Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Festival of Europe Scotland

The Edinburgh Bookshop @edinburghbookshop.bsky.social · 3d

When you erase words, you erase worlds that were, and worlds to come.

Readers resist

#BannedBooksWeek #books #livres #censorship #FreedomOfExpression
#Edinburgh #Edimbourg

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 21h

Israel will we hope stop bombing Gaza, maybe even stop extending their terror on the west bank. Russia is still bombing Ukraine. Sorry for the bad news. Worse as to the number of people for whom only one of these matters. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘Massive’ Russian attack on Ukraine capital triggers blackouts and sets high-rise alight

Powerful blasts reported in Kyiv as missiles and drones target energy infrastructure, injuring nine

www.theguardian.com

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Leeds for Europe @leedseurope.bsky.social · 21h

“The EU is by far and away the UK steel industry's most important export market. It was the destination for 78 per cent of all UK steel exports, totalling 1.9 million tonnes of steel in 2024.”

'Perhaps the biggest crisis the UK steel industry has ever faced'

The EU accounts for 78 per cent of UK steel exports and the UK steel industry has reacted with worry to proposed EU tariff, or tax, changes

www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

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Peter Hunt @ukwhisky.bsky.social · 1d

#OnThisDay
9th October 1884
The Fifeshire Journal advertises Highland Whisky (Islay Make) from Glendarroch Distillery, Ardrishaig. Also know as Glenfyne, operations ceased in 1937.
Image of the old distillery site ©John Hulme
#WhiskyHistory

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UK 🇬🇧 🤝 🇺🇦 □ @ukbastard.bsky.social · 1d

Italy unveils €31 billion defense budget with NATO target in mind

The figure is up 7.2% on last year’s spending of just over €29 billion, but is set to remain stable in 2026 and 2027, the ministry stated.

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Italy unveils €31 billion defense budget with NATO target in mind

The document gives a breakdown on spending for each program, but in a departure from tradition does not state the total amount of procurement funding.

www.defensenews.com

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Picture This Scotland @74frankfurt.bsky.social · 1d

The Emigrants by Gerald Laing (1936–2011) in Helmsdale.

The statue commemorates the huge numbers of people evicted from their ancestral homes during the Highland Clearances.

Pic: Carsten Flieger

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Ian Fraser @ianfraser.bsky.social · 1d

Earlier this month, Reform UK members were spreading “concern” that Kilgraston, a former boarding school in Perthshire, was to be turned into accommodation for asylum seekers. Now, they’re lying about giving the developer "pause for thought". Quality journalism by @alasdairclark.bsky.social.

EXCLUSIVE: Reform UK figures linked to fake Kilgraston School asylum hotel rumours

A councillor for Nigel Farage's Reform UK shared a petition claiming the former private school would be turned into housing for asylum seekers.

www.thecourier.co.uk

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Mike Small @bellacaledonia.bsky.social · 1d

In non-Bella news I'm doing a talk at the Edinburgh Futures Institute 'Patrick Geddes and the Anarchist Strain of Town Planning' is on 30 October. It's free and open to all - but book your tickets here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/patrick-ge...

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The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 1d

A global engineering and infrastructure firm has officially opened its new base in the Highlands, creating 50 jobs

Global engineering firm opens new energy hub in Highlands creating 50 jobs

www.thenational.scot

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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 1d

Sen. Elissa Slotkin on Letitia James being indicted: "It's part of a bigger trend of the President of the United States using the Department of Justice, using the legal system, to go after political adversaries."

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Festival of Europe Scotland @festivalofeurope.bsky.social · 1d

www.politico.eu/article/comp...

POLITICO’s Competitive Europe Summit: As it happened

All the latest updates and analysis from POLITICO’s big competitiveness gathering in Brussels.

www.politico.eu

Festival of Europe Scotland @festivalofeurope.bsky.social · 1d

A big deal: #Scotland now has a single place to find info about all our tech startups, scaleups, & innovation-driven companies. It's called the Scottish Ecosystem Platform lnkd.in/esmWCF5n a collab between @scottishgov.bsky.social Uni of #Edinburgh @techscaler.bsky.social with @dealroom.bsky.social

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EuroWalks in Scotland @eurowalksscotland.bsky.social · 1d

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2552808...
This October school holidays, history comes alive at various historic sites in Scotland
www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/new...
and a longer list of featured sites here www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-plac...
#history #historic #Scotland

History to come alive at Scotland's castles and gardens this October

Scotland’s rich and colourful past will be brought vividly to life this October as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) launches its popular Living…

www.heraldscotland.com

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Orkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · 1d

This is #BookyMcBookface sailing back from Rousay this afternoon. 💨🌊 #Orkney

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Helen Johnston @hj4euinspain.bsky.social · 1d

New report finds UK’s top scientific institutions have inadequate institutional defences to prevent potential political interference.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/str...

@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@grassrootsforeurope.org
@chrischirp.bsky.social

Strengthening the institutions we rely on

A new report finds that the UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Holyrood @holyroodmag.bsky.social · 2d

The SNP has called for more investment in Scottish renewables, as energy from solar panels and wind farms create more of the global energy output than coal for the first time in history. www.holyrood.com/news/view,re...

