Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ian Hall

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 2d

The torrent of UK China news keeps coming. So much for the reset...

China threatened to retaliate against the UK government if ministers targeted parts of its security apparatus under foreign influence rules, the Guardian can disclose.

China threatened to retaliate against UK over foreign influence rules

Exclusive: Chinese officials warned that targeting its security apparatus would negatively affect relations

www.theguardian.com

1 7 11

Reposted by Ian Hall

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 1d

And here we go. I never wrote this article, and yet it is cited here.

www.liberalbriefs.com/geopolitics/...

And of course, it sounds so plausible, I seriously checked whether I had forgotten it, or the footnote was slightly wrong.

#AIisnotresearch

43 340 940

Reposted by Ian Hall

Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

Omg students don’t come to class and don’t do the readings, that’s never happened before in college. This generational crisis requires, nay demands, blatantly unconstitutional federal pressure and extortion of not just Harvard but everyone, everyone!

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...

Harvard Students Skip Class and Still Get High Grades, Faculty Say

www.nytimes.com

1 10

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 2d

I like a good pun, but this one almost sent me over the edge!

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 2d

Really @internationalintrigue.io? Really??

2 1

Reposted by Ian Hall

Reuters @reuters.com · 2d

The Chinese embassy in Manila hired a marketing firm that ran fake social media accounts praising China, undermining the Philippines’ security alliance with the US, and criticizing Western COVID vaccines, Reuters found reut.rs/437dUqn

How China waged an infowar against U.S. interests in the Philippines

The Chinese embassy in Manila hired a marketing firm that ran fake social media accounts praising China, undermining the Philippines’ security alliance with the U.S., and criticizing Western COVID vaccines, Reuters found.

reut.rs

3 51 76

Reposted by Ian Hall

Chris Goodman @cbgoodman.co · 2d

The third amendment is about to get very relevant.

'Very difficult situation': Kristi Noem whines locals not letting ICE agents use restrooms

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem complained that her agents were not being permitted to use restrooms in Chicago because of opposition from residents.During a Sunday interview on ...

www.rawstory.com

110 190 830

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 2d

This looks like a triumph of hope over experience (or should that be Triumf?) given the almost decade long delay in the delivery of the systems ordered in 2018. But anyway...India wants more Russian S-400 air defence systems. www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/i...

India-Russia in talks to acquire 5 more S-400 air defence systems

The Russian S-400 system ensured that Pak Air Force did not fly east of Indus on May 10 during Operation Sindoor.

www.hindustantimes.com

2

Reposted by Ian Hall

Michelle Ye Hee Lee @myhlee.bsky.social · 4d

BREAKING: Sanae Takaichi, a hardline conservative security hawk, is set to become Japan’s new — and first female — prime minister.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Sanae Takaichi is set to become Japan’s first female prime minister

The new leader will take the helm of the world’s fourth-largest economy at a time of unusual political instability, rising prices and increasing regional tensions.

www.washingtonpost.com

5 66 160

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 4d

Nothing improves morale, aids retention, and shows respect to highly trained professionals quite like wasting their time on pointless, menial, purely performative tasks.

Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 4d

The messages show high-level officials in the Trump administration discussing the possible deployment of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, an infantry force that has dropped into combat zones in both World Wars, Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Trump officials discussed sending elite Army division to Portland, text messages show

A high-ranking White House official was indiscreetly texting about the Portland, Ore., planning last weekend, according to messages shared with the Minnesota Star Tribune.

bit.ly

1

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 4d

Ah yes. Minor conflict termination issues like laying down arms.

NDTV @ndtv.com · 4d

President Donald Trump told Israel on Friday to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a US plan to end the war, but vexing issues like disarmament appeared unresolved.

Read: www.ndtv.com/world-news/h...

1

Reposted by Ian Hall

Darin Self @darinself.com · 5d

Duterte is in the Hague for this

Patrick De Klotz @patdeklotz.bsky.social · 5d

Is it our government’s position that if an American commits a drug crime with a cartel (or they allege that) it can just kill that person without trial even if not an immediate threat? I am genuinely trying to understand what if any lines they believe exist. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

4 150 460

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 5d

This has to be the first ever Indo-Pacific Studies position advertised? external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/53...

Lecturer, Indo-Pacific Studies

Share your knowledge and expertise in Indo-Pacific Studies with our cohort at UNSW Canberra.

external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au

1

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 6d

Totally normal.

Ashley Huebner @ahuebner.bsky.social · 6d

Chicago: “The Border Patrol official said that snipers rappelled down from helicopters on top of the apartment complex, as a precaution from potential violence.”

