Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 22h

Studying the language and literature that has helped to define our nation at home and around the world for centuries is a "rip-off" apparently

80 110 530

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Sea-Watch @sea-watch.org · 1d

In der Nacht auf Montag rettete unsere Sea-Watch 5 79 Menschen, die Europas Abschottungspolitik im Stich lässt. Der zugewiesene Hafen ist La Spezia, weshalb sie erst am Freitag in Sicherheit sein werden. Niemand sollte nach einer Rettung noch Tage auf Schutz warten müssen.

1 12 50

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Clinically Vulnerable Families 💙💜💗 @cvcev.bsky.social · 1d

The UK is an international outlier.

Please share the first post!

#KeepCovidBoosters

www.clinicallyvulnerable.org/post/a-preve...

A Preventable Winter Crisis: Why Clinically Vulnerable People Need Your Help

This week, millions of Clinically Vulnerable people woke up to find out they no longer qualify for an NHS Covid vaccine. No letter. No announcement. Just a quiet change on a website - and a real shock...

www.clinicallyvulnerable.org

6 8

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Steve Griffin @profstevegriffin.bsky.social · 2d

Restricting eligibility as a wave is growing...

One of the reasons used for dropping coverage in younger age groups, especially kids, was a lack of demand...for a medicine they told everyone wasn't necessary...🤦‍♂️
Not an issue nowadays, it seems...

6 17 36

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · 1d

I'm in Guildford area. I agree - it would also have been helpful for government to explain why millions of people previously identified as at increased risk are no longer considered to be at risk despite still being at risk from flu.

1 1

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · 1d

I've just booked new Pfizer LP8.1. for next week. We checked with pharmacist which one it would be. I've had Covid jabs there before on NHS but I no longer qualify for those.

1 1

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks. This is helpful for those of us having to source private vaccines for the 1st time in UK.

1 6

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Cat in the Hat @catinthehat.bsky.social · 3d

Eligibility for an NHS Covid booster has been HUGELY restricted this Autumn.

Studies show that both acute & long-term impacts of Covid are substantially WORSE than flu on almost every measure.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

So why are the government offering so much LESS protection for Covid?

6 27 43

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · 5d

I really enjoyed 'Thirty two words for field' - sad to see that Manchán Magan has died: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Irish language is a joy not a burden: in what other tongue is a penis a wild carrot? | Una Mullally

Record numbers of pupils are seeking opt-outs from compulsory learning. This is misguided – Irish is a portal to a world of imagination, says journalist Una Mullally

www.theguardian.com

1

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 7d

'The affected staff, in the schools of foreign languages, history, religion and music, have been warned the university cannot rule out compulsory redundancy.'

Almost 200 Cardiff University staff left in limbo as they face losing jobs

Cardiff University confirmed it cannot rule out compulsory redundancies as it also apologised to students for problems with a new timetabling system as the academic year begins

www.walesonline.co.uk

14 11

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Tom Nuttall @tomnuttall.bsky.social · 10d

The AfD qualified for three mayoral run-offs in cities in North Rhine-Westphalia today, and lost all by big margins. The lesson is not that we have overdone the AfD's rise, but that we do perhaps sometimes underestimate the counter-mobilisation effects - including in east Germany, incidentally.

24 370 1.4K

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

Your age shouldn’t put you off learning a new language – what the research says
theconversation.com/your-age-sho...

Your age shouldn’t put you off learning a new language – what the research says

There is no age limit to our ability to learn a new language.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 13d

The vacuum at highest levels in talking about this dark turn in British life over the last few months HAS to end.

Kriszta Satori @fulelo.bsky.social · 14d

More and more such incidents happening daily
www.bbc.com/news/article...

'Kids racially abused me and the adults' reaction broke me'

Sophia Choudry says she is "shaken" and "heartbroken" after being racially abused on the Elizabeth line.

www.bbc.com

9 190 470

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Kit Yates @kityates.bsky.social · 19d

“Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’.”
- business secretary, Peter Kyle.

What do they want knowledge for? Heaven forbid that students go to university to learn something!

