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Reposted by William French

Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 4h

This is not really about Hamas violating the terms of the ceasefire. This is just collective punishment of the people of Gaza. And the fact that Israel is still doing this is a big part of why people are not celebrating the ceasefire just yet.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 5h

BREAKING: Israel plans to halve aid into Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating ceasefire with slow release of dead hostages, AP sources say.

Israel plans to halve aid into Gaza over slow return of dead hostages, a test for the Gaza ceasefire

The tenuous ceasefire in the two-year Israel-Hamas war is being tested as complex issues remain a day after widespread jubilation over the return to Israel of the last 20 living hostages held in Gaza and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

bit.ly

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 7h

Will they be tested on these lines by Seamus Heaney, like I was? "Be advised, my passport's green; no glass of ours was ever raised to toast the Queen."

András Forgács W @andraswf.bsky.social · 8h

Well this will certainly do it www.gov.uk/government/n...

Migrants will be required to pass A Level standard of English

Migrants will be required to pass tough new English language requirements under a law introduced in Parliament today.

www.gov.uk

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 8h

They should do them in rhyming couplets like Rupert The Bear. "Global economy stays in flux, populist snake-oil gives no..."

William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 8h

Great article, and an even greater @secondmentions.bsky.social: "the once-ubiquitous autumnal playground pastime".

The Economist @economist.com · 9h

The game is the fruit of two historical events: the 17th-century introduction of the horse chestnut tree to Britain and the 19th-century push for compulsory education. But that history risks dying out

The World Conker Championships fosters a quirky English tradition

But a once-ubiquitous autumnal playground pastime is dying out

econ.st

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Reposted by William French

The Elders @theelders.bsky.social · 12h

✉️ NEWSLETTER | The UN must take the need for reform seriously

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein calls for honest reflection and bold reform to rebuild the United Nations’ legitimacy for future generations.

Read & subscribe: theelders.org/news/un-must...

"Those who believe in multilateralism have a duty to critique it. Only through honest reflection can institutions like the UN remain effective and evolve with the times." - Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Member of The Elders

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 12h

I did that with Platform by Michel Houellebecq - too embarrassed to even take it to a charity shop.

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

Ah but what happens if you go to the dentist and they recommend you buy a fancy new electric toothbrush for £14.30?

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

Meanwhile, another headline in today's FT: "Farage tells crypto conference 'I am your champion'."

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 1d

Russia pays Europe’s saboteurs in crypto, says Polish official on.ft.com/48ZgCC2

Russia pays Europe’s saboteurs in crypto, says Polish official

Warsaw’s national security chief says Moscow is also using a shadow fleet to launch drones into European airspace

on.ft.com

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

"If it seems as if the nuclear question has returned to the centre of international politics, the truth is, it never left." Great review of a fascinating/terrifying-sounding book.
www.ft.com/content/cc85...

The Nuclear Age by Serhii Plokhy — why nations want the bomb

Serhii Plokhy’s urgent history focuses on the fear of annihilation as the driving force behind the arms race

www.ft.com

William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

He knew he'd never go to the darts at Ally Pally.

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

Gouvernement Lecornu II : Electric Boogaloo.

Le Monde @lemonde.fr · 1d

Gouvernement Lecornu II : trois ministres Horizons finalement débauchées malgré la ligne du parti

Alors que la direction du parti penchait pour un soutien sans participation, les nominations de Naïma Moutchou, Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq et Anne Le Henanff suscitent la gêne. Si certains cadres phillipistes regrettent des ambitions personnelles, d’autres y voient la main de l’Elysée pour affaiblir Edouard Philippe.

www.lemonde.fr

Reposted by William French

Christopher Miller @christopherjm.ft.com · 1d

NEWS: President Trump plans to welcome President Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday, three people familiar with the plans tell me. This comes after two phone calls between the presidents last weekend during which they discussed Tomahawk missile sales and how to end Russia's war.

