Barney Jopson
@barneyjopson.bsky.social
Spain & Portugal correspondent @FT. Former Executive News Editor and reporter in Washington, NYC, Nairobi and Tokyo. 日本語堪能
Reposted by Barney Jopson
💥 Spain threatens to derail Nato’s Trump appeasement summit as Sánchez says that US President’s 5% defence spending demand is “unreasonable”
Madrid is doubling down on its longstanding opposition to higher spending four days before The Hague
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4ecEWkv
Madrid is doubling down on its longstanding opposition to higher spending four days before The Hague
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4ecEWkv
Spain threatens to derail Nato’s Trump appeasement summit
[FREE TO READ] Madrid balks at US president’s defence target, which alliance aims to agree next week
on.ft.com
June 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
💥 Spain threatens to derail Nato’s Trump appeasement summit as Sánchez says that US President’s 5% defence spending demand is “unreasonable”
Madrid is doubling down on its longstanding opposition to higher spending four days before The Hague
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4ecEWkv
Madrid is doubling down on its longstanding opposition to higher spending four days before The Hague
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4ecEWkv
Powerful new cannabis outstrips dangers of ‘Woodstock pot’.
Boss of EU drugs agency tells me the continent is being flooded with super-strength cannabis that puts users at greater risk of psychosis.
on.ft.com/43GPcwx
Boss of EU drugs agency tells me the continent is being flooded with super-strength cannabis that puts users at greater risk of psychosis.
on.ft.com/43GPcwx
Powerful new cannabis outstrips dangers of ‘Woodstock pot’
[FREE TO READ] EU agency warns potent forms of recreational drug flooding Europe put users at risk of severe damage to mental health
on.ft.com
June 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Powerful new cannabis outstrips dangers of ‘Woodstock pot’.
Boss of EU drugs agency tells me the continent is being flooded with super-strength cannabis that puts users at greater risk of psychosis.
on.ft.com/43GPcwx
Boss of EU drugs agency tells me the continent is being flooded with super-strength cannabis that puts users at greater risk of psychosis.
on.ft.com/43GPcwx
Reposted by Barney Jopson
NEW- Nato plans for all allies to pledge 5pct defence spending at a ministerial meeting June 5, but Spain is still resisting that Trump demand, officials told @financialtimes.com, disrupting preparations for the alliance’s crucial summit in The Hague
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3SjoDbx
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3SjoDbx
Spain left as sole major holdout on Nato’s 5% defence spending goal
[FREE TO READ] Madrid’s stance threatens alliance unity amid preparations to meet Trump’s military spending demand in June
on.ft.com
May 24, 2025 at 7:48 AM
NEW- Nato plans for all allies to pledge 5pct defence spending at a ministerial meeting June 5, but Spain is still resisting that Trump demand, officials told @financialtimes.com, disrupting preparations for the alliance’s crucial summit in The Hague
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3SjoDbx
w @barneyjopson.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3SjoDbx
Spain’s grid operator has accused some large power plants of not doing their job to help regulate the country’s electricity system in the moments before last month’s catastrophic blackout.
The blame game intensifies …
on.ft.com/3YW3WWU
The blame game intensifies …
on.ft.com/3YW3WWU
Spanish grid operator faults big power plants in blackout blame game
[FREE TO READ] Some large electricity generators were not doing their job to help control voltage, claims parent company’s chair
on.ft.com
May 22, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Spain’s grid operator has accused some large power plants of not doing their job to help regulate the country’s electricity system in the moments before last month’s catastrophic blackout.
The blame game intensifies …
on.ft.com/3YW3WWU
The blame game intensifies …
on.ft.com/3YW3WWU
Reposted by Barney Jopson
Former Yanukovych aide Andriy Portnov was shot several times in the back and head and killed by a group of gunmen outside a school near Madrid, Spain’s interior ministry confirmed. The assailants fled the scene into a wooded area. Story w/ @barneyjopson.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/5f11...
www.ft.com/content/5f11...
Russian-linked Ukrainian politician shot dead in Spain
Andriy Portnov was ally of ex-president Viktor Yanukovych and fled to Russia during Ukraine’s 2014 revolution
www.ft.com
May 21, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Former Yanukovych aide Andriy Portnov was shot several times in the back and head and killed by a group of gunmen outside a school near Madrid, Spain’s interior ministry confirmed. The assailants fled the scene into a wooded area. Story w/ @barneyjopson.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/5f11...
www.ft.com/content/5f11...
Trouble in 'paradise': The US base in Spain braced for Trump's Nato cuts.
My report from the beach town of Rota, where warships dock, Chevrolets cruise and the pizza slices are huge ...
www.ft.com/content/e46c...
