Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 22h

"China pushed more than 1 million people out of their homes... and flooded a vast area for the reservoir of the Three Gorges Dam. This year, China has been installing enough solar panels every 3 weeks to match the power generation capacity of that dam."

Why China Built 162 Square Miles of Solar Panels on the World’s Highest Plateau

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 2d

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted “no one has died” as a result of U.S. foreign aid cuts. In Myanmar, the grieving father of a 2-year-old boy who died after their food rations were cut calls such claims a lie.

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

bit.ly

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 2d

Crazy that this leak from US intel sources has not been a bigger story:

"Under international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict, the use of incendiary weapons against a civilian population or civilian objects is prohibited in all circumstances."

Netanyahu ordered drone attacks on Gaza-bound humanitarian aid boats off Tunisia, sources say

No one was hurt when two vessels that were part of a flotilla bound for Gaza mysteriously caught fire last month.

www.cbsnews.com

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 3d

Famine’s Long Shadow

Even if food is surged into Gaza today, the history of weaponized mass starvation shows that the social aftershocks will reverberate for generations.

Alex de Waal

jewishcurrents.org/famines-long...

Famine's Long Shadow

Even if food is surged into Gaza today, the history of weaponized mass starvation shows that the social aftershocks will reverberate for generations.

jewishcurrents.org

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 3d

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 3d

New real-world AI usage data just dropped:

"The data suggests that for now at least, AI is an individual productivity tool — both at work and in our personal lives — rather than the broader workplace disrupter many in Big Tech predicted."

How AI became our personal assistant

New data shows the ways millions have integrated the technology into their everyday lives

ig.ft.com

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 4d

Might seem less insane if these tools were useful but...

"...the equivalent of about $1,800 per person in America will be invested this year on AI. Without these investments, economic growth this year may have clocked in at around 1 percent. Instead, it is likely to land at almost twice that." 🎁:

Opinion | There Are Two Economies: A.I. and Everything Else

www.nytimes.com

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 5d

With so much that is broken, the West needs to tell a new narrative to survive:

"If democracies learn to articulate a more ambivalent narrative — one that acknowledges loss, confronts vulnerability, redefines progress and pursues resilience — they may paradoxically renew themselves."

Opinion | The West Is Lost

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 6d

A better world is possible

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 6d

According to the City of Paris, in the last 10 years 150K trees have been planted & 45ha of parks created in the already hot city, all intended to not only improve quality-of-life today, but also help the city adapt to & manage summer heatwaves of 50℃ (122F) by 2050.

Just the start.

Common sense.

Paris before and after street transformation

New urban forest planted in front of Paris City Hall

A Paris “School Street” where cars are removed and people space/tree planting are added

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 7d

"Peacetime breeds rule-followers. ... War demands ratcatchers." 💪💪💪

Democrats Must Embrace War Mindset

We have exited a long period of peace and entered into a struggle not unlike war, in which all the old certainties have gone malleable and the future of the republic is at stake.

www.liberalcurrents.com

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 9d

A new report from Bright Line Watch finds experts now rate the U.S. as a "mixed" or "illiberal" democracy. The rating is dragged down by Trump's attacks on institutions, a weak legislature, political violence, and partisan gerrymandering www.gelliottmorris.com/p/experts-no...

Experts now rate the U.S. as a "mixed" or "illiberal" democracy

Experts say political violence, Trump's attacks against non-partisan agencies and institutions, and partisan gerrymandering are their top concerns

www.gelliottmorris.com

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Oz Katerji @ozkaterji.bsky.social · 10d

On this day 10 years ago, Russia entered the Syrian civil war on behalf of the Assad regime, devastating infrastructure, displacing millions and murdering thousands of Syrian civilians.

Despite all of these widespread crimes, Moscow and Assad would go on to lose.

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 9d

Take the good news seriously too

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 11d

An incredibly important election in a tiny country just went the right way. Moldova has resisted a huge Russian disinformation campaign and will not become a Russian puppet state.

Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 12d

Moldova 🇲🇩 👍

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 9d

A valuable reaction to the Klein-Coates convoy and to general feelings of listlessness in these times:

"If you’ve figured out your core principles, then they will guide you about what to do. Remember, you’re not just performing an idea, it’s your life. It’s who you are."

