Trump targets California with bill blocking ban on gas cars | The move sets up yet another political and legal battle with California
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I'll note that California was trying phase down new gas cars over a period of years, and still allowed 20% plug-in hybrids at the end of the phase-down.
Israel running low on Arrow missiles amid rising threat from Iran
Israel is facing a shortage of Arrow missile interceptors, raising concerns over its capacity to counter long-range ballistic attacks from Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing a senior US official.
The Jerusalem Post has reached out to the IDF and other sources for comment, but cannot verify this report at this time.
According to the report, the US has been aware of the issue for several months and has taken steps to bolster Israel’s missile defense systems by deploying additional US assets across multiple domains – land, sea, and air.
Israel running low on Arrow missiles amid rising threat from Iran | The Jerusalem Post
Since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion, the US Defense Department has increased the number of missile defense systems stationed in the region.The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com
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Ryanair to fine unruly passengers €500 or more
The fines will be a "minimum" punishment, and it will continue to seek civil damages for compensation for the costs incurred in more serious cases.
Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, announced Thursday that it will impose fines starting at €500 ($579) on passengers whose disruptive behavior leads to their removal from a flight.
The budget carrier said it hopes the fine will serve as "a deterrent to eliminate this unacceptable behavior onboard our aircraft."
"It is unacceptable that passengers are made to suffer unnecessary disruption because of one unruly passenger's behavior," a Ryanair spokesperson said.
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China-backed militia controls rare earth mines in Myanmar
A Chinese-backed militia is protecting new rare earth mines in eastern Myanmar, according to four people familiar with the matter, as Beijing moves to secure control of the minerals it is wielding as a bargaining chip in its trade war with Washington.
China has a near-monopoly over the processing of heavy rare earths into magnets that power critical goods like wind turbines, medical devices and electric vehicles.
But Beijing is heavily reliant on Myanmar for the rare earth metals and oxides needed to produce them: the war-torn country was the source of nearly half those imports in the first four months of this year, Chinese customs data show.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/3048041/china-backed-militia-controls-rare-earth-mines-in-myanmar
Good post, doesn't seem too biased
The post misses it with them claiming they need Myanmar, saying that it is heavily reliant (debatable)
it focuses mainly on mining and china has lead to a stable area in the north (even if it was for their own purpose) preventing any fighting nearby
LAPD Chief Denies Trump’s Claim That Police Asked for National Guard Help: ‘We’re Nowhere Near’ That
LAPD Chief Denies Trump’s Claim That Police Asked for National Guard Help: ‘We’re Nowher ...
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell denied on CNN that he asked President Donald Trump for help with the ongoing protests in the city.Charlie Nash (Mediaite)
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Trump Voter Gets Choked Up After ICE Detains a Third of His Staff
Trump Voter Gets Choked Up After ICE Detains a Third of His Staff
A Florida roofing boss backed the president’s tough immigration policies. Then six of his workers were taken away...Tom Latchem (The Daily Beast)
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He heard Trump describing migrants as criminals and asylum seekers as frauds and thought that couldn't possibly be describing his workers, who are not criminals or frauds.
He didn't stop to consider that the characterization was a lie.
The strongman’s MO | A study of political movements worldwide assesses the populists’ playbook — and how Donald Trump fits in
This post uses a gift link with a view count limit. There is a archived copy of the article for when it runs out
Notably:
“Economic damage from populist rule is typically severe,” they find. “Over 15 years, real GDP per capita is 10 per cent lower compared to the nonpopulist counterfactual.”
And
they rarely leave after losing elections, but more often amid “major scandals that lead to impeachment or resignations, constitutional crises and refusals to step down, as well as coups, suicides, or deadly accidents”. One of the paper’s authors, Schularick, has said it’s “totally naive” to imagine Trump will simply walk away in 2028
The strongman’s MO
A study of political movements worldwide assesses the populists’ playbook — and how Donald Trump fits inSimon Kuper (Financial Times)
Senate GOP plan would sell millions of acres of Western public land
TL;DR; Selling off land in places without jobs doesn't create useful housing for people. What it does do is turn what had been public space into private space for the wealthy.
