Neil Denton

HAPPENING NOW: Police arrested hundreds of protestors including Jewish elders, descendants of Holocaust survivors, and students, dragging them out of a sit-in at Trump Tower by their arms and legs.

Jews say: Free Mahmoud, Free Palestine!

UK social safety net among weakest in rich world, analysis finds Think-tank report comes as Keir Starmer seeks to convince Labour MPs to back welfare spending cuts

UK has one of the weakest social security systems in the rich world, with poorest households worse off than Slovenian counterparts.

Jobless benefits covered the cost of essentials in just two of the past 14 years. 

@niesrorg.bsky.social finds

on.ft.com/4ijBPIO (£)

Indeed, a White House official told The Free Press that the basis for targeting Khalil is being used as a blueprint for investigations against other students. Khalil is a "threat to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States," said the official, noting that this calculation was the driving force behind the arrest. "The allegation here is not that he was breaking the law," said the official.

NEW: White House says the arrest and deportation of student activist & legal US resident, Mahmoud Khalil, is a blueprint for more.

The final line here is chilling. The White House specifically says Khalil was not breaking the law.

No evidence, no due process, no crime. He was just disappeared.

Have you heard that a sensory library has opened at #Coventry Central Library? Items include noise cancelling headphones, weighted lap pads and sensory lights. All you need is a library card! Alex, an autistic person from our city, came up with the idea... bit.ly/3XuL1BQ

A gold and black social media graphic shows the purple and pink Grapevine and blue, black and white Coventry Building Society logos alongside the words, "Not-For-Profit Champion Finalist".

Just over two weeks until the #Coventry and #Warwickshire Business and Community Awards 2025 🏆 We're honoured to be a finalist in the Coventry Building Society 'Not For-Profit Champion' category with some brilliant organisations doing important work for people and communities 💜

Also he should wear a suit while doing this

In my years as a civil rights lawyer, I’ve never seen a more clear cut First Amendment violation, or a more flagrant government declaration of intent to violate blackletter law. Part of the point here is to dare the courts to uphold longstanding precedent.

Dear President Levin and Provost Martinez: In light of the recent arrest of a former student at Columbia University and the ongoing threats to fundamental freedoms posed by the current administration, I urge you both to clearly and publicly denounce these dangerous attacks on First Amendment rights. Silence or neutrality in this critical moment risks complicity. Students and faculty urgently need reassurance that Stanford will vigorously protect our community members against threats of arrest, censorship, or sanctions for engaging in constitutionally protected expression. You have consistently emphasized the importance of free speech and academic freedom as foundational to our institution. Now is the time to unequivocally reaffirm those commitments. Our community must know that Stanford stands firmly behind them, ready to use every resource available to safeguard their right to express themselves freely, without fear of intimidation. I urge you to act swiftly and decisively to demonstrate our unwavering dedication to protecting constitutional rights, especially as threats against these freedoms escalate. I have cc’d the Stanford Daily on this correspondence because I believe our entire community should be engaged in encouraging decisive action from our administration at this crucial moment. Sincerely, Hakeem Jefferson Assistant Professor of Political Science Faculty Director of the Program on Identity, Democracy, and Justice at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law

I just sent our university president and provost an urgent request to defend First Amendment freedoms at Stanford, given this administration’s willingness to punish those who disagree with it.

I urge you to do the same with your university leaders.

Look, folks, this is it. The entire ballgame. Either we're a Republic of laws & the Constitution, or we have a dictator. This is fascism, & the impeachment vote should be happening today. Every single university president in the country should be out, in front of microphones, condemning this.

This is worth reading.

UK 15 year olds have the lowest life satisfaction in Europe, we have seen NEETs rise to around 1m. Not all of this is pandemic related, but there has been little recognition that young people sacrificed a lot whilst being least at risk, & have had little payback
hetanshah.medium.com/we-need-to-t...

This is an excellent read. "At national level, we need to stress test everything." "And at local level, we need a deep focus on rebuilding connection and relationships".

As Ebola Spreads in Uganda, Trump Aid Freeze Hinders Effort to Contain It, U.S. Officials Fear (Gift Article) Two more people are reported dead from the disease, and dozens are in isolation, as the outbreak grows.

The Times obtained a recording of a meeting of U.S. health and security experts and Embassy staff, who described how the Trump aid freeze means that there is limited disease surveillance or contact tracing in Uganda's growing Ebola outbreak.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...

If you're wondering what happens when a democracy slides into authoritarianism, here it is!
truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

What he said.👇

Penn Medicine graduate programs instructed to cut Ph.D. admissions by 35% due to funding uncertainty The email noted that the school has admitted an average of 307 students in recent years, but this year plans to admit 201 — a 35% reduction.

Trump's attacks on science have consequences : Penn Medicine graduate programs instructed to cut Ph.D. admissions by 35% due to funding uncertainty
www.thedp.com/article/2025...

Newcastle quayside, N.E. England. #reflections

Surgeon General Urges Americans to 'Rethink How We're Living Our Lives' in Closing Letter to the Country (Exclusive) U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy shares his "parting prescription" for the country in a letter shared exclusively with PEOPLE.

As I complete my term as Surgeon General, this is my parting prescription for the country I love: to remake and recenter our lives around relationships, service, and purpose. This is the path to health, well-being, and fulfillment. It is what will help us find our way home
people.com/surgeon-gene...

Violence and wars consume 13.5% of the global economy. $19.1 trillion last year. More than the economy of China.

How much should we spend on fostering peace?

Protection Approaches Research on whether, and how, social cohesion initiatives contribute to societal preparedness and resilience to shocks and crises.

If you're interested in the links between social cohesion and resilience, then this is worth a read. New report from Protection Approaches. protectionapproaches.org/cohesion-rep...

The man in the hospital [et_pb_section fb_built=1 _builder_version=4.27.0 custom_margin=||-44px||| custom_padding=7px||8px||| global_colors_info={} theme_builder_area=post_content][et_pb_row _builder_version=4.27.0 global_co...

Barefoot human kindness. It's not about rejecting or ignoring the innovation and complexity, it's just making sure we don't lose our footing in the process. relationshipsproject.org/the-man-in-t...

Hello Sam! How lovely to see you here. More than makes up for my evening of frustrations. Be great to catch up soon :)

📢 We are hiring 2 Associate Lecturers in International Relations @uniofstandrews.bsky.social, with a focus on Conflict and Security.

Both will play a central role in supporting and teaching on a new online Postgraduate programme in Conflict & Security in Policy and Practice

Morning! Why does microsoft only have a web version of office for tablets/phones, and why does it not let you do really simple things!? Want to export ppt slides and notes onto a pdf? Desktop (which surely no one still has), "yeah sure, no probs", tablet "you'll need to cut and paste each one" WHY!?

Great answer Sunder, and extra credit for bringing it back to football. We do have the Toon Army, so maybes the Geordies are closer to independence than anyone thought?

Hi, thank you for explaining, I remember it being possible to put a fried egg on top of anything in Thailand, and coming from N.E England I applaud such behaviour. Still, egg on top of soup, does it float? Do you fry it so the white bubbles and makes egg swim-floats?

Are you familiar with the Yorkshire Pudding? All the leftover structural integrity you need when deployed in wrap form.

Stay strong Andy.