Africa’s New Data Dependency – Technology Colonialism
Data colonialism on the African continent has moved from abstraction into formal state policy through binding agreements signed without public consent, parliamentary scrutiny, or meaningful legal protection for citizens. Nigeria’s memorandum of understanding with France on tax administration data, alongside healthcare data-sharing agreements signed by Kenya and Rwanda with United States agencies, reflects a pattern of external control over sovereign information systems. These arrangements represent a transfer of strategic national assets rather than technical cooperation. Historical experience across former colonies shows that control over taxation, health records, and population data has always preceded deeper forms of domination, even when formal sovereignty remained intact.
Africa’s New Data Dependency – Technology Colonialism | naked capitalism
Data agreements are replacing armies as tools of colonialism and the return of external governanceYves Smith (naked capitalism)
Africa’s New Data Dependency – Technology Colonialism
Data colonialism on the African continent has moved from abstraction into formal state policy through binding agreements signed without public consent, parliamentary scrutiny, or meaningful legal protection for citizens. Nigeria’s memorandum of understanding with France on tax administration data, alongside healthcare data-sharing agreements signed by Kenya and Rwanda with United States agencies, reflects a pattern of external control over sovereign information systems. These arrangements represent a transfer of strategic national assets rather than technical cooperation. Historical experience across former colonies shows that control over taxation, health records, and population data has always preceded deeper forms of domination, even when formal sovereignty remained intact.
Africa’s New Data Dependency – Technology Colonialism | naked capitalism
Data agreements are replacing armies as tools of colonialism and the return of external governanceYves Smith (naked capitalism)
Google AI summaries are ruining the livelihoods of recipe writers: ‘It’s an extinction event’
Oh, no! Now how am I going to find 60" of irrelevant content about your grandma just to get a soup recipe?
This past March, when Google began rolling out its AI Mode search capability, it began offering AI-generated recipes. The recipes were not all that intelligent. The AI had taken elements of similar recipes from multiple creators and Frankensteined them into something barely recognizable. In one memorable case, the Google AI failed to distinguish the satirical website the Onion from legitimate recipe sites and advised users to cook with non-toxic glue.Over the past few years, bloggers who have not secured their sites behind a paywall have seen their carefully developed and tested recipes show up, often without attribution and in a bastardized form, in ChatGPT replies. They have seen dumbed-down versions of their recipes in AI-assembled cookbooks available for digital downloads on Etsy or on AI-built websites that bear a superficial resemblance to an old-school human-written blog. Their photos and videos, meanwhile, are repurposed in Facebook posts and Pinterest pins that link back to this digital slop.
Recipe writers have no legal recourse because recipes generally are not copyrightable. Although copyright protects published or recorded work, they do not cover sets of instructions (although it can apply to the particular wording of those instructions).
Google AI summaries are ruining the livelihoods of recipe writers: ‘It’s an extinction event’
AI Mode is mangling recipes by merging instructions from multiple creators – and causing them huge dips in ad trafficAimee Levitt (The Guardian)
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‘Our industry has been strip-mined’: video game workers protest at The Game Awards
Outside the lavish event, workers called out the ‘greed’ in the industry that has left games ‘being sold for parts to make a few people a lot of money’
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Grand Theft Auto: Game creator sacked us for trying to unionise
Former staff at the Grand Theft Auto creator are seeking an employment tribunal over alleged "union-busting".
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Denmark takes a Viking swing at VPN-enabled piracy
Minister insists 'modest' bill is not an assault on privacy-preserving tech
Denmark takes a Viking swing at VPN-enabled piracy
: Minister insists 'modest' bill is not an assault on privacy-preserving techConnor Jones (The Register)
Palestinian Medical Evacuees in Jordan Returned to Gaza Without Prior Warning
Dec 12, 2025
A group of Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza to Jordan for medical treatment with family members or caregivers were reportedly returned to Gaza earlier this month by Jordanian authorities without prior warning and had their belongings, including money and jewelry, confiscated by Israeli soldiers, according to multiple sources.The Palestinian children were evacuated from Gaza as part of an initiative first announced by Jordanian King Abdullah II during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in February. Dubbed the “Jordan Medical Corridor initiative,” Jordan pledged to treat a total of 2,000 child patients from Gaza in successive stages. The patients would receive medical care at private or public hospitals and return to Gaza once treatment was completed. Since March, hundreds of Palestinian children have received treatment in successive batches and have been returned to Gaza.
