US | North Carolina Supreme Court says bars' COVID-19 lawsuits can continue
The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued favorable rulings for bars seeking compensation from the state for COVID-19 restrictions.
Meta is going to stuff Midjourney AI images into your feed
Meta is making a big new partnership with Midjourney.
Meta is going to stuff Midjourney AI images into your feed
Meta is partnering with Midjourney and will license its “aesthetic” technology for future models and products, according to Alexandr Wang.Jay Peters (The Verge)
Bluesky blocks Mississippi under new age verification law
The Supreme Court declined to block the law earlier this month.
Bluesky blocks Mississippi under new age verification law
Bluesky has blocked access to Mississippi IP addresses thanks to HB 1126, an age verification law the Supreme Court recently let take effect.Adi Robertson (The Verge)
Why the Internet is Turning to Shit
- Hackernews.
:::
Why the Internet is Turning to Shit
Cory Doctorow’s new book is an insightful diagnosis of how Big Tech is making every app and website worse—even if his solutions leave something to be desired.Alex Skopic (Current Affairs Inc)
'Where's your America First?': US teenager stuck in Israeli jail for six months
The 16-year-old was detained by Israel over claims he threw rocks at a car. He has since lost around a quarter of his body weight in detention
Archived version: archive.is/newest/middleeastey…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
'Where's your America First?': US teenager stuck in Israeli jail for six months
In the early hours of the morning on 16 February, US citizen Zaher Ibrahim, his wife and two of his children were asleep in their home in the occupied West Bank. They woke to loud banging and shouting outside.Syma Mohammed (Middle East Eye)
Ricerca per dominio/istanza
Can AI teach us how animals think?
Can AI teach us how animals think?
The surprising ways in which machine learning is decoding the animal mind.The Conversation
Canada looks to Germany to offset Trump tariff agenda
Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior Cabinet ministers will travel to Berlin to talk energy, defense and critical minerals.
Archived version: archive.is/20250822183421/poli…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israel's genocidal 'crimes,' expresses alarm over famine
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry on Friday sharply criticised Israel after the UN officially declared that a famine is taking place in Gaza.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/middleeastey…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
DA dropped charges against woman arrested for having an abortion after public outcry
Lizelle Gonzalez filed a complaint against local Texas officials after they charged her with murder for taking medication to end her pregnancy
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is 'Free' From Custody, En Route to Family in Maryland
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free from custody and en route to Maryland, where he will await trial with his family. His lawyers argue he is facing a "vindictive" prosecution by the Justice Department.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is 'Free' From Custody, En Route to Family in Maryland
He now awaits trial in what his lawyers argue is a "vindictive prosecution" by the Justice Department.stephen-prager (Common Dreams)
National Guard may run out of money because of Trump’s repeated deployments
The National Guard is preparing for its fall training programs, but President Donald Trump’s deployments are eating into its operational budget
Workers who developed cancer while building America’s nuclear weapons struggle to make medical claims after Trump cuts
Unless the Trump administration chooses to renew the compensation program former nuclear weapons employees who are hoping to receive assistance with their medical payments will no longer have the opportunity.
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Trump says Intel has agreed to give US government a 10% stake
Unprecedented deal comes after president demanded CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign over his ties to Chinese firms
US health department moves to strip thousands of employees of collective bargaining rights
Union decries effort as illegal as department confirms it is ending its recognition of unions for some employees
Death toll from Israel's genocide in Gaza rises to 62,263, health ministry says
At least 62,263 Palestinians have been killed since Israel's genocide in Gaza started after 7 October 2023, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/middleeastey…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
US | Hegseth fires general whose agency's intel assessment of damage from Iran strikes angered Trump
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a general whose agency’s initial intelligence assessment of U.S. damage to Iran nuclear sites angered President Donald Trump.
Archived version: archive.is/20250822194052/apne…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Apple reportedly in talks with Google to use Gemini AI in the revamped Siri
Apple is still lagging in generative AI, and a new report says the company may turn to its longtime frenemy Google for help, using Gemini as the foundation for a revamped Siri.
El Salvador is enforcing strict student dress codes to bring discipline back to schools
Principals in El Salvador have started greeting students at school gates to inspect haircuts and uniforms
Archived version: archive.is/newest/independent.…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
The Commandos Prepping Mexico Attacks
Trump’s war on cartels is a godsend for a special ops command with an identity crisis
Pentagon Confirms My Story on Mexico Attacks
Military will “eliminate the ability of these cartels to threaten” America, spokesman says
Colt confirms customer data stolen as Warlock ransomware auctions files
UK-based telecommunications company Colt Technology Services confirms that customer documentation was stolen as Warlock ransomware gang auctions files.
