Royals, Maga and tech CEOs: What we learned from state banquet guest list
Royals, Maga and tech CEOs: What we learned from state banquet guest list
The event is as much about diplomacy as it is about fine dining.Mallory Moench (BBC News)
Trump: US trying to reclaim Afghan airbase
The US is moving to reclaim the Bagram airbase from the Taliban after losing it during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Donald Trump announced.“We’re trying to get it back, by the way,” Mr Trump told reporters during a joint press conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Aylesbury on Thursday.
The Bagram base was the largest operated by the US in Afghanistan and is strategically important in countering China’s growing influence in the region.
Mr Trump suggested that he was negotiating with the Taliban to retake ownership, adding: “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us. We want that base back.”
Trump: US trying to reclaim Afghan airbase
Bagram is strategically important in countering ChinaConnor Stringer (The Telegraph)
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Hidden volcanoes: are we ignoring the next big eruption?
Hidden volcanoes: are we ignoring the next big eruption? | Aeon Essays
The next global disaster may be triggered by a catastrophic eruption. How can we prepare for the fire beneath our feet?Mike Cassidy (Aeon Magazine)
US Bombs Another Boat Near Venezuela
US Bombs Another Boat Near Venezuela - News From Antiwar.com
The US military on Monday bombed a boat near Venezuela and killed three people, according to a statement released by President Trump on Truth Social.News From Antiwar.com
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It’s ok if the US does it, they’re the good guys protecting their national security.
The Houthis are terrorists for doing it to prevent a genocide though.
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Houthis Carry Out Missile Attack on Tel Aviv, Drone Attack on Ramon Airport
Houthis Carry Out Missile Attack on Tel Aviv, Drone Attack on Ramon Airport
Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, carried out a hypersonic missile attack on Tel Aviv and a drone attack on Ilan and Asaf Ramon International Airport after Israeli strikes on the port of Al-Hudaydah, Houthi military spokesman Y…Sputnik International
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I know liberals are allergic to reading but it's worth a shot
Zelensky Is Losing Touch With Reality
Zelensky's Military Reforms Are Losing Touch With Reality
It’s hard for anyone to make sense of the Ukrainian president’s latest military reforms.Paul Hockenos (Foreign Policy)
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Also, it's cute how you are completely fine with Ukraine invading Iraq and Syria, so please don't pretend as if you care about anybody invading anybody.
I never said I was fine with those things
Ok, so Ukraine is also the enemy, then.
Russian shill
You literally came here to shill for the invaders of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Iran, and many other places, and to tell us how the rest of the world should roll over and die for your empire.
But hey, let's hear what you think Russia should have done in response to your empire's aggression.
Zelensky's actions only make no sense if one thinks he is doing what's best for Ukraine and ukrainians and is still intrerested in winning this war. In my opinion it's been quite obvious that Zelensky's and the goal of his close circle is to fight this war, not to make peace and ride this war as long as possible. Not to victory, because that seemed unlikely in 2022 and it seems almost impossible now. The goal is to stay in saddle until the collapse comes and then flee with the money and remain Ukraine's western recognize president in exile for life and keep living large with all the money he has and will have. If peace comes through peace agreement he will be the president that lost Ukraine and has to step down and the radicals who kept him in power will probably kill him as a traitor for betraying Ukraine.
Zelensky's goal therefore is not victory, but control. Control over the goverment and especially the military, ideological batalions and intelligence apparatus and such. Those will keep the war going, Russians away from Kiev, people in line and his political opponents silent. Those will help him ride out this war.
Save the date!
Home | Draw The Line - For life, for people, for the planet.
Join us this September to draw the line against injustice, pollution, and violence; for a future of peace, clean energy, and fairness.drawtheline.world
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A New Cat Color Is Defying Genetic Expectations
A New Cat Color Is Defying Genetic Expectations
Scientists have discovered a rare new cat coat color called salmiak, or salty liquorice, caused by a genetic mutation. This stunning shade is now explained.Jackie Appel (Popular Mechanics)
'Our Genocide': How do Israelis feel about the war in Gaza? – video
'Our Genocide': How do Israelis feel about the war in Gaza? – video
Reporter Matthew Cassel speaks to Israelis in Tel Aviv, to see what they think of the war, famine and genocide happening next door, and the growing international condemnation against itTemujin Doran (The Guardian)
Consumers in the top 10% of the income distribution accounted for 49.2% of total US spending in Q2, up from 48.5% in Q1, reaching the highest level in data going back to 1989
Top 10% of Earners Drive a Growing Share of US Consumer Spending
Wealthy consumers continue to account for a growing share of US consumer spending, highlighting the lopsided strength of the economy as a slowdown in hiring and wariness among other income cohorts raise fears of a slowdown.Jonnelle Marte (Bloomberg)
Judge dismisses two top charges against Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
Judge dismisses two top charges against Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
Man accused of killing Brian Thompson will not face state terrorism-related murder charges but others will standVictoria Bekiempis (The Guardian)
Prices, unemployment up: Even Fox News poll shows voters think Trump screwed economy
Prices, unemployment up: Even Fox News poll shows voters think Trump screwed economy | Opinion
President Donald Trump promised a new Golden Age. But eight months into his term, grocery prices are rising, along with inflation and unemployment., USA TODAY (USA TODAY)
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GOP Rep. Backtracks on Bill That Could Let Marco Rubio Revoke Passports From Israel Critics
A top Republican lawmaker in the House of Representatives is backtracking on a proposal that would have given Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to revoke American citizens’ passports if he decides they have provided “material support” to terrorists.
