Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · 16h

On AI and voice: "The danger is subtle but corrosive: a public sphere where “voice” is replaced by a smooth, compliant style that pleases editors or algorithms but strips away the very thing that makes writing worth reading". Totally agree.

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · 16h

@catherinedevries.bsky.social interviews @casmudde.bsky.social. Very interesting and insightful as usual.

catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...

catherineeunicedevries.substack.com

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · 10d

US ambo on #DMA & #DSA: “..if the intent is to inflict economic pain on competitors outside of Europe to help European companies, that’s something that the United States would object to […] You can’t have legislation that punishes companies from . . . your ally.” US tariffs then? @financialtimes.com

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · 22d

Immensely sad. RIP Robert Redford. 😢

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · 28d

Indeed, another spectacle of internal divisions that we could have easily done without.

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 28d

European Parliament today:

Von der Leyen: "Europe is in a fight!"

EPP: It's the S&D fault, let's fight!
S&D: It's the EPP's fault, let's fight!

Patriots for Europe: It's her fault! Tables motion of Censure. Let's fight!
Left: It's her fault! Tables another motion of censure. Let's fight!

Mepassistant (Quentin) @mepassistant.bsky.social · 28d

When Ursula-chan can't get her teammates to work together

Reposted by Virginia Mucchi

Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · Jul 12

These Dutch guys deserve your support. They bring discarded fishing and flower bulb nets to Ukraine. To protect people and lives.

All volunteers doing the right things. But donations have dropped, so time we all step up.

De Leeuw Kyiv @deleeuwkyiv.bsky.social · Jul 12

🕸️ Hundreds of lives saved. Millions in damage prevented. Don’t let us hit the brakes.

In recent months, we’ve been sending dozens of truckloads each month filled with discarded flower bulb and fishing nets to the front lines in Ukraine. (1/6)

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jul 3

Everytime you want to override fear with numbers you will fail - advice to politicians by Kata Tüttő - president of CoR at the opening of #europcom

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 24

A third of the @undp.org budget today comes for programmes countries themselves. UNDP Ahunna Eziakonwa on agency, multilateralism that goes beyond NY, Brussels and Geneva and not choosing sides.

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 24

At the European Parliament for the @ettg.bsky.social conference on the next steps for Eu development policy. @shirinwheeler.bsky.social moderating @billgates.bsky.social and International Partnerships commissioner Síkela.

Cuts and changing policy priorities obviously centre stage.

Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 6

🙃 Sad that while outside #Italy they call it a crucial #referendum, the current government is pushing people not to bother voting to prevent reaching the 50% threshold. 🙃 #iovoto

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 6

@adamtooze.bsky.social loved your FT piece today. The sort of stop-and-think articles I am happy to start my day with. More EU cooperation of course, but how would you push current leaders to actually do it? #EUdefence

Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 5

I am in!

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 5

✏️ Very good and useful read on how to shape a better research question. And, more generally, a place to help you write better. ✏️
Good resource for us @ecdpm.org

Catherine E. de Vries @catherinedevries.bsky.social · Jun 4

You don’t need more ideas.

You need a better question.

A thread on clarity, chaos, & what a Nobel Prize winner, a mosquito net & a PhD meltdown taught me about writing (+ thinking) better.

🪨 Here’s my new Respect the Marble post: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/you-dont-n...

🧵

You Don’t Need More Ideas. You Need a Better Question

What Michelangelo, a Nobel Laureate, and a PhD Meltdown Taught Me about Research Questions

catherineeunicedevries.substack.com

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Reposted by Virginia Mucchi

PubAffairs EU Debates, News & Opinions 🇪🇺 @pubaffairsbruxelles.eu · Jun 4

[Commentary] #GlobalEurope: The #AU-#EU partnership - Closer ties or common worries? By @virginiamucchi.bsky.social | @ecdpm.org
www.pubaffairsbruxelles.eu/opinion-anal...

The AU-EU partnership: Closer ties or common worries? - PubAffairs Bruxelles

A flawless ministerial, top marks, a shared commitment to multilateral institutions and a common goal to reform them, topped off by a determination to deliver results at the upcoming AU-EU summit. Tha...

www.pubaffairsbruxelles.eu

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Reposted by Virginia Mucchi

Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · Jun 2

Very glad that in a crowded policy space @euiss.bsky.social and @ecdpm.org joined forces to put the spotlight on EU-AU relations.

Partners in the storm we called it - attracting a room full of people and energy.

