Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 2h

In which she praises prominent Brexiter Chris Bickerton 🤦‍♂️

Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 3h

The notion that Clare Daly and Mick Wallace were "two respected parliamentarians" in the European Parliament is for the birds. Most of the European Left wouldn't go near them.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Catherine Connolly ‘would love’ if a united Ireland happened during her presidency

Humphreys says she respects Trump’s mandate, but ‘you never know what you’re going to hear’ from the US president

www.irishtimes.com

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 7h

I love everything about this story.

www.rte.ie/sport/soccer...

Delight for Lopes as Cape Verde qualify for World Cup

Shamrock Rovers defender Pico Lopes helped Cape Verde to qualify for their first World Cup on Monday after a 3-0 win over Eswatini ensured they finished top of their African zone group.

www.rte.ie

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Reposted by Edward Burke

Bill Allen @billallen.bsky.social · Jul 28

Just finished this brilliant account of murder and atrocity in Belfast in the 1920. If you want to understand the origin of NI “troubles” I thoroughly recommend this book

Cover of Edward Burke’s book Ghosts of a Family. Excellent account of Belfast during the horrors sectarian violence in the 1920s

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 1d

Well there is that tbf.

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 1d

Catherine Connolly has again criticised "the building up of the military in Europe", which is why she also opposed the Nice / Lisbon Treaties.

A lot of people who were pro-EU during Brexit are now backing a candidate that is anti-EU in its current structure / increased defence since 🇺🇦 invasion 🤔

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Reposted by Edward Burke

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 1d

A quiet bombshell in Europe’s tech world

The Dutch government seems to have effectively frozen operations of Nexperia, the Chinese-owned chipmaker, citing national security, according to corporate filing today - via @zichenwanghere

Dutch govt accused of freezing operations of Chinese semiconductor giant's chipmaker Nexperia

Wingtech, the Shanghai-listed parent, denounces what it essentially calls a boardroom coup involving the Dutch government and local executives

open.substack.com

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 1d

I think Ireland has / should have allies. But it is still unusual for the same presidential candidate to pledge solidarity with our European ‘allies‘ and then also say that we are ‘neutral’. Both statements are in obvious tension with each other.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

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Reposted by Edward Burke

ie-nb.bsky.social @ie-nb.bsky.social · 2d

Questions about Ireland’s neutrality on the ballot in this election – The Irish Times

https://www.newsbeep.com/ie/75285/

Debates about neutrality during the presidential election have highlighted important questions about the formal and informal powers of…

Questions about Ireland’s neutrality on the ballot in this election – The Irish Times - Ireland News Beep

Debates about neutrality during the presidential election have highlighted important questions about the formal and informal powers of the role.

www.newsbeep.com

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 2d

I wrote about Irish neutrality, foreign policy and the presidential election for the Irish Times.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

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Patrick Porter @patporter76.bsky.social · 2d

My piece in @TheCriticMag: in the eternal argument between continentalism and blue water worldwide posture, Britain should prioritise its region more, and fret about worldwide importance less. Instead of obsessing with being "global", be serious.
thecritic.co.uk/against-glob...

Against global Britain | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine

Fifteen years ago at a London foreign policy breakfast in a bunker, a pathology that blights British statecraft reared its head. “We’ve got to have a global role”, insisted a senior member of…

thecritic.co.uk

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Reposted by Edward Burke

Sam McBride @sjamcbride.bsky.social · 3d

Amid debate about Troubles 'official history', the Government denies ever interfering in official history books – but a file I've found disproves that, showing it “negotiated” with a foreign government over what could be said, to dismay of top historian.

Project could drastically change our understanding of the Troubles… but declassified file disproves claim about government meddling

In The Steel Shutter, a remarkable Troubles film made more than half a century ago, nine people from Belfast were taken to Philadelphia to sit in a circle and talk while being filmed by the celebrated...

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Reposted by Edward Burke

Peter Ricketts @lordrickettsp.bsky.social · 3d

Unusually I disagree with this @TheEconomist leader on Gaza. Trump’s plan is NOT a ‘radically different vision from the moribund approach under Oslo’. Indeed one of the most striking things about the 20 points is that they move the US towards the classic Oslo vision of the end-state 1/3

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 3d

Off to Belfast to see about some Bulls #ULSvBUL

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 3d

It was a pleasure to join RTE’s Behind the Story Podcast earlier today to speak Trump and his (not) near miss at winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/b...

Katie gets a new job and how to win a Nobel Prize

Podcast Episode · Behind the Story · 10/10/2025 · 30m

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by Edward Burke

Seána @grantsana.bsky.social · 4d

That was not the act of a child, it’s an insult to call it childish - it was triple distilled misogynistic behaviour.

Irish Independent @independent.ie · 4d

Joe Brolly says he regrets a 'childish, crude and inappropriate gesture' made on a podcast while talking about the presidential election campaign.

It came after Fine Gael’s candidate Heather Humphreys said the video was 'very misogynistic' and was 'targeted at women'

Joe Brolly regrets ‘childish, crude gesture’ on podcast about the presidency

Joe Brolly says he regrets a “childish, crude and inappropriate gesture” made on a podcast while talking about the presidential election campaign.

www.independent.ie

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 5d

I’d sign off on that research expenses receipt which is probably why i am not in a position to sign off on receipts

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 5d

Five and a half years sentence? Light.

Sergeant Brendan Eddery was fortunate to survive - his courage and that of another garda got him through. And good for him for refusing to yield his city to, as he puts it correctly, “to bullies, a mob” 👏

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co...

Man receives 5½-year sentence for livestreamed assault of garda during Dublin riot

Sergeant recalls fearing serious injury or death when mob of up to 30 assailants attacked

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Edward Burke

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 6d

"15 years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are," says Kemi Badenoch.

Any ideas what may have happened in the interim?

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Reposted by Edward Burke

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 6d

If you want to read an actually good piece about integration in the United Kingdom, try @samfr.bsky.social:

The Truth About Integration

I have been challenged by readers to write something less depressing about the state of the country.

samf.substack.com

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 6d

economist.com/internationa...

Europe struggles to put homeland defence first

Years of expeditionary operations leave it vulnerable if America abandons the continent

economist.com

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 6d

“Israel seems more important — and less desirable — than ever for British Jews”
www.ft.com/content/14d4...

Israel seems more important — and less desirable — than ever for British Jews

Amid rising antisemitism at home, our lifeboat abroad seems less attractive

www.ft.com

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 7d

And also make it illegal for them to sell - 100%

Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 7d

i have addressed this already. remove public subsidies from companies selling to states carrying out systematic war crimes. I have no problem with this. if connolly said this in a specific criticism I would agree with her. rather than her crude intervention.

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Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 7d

I have no problem removing public subsidies / investment from companies that refuse to comply

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