My report from the beach town of Rota, where warships dock, Chevrolets cruise and the pizza slices are huge ...
www.ft.com/content/e46c...
US ‘paradise’ base on alert as Europe braces for Trump’s Nato cuts
Key to alliance’s anti-missile shield, Rota is among 38 bases across Europe at risk of a withdrawal by Washington
www.ft.com
April 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Trouble in 'paradise': The US base in Spain braced for Trump's Nato cuts.
My report from the beach town of Rota, where warships dock, Chevrolets cruise and the pizza slices are huge ...
www.ft.com/content/e46c...
My report from the beach town of Rota, where warships dock, Chevrolets cruise and the pizza slices are huge ...
www.ft.com/content/e46c...
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni rejects ‘childish’ choice between Trump and Europe
The FT gets Italian PM’s first interview with a foreign newspaper
www.ft.com/content/96d0...
The FT gets Italian PM’s first interview with a foreign newspaper
www.ft.com/content/96d0...
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni rejects ‘childish’ choice between Trump and Europe
Prime minister tells the FT in an exclusive interview she will respect ‘first ally’ in White House while working to avoid transatlantic rift
www.ft.com
March 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni rejects ‘childish’ choice between Trump and Europe
The FT gets Italian PM’s first interview with a foreign newspaper
www.ft.com/content/96d0...
The FT gets Italian PM’s first interview with a foreign newspaper
www.ft.com/content/96d0...
Reposted by Barney Jopson
👂 🇪🇸 PODCAST TIME 🇪🇸 👂
another dispatch from Madrid featuring:
- Europe getting its act together on defence
- Spain is miles from Moscow tho, where does it fit in?
- mild trolling of Americans
With:
@robarmstrong.bsky.social @barneyjopson.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/1eVu...
another dispatch from Madrid featuring:
- Europe getting its act together on defence
- Spain is miles from Moscow tho, where does it fit in?
- mild trolling of Americans
With:
@robarmstrong.bsky.social @barneyjopson.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/1eVu...
How will Europe pay for its new weapons?
Unhedged · Episode
open.spotify.com
March 18, 2025 at 10:56 PM
👂 🇪🇸 PODCAST TIME 🇪🇸 👂
another dispatch from Madrid featuring:
- Europe getting its act together on defence
- Spain is miles from Moscow tho, where does it fit in?
- mild trolling of Americans
With:
@robarmstrong.bsky.social @barneyjopson.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/1eVu...
another dispatch from Madrid featuring:
- Europe getting its act together on defence
- Spain is miles from Moscow tho, where does it fit in?
- mild trolling of Americans
With:
@robarmstrong.bsky.social @barneyjopson.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/1eVu...
The Spanish government wants to turn Indra into a European defence champion
Next step: Indra declares it wants to buy a US-owned arms maker based in Spain and accuses the owner (General Dynamics) of ‘destroying’ it
ft.com/content/83ac... from @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social & me
Next step: Indra declares it wants to buy a US-owned arms maker based in Spain and accuses the owner (General Dynamics) of ‘destroying’ it
ft.com/content/83ac... from @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social & me
Spanish defence champion accuses General Dynamics of ‘destroying’ arms maker in battle for control
Madrid-backed military contractor Indra has attacked US defence giant’s ownership of Santa Bárbara Sistemas
ft.com
March 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
The Spanish government wants to turn Indra into a European defence champion
Next step: Indra declares it wants to buy a US-owned arms maker based in Spain and accuses the owner (General Dynamics) of ‘destroying’ it
ft.com/content/83ac... from @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social & me
Next step: Indra declares it wants to buy a US-owned arms maker based in Spain and accuses the owner (General Dynamics) of ‘destroying’ it
ft.com/content/83ac... from @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social & me
Defence laggard Spain calls for cyber and climate efforts to count as security spending
"Our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees," says PM Pedro Sánchez
ft.com/content/7f18...
"Our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees," says PM Pedro Sánchez
ft.com/content/7f18...
Spain’s Sánchez calls for cyber and climate to count as defence spending
Spanish premier says ‘our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees’
ft.com
March 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Defence laggard Spain calls for cyber and climate efforts to count as security spending
"Our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees," says PM Pedro Sánchez
ft.com/content/7f18...
"Our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees," says PM Pedro Sánchez
ft.com/content/7f18...
