Ailsa Laing

The trial of Benjamin Netanyahu From petty corruption to genocide, the charges continue to mount. But the Israeli prime minister’s actions since October 7, 2023, show he is determined to escape the shadow of justice

“If the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears anything, it is the clank of a prison door closing behind him … macabre as it sounds, Netanyahu’s concerns over gifts of champagne and cigars could explain all too much of Israel’s dark recent history.” www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-t...

Headline and first 2 paragraphs Migrants can use rights laws to evade deportation Loopholes could undermine treaty with France Matt Dathan Home Affairs Editor Small boat migrants will be able to frustrate attempts to deport them to France under Sir Keir Starmer's returns deal by exploiting human rights laws, according to the treaty's terms. Under the terms of the agreement with France, migrants will be ineligible for deportation if they have outstanding human rights claims or other legal challenges or claim they are under 18. These are among potential loopholes that threaten to undermine Labour's attempt to end Channel crossings. The treaty also gives France and other European Union member states an effective veto over which individuals are returned.

Just the supposed ‘paper of record’ bemoaning the fact that asylum seekers have *human* rights and may be able to enforce them. Accompanied - ultra cynically - by a photo of Human Rights lawyer, Amal Clooney, at a glamorous fundraiser. What a sly and deeply unpleasant rag The Times now is.

I keep thinking about this essay, and this conclusion.

"In a world of rising authoritarianism and ethnonationalism, where the rule of law has all but crumbled, the brutal, pitiless state run by Netanyahu looks more like a pioneer than an outlier."

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

TRUMP: I got the highest in the history of TX, a record that won't be beat unless I run again

CNBC: Are you going to run again?

T: Probably not. I'd like to. I have the best poll numbers I ever had.


C: Among Republicans


T: No. I'm talking about generally.


C: Polls have you down in the 30s

Why is Israel blocking access to Gaza for EU humanitarian aid officials if there's no famine there and aid gets delivered just fine?

And why isn't the EU vocal about this?

I am going to be a massive humorless asshole about woo-woo shit, no matter how seemingly harmless, for the rest of my life due to this. astrology, homeopathic medicine, etc etc it's all bullshit and it's not fucking harmless. there are people who will die due to this who would have otherwise lived.

This is amongst the most impactful two minutes of broadcasting I’ve ever seen.

By Emma Murphy, International Editor, ITV News. #Gaza

Reform Accused of ‘Cash for Access’ Over £250,000 Champagne Breakfast With Nigel Farage Reform UK is offering access to Nigel Farage at its party conference for sums ranging from £25,000 to a quarter of a million pounds. The right-wing populist party is advertising for companies to atten...

🔴 NEW 🔴

Reform is flogging a champagne breakfast with Nigel Farage for as much as it costs to buy a decent house.

Naturally, the party is being accused of selling access, and influence, to the highest bidder...

📝 @desmog.com report with @adambarnett.bsky.social

Brexit has been a resounding disaster. Starmer must find the courage to change course | Ed Davey Poll after poll shows most voters think leaving the EU has been a failure. Closer ties with Europe would bring huge rewards, says Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey

"Brexit has been a resounding disaster. Starmer must find the courage to change course"

Ed Davey MP
- Leader of Lib Dems 🔶

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Well said and thank you for all you do. Our government should be pointing this out too, instead of joining in the racist hateful narrative. And while everyone's looking down at the refugees in boats no one's looking up at the billionaires hoarding all the money in Yachts.

More Than 2,300 WGA Members Blast Trump 'Authoritarian Assault' on Free Press in Open Letter More than 2,300 WGA members blasted what they called "escalating attacks on independent media by the Trump Administration"

"We don’t have a king, we have a president. And the president doesn’t get to pick what’s on television, in movie theaters, on stage, on our bookshelves, or in the news..."

full letter and list of signees here: www.wgaeast.org/get-involved...

www.thewrap.com/wga-members-...

Gates Foundation pledges $2.5B for women’s health worldwide — PBS News The Gates Foundation has announced a new $2.5 billion pledge through 2030 for women’s health initiatives worldwide. It comes at a time when the Trump administration is cutting major research and aid d...

Gates Foundation pledges $2.5B for women’s health worldwide - PBS News

This makes me giggle… 🤭 🥰
🦢

Having just returned from the UK, permit me to make a few observations.

Dear Brits:

Let your politicians know that the geopolitical, economic, and social landscape has changed a lot since early Brexit.

