Cathy
@cathyby.bsky.social
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin
Header description with alt-text: https://bsky.app/profile/cathyby.bsky.social/post/3mdqweljkbc25
#SpéirGorm 🇮🇪 🇪🇺
Header description with alt-text: https://bsky.app/profile/cathyby.bsky.social/post/3mdqweljkbc25
#SpéirGorm 🇮🇪 🇪🇺
Reposted by Cathy
“.. We’ve relied too heavily on our geography and others to protect us. This has created vulnerabilities that we can no longer afford,” Carney said.
@politico.com 🇨🇦
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
@politico.com 🇨🇦
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 17, 2026 at 6:13 PM
“.. We’ve relied too heavily on our geography and others to protect us. This has created vulnerabilities that we can no longer afford,” Carney said.
@politico.com 🇨🇦
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
@politico.com 🇨🇦
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy
This should be front-page news. The collapse in UK goods exports is the single biggest reason why UK economic growth hasn’t picked up in recent years.
Brexit is a big part of it, but there’s also a major China shock to UK export competitiveness that’s gone largely unnoticed in UK political debate.
Brexit is a big part of it, but there’s also a major China shock to UK export competitiveness that’s gone largely unnoticed in UK political debate.
The UK goods deficit hit record high in 2025 (in values and volumes terms). This in part reflects the flatlining of goods exports over the last decade: "the volume of UK goods exports last year was still smaller than in 2014".
www.ft.com/content/870d...
www.ft.com/content/870d...
UK trade deficit for goods hits record high in 2025
Official figures show Britain also recorded historic services surplus
www.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:01 PM
This should be front-page news. The collapse in UK goods exports is the single biggest reason why UK economic growth hasn’t picked up in recent years.
Brexit is a big part of it, but there’s also a major China shock to UK export competitiveness that’s gone largely unnoticed in UK political debate.
Brexit is a big part of it, but there’s also a major China shock to UK export competitiveness that’s gone largely unnoticed in UK political debate.
Reposted by Cathy
Macron: India and France have decided to elevate their strategic partnership to the level of a Special Global Strategic Partnership. In diplomacy, that means a great deal.
February 17, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Macron: India and France have decided to elevate their strategic partnership to the level of a Special Global Strategic Partnership. In diplomacy, that means a great deal.
Reposted by Cathy
"Seldom, if ever, have presidents interjected themselves as brazenly as Trump has done in foreign politics," writes expert Max Boot in Washington Post Opinions.
Opinion | Even far-right foreign leaders are getting sick of Trump’s meddling
Seldom, if ever, have U.S. presidents interceded as brazenly as Trump has done in foreign politics.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"Seldom, if ever, have presidents interjected themselves as brazenly as Trump has done in foreign politics," writes expert Max Boot in Washington Post Opinions.
Does that mean US is *not* going to fund the political groups in Europe they think are MAGA compatible?
It doesn't, does it? Schrodinger's Europe, simultaneously too unimportant to bother with, too important to ignore.
It doesn't, does it? Schrodinger's Europe, simultaneously too unimportant to bother with, too important to ignore.
NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker claims America has "bigger issues to deal with" than Europe
February 17, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Does that mean US is *not* going to fund the political groups in Europe they think are MAGA compatible?
It doesn't, does it? Schrodinger's Europe, simultaneously too unimportant to bother with, too important to ignore.
It doesn't, does it? Schrodinger's Europe, simultaneously too unimportant to bother with, too important to ignore.
Reposted by Cathy
In Munich "I did not meet a single person of any nationality who thinks that the American-European relationship is returning to business as usual"
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
No, It’s Not Back to Business as Usual
Marco Rubio was more civil than J. D. Vance had been, but the message to longtime allies was the same.
www.theatlantic.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:10 PM
In Munich "I did not meet a single person of any nationality who thinks that the American-European relationship is returning to business as usual"
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by Cathy
Plan delay: “We wish to state plainly and unequivocally that, in our informed view, there is no basis in science and no discernible basis in law for [his] assertion.”
Prof Hannah Daly; Prof John Sweeney; Prof Barry McMullin; Dr Andrew Jackson; Dr Paul R Rice. www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Prof Hannah Daly; Prof John Sweeney; Prof Barry McMullin; Dr Andrew Jackson; Dr Paul R Rice. www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Experts express ‘extreme concern’ over delay to climate action plan
Minister says plan is coming, but academics say there is no justification for holdup
www.irishtimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Plan delay: “We wish to state plainly and unequivocally that, in our informed view, there is no basis in science and no discernible basis in law for [his] assertion.”
Prof Hannah Daly; Prof John Sweeney; Prof Barry McMullin; Dr Andrew Jackson; Dr Paul R Rice. www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Prof Hannah Daly; Prof John Sweeney; Prof Barry McMullin; Dr Andrew Jackson; Dr Paul R Rice. www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Frankly, sounds like an assassin's charter.
February 17, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Frankly, sounds like an assassin's charter.
