Author | Lightnews

Leon French

@leonfrench.bsky.social

45 followers 25 following 670 posts

Occasional freelance journalist, editor, stringer (but not a singer nor a swinger), author of Audot 'Get Going In' series. Now tethered to Polska. Originally from another green and pleasant land. (In colour, Dullby astound sound in semi-RP native English.)

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Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · Feb 17

Please don't be offended if I do not follow-back. I greatly appreciate all reads, follows and constructive counter-arguments. But follow-backs are not why I am here and mostly I do not follow back.

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 1d

BBC ‘doctored’ Trump speech, internal report reveals

[Telegraph UK, Gordon Rayner] Corporation edited footage to make it seem president was encouraging Capitol riot, according to whistleblowing dossier

#bbc #trump #capitolriot #speech #journalism #reporting #context

BBC ‘doctored’ Trump speech, secret internal report reveals

YouTube video by The Telegraph

www.youtube.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 5d

The Andrew formerly known as Prince...

Prince Andrew to lose 'prince' title and move out of Royal Lodge

Prince Andrew to lose 'prince' title and move out of Royal Lodge

www.bbc.co.uk

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 6d

Russia launches massive strikes -- after 'strange and disingenuous' Putin claim about frontline

[Sky News] Russia continues strategy of targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure with "massive" missile and drone strikes overnight. Analysts discredit "strange" Putin claim about frontline gains.

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches massive strikes - after 'strange and disingenuous' Putin claim about frontline

Russia continues its apparent strategy of targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure as winter looms - with "massive" missile and drone strikes overnight. Elsewhere, analysts have discredited a "strang...

news.sky.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 6d

In case you missed it... CNN's Anderson Cooper's late mum, Gloria Vanderbilt, probably had a romance with Frank Sinatra

The CNN reporter records a regular podcast called 'All There Is' that deals with subjects including loss, bereavement and grief.

#grief #bereavement #wellness #cnn #podcast

Anderson Cooper explores loss and grief in deeply personal new CNN podcast | CNN

In All There Is with Anderson Cooper, the CNN anchor reveals a personal struggle – part of his life he has rarely talked about before. Cooper began recording the podcast alone while packing up the apa...

edition.cnn.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 7d

Ceasefire in trouble: Israel’s PM Netanyahu orders ‘powerful, immediate’ attacks on Gaza

Netanyahu alleges Hamas committed a “clear violation” of the ceasefire...Gaza’s Government has accused Israel of 125 violations of the ceasefire since October 10..

Israeli PM Netanyahu orders army to carry out ‘powerful’ attacks on Gaza

Netanyahu's decision to attack Gaza comes despite US-brokered ceasefire that came into effect on October 10.

www.aljazeera.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 9d

British commentator detained by ICE after 'Israel criticism' on US book tour

Conservative figures have been urging the Trump administration to expel Sami Hamdi from the United States.

British commentator detained by ICE after 'Israel criticism' on US book tour

Conservative figures have been urging the Trump administration to expel Sami Hamdi from the United States.

news.sky.com

1 1

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 9d

UK: Reform MP apologises after slamming adverts ‘full of black people’

Reform MP apologises after slamming adverts ‘full of black people’

Sarah Pochin said her comments were phrased poorly

www.independent.co.uk

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 9d

UK: TV adverts over-represent black people and ignore over-70s, study finds

TV ads over-represent black people and ignore over-70s, study finds

Jack Thorne, the creator of hit Netflix series Adolescence, has called for a 'self-examination' from advertising bosses following the study.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 9d

Polish top-performing language for complex AI tasks, finds study

#AI #Polish #LLM

Polish top-performing language for complex AI tasks, finds study

notesfrompoland.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 10d

'Heroes of Kharkiv': How 48 children were saved from kindergarten hit by Russian drone

[BBC News, John Sudworth, excerpt] ...Ukraine's Civil Protection Service clings tightly to a precious bundle, wrapped for protection in his coat - and out of which two small pink shoes...

#standwithukraine

How 48 Ukrainian children were saved from Kharkiv kindergarten hit by Russian drone

The story of a dramatic and heroic rescue that has captured the public imagination in Ukraine.

www.bbc.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 10d

GOP representative blames swastika flag in his office on a ‘ruse’

Flags altered in a similar way have surfaced around the Capitol.

GOP representative blames swastika flag in his office on a ‘ruse’

Flags altered in a similar way have surfaced around the Capitol.

www.politico.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 11d

‘Gas them’: How a leaked pro-Nazi young Republicans chat sparked GOP storm

[Al Jazeera] The chat history, seen by Politico, included messages containing slurs, racism and rape jokes.

#youngrepublicans #telegram #racism

‘Gas them’: How a leaked pro-Nazi young Republicans chat sparked GOP storm

The chat history, seen by Politico, included messages containing slurs, racism and rape jokes.

www.aljazeera.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 11d

Polish town’s event honouring local Jewish composer cancelled after far-right backlash

[Notes from Poland] Września, a town of 30,000 in central Poland, was this weekend set to hold a series of concerts and lectures celebrating Louis Lewandowski...

#antisemitism #poland #nationalism

Polish town's event honouring local Jewish composer cancelled after far-right backlash

notesfrompoland.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 11d

150 Hamas released by Israel under Gaza peace deal are staying at five-star luxury resort

[Daily Mail, UK] Israel was forced to empty its prisons of nearly all its most feared jihadists held on life sentences as part of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.

Hotel Hamas: 150 terrorists released by Israel staying at luxury hotel

Hamas terrorists released under the Gaza peace deal are staying in a five-star hotel alongside unsuspecting Western tourists.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 12d

ITV and ITN along with some others seem to have successfully changed the regulator's mind; instead now they will merely offer guidance. I've no beef with any particular UK news channel but the big O shouldn't have caved in. They suggest it's in the public's interest to do so. The public's? Really?!

Ofcom Updates Guidance On Politicians Presenting News Shows After Losing GB News Court Battle

Ofcom has strengthened guidance concerning politicians presenting news shows after the UK media regulator lost a court battle with GB News.

deadline.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 12d

Donald finally stops ducking the sanctioning...

China state oil majors suspend Russian oil buys -- report from Reuters
...as refiners in India, the largest buyer of seaborne Russian oil, are set to sharply cut their crude imports from Moscow, to comply with the U.S. sanctions...

www.reuters.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 12d

Someone's having a giraffe, although with pubs and other hospitality reportedly closing early or closing down due to whatever argument suits each party's narrative, it might amount to pretty much the same if there's no dog to walk.

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 13d

British royals' Vatican visit: King Charles prays with Pope in 500-year moment

For the first time in almost five centuries, a British monarch publicly prayed with the Pope during Charles's visit to the Vatican.

#Britishmonarch #royals #vatican #king #praying #pope #history

King's Vatican visit: Charles prays with Pope in 500-year moment

For the first time in almost five centuries, a British monarch publicly prayed with the Pope during Charles's visit to the Vatican. He arrived in Rome with Camilla last night, as questions continue to...

news.sky.com

Reposted by Leon French

LBC @lbc.co.uk · 13d

'I've had conversations with Labour MPs who have been told to back off...'

James Cleverly responds to claims that the grooming gangs inquiry could 'spark backlash from certain minority groups' in some Labour-run areas, including Jess Phillips' constituency.

18 6 8

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 13d

Trump's sanctions are no slap on the wrist - they're a punch to the gut of Moscow's war economy, writes David Blevins for Britain's Sky News.

Trump's sanctions are no slap on the wrist - they're a punch to the gut of Moscow's war economy

If energy prices surge or allied unity splinters, Trump could find himself on the ropes following his announcement of sanctions on Russia's two biggest oil firms.

news.sky.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 13d

GB News reporter "attacked by police" during Dublin migrant protest [video]

Seasoned reporter Dougie Beattie was reporting live from near a hotel in Ireland's capital -- a scene gripped by migrant protests in past days

#journalism #ireland #gbnews #eng #assault #policing #tsg

Dublin migrant protests: GB News reporter attacked by police during chaotic demonstrations - ‘Never EVER seen this’

Dougie Beattie was reporting live from Ireland's capital which has been gripped by migrant protests for the past two days

www.gbnews.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 13d

US Treasury sanctions Russia's biggest oil firms due to Moscow's 'lack of serious commitment to a peace process'

Ukraine war latest: US Treasury sanctions Russia's biggest oil firms due to Moscow's 'lack of serious commitment to a peace process'

NATO chief Mark Rutte has told Sky News Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent meeting with Donald Trump was not a disaster. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian has accepted Trump's starting point for negotiations to end ...

news.sky.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 13d

No charges over images of Trump and Epstein projected onto Windsor Castle during president's visit

[Sky News] Political campaign group Led By Donkeys said it was behind the nine-minute projection sequence.

No charges over images of Trump and Epstein projected onto Windsor Castle during president's visit

Political campaign group Led By Donkeys said it was behind the nine-minute projection sequence.

news.sky.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 13d

US wants Russia branded ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ over kidnapping of Ukrainian children

Legislation calls for Russia to be branded a “state sponsor of terrorism” unless it returns an estimated 19K Ukrainian children forcibly abducted by Russian authorities, was introduced in the US Congress.

Russia faces terror label over abducted Ukrainian children

Vladimir Putin stands accused of war crimes for his role in the kidnapping of thousands of Ukrainian children.

tvpworld.com

Leon French @leonfrench.bsky.social · 14d

Absolutely we don't.
do. don't. do. we. w. w. d. d. 001110011001

[JAA1271A] 'Leon French' has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.