Guy De Launey
@guydelauney.bsky.social
Balkans Correspondent 📹 BBC News, 🖋️ Monocle Magazine Presenter 🎙 Monocle Radio Moderator ⚖ at large Tadej Pogačar's mountain domestique No Abba https://monocle.com/contributors/guy-de-launey/
Why are foreign correspondents important? I explain for Monocle. The example I use is the so-called "sniper tourism" story in Bosnia. A tale with elements of Squid Game that has been going around the world since last November. The major problem: there is no evidence. monocle.com/culture/medi...
In an age of misinformation, on-the-ground reporting is the only safeguard
The Sarajevo sniper-tourism scandal proves why reporting from trusted sources is more important than ever.
monocle.com
This is possibly the greatest-ever answer in a newspaper questionnaire. In this case, The Guardian's "honest playlist". Oddly enough, I heard 6Music playing back to back Tricky the other day and immediately feared the worst.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Trieste-Belgrade railway revival actually happened? The governments of Italy and Serbia affirmed their commitment last week. And other EU and regional bodies are on board. Hopefully the rest of us will be as well, come 2029. Here's what I told Monocle Radio.
What happened when I asked Albania's PM Edi Rama if we should be worried about him? That's after the corruption investigations involving his closest political allies. Find out here. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Thousands of Albanians demand prime minister's resignation
Flamingos have become a national symbol of protest, triggered by opposition to a luxury development.
bbc.com
If I could like this ten times, I would. Puts it all in a nutshell.
@Maxine David.bsky.social.com@maxinedavid.bsky.social · last mo.The UK is serious about its security? What do those responsible for this think is meant by "resilience"? If we don't protect the information sphere, which means having seasoned journalists on the ground, we are lost. Unbelievable ignorance & complacency. And such appalling treatment of these people.
That's "Kushner's island" over there. Properly known as Sazan. I'm on the Albania coast near Vlorë, talking to people about the pros and cons of tourist developments - and the impact on wildlife. Watch this space.
Is binning expert correspondents in eastern Europe a good idea at a time like this? Disinformation on the rise, Russia interfering in many countries, threatening several and actually at war with one? Well, BBC News management seems to think so. It's disposing of me and 4 of my colleagues.
What is it with RTV Slovenija and cyclists? Today's bizarre article is about "cyclists who do not respect road traffic regulations". Then cites a car "while overtaking, hit a cyclist with its rearview mirror, causing him to fall and be seriously injured". Good grief. www.rtvslo.si/lokalne-novi...
Kraševcem sive lase povzročajo kolesarji, ki ne spoštujejo cestnoprometnih predpisov
Za domačine v kraških vaseh srečanja s kolesarji niso vedno najprijetnejša. Opozarjajo na velike hitrosti in neustrezno opremljenost koles. Policija v večini primerov kolesarjem izdaja opozorila.
rtvslo.si
The deployment of "grow up" as a rebuke is to be discouraged. But what do you say to a group of people who need their sports car to go "vroom, vroom!", never mind that it shifts like the proverbial? www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘How can you have a Ferrari without any vroom?’: electric model shocks owners’ club
Suggestion the Luce EV should be stripped of prancing horse logo shows strength of feeling from Ferrari fans
theguardian.com
Here's my piece about the imminent departure of Christian Schmidt as High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The brevity of the piece means a lot has been left out. It's certainly been a more eventful term than that of his predecessor, Valentin Inzko. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bosnia's powerful peace envoy quits, with questions over role's future
Christian Schmidt had been in the role since 2021, and departs after appearing to lose the backing of the United States.
bbc.com
Slovenia's heading for a right-wing coalition. "Starting points" include "the family is the fundamental cell of society", reducing immigration through "greater joy of life and increasing the birth rate". Plus the relativisation of Nazi atrocities. www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/ja...
Janša: Uskladili smo izhodišča za koalicijsko pogodbo, sledi usklajevanje konkretnih vsebin
Predsednik SDS-a Janez Janša je povedal, da so izhodišča za koalicijsko pogodbo usklajena in da računa, da bi lahko vsebine uskladili v tednu dni. Na odločanju o mandatarju ob tem računajo tudi na gla...
rtvslo.si
Radicalised banjo player calls for English Channel to be mined, so "economic migrants" - his fellow human beings - can be blown to smithereens. As the son of a French mother and husband of a Singaporean woman, you'd think he'd be able to recognise the irony. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Spectator owner’s son calls for mine-laden ‘floating wall’ to stop Channel crossings
Winston Marshall, former member of Mumford & Sons, says people crossing are ‘economic migrants’ not refugees
theguardian.com
Kosovo's PM Albin Kurti looking a little bit lonely in the National Assembly. Fewer than 10 hours remain to select a president. Otherwise, elections. Again. For the 3rd time since last February.
People unhappy with parking charges in Ljubljana are starting a petition to trigger a referendum. The organisers believe they should have the right to free parking spaces. Why? If anyone wants to start a petition demanding even higher parking charges, let me know. www.rtvslo.si/lokalne-novi...
Začelo se je zbiranje podpisov za referendum o plačevanju parkirnin v ljubljanskih soseskah
Zbiranje podpisov pod zahtevo za razpis referenduma o širitvi plačevanja parkirnine v ljubljanskih soseskah bo potekalo preko e-Uprave ali osebno na upravnih enotah in bo trajalo do 28. maja. Številni...
rtvslo.si
I have written to UK culture minister Lisa Nandy three times regarding the BBC funding situation and how it is affecting its ability to function as a news organisation. Three times because I have had no reply. I sent them from Oct 2024-Jul 2025. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/a...
