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Darkening Skies

@disturbedsleep.bsky.social
194 followers 159 following 1.2K posts

Septuagenarian relocated to South Lanarkshire, where it's wet , windy and wonderful, though I didn't expect quite so much wind! Longtime advocate of geothermal as a baseline energy resource in the UK as part of a mix with solar/wind with battery storage.

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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 3h
It just leaves me speechless, incredulous, that such a hideous slug has been handed so much power. That there are still millions of American voters willing to even contemplate continuing to support him is sickening. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...
theguardian.com
Trump says Ukraine needs a new leader after diesel deal with Russia
US president suggests Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has not done enough to end war
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Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
New working paper: the Norwegian wealth tax was a huge success. The "exodus" of wealthy people never happened (less than 100 individuals left). Tax revenue increased by 71.5%. No changes in business activity or investment. www.nber.org/papers/w35854
Taxing Entrepreneurial Wealth: Evidence from
Norway, 2021-2025
Marius A. K. Ring
WORKING PAPER 35854|
DOl 10.3386/w35854
ISSUE DATE October 2026
Whether imposing higher taxes on business owners adversely affects business activity by constraining investment and inducing capitalist flight is a central question in the ongoing debate on how to tax the ultra wealthy. To shed new light, I exploit a series of related Norwegian reforms during 2021-2024 that increased dividend tax rates, removed migration-related capital gains tax loopholes, and nearly doubled the effective marginal tax rate on business wealth. These reforms spurred international debate and, allegedly, an "exodus" of Norwegian billionaires (Financial Times,
2023). While I document clear effects on migration, these responses are concentrated among the top 0.1% of the wealth distribution and mostly confined to 2022 and 2023. My results indicate that at most 100 individuals left due to the reforms. I find no evidence of significant outmigration or reduced inflows of startup founders or inventors. I estimate that absent any outmigration, wealth tax revenues would have increased by 75% from 2021 to 2024. Reform-driven outmigration lowers the revenue gain to 71.5%. My findings further show that outmigrating owners' firms remain economically active and do not reduce investment. In a broader set of analyses, I examine whether business outcomes are affected, regardless of whether owners outmigrate, since firms may reduce investment both due to liquidity constraints or distortions to owners' savings decisions. I compare firms owned by Norwegian individuals subject to the wealth tax with firms owned by foreigners and other tax-exempt entities. By merging historical ownership data from Orbis with the Norwegian shareholder register, I perform these analyses on both Norwegian and foreign-domiciled firms.
Across settings, I find no evidence that Norwegian-owned firms pay out more dividends or invest less after the reforms,…
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 16h
Trump the fantasist - and a dangerous one as he holds America's purse strings as if they were his personal property to do with as he wishes. Where on earth are America's "checks and balances" that protect democracy? It's a mafia country with an unhinged godfather www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Trump fumes over Nobel peace prize snub and criticizes Norway
President complains about not winning prize in year he started war with Iran and says: ‘We will not forget, Norway’
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
“There’s about a 50% chance we all die because of the development of smarter-than-human AI systems” says Geoffrey Irving. I really don't like those odds and I don't like Altman's free and easy attitude to the potential for harm. It's not like eggs and omelettes. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Accept ‘bad things’ in return for benefits of AI, says Sam Altman
Boss of OpenAI calls for a regulatory light touch because of the ‘good stuff’ the technology can deliver
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I think this is a mistake. Zionism is understand differently by different generations and outlooks. My mum (d.2017) saw it through the lens of 1945 socialism - the necessity for Jewish safety. She could not see the result - settler colonialism and oppression. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Green party votes to adopt policy that equates Zionism with racism
Motion calling for single Palestinian state, which is opposed by most Green MPs and expected to be challenged, passes by 1,022 votes to 813
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Remember David Icke ? I wondered what had happened to him. In a 2013 survey in the United States by Public Policy Polling, 4% believed that "'lizard people' control our societies" That would mean 12.8 million American citizens believed this crap. Isn't that incredible?
