iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Few things were such an instant source of random amusement to me when I lived in China. I wonder whether these (and t-shirts with questionable slogans) will survive.

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Always a good idea to read @shashj.bsky.social on Inside Defence - but this is a very interesting gathering, to say the least. Talking European security without the most exposed states and Europe's two nuclear powers seems like leaving quite relevant players out of the conversation?

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Germany and France agree on last-resort tool against trade threats

This is really big news for European China policy. (Guess who just thought she finished a long read, arguing that the lack of consensus on instruments limits Europe's possibility to act... This didn't age well I guess.) www.ft.com/content/4416...

ft.com

Berlin on board with ‘second-strike weapon’ to deter threats over key supplies such as exports of Chinese rare earths and magnets

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Reposted by Gesine Weber

Manuel Müller @manuelmueller.foederalist.eu · 05/10/2026

In any case, the Spanish election will make an MFF compromise in 2026 much more difficult. Sánchez will hardly accept an agreement on the Frugals' terms during his electoral campaign. And the Frugals might be inclined to insist, hoping for a more like-minded Spanish government after the election.

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Europe’s last socialist heavyweight Sánchez calls snap Spanish elections for Nov. 29

Yes, the French presidential elections are likely to be more consequential - but this one changes the sequence of action and could close Europe's windows for joint action sooner than anticipated. www.politico.eu/article/spai...

politico.eu

With housing topping voters’ concerns, the prime minister is hoping the affordability crisis can help him defy the polls and extend his time in power.

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Gesine Weber @gesineweber.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This is your regular reminder to disconnect on the weekend and do things that are good for you. Photo: Lugano last weekend, because getting out of Zurich is always a good idea.

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Gesine Weber @gesineweber.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

(Not saying that many of the other structural problems don’t exist, but it’s a huge difference, especially for people from lower income backgrounds, in terms of accessibility and elite reproduction.)

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Gesine Weber @gesineweber.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The big difference is that Blue Book and Schuman traineeships are paid with around 1300 euros/ month, whereas UN internships are often completely unpaid.

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Agree and disagree. Yes, EU still lacks all of the things mentioned here. BUT the European Defence Projects of Common Interest are a really, really good step for the EU making an important contribution to burden-shifting.

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This is really important because these first European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs) open the door for more. And it basically gives the EU the possibility to fund these endeavours much more extensively than before. Good news.

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reader.foreignaffairs.com

This is an interesting piece on public-private relations and defence industrial policy, but it leaves a massive elephant in the room unaddressed: it permanently uses the phrase « the US and its allies » - but what if allies don’t want to follow? reader.foreignaffairs.com/2026/09/28/r...

Rewiring the Arsenal of Democracy

America and Its Allies Must Scale Together for a New Era of War

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Gesine Weber @gesineweber.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Anyone surprised? I also have a hard time imagining that this will be different in December (discussion about G20 participation by Putin).

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Happy Monday… it’s Medal Monday again! Race was tough, views were great.

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All I say here: imagine German Sektgabis, on steroids. Welcome to CH. 🫠

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Example 2: people sit on reserved seats, without this being indicated. Ask simply a question. The Swiss with the reservation totally freak out, 1h discussion among the group to debrief and everyone in the train gets to take part in it. 🫠

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Example 1: people totally freak out because the train is one minute late, I’m not even kidding. Collective unrest, people starting to rant around.

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I complain a lot about Deutsche Bahn, and often for good reasons (you know the stories…). But regularly travelling my train in Switzerland also makes me see DB travellers with other eyes. Expose yourself to Swiss ppl for just two minutes - it’s like German DB travellers on steroids.

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This is your regular reminder to disconnect on the weekend and do things that are good for you. And don’t forget to have a mooncake for 中秋节/ mid-autumn festival.

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This is a really good read about LFI's approach towards Ukraine and all the contractions.

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Apfel gespritzt, einfach nein 🫠

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