Why did @theeconomistnews.bsky.social bury the lede in this piece on academic talent? It’s no secret that British academia has always paid less than the US. But Brexit, inflation, and persistent underinvestment in universities has tanked wages for at least a decade. economist.com/britain/2025...

This analysis is especially striking - Russia is weak in the scheme of things, and so actually has less leverage as any rules based order fades

Very unusual.

The World Health Organisation (who.int) is pretty damn important in a situation like this. #hantavirus www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/w...

Moving into the future feels like an important story for Labour to tell. One of hope and vision in spite of uncertainty. I really feel when you go to say Spain that it's a country embracing the future - solar panels everywhere, high speed rail, a general optimism that's missing in most UK towns.

“Israel set up a clandestine military outpost in the Iraqi desert to support its air campaign against Iran and launched airstrikes against Iraqi troops who almost discovered it early in the war, people familiar with the matter including U.S. officials said.” ( Gift, but access tip in replies)

Is this the society that we want?😳

NEW ANALYSIS: What's going on in Spain? Spain's wholesale electricity price in early 2026: €44/MWh. Italy: €127. Germany: €96. UK: €103. Wind+solar now deliver 44% of generation. Gas sets the price in just 9% of hours, down from 55% in 2022. Full analysis: janrosenow.substack.com/p/spain-just...

Shocked to my core. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

The momentum the Liberal Democrats can build through a public perception of being the least crazy party in opposition is underestimated at the moment

Oh my. This is spectacular. sinceyouarrived.world/taken

Yesterday I watched video of a Texas Tech undergrad stand before the Board of Regents and Chancellor—many millionaires and billionaires there—and denounce the censorship they are imposing. One of the bravest things I’ve seen in a long time. They utterly ignored him, but many many others did not.

My Third-Country Removal Tracker is below. As for people being imprisoned after deportation to their countries of origin, I’m aware of this happening recently in Myanmar and Russia. Probably more we don’t know about. gillianbrockell.com/tracking-all...

Interesting from Sir John Curtice, the UKs top polling expert on Englands council election and the Reform surge

Probably fair for the Liberal Democrats to claim 'winning here' in Richmond

Whoaaaaa! Am wondering how vulnerable Moodle is now… or TurnItIn…. Never mind all of the HR platforms that companies around the world are using. AI is good at coding but also ingenious at hacking as Mythos has shown. We can expect more of these problems in the future.

This study by @bertelsmannst.bsky.social shows: political support for strategic autonomy does exist. Policymakers should seize this moment for ambitious steps. 73% say EU should ‘go its own way’ after decades of close cooperation with US (+10% from 2024) bst-europe.eu/europe-in-th...

We see different camps among EU member states for a tougher EU industrial policy on China: frontrunners (France, now Belgium), silent supporters (Netherlands, Nordics), and more flexible states (e.g. Germany). Will be interesting to see how this plays out on EU level and which role Commission plays.

Sen. Chris Coons: "Is Trump eligible to run for a 3rd term under our Constitution?" Trump Judge nominee: "Um... I would have to... to review the- the actual wording ....." Sen. Coons: "The language of the 22nd Amendment makes it clear that NO, he is not eligible to run for a 3rd term. ..."

Judicial nominees who cannot answer a question this basic because they are scared of the president have no business serving as judges. The GOP doesn't care, though. Which is why we must vote them out of power in November.

Incoming Hungarian PM Peter Magyar is setting a good rhetorical example for what to do with former regime insiders who benefited from Fidesz corruption:

Wowsers look at what happened to posts on Twitter/X about London crime after monetisation of posts was introduced… economist.com/britain/2026...

A sign of the times.

Belonging and unbelonging. If we want to fix what’s wrong with Britain, this is the place to start. How we create belonging for everyone is an important measure of a successful country.

Reeves responded angrily by telling Bessent she did not work for him and disliked how he had spoken to her.

This move to regulate AI feels like it’s almost inevitable now that its potential harm is so obvious (Mythos). The question is whether AI regulation might one day turn into AI nationalization? Sounds unlikely but who wants a weapon of mass destruction/surveillance in the hands of private companies?

Very interesting to see Canada and PM Carney making very active efforts on all fronts to get closer to Canada.

This is grotesque on multiple levels.

Don’t listen to me, here’s Ford’s CEO youtu.be/Gy8OAasb8-w?...

“Israel Said It’s Applying the Gaza Model in Lebanon. This Is What the Devastation Looks Like.” — www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

This WSJ article is accidently funny. The best bit is, "European welfare states, by creating relatively comfortable lives for voters, conceal the full extent of Europe’s prosperity gap." Nothing like a comfortable life to disguise how bad you have it. www.wsj.com/opinion/what...

If I had to say what I think is the most important thing happening in British politics right now, I’d say it’s the following phenomenon, explained here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvhI... With huge thanks to @yougov.co.uk @martamiori.bsky.social and @itvnews.bsky.social Please share! Thank you!

"Canada’s digital sovereignty debate overlooks software risks. Focusing on cloud infrastructure misses the problem of foreign-controlled software that shapes how Canadian data is accessed and governed." policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/04/cana...

The rules are very clear. MPs are required declare gifts like this soon after being elected. The election was back in July 2024. If an MP owes their personal security to a multi-million pound benefactor, you have the right to know.

Students from abroad used to come to here because we respected the freedoms of speech, association, and inquiry. Now they’re not coming here because we don’t. It’s really as simple as that. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/w...

ICE's detention capability in four slides. 1. All existing immigration detention centers in operation today 2. Plus all purchased warehouses (minus paused/halted ones) 3. Plus all facilities proposed to be reopened or acquired 4. Plus all hold rooms and check-in sites used for detainee 'staging'

Ukraine and Norway launched joint production of mid-strike drones, with thousands planned to be built in Norway and transferred to Ukraine’s defense forces. The project is funded by Norway. #Ukraine

Everything about the illegal La Mandinga gold mine in Colombia sounds EXACTLY like the illegal diamond and gold mines and rubber tapping operations I found in Liberia when the civil war ended. Extralegal groups all over again… U.S. Mint Buys Drug Cartel Gold and Sells It as ‘American’ Gift link🎁

Iran war live: Tehran rejects talks under siege, Trump cancels envoys’ trip https://aje.news/bdkmf0

That’s because, IIRC, the Chinese run sectoral industrial policy (cf. South Korea under Park). They heavily subsidize but with a) low barriers to entry into the sector and b) other mechanisms for competition within the Chinese market.

The Palentir statement on its desired “Technological Republic” is one of the scariest things I have seen in a while. It is a call for a world dominated by an authoritarian U.S., generated by AI (both the statement and the world), run by tech-surveillance companies. Technofascism pure!

Our partners and allies are out there looking for new dance partners because they have no other choice.

'New powers under consideration — which bear a striking resemblance to the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) or “trade bazooka” — could include restrictions on the import and export of goods and services, as well as on investment flows.' www.politico.eu/article/brit...

The British Council has been chosen to run the Erasmus+ student mobility scheme when the UK rejoins next year, reports @jgro-the.bsky.social #edusky #highered #Erasmus https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/british-council-run-erasmus-uk-and-eu-formalise-deal

Peter Magyar displaying a ruthlessness that Biden and Starmer seem devoid of

My god. Essential, horrifying reporting here.

“If you criticise Palantir’s platform one more time, you are going to lose your job.” Solidarity to all NHS workers opposing this toxic corporation. Shame on those bullying them. But they won’t stop us. We’re going to ditch Palantir. www.ft.com/content/ff70...

Are we really complacent on defence or just stuck because no politician think they can win an election without prioritising pensioners?

The scale of China’s dominance and the risks it poses to industrial and defence supply chains are simply too large to ignore. 🇺🇸 🇪🇺 🇨🇳 New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @sandertordoir.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/LqGEKBN

Corruption is also what ignited the Arab Revolutions and spurred so many to protest in the streets. Remember what Mohamed Bouazizi was protesting against when he set himself on fire: corruption. In Orban’s case, don’t underestimate the potency of the zebras. www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...