iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Mass kidnappings on the rise in Nigeria.

Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The BBC news summary this morning went seamlessly from "critics warn PM scrapping triple lock would be electoral suicide" to "critics ask if PM has nerve to make tough decisions" and I don't think it's a particularly pro Burnham stance to suggest he might not be the entire problem here.

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

“We’ve shown for the first time that the front of the brain arises from a totally different progenitor cell than the back of the brain,” said Kyle Loh.

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Tying NIH research grants to the POTUS’ political agenda will destroy academic freedom and the ability to conduct impartial research. This effect will also carry over to undermine the credibility of the research that IS funded and completed. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/s...

nytimes.com

White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants (Gift Article)

Federal officials are drafting an executive order that would place grants under review by an outside panel, the latest effort to redirect billions of dollars in research spending.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

‘We cannot allow race to be reintroduced into our politics. We cannot allow Briton to be set against Briton.’ Bravo Rishi Sunak www.thetimes.com/article/e89d...

thetimes.com

Rishi Sunak: Britishness must not be turned into a DNA test

I worry that the immigration debate is going far beyond arrival numbers

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Philip Gourevitch @pgourevitch.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

So Trump caves after creating a crisis that was massively costly to key US alliances, and will declare victory for, and lie about the scope of, a “deal” that enshrines the status quo ante but leaves what were good faith relations laden with distrust & resentments. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/u...

nytimes.com

U.S. and Denmark Reach Security Deal on Greenland, Trump Says

The full contours of the deal were unclear, but Denmark and Greenland both indicated they expected an agreement to be signed soon.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Obama: “Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps. You’re laughing, but this is what’s happening. It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent right now would have tolerated behavior like that from me.” Clip courtesy @meidastouch.com

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

If Trump had only gone after Canada but not Europe, or Europe not Canada, we might not have gotten here. But here we are.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Conciliation Resources @crbuildpeace.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We were thrilled to be among organisations launching the #PeaceWorksReport at the @houseoflords.parliament.uk on Monday.

A group of professionals in formal attire sitting around a large, U-shaped wooden table during a meeting in a room decorated with ornate wallpaper and a red patterned carpet.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Politics UK @politicsuk.com · 13/09/2026

🚨 NEW: The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will meet tomorrow to sign a joint declaration for all three countries to gain independence from the UK

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 13/09/2026

Tens of thousands march across Germany to protest far-right party AfD aje.news/978h6k

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Very rarely do I get to say this about politicians, but SUPER SMART move by PM Carney! Finally, a politician who thinks strategically about defence and is moving fast. @primeministeruk.bsky.social should follow suit.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 09/09/2026

Not to brag, but our product has been foldable since 1828.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

National Jewish Survey, Sep 1, 2026 Generic congressional ballot: 67% D, 26% R Approvals JD Vance: -68 MAGA: -59 Donald Trump: -53 ICE: -50 Benjamin Netanyahu: -40 Marco Rubio: -33 "Israeli policy in Gaza": -30 Barack Obama +32 jewishvoters.org/wp-content/u...

jewishvoters.org

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 07/09/2026

The candidate who led the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party to a historic state election victory in Germany has thanked Elon Musk for his support www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...

theguardian.com

Germany’s far-right AfD thanks Elon Musk as France warns state election win a ‘serious moment’

Lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt welcomes further ‘strong’ cooperation with Musk as French minister says ‘we cannot forget our history’

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

This *sounds* like a boring problem that belongs to your IT dept. As a former systems design engineer in a previous life, I’m here to tell you that this is VERY bad news. If you’re a CEO or anyone in national security, you really don’t want my 18-yr-old hacking into your systems for fun.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Rachel Weil @racheljweil.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I’m so lucky to spend the weekend camping on the shores of the truly Great Lake Ontario.

Lake Ontario, at dusk, taken from Fairhaven Beach State Park, N. y.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 02/09/2026

Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise and anti-ship missiles since 2023. www.ft.com/content/6cf3...

ft.com

Russia secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles

Leaks reveal programme behind one of the most significant known transfers of military technology from Moscow to Tehran

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 02/09/2026

Tunisia’s civil society faces growing pressure as crackdown widens aje.news/7xqljg

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The era of fully autonomous AI drone warfare has begun. If you think this tech will be limited to militaries, think again. Narcos, terrorists & nonstate armed groups will also get access, in due course. A Drone Killed Three Ukrainians. It Was Guided Entirely by A.I. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/w...

nytimes.com

A Drone Killed Three Ukrainians. It Was Guided Entirely by A.I. (Gift Article)

An attack by what Ukrainian officials said was a Russian drone with an Nvidia chip presages a dystopian future of weaponry untethered to humans.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Marty Hades 🔥💀 @smartypantsmarty.com · 14/08/2026

It’s just so wrong. We need to revisit the need for a public inquiry into press standards. No one should have to endure the hounding that Jason Arday experienced. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Jason Arday: Former Cambridge university professor found dead

Jason Arday was found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon, officials said.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

2/ As I said, we don't know what was in his mind. But I do know *my* mind. And as a human being who is also an academic, if I was on the receiving end of *this* - alongside similar stuff from other media, and losing my job - I would be a mental and emotional wreck. bsky.app/profile/keta...

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

6/ How much energy was expended on other cases of academic plagiarism, or other misconduct by academics, in cases which didn't concern a prominent black scholar?