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Reposted by William French

Daniel Mulhall @danmulhall.bsky.social · 1d

A poetic thought for this day. The ‘honey-bees’ in this case are Middle East negotiators. Wish them well

“We had fed the heart on fantasies,
The heart’s grown brutal from the fare;
More substance in our enmities
Than in our love; O honey-bees,
Come build in the empty house of the stare”
W.B. #Yeats

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

What a great way of putting it!

William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

Don't get me started on the constant exhortations to "just ask your smart speaker to play Radio 3 Unwind".

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

Great reportage.

Paul Gogo @paugog.bsky.social · 1d

Balade matinale dans Moscou. Un fonctionnaire fume devant le ministère des Affaires étrangères, il tient un parapluie « Gagaouzia » en référence à la région moldave utilisée par Moscou pour déstabiliser la Moldavie. Devant l’entrée principale, l’ambassadeur d’Iran a garé sa voiture.

William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

At long last, something to truly celebrate.

Sky News (Mirror) @skynews-m.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: The Israeli military has confirmed that all 20 living hostages have now been handed over by Hamas. 🔗 Read more
https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-hostages-israel-hamas-war-latest-release-palestinian-prisoners-sky-news-live-13443931?postid=10345449&dcmp=snt-sf-twitter#liveblog-body

Gaza latest: Trump to address Knesset after arriving in Israel - as all 20 living hostages freed

The remaining living Israeli hostages have been freed by Hamas - with Donald Trump in Israel to mark the moment. The US president and other world leaders are gathering in Egypt for a "signing ceremony" to mark the Gaza peace plan later today. Watch and follow live below.

news.sky.com

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 1d

Looks amazing! Chapeau!

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Reposted by William French

Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 4d

If only there were a French expression to denote an uncanny feeling of having experienced something before

Sophie Pedder @sophiepedder.bsky.social · 4d

France’s new prime minister is…the very one who resigned on Monday, Sébastien Lecornu. It rounds off the most chaotic and absurdist week in French politics in modern times

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 4d

Fin de cloche?

William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 4d

Fight The Power (Public Enemy) 10/10
Fight The Power (The Isley Brothers) 8/10

Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 4d

Loaded (Primal Scream) 10/10
Loaded (Deacon Blue) 9/10

Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 4d

Fun music game.

Take two songs with the same name and post your combined score out of 10. How high can you get?

No covers/no triples (e.g. Power of Love)

My first effort, which i think is hard to beat...

Zombie (Fela Kuti) 10/10
Zombie (The Cranberries) 7/10

Total score: 17

William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 4d

"Needless to say, I had the last laugh."

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 4d

I still have the Danish and German apps on my phone too!

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William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 4d

"For President Trump’s goal of a “strong, durable and everlasting peace” to be achieved, this initiative must be grounded in the fundamental principles of international law. It must ensure an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of all Palestinian territory within the 1967 borders, not just of Gaza."

The Elders @theelders.bsky.social · 4d

ELDERS’ STATEMENT | US deal must stop Gaza genocide, end occupation and build a just two-state solution

The ceasefire is a welcome step - but it must be built upon. The Elders set out what’s needed next to achieve a just and lasting peace ⬇️

theelders.org/news/us-deal...

ELDERS' STATEMENT 10.10.2025
US deal must stop Gaza genocide, end occupation and build a just two-state solution

ELDERS' STATEMENT 10.10.2025
ISRAEL/PALESTINE
“Making further progress will be a test of leaders’ resolve and commitment. Now is not the time to relax pressure on either Israel or Hamas, particularly for the US, European and Arab states with leverage via various political, cultural and economic relationships.”
READ IN FULL VIA THEELDERS.ORG

William French @wtfrench76.bsky.social · 4d

By their friends shall ye know them.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 4d

Tommy Robinson has endorsed Robert Jenrick's decision to turn up in person to offer support and solidarity to the asylum seeker Hamit Coskun, who shouted, “Koran is burning”, “Fuck Islam” and “Islam is the religion of terrorism" while burning the Quran.

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