Sarah V
@sarahvbn.bsky.social
EU and international affairs. Civil servant with experience of working in the UK and Scandinavia. Policy interests: economics and security, human rights, climate and sustainability, labour market reforms. Lover of sailboats, picnics and cats. Views my own
Reposted by Sarah V
Opinion from the FT's Editorial Board: 'The US and European countries that tout Israel as an ally that shares their values have issued barely a word of condemnation. They should be ashamed of their silence, and stop enabling Netanyahu to act with impunity.' www.ft.com/content/f5fd...
May 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Opinion from the FT's Editorial Board: 'The US and European countries that tout Israel as an ally that shares their values have issued barely a word of condemnation. They should be ashamed of their silence, and stop enabling Netanyahu to act with impunity.' www.ft.com/content/f5fd...
Reposted by Sarah V
This is blood-boiling. Charles Rogers was awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam after being wounded three times leading the defense of a position.
Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you'll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include "DEI medal."
Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you'll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include "DEI medal."
March 16, 2025 at 2:25 AM
This is blood-boiling. Charles Rogers was awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam after being wounded three times leading the defense of a position.
Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you'll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include "DEI medal."
Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you'll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include "DEI medal."
Reposted by Sarah V
🚨 NEW REPORT
🔎 The Russian propaganda and disinformation “Pravda” network extended its coverage and aims (and succeeds) at polluting large language models (LLMs) and Wikipedia.
🗒️ X’s Community notes are unable to aptly address the spread of “Pravda” content on the platform.
🔎 The Russian propaganda and disinformation “Pravda” network extended its coverage and aims (and succeeds) at polluting large language models (LLMs) and Wikipedia.
🗒️ X’s Community notes are unable to aptly address the spread of “Pravda” content on the platform.
“Pravda” Network: Worldwide Expansion and LLM, Wikipedia Pollution - CheckFirst
CheckFirst, in partnership with DFRLab, shows how the Russian propaganda and disinformation “Pravda” network extended its coverage and aims (and succeeds) at polluting large language models (LLMs) and...
checkfirst.network
March 13, 2025 at 8:58 AM
🚨 NEW REPORT
🔎 The Russian propaganda and disinformation “Pravda” network extended its coverage and aims (and succeeds) at polluting large language models (LLMs) and Wikipedia.
🗒️ X’s Community notes are unable to aptly address the spread of “Pravda” content on the platform.
🔎 The Russian propaganda and disinformation “Pravda” network extended its coverage and aims (and succeeds) at polluting large language models (LLMs) and Wikipedia.
🗒️ X’s Community notes are unable to aptly address the spread of “Pravda” content on the platform.
Reposted by Sarah V
The Council of Europe has adopted the first ever international treaty protecting lawyers 👇
🔗 www.coe.int/en/web/porta...
States can sign up to it from this May.
@coe.int #RuleOfLaw #Justice #HumanRights
🔗 www.coe.int/en/web/porta...
States can sign up to it from this May.
@coe.int #RuleOfLaw #Justice #HumanRights
Council of Europe adopts international convention on protecting lawyers
Council of Europe Strasbourg 12 March 2025
www.coe.int
March 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Council of Europe has adopted the first ever international treaty protecting lawyers 👇
🔗 www.coe.int/en/web/porta...
States can sign up to it from this May.
@coe.int #RuleOfLaw #Justice #HumanRights
🔗 www.coe.int/en/web/porta...
States can sign up to it from this May.
@coe.int #RuleOfLaw #Justice #HumanRights
Reposted by Sarah V
France is racing to accelerate defense production, more than doubling its output of Rafales, AASMs, anti-tank missiles, and drones.
French MOD Lecornu confirmed in an interview yesterday that French companies were working on civil-military production partnerships to do so.
French MOD Lecornu confirmed in an interview yesterday that French companies were working on civil-military production partnerships to do so.
March 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
France is racing to accelerate defense production, more than doubling its output of Rafales, AASMs, anti-tank missiles, and drones.
French MOD Lecornu confirmed in an interview yesterday that French companies were working on civil-military production partnerships to do so.
French MOD Lecornu confirmed in an interview yesterday that French companies were working on civil-military production partnerships to do so.
Reposted by Sarah V
Denmark lost 52 soldiers fighting alongside the US. Now they feel threatened by Trump
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Denmark lost 52 soldiers fighting alongside the US. Now it feels threatened by Trump
Danes, who have been loyal allies of Washington, are blindsided by Trump's insistence on taking over Greenland.
www.bbc.com
March 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Denmark lost 52 soldiers fighting alongside the US. Now they feel threatened by Trump
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Sarah V
In an extraordinary display of public support, heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers from all over Europe and Canada are posting in support of Ukraine in response to the Oval Office meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vance.
February 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
In an extraordinary display of public support, heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers from all over Europe and Canada are posting in support of Ukraine in response to the Oval Office meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vance.
Reposted by Sarah V
Lindsey Graham immediately following up an Oval Office meeting at which Trump and Vance disgraced themselves and the United States with a call for Zelenskyy to leave Ukraine's presidency only makes me feel more strongly that this whole event today was pre-planned and in service of Kremlin interests.
February 28, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Lindsey Graham immediately following up an Oval Office meeting at which Trump and Vance disgraced themselves and the United States with a call for Zelenskyy to leave Ukraine's presidency only makes me feel more strongly that this whole event today was pre-planned and in service of Kremlin interests.
Reposted by Sarah V
Hi All--Just sent out this piece (free for all) on the most important example of Trump and Putin aligning. Its about the issue of Ukrainians holding elections soon. Before the US elections, neither Trump nor Kellogg cared about the issue--but for Putin is was key. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Trump and Putin: Aligning over Ukrainian Elections
An Example of Them Working Together--and Reasons Why
open.substack.com
February 17, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Hi All--Just sent out this piece (free for all) on the most important example of Trump and Putin aligning. Its about the issue of Ukrainians holding elections soon. Before the US elections, neither Trump nor Kellogg cared about the issue--but for Putin is was key. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Sarah V
The Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have today fully decoupled their energy grid from Russia. At the moment they are running in an island mode, but starting tomorrow the energy grid will be reconnected with the European Union.
February 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have today fully decoupled their energy grid from Russia. At the moment they are running in an island mode, but starting tomorrow the energy grid will be reconnected with the European Union.
Reposted by Sarah V
Russian bots have driven a dramatic surge of disinformation on the social media platform X days before Germany's election, according to a government report seen by POLITICO.
Putin’s disinformation networks flood social media in bid to skew German election
A Kremlin-backed campaign is trying to influence voters ahead of Feb. 23 poll, according to government report obtained by POLITICO.
www.politico.eu
February 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Russian bots have driven a dramatic surge of disinformation on the social media platform X days before Germany's election, according to a government report seen by POLITICO.
Reposted by Sarah V
This is why every political scientist you know has been in a state of panic for the past week. This isn't about policy disagreement, it's about the Constitution being destroyed before our very eyes.
My depressing thought for the day: it seems increasingly inevitable that quite soon, Trump decides to simply disregard a court finding that some of his actions are illegal or unconstitutional. Impeachment is attempted & fails thanks to loyal Republicans. At which point there are no good options.
February 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This is why every political scientist you know has been in a state of panic for the past week. This isn't about policy disagreement, it's about the Constitution being destroyed before our very eyes.
Reposted by Sarah V
Most important thread you will read today
1. BREAKING
Several of Elon Musk’s associates installed at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — including two recent high school graduates — have received unprecedented access to federal human resources databases containing sensitive personal information for millions of federal employees.
Several of Elon Musk’s associates installed at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — including two recent high school graduates — have received unprecedented access to federal human resources databases containing sensitive personal information for millions of federal employees.
Musk associates given unfettered access to private data of government employees
The Musk-connected political hires include two recent high school graduates
www.muskwatch.com
February 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Most important thread you will read today
Reposted by Sarah V
Sweden presents its biggest military aid package to Ukraine yet. It also includes weapons for Russia’s next likely target, Moldova, to “constrain Russia’s … ability to do harm” says defense minister Pål Jonson.
January 31, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Sweden presents its biggest military aid package to Ukraine yet. It also includes weapons for Russia’s next likely target, Moldova, to “constrain Russia’s … ability to do harm” says defense minister Pål Jonson.
Reposted by Sarah V
Happy Brexit Day!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ua...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ua...
James O'Brien's top 10 Best Brexit calls | LBC
YouTube video by LBC
www.youtube.com
January 31, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Happy Brexit Day!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ua...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ua...
Reposted by Sarah V
China’s military is building a massive complex in western Beijing that US intelligence believes will serve as a wartime command centre far larger than the Pentagon, according to current and former American officials
www.ft.com/content/f376...
www.ft.com/content/f376...
China builds huge wartime military command centre in Beijing
Complex will be bigger than Pentagon and include bombproof bunkers for leaders, say US officials
www.ft.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
China’s military is building a massive complex in western Beijing that US intelligence believes will serve as a wartime command centre far larger than the Pentagon, according to current and former American officials
www.ft.com/content/f376...
www.ft.com/content/f376...
Reposted by Sarah V
🔥 This is an absolutely devastating set of figures on the UK public's view of Brexit.
Absolutely damning. Look at each category one by one - particularly the economic ones. YouGov article on these data here. 👉 yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Absolutely damning. Look at each category one by one - particularly the economic ones. YouGov article on these data here. 👉 yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
January 31, 2025 at 11:07 AM
🔥 This is an absolutely devastating set of figures on the UK public's view of Brexit.
Absolutely damning. Look at each category one by one - particularly the economic ones. YouGov article on these data here. 👉 yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Absolutely damning. Look at each category one by one - particularly the economic ones. YouGov article on these data here. 👉 yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Reposted by Sarah V
What has the UK Covid inquiry learned so far about vaccines and treatments?
What has the UK Covid inquiry learned so far about vaccines and treatments?
In fourth part of the inquiry, questons were asked about vaccine trials, procurement and the UK’s preparedness for future pandemics
The Covid inquiry has spent the past three weeks delving into the UK vaccine rollout and the decision-making around new…
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
What has the UK Covid inquiry learned so far about vaccines and treatments?
Reposted by Sarah V
Nearly half of Danes see US as threat and 78% oppose Greenland sale, poll shows
Nearly half of Danes see US as threat and 78% oppose Greenland sale, poll shows
Exclusive: More Danish people regard US as a threat than see North Korea or Iran as danger
Almost half of Danish people now consider the US to be a considerable threat to their country and the overwhelming majority oppose Greenland leaving to become…
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Nearly half of Danes see US as threat and 78% oppose Greenland sale, poll shows
Reposted by Sarah V
Confirming what I've said and written before about how GLP-1 drugs will disrupt many industries in unexpected ways.
Ozempic is causing trouble on Savile Row
The city’s most celebrated tailors are overwhelmed. Their customers’ bespoke suits and shirts are suddenly baggy and require drastic readjustment. Tom Chamberlin reports from the high-end front line o...
www.thetimes.com
January 30, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Confirming what I've said and written before about how GLP-1 drugs will disrupt many industries in unexpected ways.
Reposted by Sarah V
⚡️NATO on track to send Kyiv over $40 billion in 2025.
"Allies are on track to deliver on the pledge made at the Washington summit," a NATO press statement said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Jan. 29.
"Allies are on track to deliver on the pledge made at the Washington summit," a NATO press statement said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Jan. 29.
NATO on track to send Kyiv over $40 billion in 2025
"Allies are on track to deliver on the pledge made at the Washington summit," a NATO press statement said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Jan. 29.
kyivindependent.com
January 29, 2025 at 10:37 PM
⚡️NATO on track to send Kyiv over $40 billion in 2025.
"Allies are on track to deliver on the pledge made at the Washington summit," a NATO press statement said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Jan. 29.
"Allies are on track to deliver on the pledge made at the Washington summit," a NATO press statement said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Jan. 29.
Reposted by Sarah V
Denmark boosts Arctic defense spending by $2 billion after Trump’s Greenland interest
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/e...
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/e...
Denmark boosts Arctic defense spending by $2 billion after Trump’s Greenland interest | CNN
Denmark said on Monday it would spend 14.6 billion Danish kroner ($2.05 billion) boosting its military capabilities in the Arctic – a decision that comes amid continuing furor following US President D...
www.cnn.com
January 28, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Denmark boosts Arctic defense spending by $2 billion after Trump’s Greenland interest
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/e...
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/e...
Reposted by Sarah V
The most Nordic picture you’ll see :-D (The Prime Ministers of Norway, Denmark and Sweden and the President of Finland having dinner at the Danish PM’s residence). Imagine the leaders of any other countries sitting together this informally? (Photo by the Danish PM Mette Frederiksen)
January 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The most Nordic picture you’ll see :-D (The Prime Ministers of Norway, Denmark and Sweden and the President of Finland having dinner at the Danish PM’s residence). Imagine the leaders of any other countries sitting together this informally? (Photo by the Danish PM Mette Frederiksen)
Reposted by Sarah V
"Hitler wanted to kill me for being a Jew. Now, Putin is trying to kill me for being Ukrainian."
Roman Shvartsman, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor from Odesa, compared Russia's military aggression against Ukraine to the barbaric crimes of the Nazis during World War II.
📹: DW
Roman Shvartsman, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor from Odesa, compared Russia's military aggression against Ukraine to the barbaric crimes of the Nazis during World War II.
📹: DW
January 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
"Hitler wanted to kill me for being a Jew. Now, Putin is trying to kill me for being Ukrainian."
Roman Shvartsman, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor from Odesa, compared Russia's military aggression against Ukraine to the barbaric crimes of the Nazis during World War II.
📹: DW
Roman Shvartsman, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor from Odesa, compared Russia's military aggression against Ukraine to the barbaric crimes of the Nazis during World War II.
📹: DW
Reposted by Sarah V
Central feature of the chaos is that the OPM memo requires agency lawyers to, inter alia, review programs to see if they "advance Marxist equity". But since that phrase has no meaning in law or reality they can't. Might as well as be talking about orcs and warlocks or Wizard Thought.
January 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Central feature of the chaos is that the OPM memo requires agency lawyers to, inter alia, review programs to see if they "advance Marxist equity". But since that phrase has no meaning in law or reality they can't. Might as well as be talking about orcs and warlocks or Wizard Thought.