RUSSIA GETS:
-Higher oil prices
-Reduced US economic pressure
-Bogged down US military
-Air defense assets not sent to Ukraine
US GETS:
-Indefinite war in pursuit of undefined outcome
-Weaker economy
-Frayed international partnerships
-Combat deaths
This situation is damaging our organising capacity & the united front we need to win, handing ammunition to employers by not practicing what we preach. We deserve a democratic union in which critical voices are heard & we need the dispute with @uniteucu.bsky.social to be resolved. #HandsOffMarie
Jointly with the Chair of W+IGS and the President of the GLA, the President of the AGS, @pdavies.bsky.social, has sent a letter to the Principal of Heriot-Watt University opposing proposed staff cuts to the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies and threats to close German and Chinese.
Oh this is very sad news. He was a lovely man, I wish I had had the chance to know him better. My condolences and thoughts are with you all at SSEES.
Mine too
TO RUN BRITAIN Robert Peston • @Peston • 16m After the Venezuela strikes and extra judicial kidnapping of Maduro, why would Putin or China (or any of the Global South) think the West has any moral authority? Why would China think the US has any right to lecture it about its ambitions to seize Taiwan, for example? And as for the international rule of law, it is being shredded. Trump claims Maduro directly runs a narco terrorist organisation rather than simply being an autocrat in charge of a corrupt state - of which there are far too many in the world. Let's see if our intelligence services can furnish any hard evidence to the British prime minister supporting the charge of Maduro's personal leadership of the cocaine and fentanyl cartel. If not Starmer is in a very difficult position. Robert Peston • @Peston • 39ml How will the British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary respond to this? 09:278 "TRUTH. < Truth Details 255 replies ... Donald J. Trump 0© @realDonaldTrump The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nico' Maduro, who has been, along with his w + captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. lau, Cafaraamant Dotaila ta fallay Thara milli
Fun as it is to see Peston stating outright what the situation is, here’s what’s going to happen: government and press will brazen this out with drivel until it drops out of the headlines, then everyone will get right back on their previous bullshit. This is what they always do, without fail.
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
THIS THIS THIS. ALL OF THIS
THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context
Some really (and qualifiedly) good news from Cardiff UCU @cardiffucu.bsky.social :
No redundancies next year, no downgrading of professional services staff.
And all without the need for disruptive industrial action, which nobody at all wants.
nation.cymru/news/cardiff...
Meanwhile Robin Ince genuinely has been cancelled for daring to voice his opinions and for defending trans people.
Where's the outrage from the "cancel culture" lot?
What are the Free Speech Union doing to help him?
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
If you randomly have this kids 2016 Barcelona kit in the back of your cupboard and can save Christmas in my house please get in touch 🤞
🔴Nigel Farage’s Russian Influence Advent Calendar
Byline Times has compiled a festive offering of the prize moments when the Reform leader has gifted the political agenda to Vladimir Putin and Russia
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/10/n...
‘Blanket’ ban of trans people from gender-appropriate facilities likely unlawful.
Sandie Peggie harassed Dr Upton, not the other way round.
Employer guilty of minor procedural faults.
Lots to unpack in the Peggie v Fife judgment, and much of it has already been covered on here, but it's useful imo to highlight a single sentence from para 1024: "a protected belief does not give carte blanche to say whatever the person holding those beliefs wishes".
This! WI and GG..
'The media has not yet picked up on the fact that Northumbria University has also now quietly closed applications to its Music degree. This is a new course, which admitted its first students only five years ago. Staff with excellent research profiles were appointed'. 1/3
I don’t think there is any read across - at all - from the OBR’s ability post a document to its website at the right time and the OBR’s ability to produce fiscal and economic forecasts.
If you’ve been thinking about applying for the EHRC Commissioner roles, please, please do!
Falkner and Reindorf will soon be out and there is a real desire for representatives of our 🏳️⚧️ community on the Board.
Be quick though — the deadline is midday on Monday 1st December
"Bluntly, even in 2022 we only supported Ukrainians because they fought like heroes from Norse myth and got results. We didn’t support them because it was the morally right thing to do." @drjademcglynn.bsky.social smalldeedsbigwar.substack.com/p/circus
‘the progressive closure of foreign language degree programmes is especially worrying because of the desperate need for language skills in government’
Some notable things in what's being called the "Trump peace plan" but which could not have been more clearly written in Moscow if it came with a 2 for 1 deal on tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet. 🧵
Save Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
3. The Vice Chancellor has committed to dialogue with UCU about course closures. The dialogue begins next week and must show progress by December. Unless there is meaningful dialogue, UCU will consult with members about further strike action.
Shabana Mahmood asks MPs to stop mentioning Tommy Robinson's name (in relation to his support for her policies) as "he doesn't even think I am English. I find that offensive."
Labour MP Brian Leishman: "The Government has surrendered to... the vile rhetoric of Reform. Does the Home Secretary not see that removing the legal obligation to support asylum seekers who will be otherwise destitute, is as far away from Labour Party principles and values as we can get?"
Or what Labour voters have to say about these matters.
So if you're not doing it for Reform voters, and you're not doing it for Labour voters ... who the fuck are you doing it for?
Shabana Mahmood on the BBC this morning talking about desperate people fleeing war and persecution as being given a "golden ticket" and "handouts" and saying she's got a "moral mission" to take them away from them
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Quack
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
