João
@euroconcern.bsky.social
International relations with an EU angle, videogames, space and other musings. Posts in EN, PT, FR, plus other languages if I feel brave enough.
Pinned
Reposted by João
With variable memberships when it comes to the Euro, Schengen and the EPPO the EU has had a variable speed Europe for 35 years
Von der Leyen floats two-speed Europe ahead of economy summit
Von der Leyen floats two-speed Europe ahead of economy summit
EU unity gives way to the rise of multi-country coalitions
dlvr.it
February 9, 2026 at 9:08 PM
With variable memberships when it comes to the Euro, Schengen and the EPPO the EU has had a variable speed Europe for 35 years
This is why the Portuguese and Spanish model of paying members who vote for the club's leadership is the best...
...until we elect a guy who promises a 900 million €uro squad and 10 titles in 3 years.
...until we elect a guy who promises a 900 million €uro squad and 10 titles in 3 years.
i forget who made it but it cracks me up lol
February 9, 2026 at 8:16 PM
This is why the Portuguese and Spanish model of paying members who vote for the club's leadership is the best...
...until we elect a guy who promises a 900 million €uro squad and 10 titles in 3 years.
...until we elect a guy who promises a 900 million €uro squad and 10 titles in 3 years.
Reposted by João
Mon analyse @grandcontinent.bsky.social de l’élection présidentielle au Portugal : victoire socialiste et renforcement de l’extrême droite legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2026/02/0...
Élections portugaises : victoire socialiste et renforcement de l'extrême droite | Le Grand Continent
Malgré des conditions météorologiques exceptionnelles, le Portugal a tranché et António José Seguro remporte l’élection présidentielle. Derrière ce succès net du centre gauche se dessine pourtant une...
legrandcontinent.eu
February 9, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Mon analyse @grandcontinent.bsky.social de l’élection présidentielle au Portugal : victoire socialiste et renforcement de l’extrême droite legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2026/02/0...
Reposted by João
Reposted by João
Keep him!
“Information continuing to emerge from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) claims that the M23 armed group has detained Erik Prince, the American national known as the founder and former head of the private military company Blackwater.“
“Information continuing to emerge from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) claims that the M23 armed group has detained Erik Prince, the American national known as the founder and former head of the private military company Blackwater.“
Reports Emerge Claiming M23 Detained Blackwater Founder Erik Prince in Eastern DRC
kigalidailynews.rw
February 9, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Keep him!
“Information continuing to emerge from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) claims that the M23 armed group has detained Erik Prince, the American national known as the founder and former head of the private military company Blackwater.“
“Information continuing to emerge from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) claims that the M23 armed group has detained Erik Prince, the American national known as the founder and former head of the private military company Blackwater.“
Esta última jornalista fez o clássico: 'isto não é bem uma pergunta, é mais um comentário...'
February 8, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Esta última jornalista fez o clássico: 'isto não é bem uma pergunta, é mais um comentário...'
Portugal's president-elect 👇
Senhoras e Senhores, o próximo Presidente da República Portuguesa.
February 8, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Portugal's president-elect 👇
José Rodrigues dos Santos disse "todos" sem fazer figurinhas, notável.
February 8, 2026 at 9:03 PM
José Rodrigues dos Santos disse "todos" sem fazer figurinhas, notável.
Reposted by João
Note that the radical right does *much* better in the very large Portuguese diaspora abroad than in Portugal itself (at least those who vote, turnout is very low): here Ventura nearly reaches 50% (not all votes counted yet)
February 8, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Note that the radical right does *much* better in the very large Portuguese diaspora abroad than in Portugal itself (at least those who vote, turnout is very low): here Ventura nearly reaches 50% (not all votes counted yet)
Portugal's centre-left candidate António José Seguro cruising to victory in the second round. All polls predicted this.
It's not yet known what over 30% for the far-right candidate could do to the political landscape - the ruling centre-right coalition scored 31% last year.
It's not yet known what over 30% for the far-right candidate could do to the political landscape - the ruling centre-right coalition scored 31% last year.
