@verhaak.bsky.social
Reposted
‘Brazen’ political influence of rich laid bare as wealth of billionaires reaches $18.3tn, says Oxfam
‘Brazen’ political influence of rich laid bare as wealth of billionaires reaches $18.3tn, says Oxfam
Governments opting for oligarchy while brutally repressing protests over austerity and lack of jobs, charity report says
The world saw a record number of billionaires created last year, with a collective wealth of $18.3tn (£13.7tn), while global efforts stalled in the fight against poverty and hunger.
Oxfam’s annual survey of global inequality has revealed that the number of billionaires surpassed 3,000 for the first time during 2025. Since 2020, their collective wealth grew by 81%, or $8.2tn, which the charity claims would be enough to eradicate global poverty 26 times over. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:13 AM
‘Brazen’ political influence of rich laid bare as wealth of billionaires reaches $18.3tn, says Oxfam
Reposted
❗️Nieuw onderzoek: Nooit eerder hadden miljardairs samen zóveel geld. Dat blijkt uit onze nieuwste rapporten. Gebruiken ze dat fortuin om de wereld te verbeteren? Nee, maar wél om de politiek, economie en media naar hun hand te zetten.
Lees alle bevindingen: www.oxfamnovib.nl/actueel/pers...
Lees alle bevindingen: www.oxfamnovib.nl/actueel/pers...
January 19, 2026 at 6:19 AM
❗️Nieuw onderzoek: Nooit eerder hadden miljardairs samen zóveel geld. Dat blijkt uit onze nieuwste rapporten. Gebruiken ze dat fortuin om de wereld te verbeteren? Nee, maar wél om de politiek, economie en media naar hun hand te zetten.
Lees alle bevindingen: www.oxfamnovib.nl/actueel/pers...
Lees alle bevindingen: www.oxfamnovib.nl/actueel/pers...
Reposted
Ceding all forms of autonomy to Trump is now a well-established position within Britain's media and among British media owners.
January 18, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Ceding all forms of autonomy to Trump is now a well-established position within Britain's media and among British media owners.
Reposted
According to a new Quinipiac poll, a whopping 86% of Americans oppose military action to take over Greenland.
Not only are 95% of Democrats and 94% of Independents opposed to Trump's quest for war, so are 68% of Republicans.
Not only are 95% of Democrats and 94% of Independents opposed to Trump's quest for war, so are 68% of Republicans.
January 18, 2026 at 9:32 PM
According to a new Quinipiac poll, a whopping 86% of Americans oppose military action to take over Greenland.
Not only are 95% of Democrats and 94% of Independents opposed to Trump's quest for war, so are 68% of Republicans.
Not only are 95% of Democrats and 94% of Independents opposed to Trump's quest for war, so are 68% of Republicans.
Reposted
"... Danish military leadership were concerned that the United States – informally and without involving Copenhagen – was trying to get Danish colleagues in Greenland to hand over information about military installations, ports and air bases in Greenland" www.berlingske.dk/internationa...
USA søgte i fortrolighed viden om militære installationer i Grønland
Hidtil ukendte dokumenter fra dansk forsvar viser, at Forsvarsministeriet og den øverste danske militære ledelse var bekymret over, at USA – uformelt og uden at involvere København – forsøgte at få da...
www.berlingske.dk
January 18, 2026 at 9:38 PM
"... Danish military leadership were concerned that the United States – informally and without involving Copenhagen – was trying to get Danish colleagues in Greenland to hand over information about military installations, ports and air bases in Greenland" www.berlingske.dk/internationa...
Reposted
Observing the situation around Greenland, I have a strong sense of déjà vu - we’ve seen and heard this before. It reminds me of 2014 and Crimea.
Let's recall and compare⤵️
Let's recall and compare⤵️
January 15, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Observing the situation around Greenland, I have a strong sense of déjà vu - we’ve seen and heard this before. It reminds me of 2014 and Crimea.
Let's recall and compare⤵️
Let's recall and compare⤵️
Reposted
Free up your life by cancelling Netflix and thereby supporting Greenland. In the drop-down menu choose as ground for cancelling... 'Trump'.
