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marty-day.bsky.social

@marty-day.bsky.social
52 followers 352 following 109 posts
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Messi, after failing to snitch Cucurella off.
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Was it Madonna or a Muppet puppet ... They look more natural
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Don't think people realise quite how deeply split by age current voting intention is. This is the latest YouGov for under-50s: Green: 26% Lab: 18% Reform: 14% Tories: 12% LD: 11% And over 50s: Reform: 36% Tory: 22% Lab: 16% LD: 12% Greens: 9%
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david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
KowTow Cooper 'cosying up' to Chinese Communist party Beijing trip to China after Keir Starmer’s surrender tour earlier this year wasn’t enough, his foreign secretary is now in Beijing cosying up to the CCP Cooper should be pushing for the release of Jimmy Lai. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
Murrell used false accounting and fake invoices to hide SNP embezzlement, court hears – UK politics live
Items bought by former chief executive included more than £23,000 from a luxury stationery brand and a £3,000 robotic lawnmower
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Li Ganjie in Yunnan: Echoes of A High-Profile Trip and the “Sinicization” of Religion bitterwinter.org/li-ganjie-in... #China The United Front Work Department chief and Politburo members personally inspected the progress of the CCP’s plan to control religions in a key province.
bitterwinter.org
Li Ganjie in Yunnan: Echoes of A High-Profile Trip and the “Sinicization” of Religion
The United Front Work Department chief and Politburo members personally inspected the progress of the CCP’s plan to control religions in a key province.
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Officials highlighted a lack of clarity regarding ultimate authority, questioning whether the decision to intervene in #Mandelson engagements was "ultimately for No10 to decide given the political considerations" ... political considerations, not ethical vetting ... #Starmer knew risks with #China
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david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Mandelson requested to begin his FCDO payroll start date from the week commencing 13 January 2025 specifically to facilitate this private engagement, which the Department was actively processing.
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david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
The text extracted from the file **1000153849.jpg** is as follows:
Rob
Rob Tinline | Americas Director | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Personal | Personal
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
From: JCS
Sent: 31 December 2024 09:25
To: JCS
Cc: Robert Tinline; JCS; JCS; JCS
Subject: RE: HMA-Des Engagement
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
Dear JCS,
I’ve now spoken with Philip. His view was as follows:
 * LPM has been announced publicly as the next HMA Washington as a political appointee. The appointment is subject to agrement and security clearance;
 * Prior to taking up this employment, LPM plans to participate in an international event relating to China. This is renumerated;
 * As he will not by then have taken up employment with HMG, it is a matter for LPM whether or not he proceeds with this event.
He has asked that any concerns are flagged to SpAds so that they and No 10 can take a view as to whether they wish to intervene with LPM.
Please could you share a very short summary of views (BEW/China/Americas/HRD/Security) and I’ll take this forward?
Thank you,
JCS
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
From: JCS
Sent: 30 December 2024 11:46
To: JCS
Cc: Robert Tinline; JCS; JCS; JCS
Subject: HMA-Des Engagement
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
JCS,
You requested some lines on what we know about HMA-des's proposed engagement. Please see below. And I’ll message you separately with the informal view we’ve received from BEW and China Desk.
 * HMA-Des has committed to participating in a panel event at investment bank UBS's Greater China Conference, hosted in Shanghai from 11-13 January. This is a major event with ~4000 attendees and considerable media. Many sessions are recorded. See some high-level detail here and a summary of last year’s conference here.
 * We understand he would plan to attend virtually and participate in his Global Counsel capacity. We also understand that he would be paid for this engagement.
 * HMA-Des has asked to start on FCDO payroll from w/c 13 Januar…
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david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Prior to his formal start date, the FCDO and the Cabinet Office were explicitly aware that Mandelson planned to participate in a remunerated private engagement at the UBS Greater China Conference in Shanghai.
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
The V&A Museum has confirmed that content in two exhibition catalogues, Fabergé and The Music is Black, was altered following censorship demands from printers in China. www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/prin...
whatdotheyknow.com
Printing Procurement and Editorial Independence - a Freedom of Information request to The Victoria and Albert Museum
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the production of exhibition catalogues and publications printed in jurisdictions with state censorship regimes,...