[Announcement] The Third Edict FAQ
Yesterday, we announced The Third Edict, our next major Content Update for Path of Exile 2. In this news post, we're answering the most frequently asked questions from our community regarding the upcoming update.
When does the Third Edict launch on all platforms?
The Third Edict will launch at 1PM August 29 PDT on all supported platforms, including the standalone PC client, Steam and Epic Games Store clients as well as Xbox Series and PlayStation 5.
Will there be an economy reset?
Yes. Your existing characters will be kept and still available to play in the Standard Early Access leagues, but the new Rise of the Abyssal league will have a fresh economy. The new league has new content and features and it's highly recommended that you play there. If you do decide to use your old character, just note that due to extensive balance changes, it is possible you will need to reallocate passive points, and the functionality of certain elements of your build might have changed.
How do I start playing in a new league?
When creating a character, select the Rise of the Abyssal banner.
Is there a special in-game mechanic that is available only in the Rise of the Abyssal league and not in the core game?
Yes, the Rise of the Abyssal league has its own exclusive mechanics, content, rewards and bosses not available in the core game. After the league is complete, we will decide which of these features will make it into the core game.
Will there be challenges / challenge rewards in the Rise of the Abyssal league?
No.
Do I need to create a new character and start the game from the beginning?
Yes, if you want to play the Rise of the Abyssal League. However, you can continue playing your existing characters in the Early Access league if you wish.
With the introduction of Act Four and the Interlude, where do I continue if I want to play my existing character in the Standard Early Access league?
If your Standard character has already reached the Endgame, you can continue playing there. Your character will lose some quest rewards that previously granted resistances, but your Spirit and Attributes values will remain unchanged. In some cases, your passive tree may need to be reallocated if you allocated points that have been removed. If you'd like to experience Act Four and the Interlude content, just go back to Act Three town, then talk to Alva to travel to Act Four.
In case you hadn't reached the Endgame and were playing on Cruel difficulty prior to the release of Third Edict, your character will be transferred to the end of Act Three where you can continue into Act Four. All previously earned quest rewards will remain unchanged.
What happens to my stash tabs if I start in a new Rise of the Abyssal league?
Any stash tabs you have purchased will be available to use in the Rise of the Abyssal leagues. Since a new league is a fresh economy, your stash in the new league will not contain any items from your stash in other leagues. All the items will be in Remove Only stash tabs in the Standard leagues.
Speaking of stash tabs, when will I be able to convert my existing Premium Stash Tabs into Merchant's Tab?
Once 0.3.0 releases next Friday, you will be able to convert your Premium Stash Tabs purchased before the launch into Merchant's Tabs from your account settings on the website.
Just to clarify, the option to convert your Premium Stash Tab to a Merchant's Tab will be made available on the Path of Exile 2 website when the 0.3.0 patch is deployed on August 29th (PST).
When will the Merchant's Tab be available in the store?
Merchant's Tabs will be available for purchase in the Path of Exile 2 shop once The Third Edict releases next Friday. You will also have the option to convert Premium Stash Tabs purchased prior to the 0.3.0 release. Premium Stash Tabs purchased after 0.3.0 release cannot be converted.
August 29th is not a deadline to convert your stash tabs by.
Is this a paid expansion?
No. If you're an existing Path of Exile 2 player, all you have to do is to download the content update.
With the launch of The Third Edict on August 29th, Path of Exile 2 will be available for free for three days. If you've been thinking about trying the game, this weekend is the perfect time! Find out more about the Free Weekend here.
Will there be a predownload?
Yes, we will make the torrent file for the standalone PC client available for predownloading the day before the launch. Console players will also be able to download the patch prior to launch. Please note that only players with access to Path of Exile 2 will be able to predownload the patch.
What information will be revealed before the launch?
Next week we will publish information about Item Filters, what to expect at launch day and new Twitch Drops.
Stay tuned!
Early Access Announcements - The Third Edict FAQ - Forum - Path of Exile
Path of Exile is a free online-only action RPG under development by Grinding Gear Games in New Zealand.Path of Exile
The censorship of Raven and Betanet by Hostinger
cross-posted from: lemmygrad.ml/post/8894778
Thoughts in this?They were trying to create a different Internet or different hosting website, but from what I understand.