Under Mast’s original proposal, the secretary of state would have been empowered to refuse or revoke passports of people they deem to have materially supported terrorists.
Activists were especially concerned the provision could be used against critics of Israel, given Rubio’s aggressive move to revoke green cards and student visas from noncitizens who have publicly demonstrated support for Palestinians.
GOP Rep. Backtracks on Bill That Could Let Marco Rubio Revoke Passports From Israel Critics
GOP Rep. Brian Mast moved to strike his own provision that would give Marco Rubio power to revoke U.S. passports.Matt Sledge (The Intercept)
GOP Rep. Backtracks on Bill That Could Let Marco Rubio Revoke Passports From Israel Critics
A top Republican lawmaker in the House of Representatives is backtracking on a proposal that would have given Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to revoke American citizens’ passports if he decides they have provided “material support” to terrorists.
Under Mast’s original proposal, the secretary of state would have been empowered to refuse or revoke passports of people they deem to have materially supported terrorists.
Activists were especially concerned the provision could be used against critics of Israel, given Rubio’s aggressive move to revoke green cards and student visas from noncitizens who have publicly demonstrated support for Palestinians.
GOP Rep. Backtracks on Bill That Could Let Marco Rubio Revoke Passports From Israel Critics
GOP Rep. Brian Mast moved to strike his own provision that would give Marco Rubio power to revoke U.S. passports.Matt Sledge (The Intercept)
Jobs massacre in Germany: Establish independent action committees!
Jobs massacre in Germany: Establish independent action committees!
A wave of job destruction is sweeping across Germany. The trade unions, led by IG Metall, are closing ranks with corporations and the government.World Socialist Web Site
TOR VPN
Tor VPN | Tor Project | Support
Defend yourself against tracking and surveillance. Circumvent censorship. | Tor VPNsupport.torproject.org
isn't orbot doing the same thing?
Orbot is a free VPN and proxy app that empowers other apps to use the internet more securely. Orbot uses Tor to encrypt your Internet traffic and then hides it by bouncing through a series of computers around the world. Tor is free software and an open network that helps you defend against a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security known as traffic analysis.
The American Cultural Revolution Is Underway
The American Cultural Revolution Is Underway
Trump’s second term has turned polarization, tariffs, and symbolic purges into a systemic crisis.Neil Zhu (Grumpy Chinese Guy)
Murena is launching a smartphone with a hardware kill switch again
Post reads: "❓ Do you know who are the inventors of the hardware-level kill switch for smartphones?
🤫 Stay tuned! We’re teaming up with them to offer you more privacy.
👇 Share your ideas in the comments! "
means no Play Store
Indeed, by default AFAICT they provide ~~Aurora Store and F-Droid~~ App Lounge (edited: was a little while so I forgot, I install F-Droid on every Android device I have as a reflex).
Regarding the consequence... well I don't know the future. Maybe alternative stores will have a "trick" so that they are considered verified and thus can install other .apk, or maybe it won't matter for rooted phones anyway.
The West and its agreements: betrayal under the guise of diplomacy
The West and its agreements: betrayal under the guise of diplomacy
When the West signs an agreement, it is mainly to better bend it, twist it... then throw it away—a reality that Russia must absolutely remember at everyМохамед Ламин КАБА (New Eastern Outlook)
Israel guilty of genocide in Gaza – UN commission
Israel guilty of genocide in Gaza – UN commission
West Jerusalem has rejected the accusation, slamming the body as a “Hamas proxy” and calling for its abolitionRT
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Years after NATO bombings, is there a plan that can heal this nation?
Years after NATO bombings, is there a plan that can heal this nation?
A new roadmap for Libya has little chance of success while the country remains divided and the same actors are in placeRT International
Ukrainian teens speaking Russian to spite parents – language commissioner
Ukrainian teens speaking Russian to spite parents – language commissioner
Teenagers in Ukraine continue to speak Russian widely, a top language official saysRT
Judge dismisses two top charges against Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
Luigi Mangione scored a major legal victory on Tuesday with a judge dismissing the two top state charges against him: first-degree murder and second-degree murder, both of which prosecutors had argued were terrorism crimes.
Mangione still faces an additional second-degree murder charge, as well as a federal murder charge, in the killing of United HealthCare executive Brian Thompson last December.
The judge overseeing Mangione’s state criminal case, Gregory Carro, said “the evidence put forth was legally insufficient” for the two terrorism-related charges, in a written decision that was posted during a 15-minute proceeding in Manhattan court on Tuesday.