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
After internal review, the Department for Business and Trade has disclosed a small amount of additional info regarding Peter Kyle’s China engagement. The majority of the meeting readout and strategic briefings remain withheld, citing international relations. www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mini...
whatdotheyknow.com
Ministerial Engagement and Strategy Regarding China (Secretary of State Peter Kyle) - a Freedom of Information request to Department for Business and Trade
Department for Business and Trade, Freedom of Information Request – Ministerial Engagement and Strategy Regarding China (Secretary of State Peter Kyle) Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to request informat...
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Peter Mandelson: China Access for JPMorgan via Jeffrey Epstein and Ambassadorial Vetting Due Diligence www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pete...
whatdotheyknow.com
Peter Mandelson: China Access for JPMorgan via Jeffrey Epstein and Ambassadorial Vetting Due Diligence - a Freedom of Information request to Cabinet Office
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This request concerns Lord Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and JPMorgan in relation to Chinese financial ...
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Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 31/05/2026
Embarrassing remarks about Starmer in messages between ministers and Mandelson are among awkward revelations expected by UK govt next week The second tranche of Mandelson files, to be released in coming days, will run to more than 1,000 pages of documents www.ft.com/content/4bc6...
ft.com
Embarrassing messages about Keir Starmer to be exposed in Mandelson files
Ministers and advisers have had to disclose WhatsApps and emails with peer during his time as US ambassador
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Mandelson and no mitigation ... What could possibly go wrong? 🙄 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Mandelson files show no mitigation of security concerns over US appointment
Exclusive: Papers to be published on Monday cast doubt on assurances provided by senior Whitehall officials
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Peter Mandelson, his consultancy firm Global Counsel, Jeffrey Epstein, and senior Bank of England officials www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pete...
whatdotheyknow.com
Peter Mandelson, his consultancy firm Global Counsel, Jeffrey Epstein, and senior Bank of England officials - a Freedom of Information request to Bank of England
​I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. My enquiry relates to communications and records involving Lord Peter Mandelson, his consultancy firm Global Counsel, Je...
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Rumpelstiltskin-meets-the-Penguin is the best description of Dominic Cummings yet ...
But shame aside, what made the occasion hard to forget was that it had been the first on which she’d met Anthony Sparrow, then the PM’s special adviser. Sparrow had been as clear an illustration as anyone might require of the dangers of believing oneself immune to public opinion. He’d been riding high, and would continue to do so for some while, and if the immediate impression he left on others was one of Rumpelstiltskin-meets-the-Penguin, his self-image, if his interminable blogging was any clue, placed him somewhere between Montaigne and Nostradamus
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
#Mandelson s links to China’s minister of finance, Lan Fo’an, the sanctions-hit Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and former Israeli military intelligence general Tamir Hayman were all flagged by the government’s vetting agency. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Mitigating Mandelson risks would have been impossible, says former MI6 chief
Vetting of former UK ambassador to Washington warned of ties to senior figures in China, Russia and Israel
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
China should have no stake in economically crucial sectors of our economy, or one day we will greatly regret it. Free trade has always had a cost. With China that cost is existential. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
thetimes.com
Beijing’s blatant thuggery will go unpunished
(Except I’m issuing a reward for Xi’s capture)
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
I actually feel really disappointed that it's a #Eurovision final night and I haven't heard a single song and we've lost one of the most silly fun nights because of craven EBU kowtowing to a genocidal regime in Israel and the manipulation of mossad in the voting ... #boycotteurovision #esc
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Cartoon says it all ... #eurovision @lectrr.bsky.social #esc #boycot #boycott Belgian cartoonist Lectrr and original is in Dutch. "​That already looked very good..." ​The second speech bubble on says: ... but can you normalise the genocide just a little bit more? #BoycottEurovision #eurosong
#eurovision best samengevat door @lectrr.bsky.social: 
#esc #boycot

Belgian cartoonist Lectrr and original is written in Dutch.
​
​The header text at the top reads: Eurosong rehearsals.
​The first speech bubble on the left says: That already looked very good...
​The second speech bubble on the right says: ...but can you normalise the genocide just a little bit more?
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Winterbloom Farm @winterbloomfarm.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
These are the accounts that made me toss her books. When I joined Shambhala, they showed me a recorded speech where Trungpa was clearly inebriated and called it “challenging” and “crazy wisdom.” They would regale us with stories about the Sakyong’s integrity right before Project Sunshine surfaced.