Portugal, ICS-ISCTE-GfK-Pitagórica exit poll:
Presidential election, second round today
Seguro (PS-S&D): 67.0-71.4% (+69.2)
Ventura (CH-PfE): 28.6-33.0% (+30.8)
+/- vs. Last election result
➤ europeelects.eu/portugal
Presidential election, second round today
Seguro (PS-S&D): 67.0-71.4% (+69.2)
Ventura (CH-PfE): 28.6-33.0% (+30.8)
+/- vs. Last election result
➤ europeelects.eu/portugal
February 8, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Portugal's centre-left candidate António José Seguro cruising to victory in the second round. All polls predicted this.
It's not yet known what over 30% for the far-right candidate could do to the political landscape - the ruling centre-right coalition scored 31% last year.
It's not yet known what over 30% for the far-right candidate could do to the political landscape - the ruling centre-right coalition scored 31% last year.
Reposted by João
France has awarded 28 Clair Obscur developers a knighthood and said "video games have reached a new level of recognition" thanks to its sucess.
vgc.news/news/france-...
vgc.news/news/france-...
France gives 28 Clair Obscur developers a knighthood and says ‘video games have reached a new level of recognition’ | VGC
Sandfall Interactive members made Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters…
vgc.news
February 8, 2026 at 11:28 AM
France has awarded 28 Clair Obscur developers a knighthood and said "video games have reached a new level of recognition" thanks to its sucess.
vgc.news/news/france-...
vgc.news/news/france-...
Reposted by João
"A 23/12/2025 houve um episódio semelhante, a polícia de intervenção entrou no espaço depois de uma vigília pacífica pela libertação dos presos políticos do golpe de 26/11. A polícia levou 2 funcionários da Liga Guineense dos DHs p/ Min. do Interior onde foram espancados enquanto eram filmados"
February 7, 2026 at 6:37 PM
"A 23/12/2025 houve um episódio semelhante, a polícia de intervenção entrou no espaço depois de uma vigília pacífica pela libertação dos presos políticos do golpe de 26/11. A polícia levou 2 funcionários da Liga Guineense dos DHs p/ Min. do Interior onde foram espancados enquanto eram filmados"
Reposted by João
Dez elementos “fortemente armados e encapuzados” entraram na Casa dos Direitos, em Bissau, e expulsaram o embaixador europeu “sem qualquer explicação”, numa “acção de intimidação”.
Embaixador da União Europeia na Guiné-Bissau expulso pela polícia durante visita à Casa dos Direitos
Dez elementos “fortemente armados e encapuzados” entraram na Casa dos Direitos, em Bissau, e expulsaram o embaixador europeu “sem qualquer explicação”, numa “acção de intimidação”.
www.publico.pt
February 7, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Dez elementos “fortemente armados e encapuzados” entraram na Casa dos Direitos, em Bissau, e expulsaram o embaixador europeu “sem qualquer explicação”, numa “acção de intimidação”.
Reposted by João
"It is this institutional context that makes Ventura’s candidacy constitutionally alarming. His political project is not simply about occupying the presidency; it is about redefining the rules of the game"
On 8 Feb 2026, Portugal votes in a presidential runoff. 🇵🇹
For TERESA VIOLANTE, this is about more than the candidates: the Seguro–Ventura contest crystallizes a clash between liberal and illiberal democracy.
verfassungsblog.de/portugal-pre...
For TERESA VIOLANTE, this is about more than the candidates: the Seguro–Ventura contest crystallizes a clash between liberal and illiberal democracy.
verfassungsblog.de/portugal-pre...
February 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM
"It is this institutional context that makes Ventura’s candidacy constitutionally alarming. His political project is not simply about occupying the presidency; it is about redefining the rules of the game"
Reposted by João
Russia's assault on women's reproductive rights is steamrolling ahead as lawmakers draft legislation requiring abortion-seekers to notify their husbands (and sometimes even ex-husbands) before terminating a pregnancy. Demographic panic becomes repressive insanity. sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/1101102-8
sozd.duma.gov.ru
February 6, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Russia's assault on women's reproductive rights is steamrolling ahead as lawmakers draft legislation requiring abortion-seekers to notify their husbands (and sometimes even ex-husbands) before terminating a pregnancy. Demographic panic becomes repressive insanity. sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/1101102-8
Reposted by João
Let’s be honest: in many of these winter Olympic “sports”, the snow is doing most of the work. An unexpected thaw would expose these so-called athletes for the frauds they are
February 6, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Let’s be honest: in many of these winter Olympic “sports”, the snow is doing most of the work. An unexpected thaw would expose these so-called athletes for the frauds they are
"It is this institutional context that makes Ventura’s candidacy constitutionally alarming. His political project is not simply about occupying the presidency; it is about redefining the rules of the game"
On 8 Feb 2026, Portugal votes in a presidential runoff. 🇵🇹
For TERESA VIOLANTE, this is about more than the candidates: the Seguro–Ventura contest crystallizes a clash between liberal and illiberal democracy.
verfassungsblog.de/portugal-pre...