Wouldn't it be a lovely message this week if a million Europeans did this? We are their second biggest market so they'd notice, at Netflix HQ.
Wouldn't it be a lovely message this week if a million Europeans did this? We are their second biggest market so they'd notice, at Netflix HQ.
January 18, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Free up your life by cancelling Netflix and thereby supporting Greenland. In the drop-down menu choose as ground for cancelling... 'Trump'.
Wouldn't it be a lovely message this week if a million Europeans did this? We are their second biggest market so they'd notice, at Netflix HQ.
Wouldn't it be a lovely message this week if a million Europeans did this? We are their second biggest market so they'd notice, at Netflix HQ.
Reposted
I was told that the EU’s anti-coercion instrument is being discreetly prepared for use against the US. A vote to trigger it would take place if Trump follows through on his tariff threat over Greenland. We’re entering uncharted waters
January 18, 2026 at 9:08 PM
I was told that the EU’s anti-coercion instrument is being discreetly prepared for use against the US. A vote to trigger it would take place if Trump follows through on his tariff threat over Greenland. We’re entering uncharted waters
Reposted
The price of Russia’s Urals crude falls below $40 per barrel for the first time in 5 years
In December 2025, the average price of Urals crude dropped to $39.18 per barrel.Compared with November,the key export grade fell by 13%,&compared with the beginning of the year,by 41%,The Moscow Times reports
In December 2025, the average price of Urals crude dropped to $39.18 per barrel.Compared with November,the key export grade fell by 13%,&compared with the beginning of the year,by 41%,The Moscow Times reports
January 18, 2026 at 6:42 PM
The price of Russia’s Urals crude falls below $40 per barrel for the first time in 5 years
In December 2025, the average price of Urals crude dropped to $39.18 per barrel.Compared with November,the key export grade fell by 13%,&compared with the beginning of the year,by 41%,The Moscow Times reports
In December 2025, the average price of Urals crude dropped to $39.18 per barrel.Compared with November,the key export grade fell by 13%,&compared with the beginning of the year,by 41%,The Moscow Times reports
Reposted
Economic instability in Venezuela after the U.S. raid to capture its president is deepening inflation and rattling the currency, sending grocery bills soaring for millions of people.
The Biggest Challenge in Venezuela Is Soaring Food Prices
Economic instability in Venezuela after the U.S. raid to capture its president is deepening inflation and rattling the currency, sending grocery bills soaring for millions of people.
trib.al
January 18, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Economic instability in Venezuela after the U.S. raid to capture its president is deepening inflation and rattling the currency, sending grocery bills soaring for millions of people.
Reposted
Over the past year, President Trump’s administration has deported about 230,000 people who were arrested inside the country and another 270,000 at the border, a New York Times analysis of federal data shows. trib.al/QRfJadJ
January 18, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Over the past year, President Trump’s administration has deported about 230,000 people who were arrested inside the country and another 270,000 at the border, a New York Times analysis of federal data shows. trib.al/QRfJadJ
Reposted
Detained Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, whose execution did not take place as some had feared, is in good physical health and has been able to meet with his family, according to a family member and a human rights group. https://cnn.it/4b1GVJ1
January 18, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Detained Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, whose execution did not take place as some had feared, is in good physical health and has been able to meet with his family, according to a family member and a human rights group. https://cnn.it/4b1GVJ1
Reposted
As I expected, emergency European Council this week. Talk was previously of a video summit, this sounds like a full meeting. The response to Trump will be leaders driven, signalling a willingness to go tough.
My consultations with member states on the latest tensions over Greenland reconfirm our strong commitment to the following:
▪️ Unity on the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty;
▪️ Unity in support of and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland;
▪️ Unity on the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty;
▪️ Unity in support of and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland;
January 18, 2026 at 8:02 PM
As I expected, emergency European Council this week. Talk was previously of a video summit, this sounds like a full meeting. The response to Trump will be leaders driven, signalling a willingness to go tough.