Palestinian Medical Evacuees in Jordan Returned to Gaza Without Prior Warning
Palestinian children and their families receiving medical treatment in Amman were poorly treated by Jordanian authorities and robbed by Israeli border guards.Drop Site News
Palestinian Medical Evacuees in Jordan Returned to Gaza Without Prior Warning
cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/40365262
Dec 12, 2025
A group of Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza to Jordan for medical treatment with family members or caregivers were reportedly returned to Gaza earlier this month by Jordanian authorities without prior warning and had their belongings, including money and jewelry, confiscated by Israeli soldiers, according to multiple sources.The Palestinian children were evacuated from Gaza as part of an initiative first announced by Jordanian King Abdullah II during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in February. Dubbed the “Jordan Medical Corridor initiative,” Jordan pledged to treat a total of 2,000 child patients from Gaza in successive stages. The patients would receive medical care at private or public hospitals and return to Gaza once treatment was completed. Since March, hundreds of Palestinian children have received treatment in successive batches and have been returned to Gaza.
Palestinian Medical Evacuees in Jordan Returned to Gaza Without Prior Warning
Dec 12, 2025A group of Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza to Jordan for medical treatment with family members or caregivers were reportedly returned to Gaza earlier this month by Jordanian authorities without prior warning and had their belongings, including money and jewelry, confiscated by Israeli soldiers, according to multiple sources.The Palestinian children were evacuated from Gaza as part of an initiative first announced by Jordanian King Abdullah II during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in February. Dubbed the “Jordan Medical Corridor initiative,” Jordan pledged to treat a total of 2,000 child patients from Gaza in successive stages. The patients would receive medical care at private or public hospitals and return to Gaza once treatment was completed. Since March, hundreds of Palestinian children have received treatment in successive batches and have been returned to Gaza.
Palestinian Medical Evacuees in Jordan Returned to Gaza Without Prior Warning
Palestinian children and their families receiving medical treatment in Amman were poorly treated by Jordanian authorities and robbed by Israeli border guards.Drop Site News
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This rugged phone lets you hot-swap batteries without turning it off
Ulefone has already made a name for itself in the rugged smartphone business. Now, it's got a sub-brand that's focused on more niche innovations for people who want more differentiated devices – and its first flagship product is quite something.
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Technology Channel reshared this.
China’s Fossil Fuel Power Output Set for First Drop in a Decade
China’s Fossil Fuel Power Output Set for First Drop in a Decade
China’s fossil fuel power plants are on track to chart their first annual drop in generation in a decade as renewables flood the grid to meet rising demand.Bloomberg
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China Confronts the Cost of Dismantling the World’s Biggest Coal Sector
From the days of Mao Zedong, the fuel has underpinned economic growth, millions of jobs and the Communist Party’s founding myths.
Israel assassinates Qassam commander in Gaza; RSF shell military hospital and advance in South Kordofan; Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast wins Chile’s presidential election.
Israel assassinates Qassam commander in Gaza; RSF shell military hospital and advance in South Kordofan; Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast wins Chile’s presidential election.
cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/40364057
Israel carries out more strikes near Gaza City. Israeli navy seizes at least four Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Khan Younis. Israel employs drones to smuggle narcotics into Gaza, Al Jazeera reports. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly kidnapped thousands of fleeing civilians in El-Fasher and attempted to extract ransoms from them. Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed by a drone in Sudan’s border region. RSF shelling of a military hospital kills 9, wounds 17. The RSF committed sexual violence in Kordofan, a Sudanese rights group documents. A mass shooting kills at least 15 at Australia’s Bondi Beach. Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Sunday. A 26-year-old Palestinian detainee dies in Israeli custody. Two people are killed and nine wounded in a shooting at Brown University. U.S. administration figures are vying to control the billions in revenue that might accompany dominion over Gaza’s aid distribution. A federal appeals court rules in favor of the Trump administration’s attempt to stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast wins Chile’s presidential election. An ISIS attack kills three U.S. military personnel in Syria.
Israel assassinates Qassam commander in Gaza; RSF shell military hospital and advance in South Kordofan; Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast wins Chile’s presidential election.