You don't have to swallow frogs

Klein and Coates show that if you don't know what your core beliefs are, you're going to get played.

degenerateart.beehiiv.com

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 10d

"L’émiettement en cours élargit en apparence la marge de manœuvre de la présidence de M. Tebboune... mais au prix d’une dérive autocratique aux effets délétères..."

En Algérie, un régime en équilibre instable derrière le raidissement autocratique

L’affaire de la disparition de l’ex-chef des services de sécurité intérieure, Nasser El-Djinn, a révélé la fragmentation du pouvoir en clans rivaux que dissimule mal l’apparente monopolisation autour ...

www.lemonde.fr

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 11d

Recommended: Ismail Ibrahim's "House Arab" in Bidoun

House Arab

I was working at the magazine as a fact-checker and my parents no longer considered me a failure, not because they read or admired it, but because when they said its name to friends and relatives it s...

bidoun.org

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 11d

But if the US sees that much depletion of its missile stocks in a 12-day Iran-Israel war, how does the Pentagon expect to fare in a theoretical toe-to-toe with China?

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 11d

That's also partly to top up stocks that have been rapidly depleted by Israel bsky.app/profile/zedd...

Zeddy @zeddary.bsky.social · Jul 25

Seems bad that we spent 25% of our most advanced interceptors, at least 50% of our MOP stockpile plus another 30 Tomahawks because Bibi wanted keep the courts and media off himself for a week.

Zach 🇺🇦 @thrustwr.bsky.social · Jul 25

Uh, the US used 150 THAAD interceptors (out of an inventory of 534) and 80 SM-3s (out of inventory of 400) in the 12 day conflict between Israel and Iran. More of these missiles have been used since the Oct attack in 2023.

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 17d

"The [Algerian] government may look to spin it as a PR win. Algerians' deep-seated support for the Palestinian cause means Khalil could be given a hero's welcome in Algiers," I tell The New Arab. However, sensitivities around political speech could well push Algeria in the other direction.

Would Algeria accept the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil?

When it comes to the United States, Algerian diplomacy is notably less fervent or defensive, regardless of Washington’s decisions.

www.newarab.com

Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Will Yeates @wyeates.bsky.social · 17d

Some good news in dark times

Alaa Abdel Fattah: British-Egyptian activist reunited with family - BBC News

Alaa Abdel Fattah: British-Egyptian activist reunited with family

After nearly six years in prison, Alaa Abdel Fattah is released from prison in Egypt.

buff.ly

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Andrew G. Farrand @afarrand.bsky.social · 18d

American productivity hits new high - 0.65 Dreamliners per worker!

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 18d

is Trump just making deals with every central asian president/dictator now

Earlier this month I spoke with the Highly Respected President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Today I want to congratulate President Mirziyoyev on signing a GREAT Deal with Boeing! Worth over $8 Billion Dollars, Uzbekistan Airways is purchasing 22,787 Dreamliners. This will create over 35,000 jobs in the United States. President Mirziyoyev is a man of his word, and we will continue to work together on many more items! Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Mai El-Sadany @maitelsadany.bsky.social · 18d

HUGE HUGE NEWS FROM EGYPT!!

Egyptian President Sisi has issued a presidential pardon for activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah.

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 19d

NEW: Air Force jets are doing ICE flights to Africa with transponders turned off, making them nearly un-trackable.

This includes the third-country removal to Ghana and another secret flight. We figured out where it landed.

From me for @rollingstone.com:

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

ICE Is Deporting People to Africa on Nearly Un-Trackable Military Flights

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is deporting people to African countries like Ghana on military flights that are nearly un-trackable.

www.rollingstone.com

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Julien Barnes-Dacey @jbdacey.bsky.social · 19d

What a sight. Stranded in Idlib just 10 months ago, the new Syrian leadership hit Central Park

Qusay Noor @qusaynoor.net · 19d

New picture from #America #Washington, #DC

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Reposted by Andrew G. Farrand

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 21d

Hell of a photo by my former Chicago Tribune colleague Stacey Wescott from a protest today at an ICE facility in the Chicago suburbs. Read the sign at the bottom. @staceywescott.bsky.social

Bebo, Chicago Rat Czar 🐀 @bebopott.bsky.social · 21d

HARDEST PHOTO OF 2025 JUST DROPPED

Curtis Evans, of Evanston, a military veteran USMC intelligence during President Reagan’s era, carries a U.S. Flag through gas deployed by federal officers as they clear protesters from the entrance of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Sept. 19, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

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