Flackarparn

Kemi Badenoch's 'Free Speech' Conservatives Ban Byline Times From Party Conference The ban on covering the party's annual gathering came despite Badenoch's repeated commitment to "fight" for free speech and a free press

So Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives, who have repeatedly pledged to fight for "free speech" and a free press have just banned me and Byline Times from attending their conference.

Has never happened before under any previous leader

bylinetimes.com/2025/09/04/k...

This is the biggest rollback of LGBT rights in the history of the UK. I'm ashamed to even live here.

If they'd had the chance, the Quincy Institute folks would've criticized the Munich Agreement for being too lenient on Czechoslovakia.

THE SCOTSMAN Why victory for British trans judge in European Court of Human Rights would be Pyrrhic Nigel Farage may secretly be willing on Victoria McCloud for a ruling that could hasten the end of Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government and Britain's place in the ECHR

This is the latest spin from ‘gender critical’ transphobes attacking trans people seeking recognition of their human rights from the ECtHR

Apparently, if they win they’ll somehow be responsible for Farage getting into power.

No, if that happens it’ll be because Labour are shit!

👉🏻 archive.ph/Gxwvc

Exactly. Trump and @jd-vance-1.bsky.social don't understand what the Russians are fighting for, and thus their attempts to find a compromise are doomed to fail. But at least it has started a much needed conversation in the West about what the war is about.

The UK’s year of climate U-turns exposes a deeper failure Breaking free of the dangerous pretence that current efforts suffice demands a fundamental rethink of the UK’s climate policy consensus.

Carbon colonialism and removal roulette: @kevinclimate.bsky.social and colleagues blast the Climate Change Committee for prioritising "near-term political convenience over scientific integrity and climate stability".

Sabotage Shows How Russia’s Hostility Toward Europe Goes Beyond Ukraine

This article gives a good idea on the types of subtle attacks which Russia are constantly carrying out on other countries in the area. Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Norway have all experienced Russian interference, causing shutdowns and delays of various services. #NAFO

Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.

Jacob Vestergaard sidder i udenrigsudvalget i det færøske lagting og mener ikke, der er noget grundlag for, at Færøerne sanktionerer to russiske rederier og udelukker dem fra at fiske ved Færøerne. https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/tidligere-faeroesk-minister-advarer-mod-smide-spionmistaenkte-russiske-rederier-paa

Incredible that there is still politicians in small nations in Europe that can and will come up with excuses for making sanctions against fascist 🇷🇺

Just 1️⃣ regarding the 🇷🇺n fishing fleet.

This is on the Feroese Island 🇫🇴 that relies on 🇩🇰 military protection if the orcs set their eyes on them 🤡.

🧵 One of the big revolutions in the West, which has crept in almost unnoticed, is the decline in the stigma of identifying as LGBTQ. Year, after year the % of ppl who identify as LGBTQ increases. It is now a significant group. Ppl in their 40s, & above, are probably unaware of how much. [1]

I'm afraid of people who ignore their emotional needs.

You are not.

The only exception, when I actually appreciate having a huge selection in front of me, is when I buy wine. (But I still end up buying the same thing – most of the time.)

Southernmost Sweden, closer to Germany and Denmark, geographically and culturally, than to the national capital.

Possibly somewhat comparable to Maine?

Typically, I take a peek at someone's posting history, if/when I find some interesting thoughts, and feel a need for context.

The European view is that Ukraine should not give up areas of its own country to appease Putin. The Baltic States & Finland are also, in Putin’s warped view, part of Russia. The Europeans could not allow them to be at risk from the fascist regime in Moscow by doing this.

It isn’t that Trump has no cards

He deliberately chooses not to play the cards that are available that COULD give him leverage over Putin.

The wonder is why he CHOOSES to make that decision….preferring, instead, for himself & 🇺🇸 to be humiliated by going to a gun fight bearing a limp lettuce leaf

Bye, bye Hungary!

A kiss behind the parasol, unseen and unknown — to all but the happy sun. 🌞

An artist well worth a follow: @les-illus-d-alex.bsky.social

YouTube video by AbbaVEVO ABBA - The Day Before You Came (Video)

The video, as I saw it (just once) in the autumn of 1983.

Luckily, I was alone in front of the TV, as at 4:40 I burst into tears. Uncontrollably. I still do, even though the emotions have dulled over the years.

Still, two positive moments did emerge in Anchorage. First, Rachel Scott, ABC’s Senior Political Correspondent, asked the pointed question: “Mr Putin, will you commit to not killing any more civilians?” 2/5

Second, the streets of Anchorage turned blue and yellow, thanks to the people who stood in solidarity. Thank you, good people of America!
3/5

No one in their right mind expected anything good was going to come out of this meeting, and, also Putin probably told Trump that he doesn’t want Zelenskyy to be at the meeting and Trump obliged.

Compare the 2 meetings ..... Trump literally giving Putin the red carpet - almost state visit treatment - and Zelenskyy set up and humiliated on the world stage by Trump and his fellow goons . Just grim

Europe might indeed be consolidating. Late — and slowly.

Waiting like a teenager for his prom date & clapping his teeny little hands for the bloody dictator...

Is this the most humiliating spectacle ever created by a US president?

__ Yes
__ Hell yes

Bonus:

If you lived through the Cold War, does this image make your head spin?

__ Yes
__ Kill me now

Putin got legitimacy and gave up none of his demands. Trump, and the U.S., came out looking even more like Russia's bitch. As predicted the summit brought nothing but humiliation.

Some political pundits are already sharing this image as an example of how Putin should be dealt with. Unfortunately, it’s a terrible example. Ukraine was repeatedly warned not to escalate or use weapons while Russia occupied Crimea. At that time, we didn’t receive military aid, sanctions were weak

Peter Alexander: "What struck me was the looks on the faces of a lot of the American, delegation here. Caroline Leavitt, Steve Witkoff, who came into the room, then left quickly. Leavitt appeared to be a bit stressed out, anxious. Their eyes were wide, almost ashen at times."

Trump to Hold Off Hiking China Tariffs Over Russia Oil Purchases US President Donald Trump said he will hold off on raising tariffs on Chinese goods over the country’s purchases of Russian oil, citing progress he said was made with Vladimir Putin toward ending the war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump said he will hold off on raising tariffs on Chinese goods over the country’s purchases of Russian oil, citing progress he said was made with Vladimir Putin toward ending the war in Ukraine

Imagine a German politician coming to negotiations wearing a "Third Reich" sweater. That's what Russia did.

3 years ago reminding people that Russia was immensely homophobic and transphobic was a fun and easy gotcha to people push “Russia is important for a multipolar world” thing. Now the UK is rather embarrassingly heading that way.