Guy De Launey
@guydelauney.bsky.social
Balkans Correspondent 📹 BBC News, 🖋️ Monocle
Presenter 🎙 Monocle Radio
Moderator ⚖ at large
Presenter 🎙 Monocle Radio
Moderator ⚖ at large
Cash only at NIS and Gazprom service stations when I was in Serbia last week. The government is trying to sort out a solution before the country's refineries run out of fuel. But Russia is not exactly falling over itself to help.
#BBCNews - Serbia's energy reliance on Russia comes unstuck facing US oil sanctions
www.bbc.com/news/article...
By @guydelauney.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...
By @guydelauney.bsky.social
Serbia's energy reliance on Russia comes unstuck facing US oil sanctions
President Vucic has traded barbs with the Kremlin amid differences over gas supplies and Serbia's arms trade.
www.bbc.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Cash only at NIS and Gazprom service stations when I was in Serbia last week. The government is trying to sort out a solution before the country's refineries run out of fuel. But Russia is not exactly falling over itself to help.
Another reflection on the Novi Sad commemoration, brought up to date with this week's events in Belgrade, where Dijana Hrka, the mother of one of the victims of the railway station disaster, is on hunger strike. For DW's Inside Europe programme. www.dw.com/en/one-young...
One Young World Summit and the EU's Enlargement Report – DW – 11/06/2025
Youth leaders meet in Munich for the One Young World Summit, the EU resleases its annual Enlargement Report, and Serbia marks a year since the Novi Sad Railway Station disaster. Also: Italy's controv...
www.dw.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Another reflection on the Novi Sad commemoration, brought up to date with this week's events in Belgrade, where Dijana Hrka, the mother of one of the victims of the railway station disaster, is on hunger strike. For DW's Inside Europe programme. www.dw.com/en/one-young...
Setting an example for Serbia to follow with NIS?
Bulgaria plans to nationalize and then sell the Russian-owned Lukoil Neftochim Burgas refinery, the largest in the Balkans, supplying nearly 80% of the country’s fuel. The move comes amid fears of fuel shortages due to new US sanctions.
November 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Setting an example for Serbia to follow with NIS?
I'll take that risk.
Shareholders are set to vote on the stark choice presented by the board: pay Musk up to $878 billion in company stock or take the risk he will leave — potentially driving down the company's stock reut.rs/4ov332g
November 5, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I'll take that risk.
My Bluesky followers have finally ticked over to the 5.9k mark. This took many months, in comparison to the first 5.8k, who came very quickly. Of course I would like to have more followers and engagement. Any thoughts on why the slowdown, and what I could do about it? And is it me, or Bluesky?
November 5, 2025 at 10:11 AM
My Bluesky followers have finally ticked over to the 5.9k mark. This took many months, in comparison to the first 5.8k, who came very quickly. Of course I would like to have more followers and engagement. Any thoughts on why the slowdown, and what I could do about it? And is it me, or Bluesky?
My piece for the world's oldest Sunday newspaper on the lastest in Serbia, with yesterday's commemoration of the railway station disaster in Novi Sad.
Tens of thousands of people travel to Novi Sad to rally against the corruption they hold responsible for the station building that collapsed this time last year, killing 16 people, writes @guydelauney.bsky.social.
https://bit.ly/4qBVGYg
https://bit.ly/4qBVGYg
Serbians demand an end to government corruption one year ...
Tens of thousands of people travel to Novi Sad to rally against the corruption they hold responsible for the station building that collapsed this time la...
bit.ly
November 2, 2025 at 12:25 PM
My piece for the world's oldest Sunday newspaper on the lastest in Serbia, with yesterday's commemoration of the railway station disaster in Novi Sad.
The long tail of Reagan/Thatcher deregulation mania is whipping ever harder. The problem is that political leaders are either in thrall to tech plutocrats or actually financially dependent on them. Or still swallowing the 1990s line that regulating web platforms would be repressive.
Again, this precise use case is why these systems exist-to proliferate people’s racist (transphobic, misogynistic…) imaginary at scale. This should not be seen as a “misuse” but rather the product being used exactly as intended.
Racist Influencers Using OpenAI's Sora to Make it Look Like Poor People Are Selling Food Stamps for Cash
Folks looking for evidence of SNAP recipients as welfare queens have no shortage of AI generated schlock to use as justification.
futurism.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The long tail of Reagan/Thatcher deregulation mania is whipping ever harder. The problem is that political leaders are either in thrall to tech plutocrats or actually financially dependent on them. Or still swallowing the 1990s line that regulating web platforms would be repressive.
Here's my BBC story from yesterday's commemoration at Novi Sad railway station.
#BBCNews - Anger lingers in Serbia a year after train station tragedy
www.bbc.com/news/article...
By @guydelauney.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...
By @guydelauney.bsky.social
Anger lingers in Serbia a year after train station tragedy
Tens of thousands mourned 16 people who died in a rail station canopy collapse in Novi Sad last year, sparking ongoing protests.
www.bbc.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Here's my BBC story from yesterday's commemoration at Novi Sad railway station.
