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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings
@franciscollings.bsky.social
350 followers 890 following 260 posts
Foreign News Correspondent (Freelance) A Paris based, Gibraltar raised, much-travelled journalist. Ex BBC, TRT World (and a few others…) https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-collings/
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 1d
Kamala Harris was correct about Trump and what he would do in power. As she admits, she didn’t expect the capitulation. Perhaps the fightback is beginning ? #kamala #trump www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com
Reposted by Francis Collings
john86l.bsky.social
John86 @john86l.bsky.social · 3d
You don’t have to be called Steve or Stephen to work at Blackpool, but it does help.
A club statement from Blackpool saying Steve Bruce has been sacked along with coaches Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence. Stephen Dobbie and Steve Banks will take temporary charge.
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 7d
If not covered already, an hour on how and why the term ‘Brexit’ may becoming less toxic/ verboten, would be welcomed … bsky.app/profile/iand...
iandunt.bsky.social
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 7d
Why is Starmer becoming more confident criticising Brexit? Because quietly, without any great drama, a consensus has been reached. It's a disaster inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 7d
Excellent from The New Yorker Radio hour. Fascinating to hear
Hardy Merriman, an expert on civil resistance, talking about protests, boycotts, strikes, and nonviolent approaches—as being effective in the fight against democratic backsliding. #democracy #thenewyorker

pca.st/episode/5b51...
Jimmy Kimmel and the Power of Public Pressure
pca.st
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 7d
Excellent read and very true. The dial is shifting (slowly) on Brexit. One day ….it may even be mentioned by BBC News as a bad idea. (Not holding my breath). #brexit
iandunt.bsky.social
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 7d
Why is Starmer becoming more confident criticising Brexit? Because quietly, without any great drama, a consensus has been reached. It's a disaster inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 13d
Superb thread #london
tomcoates.bsky.social
Tom Coates @tomcoates.bsky.social · 15d
I’m just going to say as someone who lived in London for eleven years and is currently seriously considering going back precisely because of the far right theocratic fascism of Trump, that he’s talking out of his fucking asshole.
atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15d
Trump to the UN: "I have to say, I look at London where you have a terrible mayor -- terrible terrible mayor -- and it's been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia Law ... both their immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe."
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Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 13d
This is about as prescient as it gets. An incredible clip from Barry Goldwater in the 1960s talking about too much power vested in the office of US President. Sounding as if he is speaking now about #trump, Disney, Nexstar or Sinclair.

substack.com/@thememoryho...
TMH (@thememoryhole)
"We have put so much power in the office of the presidency that some day, the wrong man could come along..."
substack.com
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 13d
As much as it grieves me to say it, Tony Blair was right over 20 years ago on this issue. It foundered then on civil liberty concerns, but we live in a different world. And hand over data to companies all the time. It’s often cited in France as a reason why so many migrants head to the UK. Overdue.
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 13d
Update from the court that the presiding judge believe the seriousness of the charges warranted imprisonment, regardless of an appeal. Various sources reporting that he is likely to become the first modern French president to go to jail.
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 13d
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison. He will be expected to appeal so the sentence will be suspended initially. #sarkozy www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison in Libya campaign-financing trial – Europe live
Sarkozy found guilty of criminal conspiracy for receiving millions of euros from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi
www.theguardian.com
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 13d
This has been one long running saga. Not to mention his other trials. Sarkozy found guilty of criminal conspiracy in Libya case but not other charges #sarkozy #paris

www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/...
Sarkozy found guilty of criminal conspiracy in Libya case but not other charges
Nicolas Sarkozy was acquitted of the corruption charge in his trial over the alleged financing of his 2007 presidential campaign with money from the government of Muammar Gaddafi.
www.lemonde.fr
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 14d
You don’t mention the Azerbaijan V Albania war….
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Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 14d
Sadiq Khan appears to get it. Ed Davey too. In politics today, the old ‘they go low, we go high’ routine is redundant. You have to fight fire with fire these days or you are damaged and sunk. And call out the racism you see. #sadiqkhan

youtu.be/yGZrlEy46UE?...
Sadiq Khan labels Trump 'racist, sexist, misogynistic, and Islamophobic'
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 16d
A screeching U-turn from ABC in the US. A quite dreadful miscalculation last week. Let this be a line in the sand that is defended by media companies, and hope it’s a watershed moment for freespeech #kimmel #abc #freespeech www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Jimmy Kimmel will return to TV after highly criticized suspension
Late-night host reinstated after brief suspension related to comments on Maga and Charlie Kirk that Disney called ‘insensitive’
www.theguardian.com
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 16d
Amazed she was actually a patron. A little research would have indicated it was a risky move surely? There is previous…
news.sky.com/story/duches...
Duchess of York dropped as patron of children's hospice Julia's House over Epstein email
The charity, Julia's House, said it would be "inappropriate" for the Duchess of York to continue as a patron of the charity. It comes after reports she apparently wrote an email apologising to paedoph...
news.sky.com
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 18d
Call me cynical but when a brand new political party without policies or members, manages to fall apart at the starting gate… I’m not sure there’s much future. Maybe it’s not so much ‘Yourparty’ as nobody’s party right now? #yourparty #corbyn www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Green party membership surges after public split between Corbyn and Sultana
Almost 1,400 people sign up in 24 hours to increase party membership by 10% since Zack Polanski’s leadership win this month
www.theguardian.com
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 20d
It’s a little galling to see Marcus #Rashford put such an effort in, and score 2 quite outstanding goals for #Barcelona. A quality player when he can bothered, which he rarely was for #ManchesterUnited in the last few years.
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 20d
Goodness. Trump says the US is trying to get back the Bagram Air base in Afghanistan.
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 20d
Fabulous manager he may be, but if you dish it out to fans over the years, expect some back occasionally and don’t whinge... #simeone
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 20d
No surprise perhaps that ABC in the US has caved to Trump, it has happened before. But where are the checks and balances in the US system that halt abuse of power or threats to broadcasters? Seemingly absent across the political spectrum. #kimmel latenighter.com/news/heres-w...
Here’s What Jimmy Kimmel Said That Led ABC to Pull 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' - LateNighter
It wasn’t a joke that got Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely yanked from ABC’s schedule Wednesday. Really, it was more of an offhand remark—the kind most casual viewers probably wouldn’t have thought twi...
latenighter.com
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 23d
Did I really hear the BBC DG Tim Davie say that ‘Eurovision has never been about politics’…? Hmm. #eurovision
Reposted by Francis Collings
jomichell.bsky.social
Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 24d
GB News asked me on to discuss the views of Arthur Laffer. We ended up discussing the role of GB News in spreading misinformation and inciting anti-immigrant sentiment. youtu.be/44kozl7GZp0?...
14 September 2025
YouTube video by j0michell
youtu.be
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franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · 27d
Baffled that Peter Mandelson was appointed given his history of doing the wrong thing and getting fired. It seemed reckless. Also seems that all info about his Epstein days may not have been on the table…. Surely he won’t be the last to fall because of his association with #epstein #mandelson
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · Sep 7
Le Marais, #paris
franciscollings.bsky.social
Francis Collings @franciscollings.bsky.social · Sep 6
‘I have bought a house in Clacton’ #Farage once said. But did he?
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