Nicu Calcea
@nicu.md
Investigative Data Journalist | Bylines: @globalwitness.org, BBC News, The New Statesman, VICE.
Website: https://nicu.md/
Mastodon: http://journa.host/@nicu
Newsletter: http://blog.samizdata.co
Website: https://nicu.md/
Mastodon: http://journa.host/@nicu
Newsletter: http://blog.samizdata.co
I let the building cat into my flat for a couple of hours and now it keeps meowing at my door.
November 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I let the building cat into my flat for a couple of hours and now it keeps meowing at my door.
We are not fighting mass shooters, we are fighting bullets from mass shooters.
BREAKING: EU Commission President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu says “We are not fighting fossil fuels, we are fighting the emissions from fossil fuels”
She is parroting oil&gas industry lines, pushing unproven costly technologies like CCS + CO2 removals to keep using fossil fuels.
#FossilFreePolitics
She is parroting oil&gas industry lines, pushing unproven costly technologies like CCS + CO2 removals to keep using fossil fuels.
#FossilFreePolitics
a close up of a person petting a red parrot with the words headlikeanorange below it
ALT: a close up of a person petting a red parrot with the words headlikeanorange below it
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
We are not fighting mass shooters, we are fighting bullets from mass shooters.
Me: You are hallucinating.
The AI: Oh yeah? Well, you're not.
The AI: Oh yeah? Well, you're not.
November 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Me: You are hallucinating.
The AI: Oh yeah? Well, you're not.
The AI: Oh yeah? Well, you're not.
Reposted by Nicu Calcea
🔥 A 12% jump in fossil fuel lobbyists at COP compared to last year.
📍 Belém is seeing the highest concentration since records began.
The industry causing the crisis shouldn’t shape climate solutions.
#KickBigPollutersOut
https://gwitness.org/4oA1vUJ
📍 Belém is seeing the highest concentration since records began.
The industry causing the crisis shouldn’t shape climate solutions.
#KickBigPollutersOut
https://gwitness.org/4oA1vUJ
November 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🔥 A 12% jump in fossil fuel lobbyists at COP compared to last year.
📍 Belém is seeing the highest concentration since records began.
The industry causing the crisis shouldn’t shape climate solutions.
#KickBigPollutersOut
https://gwitness.org/4oA1vUJ
📍 Belém is seeing the highest concentration since records began.
The industry causing the crisis shouldn’t shape climate solutions.
#KickBigPollutersOut
https://gwitness.org/4oA1vUJ
Reposted by Nicu Calcea
I like the idea but I don’t think it’s practical (or it won’t be for a long time). In the medium-term, I think we will need to rely on more social forms of trust, in individuals and institutions
The more I work with content credentials, the less optimistic I get about them. They really need integration at every single step- if a single transform happens without them the whole thing falls apart.
October 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I like the idea but I don’t think it’s practical (or it won’t be for a long time). In the medium-term, I think we will need to rely on more social forms of trust, in individuals and institutions
Despite spending hundreds of millions to steal the election in Moldova, Putin has failed spectacularly today. Here's to hoping he fails everywhere else!
September 29, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Despite spending hundreds of millions to steal the election in Moldova, Putin has failed spectacularly today. Here's to hoping he fails everywhere else!
This man will repeat the last thing he heard every time, without failure.
"With EU support, Ukraine is capable of fighting and winning, restoring the entire country to its original state." — Trump.
September 23, 2025 at 11:26 PM
This man will repeat the last thing he heard every time, without failure.
Russia is accusing "Europe" of preparing to occupy Moldova.
They are anticipating a loss in the elections on Sunday, and are preparing their supporters for protests. Every accusation is a confession.
Moscow has struggled to maintain control in Moldova. Old methods don't work. This too shall pass.
They are anticipating a loss in the elections on Sunday, and are preparing their supporters for protests. Every accusation is a confession.
Moscow has struggled to maintain control in Moldova. Old methods don't work. This too shall pass.
September 23, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Russia is accusing "Europe" of preparing to occupy Moldova.