British students lack ‘drive’ of their American peers, says Business Secretary | LBC

The Business Secretary has defended comments he made at a meeting with investors where he said British students lack the ‘drive’ and ‘vigour’ of their American peers.

www.lbc.co.uk

22 23 97

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · 21d

Pretty much every word of this: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We must not let the shooting of Charlie Kirk become Trump’s Reichstag fire | David Van Reybrouck

Take heed from European history: this could be the pretext for the repression of the US president’s political opponents, says Belgian author and philosopher David Van Reybrouck

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 23d

Bear with me, I anticipate your disagreement. There is a clear pattern to the advice given to those who want to press back against rising racism. What it boils down to is that if you point out that racism is often being dressed up as “legitimate concerns” you will alienate people. /1

31 360 830

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · 23d

What owning a cat does to your brain (and theirs)
theconversation.com/what-owning-...

What owning a cat does to your brain (and theirs)

When you cuddle a cat, the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin is rising in both your brains.

theconversation.com

1 1

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 29d

'As universities close courses and departments in response to financial pressures...students in parts of the North, South West and East of England, as well as large areas of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are losing access to social sciences, humanities and arts (SHAPE) courses.' 1/2

Humanities and arts degrees disappearing in parts of UK

Students from rural and disadvantaged areas disproportionally affected by subject cuts, British Academy warns

www.timeshighereducation.com

3 75 63

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 29d

"leaving what is taught in our universities solely up to market forces undermines resilient subject provision and economic strategy, with lasting consequences for students and for universities’ ability to serve a public good.” 2/2

Cold spots: Mapping inequality in SHAPE provision in UK higher education

This British Academy report reveals that many parts of the UK are becoming subject cold spots – areas with no provision in a subject within a commutable distance. These are often in rural, coastal or ...

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

35 45

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · Sep 6

A tenet of Fascism is keep repeating lies and people will become so confused about what is the truth that they’ll start to believe them. We all have a responsibility to keep repeating the truth in the face of politically-motivated lying. Don’t just roll your eyes, speak up.

37 520 1.6K

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Clare Seccombe @clareseccombe.bsky.social · Sep 2

www.lbc.co.uk/article/lang...

Languages are the ultimate job skill – so why are we ignoring them? | LBC

Today is back to school day for many children across the UK. But as the long weeks of relaxing, staying up, spending time with friends and going on holiday come to an end for another year, teachers an...

www.lbc.co.uk

4 3

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Adam Riggio @adamriggio.bsky.social · Sep 2

When parties with mainstream, liberal, or progressive identities try to stanch support for far-right parties by adopting conservative or authoritarian policies, it almost always fails.

From @adambienkov.bsky.social

bylinetimes.com/2025/09/02/r...

Red Flags: The Far-Right Warning Signs Keir Starmer Is Refusing to See

The Prime Minister must wake up and stop trying to appease the very forces trying to exploit anti-migrant hate in order to destroy his Government, argues Adam Bienkov

bylinetimes.com

2 14 44

Dr Angela Gallagher @angelatgallagher.bsky.social · Aug 23

'I have additional ideas, beginning with better respecting the glittering diversity of languages emigrants bring to the UK. We wrongly dictate that assimilation in western countries requires shifting to English monolingualism'
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Time for a reality check: Britain cannot be a big player on the world stage unless we speak more languages | Sophia Smith Galer

For all the talk of addressing the problem, things have got worse. Which is criminal when there is so much we could do, says journalist Sophia Smith Galer

www.theguardian.com

1

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · Aug 21

Not one mention of an opposing viewpoint. The idea asylum seekers should be treated with compassion or dignity is apparently beyond the spectrum of acceptable opinion. Balance simply does not apply in these circumstances.

20 140 870

Reposted by Dr Angela Gallagher

UCL Institute of Education @ioe.bsky.social · Aug 13

Is language learning in the UK really in a state of crisis?

It's not that simple – languages GCSE uptake across schools can vary very widely, write IOE researchers. #IOEBlog

blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/2025/08/...

Crisis or variation in languages education provision in England?

Language learning in the UK is often framed as being in a state of “crisis”. But does this narrative provide a fair reflection of what is happening across all schools in England?

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

1 3 6