sasha baker

Greta Thunberg On Her Detention: I'm "Not The Story" — It's Israel Violating International Humanitarian Law “I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment. Trust me. But that is not the story.”

A lawyer representing the Global Sumud Flotilla activists said 150 were still being held by Israel, and 40 were on hunger strike to push for “medical treatment [for] all detainees,” reported the Associated Press. @teenvogue.com

The antisemitic government is scapegoating Jews for an authoritarian crackdown it was planning anyway. I'm terrified.

Buried lede here is that this has come only after the handful of anti-trans obsessives pushing this were repeatedly rebuffed by most pond users who were supportive of or indifferent to trans-inclusive policy, and so resorted to legal coercion to impose their will instead.

Two victims in Manchester attack were shot by police Greater Manchester police say one of those shot by officers has died

Two victims in Manchester attack were shot by police on.ft.com/42KdNBd

@zackpolanski.bsky.social : "I think its really problematic if someone is trying to weaponise the attack that happened yesterday to try and silence protest in this country against the genocide. They're separate issues.. we need to be clear what this govt is doing"

Thousands of workers who have fought hard to win employment tribunals are never being paid the money that rogue bosses owe them, with no consequences for bosses but a huge impact on them.

Privileged to be working on this project with the brilliant @mellino.bsky.social and team at @tbij.bsky.social

This is really important work…

Labour’s Employment Rights Bill may well transform workers’ rights. But only if people can access justice and enforcement of remedies can’t be dodged.

Do you really have rights at all, if the barriers to asserting them are so difficult to overcome?

Future access to the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds Inviting feedback from pond users, the local community, and stakeholders on how the Kenwood Ladies’, and Highgate Men’s ponds should operate in the future.

If you use, or would like to use, the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds, it is absolutely worth your time to respond to this consultation.

www.hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds.commonplace.is

Even where there are deep divides between Jewish and Muslim communities, our safety in the UK is intertwined. Pitting us against each other only endangers us both.

A crackdown will not keep us safe. Rhetoric from the government about the importance of keeping Jews safe when no such consideration is given to other communities turns us into scapegoats and fuels conspiracy theories.

As we feel fear, so do our Muslim friends and neighbours. They know that any attack against us can be an excuse for violence against them – it doesn't matter whether or not the attacker is Muslim (as Southport shows).

It is deeply unfair that Jews cannot express fear or grief without it being weaponised for repressive political ends, both by other Jews and by gentile politicians and media figures.

Already seeing wild speculation about the Manchester synagogue attack. Next to nothing has been confirmed. Those baying for blood should question whether they want to play a role in fomenting a repeat of last year's racist riots.

Solidarity with the members of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation and the whole Jewish community in Manchester after this horrible attack.

The tribunal system already leaves workers out of pocket even when they win. Introducing tribunal fees would only be another barrier to justice.

Thousands of rogue bosses get away with not paying tribunal awards The government scheme ‘enforcing’ money owed to workers has been unsuccessful in a staggering three-quarters of cases

As Lord John Hendy KC told us, this should be a “wake-up call” for the government.
The new employment rights bill relies on tribunals as a way of enforcing rights, but our findings show that this system is "completely undermined”.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Whatsapp message from company director which says: "“Glad you didn’t get a penny from your claim as you don’t deserve fck all. I don’t appreciate the comments made about me in your statement and I wish you had the balls of a real man to say it to my face which you are not. However being a 2 faced prick is a full time job which you have mastered. So go fck yourself.”

Raf worked for a cafe chain popular with MPs & journalists. He won his case, but the company went insolvent. Then the directors reopened one of the branches

One of the directors wrote to him saying "go fck yourself" & he was glad he "didn't get a penny"
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Rosie tried everything to get the £6,000 she was awarded. She even spoke to her MP & the employment minister - they didn't help.

Her boss has the cash. In videos he brags about his expensive cars & has a Rolex that's worth more than what he owes her.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Nadine was awarded £65,000 after she was unfairly sacked by Peckahm Levels for whistleblowing.Two months after the tribunal awarded her the money, her employer went insolvent.
She didn't see a penny, but paid a price.Preparing the case ravaged her health
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Employment tribunals: ‘scandal’ of toothless scheme to punish… Just 2% of fines given to employers who disobey court orders have actually been paid

The scheme was set up in 2016 as a way of pressuring bosses to pay the tribunal awards they owed through the threat of a fine.