Renewable energy sources overtake coal in global energy mix

The SNP has called for more investment in Scottish renewables, as energy from solar panels and wind farms create more of...

www.holyrood.com

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Scottish History Society @scothistorysociety.bsky.social · 2d

Winter Lecture Series: Finding Women in Scottish History

Join us for a series of free, online lectures to explore sources of women's lived experience, intellectual and religious networks, and socio-political power in medieval and early modern Scotland.

scottishhistorysociety.com/shs-winter-l...

SHS Winter Lecture Series: Finding Women in Scottish History

scottishhistorysociety.com

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Wera Hobhouse MP @werahobhouse.bsky.social · 2d

Renewables overtook coal as the world’s top source of electricity in the first half of 2025.

This is an significant turning point. We must continue this momentum by increasing investment in renewables and backing innovative technology that will help us to reach net zero.

Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity

Developing countries lead the historic clean energy charge but the US and EU rely more on fossil fuels than before, a think tank study shows.

www.bbc.co.uk

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SomersetWhovian 💙 🇺🇦 📎 @clairecopperman.bsky.social · 2d

Facts on migration with alt text.

THE ULTIMATE MIGRATION FACTS CHEATSHEET
SAFE PASSAGE

0.7% of the UK population are refugees. Claims that we're being "overrun" are fear-mongering.

£3.3 BILLION This is how much migration brings to UK public finances each year. Migrants contribute in so many ways, from paying taxes to bringing diverse
skills and setting up new businesses.

1 IN 6 people arriving to the UK by small boat arrival is a child. They're the most vulnerable to conflict and trafficking, yet some politicians want to turn them away. This doesn't make any of us safer.

LESS THAN 5% of all migration to the UK is by small boats. Some politicians and media deliberately distort the proportion of these journeys to stir up fear and hostility.

92% of those applying for refugee family reunion are women and children. They're the ones hit the hardest by the lack of safe routes.

1 in 5 NHS worker is a migrant. Migrants aren't the ones causing the NHS crisis - they're helping keep our hospitals, care homes, and GP surgeries running.

SOURCES
1.ICRC, Refugee stats and statistics, 2024
2. CEBR, 'Immigration is estimated to yield £3.3 billion annually for public finances (...) 2023
3.Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 4.Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 5.Immigration system statistics,year ending June 2025
6.NHS Data in the Guardian (Record one in five NHS staff in England are non- UK nationals, figures show'), 2024
SUPPORT US

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Sara Sheridan @sarasheridan.bsky.social · 12d

Selma Mann from Glasgow was convener of the Care of Children Committee which brought more than 300 kids to Scotland from Nazi-controlled Europe. Indefatigable, she saved their lives. Kids like these. Many were housed initially in Garnet Hill in Glasgow, near where I live. 👇 Selma, we salute you. /3

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Oxford Ecosystems @oxfordecosystems.bsky.social · 10d

An ancient yew tree in Scotland that is half the age of the Holocene has caught our attention. What a privilege to be in the presence of one of the oldest trees in Europe. @ymalhi.bsky.social explains the significance of this giant. @naturerecovery.bsky.social @ecioxford.bsky.social

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TerraWatts2010 @terrawatts2010.bsky.social · 10d

A new €1.6 billion subsea cable is being deployed across the Atlantic, providing Ireland’s first direct energy connection to Europe. 🔌💡
www.eldiario24.com/en/ireland-u...

1.6 billion on the seabed — Ireland’s first link to Europe begins to unspool

Ireland begins unspooling its first seabed cable link to Europe, a €1.6 billion project set to transform energy security, and digital infrastructure.

www.eldiario24.com

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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 3d

Badenoch on #r4today saying they will "have returns agreements", yet we already know that many countries won't implement them. Now spreading it to "third party countries", such as Rwanda. The Rwanda plan was not stopped "because of the ECHR". The lack of honesty about what the ECHR does is massive.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 3d

Seems to be EU and US consensus that their steel industries must be protected at any cost. In that circumstance I suspect the UK has to follow or abandon, and will probably choose the first. Not great for anyone's growth, but such are modern political choices. www.ft.com/content/8662...

UK steel industry warns of ‘biggest crisis’ due to new EU tariffs

European Commission set to propose a levy of 50% on steel imports

www.ft.com

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George Peretz KC @georgeperetzkc.bsky.social · 4d

Chris Philp on R4 yesterday making 3 false statements about the ECHR and the GFA.
1. “The ECHR is mentioned only in the Multi-Party Agreement not the UK/Ireland Agreement.”. Wrong: the latter agreement requires the UK to support the former: they can’t be pulled apart like that.

George Peretz KC @georgeperetzkc.bsky.social · 4d

Summary here by @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social of the so far unpublished but apparently “circulating” “legal advice” by Lord Wolfson to the Tory party. open.substack.com/pub/rozenber...

How UK could leave ECHR

Withdrawal would allow EU to end criminal law enforcement co-operation

open.substack.com

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