Trump’s Chicago ICE Crackdown Intensifies With Drones, Helicopters and Trucks

www.nytimes.com

1

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 7d

"The president talked at length, and his comments should have confirmed to even the most sympathetic observer that he is, as the kids say, not okay."

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 7d

The generals and admirals at Quantico today should be forgiven if they walked out of the auditorium and wondered: What on earth is wrong with the commander in chief?

www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

The Commander in Chief Is Not Okay

Trump put on a disturbing show for America’s generals and admirals.

www.theatlantic.com

Reposted by Ian Hall

Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 7d

This piece by @laurabullard.bsky.social goes DEEP into Peter Thiel’s Antichrist fixation—a bizarre melding of biblical scripture and Nazi philosophy.

Remember: This isn't about AI. It's a much deeper story about the strange mind behind JD Vance.

Read it:

www.wired.com/story/the-re...

The Real Stakes, and Real Story, of Peter Thiel’s Antichrist Obsession

Thirty years ago, a peace-loving Austrian theologian spoke to Peter Thiel about the apocalyptic theories of Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt. They’ve been a road map for the billionaire ever since.

www.wired.com

16 200 380

Reposted by Ian Hall

Tankbag @tankbag.bsky.social · 7d

"Three different defense officials who spoke with The Intercept called Trump’s speech “embarrassing.” … One called Hegseth’s address “garbage,”... Another said: “We are diminished as a nation by both Hegseth and Trump.”

Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · 7d

There we are.

“Secretary Hegseth’s misogynistic lethality screed was disqualifying. His continued railing against women in combat roles shows his deep personal inadequacies,” said the first defense official. “It shocks the conscience to hear the Secretary of Defense — he is no warrior — endorse bullying and hazing of service members. How dare this former National Guard major lecture our military leaders on lethality when he’s focused solely on his own cult of personality.”

19 72

Reposted by Ian Hall

nilay patel @reckless.bsky.social · 7d

Just incredible cowardice from Google all over the place www.theverge.com/news/789152/...

Google is blocking AI searches for Trump and dementia

With Biden, AI Mode will provide a summarized answer.

www.theverge.com

21 150 490

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 8d

Of course he did.

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 8d

Hegseth called all the generals to Virginia to lecture them about personal grooming standards.

Hegseth’s mysterious meeting with generals will focus on grooming and warrior ethos

The event, which will draw top brass from around the world, will function as a pep rally of sorts.

www.politico.com

1

Reposted by Ian Hall

Bill Amend @billamend.bsky.social · 8d

WTF that’s not how copyright works

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 8d

Exclusive: OpenAI is planning to release a new version of its Sora video generator, which creates videos featuring copyrighted material unless copyright holders opt out of having their work appear.

OpenAI’s New Sora Video Generator to Require Copyright Holders to Opt Out

Executives at the startup notified talent agencies and studios over the last week.

on.wsj.com

11 70 340

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 8d

...and Cambridge too. Solovyov must have gone to the LSE. www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/2549997...

Russia should 'bomb Oxford', key Putin ally says

A top Putin ally has reportedly said Putin should "bomb" Oxford, according to national reports.

www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 8d

That didn't take long. The "ultimate productivity tool"™️ that requires firms to hire more people to eradicate the slop it generates. Sigh. www.afr.com/technology/a...

AI ‘workslop’ is flooding offices. This firm is trying to kill it

AI-generated content that appears polished at first but lacks any real substance is creating a drag on productivity, according to new research.

www.afr.com

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 9d

Lessons here for the UK and others.

Christy Quirk @cequirk.bsky.social · 9d

Sandu got in front of Russian influence ops before the election. She explained the problem, told citizens what’s at stake and what to look for and appealed to values. Curious the impact of this and how much it contributed to victory. Speech on @moldovamatters.md open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

President Sandu Live Address to Citizens

September 22, 2025

open.substack.com

2 3

Reposted by Ian Hall

Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · 9d

White House Deputy Press Secretary seen here posting data showing how much more prevalent right wing domestic terrorism is than left wing domestic terrorism... while thinking she's showing the reverse.

Apparently she can only read headlines, but not the actual graph with the data.

Abigail Jackson saying: Democrats, calling your political opponents Nazis has consequences.

Study: Left-wing terrorism climbs to 30-year high

And posting a graph from Axios that shows WAY WAY WAY more right wing terrorism, and showing a very slight increase in left wing terrorism this year that would still have it lower than basically every other year of right wing terrorism.

88 1K 3.7K

Ian Hall @drianhall.bsky.social · 9d

Techno-Straussianism

The Conversation AUNZ @aunz.theconversation.com · 9d

The Sovereign Individual applauds the instincts of the impossibly wealthy to hoard and insulate themselves from the demands of mass democracy.

👉 theconversation.com/this-li...

2 3