Israel carries out more strikes near Gaza City. Israeli navy seizes at least four Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Khan Younis. Israel employs drones to smuggle narcotics into Gaza, Al Jazeera reports. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly kidnapped thousands of fleeing civilians in El-Fasher and attempted to extract ransoms from them. Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed by a drone in Sudan’s border region. RSF shelling of a military hospital kills 9, wounds 17. The RSF committed sexual violence in Kordofan, a Sudanese rights group documents. A mass shooting kills at least 15 at Australia’s Bondi Beach. Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Sunday. A 26-year-old Palestinian detainee dies in Israeli custody. Two people are killed and nine wounded in a shooting at Brown University. U.S. administration figures are vying to control the billions in revenue that might accompany dominion over Gaza’s aid distribution. A federal appeals court rules in favor of the Trump administration’s attempt to stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast wins Chile’s presidential election. An ISIS attack kills three U.S. military personnel in Syria.
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Announcing Key Transparency for the Fediverse - Dhole Moments
Announcing Key Transparency for the Fediverse - Dhole Moments
I’m pleased to announce the immediate availability of a reference implementation for the Public Key Directory server. This software implements the Key Transparency specification I’ve be…Dhole Moments
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Jimmy Carr on Why Everyone Is Wrong About AI
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.www.youtube.com
Court battle begins over California's new congressional map designed to favor Democrats
The fight over California’s new congressional map designed to help Democrats flip congressional House seats will go to court Monday as a panel of federal judges considers whether the district boundaries approved by voters last month can be used in elections.
The hearing in Los Angeles sets the stage for a high-stakes legal and political fight between the Trump administration and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who’s been eyeing a 2028 presidential run. The lawsuit asks a three-judge panel to grant a temporary restraining order by Dec. 19 — the date candidates can take the first official steps to run in the 2026 election.
Voters approved California’s new U.S. House map in November through Proposition 50. It’s designed to help Democrats flip as many as five congressional House seats in the midterm elections next year. It was Newsom’s response to a Republican-led effort in Texas backed by President Donald Trump.
Indiana says it’s retiring two coal plants, but is it making other plans? |The Trump administration has already ordered a Michigan coal plant to run past its retirement date.
Indiana says it’s retiring two coal plants, but is it making other plans?
The Trump administration has already ordered a Michigan coal plant to run past its retirement date. Two polluting, inefficient plants in Indiana may be…Canary Media
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UK Conservatives would end 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars | Party would also abolish zero-emission vehicle mandate, cutting legal requirement on carmakers to sell EVs
Conservatives would end 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
Party would also abolish zero-emission vehicle mandate, cutting legal requirement on carmakers to sell EVsRachel Hall (The Guardian)
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Erika Kirk to meet with Candace Owens amid tensions over conspiracy claims
Erika Kirk to meet with Candace Owens amid tensions over conspiracy claims
Erika Kirk, conservative activist Charlie Kirk's widow, will meet privately with podcaster Candace Owens on Monday.Jason K. Morrell (Straight Arrow News)
monitor update
An Apple fan says they lost '20 years of digital life' after using an Apple gift card
An Apple fan who has spent “nearly 30 years as a loyal customer” says they’ve been “permanently” locked out of their Apple Account due to what might be the overzealous actions of Apple’s automated anti-fraud system. It’s left them locked out of “20 years of digital life,” and it all started with the seemingly straightforward purchase of an Apple gift card.
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Claude CLI deleted someone home directory and wiped his Mac
Source: Reddit Post.
Claude CLI deleted my entire home directory! Wiped my whole mac.
I was having the Claude CLI clean up my packages in an old repo, and it nuked my whole Mac! What the hell? Has anyone ever had this happen? I’m trying to figure out if this is even reversible. So much work lost..
CLAUDE response - I found the problem and it's really bad. Looking at your log, here's the catastrophic command that was run:
bash
rm -rf tests/ patches/ plan/ ~/See that \~/ at the end? That's your entire home directory. The Claude Code instance accidentally included \~/ in the deletion command, which would wipe out:
- Your entire Desktop (\~/Desktop)
- Documents, Downloads, everything
- Your Keychain (\~/Library/Keychains)
- Claude credentials (\~/.claude)
- Application support data
- Basically everything in /Users/...