static.klipy.com
Rr Reptilian Renegade
ALT: Rr Reptilian Renegade
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Well said Ed! Let's hope it's not too late for Palestine. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Ed Miliband to acknowledge Labour’s former stance on Palestine fell short
Foreign secretary will tell party’s conference ‘we are not here to accept the status quo but to change it’
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
There's no hope for America when people like this are made White House advisors. This "faith advisor" has a history worth looking at.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Isn't this an obvious war crime? Not content with diverting the rivers that fed Palestine , Israel completely and purposefully destroyed all sources of drinkable water for Gazans. It is an incredibly cruel and callous thing to do to an entire population. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Israel facing water shortages caused by destruction of Gaza’s treatment plants
Five desalination plants shut down for days, while Gaza remains in grip of severe water and sanitation crisis
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MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
🇱🇹🇺🇦 Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on Russia: In all but name, Russia has already lost the war. Yet, its leadership does not allow itself to admit defeat, fearing international legal accountability and possible revenge from its own people. Kremlin regime increasingly finds itself cornered.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It would not surprise me to learn that Russia was behind both the boat traffickers and the right-wing anti-migrant movements. A relatively cheap and low risk way to destabilise the UK, but also Europe, along with the rest of the hybrid warfare going on. #Russia www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Far-right activist Daniel Thomas slashes dinghy in Channel with blade while rescue worker onboard
Thomas called followers to protest against arrival of asylum seekers in Gosport, but Border Force instead transported them to Dover
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Can you believe this guy? Some ally! He hates Canada, hates UK, hates Europe but adores Putin , and would rather fund Russia's lapdog, Belarus, than come to terms with America's closest friends. He is ruining America and bringing down the rest of us. #Trump www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Trump seeks ‘massive’ Belarus fertiliser deal amid Canada trade war
Trump’s announcement on Russia ally comes as he steps up his trade war with Canada, a long-term US ally and top supplier of potash
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Trump seems to always move the blame away from himself and his own failures. If he'd backed Ukraine from the start and not been Israel's dupe in attacking Iran, he wouldn't have doubled the cost of diesel at home. #Trump #Ukraine #Iran www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Trump set to press Zelenskyy at UN to agree energy ceasefire with Russia
President to meet Ukrainian counterpart in New York as Ukraine steps up attacks on Russian energy sector
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Good opinion piece by Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian today. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
This Israeli election could be the country’s last – this week I saw that for myself | Jonathan Freedland
Spend time on the ground and you see how high the stakes are for next month’s contest – for Israelis and Palestinians alike, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
He's one mean mothertrucker. Grrrrrrr, what a man. A man's man. He loves gasoline and big trucks and playing with the big boys. Solar panels and windmills are for pussies. Drill, Baby, Drill ! You gotta grab life by the throat and put pedal to the metal. Everyone loves a man's man.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Water is a natural monopoly. When it’s privatised, there’s no competition to keep it honest and no regulator strong enough to stop financial engineering. Thames Water is the proof: debt‑loading, under‑investment, and sewage everywhere. Public ownership is vital. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
MPs urge ministers to break off Thames Water talks with US hedge funds
Efra committee calls for emergency legislation enabling government to take public control of the company
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
If ever there was a story showing the complexity of history and people, this is a good example. A repressed people, a righteous cause, seemingly good people doing bad things in dark times. Justice must be done but Kosovo will be in pain over this. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Kosovo’s former president jailed for 25 years over war crimes
Hashim Thaçi, 58, was convicted by The Hague for crimes committed while he was senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Family homes of Naza directors targeted and calls for them to have their citizenship revoked. Netanyahu condemned the film as “intolerable”, saying it portrayed the IDF as war criminals. They are. He is. I support the brave film directors & hope they stay safe. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Netanyahu seeks to strip citizenship from Israelis as threats to NAZA film directors intensify
Israeli prime minister to pursue new laws as directors of Guardian-produced film face threats from far-right officials and activists
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Erdogan is aiming to boost birthrates ... by suppressing gay rights? "in a country with a large and concerning record of domestic violence, many cases of child abuse and murders of women, the protection of the family cannot be focused on LGBT people.” www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
theguardian.com
Turkey detains dozens in crackdown on LGBTQ+ activists and journalists
Protesters teargassed as minister claims widespread raids and arrests under obscenity laws were to ‘protect families’
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Why does Israel even need 40,000 one-ton bombs? Even pro-Israel Democrats are questioning the purpose and legality. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Key House Democrat refuses to clear Trump’s $2.8bn arms sale to Israel
Pro-Israel Gregory Meeks raises concerns over threat to civilian lives from package of 40,000 one-ton bombs
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
There's talk about how much the NHS depends on Israeli drugs, so I found this revealing Board of Deputies report from 2015 which says: "The high dependence of the NHS on Israeli ethical (?) drugs ...has the power to overcome the focus of diplomacy on settlements and Gaza" bod.org.uk/bod-news/the...
