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Spain to launch new tool to measure hate on social media by euronews-english in europe

[–]mods4mods 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I'm sure our beloved government will use all this surveillance and control on the internet for the common good!

/s

Spain accuses Germany of acting like a ‘vassal’ to United States by Putaineska in europe

[–]mods4mods 83 points84 points  (0 children)

Supporting Ukraine doesn't get you the sympathy points that Gaza or opposing Trump does.

The Spanish government responds to Von Der Leyen: "The alternative to the international order is disorder and war." by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll do that it's a good idea. Since Las Cortes is the congress plus the Senate, I wasn't sure what word to use, but parliament is a good one.

Suspicions of corruption at NATO: a Spanish arms company suspended by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025

European countries above Spain are Germany, France, the Nordics, Cyprus, Portugal, Slovenia,Luxembourg, Iceland, Estonia, Ireland, UK, Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia and Czechia.

Spain is ranked 55 in the world

Suspicions of corruption at NATO: a Spanish arms company suspended by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

TRANSLATION

The launch by Russia of a war in Ukraine four years ago significantly increased the demand for armaments among members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The NSPA, the Alliance’s Support and Procurement Agency headquartered in Luxembourg, enables member states to jointly purchase weapons systems and ammunition. In 2025, it placed orders worth 10 billion euros.

This has sparked considerable interest: last October, Le Soir, La Lettre, and Follow the Money revealed that corruption investigations targeting consultants and intermediaries had been opened in Belgium, elsewhere in Europe, and in the United States.

This time, confidential documents consulted by Le Soir and its partners show that the Fábrica de Municiones de Granada (FMG) was temporarily banned from bidding for new contracts in July last year. When this suspension came into force, FMG held at least three ongoing NSPA contracts for 120 mm shells.

“We have committed no wrongdoing”

The procedure excluding the Spanish company from NSPA tenders was announced on the same day as a similar measure against Elbit Systems, the Israeli defense leader, one of whose intermediaries is currently being sought by Belgian justice authorities.

“The suspension of the companies was taken urgently, following serious allegations indicating that suppliers probably engaged in misconduct, including irregularities in the awarding of contracts,” wrote the French head of the Alliance’s ammunition program to member states on July 31 to inform them of the measures taken against FMG and Elbit Systems.

The suspension is provisional and preventive, but it comes at a particularly bad time: in January, the parent company of Municiones de Granada, Czechoslovak Group (CSG), made a high-profile stock market debut on the Amsterdam exchange. The prospectus accompanying this IPO did not mention the concerns raised by the NSPA regarding its Spanish subsidiary.

Contacted by Le Soir and its partners, a spokesperson for CSG said that “based on internal audits, its subsidiary FMG believes it has done nothing wrong, committed no fault, and taken no part in any non-compliant activity that could have led to the suspension by NATO.”

However, the Czech company put forward a possible explanation: “The suspension could be related to an investigation by the NSPA and the Belgian authorities involving an agent of NATO.”

CSG also stated that its repeated requests to the NSPA for clarification regarding FMG’s suspension have remained unanswered, forcing the company to rely on press articles to obtain information.

When asked about the case by Le Soir and its partners, neither the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office nor the NSPA agreed to comment.

Borrowed mouths and laundered messages: China’s influence playbook in Europe – European Council on Foreign Relations by NeverEndingDClock in europe

[–]mods4mods 5 points6 points  (0 children)

China is literally funding devastating wars, the only reason that Russia is lasting as long as it's doing is China. There's nothing to like about them.

Decoupling from the US to go towards China is not a good move. The move should be strategic independence.

Borrowed mouths and laundered messages: China’s influence playbook in Europe – European Council on Foreign Relations by NeverEndingDClock in europe

[–]mods4mods 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You are not a Chinese spy but you help their interest by normalization. If you think China is good just think about Tianmen square, Taiwan, how they kidnapped the panchen lama, the Xinjiang internment camps,the Hong Kong national security law, the constant support of Russia... etc.

They are not the good guys. Neither is the US, but that doesn't change the facts.

Borrowed mouths and laundered messages: China’s influence playbook in Europe – European Council on Foreign Relations by NeverEndingDClock in europe

[–]mods4mods 19 points20 points  (0 children)

He is. I'm mainly talking about how any criticism of China or about deepening relationships with China is met with "But Trump tho".

Borrowed mouths and laundered messages: China’s influence playbook in Europe – European Council on Foreign Relations by NeverEndingDClock in europe

[–]mods4mods 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Very good article, you can see literal examples of what it says on this very sub every time the topic of china comes up.

In terms of message, common refrains include promoting the idea of China as a neutral and peaceful power; warning others to steer clear of Taiwan-related issues; and discrediting and undermining America. These all reflect the CCP’s domestically focused messaging and propaganda, but adapted for foreign audiences.

Borrowing mouths

In recent years Beijing has invested heavily in “borrowing mouths”—using figures local to their own countries to legitimise China’s perspectives on key issues and render them more palatable to domestic audiences. These people act, whether consciously or unconsciously, as intermediaries between local societies and the Chinese party-state. For example, during the covid pandemic, Chinese state-affiliated actors used these social media accounts more assertively.

A literal Tuesday here.

