Fergus Kelly
@ferguskelly.bsky.social
460 followers
390 following
490 posts
Designer with ideas above his station. Mostly former. Lazy Sahel and Syria watcher. Battles a blowy, boggy, brambley Irish coastal garden
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Demolition crews have begun tearing down part of the White House to build President Trump’s long-desired ballroom — despite his pledge that construction of the $250 million addition wouldn’t “interfere” with the existing building. https://wapo.st/4hl7jyF
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Tory MP reports ‘AI-generated deepfake’ video of him announcing defection to Reform UK
Tory MP reports ‘AI-generated deepfake’ video of him announcing defection to Reform UK
George Freeman, the MP for Mid Norfolk, called the spread of misinformation through AI content a ‘dangerous development’
A Conservative MP has reported an “AI-generated deepfake” video of him announcing that he has joined Reform UK to the police, according to reports.
George Freeman, the MP for Mid Norfolk, denounced the video and, in a Facebook post, called the deliberate spread of misinformation through AI-generated content a “concerning and dangerous development”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
For the first time since 2006 the state has admitted it allowed munitions – onboard a US war plane authorised by Simon Harris to land at Shannon Airport – to travel through Irish territory on their way to Israel
Darragh O’Brien granted the exemption.
www.ontheditch.com/state-admits/
Darragh O’Brien granted the exemption.
www.ontheditch.com/state-admits/
State admits it’s allowed weapons through Ireland to Israel
It’s the fist time in almost 20 years.
www.ontheditch.com
Porcupine Tree
ZZ Top
NiN
Judas Priest
Rory Gallagher
Tom Waits
Darren Korb (Basically every Supergiant game)
AC/DC
Probably surprising absolutely nobody
ZZ Top
NiN
Judas Priest
Rory Gallagher
Tom Waits
Darren Korb (Basically every Supergiant game)
AC/DC
Probably surprising absolutely nobody
Define your musical taste in eight artists:
David Bowie
Pavement
Placebo
Hole
Brian Eno
Wilhelm Friedmann Bach
Billie Holiday
Serge Gainsbourg
David Bowie
Pavement
Placebo
Hole
Brian Eno
Wilhelm Friedmann Bach
Billie Holiday
Serge Gainsbourg
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Simon Harris’s department discussed procurement policy with Lockheed Martin lobbyists just months before government announced a record €1.49 billion defence budget.
The Department of Defence is regularly briefing international arms lobbyists.
www.ontheditch.com/department-o...
The Department of Defence is regularly briefing international arms lobbyists.
www.ontheditch.com/department-o...
Department of Defence regularly briefing l arms lobbyists
Government just announced a record €1.49 billion defence budget.
www.ontheditch.com
At least €9.2 million was spent by candidates and political parties during the last election.
Our team analysed 528 election expense forms returned by candidates.
Those lucky enough to win a seat in the Dáil spent an average of €20,490 on their campaign.
jrnl.ie/6845119
Our team analysed 528 election expense forms returned by candidates.
Those lucky enough to win a seat in the Dáil spent an average of €20,490 on their campaign.
jrnl.ie/6845119
jrnl.ie
#ARAS25 POLL: Irish Times/Ipsos B&A
(Oct 13-14, MoE 2.8%)
Catherine Connolly 38
Heather Humphreys 20
Jim Gavin 5
Undecided 18
Will not vote 12
Will spoil vote 6
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
(Oct 13-14, MoE 2.8%)
Catherine Connolly 38
Heather Humphreys 20
Jim Gavin 5
Undecided 18
Will not vote 12
Will spoil vote 6
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Catherine Connolly holds commanding lead in presidential election race, new poll shows
But almost half of voters say they ‘do not feel represented by any of the candidates’
www.irishtimes.com
EXCLUSIVE: Capitol Police are investigating a swastika found in GOP Rep. Dave Taylor’s office.
“The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms," Taylor said in a statement.
“The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms," Taylor said in a statement.
Capitol Police called to investigate swastika in GOP congressional office
An American flag altered to include an image of a swastika was found in Rep. Dave Taylor’s office.
www.politico.com
Chaz Ebert, the widow of Roger Ebert, said "nominations are officially open for the inaugural FECK Awards -- a groundbreaking new initiative celebrating individuals and organizations who elevate humanity through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness."
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
BREAKING: Shabana Mahmood announces that immigrants will have to recite Beowulf in its entirety in Old English, without notes, before being allowed entry to the U.K.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the freed Palestinians include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions following attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 hostages seized from Gaza and held without charge since October 2023.
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Q: Are you going to work with your administration to designate antifa a foreign terror organization?
TRUMP: You mean anti-terror?
Q: Antifa
TRUMP: Antifa?
Q: A foreign terror organization
TRUMP: Would you like to see it done? I'd be glad to do it. Does everybody agree? It sounds good to me
TRUMP: You mean anti-terror?
Q: Antifa
TRUMP: Antifa?
Q: A foreign terror organization
TRUMP: Would you like to see it done? I'd be glad to do it. Does everybody agree? It sounds good to me
The Justice Minister has said he believes presidential candidate Catherine Connolly did not follow Leinster House security rules when she signed a woman who was convicted of a gun crime offence into Leinster House on a daily basis.
http://jrnl.ie/6838830t
http://jrnl.ie/6838830t
Justice Minister says Connolly broke rules by signing Ní Shionnáin in daily at Leinster House
Jim O’Callaghan was speaking at a press conference today in which he criticised Connolly for, what he said, was a failure to follow Oireachtas rules.
jrnl.ie
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
A piece of mine for @lowyinstitute.bsky.social on Finland's decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the banning of landmines, and how Russia's aggression is starting to unravel the international agreements around arms control, and the norms of daily behaviour in border regions.
The return of landmines marks a darker era for Europe – and the world
Countries withdrawing from the ban treaty shows how Russian hostility is forcing choices that undermine global norms.
www.lowyinstitute.org