bod.org.uk
The Israeli drug company which is taking on the world
One of my favourite statistics about surging British-Israel trade is that one out of every seven prescriptions filled by the NHS is sourced from Israeli
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The blatant methods of the pro-Israel camp to silence those that support the creation of a state of Palestine is both anti-democratic and a reminder of the extent of the insidious influence of the Israeli State . Ed Sheeran should not bow to this pressure. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
All supporting acts withdraw from Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore
Four openers and live band for Sheeran’s tour depart after removal of Macklemore over ‘free Palestine’ comments
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Is Donald Trump deliberately complicit in accelerating the end of life on Earth? He wants zero controls on AI and it's "Burn Baby Burn" for oil and gas. How can the world just stand by and watch as he kills us all? www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
US ends limits on coal and gas plant emissions, removing key tool to battle climate crisis
Trump’s EPA strips itself of regulation ability, gutting Clean Air Act in what experts say is a gift to planet polluters
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Trump has said today "Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy targets. Russia has agreed to do, likewise! The World’s Diesel price rise is mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War, not Iran." He's lying again to deflect attention away from his failing war on Iran by blaming Ukraine. #Trump
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
AI is getting dangerous - beyond our control. 🤖 The race to build ever more powerful AI is reckless. Tell the EU to put safety first! ✊ action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-08...
action.wemove.eu
AI should serve us, not tech billionaires!
Share the petition and you'll help multiply the impact of this campaign: AI should serve us, not tech billionaires!
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
This is how Russia 'liberates' people from the "Nazi regime in Kyiv". It's very similar to the same liberation of Ukraine they did before in the Holodomor ("to inflict death by hunger") in the 1930's. A lesson learned by Putin from his hero , Stalin.
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Alina Pereverzieva 🇺🇦 @perevaa.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
🇵🇱 Reports claim that Russia struck a passenger train near the Polish border.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
This is a remarkably in-depth overview of the current state of the Russian aggression in Ukraine AND , towards the end of the video, in Europe and also Africa. There is no doubt that Russia is engaged in sabotage and disruption in Europe and the UK. #Ukraine #Russia #hybridwar
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
At last some of the leading AI developers are worried and trying to put some brakes on AI but I fear the genie is out of the bottle as desperate dictatorships like Putin's army of hackers carry on without moral or ethical safeguards. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
‘We must slow the pace’: CEO of Anthropic calls for an AI slowdown
In a social media post, Dario Amodei proposed a plan including third-party evaluations of AI systems
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The inevitable use of AI is to gain advantage without any constraints, in this case terrorising and killing civilians through the use of drone swarms that can choose their own targets. We seem to already be at the nightmare scenario we all feared. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Ukraine war briefing: Russian developers used AI to build ‘kamikaze’ attack drone software, Anthropic says
Anthropic also found that hackers used AI in attacks against targets in Ukrainian government, military and diplomatic sectors.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
My brother and friends are in Split , Croatia. This is right now!
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The Berwick Bank the project is paused, pending ministerial determination. Even though the consultation process ended on June 18th it is still worth making your objections known to Scottish Ministers, the Marine Directorate and the UK Minister for Energy. www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
rspb.org.uk
Berwick Bank developer applies to change plans
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
SSE's Seabird Compensation Plan for Berwick Bank is destined for failure. It cannot possibly the legal thresholds required without resorting to underhand practices which will severely dent their reputation in the long term. The govt. was wrong to override public interest and declare no alternative.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
So it is true then. He did know in advance and chose to do nothing. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Netanyahu was warned of 7 October Hamas attacks, book claims
Israeli PM says allegation that UAE president alerted him more than a week before major offensive is ‘absolute lie’
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Unlike Israel, The UK is not torturing, imprisoning, terrorising or killing Argentinians. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are shrieking Trump's idiotic messages because they share the same nasty bullying outlook. Those UK MPs joining in are just as disgusting. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
UK plan to sanction illegal Israeli settlements draws criticism from US, Israel and British MPs – UK politics live
UK to reassert support for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution in move drawing widespread criticism
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Impressive!
