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Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 3h

Oxfordshire towns and villages will be able to request that their street lights are switched off overnight under a proposed County Council initiative – but OCC says “major urban areas such as Oxford are unlikely to be suitable to take part in the scheme”. The plans revise a proposal made last year.

Oxford street light (Andrea de Santis, Unsplash.com)

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 5h

To be effective, protest must be noisy, obstructive, annoying. No longer is this allowed. Now the last attribute of effective dissent – persistence – is also to be banned. But the moment protest ceases to be effective is the moment democracy dies. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Here’s what you need to know about Starmer’s illiberal protest curbs: they would have killed the Labour party at birth | George Monbiot

The rights we enjoy in the UK, and the movement the PM purports to lead, were built on protest. Those rights are in dire peril, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 5h

So even the New York Times and Washington Post have reached the limits of how much they will compromise their journalistic integrity. That's encouraging.

Not sure Newsmax ever had any, but it feels important that they also refused to sign.

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 5h

US news outlets refuse to sign new Pentagon rules to report only official information www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

US news outlets refuse to sign new Pentagon rules to report only official information

Defense department policy requires outlets to vow not to obtain unauthorized files and restricts access to some areas

www.theguardian.com

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Birmingham Green Party @brumgreens.bsky.social · 5h

Starmer’s illiberal protest curbs would have killed the Labour party at birth.
The rights we enjoy in the UK, and the movement the PM purports to lead, were built on protest. Those rights are in dire peril.
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social on point as ever.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Here’s what you need to know about Starmer’s illiberal protest curbs: they would have killed the Labour party at birth | George Monbiot

The rights we enjoy in the UK, and the movement the PM purports to lead, were built on protest. Those rights are in dire peril, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 15h

I really don’t know how a British-Palestinian like @laylamoran.bsky.social, someone so close to and personally affected by everything that happened, finds those reserves of empathy, while people with much less skin in the game take it upon themselves to strike the most strident pose.

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 15h

As so often, @laylamoran.bsky.social finds gracious, unifying words.

"I choose to believe that peace is possible. Everyone who went on a protest, wrote to their MP, cares about it, shouted at their TV - from whatever point of view - what were those deaths for, if not for a sustainable peace?" ~AA

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

Thank god for holidays, huh? What a coward...

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

I'd say the man is a joke, only we know this joke is so not funny...

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

This woman has been a force of nature, fighting for the return of her son for two long years. And now he's back.

I thought I ran out of tears for today, this renewed the flood... 🥹💛

אייל 🎗️🏴 @eyalk.bsky.social · 1d

הסרטון של עינב פוגשת לראשונה את מתן.

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

אחרי שחשבתי שנגמרו לי הדמעות להיום, זה פתח גל חדש... 💛🥹

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Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 1d

Southern Oxfordshire’s district councils say “we have taken legal advice” after their Joint Local Plan was rejected by planning inspectors. South Oxon and Vale of White Horse had drawn up a plan for development in the districts until 2041, including accommodating overspill from Oxford City.

Header graphic for the South & Vale joint local plan

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

I don't know what other options the council had, and I can believe they might have had better options if their priorities were different, but this is also on the central government for keeping councils on a shoestring.

#Austerity needs to end. Properly.

Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 1d

Another slice of Cornmarket Street is to be snapped up by the owners of the Clarendon Centre. Goldmoney Inc, the vehicle of Canadian investor Roy Sebag, is to buy the café area in front of Carfax Tower from Oxford City Council. The council has already sold the adjacent HSBC building to Goldmoney.

Carfax showing the cafe area (Chris Rycroft at flickr.com, CC-BY)

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Standing Together @standing-together.bsky.social · 1d

Finally 💜

For the first time in two years, families
of the hostages are speaking with their
sons, on the day of their release.

