Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 2h

From the radical left Financial Times. Also glad they categorise the state pension as a benefit, which it is categorised as in law. But if we dare to categorise it as such, we're finished aren't we! 😭

Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 2h

"Costs are not spiralling. Projected total welfare payments, at around 11 per cent of national income a year, are lower than when David Cameron was prime minister even though there are more pensioners"

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Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 2h

"Total working-age benefits within the government’s welfare cap – including all out-of-work and health-related benefits – will be well below 2010s levels even after Labour’s U-turn on cuts to disability benefits" www.ft.com/content/ee67...

No need for a moral panic about the welfare system

It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high

www.ft.com

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Nisrin Elamin @nisrinelamin.bsky.social · 9h

The situation is getting increasingly deadly…

Nisrin Elamin @nisrinelamin.bsky.social · 4d

The Sudan Solidarity Collective is doing a big fundraising push to support our partners in El Fashir to support food distribution, evacuation and medications.

Please help us boost our support. Please share and donate 👇🏾 .

sudansolidarity.com

Home - Sudan Solidarity Collective

Solidarity with Sudan! Support the Emergency Response Rooms doing life saving work in Sudan by donating to the Sudan Solidarity Fund. Workshops4Sudan is a new fundraising initiative of the Sudan Solid...

sudansolidarity.com

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Darren Chetty @darrenchetty.bsky.social · 7h

EMC In-person: Belonging and unbelonging in children’s literature (EMC_Free)

www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/6fae...

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 14h

A local north london charity called Akwaaba is raising money for a creative art space for refugees, unhoused ppl, and the wider community. Even small donations will make a big difference! www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding... #UKKidlit

Help raise £7000 to support a creative art space – JustGiving Crowdfunding

Iʼm raising money to support a creative art space . Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

www.justgiving.com

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ECRE @theecre.bsky.social · 14h

The 16 people who lost their lives off Agathonisi in 2018 — and all those harmed by Europe’s inhumane asylum and migration policies — deserve justice.

Respect to everyone who continues to fight for it.

RSA - Refugee Support Aegean @rsaegean.org · 1d

BREAKING - Justice Delivered: ECtHR condemns Greece for the 2018 #Agathonisi #refugee #shipwreck

The @echr.coe.int delivered a judgment today against #Greece relating to the death of sixteen people in the 2018 shipwreck of Agathonisi.

👉 rsaegean.org/en/ecthr-con...

@proasyl.de
(1/8)

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Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 14h

Commissioner Michael O'Flaherty adds: 'I observe a tendency to see the human rights of different groups as a zero-sum game. This has contributed to narratives which build on prejudice against trans people and portray upholding their human rights as a de facto threat to the rights of others.’

HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 14h

The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner has rebuked the UK over the arrests of individuals who express support for Palestine Action and the status of trans people following Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/strasbo...

Strasbourg warns UK on policing of demonstrations and trans rights

Human rights commissioner cites arrests of Palestine Action demonstrators and interpretation of Supreme Court's decision in For Women Scotland.

www.lawgazette.co.uk

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Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 13h

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bangladesh garment factory fire kills at least 16

The dead have been burned beyond recognition and officials have warned that the toll could rise.

www.bbc.co.uk

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BSonblast @bsonblast.bsky.social · 17h

I made this video 4 days ago.

As of today, Elfashir has completely run out of food, and the earthen barriers RSF have been building around the city are now complete.

Oh, and RSF drones struck a town in Khartoum State and another in Northern State.

In case anyone gaf.

#KeepEyesOnSudan

Butterfly LaChoi @butterflylachoi.bsky.social · 18h

@bsonblast.bsky.social with a weekly report on the state of Sudan.

I’m so glad she’s doing this, because mainstream media doesn’t seem to give a fuck 🫠 people need to know!

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Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 1d

Know the bill is already long past its commons' reading and reporting stages, and is now at the lords' reporting stage. Just the general point about how selective the disabled identity is in settings like this. i.e. when it comes down to fighting for one another as one ⚰️

Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 1d

Thinking about this because of the fight against the UC and PIP bill. Far too many disability campaigners won exclusion for PIP by (intentionally or not) in-effect throwing the most vulnerable disabled folks, those on ESA and UC LCWRA, under the bus. We'll see if they fight against this (they won't)

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Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 1d

i.e. folks on non means-tested benefits like PIP will not be monitored (and permanent exclusion for those on the state pension alone is hard written into the legislation) assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67dc37...