They are anticipating a loss in the elections on Sunday, and are preparing their supporters for protests. Every accusation is a confession.
Moscow has struggled to maintain control in Moldova. Old methods don't work. This too shall pass.
They are anticipating a loss in the elections on Sunday, and are preparing their supporters for protests. Every accusation is a confession.
Moscow has struggled to maintain control in Moldova. Old methods don't work. This too shall pass.
Russia is sending money to pro-Russian politicians in Moldova so they can pay propagandists and bribe voters.
Now the Russian FSB is investigating those same politicians for allegedly stealing 70% of the money for themselves.
www.deschide.md/articole/rap...
Now the Russian FSB is investigating those same politicians for allegedly stealing 70% of the money for themselves.
www.deschide.md/articole/rap...
Raport către FSB: Marina Tauber și alți lideri din gruparea „ȘOR” au furat milioane de dolari dați de Moscova pentru activiștii partidului | Deschide
Marina Tauber și alți lideri ai blocului „Pobeda” au ajuns în vizorul Serviciului Federal de Securitate din Rusia (FSB) pentru sustragerea mijloacelor destinate activiștilor în vederea destabilizării ...
www.deschide.md
September 9, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Russia is sending money to pro-Russian politicians in Moldova so they can pay propagandists and bribe voters.
Now the Russian FSB is investigating those same politicians for allegedly stealing 70% of the money for themselves.
www.deschide.md/articole/rap...
Now the Russian FSB is investigating those same politicians for allegedly stealing 70% of the money for themselves.
www.deschide.md/articole/rap...
With how often my flights get delayed or cancelled and I apply for compensation, I think I'm close to breaking even on my overall flying spending.
September 8, 2025 at 9:28 PM
With how often my flights get delayed or cancelled and I apply for compensation, I think I'm close to breaking even on my overall flying spending.
You know what they say, nothing is ever fullproof.
August 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
You know what they say, nothing is ever fullproof.
How do so many clearly AI songs have a "Verified Artist" badge on Spotify? What are they actually verifying?
August 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
How do so many clearly AI songs have a "Verified Artist" badge on Spotify? What are they actually verifying?
My mum decided she's had enough. Understandable.
August 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
My mum decided she's had enough. Understandable.
The F1 film is almost as dull as the real thing.
August 22, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The F1 film is almost as dull as the real thing.
As the Canyon Fire continues to burn, I found that 71% of the 242k oil and gas wells in CA are in areas with a "high" or "very high" fire hazard.
When they are on fire, wells release dangerous chemicals and are difficult to put out.
Around 1.6m people (including 100k children) live close to them.
When they are on fire, wells release dangerous chemicals and are difficult to put out.
Around 1.6m people (including 100k children) live close to them.
Risky oil wells widespread in California wildfire hazard zones
Oil and gas wells pose risks to health and environment as climate crisis expands California's fire hazard zones
globalwitness.org
August 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
As the Canyon Fire continues to burn, I found that 71% of the 242k oil and gas wells in CA are in areas with a "high" or "very high" fire hazard.
When they are on fire, wells release dangerous chemicals and are difficult to put out.
Around 1.6m people (including 100k children) live close to them.
When they are on fire, wells release dangerous chemicals and are difficult to put out.
Around 1.6m people (including 100k children) live close to them.
Reposted by Nicu Calcea
The grimacing of Putin under a barrage of questions, in the room where a meeting with Trump is currently taking place.
August 15, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The grimacing of Putin under a barrage of questions, in the room where a meeting with Trump is currently taking place.
Reposted by Nicu Calcea
wrote about the Online Safety Act, the int'l spread of age-verification laws, Reddit blocking @archive.org, and the payment-processor crackdown on explicit video games as events that point to one inescapable conclusion: the "open internet" has been closed for business slate.com/technology/2...
We Are Witnessing the Death of the Internet As We Know It
The law threatens the open web, privacy rights, and your favorite websites.
slate.com
August 14, 2025 at 6:50 PM
wrote about the Online Safety Act, the int'l spread of age-verification laws, Reddit blocking @archive.org, and the payment-processor crackdown on explicit video games as events that point to one inescapable conclusion: the "open internet" has been closed for business slate.com/technology/2...
My new go-to link to send to people who are asking me about how things are going in Moldova.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvUo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvUo...
Moldova: Russia's next political battleground [DOCUMENTARY].
YouTube video by Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW)
www.youtube.com
August 12, 2025 at 8:52 PM
My new go-to link to send to people who are asking me about how things are going in Moldova.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvUo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvUo...
A guy at my sauna said that the Americans are about to unleash a global electricity blackout so that we don't find out that the gods of all the religions are all coming to Earth at the same time. Multiple people agreed.
Oh, and the latest Fantastic Four film is how they're softening us up for it.
Oh, and the latest Fantastic Four film is how they're softening us up for it.
August 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A guy at my sauna said that the Americans are about to unleash a global electricity blackout so that we don't find out that the gods of all the religions are all coming to Earth at the same time. Multiple people agreed.
Oh, and the latest Fantastic Four film is how they're softening us up for it.
Oh, and the latest Fantastic Four film is how they're softening us up for it.
Currently my least favourite button on the internet.
August 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Currently my least favourite button on the internet.
Has an intelligent thought ever been expressed in the form of "X is so cooked rn"?
August 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Has an intelligent thought ever been expressed in the form of "X is so cooked rn"?
I wrote a small Python package for AI-based research and classification tasks. It's now public.
- Post: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
- Code: github.com/Global-Witne...
- Example story 1: globalwitness.org/en/press-rel...
- Example story 2: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
- Post: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
- Code: github.com/Global-Witne...
- Example story 1: globalwitness.org/en/press-rel...
- Example story 2: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
Augmenta: A new tool for AI classification and research
We are making the tool behind some of our investigations available for public use
globalwitness.org
July 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I wrote a small Python package for AI-based research and classification tasks. It's now public.
- Post: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
- Code: github.com/Global-Witne...
- Example story 1: globalwitness.org/en/press-rel...
- Example story 2: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
- Post: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
- Code: github.com/Global-Witne...
- Example story 1: globalwitness.org/en/press-rel...
- Example story 2: globalwitness.org/en/campaigns...
Reposted by Nicu Calcea
Valentina Matviyenko, speaking at the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament,lied that Russia started the war to protect the children of Donbas.
It's very sad to see a respected organization giving a platform to a representative of an aggressor state to freely spread lies about its war crimes.
It's very sad to see a respected organization giving a platform to a representative of an aggressor state to freely spread lies about its war crimes.
July 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Valentina Matviyenko, speaking at the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament,lied that Russia started the war to protect the children of Donbas.
It's very sad to see a respected organization giving a platform to a representative of an aggressor state to freely spread lies about its war crimes.
It's very sad to see a respected organization giving a platform to a representative of an aggressor state to freely spread lies about its war crimes.
Reposted by Nicu Calcea
I interviewed a journalist working for Ukrainska Pravda when I was in Kyiv. She was one of bravest women I’ve ever met. We need to stand with Ukrainian civil society & journalists against this attack on their rights
www.thetimes.com/article/db07...
www.thetimes.com/article/db07...
Zelensky wants to silence all criticism, says Ukrainska Pravda editor
Sevgil Musayeva says the political news website is Kyiv’s next target after the president introduced a law to bring anti-corruption agencies under its control
www.thetimes.com
July 26, 2025 at 7:42 AM
I interviewed a journalist working for Ukrainska Pravda when I was in Kyiv. She was one of bravest women I’ve ever met. We need to stand with Ukrainian civil society & journalists against this attack on their rights
www.thetimes.com/article/db07...
www.thetimes.com/article/db07...
Vladimir Plahotniuc arrested in Greece. Plahotniuc is a Moldovan oligarch believed to have participated in the embezzlement of $1bn USD from Moldovan banks.
July 22, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Vladimir Plahotniuc arrested in Greece. Plahotniuc is a Moldovan oligarch believed to have participated in the embezzlement of $1bn USD from Moldovan banks.