Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 4h

EU Commission proposes safeguard legislation to protect EU farmers from possible effects of EU/Mercosur trade deal ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Commission proposes safeguards to strengthen protections for EU farmers in EU-Mercosur deal

The Commission today proposed a Regulation to strengthen protections for EU farmers in the context of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA).

ec.europa.eu

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 2h

I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Donald Trump Truth Social Post: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 16h

Social Media apps and smartphones are doing enormous damage to young people everywhere.

I’m glad to see some governments are really grasping the nettle and taking serious action.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Denmark plans social media ban for under-15s as PM warns phones ‘stealing childhood’

Mette Frederiksen links social media use to anxiety, depression and lack of concentration

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Andrew Weinstein @andrewjweinstein.com · 2d

It really is staggering to see so many people willing to abandon our 249 year experiment in democracy for an increasingly unstable criminally convicted reality show charlatan.

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Gerry Arthurs @gerryarthurs.bsky.social · 2d

Absolutely shocking - my heart goes out to @booksupstairs.bsky.social

The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 2d

‘Really shocking’: Independent Dublin bookstore damaged in arson attack

Books Upstairs manager hopes to partially open the D’Olier Street store later on Monday

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social · 2d

Thirty years ago, we celebrated Eastern Europe’s democratisation

Now democracies are autocratising

The real threat isn’t only external. It’s the cancer of authoritarianism growing from within

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Liz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 2d

If nothing else, Jim Gavin withdrawing is a financial hit to FF

They'll have banked on him getting 12.5% & his expenses back, €250k worth

MDH spent €75k on posters last time out; €53k on leaflets, Sean G. spent €18k on photos, plus staff, all those drones...

Nothing back now #Aras25

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 3d

NEW: Extraordinary scenes in Amsterdam this afternoon (Sunday, Oct 5).

An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸

(🎥 Ahmed Zantac)

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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 3d

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s slapstick gaffe parade continues today. She countered criticism of her Reform-copy plan to take the UK out of the European Court of Human Rights by pointing out the US, Australia and NZ aren’t members of the ECHR.

The *European* Court of Human Rights.

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Gerry Arthurs @gerryarthurs.bsky.social · 3d

An inspiration. What a wonderful woman.

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Simon Kuper @simonkuper.bsky.social · 5d

The retirement age for moguls (Murdoch, Buffett, Armani etc) is now in the 90s. It will rise further for Musk, Zuckerberg et al. Meanwhile, politicians come and go like fruitflies. Me
@financialtimes.com on longevity reshaping the power class, + how Putin, Trump want some of that on.ft.com/46xjG6X

Why 94 is the new 54 for moguls

[FREE TO READ] The careers of moguls are growing to unprecedented lengths

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Alice Stollmeyer @stollmeyer.bsky.social · 4d

🔥 Finally an EU leader says it out loud:

“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies.”

Defend Democracy @defenddemocracy.bsky.social · 4d

President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!

We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”

defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...

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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 3d

Free Greta Thunberg and the rest of the illegally detained flotilla activists.

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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 3d

Who could ever have imagined when I played a fictional rebel who joined the Resistance to oppose a criminal Authoritarian & wannabe King, it would be happening in real-life?

#TwentyfiveFortyseven

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Gerry Arthurs @gerryarthurs.bsky.social · 5d

Excellent from @gavinnewsom.bsky.social

Anil Kalhan @akalhan.bsky.social · 5d

Newsom: "If any California university signs this radical agreement, they’ll lose billions in state funding – including Cal Grants – instantly. California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom"

California vows to ‘instantly’ cut funding to universities that cave to Trump ‘compact’

Governor Gavin Newsom urges schools not to sign ‘radical agreement’ to cuts to departments, students and speech

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

🌎🐎John Hyphen🎮🤠 @johnhyphen.bsky.social · 5d

the EU parliament is looking for a native-level irish speaker for a press officer traineeship, starting next march

it's paid (€1660/month, no tax) and is a pretty sweet opportunity to see how the EU sausage is made, and a chance to try brussels (if you're not already here)

deadline end of october!

European parliament Traineeships - Press Unit - Post E: Press Officer, Gaelic Language

Consultez toutes les offres d'emploi Parlement européen stage et postulez en ligne a nos annonces emploi sur le site recrutement Parlement européen stage

ep-stages.gestmax.eu

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Patrick Freyne @patrickfreyne.bsky.social · 5d

Everyone needs a refresher on how important, expensive & risky REPORTING is. Not opinionising, essaying, podcast shitetalking or YouTube gimmickry which are the main forms of media replacement to have taken root online. So glad small publications like Dublin Inquirer do it

The Fence @thefence.bsky.social · 5d

This article cost thousands of pounds to clear and months of time to report, and gave voice to a number of victims who had been hitherto ignored. We are a tiny publication with just one full-time member of staff. If you'd like to support us, please subscribe today.

www.the-fence.com/shop

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Jay Nordlinger @jaynordlinger.bsky.social · 5d

There is a joke told in Turkey. A prisoner goes to the prison library to ask for a particular book. The librarian says, "We don't have the book -- but we have its author."

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 6d

If you're in Dublin next week come join me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social at the Institute of International & European Affairs (IIEA) on Thursday where we'll talk about our new book Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics

Details: www.iiea.com/images/uploa...

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

goldingcartoons.bsky.social @goldingcartoons.bsky.social · 6d

“I'd like to be remembered as someone who really helped people to have a little humility and realize that we are part of the animal kingdom, not separated from it.”
Jane Goodall

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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 6d

It's #EPC day once again, so a reminder of who's coming and what's being discussed

PDF: bit.ly/UshGraphic131
@ukandeu.bsky.social

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 7d

I can’t believe I’m watching interviews of city mayors talking about how they are coordinating with other mayors to discuss how to protect their residents FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

I know we are “used to it” but it is absolutely insane

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

Naomi O'Leary @naomiohreally.bsky.social · 7d

Just as other European states should give credit to the Baltics for being correct in their assessment of Russia, other European countries should give credit to Ireland for being correct in its assessment of Israel.

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Gerry Arthurs @gerryarthurs.bsky.social · 8d

Following the appalling comments by Catherine Connolly on Germany last week everyone should read this by @fotoole.bsky.social For someone aspiring to the highest constitutional office, an awareness of European history should be a requirement.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Fintan O’Toole: Catherine Connolly should keep her inner Basil Fawlty under wraps

Accusing our EU allies of being proto-fascist warmongers is not a winning strategy

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Gerry Arthurs

The New Statesman @handle.invalid · 8d

The Manchester mayor made some fairly concrete proposals for what he would do as prime minister

Andy Burnham: I want to rejoin the EU

www.newstatesman.com

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