“la mia forma di autismo è cercare la spilla di Kuromi nell’ufficio di Zelenskyy ogni volta che lo mostrano parlare”
Prima oggi ho scoperto una nuova cosa tanto incredibile e stupida allo stesso tempo… e raramente ne capitano di così buone, specialmente in un venerdì a caso. A quanto pare, Zelensky (…che in realtà si scrive Zelens’kyj, temo), nel suo ufficetto mezzo chic da presidente di un paese sotto legge marziale, tra tutte le spillette […]
octospacc.altervista.org/2025/…
“la mia forma di autismo è cercare la spilla di Kuromi nell’ufficio di Zelenskyy ogni volta che lo mostrano parlare”
Prima oggi ho scoperto una nuova cosa tanto incredibile e stupida allo stesso tempo… e raramente ne capitano di così buone, specialmente in un venerdì a caso. A quanto pare, Zelensky (…che in realtà si scrive Zelens’kyj, temo), nel suo ufficetto mezzo chic da presidente di un paese sotto legge marziale, tra tutte le spillette di tipo vari reparti militari (credo; non ci capisco molto di questa roba) che tiene lì belle e fieramente inquadrettate… ne ha una di Kuromi. C-o-s-a??? 😳t.me/c/1230970294/59634
È una scoperta che io faccio ben in ritardo, grazie solo a questo post qui, ma sembra che non sia una completa novità. Infatti, stando a questo articolo, che tenta di fare un po’ luce sulla situazione sicuramente buffa ma per niente chiara, almeno da dicembre 2024 si sa che il presidente ha tale incredibile spilletta… Is Sanrio’s Kuromi Fighting for Ukraine? Badge on Wall Behind Zelenskyy Stands Out: . A quanto pare, questa è stata vista casualmente per la prima volta in un video-comunicato (che allego anche sotto) che, come dice l’articolo, non ha niente di rilevante di per sé per la questione. E quindi, la cosa è proprio pazzurda… 💀youtube.com/watch?v=yppVL7SRX5…
Per trovare un senso a questa visione certamente fatta di contrasti, un’ipotesi interessante viene quantomeno proposta, e cioè che questa spilla (ammesso sia una spilla, e non uno stemma, come molti degli altri… ripeto, sono igniorante), sarebbe del reparto speciale che si occupa dei droni, perché essendo un reparto hi-tech della difesa ci lavorano probabilmente svariati weeb. La scritta lì sopra, sempre stando agli sconosciuti su Internet (è troppo piccola perché io possa verificare personalmente, non sapendo l’ucraino), direbbe solo “distaccamento speciale”, quindi non si capisce. 💔
E… questa è tutta la lore che abbiamo a disposizione, a quanto pare: una miseria. Provando a cercare il nome del presidente in caratteri ucraini assieme alla parola Kuromi, ovviamente, non trovo niente, quindi la mia ricerca finisce qui, e ne sono triste. Ma comunque è assurdo che il signorone abbia una spilla militare di Kuromi, e io no… ok, io ho un segnalibro di essa, però provo comunque un po’ invidia, non so se mi spiego. 😓
- threads.com/@unseenjapanoffici… — unseenjapan.medium.com/is-sanr…
- x.com/cuhromi/status/186699857…
- bsky.app/profile/vokabre.bsky.…
- I have instructed the Prime Minister to increase funding for brigades. Address of President 09.12.24: youtube.com/watch?v=yppVL7SRX5…
- What is this Ukrainian unit? old.reddit.com/r/Military/comm…
- President Zelenskyy has a legit badge with a picture of Kuromi on it. old.reddit.com/r/sanrio/commen…
- President Zelensky has a Hello Kitty badge: old.reddit.com/r/Asmongold/com…
#difesa #Kuromi #military #stemmi #Ucraina #Ukraine #Zelensky #Zelenskyy
Is Sanrio’s Kuromi Fighting for Ukraine? Badge on Wall Behind Zelenskyy Stands Out
Is Sanrio’s Kuromi Fighting for Ukraine? Badge on Wall Behind Zelenskyy Stands Out Kuromi appears to have moved on from her beef with My Melody and now has a new enemy: Russia! Sanrio is always up …Unseen Japan (Medium)
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36128488
In the face of intense public opposition, the city’s Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s xAI facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts.