Reposted
"I've received several gloating messages from a Chinese nationalist friend gleefully anticipating Europe’s humiliation. By giving way on Greenland Europe would confirm we are in a might-makes-right world. For China that is a potentially enticing prospect"
Europe must not appease Trump on Greenland
By capitulating again, the EU and UK would signal that we are now irrevocably in a might-makes-right world
giftarticle.ft.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:14 PM
"I've received several gloating messages from a Chinese nationalist friend gleefully anticipating Europe’s humiliation. By giving way on Greenland Europe would confirm we are in a might-makes-right world. For China that is a potentially enticing prospect"
Reposted
Why It’s Hard to Run Venezuela
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Why It’s Hard to Run Venezuela (Gift Article)
Venezuela sprawls over terrain twice the size of California, with vast tracts of treacherous jungles, steep mountains and cities filled with guns.
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Why It’s Hard to Run Venezuela
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted
Chile’s government has ordered mass evacuations as forest fires up to 23km-wide burn through Chile, threatening communities across the Biobio and Nuble regions.
January 18, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Chile’s government has ordered mass evacuations as forest fires up to 23km-wide burn through Chile, threatening communities across the Biobio and Nuble regions.
Reposted
Iran is planning to cut itself off from the global internet.
The Iranian authorities are planning to allow internet access only to government officials who have passed regime vetting and are considered “trustworthy"
For everyone else, there will be a domestic internet fully controlled by the state
The Iranian authorities are planning to allow internet access only to government officials who have passed regime vetting and are considered “trustworthy"
For everyone else, there will be a domestic internet fully controlled by the state
January 18, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Iran is planning to cut itself off from the global internet.
The Iranian authorities are planning to allow internet access only to government officials who have passed regime vetting and are considered “trustworthy"
For everyone else, there will be a domestic internet fully controlled by the state
The Iranian authorities are planning to allow internet access only to government officials who have passed regime vetting and are considered “trustworthy"
For everyone else, there will be a domestic internet fully controlled by the state
Reposted
Danish media: in 2025 US secretly sought data on Greenland’s military infrastructure—ports, air bases, defense sites—bypassing Denmark, triggering espionage warnings. EU is weighing countermeasures if Trump moves by force.
Belgium’s def min: If they take Greenland by force, that will be end of NATO
Belgium’s def min: If they take Greenland by force, that will be end of NATO
January 18, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Danish media: in 2025 US secretly sought data on Greenland’s military infrastructure—ports, air bases, defense sites—bypassing Denmark, triggering espionage warnings. EU is weighing countermeasures if Trump moves by force.
Belgium’s def min: If they take Greenland by force, that will be end of NATO
Belgium’s def min: If they take Greenland by force, that will be end of NATO
Reposted
As far as I can tell, we don’t give up on criminal law because some people break it. So, why do countries seem to be giving up on international law because the USA, Israel and other are choosing to break it? Isn’t this the exact moment when we need it most?
January 17, 2026 at 12:16 PM
As far as I can tell, we don’t give up on criminal law because some people break it. So, why do countries seem to be giving up on international law because the USA, Israel and other are choosing to break it? Isn’t this the exact moment when we need it most?
Reposted
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
Reposted
Boycott the World Cup - Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize
There is a growing sense of embarrassment among mid-level and senior officials within Fifa over the awarding of the peace prize to Donald Trump
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Boycott the World Cup - Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted
On our last day the skies of Norway gave us a send off like no other.
January 18, 2026 at 9:45 AM
On our last day the skies of Norway gave us a send off like no other.
Reposted
Frank Gehry Designed Art Gallery of Ontario
January 18, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Frank Gehry Designed Art Gallery of Ontario
Reposted
We now have a full-blown European-American crisis, and for no reason that the president is able to articulate
January 18, 2026 at 2:08 PM
We now have a full-blown European-American crisis, and for no reason that the president is able to articulate
Reposted
Europe’s first sodium-ion cell made with fully domestic components www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/18/e...
Europe’s first sodium-ion cell made with fully domestic components
Welsh battery breakthrough uses UK-manufactured anode and cathode materials as well as active materials available through local supply chains. Batri plans to scale up material manufacturing and cell b...
www.pv-magazine.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Europe’s first sodium-ion cell made with fully domestic components www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/18/e...