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Every eight years we experience another turn of the Ratchet.
Republicans: We've privatized, deregulated, overpoliced, and gutted civil rights for another corner of civil society.
Democrats: Sorry, there's nothing we can do to fix this. You guys just should not have voted Republican. Anyway, here's Richie Torres, keynote speaker at Welcomefest, to tell progressives to fuck off.
Or Democrats: Hey, we started making some changes as part of this term. We are going to need more support to get additional items done.
Leftists: This isn't good enough so I'm not voting for you as punishment.
Republicans: Great, now we can deregulate more!
Hey, we started making some changes as part of this term.
Trump does more in six months than Biden managed in four years, despite having thinner Congressional margins and far less popular support.
Again, this goes back to DeJoy. It goes back to ICE administration. It goes to Biden's intervention to kneecap labor during the COVID era strike wave. It goes to Merrick Garland sitting on his hands for four fucking years while Republicans continued to commit crime after crime.
Biden didn't make progressive changes. He squandered his time in office, refused to impede Project 2025, and sent hundreds of billions of dollars into the pockets of Republican mega-donors that ultimately wrecked his VP's chances at an electoral win.
For what? So he could keep funding a genocide in Gaza?
Republicans: Great, now we can deregulate more!
Why did Jared Polis veto the anti-price gouging renter bill?
Jared Polis vetoes bill that would have restricted use of rent-setting software - The Durango Herald
Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday vetoed a measure that would have banned the use of many computer algorithms to set rent in Colorado, saying it could have outlawed some legitimate technologies used by lan...The Durango Herald
Which is fine for the ruling class
They just get to pass different policies over different terms that's all, they always benefit and the status quo remains.
Torture and Forced Disappearances: Inside Wagner’s Secret Prisons in Mali
Since arriving in Mali in 2021, Russian Wagner mercenaries have abducted and detained hundreds of civilians in former UN bases and military camps shared with the Malian army. Our investigation, as part of the Viktoriia project, reveals secret prisons where abuse and torture are carried out with total impunity.
Torture and Forced Disappearances: Inside Wagner’s Secret Prisons in Mali - Forbidden Stories
For more than three years in Mali, Wagner mercenaries have detained and tortured civilians in secret prisons located in military bases, according to Forbidden Stories’ investigation.Louise Berkane (Forbidden Stories)
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Bernie Sanders leads Democratic effort in Congress to ward off war with Iran
Democratic US Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont introduced legislation on Monday to prevent the use of federal funds for any "illegal wars” in or against Iran without approval from Congress.
Sanders introduced the "No War Against Iran Act", which contains an exception for self-defence as enshrined in the War Powers Act and applicable US law.
“It is imperative that we make clear that the President has no authority to embark on another costly war without explicit authorization by Congress,” Sanders said in a statement on Monday.
Bernie Sanders leads Democratic effort in Congress to ward off war with Iran
Democratic US Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont introduced legislation on Monday to prevent the use of federal funds for any "illegal wars” in or against Iran without approval from Congress.MEE staff (Middle East Eye)
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Number of forcibly displaced 'untenably high' — UN
The number of people displaced by war, violence and persecution has almost doubled in the past decade, the UN says. But funding for its refugee agency UNHCR remains at about the same level as in 2015.
The number of forcibly displaced people across the world stood at 122.1 million by the end of April 2025, according to a report by the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR.
The agency called the number "untenably high," particularly at a time when aid funding is being heavily reduced.
The figure represents an increase of 2.1 million over the same time last year.
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Tuna, beans, Spam: Trump’s tariffs threaten the canned foods millions rely on to survive
Trump vowed to cut food costs, but experts warn metal tariffs may raise prices in a matter of months
Canned foods make up a big part of 20-year-old Cale Johnson’s diet: tuna, corned beef hash, beans, chicken soup, Spam and fruit. They’re affordable and have a long shelf life, which is essential for many people in the US like Johnson, who earns a low income and works two part-time jobs in addition to being a full-time student in Omaha, Nebraska.