Where there are further inquiries or investigations, DWP will lead this, as it does now. A human will always be involved in any decision taken afterwards which may affect benefit awards or eligibility, as they are now.
The measure will initially focus on benefits where incorrect payments are currently highest, these are: Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance. Other benefits could be added with the approval of Parliament in the future through affirmative regulations. The State Pension is explicitly excluded from the power and cannot be added by regulations.
When information obtained by DWP in response to an Eligibility Verification Notice subsequently helps identify that a claimant is ineligible for a specified benefit, DWP may also use the information to verify the claimant's eligibility for other benefits. For example, where a claimant is eligible for Pension Credit they may also be automatically eligible for Housing Benefit. If information received leads DWP to conclude that a claimant is ineligible for Pension Credit, then the Department will also review the claimant's eligibility for Housing Benefit. A human will always be involved in any decision which may affect benefit awards or eligibility.

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Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 1d

The "bank accounts monitoring" bill, which will legislate the mass-monitoring of bank accounts of all folks on the means-tested benefits UC and Pension Credit

Public Law Project @publiclawproject.bsky.social · 1d

🧵The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill is back in the House of Lords this week. We believe it should be amended to ensure the approach to recovery of Universal Credit (UC) overpayments is #fair & #affordable, including overpayments made due to mistakes made by DWP.

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Public Law Project @publiclawproject.bsky.social · 1d

🧵The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill is back in the House of Lords this week. We believe it should be amended to ensure the approach to recovery of Universal Credit (UC) overpayments is #fair & #affordable, including overpayments made due to mistakes made by DWP.

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Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 1d

Please join us for this webinar on 28 October, 1-2pm UK time, on 'Modern Slavery and Human Rights: Migrant Workers in the Agricultural and Care Sectors in the UK,' with Prof Tomoya Obokata, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery since 2020
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...

Modern slavery and human rights: migrant workers in the agricultural and care sectors in the UK - Durham University

www.durham.ac.uk

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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 1d

Israel kills several Palestinians in Gaza strikes on.ft.com/3KPgE5w

Israel kills several Palestinians in Gaza strikes

Attack on Gazans inspecting homes comes days after fragile ceasefire goes into effect

on.ft.com

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Vaughan Stanger @vaughanstanger.bsky.social · 1d

My most recent collection, Those We Leave Behind and other stories, has received some excellent reviews on Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DY7V56T...
"I am very impressed, not least because several of his stories really made me think ... I recommend them to any thoughtful reader of science fiction."

Those We Leave Behind and other stories eBook : Stanger, Vaughan, Hughes, Tony: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

www.amazon.co.uk

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Surviving Society Productions @survivingsociety.bsky.social · 1d

open.spotify.com/episode/6Nsc...

Gloria Anzaldua

open.spotify.com

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BSonblast @bsonblast.bsky.social · 1d

Today's quick update [Oct 13]:

- Heavy RSF shelling continues in Elfashir, hitting a health clinic; one doctor reported killed, 3 other civilians injured.

- RSF forces continue to detain/abduct civilians fleeing Elfashir.

#KeepEyesOnSudan

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Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · 2d

This Anti-Slavery Week, Marissa of Voice of Domestic Workers writes for FLEX, exploring the history of the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, and what essential changes are needed for workers to challenge exploitation and slavery.

Read the blog here: labourexploitation.org/news/anti-sl...

Anti-Slavery Day 2025 Guest Blog: Marissa Begonia, Voice of Domestic Workers – FLEX

Marissa Begonia, Director of Voice of Domestic Workers, explores the history of the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, and what essential changes are needed for workers to challenge exploitation and slave...

labourexploitation.org

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ECRE @theecre.bsky.social · 2d

The EU-funded Libyan Coast Guard has once again opened fire on a @sos-humanity.bsky.social

❗Meanwhile, the @ec.europa.eu is still “establishing the facts” about the Libyan Coast Guard’s 25 August shooting at a @sosmediterranee.org rescue ship.

SOS Humanity @sos-humanity.bsky.social · 5d

🔴Breaking: Als unser Rettungsschiff heute bei einem Seenotfall ankam, war bereits ein Patrouillenboot der sog. libyschen Küstenwache vor Ort. Das Patrouillenboot entfernte sich allerdings – ohne Rettungsmaßnahmen einzuleiten oder auf unsere Funksprüche zu reagieren. 1/4