Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 2h

Oh look! A Reform MP taking gifts from Russians, how surprising.

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 4h

"Another Reform MP has been accused of being in breach of Parliamentary rules, after its deputy leader Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality he received from Lubov Chernukhin – wife of a former Russian deputy finance minister"
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/refo...

Reform’s Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality from former Russian finance minister’s wife

'Tice and Oakeshott stayed at the Chernukhins’ “turreted villa” with “a stunning view of the Mediterranean” and had supper with them at a Michelin-starred restaurant'

leftfootforward.org

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Tom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 5h

In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67...

8 180 250

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 4h

Ah yes, the half closed North Bridge. Every few months we see a photo of a transport convenor on the bridge announcing some small part of it is now finished.

1

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 5h

Here's a list of the UK companies that this multinational owns.

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 5d

After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season.

TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible.

christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...

England is now experiencing a significant Covid wave, after 10 months of relative quiet

The latest Covid situation in England and a look at where NHS services are as we head into winter

christinapagel.substack.com

75 520 850

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 10h

If you think about the formula weight/height^2 it's a rough measure of thickness based on an assumption about your ideal body shape. If you're not really built to average proportions then BMI won't be a good indicator of whether you're at your ideal weight.
I'd worry about wobble and sag more.

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 12h

Actually the English language requirements haven't changed much and aren't that onerous. It's just bad messaging, again.
bsky.app/profile/otto...

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 14h

All of this is being put out to placate the right wing press...

In the meantime, it's causing fear & confusion. As I understand it:

● this only applies to some people on skilled visas
● it's not "A level English" it's something called SELT
● much the same requirement exists elsewhere in EU

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 14h

All of this is being put out to placate the right wing press...

In the meantime, it's causing fear & confusion. As I understand it:

● this only applies to some people on skilled visas
● it's not "A level English" it's something called SELT
● much the same requirement exists elsewhere in EU

120 280 770

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 1d

Presumably this is to allow farmers who were growing soy this year to grow corn or rape next year in the hope they can sell it for oil manufacturing.
After all this is the plan isn't it, to repatriate a lot of manufacturing back into the USA?

1 1

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

Great to speak at the @energy-uk.org.uk conference just now, about the tenuous relationship between many media headlines & reality

Here's a taster

#eukconf25

4 49 94

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 1d

So you've got a Canadian "journalist" covering the trial of an Irish citizen, who lives in Spain and whose costs are being covered by a South African born migrant living in the United States.

Break out the flags lads....

a man in a blue shirt is standing in front of a door with the words " england " on it

ALT: a man in a blue shirt is standing in front of a door with the words " england " on it

media.tenor.com

6 53 220

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 1d

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy.
Can Trump pardon him in some way or is that it?

1

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 1d

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy.
Can Trump pardon him in some way or is that it?

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 1d

Oh the schadenfreude.

1

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Sarah Barnard @sarahbpolar.bsky.social · 1d

2026 calendar available NOW! I only have 9 copies available on the website, and a few more I'll be taking to the Shackleton Autumn School at the end of the month.

I hope you like sea ice and tallships!

Svalbard 2026 Calendar | Barnard Polar

An extremely limited edition A3 size calendar of photographs from my time on the Arctic Circle expeditionary residency in Svalbard. I hope you like sea ice and tallships!**As the situation with US tar...

www.barnardpolar.shop

5 7

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 2d

UKIP have been taken over by the COO of the UK branch of St Charlie's Turning Point

13 16 55

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 1d

When it comes to sleaze it's easy to get confused between the SNP and Deform.

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Darth Putin @darthputinkgb.bsky.social · 1d

OTD in 2002 🇺🇦 began decommissioning its nuclear capable Tu-22 strategic bombers & Kh-22 cruise missiles, as per the Budapest memo.

30 bombers & 230 missiles were destroyed over 2 & half years in exchange for promise 🇷🇺 would never invade.

But you can believe our promises now

18 380 1.3K

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 1d

Home.

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 2d

So do Israelis. It's sad that even someone like him doesn't seem to understand why Palestinians hate them.

8

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 2d

What.is.your.point?

1

Reposted by Alan Fresco

Paul Singh @paulsingh.bsky.social · 2d

Elon Musk is telling everyone in this country what he stands for.

Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 2d

If true, it's an open question which of them this reflects more badly upon.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Tommy Robinson says Elon Musk is paying his legal costs as trial begins

Far-right activist is accused of refusing to comply with counter-terrorism police request at Channel tunnel

www.theguardian.com

5 12

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 2d

Sorry what's your point?

1

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 2d

I think it's worth pointing out that at least some of those that have been held for years are murdering bastards. If peace is to be achieved both sides have to distance themselves from their violent extremists.

3 3

Alan Fresco @alanf.bsky.social · 2d

We have our own health service.
Perhaps his shaky understanding of who runs what explains why it's not working properly?

2