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
In the face of intense public opposition, the city’s Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s xAI facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts.
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
Photo illustration by Shoshana Gordon/ProPublica. Source images: Andrea Morales/MLK50, screenshot by MLK50, U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley viaWendi C. Thomas (MLK50: Justice Through Journalism)
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36128488
In the face of intense public opposition, the city’s Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s xAI facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts.
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
In the face of intense public opposition, the city’s Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s xAI facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts.
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
Photo illustration by Shoshana Gordon/ProPublica. Source images: Andrea Morales/MLK50, screenshot by MLK50, U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley viaWendi C. Thomas (MLK50: Justice Through Journalism)
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36128488
In the face of intense public opposition, the city’s Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s xAI facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts.
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
In the face of intense public opposition, the city’s Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s xAI facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts.
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
Photo illustration by Shoshana Gordon/ProPublica. Source images: Andrea Morales/MLK50, screenshot by MLK50, U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley viaWendi C. Thomas (MLK50: Justice Through Journalism)
The warning signs the AI bubble is about to burst
The warning signs the AI bubble is about to burst
Shock sell-off after study warns most investments in artificial intelligence get zero returnsMatthew Field (The Telegraph)
FEDIVERSO NO-STOP
Il Fediverso non si ferma
Il Fediverso ha vissuto un bel boom iniziale e ora sembra attraversare un momento di calma.
Forse complice l’estate, ma intanto stanno nascendo tante nuove piattaforme: ed è un bene!
Non dobbiamo legarci sempre e solo alle stesse, più varietà c’è e meglio è.
A differenza dei social commerciali che ti servono un unico piatto cucinato da loro con ingredienti segreti, qui possiamo scegliere, sperimentare, imparare.
Forza, andiamo avanti, non arrendiamoci: è proprio quello che vorrebbero.
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TikTok plans to lay off several hundred of their moderation team in the UK in favor of AI content moderation
cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/36131552
TikTok plans to lay off several hundred of their moderation team in the UK in favor of AI content moderation
TikTok puts hundreds of UK jobs at risk
Unions claim content moderators are being replaced by "ineffective" AI systems that could put TikTok's millions of British users in danger.Connor Sephton (Sky News)
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McDonalds in 2023 tried using AI in their drive thru. It lasted all of 3 weeks before McDonalds realized their business went down 70%. People were trying to order "BIG MAC" and the AI would add 33 apple pies.
Then they would get frustrated, and drive off without paying or getting anything.
I've seen other similar stories from other companies. Maybe not to the same degree. But the theme of the day is CEOs pay billions to integrate AI. Then find out that best case scenario is it works slightly worse than humans. Worst case is it crumbles their business. But at no point have I ever read a story where CEOs gain big advantages from investing in AI. But now they already paid the money, so dammit they're going to use it!
And thats where we are today. Join us 5 years from now when Verizon replaces their entire crew with AI, and becomes just a keyosk in the mall with a touch screen.
I feel like that's where we're headed at this point. Major corps have all the tech and all the money. At this point we are seeing every new iteration of consumer tech/electronics costing more, lasting less time, and offering no greater value than previous iterations while sometimes actually taking away features and functionality in the process. They know they are the only game in town now and they only have to offer what they feel is enough to placate their clientele--if they even choose to go that far. People grumble, then they pay.
AI will replace people in many of these situations and it will suck and be less helpful and very problematic but that's the best they're going to offer. If anyone comes along trying to offer anything better they'll be swiftly dealt with by defeating and/or buying them out. There will probably be like 5 corps that own everything one day (maybe that's too many--3? 2 perhaps? I just can't see it being 1 for some reason)
TikTok plans to lay off several hundred of their moderation team in the UK in favor of AI content moderation
TikTok puts hundreds of UK jobs at risk
Unions claim content moderators are being replaced by "ineffective" AI systems that could put TikTok's millions of British users in danger.Connor Sephton (Sky News)
Being "Confidently Wrong" is holding AI back
- Hackernews
:::
Being "Confidently Wrong" is holding AI back
The failure mode that stalls “AI for data” efforts or "AI on my APIs" efforts isn’t psychedelic hallucination—it’s confident inaccuracy: plausible answers that are wrong in subtle and costly ways.PromptQL
essell likes this.