At Novi Sad railway station, ahead of the commemoration for the 16 people who died in last year's canopy collapse in Serbia's second city. With camera crew Bata.
November 1, 2025 at 9:30 AM
At Novi Sad railway station, ahead of the commemoration for the 16 people who died in last year's canopy collapse in Serbia's second city. With camera crew Bata.
The EU has been leading the Western Balkans up the garden path for decades. Ursula von der Leyen's express tour round the region last week - and yesterday's Berlin Process Summit in London - have done nothing to change that. Read more in my piece for the Monocle Minute: monocle.com/affairs/poli...
The idea of EU membership for the Western Balkans has run aground - Monocle
Examining recent and current events, you would be forgiven for thinking that the EU was pursuing expansion in the Western...
monocle.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The EU has been leading the Western Balkans up the garden path for decades. Ursula von der Leyen's express tour round the region last week - and yesterday's Berlin Process Summit in London - have done nothing to change that. Read more in my piece for the Monocle Minute: monocle.com/affairs/poli...
Boing, boom tschak! Looks like the new, expanded lineup is heading on tour. @notpodium.bsky.social should approve.
October 20, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Boing, boom tschak! Looks like the new, expanded lineup is heading on tour. @notpodium.bsky.social should approve.
It turns out that you *can* have a blue passport if you're in the EU... Not a new thing - Crotia joined in 2013. But worth reiterating that Cameron could have engaged in some similar optics in 2016 which might have seemed trivial, but could have helped. total-croatia-news.com/news/croatia...
Croatian Passport More Powerful Than USA, Equal With British - Total Croatia
The Croatian passport is now more powerful than the US passport, which has dropped off the top 10 list completely for the first time ever.
total-croatia-news.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:59 AM
It turns out that you *can* have a blue passport if you're in the EU... Not a new thing - Crotia joined in 2013. But worth reiterating that Cameron could have engaged in some similar optics in 2016 which might have seemed trivial, but could have helped. total-croatia-news.com/news/croatia...
Here's the first published fruit of my mountain climb with/trailing in the wake of Tadej Pogačar. My debut in The Observer, no less. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
Me vs Tadej Pogačar: how I fared against the world’s grea...
Racing against the Tour de France champion on his home mountain was never going to be easy
observer.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Here's the first published fruit of my mountain climb with/trailing in the wake of Tadej Pogačar. My debut in The Observer, no less. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
Turns out there's a few seconds of Tadej Pogačar cruising past me on this video of yesterday's Pogi Challenge. At about the 39 minute mark. You'll see me on the right, in the blue jersey with black sleeves, white helmet. 365.rtvslo.si/arhiv/kolesa...
S Klanca v klanc, prenos dirke s Tadejem Pogačarjem
Na Pogačarjevi dobrodelni dirki ni bilo prostora za vse kolesarske navdušence. Nastopilo je 1189 kolesarjev, kolikor je višinske razlike med Pogačarjevim domačim Klancem pri Komendi in ciljem na tako ...
365.rtvslo.si
October 13, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Turns out there's a few seconds of Tadej Pogačar cruising past me on this video of yesterday's Pogi Challenge. At about the 39 minute mark. You'll see me on the right, in the blue jersey with black sleeves, white helmet. 365.rtvslo.si/arhiv/kolesa...
Wish me luck - I'm about to take on Tadej Pogačar up one of Slovenia's toughest climbs. It will be an unequal contest.
October 12, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Wish me luck - I'm about to take on Tadej Pogačar up one of Slovenia's toughest climbs. It will be an unequal contest.
Heartening news. But is a bicycle humble? Efficient, relaxing, fun, thrilling, practical and one of the greatest inventions of all time, yes. Some people may misguidedly look down on bicycles and their riders, but that doesn't make the mode nor those who deploy it shrinking violets.
A disruptive transport technology is rapidly changing cities across the rich world: the humble bicycle. There are three factors behind this two-wheeled renaissance econ.st/48WxlpC
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
October 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Heartening news. But is a bicycle humble? Efficient, relaxing, fun, thrilling, practical and one of the greatest inventions of all time, yes. Some people may misguidedly look down on bicycles and their riders, but that doesn't make the mode nor those who deploy it shrinking violets.
The mountain was living in my head. So I just had to climb it. The leg test ahead of Sunday's Pogi Challenge proved positive. The world's greatest male cyclist will be chasing me and hundreds of other hopefuls up Slovenia's toughest climb, Krvavec. Stand by for stories, if I survive.
October 9, 2025 at 9:06 AM
The mountain was living in my head. So I just had to climb it. The leg test ahead of Sunday's Pogi Challenge proved positive. The world's greatest male cyclist will be chasing me and hundreds of other hopefuls up Slovenia's toughest climb, Krvavec. Stand by for stories, if I survive.