This explains why:
- Your desktop is gone
- Your keychain was deleted
- Your Claude credentials disappeared
- The error at the end says "current working directory was deleted"
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From sci-fi to reality: Researchers realise quantum teleportation using today’s internet tech
From sci-fi to reality: Researchers realise quantum teleportation using today’s internet tech
News article from ongoing EU Research projectsCORDIS, cordis.europa.eu (CORDIS | European Commission)
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Overview: SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2 Second Public Consultation
The extended consultation period for the CNZS V2 has ended on December 12th. Everyone was encouraged to read through the changes and participate in a questionnaire. The final approval is expected to be published in early 2026 and will take effect on January 1, 2028.
This sends a strong and clear signal to 1716 companies who already set a target (like ALDI SOUTH Group, H&M Group, SONY and many more 1 - and all their suppliers) and 1143 companies who committed to such (like The LEGO Group, RENAULT, HYUNDAI and many more 1 - and all their suppliers).
The key changes are: 23
::: spoiler 1. Validation becomes a cycle, not a one-off
SBTi is replacing its one-time validation model with a cyclical process
:::
::: spoiler 2. Scope 1: More flexible ways to cut direct emissions
There are now tree approaches to reduce Scope 1 Emissions:
1. Reducing emissions on a linear pathway to net-zero
2. Increasing the share of low-carbon activities over time
3. Implementing Asset Decarbonization Plans, a company-specific carbon budget linked to investment and retrofit decisions
:::
::: spoiler 3. Scope 2: Tighter integration of low-carbon electricity
This latest draft expands to a full framework where electricity purchases (Scope 2) now come with stricter integrity rules:
- Companies must reach 100 % low-carbon electricity by 2040.
- Energy contracts must be geographically matched to where power is used.
- Hourly matching of renewable generation and consumption will phase in from 2030 (50 %) to 2040 (90 %). This means companies should align when their renewable electricity is generated with when they use it.
- Eligible generation sources must be new or re-powered within 10 years, tightening to 5 years by 2035. This means when you buy renewable energy or certificates, they must come from power plants that are newly built or re-powered (upgraded) within the last 10 years.
- “Low-carbon electricity” is defined as ≤ 0.024 kg CO₂ per kWh.
:::
::: spoiler 4. Scope 3: More focused and practical framework.
1. Focus on significant sources\
The old rule - covering 67 % of total Scope 3 emissions - is gone. Now, companies must target all categories that represent at least 5 % of their total Scope 3 footprint.
2. Three target-setting types:
- Emissions intensity targets - cut CO₂ per unit of product or service.
- Activity alignment targets - increase the share of sourcing or transport already meeting SBTi benchmarks.
- Counterparty alignment targets - ensure suppliers and customers have validated science-based targets, with expectations cascading through the chain.
3. Limited use of high-quality environmental attribute certificates. (EACs)
EACs act like receipts proving that a credible low-carbon action happened somewhere in the value chain.
This flexibility allows companies to choose the approach that best fits their influence - from direct operational control to supplier engagement.
:::
::: spoiler 5. Taking responsibility for ongoing emissions
- Category A companies (large companies, and medium-sized companies in high-income countries) are required to address part of their ongoing emissions with removals from 2035 onwards. This is designed to increase progressively each year until net-zero is reached.
- Every other company takes part in a two-tiered recognition system:
- Recognized
Requirement: Take responsibility for at least 1 % of ongoing emissions.
- Leadership
Requirement: Take responsibility for 100 % of ongoing emissions.
:::
::: spoiler 6. Stronger rules for assessment, assurance, and claims
One of the biggest changes between the March and November drafts is that SBTi moved from guidance to governance. The March 2025 draft outlined principles for monitoring and reporting, but left most of the “how” undefined.
The November 2025 draft turns those principles into enforceable requirements that determine how companies prove progress, get re-validated, and talk about their achievements publicly.
- Performance tracking:
Introduces quantitative formulas (Annex C) for assessing progress against targets.
- Assurance:
Independent third-party verification is now mandatory, at least at a “limited assurance” level (i.e. an independent verifier checks your emissions and target-progress data and finds no evidence of major errors).
- Renewal validation:
Required every five years to update targets and confirm ongoing alignment.