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

What was the point of THIS. Jason Arday was not Epstein or Prince Andrew. He didn’t deserve this. @telegraph.co.uk Don’t use someone’s life for political point scoring.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Don’t have anything insightful to say about the Arday case beyond this: we assign some cases to have profound symbolic meaning. But which cases we assign meaning is a choice. Firing of faculty in the US for wrongthink now is routine but does not shape the discourse. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/u...

nytimes.com

Florida Professor Fired for Assigning a Profane Story, Lawsuit Says

South Florida State College fired an English professor after she assigned a story about a teacher who talks about sex with her students. Now the professor is suing.

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

First came the Stars of David stitched to their coats. Then came the ghettos. Then the concentration camps. People, it’s a slippery slope once you start dehumanizing others.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Susan Shepler @susanshepler.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Full-time non-tenure line faculty position as Research Professor (Open Rank) and Research Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. apply.interfolio.com/189922

apply.interfolio.com

Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Philip Eil @phileil.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

"McConnell, an appointee of President Barack Obama, is the chief federal judge in Rhode Island. For nearly all his 15 years on the federal bench, he worked in relative obscurity. He rarely gave his personal safety a second thought. That changed dramatically starting early last year."

washingtonpost.com

This federal judge ruled against Trump. Then the threats began.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s experience is emblematic of the climate facing jurists, whether nominated by Democratic or Republican presidents.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Good interview with Miatta Fahnbulleh in The Times. This section resonated with me because officials are, in contrast to the popular view of the civil service, far too eager to implement ministerial ideas without thinking through the consequences. Also helps if officials know about their area.

"willing to take a risi

For Fahnbulleh the experience was also seminal - giving her an insight that many ministers do not have of what it is like to serve on the other side of the fence.

She said she became well aware of the tendency of officials to take what their minister says literally and, after being appointed to the cabinet, was keen to make clear to her staff that she wanted to be challenged.

“The first time I came into the department as a secretary of state, I said, speak truth to power. Challenge, have ideas.

"There should be nothing that you feel you can't say. It is right for the service to say, 'well, yes, but this is the consequence of that'. Or 'have you thought about this? Or 'this is why we think it's a terrible idea'. You need to have that in order to effect change, in my view."

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 05/08/2026

President Donald Trump’s administration has detained more than 50 spouses and parents of U.S. troops as it rolls back immigration protections for military families, an AP investigation has found.

bit.ly

AP Exclusive: Trump's immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents

An Associated Press investigation reveals that President Donald Trump’s administration has detained dozens of parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. troops.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

BoardGameWire 🔜 Spiel Essen @boardgamewire.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The Ukrainian publisher of board games including Catan and Exploding Kittens is fighting for its existence after a Russian missile strike destroyed its warehouse, wiping out its entire stock of about 200,000 games: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

A fire engine outside a burnt out warehouse, with a burnt out van outside. Smoke and steam are still rising from the destroyed building. Photo shows damage to Ukrainian board game publisher Rozum's warehouse following a Russian missile attack on August 1. Photo Credit: Rozum.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

What matters is whether one party wins the battle for the right, and then how extreme they are / whether they challenge democratic norms. And that determines whether we’re always one election away from a radical right/populist government in the UK.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Shocking to discover designating AI data centres as “National Critical Infrastructure” means water companies are prohibited from restricting water to them even in times of drought. Households will lose water first. Thanks to @olliehayes.bsky.social at @globalactionplan.bsky.social for joining me

podcasts.apple.com

Data Centres vs. Drinking Water: What Matters To Us Most?

Podcast Episode · The Rest Is Politics · 30 July · 16min

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Opinion Today @opiniontoday.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

For the first time in almost two decades of Pew Research Center surveys, both Canadians and Mexicans now view China more favorably than their neighbor, the United States. More, via Opinion Today: opiniontoday.substack.com/p/260728-top...

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Martin McKee @martinmckee.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

🧵1/ In our new paper, @chrischirp.bsky.social & I argue that while institutions can resist authoritarian pressure, some enable it. Looking at the current US regime, we examine why universities, law firms, and corporations often chose accommodation over resistance.

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shauna @goldengateblond.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

i worked in several casinos and later for an online sportsbook. the best advice i can give you is to stay the hell away from all of it.

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I expect we’ll have to update health and safety regulations in the UK to cope with future heat waves. Can’t expect people to work properly in 30C heat. Otherwise we’ll be moving to stay at home Heat Days the same way we have Snow Days.

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Pornainen, Finland (pop 5,000) is now heated by a silo of crushed soapstone. I spoke to CNBC about it. 100 MWh, charged when power is cheap, emissions down ~70%. Days to weeks of storage, no critical minerals. www.cnbc.com/2026/07/25/f...

cnbc.com

Finland’s radical answer to renewable energy’s biggest headache: The world’s largest sand battery

A small Finnish town has turned to the world's largest commercial sand battery to tackle a major hurdle in the energy transition: intermittency.

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Dr Christine Cheng @christinecheng.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

An impressive victory for students in India!

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Reposted by Dr Christine Cheng

PEIPolitical 🇨🇦 @peipolitical.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Carney: "I'm going to take this opportunity to thank President Scheinbaum and the Mexican people for sending 200 firefighters to help us with our fires here. That's what friends do when you have crisis and fires." #cdnpoli

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Patrick Galey @patrickgaley.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

The scenes from Cap Ferret are apocalyptic. They are an image of a future we have made present, through our insistence on access to plenty. Historians will look back open mouthed at how we knowingly consumed ourselves to death www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

theguardian.com

France orders total evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfire spreads

‘Intense and highly unpredictable’ blaze forces more than 40,000 people to flee popular holiday spot

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