Elite cycling stays close to its roots. My tale of Tadej Pogačar's return to his home village on this week's From Our Own Correspondent on BBC Radio 4 and World Service. From 23'10" - it's the the "and finally" item. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, Israel's ultimatum for Gaza City
Around a million Palestinians have been told to leave Gaza City ahead of a new offensive
www.bbc.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Elite cycling stays close to its roots. My tale of Tadej Pogačar's return to his home village on this week's From Our Own Correspondent on BBC Radio 4 and World Service. From 23'10" - it's the the "and finally" item. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
There are certain media outlets I will not work for, even for decent pay. Continuing to create content for Twitter/X, for no pay whatsoever, became untenable with the change of ownership and resulting changes to the platform. Jim's points are spot on.
Absolutely !!!insane!!! to me that the UK government, lobby and newspapers litigate at length every minor infraction by the BBC, rival newspapers, or what some random columnist has posted. But all of them just carry on not even commenting about this media owner. He’s not hiding, he’s telling you!
The owner of and absolute unquestionable algorithm controller of a preferred communications channel of the UK Government calling for violence and the overthrow of the Government. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
September 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
There are certain media outlets I will not work for, even for decent pay. Continuing to create content for Twitter/X, for no pay whatsoever, became untenable with the change of ownership and resulting changes to the platform. Jim's points are spot on.
My take on Albania's "AI minister". That's a minister who's an AI, rather than a minister for AI. @andihoxhaj.bsky.social reckons there may be some substance behind the PR. Edi Rama also explains himself. www.bbc.com/news/article...
World's first AI minister will eliminate corruption, says Albania's PM - BBC News
Named Diella, the new minister will help Albania "leapfrog" bigger, more advanced countries, says Edi Rama.
www.bbc.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:27 PM
My take on Albania's "AI minister". That's a minister who's an AI, rather than a minister for AI. @andihoxhaj.bsky.social reckons there may be some substance behind the PR. Edi Rama also explains himself. www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Serbia is on the brink of civil war," said Crotia's PM Andrej Plenkovic at today's Bled Strategic Forum. Is that correct? Well, thousands of high school students and their supporters are on Belgrade (and other cities') streets tonight. But peaceful protests, not combat. n1info.rs/vesti/najnov...
(BLOG)
U Novom Sadu obeležava se 10 meseci od pada nadstrešnice na Železničkoj stanici kada je poginulo 16 ljudi.
n1info.rs
September 1, 2025 at 6:15 PM
"Serbia is on the brink of civil war," said Crotia's PM Andrej Plenkovic at today's Bled Strategic Forum. Is that correct? Well, thousands of high school students and their supporters are on Belgrade (and other cities') streets tonight. But peaceful protests, not combat. n1info.rs/vesti/najnov...
The gig itself was one thing. The rhetorical contortions that members of Croatia's governing HDZ party subsequently got themselves into were even more dispiriting. When you find yourself justifying the use of an actual fascist salute, it's time to look in the mirror. But what if they already have?
This story's been rumbling away for quite some time. Thanks @guydelauney.bsky.social for writing it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Croatian ultra-nationalist mega-gig exposes divided society
Half a million people bought tickets to singer Thompson's July concert in Zagreb.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The gig itself was one thing. The rhetorical contortions that members of Croatia's governing HDZ party subsequently got themselves into were even more dispiriting. When you find yourself justifying the use of an actual fascist salute, it's time to look in the mirror. But what if they already have?
Three years ago today, I saw De La Soul in Liverpool, ticking off a very large entry on my gig bucket list. Look at that set-up - a nine-piece band. Other hip hop acts take note - you can do better than a backing track and an empty stage (Tyler and Travis, I'm looking at you). Vale Dave/Trugoy.
July 31, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Three years ago today, I saw De La Soul in Liverpool, ticking off a very large entry on my gig bucket list. Look at that set-up - a nine-piece band. Other hip hop acts take note - you can do better than a backing track and an empty stage (Tyler and Travis, I'm looking at you). Vale Dave/Trugoy.
Being a lazy journalist, I asked for a link for this. Then one dropped into my inbox, c/o @petepaphides.bsky.social. Truly, the universe serves the indolent (word chosen advisedly). For less than the price of six British flat whites - enduringly wonderful music. burningshed.com/index.php?ro...
July 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Being a lazy journalist, I asked for a link for this. Then one dropped into my inbox, c/o @petepaphides.bsky.social. Truly, the universe serves the indolent (word chosen advisedly). For less than the price of six British flat whites - enduringly wonderful music. burningshed.com/index.php?ro...
Rounded up a lot of aspects of reconciliation and enduring divisions in Bosnia in a feature for DW's Inside Europe programme. Link in the post below.
War crimes and the responsibility of witnessing: featuring reporting from @guydelauney.bsky.social in Srebrenica, and conversations with @hahauenstein.bsky.social on Gaza and Wayne Jordash KC in Ukraine. www.dw.com/en/inside-eu...
Inside Europe 17 July 2025 – DW – 07/17/2025
30 years since Srebrenica, Hanno Hauenstein on why language matters when reporting on Gaza, Global Rights Compliance President, Wayne Jordash KC, on gathering war crimes evidence in Ukraine, PKK fight...
www.dw.com
July 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Rounded up a lot of aspects of reconciliation and enduring divisions in Bosnia in a feature for DW's Inside Europe programme. Link in the post below.