Portugal’s government on brink of collapse on.ft.com/4bGl8ES
Portugal’s government on brink of collapse
[FREE TO READ] Prime Minister Luís Montenegro likely to lose confidence vote on Tuesday over consultancy he transferred to his family
on.ft.com
March 11, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Portugal’s government on brink of collapse on.ft.com/4bGl8ES
Reposted by Barney Jopson
Is giving old reactors new life the future of nuclear energy?—
Most of the world’s operating nuclear power plants, around 400, were built in the 1970s to 1990s and are now… www.ft.com/content/9178... @barneyjopson.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social
Most of the world’s operating nuclear power plants, around 400, were built in the 1970s to 1990s and are now… www.ft.com/content/9178... @barneyjopson.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social
Is giving old reactors new life the future of nuclear energy?
Countries want to squeeze more electricity from ageing power plants to help meet global demand, but the strategy has its own challenges
www.ft.com
March 5, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Is giving old reactors new life the future of nuclear energy?—
Most of the world’s operating nuclear power plants, around 400, were built in the 1970s to 1990s and are now… www.ft.com/content/9178... @barneyjopson.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social
Most of the world’s operating nuclear power plants, around 400, were built in the 1970s to 1990s and are now… www.ft.com/content/9178... @barneyjopson.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social
Donald Trump adds US ‘gold card’ to global cash-for-visas competition
But his $5mn price tag blows past the cost of investment-linked residency permits in Europe & the Caribbean
ft.com/content/c062... via me & @joshspero.ft.com @cynthiao.bsky.social
But his $5mn price tag blows past the cost of investment-linked residency permits in Europe & the Caribbean
ft.com/content/c062... via me & @joshspero.ft.com @cynthiao.bsky.social
Donald Trump adds ‘gold card’ to global cash-for-visas competition
Rivals to $5mn scheme have drawn Chinese, Russian and other wealthy investors, but raised concerns about money laundering
ft.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Donald Trump adds US ‘gold card’ to global cash-for-visas competition
But his $5mn price tag blows past the cost of investment-linked residency permits in Europe & the Caribbean
ft.com/content/c062... via me & @joshspero.ft.com @cynthiao.bsky.social
But his $5mn price tag blows past the cost of investment-linked residency permits in Europe & the Caribbean
ft.com/content/c062... via me & @joshspero.ft.com @cynthiao.bsky.social
Reposted by Barney Jopson
Europe and US clash over Ukraine in G7 and UN
https://www.ft.com/content/6d78e821-1e53-492e-9018-b4e85410ccd1
https://www.ft.com/content/6d78e821-1e53-492e-9018-b4e85410ccd1
Europe and US clash over Ukraine in G7 and UN
EU and Trump administration differ over blaming Russia in rival draft resolutions
www.ft.com
February 24, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Europe and US clash over Ukraine in G7 and UN
https://www.ft.com/content/6d78e821-1e53-492e-9018-b4e85410ccd1
https://www.ft.com/content/6d78e821-1e53-492e-9018-b4e85410ccd1
A hit @financialtimes.com story from the weekend:
Why ‘Trump regime refugees’ are falling in love with Madrid
The chart shows you one of the many reasons. The Spanish capital is 150th in the cost of living rankings
ft.com/content/3a2d...
Why ‘Trump regime refugees’ are falling in love with Madrid
The chart shows you one of the many reasons. The Spanish capital is 150th in the cost of living rankings
ft.com/content/3a2d...
February 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
A hit @financialtimes.com story from the weekend:
Why ‘Trump regime refugees’ are falling in love with Madrid
The chart shows you one of the many reasons. The Spanish capital is 150th in the cost of living rankings
ft.com/content/3a2d...
Why ‘Trump regime refugees’ are falling in love with Madrid
The chart shows you one of the many reasons. The Spanish capital is 150th in the cost of living rankings
ft.com/content/3a2d...
Yes, Milton Keynes is a success story, mostly
"Mean-spirited commentators spent so long treating Milton Keynes as a punchline, in fact, that many of them seem to have missed the fact the place has been a huge success..."
On what works, and what didn't, about Britain's new towns.
On what works, and what didn't, about Britain's new towns.
Lessons for Britain from Milton Keynes
The mocked and derided down is a rare success story of national planning.
