Paul
@paulbali.com
Zachtwerkende Nederlander. Paris & Berlin, previously in The Hague and Rabat. Views mine
Scribbles at chipsgunsandmoney.substack.com
Scribbles at chipsgunsandmoney.substack.com
Reposted by Paul
Great article by Amberin Zaman: "Turkey’s equally big fear is that a dissolution of central authority would encourage Iran’s restive ethnic minorities, notably the Kurds, the Baloch and the Azeris, to break away"
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Why Iran regime’s potential collapse spells more risk than benefit for Turkey
Iran’s leadership faces its most serious unrest in years, and rising Kurdish mobilization makes the prospect of regime collapse particularly risky for Turkey.
www.al-monitor.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Great article by Amberin Zaman: "Turkey’s equally big fear is that a dissolution of central authority would encourage Iran’s restive ethnic minorities, notably the Kurds, the Baloch and the Azeris, to break away"
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
The "European civil servants are weak, soft, and unfit to govern" is a total rip off from my rants on here
European governing elites from London through Brussels to Moldova face the worst threats since 1945, from Putin, Trump, China, AI, climate etc. Why are they so unequipped to deal with them? Me on the men (mostly) with blue suits and diplomas who have landed in the jungle as.ft.com/r/b709f313-8...
The impotence of Europe’s governing elite
[FREE TO READ] From Brussels to Moldova, the men in blue suits know they’re in trouble. But what are they going to do about it?
as.ft.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:04 PM
The "European civil servants are weak, soft, and unfit to govern" is a total rip off from my rants on here
Reposted by Paul
this is why we can't have nice things
The EU’s centrist powers need to move to the right to reflect the new political reality, the leader of the European People’s Party Manfred Weber has told in an exclusive interview with POLITICO.
Europe shifted right — it’s time centrists do too, says Manfred Weber
EPP chief says he still wants to work with traditional allies, but they need to adapt.
www.politico.eu
January 15, 2026 at 1:46 PM
this is why we can't have nice things
Nederland heeft niks aan meer instabiliteit en chaos in Iran. En met sancties straf je voornamelijk de bevolking, vooral vrouwen en kinderen. Een einde aan het regime zou wss jarenlang intern conflict betekenen, niet spontaan liberale democratie. Maar goed, het klinkt zo goed op papier hè...
De internationale gemeenschap moet zich hard maken voor het recht van het Iraanse volk om over hun eigen toekomst te kunnen beslissen.
Goed dat EU buitenlandchef Kallas pleit voor meer sancties en vrijlating van demonstranten.
Morgenavond daarover debat met @minBZ. #FreeIran
Goed dat EU buitenlandchef Kallas pleit voor meer sancties en vrijlating van demonstranten.
Morgenavond daarover debat met @minBZ. #FreeIran
January 15, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Nederland heeft niks aan meer instabiliteit en chaos in Iran. En met sancties straf je voornamelijk de bevolking, vooral vrouwen en kinderen. Een einde aan het regime zou wss jarenlang intern conflict betekenen, niet spontaan liberale democratie. Maar goed, het klinkt zo goed op papier hè...
If you're a left wing or green politician, and all you're doing right now is tweeting about batteries and solar panels, and 'green transition' discourse, rather than addressing the massive geopolitical shifts happening right now, you're totally unfit, and need to be put out to pasture
January 15, 2026 at 10:24 AM
If you're a left wing or green politician, and all you're doing right now is tweeting about batteries and solar panels, and 'green transition' discourse, rather than addressing the massive geopolitical shifts happening right now, you're totally unfit, and need to be put out to pasture
They’re really going to elect this guy with no education, no experience, no nothing to one of the highest political offices in Europe
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
The French Far-Right Is Closer to Power Than You Think
Marine Le Pen is changing tack — and not for the first time. After a combative and fiery reaction to her five-year election ban over an embezzlement case last year, the French far-right leader is taki...
www.bloomberg.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:17 AM
They’re really going to elect this guy with no education, no experience, no nothing to one of the highest political offices in Europe
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Paul
De econoom Gabriel Zucman (@gabrielzucman.bsky.social) geeft 2 februari om 17:00 een lezing in het splinternieuwe Spuigebouw in Den Haag: Taxing the ultra-rich: public finance in an age of extreme inequality.
De lezing is openbaar maar aanmelden is verplicht en kan via economie@law.leidenuniv.nl.
De lezing is openbaar maar aanmelden is verplicht en kan via economie@law.leidenuniv.nl.
January 14, 2026 at 5:21 PM
De econoom Gabriel Zucman (@gabrielzucman.bsky.social) geeft 2 februari om 17:00 een lezing in het splinternieuwe Spuigebouw in Den Haag: Taxing the ultra-rich: public finance in an age of extreme inequality.
De lezing is openbaar maar aanmelden is verplicht en kan via economie@law.leidenuniv.nl.
De lezing is openbaar maar aanmelden is verplicht en kan via economie@law.leidenuniv.nl.
I think a lot of people in Europe also - very rightfully - feel uneasy about Denmark's history in Greenland and the treatment of indigenous people
The Nordics are going all in on Greenland.
Norway sent two (2) guys and the Swedish guys are unarmed
Still, both are better than the non-existing contribution from Finland
Norway sent two (2) guys and the Swedish guys are unarmed
Still, both are better than the non-existing contribution from Finland
January 14, 2026 at 8:03 PM
I think a lot of people in Europe also - very rightfully - feel uneasy about Denmark's history in Greenland and the treatment of indigenous people
They just need to drag this out until he loses interest again
Danish foreign minister Rasmussen after meeting Vance + Rubio says he shares some of Trump's concerns over Greenland security
Says they didn't "reach a conclusion where our American colleagues said, 'oh sorry it was a total misunderstanding, we give up on our ambitions'"
Says they didn't "reach a conclusion where our American colleagues said, 'oh sorry it was a total misunderstanding, we give up on our ambitions'"
January 14, 2026 at 7:24 PM
They just need to drag this out until he loses interest again
It's usually a promising sign for democracy when corrupt high-level politicians get charged. Keep em coming...
kyivindependent.com/ukraines-ant...
kyivindependent.com/ukraines-ant...
Ukrainian veteran politician Yulia Tymoshenko charged in bribery case
After the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) charged several lawmakers from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party in December, Tymoshenko initiated discussions on regularly offering bribes to some ...
kyivindependent.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:54 PM
It's usually a promising sign for democracy when corrupt high-level politicians get charged. Keep em coming...
kyivindependent.com/ukraines-ant...
kyivindependent.com/ukraines-ant...
There has never been a better time to study the humanities!
I was more bearish on AI but with the stuff that's coming out now (Claude Cowork, Code, Antigravity (Google's new IDE)), I have to say I'm shifting toward bullish again. Can't wait for so many useless jobs to disappear forever
January 14, 2026 at 12:40 PM
There has never been a better time to study the humanities!
Reposted by Paul
Europe needs big, beautiful nuclear tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles
If we had a credible nuclear deterrent at the EU level, there wouldn't be any of this Greenland funny business. We clearly need EU-level nuclear deterrence
January 9, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Europe needs big, beautiful nuclear tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles
I was more bearish on AI but with the stuff that's coming out now (Claude Cowork, Code, Antigravity (Google's new IDE)), I have to say I'm shifting toward bullish again. Can't wait for so many useless jobs to disappear forever
January 14, 2026 at 10:14 AM
I was more bearish on AI but with the stuff that's coming out now (Claude Cowork, Code, Antigravity (Google's new IDE)), I have to say I'm shifting toward bullish again. Can't wait for so many useless jobs to disappear forever
Reposted by Paul
European governments and companies should pay closer attention and up their game. ↘️
‼️ Ukraine's PM confirms Kyiv is awarding one of its largest lithium deposits to Trump-linked investors
Ukraine's PM confirms Kyiv is awarding one of its largest lithium deposits to Trump-linked investors
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has confirmed that a consortium led by TechMet and The Rock Holdings has won the tender to develop mineral resources in Kirovohrad Oblast.
www.pravda.com.ua
January 13, 2026 at 7:38 AM
European governments and companies should pay closer attention and up their game. ↘️
Reposted by Paul
But power vacuums in the Middle East tend to conjure up old rivalries. Plenty of fighters around in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere that are eager to ride into battle...
January 12, 2026 at 12:33 PM
But power vacuums in the Middle East tend to conjure up old rivalries. Plenty of fighters around in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere that are eager to ride into battle...
Weird seeing that credit card valid until date finally come up after all these years
January 13, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Weird seeing that credit card valid until date finally come up after all these years
I guess his hustler persona wasn't an act
January 13, 2026 at 11:52 AM
I guess his hustler persona wasn't an act
I always say, never make big predictions in geopolitics. Because 99% of the time, you're wrong, and you just end up looking kind of... dumb. Especially if you're head of govt
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Iran’s Islamic Republic is in its ‘Final Days,’ Predicts Germany’s Merz
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz became the first Group of Seven leader to predict the downfall of Iran’s regime in the face of mass protests, saying it’s in its “final days.”
www.bloomberg.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:30 AM
I always say, never make big predictions in geopolitics. Because 99% of the time, you're wrong, and you just end up looking kind of... dumb. Especially if you're head of govt
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The idea that Powell funneled money out of a public construction project like some gangster is pretty funny though. It's so ridiculous that you just have to laugh
January 13, 2026 at 10:30 AM
The idea that Powell funneled money out of a public construction project like some gangster is pretty funny though. It's so ridiculous that you just have to laugh
Reposted by Paul
BOJ: yeah, we reckon he’s pocketed some construction money.
January 13, 2026 at 10:22 AM
BOJ: yeah, we reckon he’s pocketed some construction money.
I'm still bullish on novelty uses like using humanoid robots as family restaurant greeters and the like. Or having them stand in front of a shop to hawk stuff
www.ft.com/content/ed4e...
www.ft.com/content/ed4e...
Don’t hold your breath for robots’ ChatGPT moment
Implementing automation systems requires a lot of planning, time and money
www.ft.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:12 AM
I'm still bullish on novelty uses like using humanoid robots as family restaurant greeters and the like. Or having them stand in front of a shop to hawk stuff
www.ft.com/content/ed4e...
www.ft.com/content/ed4e...