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Voice4Justice @voices4justice.bsky.social · 1d

Twins Gali and Ziv Berman united after being held separately in captivity without knowledge of the fate of the other since their abduction on October 7th 💛 💛

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Oxford Mutual Aid @oxfordmutualaid.bsky.social · 1d

Do you own an allotment and have any surplus veg you would be willing to donate to us on a regular basis? Or could you subscribe to a weekly veg box for us? www.oddbox.co.uk

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

Amongst the hostages? No, they were all released before (or died in captivity)

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Alona Ferber @aloner.bsky.social · 1d

It’s important to remember that the Netanyahu government could have agreed to such a deal many months ago

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Musa Okwonga @okwonga.bsky.social · 1d

Very good news from the east of Germany, where the far-right (AfD) has its strongest base - the AfD got soundly defeated in two mayoral elections, in places where they were trying to use the presence of people seeking asylum as a decisive issue. Many voters rejected that outlook. That's hopeful.

Christian Bangel @christianbangel.bsky.social · 1d

Wieder ein schlechter Tag für die AfD im Osten.
Deklassiert in der OB-Stichwahl in Frankfurt (Oder) und sogar in Eisenhüttenstadt - wo sie sich echte Hoffnung machte - deutlich verloren.

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Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis) @avishaybsg.bsky.social · 1d

They are in Israel. The entire country feels tuned into the release.

Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 1d

Hamas released seven Israeli hostages.

It is reported that they were able to walk on their own and are now with Israel's Defense Forces, probably in Israel by now.

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

Also a massive relief for a vast section of the Israeli public.

Outside of Israel we have underappreciate how much the entire country was living the hostages' families nightmare.

People are literally dancing in the streets...

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Big Issue @bigissue.com · 1d

More than 100 women are believed to have been arrested on suspicion of abortion over the last five years in England and Wales.

Abortion is close to decriminalisation. But how quickly can rights be rolled back?

www.bigissue.com

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

I don't think people outside Israel understand quite how much the worry, love, and yearning for the hostages' return dominated the public mood. Hostages' and their families became household names, their pictures everywhere. An entire country is now living the joy and relief of 20 families

The Times of Israel @timesofisrael.com · 1d

Hostages’ families assemble near Gaza border as nation anxiously awaits their return https://www.timesofisrael.com/hostages-families-assemble-near-gaza-border-as-nation-anxiously-awaits-their-return/

Hostages’ families assemble near Gaza border as nation anxiously awaits their return

Crowds line road near Re'im military base, where captives are set to arrive after transfer to Israel; thousands gather at hostages square to watch release unfold

www.timesofisrael.com

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The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 1d

🎉 We've done it. We've passed 100,000 Green Party members!

📈 But we're not stopping there.

💚 Let's make hope normal again! Join the Green Party today!

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

I don't think people outside Israel understand quite how much the worry, love, and yearning for the hostages' return dominated the public mood. Hostages' and their families became household names, their pictures everywhere. An entire country is now living the joy and relief of 20 families

The Times of Israel @timesofisrael.com · 1d

Hostages’ families assemble near Gaza border as nation anxiously awaits their return https://www.timesofisrael.com/hostages-families-assemble-near-gaza-border-as-nation-anxiously-awaits-their-return/

Hostages’ families assemble near Gaza border as nation anxiously awaits their return

Crowds line road near Re'im military base, where captives are set to arrive after transfer to Israel; thousands gather at hostages square to watch release unfold

www.timesofisrael.com

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Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

Lishay’s last post before putting the girls to bed:

“For two years now, every night we go out under the moon and say, "Good night, Daddy Omri," hoping he hears, hoping he feels.
Today, for the last time.

Tomorrow, Roni and Alma will say it to Daddy himself 🎗️ “

Credit: Ofir Berman

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Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

Seven hostages have just been received by the International Red Cross from Hamas in the Gaza Strip, all walking upright on their own 🎗️

Matan Angrest, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohal, Eitan Mor, and Omri Miran

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