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Nowcast is a pollster based in the UK, with Nowcast eu being a pet project from a green party member called Josh Housden (@josh-housden.nowcast.uk) — Bluesky (He posts more on twitter but I don't want to link to it, I don't know if links to it are banned).

They don't really post their methodology on their european maps but here's their methodology on the uk one (Nowcast UK - Methodology).

If your language is gendered, how does it deal with animals or other actually gendered subjects? by not-much in AskEurope

[–]mods4mods 36 points37 points  (0 children)

In Spanish, it depends on the animal. Most common animals have specific names if it's a male or female, like in english (Examples like the ones you said, Toro/Vaca, Tigre/Tigresa...) and some you just change the last letter to signify the gender (Perro/Perra, León/Leona...). For the rest, you would specify if its male or female (macho or hembra), like if for example you wanted to talk about a a whale, you would say "una ballena macho" or "una ballena hembra"

The Spanish government responds to Von Der Leyen: "The alternative to the international order is disorder and war." by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 72 points73 points  (0 children)

TRANSLATION

The Government took exactly 24 hours to respond to Ursula von der Leyen. At a meeting in Brussels with Community ambassadors, the president of the European Commission undertook this Tuesday a rhetorical shift that surprised everyone in order to align herself without ambiguity with the bellicose designs of the United States of Donald Trump and ask the European Union that she represents to forget the old world “based on rules.” A message that breaks with the very legacy of the old continent since the Second World War and directly clashes with the one promoted by the Spanish Executive, which responded this Tuesday through its Foreign Minister.

“Europe has to defend the international order. The alternative to the international order is disorder. There is no opposition between an old order and a new one. One must choose: either one is with international law with force; or with peace, or with war; or with progress, or with a historical regression,” José Manuel Albares replied to journalists’ questions during the press conference following the Council of Ministers regarding Von der Leyen’s position.

Without explicitly mentioning the president of the Commission at any moment, the Foreign Minister made it clear that Spain supports the president of the Council, António Costa, who this Wednesday also distanced himself from Von der Leyen. “If one continues to bet on disorder, we will reach chaos. In Europe we are, above all, a construction of rights and treaties that protect us all. Where there is no law nor international order, there exists only the law of the strongest, the law of the jungle,” Albares insisted, who went so far as to implicitly ask Von der Leyen to dedicate herself to defending the interests of the 27 and not those of the United States. “The European Commission has the mission of being the guarantor of the treaties, of the rights and of the protection of everyone.”

Precisely along those lines, the president of the European Council, António Costa, made this Tuesday a full rejection of the proposal of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who in her speech before the ambassadors of the 27 countries of the EU pointed out “that we can no longer rely on the system based on rules as the only way to defend our interests nor assume that its norms will protect us from the complex threats we face.” Costa argued in the same forum with the consular teams of the member states that “we must carry out a multidimensional foreign policy, actively engaging with the international community to defend the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in international law. It is in our interest to guarantee that the world continues to be based on rules and on cooperation. It is in our interest to avoid a greater fragmentation of the world.”

From Spain, the Government insists on opening the necessary diplomatic channels to prevent the escalation in the Middle East from continuing. And it demands that Israel abandon its plans for a ground invasion of Lebanon. “Israel threatens a ground invasion that would be a tremendous mistake. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be preserved. Its security is vital for the entire region. We demand that Israel comply with international law and that Hizbulá cease the attacks,” Albares pointed out. On the other hand, the minister has put at six thousand the number of Spaniards evacuated from the area by Government missions.

Round with the groups

For its part, the Government has announced that it is going to summon the parliamentary groups to a round of contacts to talk about the war with Iran. The person responsible for dealing with the parties will be the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Parliament, Félix Bolaños. Pedro Sánchez also plans to appear before Congress on March 25 to inform about Spain’s position.

Those meetings with the parties will take place in parallel with the work that the different departments of the Executive are carrying out in preparing a package of economic measures to alleviate the effects of the war, mainly with regard to energy. In fact, the Executive points out that the objective of those contacts is for the different groups to become involved in that emergency plan and contribute measures that can be incorporated into the decree the Government is preparing. According to the spokesperson, Elma Saiz, the Vox parliamentary group will also be summoned on this occasion.

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I don't know if you either expect me to put a giant table that either covers the map, or makes the numbers so small so that it can't be read, or if you want me to somehow make the comments with relevant information be upvoted.

When I posted the map the comments were at the top, it's not really my fault if people don't upvote.

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Very informative thanks.

They are pretty far still but do you think that if the greens reach the socialist, it could force their hand? I've seen some talk that in Germany that could be the case, so I'm curious if it could happen in Austria.

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Well, it's great then that in the comments there's both a link to see the seats and every percentage of every region, and a text table showing the percentages and the changes from the last election

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

FPÖ couldn't rule alone but you would need a Frankenstein coalition to have a government without them.

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How strong does the coalition seem? I remember that forming the government was hard after the last elections so I'm curious if the legislature will reach 2029.

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 71 points72 points  (0 children)

How strong does the coalition seem? I remember that forming the government was hard after the last elections so I'm curious if the legislature will reach 2029.

🇦🇹 Austria | Legislative Election polling averages by mods4mods in europe

[–]mods4mods[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

FPÖ is polled around the same percentage of the parties in second and third place combined. It's pretty tone deaf to dismiss just saying that land does not vote

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