Hello and welcome to EU Tweets of the Week. This week, techies swamp Barcelona for their annual congress, Brexit, as usual is just one big mess, and the Beast From The East causes widespread distress.
Mobile World Congress – the biggest annual global collection of geeks and gadgets got under way in Barcelona.
But amid the sea of phones one stood out. Seeking to capitalize on its comeback, Nokia is looking to the past as well as the future.
Seeking to capitalize on its comeback, Nokia phones are looking to the past as well as the future https://t.co/Cfcrx85wdp #MWC18 pic.twitter.com/0DUvVHzzj6
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 26, 2018
Yes it’s the return of the banana phone!
What’s a @nokia banana phone and why’s there so much hype about it’s return? Find out here: https://t.co/qwejVRhQNq #MWC2018 pic.twitter.com/iHXbmXpLQf
— How To Kill An Hour (@howtokillanhour) February 28, 2018
James Francis couldn’t resist the entirely obvious Banana versus Apple gag.
Banana vs Apple. It’s the return of the Matrix phone. Nokia win #MWC2018? pic.twitter.com/gqpIc2mtdY
— James Francis (@JamManFran) February 27, 2018
While others remembered fondly its appearance in The Matrix.
Is #Nokia overdoing the ‘let’s bring back our classic mobiles to life again’ ?
Are their feature phones brining in revenue? Brand recall, nostalgia and getting user generated content is one thing, but what about ? ? #Nokia8110 #MWC2018 #MondayMotivation #Matrix pic.twitter.com/1LV88bvxQt
— Karthik Chandramouli (@iam_karthikcm) February 26, 2018
Can you believe that was 20 YEARS AGO!?
Elsewhere, BMW wants to turn your smartphone into a car key.
BMW wants to turn your smartphone into your car key https://t.co/UmoSMFEm7c #MWC18 pic.twitter.com/uJlJvOPyku
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) February 27, 2018
Vala Afshar got nostalgic for the Atari 800 claiming “It will never become obsolete.”
"It will never become obsolete." —ATARI 1979 #MWC18 pic.twitter.com/hRNKTMr4fR
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) February 27, 2018
There were people looking ridiculous using VR.
Would you try out @Samsung’s virtual reality snowboarding? #VR #MWC2018 #GSMA pic.twitter.com/LzqPZTC2Au
— TruNews™ (@TruNews) March 1, 2018
Cool cars.
En el #MWC2018 Toyota muestra plataforma de software open source SmartDeviceLink https://t.co/A5EVUQ4WpM vía @geeksroom
— Julio Aliaga (@verescreer) March 1, 2018
Dancing robots.
#GTUMWC2018 Friends see this, this robot by #Konka can dance in Gangnam Style. Tech is our real passion. #MWC18 #MWC2018 pic.twitter.com/c7KXtsrrPx
— Gadgets To Use (@gadgetstouse) March 1, 2018
Really, really cool cars.
#GTUMWC2018 This is the car on Virtual Reality being showcased at #mwc18. #MWC2018 pic.twitter.com/3N1zVqNzSI
— Gadgets To Use (@gadgetstouse) February 28, 2018
And even FLYING cars!.
Flying cars are,… well, cool. The #Ehang air car impressed, but the #autonomous flight took the spotlight. #MWC2018 #drones #flyingcar pic.twitter.com/m4enZCUgEv
— neXt Curve (@neXt_Curve) February 28, 2018
Be still, my inner nerd!
As Andy Bovingdon said, it seems to have become more of a motor show than phone show!
Seem to have come to a motor show instead of #MWC2018. Mobile car tech is big this year @mobileworldlive pic.twitter.com/qEZLUJmHxF
— Andy Bovingdon (@MrBov) February 28, 2018
On Wednesday, the Commission unveiled the draft of the Withdrawal Agreement for Brexit.
"Today, we publish the draft #Article50 Withdrawal Agreement which translates into a legal text the joint commitments of the EU and the United Kingdom. Nothing in here will be a surprise". @MichelBarnier #Brexit https://t.co/rsxuDJUts9
— European Commission ?? (@EU_Commission) February 28, 2018
The proposed deal would require Northern Ireland to stick to EU rules in several areas, and be covered by the EU customs code.
Conditions from @MichelBarnier on Northern Ireland in #Brexit deal: "full alignment with Union law on goods, veterinary and plant health rules… [and] Northern Ireland has to be covered by the Union customs code." https://t.co/EYCCcdXfGF
— Evan O'Connell (@evanoconnell) February 28, 2018
Theresa May rejected the draft, saying it threatens the UK’s constitutional integrity.
EU proposal for #NorthernIreland border threatens constitutional integrity of UK: British PM @theresa_may pic.twitter.com/2hp5VMECqd
— FX16 NEWS (@fx16news) March 1, 2018
Not something you’d normally associate with the UK, since it has no constitution, as Dave Keating pointed out.
"Constitutional order" is not something I normally associate with the UK, given it has no constitution. #Brexit
— Dave Keating (@DaveKeating) February 28, 2018
Femi said that Brexit does exactly what May doesn’t want – pulls Northern Ireland further away from the rest of the UK.
Theresa May is saying No UK Prime Minister could agree to an EU treaty which pulls Northern Ireland further away from the rest of the UK.
BREXIT DOES THAT! https://t.co/yQBaLFF3wG— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) February 28, 2018
And Alex Andreou noted that May already agreed to the proposal in December.