As an exercise in self-harm, it's run its course. Return to the EU, ASAP.

Martin: As we stand with these brave patriots—and they are patriots—these Texas House members…

Unlike this orange-faced bozo—who calls himself a patriot while shredding the Constitution and trampling on voting rights. Let’s call it out for what it is: it’s bullshit.

This is what media sanewashing our insane president looks like, courtesy today of ABC, CNN and The NY Times:

INGRAHAM: You said there was irrefutable evidence that Obama was the mastermind of this intelligence manipulation and the perpetuation of the Russia hoax. What is that irrefutable evidence?


TULSI GABBARD: *makes clear she's got nothing*

Southern Water applies for permission to draw water from rare chalk stream Environment secretary urged to stop drought order that could damage the ecology of River Test in Hampshire

Southern Water applies for permission to draw water from rare chalk stream.

Macquarie controlled company loses 91m litres of water per day to leaks.

No new reservoirs built since 1989.

Dumped sewage for 300,000 hours into rivers.

Customer bills up 47% this year.

End fleecing. Nationalise water.

Such an important point:

“Progressive policies…are very popular in this country…but you have a segment of the Democratic Party that keeps trying to convince progressives we’re losing elections because their policies need to be more moderate.” Matt Dowd

I wish more understood this.

A confession…
🧵

Created the Border Security Command – A new agency combining MI5, Border Force, and others to disrupt smuggling gangs. Criminalised online ads for smuggling – New law bans social media posts promoting illegal crossings, with fines and prison time. Increased enforcement and deportations – Boosted the number of removals and expanded the enforcement workforce. Launched a “One-in-One-out” deal with France – Swaps small-boat arrivals for vetted asylum seekers with family links in the UK. Repealed the Rwanda deportation plan – Redirected funds into enforcement and intelligence-led policing. Introduced a new Border Security Bill – Gave security services greater powers to target people traffickers like terrorists. Cracked down on illegal working – Expanded employer checks and raised fines to £60,000 for violations. Tightened legal migration routes – Raised visa salary thresholds, banned new care-worker visas, and limited family migration.

It’s not just one in and one out policies. It’s all of them. And FaRage is hopping. This is what Labour have done so far:

Jennings: They should go to work

Roginsky: So should congress. Why did they abandon the house to not vote on the Epstein files?

Jennings: It was the August recess

Roginsky: It was not the August recess. They left early.

‘How Much Does Fascism Cost?’: Chaos Erupts at Nebraska GOP Congressman’s Town Hall Over Trump’s Agenda Rep. Mike Flood walked into the University of Nebraska on Monday expecting to sell President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to his constituents. Instead, he was met with chants, jeers, and unrele…

“How much does fascism cost?”

A Nebraskan’s shout cut through the boos as Rep. Mike Flood defended Trump’s agenda.

The town hall didn’t soothe—it shattered the silence.

This is why so many in Gen Z don’t believe homeownership is part of their American Dream. They saw their parents lose homes in record numbers during the Great Recession.

Pam Bondi orders grand jury probe of Obama administration review of 2016 election Past probes, including two conducted by Republicans, found no such crimes. Democrats have accused Bondi of trying to distract attention from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

1/ This piece starts: “AG Pam Bondi has directed Justice Department prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation of whether Obama administration officials committed federal crimes when they assessed Russia's actions during the 2016 election” www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

Village rooftops with fire and smoke in the background.

Our friends are preparing to evacuate from their village, St. Lauren de la Cabrisse, near Narbonne, where wild fires are raging. Devastating.

Crockett: This is a person that has a problem with people of color. When we look at who he says are low IQ, even though when you look at his cabinet—this has to be the most incompetent cabinet we have ever had in the history of this country.

I strongly encourage freelancers to join @fspnwu.bsky.social, to share rates and information about publishers, to advocate for themselves in an increasingly hostile media climate. And I urge other indie pubs to work with @nwu.org on policies of their own.

A Textbook Case of Genocide Israel has been explicit about what it’s carrying out in Gaza. Why isn’t the world listening?

This was published October 13, 2023

jewishcurrents.org/a-textbook-c...

Berman: Was the President right about the polling?

Enten: No. If we are comparing him to other presidents at this point in their presidencies, he is the second lowest on record compared only to himself.

This is why Labour’s manifesto red lines on the single market and a customs union are so dumb. Public opinion is shifting but the government remains shackled to a dead pig.