In the days after Donald Trump’s recent decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum, Johnson says he’s worried.
“I know that some people have been resorting to stocking up only on non-perishable goods now before they get more expensive,” said Johnson, who has used the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) to make ends meet. “There’s a feeling of panic and having to prepare in the coming months.”
Tuna, beans, Spam: Trump’s tariffs threaten the canned foods millions rely on to survive
The US president vowed to cut food costs, but experts warn metal tariffs may raise prices in a matter of monthsVictoria Namkung (The Guardian)
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Pentagon suspends Israel adviser from Joint Staff after discovering posts calling Israel a 'death cult' and the country's 'worst ally'
A senior officer at the Pentagon has come under scrutiny over a series of social media posts sharply critical of Israel, its leadership, and US foreign policy in the region.
Colonel Nathan McCormack, who leads the Levant and Egypt branch at the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s J5 planning directorate, has used a semi-anonymous account to post numerous comments targeting Israeli actions and US support.
The posts, reportedly written since the 7 October 2023, have sparked outrage among pro-Israel circles in Washington. Here’s what he said:
- “Netanyahu and his Judeo-supremacist cronies are determined to prolong the conflict for their own goals: either to remain in power or to annex the land.”
- “Israel’s actions over decades have prompted the accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide.”
- “The Western states go to great lengths to avoid criticism of Israel, much out of Holocaust guilt.”
- “Our worst ‘ally.’ We get literally nothing out of the ‘partnership’ other than the enmity of millions of people in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.”
- “The US has not been an honest broker. We have overwhelmingly enabled Israel’s bad behavior.”
- Responding to the idea of relocating Gaza’s population, McCormack wrote that Israel wants “to expel them and cleanse ‘Eretz Israel’ (Greater Israel) of ethnic Palestinians.”
- Since June 2024 he also called Israel a “death cult”
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Australian Red Cross Lifeblood loosens rules around LGBTQIA+ donating blood and plasma
ABC News
ABC News provides the latest news and headlines in Australia and around the world.Lewis Wiseman (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
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Australia overtakes China in the Pacific as the U.S vacates the lane: Public perceptions of influence see Australia surge ahead as the “permanent contest” unfolds | Lowy Institute poll
Something interesting is happening in how Australians think about their own country’s influence in the Pacific. According to the Lowy Institute’s 2025 poll, 39 per cent of Australians now see Australia as the most influential power in the Pacific Islands, a notable increase from last year’s result of 31 per cent.
Australia has overtaken China, previously seen by Australians as the dominant player, which holds steady at 34 per cent.
These figures suggest a shifting perception domestically, perhaps reflecting Canberra’s energetic “listening” diplomacy, through which Australia has ramped up diplomatic effort and significantly increased financial assistance to the Pacific over the past three years. Canberra’s approach of marrying generous aid packages with not-so-subtle diplomatic leverage on security matters appears to have resonated at home.
[...]
While Australia is undeniably the largest aid donor in the region, and uniquely maintains a diplomatic presence in every PIF member state, Beijing’s bare-faced influence-building is plain as day.
The China-Pacific Island countries Foreign Ministers’ meeting last month foreshadowed increased Chinese presence in security and policing, development, and stronger economic ties with those Pacific countries that recognise China over Taiwan. Beijing’s blend of visa-waivers, economic incentives, infrastructure financing, and diplomatic duchessing, ensures its presence is both felt and appreciated across island capitals.
In 2024, China registered 26 Coastguard vessels with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, signalling a more assertive regional maritime presence. It is not clear how China intends to deploy its more than two-dozen vessels, but if the dynamics in the South China Sea are any indication, it will likely result in Chinese vessels harassing other countries, while protecting its own fishing fleet – widely understood as often responsible for illegal fishing in the Pacific Ocean.