News of BBC jobs cuts ‘real concern‘, says UK’s culture secretary
Lisa Nandy says staff have been strongly affected as some express frustration that high-paid presenters and executives likely to be safe
theguardian.com
Good example of what architect/urbanist Jan Kattein and I discussed at the Urban Future Better Cities Event in Ljubljana. Itself a city that could do a bit more of this with its existing, decrepit shopping centres rather than opening another new, massive mall. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Future of the NHS, saviour of the high street? High hopes for health hub in a Barnsley shopping centre
Transfer of medical services from hospital to former Wilko store is improving healthcare access and boosting footfall
theguardian.com
This billboard in Ljubljana threatens an €80 fine for cyclists who don't look out for pedestrians. Which is fair enough. But as a pedestrian (and cyclist), the biggest threat comes from motorists. Where's the billboard warning them to be on their best behaviour?
I did a full programme for The Urbanist on Monocle Radio last week. All about the Urban Future Better Cities Event in Ljubljana, and the interesting people - and ideas - gathered there. As a committed city dweller, cyclist, walker and non-car owner, this sort of urbanism is very close to my heart.
@jlempieri.bsky.social · 4mo agoGreat segment on Tactical Urbanism courtesy of @guydelauney.bsky.social and Monocle Radio’s The Urbanist. monocle.com/radio/shows/...
It's first time I have received a message from Slovenia's emergency system. It seems I'd better take in the garden furniture.
A post-election take on what's just happened in Slovenia. People kept saying healthcare was the issue, but everything from dog-whistling accordions to naked xenophobia played a role in the campaign. And quite possibly, the outcome. monocle.com/affairs/slov...
Slovenia has a patriotic problem: The centre left held out but it shouldn’t be proud - Monocle
Following recent victories in The Netherlands and the Paris municipal elections, Europe's centre-left is gaining ground. But Slovenia's leftist win...
monocle.com
Heading to bed with the result of Slovenia's parliamentary elections tighter than the proverbial. 29 seats for the governing, centre-left Svoboda; 28 for the right-wing SDS. 46 seats needed to govern. The current coalition has 41. Former SDS foreign minister Anže Logar has 6 seats for his Democrats.
I have passed a version of this poster on my morning bike ride every day for the past few weeks. When this version appeared, I first thought it must have been ironic graffiti. It would appear not. The slogan says "Slovenia for Slovenes". Polls suggest the party concerned will not pass the threshold.
Tomato Košir@tomatokosir.bsky.social · 5mo ago
I'm all in favour of fewer cars. But can't help thinking that choosing an e-bike over the regular variety is missing out. On fun, free exercise, the satisfaction of zipping along under your own power.
Urban Truth Collective@urbantruth.bsky.social · 5mo agoWhat is “the E-Bike Effect?” “Those who bought e-bikes increased their average daily bicycle use from 2.1km (1.3 miles) to 9.2km (5.7 miles), a 340% increase. The e-bike share of all their transportation increased dramatically too; from 17% to 49%.” Fewer car trips. Via @lloydalter.bsky.social
Tickled to read @timdowling.bsky.social's paean to eyebrow-raising. Aged 8-ish, I strained in a mirror for many hours to develop independent mastery over my left eyebrow. I never got around to the right. But I see Tim did. We should get together, form a band. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
My mother’s best advice: learn to raise one eyebrow at the world
It took almost a year of practice and then I was too embarrassed to show off my talent. But finally, during a stage performance, I elevated a solitary brow and the crowd went wild
theguardian.com
Broke my usual "no posed photos with interviewees" rule when I spoke to Croatia's defence minister, Ivan Anušić. Well, the official photographer was there, and it seemed rude to refuse. The topic was the resumption of conscription after almost two decades. The first recruits joined up today.
It's hard to believe how successive UK governments have failed to grasp the importance of the country's enormous creative sector. That's whether one considers it from an economic, soft power or information security perspective. As a bonus, its products makes people feel good.
Laura Phillips@lauraphillips.bsky.social · 5mo agoEvery Word. And nothing will work without proper funding. Tim Davie: “The #BBC is a vital national asset. It powers our world-leading creative industries, drives economic growth+promotes the UK's interests abroad. That contribution matters more than ever, yet it is at risk like never before.” 1/
I know you know this, but: there was never a war between Kosovo and Serbia. I think I would have noticed.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5mo agoTrump claims he ended a war between "Kosovo and Servia"
This is correct. The advice I always used to give new freelancers was "don't panic". Now it would probably be a choice of either one of those words.
Penny Kiley@pennykiley.bsky.social · 6mo agoThis is affecting all the freelances I know. Including me. I didn't have a book coming out I'd have a lot of time on my hands. And folk wonder why we aren't excited about AI.
It's funny watching British politics from afar. And wondering why a party with a massive parliamentary majority would not simply use that position to enact its programme, rather than worrying about the next election, which is still several years away.
Adam Drummond@adamdrummond.bsky.social · 6mo agoLabour's structural position is bad (terrible inheritance etc + unwillingness to grasp certain nettles) but has been hugely damaged by an obsession with winning over people who will never vote for them, based on a misread of the 2024 election
