Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 2h

Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war.

Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport

Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war

www.economist.com

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 2h

“bio” bread and apparently high prices

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 4h

A new bakery opening soon in my Paris neighbourhood with the promise of “audacious” bread.

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 6h

If you need further proof that tech billionaires are crackers.

Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lectures about the antichrist

The political svengali and investor has been giving lectures on ‘an evil king or tyrant … who appears in the end times’

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Matthew Fraser

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 11h

Putin latest news: Inside the private life of the Russian president

The private life of Putin: strippers, lovers and secret sons

Putin latest news: Inside the private life of the Russian president

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Matthew Fraser

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 16h

🤷🏽‍♂️ 🇺🇸 💰

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Reposted by Matthew Fraser

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 1d

At least Trump got a free jet and a $5.5 billion golf resort in Qatar, so there’s that.

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Reposted by Matthew Fraser

France Culture @franceculture.fr · 1d

Le prix Nobel de la paix 2025 a été décerné à María Corina Machado pour "son travail inlassable en faveur des droits démocratiques du peuple vénézuélien."
➡️ https://l.franceculture.fr/v6h

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Reposted by Matthew Fraser

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 1d

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 2d

AI video generators are now so good you can no longer trust your eyes. The widespread use of instant video generators like Sora will bring an end to visuals as proof.

A.I. Video Generators Are Now So Good You Can No Longer Trust Your Eyes

www.nytimes.com

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 3d

Donald Trump Jr created an exclusive club called "Executive Branch" where he conducts his business deals. He joined the board of an online pharma retailer, BlinkRx, that stands to benefit from Donald Trump's shakeup of the pharma industry. Egregious conflicts of interest here.

Trump Wants to Overhaul Drug Sales. A Company Tied to His Son Stands to Benefit.

The family members of President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are poised to benefit from efforts to remake the pharmaceutical industry.

www.wsj.com

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 3d

Fascinating. The secret tunnel that let Roman emperors dodge the Colosseum’s angry mob.
www.thetimes.com/article/e5f0...

Secret tunnel let Roman emperors dodge the Colosseum’s angry mob

For the first time visitors can walk the passage thought to have allowed emperors to visit gladiators in their gym before sealing their fate — and sneaking out unseen

www.thetimes.com

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 4d

Trump is incensed that Bad Bunny is performing at the Super Bowl, but says: "I've never heard of him. I don’t know who he is."

Donald Trump Says Bad Bunny Performing at the Super Bowl Is ‘Absolutely Ridiculous’ Even Though ‘I’ve Never Heard of Him. I Don’t Know Who He Is’

Donald Trump says it's absolutely ridiculous that Bad Bunny is performing at the Super Bowl in 2026.

variety.com

Reposted by Matthew Fraser

Francis Wilkinson @franciswilkinson.bsky.social · 4d

Gift Link// Whether the US's ongoing act of political suicide evolves as a murder-suicide is of more than passing interest to the US’s northern domestic partner. Canada is extremely -- uniquely -- vulnerable. I spoke to executives, defense analysts, others. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/feat...

Can Canada Survive Donald Trump?

Under assault from an increasingly aggressive and authoritarian United States, the country’s future looks less secure than at any time in postwar history.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Matthew Fraser

Lauren Ashley Davis @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social · 4d

Trump hasn’t moved on from wanting Greenland forever, Danish PM warns

Denmark and Greenland cannot afford to “breathe a sigh of relief,” Mette Frederiksen says.

www.politico.eu/article/dani...

Trump hasn’t moved on from wanting Greenland forever, Danish PM warns

Denmark and Greenland cannot afford to “breathe a sigh of relief,” Mette Frederiksen says.

www.politico.eu

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 4d

Boom time for US billionaires: why the system perpetuates wealth inequality

As the super rich grow even richer, inequality expert Chuck Collins says the system is broken – but it can be fixed

www.theguardian.com

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 4d

Fast-fashion recycling: how ‘the castoff capital of the world’ is making Indian factory workers sick

Reports of lung disease, skin conditions and even cancer are rising in Panipat, which recycles 1 million tonnes of textile waste a year

www.theguardian.com

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 5d

Evening walk with Hector and Djery on the Champ de Mars.

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 5d

The troubling rise of AI girlfriends.

‘Obedient, yielding and happy to follow’: the troubling rise of AI girlfriends

AI dating sites claim they remove potential for exploitation, but critics say they are reinforcing harmful stereotypes

www.theguardian.com

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 5d

Who needs books reviews when crying on camera sells books. #BookTok #booksthatmademecry

Books on BookTok: how crying on camera affects book recommendations

This week, BookTok creators reflected on the popularity of videos where creators film themselves crying while reading or finishing a book.

www.thebookseller.com

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 5d

French PM and government resign

The new administration had been appointed less than twelve hours before resigning.

www.politico.eu

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 5d

The decline and fall of Hollywood.

L.A.’s Entertainment Economy Is Looking Like a Disaster Movie

Work is evaporating, businesses are closing, longtime residents are leaving, and Los Angeles’s creative middle class is hanging on by a thread.

www.wsj.com

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 5d

In the Dordogne, three explosive packages were sent in the post targeting an MP, a journalist, and a comedian. One of them exploded in a postman’s vehicle with no injuries. www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers...

Dordogne : un colis piégé visant une célébrité explose dans la camionnette du facteur, deux autres retrouvés

Trois colis piégés de faible puissance, adressés à un député, une journaliste et une humoriste, ont été découverts en Dordogne. L’un d’eux a explosé sans faire de blessé dans le véhicule d’un postier.

www.lefigaro.fr

Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 6d

Interesting French-UK university comparison from a British student studying classics at the Sorbonne.

Why the French do higher education better | Luke Markham | The Critic Magazine

Preserved on the campus of University College London (UCL) are the remains of philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Regrettably, his classical liberal view of education has not also benefitted from conservation...

thecritic.co.uk

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Matthew Fraser @matthewfraser.bsky.social · 6d

Why Trump’s speech to US military top brass was such a disaster. He seemingly does not understand what the military is for.

Why Trump’s speech to US military top brass was such a disaster | Sidney Blumenthal

The president of the United States seemingly does not understand what the military is for

www.theguardian.com