- Claims framework (Annex D):
Sets approved language for what companies can publicly claim - from “target validated” to “net-zero achieved.”
- Disclosure:
All validated companies must publish their target data and progress within six months of validation.
:::
This summary does not claim to be complete in any way. Please read the sources if you are interested in more details about the SBTi and the CNZS V2 (or read the full version). However it should give you some basic understanding of the draft and on what is happening on the corporate site of things.
I think this is a big step in the right direction. Nevertheless,I would like to see point 5 introduced earlier, but I believe the decision was made in view of the tight labour market / inflation rates / high prices, you name it, as these costs are very likely to be passed on directly to consumers.
I'm interested in your opinion about the changes, the SBTi or corporate action in general.
Developing the Corporate Net-Zero Standard - Science Based Targets
The SBTi leads an ongoing robust, transparent process to develop and refine the Net-Zero Standard - working with independent experts to ensure companies can get net-zero right.Science Based Targets Initiative
New York Skyline 2025
I'm kickimg off a few posts from around the city with this very flat shot from floor 102 the One World Conservatory.
Z8 75mm f/10 1/1000 sec at ISO 2000
Advent Calendar 15
Advent Calendar
Zen Mischief Photographs
This year for our Advent Calendar we have a selection of my photographs from recent years. They may not be technically the best, or the most recent, but they’re ones which, for various reasons, I rather like.
© Keith C Marshall, 2014
Click the image for a larger view
Age Verification Is Coming For the Internet. We Built You a Resource Hub to Fight Back.
One of the issues with "age verification" is that an effect of the suggested technologies is that they ultimatively take control of your computer. In the suggested form, they require elements that are not controlled by you, the user. It is like replacing the lock to your home's main door, for which YOU (and only you) have the keys, with an electronic, remotely controlled lock, controlled by goverments, which can lock out at any time.
Age Verification Is Coming For the Internet. We Built You a Resource Hub to Fight Back.
Age verification laws are proliferating fast across the United States and around the world, creating a dangerous and confusing tangle of rules about what we’re all allowed to see and do online. That's why today, we're launching EFF.Electronic Frontier Foundation
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Private Equity Finds a New Source of Profit: Volunteer Fire Departments
Rural departments have long relied on cheap software solutions to keep their operations running. But fire chiefs report sharp price increases as investors have entered the market.
Dozens denied oath of allegiance at Indianapolis naturalization ceremony
cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/40346519
Ryan Murphy
from Indianapolis Star
Dec. 10, 2025, 6:20 a.m. ET
As people made their way into the Indianapolis Union Station for a naturalization ceremony, federal officials stopped certain applicants and told them that they wouldn't be leaving the building with U.S. citizenship.The immigrants — who had already passed every step in the long naturalization process — needed only to take the oath of allegiance Dec. 9, 2025, to become citizens. A federal directive handed down by U.S. Immigration and Customs Services on Dec. 2, however, made that impossible for more than one third of people signed up for the Indianapolis ceremony.
Zhibo Zhao, a US Citizenship and Immigration Services official present at the event, said oaths of allegiance for 38 of the 100 participants were "canceled."
Dozens denied oath of allegiance at Indianapolis naturalization ceremony
Ryan Murphy
from Indianapolis Star
Dec. 10, 2025, 6:20 a.m. ETAs people made their way into the Indianapolis Union Station for a naturalization ceremony, federal officials stopped certain applicants and told them that they wouldn't be leaving the building with U.S. citizenship.The immigrants — who had already passed every step in the long naturalization process — needed only to take the oath of allegiance Dec. 9, 2025, to become citizens. A federal directive handed down by U.S. Immigration and Customs Services on Dec. 2, however, made that impossible for more than one third of people signed up for the Indianapolis ceremony.
Zhibo Zhao, a US Citizenship and Immigration Services official present at the event, said oaths of allegiance for 38 of the 100 participants were "canceled."
Dozens denied oath of allegiance at Indianapolis naturalization ceremony
Dozens of people arrived at Indianapolis Union Station thinking they'd become U.S. citizens only to learn their participation was "canceled.", USA TODAY (USA TODAY)
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Why ActivityPub over Nostr? - function only
I have seen some critical views on Nostr as a part of decentralized network discussions, but most seem to be focused on culture not function.