But of the £9.6 million worth of fines issued, only £95,000 has been paid – less than 1%. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

According to data obtained through FOI, more than 7,000 workers who were owed £46 million in tribunal awards & settlements have gone to the government’s employment tribunal penalty enforcement scheme since 2016. Three quarters of them never got their money.

That's nearly £36m that's never been paid

Thousands of rogue bosses get away with not paying tribunal awards The government scheme ‘enforcing’ money owed to workers has been unsuccessful in a staggering three-quarters of cases

🚨 Our new investigation out today reveals how thousands of people who've taken their bosses to employment tribunals & won, never got paid, even after they approached the government for help.

This has serious implications for the Employment rights bill.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Afghan resettlement schemes for those who supported UK suddenly closed by government Ministers close 'lifeline' sanctuary routes for Afghans who worked with British troops and who fought for democracy and womens' rights Holly Bancroft Social Affairs Correspondent Tuesday 01 July 2025 18:50 BST

Shabana Mahmood UK anti-slavery commissioner condemns Shabana Mahmood's asylum comments Home secretary's remarks about 'vexatious' claims will have real-life impact on trafficking victims, says Eleanor Lyons Thu 18 Sep 2025 10.50 BST The anti-slavery commissioner has criticised the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, for accusing asylum seekers of making "vexatious last-minute claims" relating to modern slavery. The commissioner, Eleanor Lyons, said the comments were "deeply concerning" and would have "a real-life impact" on trafficking victims.

He added "we need to look again at the interpretation" of a wide range of international laws by UK courts. He warned that laws must be "applied in the circumstances as they are now" before adding that countries were experiencing "mass migration in a way that we have not seen in previous years". To meet this new challenge "we need to look at again at the interpretation of some of these provisions, not tear them down", he said. He added: "I believe that those genuinely fleeing persecution should be afforded asylum and that is a compassionate act." Pressed for details about what was blocking deportations of foreign criminals, Sir Keir cited Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR - which ban torture and protect the right to private and family life respectively. "But it's more than that," he said, pointing to the UN's Refugee Convention, Torture Convention and Convention on the Rights of the Child as potential barriers.

Starmer to end asylum 'golden ticket' of resettlement and family reunion rights People granted asylum will have to earn right to invite family in plan charities call 'straight from populist playbook' Rajeev Syal Wed 1 Oct 2025 22.30 BST People granted asylum will no longer be given "the golden ticket" of resettlement and family reunion rights, Keir Starmer said, amid deepening concerns from charities that his words are demonising refugees. As the prime minister prepared to discuss illegal migration with European leaders, No 10 outlined plans to strip successful claimants of the right to automatically invite spouses and children to join them.

Labour has closed existing safe routes for refugees, weakened protections for trafficking victims, is undermining international human rights law, and is now denying people trapped in countries they face persecution the ability to join loved ones. There is nothing defensible about any of this.

A blue and purple square graphic with text in black that reads "When any pupil goes to school, they should be able to do so safely, have appropriate toilets and changing rooms they can use, and be listened to and have their identity respected. Changes made yesterday by the Scottish Government to their guidance on supporting transgender pupils in schools will make this much harder for trans children and young people than it was before. " The Equality Network and Scottish Trans logos are in white below the text.

A blue and purple square graphic with text in black that reads "If the law means that trans pupils really must be treated in a way that we hope that everyone can see is not in their best interests, then the way forward is clear – we must change the law. It is not good enough to say that this is just the way it has to be." The Equality Network and Scottish Trans logos are in white below the text.

When any pupil goes to school, they should be able to do so safely, have appropriate toilets and changing rooms they can use, and be listened to and have their identity respected.

We can both try – you while using it, me while not using it – but larger industry forces will ultimately prevail

I'll be honest and say even if it objectively made investigations faster for the same quality, or better I would never use genAI because I its overall impact on the world is so overwhlemingly negative. But I also think it lowered the investigation's quality in this case and will generally do so.

If AI becomes the norm for this kind of investigation, people coming up in 5 years probably won't know that, and almost certainly won't bother to do it.

You can, but they didn't here, and I bet that will be a trend. The corners cut here – no analysis of visuals, dubious categorisation – are incentivised by overreliance on AI. You and I have both done these kinds of investigations without AI and know the value of getting that cultural insight.

In my experience, developing cultural insight in these kinds of groups is invaluable, and that feels notably absent with this more data-driven approach. If one has to choose, I think looking at fewer posts in context would still have produced a stronger and more insightful investigation.

This isn't just them, I'm sure. And likely many others are doing similar without being as transparent about it.