Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Chris Hounsell

Joni Askola @joniaskola.bsky.social · 2h

European countries need to step up

Joni Askola @joniaskola.bsky.social · 13h

1/7 Finland has the most advanced total defense model in Europe.

It is not just for war. It helps in any crisis.

Government, businesses, civil society, and citizens all have roles.

Europe should treat this as a benchmark and start building toward it, not merely on paper

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Fight For A Union @fightforaunion.bsky.social · 3h

Is the United States an oligarchy?

Yes. Yes it is.

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Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 1d

Can it be level 3 Cymraeg in Wales?

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 1d

It's not an actual A Level requirement: "Migrants wanting to come to the UK on the skilled worker, high potential individual or scale-up visa routes will have to demonstrate they can speak B2 level English – equivalent to A-level standard – from 8 January 2026."

Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 1d

Glad to hear that.

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 1d

It's not an actual A Level requirement: "Migrants wanting to come to the UK on the skilled worker, high potential individual or scale-up visa routes will have to demonstrate they can speak B2 level English – equivalent to A-level standard – from 8 January 2026."

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Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 1d

This is just daft. Of all the people in UK who take A level, relatively few take English.

LittleGravitas, →EU immigrant, UK→ emigrant, anti-Brexit @catanonim.me · 1d

This is abysmal. It is xenophobic. It panders to racists. And to xeno-voters.

I thought Labour wanted to generate growth?

» How many UK workers have A-level standard English, actually?

@imogenwalker.bsky.social @darrenpjones.bsky.social @shabanamahmood.bsky.social

The Independent @the-independent.com · 1d

Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in UK

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Mad_as_hell (Maddie) @maddie-says.bsky.social · 1d

Now THIS is a strongly worded letter!

We will remember.

#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks

Larry Tenney @larrytenney.bsky.social · 1d

THIS!!!

A letter to Benjamin Netanyahu

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Adam Cohen (My Personal Views Only) @axidentaliberal.bsky.social · 1d

Trump did the same thing with immigration

He called Mike Johnson and killed the bill that Republicans had already negotiated-because it would help Biden

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 1d

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Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 1d

Perhaps he's not seen the plans for Trump's ugly ballroom extension on the White House? Matthew 7:3-5. "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

Newsweek @newsweek.com · 1d

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said a graffiti-styled art exhibition makes "a beautiful historical building really ugly."

MAGA anger after iconic cathedral covered in stickers

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said a graffiti-styled art exhibition makes "a beautiful historical building really ugly."

www.newsweek.com

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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 1d

THIS: 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

reasonsvoice.bsky.social @reasonsvoice.bsky.social · 1d

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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 2d

If you wondered why Nigel Farage turned up in US Congress in September speaking about "freedom of speech", this story has the answer

His appearance was orchestrated by a powerful American anti-abortion group that is trying to increase its influence in the UK by influencing the free speech debate

Jane Bradley @bradleyjane.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: How a U.S. anti-abortion group has quietly positioned itself as a powerbroker between the Trump administration and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Latest investigation w Elizabeth Dias.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...

They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.

www.nytimes.com

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Ghislaine Hull @ghizzybear.bsky.social · 3d

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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 3d

BBC News explain that because of Brexit, Brits will be photographed and have their fingerprints taken when going into the EU, as the UK now is a third country

BBC News forget to explain that the UK helped create these rules when we were part of the EU because we wanted stronger border control

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Budd @n7eoj.bsky.social · 4d

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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 4d

While NYT reports on the triumphant Witkoff/Kushner rally in Israel, WSJ engages in actual journalism by ferreting out how they have used Middle East peacemaking as cover for securing immense sums in private investments from government-connected donors.

Jared Kushner Is Back, and His Imprint Is All Over the Gaza Deal

The man who had sworn off any formal role in President Trump’s second term has been at the center of every decision leading up to the breakthrough agreement between Israel and Hamas.

www.wsj.com

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Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 5d

Yet another bad apple? Bad year in the orchard!

NationCymru @nation.cymru · 5d

Nigel Farage has described a former senior figure in his party who has been convicted of taking pro-Russian bribes as a “bad apple”

Ex-Reform leader in Wales who took pro-Russian bribes was ‘bad apple’ – Farage

Nigel Farage has described a former senior figure in his party who has been convicted of taking pro-Russian bribes as a “bad apple”. Nathan Gill, who led Reform UK in Wales in 2021, admitted taking br...

nation.cymru

Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 5d

Stunned he's been caught out more likely!

Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot @bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · 5d

Nigel Farage 'stunned' ex-Wales Reform leader Nathan Gill took bribes

Nathan Gill has admitted taking money for pro-Russian statements as a European Parliament member.

www.bbc.com

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The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 6d

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 5d

Excellent!

Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 5d

Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. However, we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes are challenging norms and resorting to violence.

Maria Corina Machado – awarded the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize – has spent years working for the freedom of the Venezuelan people. The Venezuelan regime’s rigid hold on power and its repression of the population are not unique in the world. We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and militarisation. In 2024, more elections were held than ever before, but fewer and fewer are free and fair.

Chris Hounsell @chrisvjhounsell.bsky.social · 5d

Excellent news!

Eddie Smith @eddsmitty.bsky.social · 5d

It's great to wake up to the news that Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Happy Friday indeed! 😉

*sip* 🔥☕️

#ProudBlue
#ResistanceUnited
#USDemocracy
#Voices4Victory

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Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO @nickreeves.bsky.social · 6d

Please repost if you are antifa. #IamAntifa

Antifa in action on D-Day in 1944.

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 6d

AI companies are spending billions on deals with each other, which boost their value.

This has helped twenty billionaires tied to AI add $450B to their fortunes in 2025.

Meanwhile, an MIT study found that 95% of companies using AI haven't seen returns on investment.

Be warned.

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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · Aug 20

A reminder: Asylum seekers are in hotels because of a huge application backlog that the gov't must work through. Robert Jenrick - now, bursting with creative solutions - processed applications slowly ***on purpose*** as a deterrent.

Here he is, as Immigration Minister two years ago, saying so. ~AA

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🦋 Carmen G., PhD (🪖"Prima" to One)🌻 @tcrg2012.bsky.social · 6d

🤔

#ONEV1
#Pinks 🌸
#Voices4Victory

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LaindonFeminist: 10 Year Keir @viviane49.bsky.social · 7d

Our media lets us down badly :

Labours accomplishments - rarely mentioned

Nigel Farage’s house - dropped/ignored

Nathan Gill’s admission of working for Russia - zilch

Russia/Iran funding Reform/Farage - silence

Instead they spread lies on the Budget/MPs/anything to discredit Labour

Why????

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onion person @junlper.beer · 7d

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