What are the functional / protocol differences that make you prefer ActivityPub over Nostr?
How will Australia's ban on youth access to social media affect instances hosted in Australia?
Do they have any rule that says you need a minimum number of users on a site to fall under the law?
If servers of someinstance.co.au fine if they move to hosting in Finland?
It just feels like a nightmare.
On reddthat, we got this notice in an announcement back in March 2025:
Age RestrictionEffective immediately everyone on Reddthat needs to be 18 years old and futher interaction on the platform confirms you are over the age of 18 and agree with these terms.
If you are under the age of 18 you will need to delete your account under Settings
This has also been outlined in our signup form that has been updated around the start of February.
How to integrate user-compiled docker services with Dockge?
There are a few Docker projects I haven't been able to properly implement in my homelab, only because their images need to be user-compiled and Dockge doesn't seem to have an option to include the entire repository required for the project compilation in its interface or in the stacks directory. I know I could just host them in a separate directory but I would like my services to be manageable from a single place and following this approach isolates the service from being controlled from Dockge.
Is there some workaround or a solution for this I am unaware of? I initially thought I could deploy Coolify within Dockge and store the applications under it but apparently Coolify is meant to work on its own and I fear running both Coolify and Dockge will break stuff.
I'll admit I don't use dockge, so it's possible I'm misunderstanding...
But I think if you have a source folder on the box, separate from the one you keep your compose files in, you can run:
docker build -t someName:someVersion .and that will build the image. Then in your normal docker compose folder you just specify the image as matching whatever you built it as, and docker won't pull images it already has, so it'll just use the one you already built.
So yeah this source folder is different from the compose folder, but you don't have source folders for all the stuff you didn't build, so this shouldn't really be that different. And the compose part doesn't care where the images came from once you have them.
As far as I know, Dockge, Portainer, Coolify, etc. can have different stacks folders, and they will not show, warn you or not let you manage stacks outside their designated paths.
For your main question, it is possible to build your image on the same system, you would need at least terminal access to do so, and then use the local image with docker compose or Dockge or other, you just would need to reference its image name instead of a URL (to differentiate images I build I prefix their name with local as 'local/service-name'), and it would not pull from anywhere but use the one you already built, you could do it on any folder on the system or inside the stacks folder you have with Dockge
If you do it on Dockge's stack folder, create a folder for your service, with a docker-compose.yml file inside (with just this it will appear in Dockge), then pull the repository on this folder, and make sure you have the proper Dockerfile to build the image, you can then either build the image first or reference the Dockerfile on your docker-compose.yml. This way when you do docker compose up or in Dockge you press the Start button, it will build the image with the Dockerfile and use it, if it doesn't find the image.
The other option I know is to have a local image registry (I have done this with Forgejo), so pull the repository on any folder on your system, build it and push it to your local registry, and then just use the local registry URL on your docker-compose-yml
EU warns of 'cultural erasure' in China as human rights situation in the country shows 'no substantive sign of improvement'
cross-posted from: mander.xyz/post/43381608
EU warns of 'cultural erasure' in China as human rights situation in the country shows 'no substantive sign of improvement'The EU criticizes China's "systemic and severe restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms and on the right of minorities" to enjoy their own culture, and to use their own language, in private and public, including in the field of education, a statement by the EU Delegation in China reads.
"These restrictions risk leading to cultural erasure."
In spite of many engagements, "unfortunately, the overall human rights situation in China showed no substantive sign of improvement," the EU statement reads.
The situation in Xinjiang remains serious. Numerous credible reports, including the assessment issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), indicate serious human rights violations that “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity”. The EU remains deeply troubled by continuing reports of forced labour and state‑imposed labour transfer schemes involving Uyghurs both within Xinjiang and to other provinces.The human rights situation in Tibet remains equally alarming. This applies both to the Tibet Autonomous Region and to Tibetan areas of Qinghai, Sichuan and Gansu provinces, where similar patterns of restrictions have been reported. Reports continue to document far-reaching state control over religious life, intensified surveillance of monasteries, and the imposition of mandatory boarding schools, where Tibetan children are separated from their families and educated primarily in Mandarin. The closure of Tibetan-language schools, and the marginalisation of Tibetan-language instruction are deeply troubling.
