Aileen McHarg

[AMERICANS] This is a disgrace

[BRITS] Lol, Randy Manner

‘We’ll run out of food this week’: Israel’s Iran war brings new Gaza siege Israel has closed all crossings into Gaza, threatening to plunge 2 million people into a new hunger crisis

This is also going a bit under the radar with everyone distracted.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Israel launches new attacks on Tehran and Beirut, as US embassy in Riyadh hit by two drones Israel says it is hitting

Israel has used the cover of the Iran War to launch a ground invasion of “strategic parts of Lebanon”.

All part of the plan.

Okay, so the Greens in 2nd place is big news. But look at this voting spread: it's a 5 party race. FPTP does not make any sense in these circumstances.

I'm getting Facebook ads for AI software explicitly aimed at enabling students to get AI generated essays through Turnitin/other AI detection tools.

I really do wish someone could explain to me how any of this is different to using an essay mill.

It’s excellent news - something a few of us have been banging on about for a while.

It’s also a rare example of the double u-turn (o-turn?). The Govt announced they were getting rid of the S&P in July 2024, reversed course in 2025, & now we’re back where we were again.

bsky.app/profile/josi...

Genuinely appalling.

And particularly grim to see a politician from one minority background demonising another minority group.

How far does his proposal extend? Some elections are devolved and the basis of the franchise in Scotland and Wales is now lawful residence rather than citizenship.

We absolutely mustn't call it that.

Sounds very nice.

Good grief.

While I'm sure the reasons for her victory were more structural than personal, the new MP for Gorton and Fenton is quite the breath of fresh air.

Surely useful in conjunction with degree classifications? X got a first, but was halfway down the cohort of 500 tells you something. Ditto, Y got a 2:1, but was top of her year (as was perfectly possible in olden times).

Yesterday, the Senedd voted 28 to 23 in favour of an amended legislative consent motion for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - the motion, as amended, can be seen below: #senedd #devolution

What was the amendment?

That's true, of course, but it doesn't follow that we shouldn't be trying to differentiate between students' relative academic ability.

What would you suggest as the alternative (given that there clearly are significant variations in ability).

My daughter is doing Nat5 (GCSE equivalent) coursework at the moment. To guard again AI use, they have to write it under exam conditions in class. It has become just another memory test.

Possible EU issues over compatibility of UK smoking ban with NI Protocol

Given this has been in train for some years, odd that only now do some MS set out formal problems

www.thetimes.com/article/b2cb...

I imagine that in practice, what the Palace wants/does not want will be crucial. Only we probably won't get to know.

Statute does not automatically bind the Crown, and refusal of Crown consent will prevent a Bill proceeding.

Assisted dying could be offered by non-NHS providers in Wales if Senedd rejects bill Wales' parliament will decide on Tuesday whether the NHS should be allowed to set up assisted dying services.

For those following the #assisteddying debate, a reminder that the #Senedd will tomorrow vote on whether to give Legislative Consent to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

N.b. MSs rejected, by 26 votes to 19, the principle of assisted dying in a non-binding vote in 2024 #devolution

How far back in time can you understand English? An experiment in language change

www.deadlanguagesociety.com/p/how-far-ba...

I cannot speak as to the accuracy of the piece yet I found it a fascinating exercise @adamroberts.bsky.social @drlauravarnam.bsky.social

Andrew Tickell: Contempt of court is coming from politicians, not TikTokers ‘THIS is your friendly neighbourhood reminder that the case is now active and the Contempt of Court Act 1981 applies.”

www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Excellent and timely advice

Agree that perceptions matter, but they need to be the perceptions of the fair minded and informed observer, having considered the facts ...

IDK - I'd have thought that the 8th in line to the throne is a wrong'un will be a gift to republicans

BREAKING: Members of the Alba Party's board have voted not to contest the upcoming Holyrood election, it is understood

More to follow

Yeah. Succession to the throne is not a matter of royal prerogative.

Now that Alex Salmond is out of the picture, I suspect that the chances of an independent Scotland becoming a republic have increased.

Probably not. The Hanoverian succession was dealt with well in advance of the death of Queen Anne though - via the 1701 Act of Settlement