Chromium Adds Native HDR Support for Linux Wayland
Linux Gets HDR Support in Chromium on Wayland
Chromium’s HDR support for Wayland has been merged, enhancing video playback on Linux, with NVIDIA GPU decoding still a question mark.Bobby Borisov (Linuxiac)
[Proto-Cyberpunk] If 'The Machine Stops' (1909) was written today, it would've been called 'The Internet Goes Down'
The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster was written in 1909. It predates Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers by a couple decades. The light bulb was still a recent invention. Yet the world Forster wrote about is oddly recognizable.
It's about a crazy world where everyone just sits alone in their room, staring at a screen and making reaction videos to other people's reaction videos. The main character is a woman who's fully invested in her reaction videos and is perfectly content with her life. But her son has this crazy desire to touch grass. Ridiculous! Sure, anyone can go outside and touch grass if they want, but why would they? All media feeds are on their screens, indoors! Besides, her son lives on the other side of the planet and everyone's rooms look the exact same, so why bother going anywhere at all?
This is just a short story, less than 50 pages. Or if you enjoy audiobooks, it's an hour and a half. And honestly, there isn't much of a plot here. This is mostly the author imagining a horrible world where everyone lives their lives glued to technology and they don't even see a problem with that. So a lot of the story is just the author describing that world. The son fills the role of "voice of reason" as he shouts at his mother for being so obsessed with her videos. And that's where the author injects what he's really trying to say with this story (as if it was subtle before that). Of course, this isn't just a snapshot of life in this world, something has to happen. So towards the end of the story, the machine stops. Because if humanity becomes so reliant upon technology, what will they do if that technology goes away?
A lot of the story made me think of the humans from Wall-E if they never left their rooms. And I liked how the humans weren't being forced to stay in their rooms like prisoners, they just... didn't see any reason to leave. And that's where this story feels proto-cyberpunk to me. It's in the dehumanization through technology. These humans aren't being subjugated by technology, they're voluntarily using this technology. And it makes them less.
Since the story was written in 1909, it's in the public domain. So you can read it or for free. I borrowed the audiobook on Hoopla and I thought the narrator did a great job of making the mother character always sound irritated by the minor inconveniences in her life. That feels accurate.
This short story isn't exactly a masterpiece but it's an interesting oddity from 1909 and isn't a major commitment to read so I recommend checking it out.
The eternal moment, and other stories by E. M. Forster
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.Project Gutenberg
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Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
In the face of intense public opposition, the city’s Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s xAI facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts.
Inside the Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s push for Elon Musk’s xAI data center
Photo illustration by Shoshana Gordon/ProPublica. Source images: Andrea Morales/MLK50, screenshot by MLK50, U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley viaWendi C. Thomas (MLK50: Justice Through Journalism)
Lithuanian Regulator Clashes With Data Firm Over "Misleading" Piracy Stats
Lithuania's broadcasting regulator (LRTK) challenges the accuracy of data reported by piracy tracking firm MUSO, which is the main input for key EUIPO reports. Citing flaws such as the inclusion of legal sites and an inability to track VPN or IPTV use, LRTK argues that its country is being unfairly portrayed as a piracy leader. In response, MUSO says the LRTK's statements are themselves misleading and the company demands a correction.
Lithuanian Regulator Clashes With Data Firm Over "Misleading" Piracy Stats * TorrentFreak
Lithuania challenges the accuracy of data reported by piracy tracking firm MUSO, which are the main input for key EUIPO reports.Ernesto Van der Sar (TF Publishing)
Friday, August 22, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Olga (L) and Zabit (R), Ukrainian citizens of Azerbaijani origin who fled Soviet crackdowns during Azerbaijan’s independence uprising in 1990, harvest potatoes in their garden plot on Aug. 21, in Sloviansk, Ukraine. Sloviansk is the city where the war began in 2014, marked by its occupation by Russian militias led by Igor Strelkov, also known as Girkin. The town is located in Donetsk Oblast, a Ukrainian region cited in peace-talk discussions involving U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over a potential front-line freeze and territorial exchanges. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Going around in circles — Trump sets new deadline for peace in Ukraine, Graham again threatens with tough legislation. We will know in within two weeks whether there will be peace in Ukraine. After that we will have to maybe take a different tact,” U.S. President Donald Trump told conservative commentator Todd Starnes.