www.newstatesman.com
February 18, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Yes, Milton Keynes is a success story, mostly
Reposted by Barney Jopson
Santander explored sale of UK business with NatWest
https://www.ft.com/content/5868abdb-0f46-4c56-a342-49763a55cdb8
https://www.ft.com/content/5868abdb-0f46-4c56-a342-49763a55cdb8
Santander explored sale of UK business with NatWest
Talks last year came as the British high street lender takes a robust approach to growth ahead of government exit
www.ft.com
February 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Santander explored sale of UK business with NatWest
https://www.ft.com/content/5868abdb-0f46-4c56-a342-49763a55cdb8
https://www.ft.com/content/5868abdb-0f46-4c56-a342-49763a55cdb8
The Spanish company HBX is a bit of a hidden force in the world of hotel bookings. But they priced their IPO badly coz the shares have plunged on.ft.com/3WTw37V
Travel group HBX’s shares sink after IPO
Hotel room wholesaler’s float viewed as key test of European market in 2025
on.ft.com
February 13, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The Spanish company HBX is a bit of a hidden force in the world of hotel bookings. But they priced their IPO badly coz the shares have plunged on.ft.com/3WTw37V
Europe left reeling by Trump over Ukraine peace talks with Russia on.ft.com/4hMHG96
February 13, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Europe left reeling by Trump over Ukraine peace talks with Russia on.ft.com/4hMHG96
How a UK-born executive became the Spanish government’s corporate fixer
My @FT profile of Marc Murtra, the new Telefónica boss from Blackburn. He’s PM Pedro Sánchez’s favourite business agitator. And, in the eyes of conservatives, an agent of political “colonialism”.
on.ft.com/3PYWpl7
My @FT profile of Marc Murtra, the new Telefónica boss from Blackburn. He’s PM Pedro Sánchez’s favourite business agitator. And, in the eyes of conservatives, an agent of political “colonialism”.
on.ft.com/3PYWpl7
How a UK-born executive became the Spanish government’s corporate fixer
[FREE TO READ] Marc Murtra’s emergence as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s corporate fixer has drawn accusations of crony capitalism
on.ft.com
January 31, 2025 at 5:12 PM
How a UK-born executive became the Spanish government’s corporate fixer
My @FT profile of Marc Murtra, the new Telefónica boss from Blackburn. He’s PM Pedro Sánchez’s favourite business agitator. And, in the eyes of conservatives, an agent of political “colonialism”.
on.ft.com/3PYWpl7
My @FT profile of Marc Murtra, the new Telefónica boss from Blackburn. He’s PM Pedro Sánchez’s favourite business agitator. And, in the eyes of conservatives, an agent of political “colonialism”.
on.ft.com/3PYWpl7
Virgin Money’s AI-powered chatbot has reprimanded a customer who used the word “virgin”, telling him: “Please don’t use words like that. I won’t be able to continue our chat if you use this language.”
on.ft.com/40IjLke
on.ft.com/40IjLke
Virgin Money chatbot scolds customer who typed ‘virgin’
UK banks are racing to roll out generative AI tools to personalise consumer services
on.ft.com
January 29, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Virgin Money’s AI-powered chatbot has reprimanded a customer who used the word “virgin”, telling him: “Please don’t use words like that. I won’t be able to continue our chat if you use this language.”
on.ft.com/40IjLke
on.ft.com/40IjLke
Reposted by Barney Jopson
Spain's far-right Vox party rejects climate action, but has gained support after the Valencia floods that were worsened by climate change
“There is a visceral component to citizens’ analysis of things. It is not entirely rational," the transport minister tells the FT
www.ft.com/content/5599...
“There is a visceral component to citizens’ analysis of things. It is not entirely rational," the transport minister tells the FT
www.ft.com/content/5599...
Spain warns far right is exploiting anger over climate disasters
Nationalist Vox party has seized on ‘visceral’ public reaction to mishandling of floods, says transport minister
www.ft.com
January 27, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Spain's far-right Vox party rejects climate action, but has gained support after the Valencia floods that were worsened by climate change
“There is a visceral component to citizens’ analysis of things. It is not entirely rational," the transport minister tells the FT
www.ft.com/content/5599...
“There is a visceral component to citizens’ analysis of things. It is not entirely rational," the transport minister tells the FT
www.ft.com/content/5599...
Western investors ‘stupid’ to shun arms industry, says Nato official on.ft.com/4h5VMSk
Western investors ‘stupid’ to shun arms industry, says Nato official
[FREE TO READ] Rob Bauer calls on banks, pension funds and rating agencies to change outdated policies in face of rising threats
on.ft.com
January 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Western investors ‘stupid’ to shun arms industry, says Nato official on.ft.com/4h5VMSk
Valencia floods: the scandal of a disaster foretold
Our longform FT reconstruction of how political leaders let people down on the day — and over decades
on.ft.com/3P7vXFC
Our longform FT reconstruction of how political leaders let people down on the day — and over decades
on.ft.com/3P7vXFC
Valencia floods: the scandal of a disaster foretold
Political leaders, on the day and over the decades, failed to heed warnings — or issue them as the waters surged
on.ft.com
December 23, 2024 at 9:20 AM
Valencia floods: the scandal of a disaster foretold
Our longform FT reconstruction of how political leaders let people down on the day — and over decades
on.ft.com/3P7vXFC
Our longform FT reconstruction of how political leaders let people down on the day — and over decades
on.ft.com/3P7vXFC