Reposted by Cathy
Brakes put on accelerator act
Industrial accelerator act delayed…until March. Rejected by 9 DGs and von der Leyen
February 17, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Brakes put on accelerator act
Reposted by Cathy
This is a notable change of tone from the Commission. Earlier this month, von der Leyen said the ban on maritime services should be introduced "after a decision of the G7". But now, as the clock ticks, Dombrovskis said the G7 deal is no longer an "absolute precondition".
The EU will not "shy away" from imposing a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers if G7 allies fail to reach a deal among themselves, says Valdis Dombrovskis.
I have the latest on the 20th package of sanctions.
I have the latest on the 20th package of sanctions.
EU won't 'shy away' from new sanctions on Russia if G7 deal fails
Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said a G7 deal is not an "absolute precondition" for a full ban on maritime services for Russian tankers. Brussels wants the new sanctions approved by 24 Februa...
www.euronews.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This is a notable change of tone from the Commission. Earlier this month, von der Leyen said the ban on maritime services should be introduced "after a decision of the G7". But now, as the clock ticks, Dombrovskis said the G7 deal is no longer an "absolute precondition".
Reposted by Cathy
Spain to probe X, Meta, TikTok over AI-generated child sexual abuse material reut.rs/4tXMf7p
Spain to probe X, Meta, TikTok over AI-generated child sexual abuse material
The announcement comes as European regulators are cracking down on big tech companies, alleging the prevalence of abusive practices on online platforms ranging from anti-competitive behaviour in digit...
reut.rs
February 17, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Spain to probe X, Meta, TikTok over AI-generated child sexual abuse material reut.rs/4tXMf7p
Reposted by Cathy
On reports today that Councils tried to zone close to 300 sites prone to flooding for development over the last 6 years, SocDems climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore says: “we need to just stop doing stupid things when it comes to planning.”
February 17, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Cathy
"American Style Pancakes" are foreign is a bit like saying Halloween is a US import.
This is 1976 Recipe for Drop Scones I use.
Not to be confused with the English / French crêpe.
Earliest reference to Dropt scones over 150 years in Scotland and over 100 years in Ireland.
This is 1976 Recipe for Drop Scones I use.
Not to be confused with the English / French crêpe.
Earliest reference to Dropt scones over 150 years in Scotland and over 100 years in Ireland.
February 17, 2026 at 12:57 PM
"American Style Pancakes" are foreign is a bit like saying Halloween is a US import.
This is 1976 Recipe for Drop Scones I use.
Not to be confused with the English / French crêpe.
Earliest reference to Dropt scones over 150 years in Scotland and over 100 years in Ireland.
This is 1976 Recipe for Drop Scones I use.
Not to be confused with the English / French crêpe.
Earliest reference to Dropt scones over 150 years in Scotland and over 100 years in Ireland.
You may think this only matters in US, but Moderna’s CEO Stéphane Bancel's statement that, “You cannot make a return on investment if you don’t have access to the US market."
Moderna plans to pull back on crucial investments in late-stage mRNA vaccine trials as a result.
Moderna plans to pull back on crucial investments in late-stage mRNA vaccine trials as a result.
New in PN: Trump somehow got worse on public health after covid
"Trump has brought us fascism, he is threatening war and violence. But it is all too possible that his most lasting and horrific legacy, in his second term as in his first, will be plague."
"Trump has brought us fascism, he is threatening war and violence. But it is all too possible that his most lasting and horrific legacy, in his second term as in his first, will be plague."
Trump somehow got worse on public health after covid
He's incapable of learning lessons and actively resists it.
www.publicnotice.co
February 17, 2026 at 12:57 PM
You may think this only matters in US, but Moderna’s CEO Stéphane Bancel's statement that, “You cannot make a return on investment if you don’t have access to the US market."
Moderna plans to pull back on crucial investments in late-stage mRNA vaccine trials as a result.
Moderna plans to pull back on crucial investments in late-stage mRNA vaccine trials as a result.
Exports hit record level of €260.3 billion in 2025, up 16.4%, says CSO preliminary figures.
Exports to the US increased by 52% to €111.7 billion in the year, pushed by front loading of exports in first 6 months.
53.2% of our total exports of goods in the year was pharma/medical.
#SpéirGorm
Exports to the US increased by 52% to €111.7 billion in the year, pushed by front loading of exports in first 6 months.
53.2% of our total exports of goods in the year was pharma/medical.
#SpéirGorm
Irish exports hit record high last year as company’s rushed to beat Trump’s tariffs
Irish exports hit record high last year as company’s rushed to beat Trump’s tariffs
Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products increased by €38.9bn or 39 per cent when compared with 2024
www.irishtimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Exports hit record level of €260.3 billion in 2025, up 16.4%, says CSO preliminary figures.
Exports to the US increased by 52% to €111.7 billion in the year, pushed by front loading of exports in first 6 months.
53.2% of our total exports of goods in the year was pharma/medical.
#SpéirGorm
Exports to the US increased by 52% to €111.7 billion in the year, pushed by front loading of exports in first 6 months.
53.2% of our total exports of goods in the year was pharma/medical.
#SpéirGorm
Have to wonder what the building would be used for if the hospital moved. Just another structure sitting vacant?
The Minister for Health has said that she would need "a very strong reason to deviate" from the Rotunda Hospital remaining at its current site on Parnell Square in Dublin
'Very strong reason' needed for Rotunda to move from site
The Minister for Health has said that she would need "a very strong reason to deviate" from the Rotunda Hospital remaining at its current site on Parnell Square in Dublin.
www.rte.ie
February 17, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Have to wonder what the building would be used for if the hospital moved. Just another structure sitting vacant?
Reposted by Cathy
Get past the bit about VPNs (consumer VPNs are mostly pointless), and focus on the bit about wider harms. That's the elephant in the room here - we *should* be handling bad stuff online for everyone (not necessarily banning it), and banning kids does nothing to fix that.
My column in today's paper: on banning the under-16s from social media, the trade-offs and assumptions that the ban makes:
Perhaps we should all be banned from social media
Focusing only on under-16s obscures the lack of internet safeguards for everyone else
www.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Get past the bit about VPNs (consumer VPNs are mostly pointless), and focus on the bit about wider harms. That's the elephant in the room here - we *should* be handling bad stuff online for everyone (not necessarily banning it), and banning kids does nothing to fix that.
As viable as building a self-sustaining city on Mars within 20 years.
Please please my fellow journalists who are writing "Data centers in space!" pieces, read this breakdown from a retired NASA engineer before you publish. At least to ask yourself some questions. taranis.ie/datacenters-...
Datacenters in space are a terrible, horrible, no good idea.
There is a rush for AI companies to team up with space launch/satellite companies to build datacenters in space. TL;DR: It's not going to work.
taranis.ie
February 17, 2026 at 11:26 AM
As viable as building a self-sustaining city on Mars within 20 years.
Reposted by Cathy
BREAKING NEWS: The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a lifelong civil rights advocate until his death Tuesday at the age of 84.
Longtime civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a lifelong civil rights advocate until his death Tuesday at the age of 84.
n.pr
February 17, 2026 at 10:40 AM
BREAKING NEWS: The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a lifelong civil rights advocate until his death Tuesday at the age of 84.
Reposted by Cathy
My new book on fairies (out next month) deals with homunculi as a kind of fairy - or, at least, as fairy-adjacent beings. I'm just a bit worried that the popularity of 'Small Prophets' could lead to a spate of people trying to make them, without the proper skills or preparation
February 17, 2026 at 8:56 AM
My new book on fairies (out next month) deals with homunculi as a kind of fairy - or, at least, as fairy-adjacent beings. I'm just a bit worried that the popularity of 'Small Prophets' could lead to a spate of people trying to make them, without the proper skills or preparation
Reposted by Cathy
It’s the year of the Horse and to celebrate I will be horsing those pancakes into me.
February 17, 2026 at 10:32 AM
It’s the year of the Horse and to celebrate I will be horsing those pancakes into me.
Reposted by Cathy
All hail DC, the king of puns.
February 17, 2026 at 10:01 AM
All hail DC, the king of puns.
"In fact, there are 23 presidents who can claim Irish heritage here in the United States all the way back to Andrew Jackson and going right up to the present, to president Joe Biden," said Professor Darragh Gannon, assistant director of Irish Studies at Georgetown University.
#AmRev250
#AmRev250
The contribution of Ireland to the United States in this, the 250th anniversary year of the US Declaration of Independence, was marked by wreath laying ceremonies in Washington, DC, at the grave of John F Kennedy
Irish contribution to US presidency celebrated
The contribution of Ireland to the United States in this, the 250th anniversary year of the US Declaration of Independence, was marked by wreath laying ceremonies in Washington, DC, at the grave of Jo...
www.rte.ie
February 17, 2026 at 9:54 AM
"In fact, there are 23 presidents who can claim Irish heritage here in the United States all the way back to Andrew Jackson and going right up to the present, to president Joe Biden," said Professor Darragh Gannon, assistant director of Irish Studies at Georgetown University.
#AmRev250
#AmRev250
Located beside their windfarm in Offaly, it can provide 10,000 homes with renewable electricity for a full four-hour period after the wind has stopped blowing.
Statkraft, the largest producer of renewable energy in Europe, has launched Ireland's first ever four-hour grid-scale Battery Electric Storage System beside its windfarm at Cushaling in Co Offaly
Ireland's first four-hour battery storage system launched
Statkraft, the largest producer of renewable energy in Europe, has launched Ireland's first ever four-hour grid-scale Battery Electric Storage System beside its windfarm at Cushaling in Co Offaly.
www.rte.ie
February 17, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Located beside their windfarm in Offaly, it can provide 10,000 homes with renewable electricity for a full four-hour period after the wind has stopped blowing.