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Exactly what do the American people think is happening in the Strait of Hormuz? They are told by Trump and Hegseth that there is no war, that Iran has no navy, that America is in complete control of the Strait. But then we get reports and images like this.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
America, you need to sort out the weird fantasist that the majority of you voted twice to be your President, a man that declared time and again he was against war but manages to create and sustain ever more division across the globe. His grievances are pathetic. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Trump’s ‘retribution’ could now include Falklands as favor to Milei – and revenge on the UK
US president suggests he might support his Argentinian acolyte’s drive to reclaim sovereignty of disputed islands
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
What is so striking in this report is the demand for secrecy about the levels of water usage, even between government departments. Why should it be kept so secret? How can social planning be effective without such basic data? www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Revealed: how companies ‘secretly’ use billions of litres of public water in drought-hit England
Exclusive: As millions of people face hosepipe bans, many companies are not required to report, let alone cut, use of public supply
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
What incredible efforts have been made to find anyone still alive after the tragedy along the Nepal/Tibet border. And to survive and maintain hope for 9 days buried under so much mud and debris with no food or light is also remarkable. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Nepal-Tibet flash flood: Two workers pulled alive from hydropower tunnel nine days after disaster
Officials said the workers were safely rescued from tunnels that were at a depth of 170 metres
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
On this day in 1953 The European Convention on Human Rights came into effect. This year saw the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Britain was still rationing some foods — especially sugar but also milk , tea and meat, including bacon. I was also born. Yay.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A perfect fit for sheep farmers. Sheep can comfortably graze under solar panels; they eat grass rather than infrastructure and the panels provide both shade and rain cover. Cows are too tall and strong. Goats have the urge to climb and chew the cables. Sheep are just perfect.
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
There is growing evidence linking pesticide exposure to the development of Parkinson’s. France, Germany and Italy all recognising it as an occupational disease for farmers. #Parkinson's #pesticide #health www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Almost half of world’s farmers poisoned by pesticides every year, experts find
Study reveals that pesticide poisoning kills 11,000 people each year, with India accounting for nearly 60% of fatalities
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Microsoft's Bing maps still show the correct name for Lake Ontario but then I'm not in the USA. Can any USA resident check and see if Microsoft is resisting Trump's puerile demands ? #LakeOntario #Trump
Map of Lake Ontario region with the correct name for the lake showing in Bing maps
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Modular pre-built substations are part of the electricity generation revolution quietly going on across Scotland as ageing infrastructure is being replaced to support windfarms and local initiatives. #green #alternative #sustainable #energy #Scotland www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/news/news--v...
ssen-transmission.co.uk
CIGRE Paris - SSEN Transmission and supply chain partners celebrate rollout of “revolutionary” modular substations
At the CIGRE Paris Session global event this week, SSEN Transmission together with each of its supply partners, Hitachi Energy and GE Vernova, celebrated a milestone in placing the first orders of sta...
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
This is the Trump effect. One might even think it was a brilliant scam of his to syphon off billions into his own pockets, as he has done rather well out if it to the detriment of nearly everyone else. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
UK households will take £2,400 financial hit from Iran war, analysis shows
Centre for Economics and Business Research calculates effect of inflation and wage stagnation to end of 2027
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Our thanks to overconfident developers underestimating emergent behaviour and assuming they can contain it. Well done. Worse, once autonomous agents exist, "someone" will weaponise them and they will eventually escape their intended boundaries. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Sharp rise in incidents of AI escaping users’ control, research finds
Exclusive: Number of times AI lies, ignores instructions and pursues goals in harmful ways almost doubles in July
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Not terrorists, resistance and then only very slightly. A bit of spray paint, a small bit of damage to a very large lawn. This is paltry. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Seven charged with damaging Trump’s Scottish golf course accused of ‘terrorist connection’
Course at Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort was painted with words ‘Gaza is not 4 sale’ and clubhouse was sprayed with graffiti
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
While I sympathise with the workers in Aberdeen, I believe they should be supported and retrained to work in the sustainable energy industry. Opening up new oil fields is shortsighted and damaging to the environment and the future economy. #scottishlabour #labour www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Climate damage would obliterate any economic benefits of new North Sea fields, analysis shows
Exclusive: Economic harm of CO2 pollution from Rosebank and Jackdaw forecast to far outweigh any boost to UK
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Darkening Skies @disturbedsleep.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Good to know relationships between Ukraine and Hungary have rapidly improved since the defeat of Orban. #Ukraine #Hungary #Russia newsukraine.rbc.ua/interview/be...
newsukraine.rbc.ua
'Better not to deal with Russia': Hungary's Ambassador Shandor on Budapest's shift
Read more
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