[...]
To Canberra’s chagrin, plenty of Pacific countries are evidently happy to buy what China is selling, even while some countries including PNG and Fiji are aligning more closely to Australia’s worldview.
Therein lies the rub: while perceptions do matter, it is Pacific countries’ own strategic choices that will ultimately be the deciding factor in who has influence and how the regional balance of power is shaped for decades to come.
Australia overtakes China in the Pacific as America vacates the lane
Public perceptions of influence measured in the latest Lowy Institute Poll see Australia surge ahead as the “permanent contest” unfolds.www.lowyinstitute.org
Chinese fighter jet in near miss with Japan military plane as Pacific tensions rise
J-15 jet took off from Chinese aircraft carrier and reportedly came within 45 metres of Japanese patrol plane
Japan has voiced “serious concern” over a near miss involving one of its military planes and a Chinese fighter jet in the Pacific, where recent manoeuvres by Chinese aircraft carrier groups have raised tensions across the region.
Beijing later rejected the criticism, accusing Japan of dangerous behaviour.
The Chinese aircraft took off from a moving aircraft carrier, the Shandong, and reportedly flew within 45 metres of a Japan Self-Defence Forces (SDF) patrol plane shortly afterwards. On Thursday, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, urged Beijing to prevent a repeat of the incident, which took place at the weekend.
Hayashi said the near miss, which occurred in international waters, could have caused an accidental collision.
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‘This isn’t an isolated incident’: Trump’s show of military force in LA was years in the making
Trump had been waiting for this made-for-TV clash that allows the administration to ‘manufacture’ a crisis
Donald Trump is targeting Los Angeles, the biggest city in deep-blue California – a sprawling metropolis shaped by immigrant communities that the president described on Tuesday as a “trash heap” – with a show of force many years in the making.
After his first term, Trump expressed regret for not taking a more heavy-handed approach to the 2020 protests over George Floyd’s murder by police. So when demonstrations against his immigration crackdown erupted last week in Los Angeles, he turned to the playbook he wished he had used then – federalizing the national guard and deploying hundreds of US marines to confront what Democratic officials insist was a manageable situation, escalated by a president who the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has warned is increasingly behaving like a “dictator”.
It’s the made-for-TV clash Trump has been waiting for: visually gripping scenes of unrest in a Democratic-run city furious over his administration’s mass deportation agenda.
‘This isn’t an isolated incident’: Trump’s show of military force in LA was years in the making
The president had been waiting for this made-for-TV clash that allows the administration to ‘manufacture’ a crisisRachel Leingang (The Guardian)
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We have to solve the money problem!
We have to solve the money problem!
On the Fireside Fedi interview with Jerry ( the admin of Infosec.Exchange Mastodon instance ) a scary truth was suddenly revealed ( on 34:11 ): Just to keep the instance up and running he needs to spend up to $5000 a month, pretty much out of his poc…blenderdumbass . org
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Misskey is probably the only fediverse software that actually allows admin instance to put ads.
Its flagship instance, misskey.io (which also the second/third (?) biggest instances on fediverse), use freemium scheme for running the server.
They have to do this as they have 600K users, with 20K visits per day.
Their paid tier upgrades are mostly adding non-essentials stuff, such as drive capacity from 5GB to 30-100GB, profile and avatar decoration (similar to Discord stuff), or more webhook.
They runs community ads, from indie games, vtuber promotion, comic release, or local art event.
They also have one corporate backer, Skeb.jp, which an art commissioning platform.
Not saying that all instance should do this, but it could be a great learning.
Tonga Poised to Be the First Country to Recognize Rights of Whales
Tonga Poised to Be the First Country to Recognize Rights of Whales - Inside Climate News
At the U.N. Ocean Conference, Tonga’s princess called for recognition of whales’ legal rights. The move is one of several rights of nature initiatives happening at the conference.Inside Climate News
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London-bound Air India passenger plane with 244 aboard crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India
An Air India passenger plane bound for London with more than 240 people on board crashed Thursday in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad, the airline said.
Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site in what appeared to be a populated area near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city with a population of more than 5 million and the capital of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.
Firefighters doused the smoking wreckage of the plane, which would have been fully loaded with fuel shortly after takeoff, and adjacent multi-story buildings with water. Charred bodies lay on the ground.
https://apnews.com/article/india-plane-crash-cad8dad5cd0e92795b03d357404af5f8
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This is terrible. I read all on board are dead. Also it crashed into a building so expect more do be declared dead.
We will need to wait for the investigation but I see it was a Boeing 787-8 dreamliner. Not sure if I want to fly on Boeings anymore
UK and Spain strike ‘historic’ deal over Gibraltar’s future and borders
UK and Spain strike ‘historic’ deal over Gibraltar’s future and borders
People to be able to move freely across land border, and airport to have Eurostar-style dual border checksEleni Courea (The Guardian)
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Air India plane crashes at India’s Ahmedabad airport
London-bound Air India plane with 242 people on board crashes soon after take-off
The aircraft hit a medical hostel as it plunged to the ground. Read more at straitstimes.com.The Straits Times
GOP senator accuses Trump of "petty vindictiveness" after White House snub
GOP Senator Accuses Trump Of 'Petty Vindictiveness' After White House Snub
"It makes you wonder about the quality of people you're dealing with," GOP Senator Rand Paul told reporters.Sonam Sheth (Newsweek)
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More Gazans killed trying to get food, healthcare near to ‘full disaster’
More Gazans killed trying to get food, healthcare near to ‘full disaster’
Gaza’s health system is at breaking point, overwhelmed time and again by scores of people killed or injured near aid distribution sites, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.UN News
Fediverse Support Line [Podcast] #2 - Migrating
Fediverse Support Line #2 - Migrating
Non-techy restless activist do-gooder Jeremy Flatt has found himself having to administer a mastodon instance at nwt.social and has some questions to ask of slightly more techy Paige Saunders. @jer...AbnormalBeingsTube
Retired military leaders analyze Trump's deployment of Marines and National Guard in LA
Retired military leaders analyze Trump’s deployment of Marines and National Guard in LA
For perspective on the Trump administration’s deployment of active duty Marines to Los Angeles and the federal call-up of the National Guard, Geoff Bennett spoke with James McPherson, an under secretary of the Army during the first Trump administrati…Geoff Bennett (PBS News)
Starting to grind my gears to see the national press try to talk about Trump as though he’s an actual politician.
He’s not pivoting his stance , he’s a moron manchild he’s just winging it as he goes 
He’s not executing a reverse on his policy , he’s just bullshitting us all so that he can make himself look big
And he’s not deploying troops to California he’s forcing a military control takeover of a liberal voting district
I support any action that leads to the end of his corrupted administration…. Not violence though I’m not encouraging violence. I don’t wanna get kicked off this platform like I did reddit
Israeli gunfire, strikes kill 120 Palestinians in Gaza, many at aid sites
Israeli gunfire, strikes kill 120 Palestinians in Gaza, many at aid sites
Palestinian death toll in Israel’s genocidal war surpasses 55,000 amid ongoing bombardment and killings at aid sites.Al Jazeera
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Resurrecting a dead torrent tracker and finding 3 million peers
Resurrecting a dead torrent tracker and finding 3 million peers
So I was uh, downloading some linux isos, like usual. It was going slowly, so I opened up the Trackers tab in qBittorrent and saw the following:Kian Bradley (Kian Bradley’s Blog)
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Canvas 2025
July 12th, 2025 @ 4am UTC
✨ just as it was last year, the entire Fediverse is invited ✨
follow via microblog @canvas@fediverse.events
join the chat on matrix or on discord (bridged)
are you an app developer? check out the fediverse.events api 👀 (matrix room also linked there)
What’s Canvas?
canvas is a 48 hour event were anyone apart of the fediverse can contribute to a pixel canvas, one pixel at a time
Matrix - Decentralised and secure communication
You're invited to talk on Matrix. If you don't already have a client this link will help you pick one, and join the conversation. If you already have one, this link will help you join the conversationmatrix.to
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Awesome! Looking forward to it.
Adding this to the list of relevant links !canvas@toast.ooo
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Entire Fulbright Scholarship board quits, citing Trump admin actions
All members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced their resignation on Wednesday, releasing a statement accusing Donald Trump's administration of political interference in the prestigious exchange program.
The 12-member board alleged the Trump administration "usurped the authority of the Board" by denying Fulbright awards to "a substantial number of individuals" who were selected for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The board also alleged the administration is currently "subjecting" an additional 1,200 international Fulbright recipients to "an unauthorized review process and could reject more."
Entire Fulbright Scholarship board quits, citing Trump admin actions
The government-funded, non-partisan program was established by Congress in 1946.Leah Sarnoff (ABC News)
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Sends a message for one news article, an action like this does. Then they all get replaced by lackeys and the new Fulbright Scholarship board does whatever Trump wants.
I'd think it's better to advocate change from within and use your power to shed light on the bullshit through years of leaks to media, while doing your best to shield the organisation from the worst decisions, than to just quit in a huff of solidarity.
The problem is that it puts you in a lose-lose situation.
MAGA doesn't give up. Their entire method of takeover is to flood you in a sea of shit to either force you to quit or make your life miserable if you don't. If they're in a position to do that, that means they're likely already in the majority and you'll never be able to accomplish anything of substance during your tenure, and they'll just ignore or shout you down during any kind of official meeting until you just give up. And they're playing the long game. They'll wait.
So you get to choose a tenure of frustration as you accomplish exactly nothing and watch as your name gets attached to every bad committee meeting the MAGA morons make (because you're still a member of that committee), or you can quit and watch all of your accomplishments be hand-waived away by whatever up-and-coming MAGA cocksucker takes your seat. It's like asking if you want to be shot or stabbed.
MAGA are patient, playing the long game, they'll wait? These are the guys that wear diapers to virtue signal they're Trumpers, and charge into the Capitol building when they lose an election.
They're neither intelligent nor patient - they just have NEAR ZERO pushback from all the people in institutions around them, everyone turning to the person next to them going, "gosh that's .. can you believe they're doing that - that's unconstitutional and definitely illegal".
I read the article, and even the outgoing Fulbright board just handball the problem to the next people.
[With] the board calling on Congress, the courts and future Fulbright Boards to "prevent the administration's efforts to degrade, dismantle, or even eliminate one of our nation's most respected and valuable programs."
Why the hell are they not doing that? It's cowardly and its essentially a strongly worded letter.
Mudita Kompakt
Mudita Kompakt, a minimalist E Ink® phone.
Mudita Kompakt is a minimalist phone designed for mindful living. Featuring an E Ink screen, long battery life, and distraction-free tools, this E Ink phone helps you stay focused and unplug with ease.mudita.com
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Pope to give a virtual address in Chicago at the same time as Trump’s military parade
Pope Leo plans to give a virtual address in his hometown of Chicago – at the same time as Trump’s military parade
Tickets for the event, which is to be held at the Rate Field stadium, home of the Chicago White Sox (the pontiff’s favorite team), are being sold online at $5 eachMike Bedigan (The Independent)
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Donald Trump Manufactured the Crisis in Los Angeles
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Radiohead - The King of Limbs (2011)
Come si diceva, un nuovo disco va assaporato lentamente, se poi il disco in questione è dei Radiohead, allora la regola va moltiplicata. The King of Limbs non è un disco facile, chi conosce e ama i Radiohead è preparato a questo. Molte loro uscite hanno spiazzato e anche The King of Limbs, in parte, mantiene questa promessa... Leggi e ascolta...
- 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
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