Autotomy.

"True. Richard Tice does have a small fortune. Mainly because he started off with a large one."

Reform: All of Lancashire County Council’s libraries withdrawn from Library of Sanctuary scheme – Blog Preston share.google/ko83KsF70QTv...

Hach, Bern! 😭

A billionaire who moved his tax domicile from the UK to Monaco so he didn't have to fund schools & hospitals says the UK as been "colonised by immigrants". His evidence? He says the UK population has risen from 58m in 2020 to 70m now Except the population of the UK was 67.1m in 2020

Tricky one.

#POLITKOLUMNE: The Trump admin has put unprecedented pressure on Fed Chair Powell, prompting other central bankers to stress the importance of CB independence. This fits a broader pattern: populist governments undermine checks and balances, and try to weaponize them www.derbund.ch/wie-unabhaen...

Good news about the British economy?! UK productivity – how much the economy produces per hour worked – grew more in the past year than in the previous seven years combined. In our latest Substack, Research Director @gthwaites.bsky.social takes a closer look 📈

@mrjamesob.bsky.social See below re the Reform letter in G&D - my reply to Rob Ford's post. This is a bigger story than not having an imprint. I believe it was a deliberate attempt to deceive voters, and then the printer had to come up with a story to cover for being found out. It's not an error.

"I was deeply upset: on the day the Cancer Plan was fought out for our country, this abhorrent individual overshadows that incredibly good work". Calvin Bailey MP, talking to @matthew-wright.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk just now.

The history of Black Canadians is one of relentless progress, earned through perseverance, and carried forward by opening doors for so many to follow. This week, we celebrated 30 years of Black History Month in Canada.

What a country. America, 2026 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...

"Any one of us is just two missed paychecks from having to live in Sandringham. There's a sobering thought." youtube.com/watch?v=W59C...