For TERESA VIOLANTE, this is about more than the candidates: the Seguro–Ventura contest crystallizes a clash between liberal and illiberal democracy.
verfassungsblog.de/portugal-pre...
February 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM
"It is this institutional context that makes Ventura’s candidacy constitutionally alarming. His political project is not simply about occupying the presidency; it is about redefining the rules of the game"
Reposted by João
Já está disponível a FMA — fma.vost.pt. Uma aplicação da VOST Portugal que permite a qualquer pessoa, em qualquer ponto do território nacional, reportar danos causados por fenómenos meteorológicos severos através de um mapa interativo.
🔗 Acede em: fma.vost.pt.
🔗 Acede em: fma.vost.pt.
February 4, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Já está disponível a FMA — fma.vost.pt. Uma aplicação da VOST Portugal que permite a qualquer pessoa, em qualquer ponto do território nacional, reportar danos causados por fenómenos meteorológicos severos através de um mapa interativo.
🔗 Acede em: fma.vost.pt.
🔗 Acede em: fma.vost.pt.
€275 million for one night of Russian strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
We rightly criticized the US for a colossally expensive invasion of Iraq where many soldiers came from poverty-stricken backgrounds.
Russia is a much poorer country, spending even more of its own resources.
We rightly criticized the US for a colossally expensive invasion of Iraq where many soldiers came from poverty-stricken backgrounds.
Russia is a much poorer country, spending even more of its own resources.
⚡️ $325 million — that's how much it cost Russia to bomb Ukraine in latest missile, drone attack, HUR says.
These funds could have financed Russia's Jewish Autonomous Oblast for "an entire year," HUR said.
These funds could have financed Russia's Jewish Autonomous Oblast for "an entire year," HUR said.
$325 million — that's how much it cost Russia to bomb Ukraine in latest missile, drone attack, HUR says
These funds could have financed Russia's Jewish Autonomous Oblast for "an entire year," HUR said.
kyivindependent.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:44 PM
€275 million for one night of Russian strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
We rightly criticized the US for a colossally expensive invasion of Iraq where many soldiers came from poverty-stricken backgrounds.
Russia is a much poorer country, spending even more of its own resources.
We rightly criticized the US for a colossally expensive invasion of Iraq where many soldiers came from poverty-stricken backgrounds.
Russia is a much poorer country, spending even more of its own resources.
Reposted by João
New START, the last remaining U.S.-Russia treaty codifying limits on the size of their nuclear arsenals, expires at 23:59:59 CET today (17:59:59 EST).
February 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
New START, the last remaining U.S.-Russia treaty codifying limits on the size of their nuclear arsenals, expires at 23:59:59 CET today (17:59:59 EST).
"W/out verification mechanisms, data exchanges and CBMs built into the treaty, the knowledge gaps wrt Russian & US nuclear forces will grow over time (...) Nuclear force planning will increasingly veer towards worst-case assessments as reliable data becomes scarce & intel estimates more politicized"
The expiry of #NewSTART tomorrow ushers in a new phase of heightened nuclear dangers. Europe’s leaders must recognize the grave implications for European security and take action. Read the latest SIPRI Essay by SIPRI Director Karim Haggag:
sipri.org/commentary/e...
sipri.org/commentary/e...
February 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
"W/out verification mechanisms, data exchanges and CBMs built into the treaty, the knowledge gaps wrt Russian & US nuclear forces will grow over time (...) Nuclear force planning will increasingly veer towards worst-case assessments as reliable data becomes scarce & intel estimates more politicized"
These videos are like a plague.
February 4, 2026 at 12:47 AM
These videos are like a plague.
The entire movie compressed to 8:44 minutes - extended edition, mind you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmsx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmsx...
The Fellowship of the Ring but every time they say ring it gets faster
YouTube video by Talking Nonsense
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:13 AM
The entire movie compressed to 8:44 minutes - extended edition, mind you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmsx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmsx...