Tove Gravdal
@tovegravdal.bsky.social
Norwegian journalist and author. UN affairs, US and European politics, global issues.
After the rambling of Trump in the UN General Assembly Hall, it is a relief to hear a thoughtful state leader, like South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa: "Trade is now being used as a weapon against a number of countries around the world". He asks for the trade embargo against Cuba to be lifted.
September 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
After the rambling of Trump in the UN General Assembly Hall, it is a relief to hear a thoughtful state leader, like South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa: "Trade is now being used as a weapon against a number of countries around the world". He asks for the trade embargo against Cuba to be lifted.
President Trump spending most of his UN speech lashing out against allies in Europe, saying "your countries are going to hell", while Russia is killing Ukrainians, Israel is killing Palestinians, committing war crimes. He also boast about himself of course: "I am right about everything".
September 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
President Trump spending most of his UN speech lashing out against allies in Europe, saying "your countries are going to hell", while Russia is killing Ukrainians, Israel is killing Palestinians, committing war crimes. He also boast about himself of course: "I am right about everything".
The Norwegian delegation sitting on the first row at the UN General Assembly, while president Trump is boasting about settling 7 wars, saying he deserves the Nobel peace prize: It will not grant him the Nobel Peace Prize.
September 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The Norwegian delegation sitting on the first row at the UN General Assembly, while president Trump is boasting about settling 7 wars, saying he deserves the Nobel peace prize: It will not grant him the Nobel Peace Prize.
General Assembly president Annalena Baerbock: "We have to do better". "When the UN Charter is violated, is it the fault of the UN?" "No, the Charter has not failed, and the UN as an institution has not failed". "Imagine how much worse the world would have been without the UN".
September 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
General Assembly president Annalena Baerbock: "We have to do better". "When the UN Charter is violated, is it the fault of the UN?" "No, the Charter has not failed, and the UN as an institution has not failed". "Imagine how much worse the world would have been without the UN".
UN Secretary general Antonio Guterres opening the UN general debate now: "The UN was established 80 years ago as a practical strategy for the survival of humanity". And: "The UN is more than a meeting place, it is a moral compass".
September 23, 2025 at 1:11 PM
UN Secretary general Antonio Guterres opening the UN general debate now: "The UN was established 80 years ago as a practical strategy for the survival of humanity". And: "The UN is more than a meeting place, it is a moral compass".
Ganske usmakelig at @aftenposten.no fremstiller en smilende leder av reaksjonære Islam Net som talsperson for "norske muslimer". I 2015 var han en av dem som "unnskyldte" terrorangrepet mot Charlie Hebdo - det var liksom tegnernes egen skyld. www.aftenposten.no/norge/politi...
September 23, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Ganske usmakelig at @aftenposten.no fremstiller en smilende leder av reaksjonære Islam Net som talsperson for "norske muslimer". I 2015 var han en av dem som "unnskyldte" terrorangrepet mot Charlie Hebdo - det var liksom tegnernes egen skyld. www.aftenposten.no/norge/politi...
Le défilé du 14 Juillet à Paris: What a contrast to the boring and failed military parade in Washington last month. The French know how to organize a parade. And this year they have invited 450 Indonesian soldiers to parade first down the Champs-Élysées.
July 14, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Le défilé du 14 Juillet à Paris: What a contrast to the boring and failed military parade in Washington last month. The French know how to organize a parade. And this year they have invited 450 Indonesian soldiers to parade first down the Champs-Élysées.
Interesting statement from the US repr. in the UN Security Council on Ukraine. Harsher on Russia now than before under Trump. More sanctions are still on the table, the US might abandon its mediator role, but will not abandon its friends, he said. Question remains of course if Ukraine is a friend.
May 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Interesting statement from the US repr. in the UN Security Council on Ukraine. Harsher on Russia now than before under Trump. More sanctions are still on the table, the US might abandon its mediator role, but will not abandon its friends, he said. Question remains of course if Ukraine is a friend.
UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo with a bleak report on Ukraine in the UN Security Council now: Civilian casualties up 51 % the first months of this year compared to last year. 355 Russian drone attacks on Ukraine on Monday, the worst day of drone attacks so far.
May 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM
UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo with a bleak report on Ukraine in the UN Security Council now: Civilian casualties up 51 % the first months of this year compared to last year. 355 Russian drone attacks on Ukraine on Monday, the worst day of drone attacks so far.
UN Special representative to Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, is cautiously optimistic on behalf of Syria after the historic lifting of sanctions by US and others last week. He is now reporting to the UN Security Council.
