Brian Rooney

A research in context panel from the article, which reads: Added value of this study This study combined retrospective data and projections for the near future, up to 2030, across a broader set of countries, especially those most vulnerable to ODA shocks, to fully understand the effects of international cooperation and its potential fluctuations on mortality amidst the ODA funding crisis. Our models forecast an additional 22·6 million deaths across all ages, including 5·4 million deaths in children younger than 5 years, by 2030, under a severe defunding scenario; even under a mild defunding scenario, the projected number of excess deaths by 2030 is 9·4 million across all ages and 2·5 million among children younger than 5 years. Implications of all the available evidence Sudden and severe reductions in ODA funding could have catastrophic consequences, with a potential global death toll comparable to—or even exceeding—that of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even modest defunding that simply extends current downward trends is likely to lead to sharp increases in preventable adult and child mortality, potentially resulting in tens of millions of excess deaths in the coming years.

Published today in The Lancet Global Health: A modelling study on current worldwide trends in humanitarian and developmental assistance finds that cuts up to 2030 are projected to cause up to 22.6m additional deaths, inc. 5.4m children u5. Available Open Access - www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Garcia: I want to remind the American public of Stephen Miller. There's probably no single person in this government that has done more damage and more harm to people across this country than this man right here. It's our job to hold him responsible

The more I see of these things the more I'm reminded of King Lear. Alas, however, King Trump doesn't seem to have any Cordelia

Even the sloping top of a fence post is plenty sufficient for life to colonise, here in the form of a patch of navelwort.

I know you've heard that a federal judge ordered the release of 5 year old Liam Conejo Arias and his father, and that they're now home.

But did you look at the judge's order?

It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."

Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Mandelson’s Fifth Column The British government’s business department exists to undermine democracy.

1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...

Russia is conducting a major terror attack on Kyiv, Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities at this very moment.

Trump is a fool, a liar and a danger.

There are far to many recipients of titles, gongs and baubles who get them solely on the basis of a job they did (for which they were handsomely rewarded, in any case). I think there may be place for recognition of beyond the call of duty service and for unsung heros.

So much of this sleaze was in plain sight. When US Ambassador, Mandelson took Starmer for a photo opp at Palantir, a client of Global Counsel in which he had a huge stake. This was a monstrous conflict of interest and it was all public domain. Why did Starmer think it appropriate to go?

This would be a war crime during a war. An illegal, occupying force doing this in a time of peace (a "ceasefire") is literally an act of genocide.

According to international law, every soldier and leader involved and every individual who authorized the transfer of these weapons should be executed.

Kyiv.
Midnight.
No power.
-20 °C outside.
We’ve been warned of a possible missile and drone attack.

What more can I say?

We detected incredibly high levels of cancer causing PFOA near this plant's discharge pipe in the 'protected' River Wyre. Our findings prompted a multi-agency investigation which has recommended people not to eat locally grown fruit & veg - now, they've found elevated PFAS in eggs near the site.

Ah yes, but how does 'the eye' respond to the implicit suggestion that you were too lenient with the Italian PM (presumably Berlusconi)? 😉

4.3m to defend Soldier F. Families paid their own travel to Belfast, relied on volunteers for food, & had no psychological support. This was the stark reality highlighted by the @finucanecentre.bsky.social & @humanrightsfirst.org at the Bloody Sunday commemorative events. @dooleydooley.bsky.social

Rafah - Israeli troops blew up the Morag Water Station today, which according to Gaza’s water utility supplied water to roughly one-third of Rafah’s residents prior to the war.

Soldiers captioned it :

“We specialize in paint jobs, and small renovations. Details on DM"

(Younis Tirawi)

*unproductive*
And BTW his hands seem desperate for something to do.

I find it shocking that Dr Oz is so unpreductive when he's doing this interview. He could, at the very least, be cracking on with a bit of knitting, while he chats away there!

UK Police receive reports of misconduct in public office after Peter Mandelson allegations Epstein files apparently showed Mandelson passing on sensitive information to paedophile financier

UK Police receive reports of misconduct in public office after Peter Mandelson allegations

If McSweeney is such a genius, why does Labour, under Starmer, seem to be making such heavy weather of everything? Why are they allowing Reform to set the political agenda? Where is the bold vision?

Here we go….

Tulsi Gabbard talking on the phone as she surreptitiously peeks out behind a wall in what appears to be a warehouse filled with boxes.

⚠️More on Tulsi Gabbard in Georgia:

• Trump personally ordered her there.
• Gabbard met with FBI agents searching ballots related to Trump’s conspiracy theory about the 2020 election being stolen.
• Gabbard called Trump who spoke to agents on speakerphone.

Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...

A quaint, wrong but influential opinion has long circulated in London (and elsewhere): that British capitalism is purer and less "corporatist" than its continental counterparts. The Mandelson scandal ought to be the final nail in that particular coffin.

Lawyer for Epstein survivors: Not only did they not release all of the files on time as required, but now they say millions more files will not be released. But most of all, what I'm angry about is many victims trusted the DOJ to keep them anonymous. All of that has come out is hurting them.

W.H.A.T. A. B.U.R.N.!

The city of Minneapolis and its residents were formally nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

It would certainly make you question any remote suggestion that delay in release of the material was to protect the innocent!

Stan Laurel's Mona Lisa. 😁

Couples, Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, 1966, photo by Robert Blomfield.

A diagram showing different colored humans. The title reads — There have been 646 measles cases confirmed in the current South Carolina outbreak (as of Jan 20, 2026) Red human — unvaccinated (563) Black human — unknown vaccination status (58) Blue human — partially vaccinated (12) Green human — fully vaccinated (13) Receiving both doses of the measles vaccine (MMR vaccine) is 97% effective at preventing measles.

Measles has one of the highest basic reproduction numbers (R₀) of any disease (12 to 18), meaning one infected person can spread it to 12 to 18 others in a fully susceptible population, making it extremely contagious. Need 95% vaccination status to achieve herd immunity. Get vaccinated!!

'Kirkwall Fair.' (1888) Although Arthur Melville was not regarded as one of the Glasgow Boys, he was seen by them to be a kindred spirit. A year after painting this work on Orkney, he left Edinburgh and settled in London, although he often returned to Scotland to paint.

Yes. I think that if a civil servant had done anything vaguely similar, there would be no hesitation in bringing a prosecution. Why do certain people enjoy a free pass?