Something hopeful happened on 5 May, 1949. The establishment of the Council of Europe. An institution where 46 countries cooperate to protect human rights, democracy, rule of law and freedoms. Happy 77th Birthday to our precious @coe.int Happy #EuropeDay to you from your friends in Scotland.

Something hopeful happened on 5 May, 1949. The establishment of the Council of Europe. An institution where 46 countries cooperate to protect human rights, democracy, rule of law and freedoms. Happy 77th Birthday to our precious @coe.int Happy #EuropeDay to you from your friends in Scotland.

PM Donald Tusk: "There are conflicting signals about what a so-called short-term ceasefire would mean. For now, the message coming from Moscow spoke of a one-day ceasefire - just so that a parade can take place in Moscow. That is simply absurd."

Three Russian diplomats have been expelled from Austria over suspected espionage activities. They were declared personae non ‌gratae due to an "antenna forest" on the roofs of diplomatic buildings that may have been used for spying, Reuters reports.

IDF has been serially beating up crew members of the 22 Global Sumud flotilla vessels which it illegally intercepted in international waters off Crete, 600 miles from Gaza. The flotilla is attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

🔥One of the most prominent media moguls in Orbán’s regime, who has amassed billions from government contracts and is also known for the infamous pro-government billboards, announced that he is transferring his businesses and most of his assets held in private equity funds to the state. 😲

Limited number of places left for this Festival of Europe event next Sunday - update on UK-EU relations Book now! 👇👇👇👇

UK-EU talks today about UK taking part in EU Ukraine loan, and in European Innovation Fund. Find out more about what is happening with the negotiations on closer EU-UK links at this event on 10 May, Edinburgh. Expert speakers. Only 9 places left - book today! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/future-uk-...

I told young people in Esslingen, Germany, how Russian paramilitaries operate in Africa. I explained how these mercenaries have massacred hundreds of civilians, raped dozens of girls and tortured so many boys. I warned that if we overlooked this, someday it could happen in Europe

🎉 EuroVelo 1 – Atlantic Coast Route just got extended to Galicia, Spain from Tui to Cape Fisterra! The route now connects with EuroVelo 3 – Pilgrims Route through scenic Galician coastal landscapes. en.eurovelo.com/news/2026-04... @conbici.bsky.social @euroveloes.bsky.social

Sweden has launched its first military satellite (Years ahead of schedule?! What magic is this?) defence-blog.com/sweden-launc...

The US obviously wasn't chosen because Trump would steal that money! ============

Nothing strange, just russian children acting like the Hitler Youth - marching in formation, dressed in military uniforms and waving flags glorifying the genocide russia is committing in Ukraine.

The laureates of the 31st North-South Prize of the Council of Europe are announced! Congratulations to Bragi Guðbrandsson and Rami Abou Jamous for their outstanding commitment to human rights, democracy and dialogue. youtube.com/shorts/PFyMh...

Our event on "Russia’s campaign against Europe: hybrid war, disinformation, influence" (11 May, Edinburgh, 4 pm) will feature talks from leading experts from Poland and Germany, led by leading journalist Allan Little. For more details, and to book places, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/russias-ca...

Defense officials & lawmakers fear the Kremlin will consider the next 2/3 years while Trump is still in the White House & the EU hasn't yet reinforced its military capacity, as the time to test the West's commitment to NATO, according to 3 EU politicians with direct knowledge of the discussions

🇺🇦President Zelenskyy had meeting: 🇫🇷- Emmanuel Macron 🇬🇧- Keir Starmer 🇮🇹- Giorgia Meloni 🇳🇴- Jonas Gahr Store 🇵🇱- Donald Tusk 🇫🇮- Petteri Orpo 🇨🇦- Mark Carney 🇪🇺- Antonio Costa 🇪🇺- Ursula von der Leyen - Mark Rutte Secretary General of NATO

It was great to speak with Berlingske in Copenhagen about #Belarus - where we stand politically, what we have endured, and why, despite everything, the struggle continues. We discussed repression, exile, and the unfinished fight for democracy, but also the resilience.

Democratic security and hybrid threats will be a key focus at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, where European leaders will discuss democratic resilience, foreign interference, and accountability related to the war in Ukraine. www.coe.int/en/web/porta...

Today on World Press Freedom Day, delegates to the @ifjglobal.bsky.social Centennial Congress joined members of French journalists unions in front of City Hall in Paris for a reading of names and moment of silence for journalists killed around the world in the last year.

Russians attacked a gas station near Dnipro, striking a bus full of children‼️ There were 40 children on board, but they managed to leave the bus in time. A 10‑year‑old boy was injured and is now in the hospital in moderate condition, according to the regional administration.

Don't think grotesque is adequate. This is inhumane and vile on any level. Disgusting people.

“Everybody counts in applying democracy. And there will never be a true democracy until every responsible and law-abiding adult in it, without regard to race, sex, color or creed has his or her own inalienable and unpurchasable voice in government.” ~Carrie Chapman Catt. Image: Public domain.

#WPFD2026: Today we celebrate the crucial role of public service media as critical democratic infrastructure. At a time when #PSM are under attack across Europe, we advocate for quality, independence & robust funding. Strengthening PSM must be at the top of every democratic leader’s political agenda

The EU has a green target of 25% coverage by organic farmland by 2030, to protect consumer health and the environment How can we persuade policy-makers to have a more ambitious target for Scottish farmland? @ariane-burgess.bsky.social @scottishgreens.org 🥦🍓🧅🫛🫐🥔 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/accelerati...

On World Press Freedom Day, 22 journalists are still behind bars in #Belarus. We join colleagues around the world in demanding the release of Belarusian journalists. We won’t forget them. #WPFFD26

An Oxford University study found that shifting the global energy system to a near zero-carbon by 2050 could save the world more than $12 trillion. Solar, wind, #batteries #EVs are becoming cheaper much faster making the transition economically smarter www.ox.ac.uk/news/2022-09... #ActOnClimate

Almost 100% of new cars sold in Norway last year were electric. Not just because of oil wealth. Because of carbon taxes, EV incentives, and thirty years of consistent policy. New newsletter: Norway: The World's Most Instructive Energy Paradox janrosenow.substack.com/p/norway-the...

Journalists must be protected to report the news and provide us with the facts to make decisions. Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli is facing a 2 year sentence in Georgia. We denounce the case as disproportionate and politicized + renew our call for her release. cpj.org/data/people/... #FreeMzia

The commitment of the @coe.int to protecting freedom of the press is more important than ever. 2025 was recorded as the deadliest year for journalists in over three decades, with at least 129 media workers killed. #WorldPressFreedom

On 17 May as part of this year’s festival you can join two of the walks. In the morning the #Stirling EuroWalk and in the afternoon with the creator of the brand new #Kirkcaldy walk! Book your free space here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stirling-e... and here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kirkcaldy-...

www.eurowalks.scot - great weather for walking at the moment !

Only a small handful of tickets for Saturday events at #FestivalofEuropeScotland with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social and @davidheniguk.bsky.social We’re a festival that loves to hear from experts!

Hi All, my latest book, War and Power: Who Wins Wars and Why, is being released in North America in two weeks. The Publisher, Basic Books/Hatchette, has just released a discount code for 20% if you buy through them. Code is WAR&POWER (not case sensitive). www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/phill...

Putin will be overjoyed! Trump has indicated he may consider withdrawing American troops from Spain and Italy, telling reporters, ‘yeah, I probably will’ There were 12,662 active-duty American personnel stationed in Italy and 3,814 in Spain as of December 2025. First Germany now Spain and Italy

🇪🇺 European Commission says will ‘keep options open’ over Trump tariff threat Trump said he will raise tariffs on automobiles and auto parts from the EU to 25% because the bloc is not living up to its end of a trade agreement struck last summer #Trump #EU #US www.politico.eu/article/euro...

curious how Trump decided to attack NATO right after his long phone call with Putin

"Russians told us: if you try to escape, we’ll shoot you in the knees": Ukrainian teenagers abducted by Russia spoke in the Senate of Spain Spanish Senate President Pedro Rollán Ojeda expressed support for #Ukraine and stressed the need to return more than 20,000 children deported by Russia⤵️

❤️🎸🎶 “Moisei Bondarenko” one of talented Ukrainian musicians !❤️🎸🎶 #Ukraine #Russia 🎥: Media 🇺🇦

Zelenskyy reports "peculiar activity" on Belarus border "The day before [on 1 May], there was rather peculiar activity on sections of the border between Ukraine and Belarus, on the Belarusian side. #Belarus #Ukraine #Russia #Kremlin www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...

🔴 Release of the 2025 Sakharov Prize laureate Andrzej Poczobut Chair @droi.europarl.europa.eu @mounirsatouri.bsky.social “It is truly welcome news, and a reminder of the Sakharov Prize's capacity to effect change and to spotlight human rights and freedom of expression defenders” (1/3)

Georges Kars (German-Czech, 1880-1945) was born on this day (May 2) He was associated with the School of Paris. He committed suicide after learning that most of his relatives were murdered in the Holocaust. "Still Life with Green Glass", 1914 #ArtSky #Kars

Medvedev: Russia annexed a part of Georgia, but Europe doesn't want to understand us or listen to us. Russia annexed Crimea, and now the Western world is rusophobic and we have an existential conflict with the West. (These are not direct quotes, but the gist of his speech).

#WFPD: "Every attack on a media professional is an attack aimed at silencing a story intended to inform citizens. The deplorable state of press freedom across the world must mobilise each and every one of us" @abellanger.bsky.social @ifjasiapacific.bsky.social www.ifj.org/media-centre...

🇪🇺 EU to Deliver First €6 Billion Defense Package to Ukraine Under €90 Billion Support Plan “While Russia doubles down its aggression, Europe doubles down our support for Ukraine,” she said. #Ukraine #EU united24media.com/war-in-ukrai...

Now in its third year, Scotland’s Festival of Europe offers something for everyone | Martin Roche

We are sponsoring an interesting event during the Festival of Europe on 13th May 🤩🍇🍊🫐🍓🥦🥔🥕🫑🍞🍷🫛🥩 @europeforscotland.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/accelerati...