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david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Pema Chodron is a pastiche of a western Buddhist nun, but she has a monstrous ego ... in person she is a cranky old hag .... And her pseudo apologies ring hollow www.lionsroar.com/pema-chodron...
lionsroar.com
Pema Chödrön apologizes for dismissing allegation of sexual assault from young woman
On Saturday, famed Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön released a statement responding to an allegation that she once dismissed a woman’s report that she was raped by a Shambhala Center director.
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Now I'm going to be gutted if Mark & Margo don't finish #Ratw #RaceAcrossTheWorld
RaceAcrossTheWorld BBC Margo and Mark overlooking a map as they ponder how to get the hell across Mongolia this is not going well
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Mongolia looks amazing ... Cheering on the Scousers, go Margo! Go lads who are chilled through their keks lol #RaceAcrossTheWorld
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Dan Kaszeta FRHistS @dankaszeta.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
I think China infiltrating the Home Office and the City of London police to spy on UK residents is a bigger bell than page 17 news. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...
theguardian.com
Hong Kong dissident Nathan Law on China spies in UK: ‘We’re not surprised’
Law says conviction of two men for spying raises serious concerns about how they accessed sensitive information
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
FoI transparency data from the Department for Business and Trade reveals the internal strategy behind Peter Kyle diplomatic engagement with China & Wang Wentao "steering briefs" withheld. UK government deference to commercial interests over human rights. www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mini...
whatdotheyknow.com
Ministerial Engagement and Strategy Regarding China (Secretary of State Peter Kyle) - a Freedom of Information request to Department for Business and Trade
Department for Business and Trade, Freedom of Information Request – Ministerial Engagement and Strategy Regarding China (Secretary of State Peter Kyle) Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to request informat...
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Dennis Barbion @dennis-barbion.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Cartoon door @lectrr.bsky.social
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Cartoon says it all ... #eurovision @lectrr.bsky.social #esc #boycot #boycott Belgian cartoonist Lectrr and original is in Dutch. "​That already looked very good..." ​The second speech bubble on says: ... but can you normalise the genocide just a little bit more? #BoycottEurovision #eurosong
#eurovision best samengevat door @lectrr.bsky.social: 
#esc #boycot

Belgian cartoonist Lectrr and original is written in Dutch.
​
​The header text at the top reads: Eurosong rehearsals.
​The first speech bubble on the left says: That already looked very good...
​The second speech bubble on the right says: ...but can you normalise the genocide just a little bit more?
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Reposted by @marty-day.bsky.social
david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Multidimensional Religious and Spiritual Trauma Assessment (MRSTA) is designed to measure how religious and spiritual experiences affect mental and emotional well-being Survey link: uisits.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
uisits.co1.qualtrics.com
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
JACH - Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie cover) This goes out to the immortal spirit of David Bowie. RIP youtube.com/watch?v=bwXI...
youtube.com
JACH - Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie cover)
YouTube video by Chris Walton
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Monty Python “All-England Summarize Proust Competition”contestants must relate, in fifteen seconds, the entirety of Proust’s seven-volume masterwork, “once in a swimsuit, and once in evening dress.” youtube.com/watch?v=uwAO...
youtube.com
Monty Python - Summarize Proust Competition Uncensored
YouTube video by RPMXLII
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Anoosh Chakelian @anooshc.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
"One US official joked speculatively to me about whether the King was a Muslim." Telling behind-the-scenes detail of Charles's US visit in @freddiehayward.bsky.social's column:
newstatesman.com
The worst people in the world love King Charles
Donald Trump trembles before the power of the Crown
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Fuqua “someone who’s made tens of millions pushing a false narrative around a man who’s a paedophile, that’s a nasty thing.” A false narrative around a paedophile’: Michael Jackson biopic criticised by Leaving Neverland director www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ap...
theguardian.com
‘A false narrative around a paedophile’: Michael Jackson biopic criticised by Leaving Neverland director
Dan Reed says the film recasts abuse allegations as lies and sidesteps Jackson’s relationships with children
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
‘A false narrative around a paedophile’: Michael Jackson biopic criticised by Leaving Neverland director www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ap...
theguardian.com
‘A false narrative around a paedophile’: Michael Jackson biopic criticised by Leaving Neverland director
Dan Reed says the film recasts abuse allegations as lies and sidesteps Jackson’s relationships with children
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Victory is mine said the elephant 🐘 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
US millionaire big-game hunter dies after being crushed by elephants
Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old vineyard owner, was hunting an antelope species in Africa when the incident occured
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/... Chinese client of Mandelson firm ‘took intellectual property from US’ WuXi AppTec, a medical technology company, spent more than £3 million with the peer’s lobbying firm
thetimes.com
Chinese client of Mandelson firm ‘took intellectual property from US’
WuXi AppTec, a medical technology company, spent more than £3 million with the peer’s lobbying firm
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pala... Palantir Federated Data Platform Contract Freedom of Information request to NHS England
whatdotheyknow.com
Palantir Federated Data Platform Contract - a Freedom of Information request to NHS England
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request information regarding the Federated Data Platform contract awarded to Palantir. Given recent discussions concerning the contract and ...
022
marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
The Mandelson-Epstein emails – what do they reveal about Britain’s broken lobbying system? www.transparency.org.uk/news/mandels...
transparency.org.uk
The Mandelson-Epstein emails – what do they reveal about Britain’s broken lobbying system?
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John Steel @johnsteel.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Emails showed that Mandelson was using his influence to help Epstein's business interests. www.transparency.org.uk/news/mandels...
transparency.org.uk
The Mandelson-Epstein emails – what do they reveal about Britain’s broken lobbying system?
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Ignacio GHOULlup-Diaz @igallupd.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
"Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial: Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later."
nbcnews.com
Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial
Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later.
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
A book that covers all aspects of male queer life in Belfast from c. 1890 to 1960: cruising the city centre for sex, creating communities, reading queer novels, and navigating the tolerance offered by their families and neighbourhoods. pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publicati...
pure.qub.ac.uk
Belfastmen. An intimate history of life before gay liberation
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
The Ministry of Defence has granted Palantir a £240.6 million contract via direct award rather than a competitive tender. ​Officials have refused to release the underlying business case or technical justifications for the decision. www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/agre...
whatdotheyknow.com
agreement awarded to Palantir Technologies UK, signed on 30 December 2025 - a Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence
​ Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting information regarding the £240.6 million enterprise agreement awarded to Palantir Technologies UK, signed in December 2025 without competit...
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/00634... The Ministry of Defence has granted Palantir a £240.6 million contract via direct award rather than a competitive tender. ​Officials have refused to release the underlying business case or technical justifications for the decision.
find-tender.service.gov.uk
MOD Palantir Enterprise Agreement - Find a Tender
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
What if amyloid isn’t causing Alzheimer’s at all? After three decades of groupthink and sunk costs, we delayed investing in other targets. We barely understand the brain yet, hubristically, bet on one theory to cure it. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
thetimes.com
What if we’ve been wrong about the treatment for Alzheimer’s?
‘Breakthrough’ drugs have fallen short in the battle against this awful disease. We may have to accept that we have made erroneous conclusions
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david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
V&A censored catalogues after demands by Chinese printer www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...
theguardian.com
V&A censored catalogues after demands by Chinese printer
Exclusive: Victoria and Albert Museum has deleted maps and images deemed sensitive by Beijing censors from exhibition publications
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david @ middleway @middleway.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Mandelson's private commercial ambitions in Chinese markets compromised his ability to represent the United Kingdom objectively www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pete...
whatdotheyknow.com
Peter Mandelson: China Access for JPMorgan via Jeffrey Epstein and Ambassadorial Vetting Due Diligence - a Freedom of Information request to Cabinet Office
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This request concerns Lord Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and JPMorgan in relation to Chinese financial ...
021
marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Meta on Thursday began removing advertisements from attorneys who were seeking clients that claim to have been harmed by social media while under the age of 18 ... two weeks after Meta and YouTube were found negligent in a landmark California case about social media addiction.
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
"he is part of the general influx of tech, finance and business bros who have plugged the annual music festival into their calendars, driving up ticket prices and injecting a certain narrow-eyed, lizardy energy into the scene" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Justin Trudeau at Coachella?
theguardian.com
Justin Trudeau at Coachella? That’s just wrong: at a certain age, things must change
If you have to consult the Reddit thread ‘am I too old for Coachella?’, then the answer is probably ‘yes’, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes
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marty-day.bsky.social @marty-day.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Sign the petition demanding local councillors to reform and improve accountability in Mourne, Newry and Down District Council my.actnowni.org/petitions/ti... @sluggerotoolepols.bsky.social
my.actnowni.org
Sign Now: We Demand Accountability in NMDDC
I've signed the petition demanding local councillors to reform and improve accountability in Mourne, Newry and Down District Council - will you sign too?
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