May 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
UN Special representative to Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, is cautiously optimistic on behalf of Syria after the historic lifting of sanctions by US and others last week. He is now reporting to the UN Security Council.
9. april 1940, 85 år er gått. De som døde fordi de sto opp mot okkupasjonsmakten fortjener at vi kjemper knallhardt for å bevare demokratiet av i dag.
April 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
9. april 1940, 85 år er gått. De som døde fordi de sto opp mot okkupasjonsmakten fortjener at vi kjemper knallhardt for å bevare demokratiet av i dag.
Demands for US citizenship are now dropping so fast that ads I have never seen before, are popping up online.
April 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Demands for US citizenship are now dropping so fast that ads I have never seen before, are popping up online.
President Zelensky has just arrived Oslo. He is warmly welcomed!
March 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM
President Zelensky has just arrived Oslo. He is warmly welcomed!
Norwegian minister of development promising to fight for equal rights.
March 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Norwegian minister of development promising to fight for equal rights.
I think that the most important message on the day of Trump's speech in Congress, is that his approval rating is now lower than his disapproval rating, for the first time since he took office. It took him only 6 weeks to get there. Average polling from 538.com:
March 5, 2025 at 8:54 AM
I think that the most important message on the day of Trump's speech in Congress, is that his approval rating is now lower than his disapproval rating, for the first time since he took office. It took him only 6 weeks to get there. Average polling from 538.com:
Denmark was one of 5 European countries that voted against a US drafted resolution on Ukraine in the UN Security Council. Amazing split between Europe and the United States. Denmark to Ukraine: "We will continue to support you".
February 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Denmark was one of 5 European countries that voted against a US drafted resolution on Ukraine in the UN Security Council. Amazing split between Europe and the United States. Denmark to Ukraine: "We will continue to support you".
US did not veto the first amendment, US abstained. But the amendment was not adopted after all, due to a Russian veto and only 6 votes for.
February 24, 2025 at 9:38 PM
US did not veto the first amendment, US abstained. But the amendment was not adopted after all, due to a Russian veto and only 6 votes for.
The text the Security Council will vote on tonight:
February 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The text the Security Council will vote on tonight:
While the US acting ambassador Dorothy Shea argues the vote should happen now.
February 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
While the US acting ambassador Dorothy Shea argues the vote should happen now.
The open meeting in the Security Council has just started, they are supposed to vote on the US draft resolution on Ukraine, which was voted down in the General Assembly. France, UK; Denmark and Greece propose that the vote is postponed until tomorrow.
February 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
The open meeting in the Security Council has just started, they are supposed to vote on the US draft resolution on Ukraine, which was voted down in the General Assembly. France, UK; Denmark and Greece propose that the vote is postponed until tomorrow.
The US-amended resolution, thanks to the European amendment, says “the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation” instead of “the Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict”. Absolutely abhorrent that the US abstained from stating sth so obvious. Here is an (incomplete) view of the voting:
February 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The US-amended resolution, thanks to the European amendment, says “the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation” instead of “the Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict”. Absolutely abhorrent that the US abstained from stating sth so obvious. Here is an (incomplete) view of the voting:
Rather impressive diplomacy by the Europeans, including Ukraine, at the UN General Assembly today. The United States ended up voting against the Ukrainian resolution, while abstaining from its own resolution, because it was amended on the suggestion of Europe. Voting result on the US amended res:
February 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Rather impressive diplomacy by the Europeans, including Ukraine, at the UN General Assembly today. The United States ended up voting against the Ukrainian resolution, while abstaining from its own resolution, because it was amended on the suggestion of Europe. Voting result on the US amended res:
The UN General Assembly just voted for a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 93 votes for, 65 abstentions.
February 24, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The UN General Assembly just voted for a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 93 votes for, 65 abstentions.
Here is the Ukrainian draft resolution, which is co-sponsored by more than 50 countries. Now the Russian ambassador is speaking, repeating old and untrue claims about Ukraine.
February 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Here is the Ukrainian draft resolution, which is co-sponsored by more than 50 countries. Now the Russian ambassador is speaking, repeating old and untrue claims about Ukraine.
The US ambassador Dorothy Shea argued that the previous resolutions at the GA has not succeeded in ending the war, so the US put forward a "forward-looking" resolution. Here is the US draft:
February 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The US ambassador Dorothy Shea argued that the previous resolutions at the GA has not succeeded in ending the war, so the US put forward a "forward-looking" resolution. Here is the US draft: