Ian McC

U OK Slovakia?

The Commission's open public consultation on the #DemocracyShield is being flooded by various templated / copy-paste anti-NGO (or anti-EU) responses from Slovakia (many anonymous).

I'm all for critical voices but this seems to be a targeted campaign.

ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...

Opinion | To Understand Global Migration, You Have to See It First These estimates, drawn from the location data of three billion Facebook users, provide a view of human migration in extraordinary detail.

It’s remarkable that the wealth of #data used to create this detailed and complex overview of global #migration patterns comes from a social media platform.

Not governmental or international org databases: 3 billion anonymised Facebook users 👤📊

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Canadian taxpayers are paying the Canadian government to take out ads to tell US taxpayers that the tariffs that the US government portrays as a tax on Canada are in fact a tax paid by US consumers.
I hope you followed that

Highest turnout ever in #BTW2025.

CDU/CSU wins but wanted to win bigger. SPD gets a spanking.

One in five voters choose extreme right AFD. #Germanelections

one thing that’s not so similar to modern day is the relationship between the two countries 😬

A German election road trip with the far right on the up Today in Focus · Episode

Essential listening ahead of German elections 🎙️

#Bundestagswahl2025

open.spotify.com/episode/1wyR...

Went to stage production of Dr.Strangelove last week.

Still relevant 😑

Dragoș Adăscăliței, @eurofound.europa.eu Research Officer, and Jasper Van Loo, @cedefop.europa.eu Department Coordinator discuss how #AI is already changing working life in Europe, and what needs to be done to harness its tremendous potential while also protecting those that risk being left behind.

We have LOADS of people signed up for this one: the interest in #AI is strong!

'How is AI changing the world of work in Europe?'

@eurofound.europa.eu webinar w/@cedefop.europa.eu starting in 10 mins ⌛

Last chance to sign up and join here: app.livestorm.co/p/427296cc-9... 💻 #EurofoundLIVE

Juncker responding to Trump's trade tariffs to the EU (in 2018)

"Now we will also impose tariffs. It is a stupid process. But we have to do it. We will now impose tariffs on Harley Davidson, on blue jeans, Levis, on Bourbon. We can also do stupid. We also have to be this stupid"

As the Commission gets set to kick off talks to save the EU's car industry this week, Eurofound published a brief 'all you need to know' piece on employment in the automotive industry 🚗📊🔍

Article: www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/resources... #EUSky

For more facts follow: @eurofound.bsky.social 👀

Economist cover showing Trump. Title: project 1897

Our cover this week.

America has an imperial presidency
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

Eurofound 50 | Supporting better policies for a strong social Europe Eurofound is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking half a century of dedicated research and contributions to improving living and working conditions in Europe.

Our BlueSky account is up and running!

We are very pleased to be joining the conversation on BlueSky as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

Visit our dedicated page and discover why #Eurofound50 is a milestone for social policy development in Europe: 50.eurofound.europa.eu

50 years supporting better policies for a strong social Europe By providing specialized data and research, Eurofound has long contributed to a stronger, fairer Europe — in today’s climate, its mission has never been more essential

50 years supporting better policies for a strong social Europe

“That will never work” Every successful SNL sketch, every bestselling book, every landslide-winning candidate… every single one… had skeptics. Someone in the writer’s room, or on the editorial board or …

Not just, “I’m sorry, this doesn’t match my taste,” but, “I’m an expert, and this will never work.”

If you’re not hearing this, you’re not doing important work.

And if you’re waiting for unanimous approval, you’re never going to ship that important work.

seths.blog/2025/01/that...

🤬 outraged = engaged 🤑

Meta surrenders to the right on speech “I really think this a precursor for genocide,” a former employee tells Platformer

Good read on #Meta by @caseynewton.bsky.social.

Zuck has given up on finding any middle path through Republican & Democratic polarized criticisms. Musk has shown how Republican support can be bought — cheaply.

Transactional #Trump offers Meta a fresh start...

www.platformer.news/meta-fact-ch...

German Greens MEP Alexandra Geese defined the problem: “Elon Musk chatting with AfD leader Alice Weidel on X is covered by freedom of expression. His algorithmic manipulation, which is intentionally flooding German X timelines with far-right propaganda and drowning out progressive content, is not.”

Meta faces April trial in FTC case seeking to unwind Instagram merger Facebook owner Meta Platforms will face trial in April over the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's allegations that the social media platform bought Instagram and WhatsApp to crush emerging competition, a judge in Washington said on Monday.

Mark Zuckerberg scrapped fact-checking from Meta platforms. He's also added Trump ally Dana White to Meta's board and is helping fund his inauguration.

Why is Zuckerberg kissing Trump's ring?

Perhaps it's because of the FTC's antitrust lawsuit against Meta.

Follow the money.

And a few behind-the-scenes shots taken from a Facespace page that I don't think exists anymore t.co/44qxM5Dy2z

YouTube video by EU Growth Life is easy when one solution satisfies all

Link to the full One Charger For All campaign video (2011)
youtu.be/rAeotALFYKo?...

The new #CommonCharger law means that (as of 28/12/2024) all mobile phones & portable electronic devices sold in the EU must support #USB-C charging.

Different devices, one charger 🔌

A wise policy decision initiated by one of the weirdest EU campaign videos I've ever seen 🥄

The incoming 🇺🇸 vice president has joined the fray and, along with the 🇺🇸president's most powerful advisor and the richest man on Earth, endorsed the German far right.

Vance says AfD simply wants to control borders.

This is the most dangerous moment Europe has seen in 30 years.

The Economist's 'how we chose this week’s image' always grabs my attention - it's nice to learn about the process behind production.

The Xmas edition features a fish market, inspired by an old Japanse print, which references all the stories in the issue.

view.e.economist.com?qs=d343301b8...

Commission report shows real income for citizens increased and that non-EU nationals helped the EU labour market stay strong in 2023 The European Commission has published its 2024 annual review of labour markets and wage developments in Europe. The report shows that the EU labour market remained strong in 2023, despite economic slo...

The European Commission has published its 2024 annual review of labour markets and wage developments in Europe, with foreword by Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu.

employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/commiss...

The EU needs migration.

That’s the main message I’m getting from new Labour Market & Wages report 📑

Unemployment is low but skills gaps persist.

Job creation driven by non-EU workers.

Ageing population in EU.

There’ll be 8.8 million more older workers (55-68yrs) by 2030 due to pension reforms.

EUIPO video series 👏

Some of the best, most refreshing EU corporate comms I’ve seen in a long time are coming from what you might consider to be an unlikely source*: the EU Intellectual Property Office in Alicante 🇪🇺🇪🇸

▶️ short snappy funny + actual staff!

*unless you know @pablopereza.bsky.social 😎

TikTok’s Last Stand, Google’s Quantum Breakthrough and the Cult of Claude “The president was given a very clear and easy opportunity to say, ‘Yes, I am going to save TikTok,’ and he absolutely did not say that.”

It's Hard Fork Friday! This week, TikTok's last stand, Google's Julian Kelly on building a quantum computer, and Kevin investigates the cult of Claude www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/p...

Merry Krampusnacht 👹

While St. Nicholas rewards nice children by leaving presents, #Krampus beats those who are naughty with branches and sticks. In some cases, he is said to eat them or take them to hell. On December 6, St. Nicholas Day, children awaken to find their gifts or nurse their injuries.