Doesn’t happen every day in Brussels. Read here what it all means:

Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 2

After the meeting between European and African ministers we organised a debrief to hear how things went...Very well, they told us. But is it true? My write-up.

@ecdpm.org

@euiss.bsky.social

ECDPM 🌍 @ecdpm.org · Jun 2

📣 As African and European representatives express great satisfaction about the outcome of the recent EU-AU ministerial, is the relationship finally evolving, or is it too good to be true?

Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/4jrVgix

✍️ @virginiamucchi.bsky.social

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Jun 2

After the meeting between European and African ministers we organised a debrief to hear how things went...Very well, they told us. But is it true? My write-up.

@ecdpm.org

@euiss.bsky.social

ECDPM 🌍 @ecdpm.org · Jun 2

📣 As African and European representatives express great satisfaction about the outcome of the recent EU-AU ministerial, is the relationship finally evolving, or is it too good to be true?

Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/4jrVgix

✍️ @virginiamucchi.bsky.social

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · May 13

As the next #EUAU ministerial approaches, we suggest different ways to move the relationship between the two continents forward.

@ec.europa.eu
@eudiplomacy.bsky.social

ECDPM 🌍 @ecdpm.org · May 13

📣 As the EU and AU celebrate 25 years of "robust" summits and the vague, unmonitored commitments that result from them, is it time to embrace new, more pragmatic methods of engaging?

Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/433AFL5

Reposted by Virginia Mucchi

ECDPM 🌍 @ecdpm.org · Apr 23

📝 EU investment in the Lobito Corridor is sometimes seen as a ploy to disrupt Chinese infrastructure dominance in Africa, but the reality on the ground is more complicated, and EU investments unclear.

Read the paper 👉 bit.ly/4lAPbT3

The Lobito Corridor: Between European geopolitics and African agency

The Lobito Corridor, connecting the DRC, Zambia and Angola, is often discussed in terms of geopolitical competition – with the EU and the US on one side and China on the other – while African agency i...

bit.ly

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Apr 17

Our latest paper on the Lobito corridor...

ECDPM 🌍 @ecdpm.org · Apr 17

📝 Connecting the DRC, Zambia and Angola, the Lobito Corridor is often seen through a West vs China lens, but what is the reality on the ground in terms of real investments, activity and African country interests?

Read the paper 👉 bit.ly/4lAPbT3

@poorvak.bsky.social

Reposted by Virginia Mucchi

Paul Kelleher 🎃 @paulkelleher.net · Apr 2

The "Equality vs. Equity" meme but with a third parody panel added. It depicts the view of all three spectators at the baseball game being blocked by a fence. Under that panel it reads, "GLOBAL MARKETS RESPOND AS THE IMPACT OF AMERICA'S RENEWED STRENGTH TAKES HOLD"

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Apr 2

Love "Democrats show a pulse" 😂

About time.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Apr 2

Energized against the new Trump era, and against Elon Musk, Democrats pulled off a crucial judicial victory in Wisconsin and cut into Republican margins in two Florida congressional races.

Here are six takeaways from the night’s results.

Democrats Show a Pulse: 6 Takeaways From Tuesday’s Elections

Energized against the new Trump era, and against Elon Musk, Democrats pulled off a crucial judicial victory in Wisconsin and cut into Republican margins in two Florida congressional races.

www.nytimes.com

Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Apr 2

Hope is the last to die, as we say in Italy!

Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Mar 27

It's all about strategic #differentiation.

Our latest commentary by @chloeteevan.bsky.social @amedinil.bsky.social and Karim Karaki on making the EU more competitive through smart partnerships.

ECDPM 🌍 @ecdpm.org · Mar 27

📣 As Trump sows economic chaos, the EU's economic future depends on forging smart global partnerships – especially in tech, energy, and resources – rather than turning inward or limiting its economic horizons.

Read the commentary 👉 bit.ly/3DIc6eh

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Virginia Mucchi @virginiamucchi.bsky.social · Mar 18

another vote...on the 21 March I think...still needs a 2/3 majority vote. My German colleagues tell me that it's not going to be easy, because many of these 16 Länder have coalition governments which include small parties anti-defence spending and/ or pro-Russia.

Reposted by Virginia Mucchi

ECDPM 🌍 @ecdpm.org · Mar 14

📅 Next week!

We are hosting the Kenyan ambassador to the EU and others in our Brussels office to discuss how the EU can rethink its approach to international partnerships in the face of emerging challenges.

Registration and info 👉 bit.ly/3R0uNMW

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