The Prime Minister keeps saying “no Prime Minister would ever agree” to the EU’s draft treaty proposal on Northern Ireland. The only problem is the Prime Minister already agreed to it on the 8th of December 2017. pic.twitter.com/YcL3xEnUDy
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) February 28, 2018
In a CLASSIC Freudian slip, May said she’s “committed to dithering” on the Northern Ireland border issue.
Theresa May says she is 'committed to dithering' on the Northern Ireland border: Theresa… https://t.co/X3Fb8kcSPX
— FRANCIS K S LIM (@cgnetwork) February 28, 2018
Mind you she also said there will be:
– No hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland
– No hard border between Northern Ireland and the UK
– No customs union between UK and EU
But it’s impossible to have all three, pointed out Rob Ford and a LOT of other people. No wonder the EU gets frustrated with the UK.
I believe PM has just in one half hour of PMQs stated that there will be:
1. No hard border between NI and Ireland
2. No hard border between NI & UK
3. No customs union between UK & EUBut it is impossible to have all of 1,2,&3.
No wonder the EU get frustrated with us.
— Rob Ford (@robfordmancs) February 28, 2018
DUP leader Arlene Foster called the draft “constitutionally unacceptable” and “economically catastrophic” for Northern Ireland.
EU draft text is constitutionally unacceptable & would be economically catastrophic for Northern Ireland. I welcome the Prime Minister's commitment that HMG will not allow any new border in the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland must have unfettered access to GB market. AF
— Arlene Foster (@DUPleader) February 28, 2018
While Donald Tusk told May that if she didn’t like it to “come up with a better idea”.
Donald Tusk says no one has offered a wiser option for Ireland than the EU's common regulatory area and will today ask Theresa May for a better idea for the Irish border.
— Tom Boadle (@TomBoadle) March 1, 2018
And The Daily Mash suggested maybe the Northern Ireland border could be a beaded curtain.
Northern Ireland border could be beaded curtain, says governmenthttps://t.co/O5oKe8tp5O pic.twitter.com/QHubFfGqGS
— The Daily Mash (@thedailymash) February 28, 2018
Finally, this week all of Europe experienced a brutal cold spell.
Europe freezes as 'Beast from the East' arrives https://t.co/bBmaJNS4AN
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 27, 2018
Britain’s Met office issued rare severe weather warnings in central Scotland, southwestern England and Wales.
It is very rare to have one, let alone two separate red severe weather warnings. Wider amber warnings in force today too. This map shows the current situation… Quite extraordinary. #StormEmma #BeastFromTheEast pic.twitter.com/ItCCJrfDVD
— Simon King (@SimonOKing) March 1, 2018
Anita Singh spared a thought for the poor reporters forced to do endless weather stories.
Every newsroom:
– Can you do a weather story
– Do I have to, they’re so boring
– Just do it
– FINE pic.twitter.com/ypYML4rTF5— Anita Singh (@anitathetweeter) February 28, 2018
But the penguins at the Edinburgh Zoo were having a great time.
Weather watch: Edinburgh Zoo is closed but the penguins are enjoying the snow #BeastFromTheEast https://t.co/hkSv6S61cI pic.twitter.com/FN79HWzGzO
— STV News (@STVNews) February 28, 2018
The Russian embassy asked which of its customs Brits should adopt during the blizzard. Apparently they want to drink more vodka.
What Russian customs should Brits adopt with this snow blizzard?
— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) February 28, 2018
The British are calling it the Beast from the East, the Swedes are calling it the Snow Cannon, the Dutch call it the Siberian Bear and in Finland they are calling it “Wednesday.”
When other countries go all melodramatic about a little chill.
(via @NordicEdward) pic.twitter.com/Hz6sBcMS9j— VeryFinnishProblems (@SoVeryFinnish) February 28, 2018
In Ireland meanwhile, it’s a bread alert! As the demand for bread skyrocketed, supermarket shelves were left barren.
ALL THE BREAD
ALL OF IT LADS
Sure 'tis only GONE #BeastFromTheEast pic.twitter.com/azV7JIFI3x
— Seán Connolly (@TheSonicScrew) February 26, 2018
Stephen Elliott compared the situation to the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
#BeastFromTheEast #StormEmma #Sneachta #sneachtageddon #bread pic.twitter.com/mQrcSex3sm
— Stephen Elliott (@LanceHandsome) March 1, 2018
Joe Galvin thought it was more Breaking Bad.
The way things are going i'll have to start up my own little operation… #StormEmma #Snowmageddon #breadwatch #BeastFromTheEast #bread pic.twitter.com/ltNUKtDQuA
— J Galvin (@joe905x) February 27, 2018
And the Finns likened it to Lord of the Rings.
Today people in Ireland be like… #BeastFromTheEast #Ireland #StormEmma #Dublin pic.twitter.com/NHj4DWjvyY
— The Finns (@TheFinnsMusic) March 1, 2018
This week we are supported by GSMA, the host of the Mobile World Congress with the theme this year, “Creating a Better Future.”
This week the @GSMA hosted Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona. Under the theme 'Creating a #BetterFuture' #MWC18 explored the trends that will shape the #mobile industry in the years ahead in #Europe and around the globe#5G #artificialinteligencehttps://t.co/8x75JRYu8t pic.twitter.com/yivzqArllp
— GSMAEurope at #MWC18 (@GSMAEurope) March 1, 2018
That’s all for this week. Join me again next week for more hilarious and head-shaking moments in the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere and send in your suggestions using the hashtag #EUTweets.