...
The EU continues to criticize the enforced disappearance since 1995 of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. No credible information is provided on his whereabouts or well-being. We continue to call on China to respect and protect the rights of persons belonging to religious groups to exercise their religious freedoms without interference. The selection of religious leaders should happen without government interference and in accordance with religious norms, including for the succession of the Dalai Lama.
...
The EU also remains concerned about the situation in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where policy shifts have resulted in a marked reduction in the use of Mongolian as a language of instruction and a narrowing of space for cultural and linguistic expression. The move from Mongolian as a vehicle of instruction to its relegation as a stand‑alone subject stands in contrast with official commitments to ethnic harmony and cultural diversity, and risks accelerating the erosion of the Mongolian community’s cultural and linguistic identity....
The EU ... calls for the immediate and unconditional release of, among others, Gulshan Abbas, Anya Sengdra, Ekpar Asat, Chadrel Rinpoche, Rahile Dawut, Ding Jiaxi, Ding Yuande, Dong Yuyu, Pastor Mingri (Ezra) Jin, Gao Zhen, Gao Zhisheng, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, He Fangmei, Huang Qi, Huang Xueqin, Hushtar Isa, Yalkun Isa, Ji Xiaolong, Li Yanhe, Peng Lifa, Qin Yongming, Ruan Xiaohuan, Tashi Dorje, Tashpolat Tiyip, Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti, Wang Bingzhang, Pastor Wang Yi, Kamile Wayit, Xie Yang, Xu Na, Xu Zhiyong, Yang Hengjung, Yang Maodong, Yu Wensheng, Pastor Zhang Chunlei, Tara Zhang Yadi and Zhang Zhan, as well as EU citizen Gui Minhai whose right to consular access must be respected....
The EU underscores the essential role of freedom of expression, media independence and access to information in ensuring accountable and effective governance. In China, these freedoms remain severely constrained ... The EU strongly promotes global gender equality and women and girls full enjoyment of human rights [and] reaffirms its commitment to LGBTI persons’ full enjoyment of human rights.
"We are concerned about the rising challenges faced by China's LGBTI community, including the restriction on the freedom of association, online censorship, and intimidation of activists," the EU says.
...
In Hong Kong, fundamental rights and freedoms have further eroded.
...
China must also respect the principle of non-refoulement, and refrain from any extraterritorial activity, including transnational repression, that is not in line with international law.
...
Statement of the EU Delegation in China on the International Human Rights Day
On the occasion of Human Rights Day 2025, the Delegation of the European Union to China reaffirms, in line with Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union, the principles that guide the Union’s external action, including “the universality and indivis…EEAS
bcovertigo
in reply to BrikoX • • •BrikoX
in reply to bcovertigo • • •gsmarena.com/rugone_xever_7_pr…
Ulefone's new brand RugOne debuts with Xever 7 rugged phones with swappable batteries
Sagar (GSMArena)Crozekiel
in reply to BrikoX • • •Seems cool and all, but if it stops getting OS and security updates 2 years later, then I don't really give a shit about the removable battery. My last 2 phones were replaced because the OS was SUPER old and no longer getting updates, and the batteries would still last long enough to get through the work day.
Really, the swappable battery is not the "headline" feature imo.
BrikoX
in reply to Crozekiel • • •gsmarena.com/rugone_xever_7_pr…
Ulefone's new brand RugOne debuts with Xever 7 rugged phones with swappable batteries
Sagar (GSMArena)Crozekiel
in reply to BrikoX • • •That's kinda my point. Android 18 is likely to come out in or around 2028. So you'll get 4-ish years of updates. I know batteries got headlines a few years back, but the complete lack of software support is the real "planned obsolescence" pandemic.
Also, this is not an gripe specifically about this phone, but the phone markets in general. 4 versions of Android is on the high side for a lot of Android phones... I've seen several that only get 2 and its disgraceful.
BrikoX
in reply to Crozekiel • • •It's definitely an issue, but there is some push to address it:
- Fairphone promises 8 years
- Google/Samsung promises 7 years for flagship lines
- Huawei via Honor brand promises 6 years for flagship lines
Mid-tier lines usually get minus 1 or 2 years with the exception of Fairphone, but the recent price increase starts to skirt the line of a flagship.