Russia would take 4 years to fully occupy Donbas, Zelensky says. “I explained to (U.S. President Donald Trump) that the talks about them (Russia) occupying our Donbas by the end of (2025) are all just chatter,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine regains control of most of Tovste in Donetsk Oblast, military says. Tovste is a front-line village southwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk and near the key town of Vuhledar.
Russian attack hits US electronics plant in western Ukraine. “This was an ordinary civilian facility with American investment. They produced everyday household items, such as coffee machines,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.
Video shows aftermath of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Ukrainian drones struck the Unecha oil pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast on Aug. 21, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, announced in a video published to social media.
Ukraine to mass produce long-range Flamingo missile in winter, Zelensky says. President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Flamingo had undergone successful tests, describing it as “the most successful” missile Ukraine currently has.
Russia opposes European troops in Ukraine under Trump-backed security guarantees, Lavrov says. Sending European troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees would amount to “foreign military intervention,” which Moscow won’t support, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Aug. 21.
Zelensky urges ‘strong response‘ from US if Putin rejects talks with Ukraine.
“We are ready for the bilateral meeting. If the Russians are not, then we would like to see a strong response from the United States,” Zelensky said, adding that he asked Trump to impose additional sanctions on Moscow if it rejects talks with Ukraine.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine regains control of most of Tovste in Donetsk Oblast
The 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade pushed Russian troops from the settlement through coordinated operations involving infantry, drone units, and artillery, according to the military.
Photo: Pierre Crom / Getty Images
Learn more
Where is Crimea? And other things you (and US presidents) should know
U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Crimea as a piece of land “right in the ocean” that is “the size of Texas” while talking on the Mark Levin Show, a right-wing talk radio program, on Aug. 20.
Photo: Olga Maltseva / AFP via Getty Images
From Crimea to Donbas, Russia’s “peace” has always meant more war. We’re here in Ukraine to give the world a reality check. Support independent journalism in this critical moment.
Human cost of Russia’s war
Massive Russian drone, missile attack kills 1, injures 26 in Ukrainian cities far from front line despite peace talks. The attack caused fires at a large electronics plant in Mukachevo, with damage also reported in other cities, including Lviv.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,029,660 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
The number includes 830 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
The ground drone revolution in Ukraine
International response
Switzerland, Austria ready to give Putin immunity for peace talks. Switzerland is prepared to grant Russian President Vladimir Putin immunity from arrest if he travels to Geneva for peace negotiations, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said in an interview on Aug. 19.
Lithuania closes airspace near Belarus ahead of joint Russian-Belarusian military drills. The closure comes ahead of the “Zapad-2025” military drills, scheduled to take place in Belarus from Sept. 12 to 16. Minsk said the joint exercises with Russia are intended to test both countries’ ability to ensure security and repel possible aggression.
Ukrainian detained in Italy for alleged Nord Stream sabotage, media report. Italian police have arrested a Ukrainian national under a European arrest warrant in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, German prosecutors announced on Aug. 21.
Kim Jong Un reportedly awards troops who fought for Russia. At a ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un praised the overseas troops and said their participation demonstrated “the power of the heroic (North Korean) army.”
Trump’s intelligence chief ordered halt to intelligence sharing on Russia-Ukraine peace talks among ‘Five Eye’ allies, CBS reports. U.S. intelligence sources told CBS News that Gabbard signed a directive barring the sharing of information with the Five Eye alliance, which includes the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
In other news
Trump administration escalates purge of senior US intelligence officials, Economist reports. The officer, who served as the CIA’s top Russia and Eurasia analyst during the 2016 election and helped produce the report detailing Moscow’s interference on behalf of Donald Trump, was among the most senior career officials targeted.
Ex-defense official charged with abuse of power after awarding himself bonuses, extra payments. A former acting director general of a state-owned defense enterprise has been charged under suspicion that the official abuse his power in awarding himself 700,000 UAH ($17,000) in bonuses and extra payment during his service, the city of Kyiv’s Prosecutor’s Office announced on Aug. 21.
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Ex-defense official charged with abuse of power after awarding himself bonuses, extra payments
A former acting director general of a state-owned defense enterprise has been charged under suspicion that the official abuse his power in awarding himself 700,000 UAH ($17,000) in bonuses and extra payment during his service, the city of Kyiv's Pros…Dmytro Basmat (The Kyiv Independent)
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in reply to eli • • •Re: Ricerca per dominio/istanza