“Counts 1 and 2, charging defendant with Murder in the First Degree (in furtherance of an act of terrorism) and Murder in the Second Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, are dismissed as legally insufficient,” Carro wrote. “The People presented legally sufficient evidence of all other counts, including Murder in the Second Degree (intentional).”
Judge dismisses two top charges against Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
Man accused of killing Brian Thompson will not face state terrorism-related murder charges but others will standVictoria Bekiempis (The Guardian)
Judge dismisses two top charges against Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
Luigi Mangione scored a major legal victory on Tuesday with a judge dismissing the two top state charges against him: first-degree murder and second-degree murder, both of which prosecutors had argued were terrorism crimes.
Mangione still faces an additional second-degree murder charge, as well as a federal murder charge, in the killing of United HealthCare executive Brian Thompson last December.
The judge overseeing Mangione’s state criminal case, Gregory Carro, said “the evidence put forth was legally insufficient” for the two terrorism-related charges, in a written decision that was posted during a 15-minute proceeding in Manhattan court on Tuesday.
“Counts 1 and 2, charging defendant with Murder in the First Degree (in furtherance of an act of terrorism) and Murder in the Second Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, are dismissed as legally insufficient,” Carro wrote. “The People presented legally sufficient evidence of all other counts, including Murder in the Second Degree (intentional).”
Judge dismisses two top charges against Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
Man accused of killing Brian Thompson will not face state terrorism-related murder charges but others will standVictoria Bekiempis (The Guardian)
At UN, western powers push phantom 'Palestine' recognition to safeguard Israel
Rather than act to end Israel's genocide in Gaza, western leaders rally behind a French-Saudi scheme for fictive statehood that entrenches Israeli supremacy and props up the PA
How Israel is stretching its genocide far beyond its borders
In two weeks, Israel bombed five countries, expanding its military operations thousands of kilometres away from home
Israel killed 10 children from this football youth academy in Gaza
Israel killed 10 children from this football youth academy in Gaza
Ten children from a professional football academy in Gaza City have been killed in Israeli attacks.Al Jazeera
Israel’s Ben-Gvir vows 'magnificent' Gaza beach settlement for Israeli police
Israel’s Ben-Gvir vows 'magnificent' Gaza beach settlement for Israeli police
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has promised to establish a settlement for police officers in the Gaza Strip.Nadav Rapaport (Middle East Eye)
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Charlie Kirk Assassination Sparks Social Media Crackdown
Five hours after Charlie Kirk was shot this week, an Atlanta man got a phone call from an Illinois police officer asking about a photo he shared with a couple of close friends on a private Discord chat. The Atlanta man, who asked not to be identified, says the post was merely a confirmation that he had purchased the same T-shirt that the accused killer wore (from an Illinois-based online shop).Social media companies are generally forbidden by law from divulging users’ private communications to the government without a traditional legal process (e.g., court order). But there’s an exception: in perceived emergencies, social media platforms can proactively and “voluntarily” hand over private messages in response to what’s called an “emergency disclosure request” (EDR).
Discord, I am told, did not respond to any EDR here; but when I asked them directly if they’d provided law enforcement with information to traditional legal process, they declined to respond on-record.
The FBI, or the intelligence community, evidently is monitoring Discord private messaging, even from people who have broken no law.
Full blown Orwellian world. Run for local government and stop this shit.
The largest populated areas are left leaning. If they ae controlled by democratic socialist, we can restrict this shit. Just by pure numbers.
Charlie Kirk Assassination Sparks Social Media Crackdown
How buying a T-shirt led to government monitoringKen Klippenstein
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Nothing to worry about. Schmuck Schumer has released a statement calling this situation "outrageous."
That'll fix'em.
British woman 'raped by French police officer' while drunk and handcuffed in van near Marseille
British woman 'raped by French police officer' while drunk and handcuffed in van near Marseille
The 37-year-old victim is said to have been arrested by three policemen before being subjected to a horrific ordeal in the back of a patrol vanPeter Allen (Evening Standard)
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But unlike the US, they arrested the cops immediately, and they are even keeping them (except the driver) in jail before trial. So some cops over there are doing thier job at least.
"CCTV footage has been misconstrued."
Don't believe your eyes or the woman! Say the rapists.
"I was doing an alcohol test with my fine tongue while my hands were looking for drugs or weapons. I was multitasking!"
I mean, their lawyer can argue all they want. If there is video, it will have to be heavy law contortionism.
Lembot_0004
in reply to Lee Duna • • •like this
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imrighthere
in reply to Lembot_0004 • • •ExistingConsumingSpace
in reply to Lembot_0004 • • •Lembot_0004
in reply to ExistingConsumingSpace • • •Impound4017
in reply to Lembot_0004 • • •Here’s the thing: I’m with you. I agree as an American that the only thing that can stop this train is a wholehearted, full-throated rejection of everything this administration represents. That comes with a couple of issues, though, and the first is that the body politic here is intensely complacent; much too comfortable to be driven to action. The fact of the matter is that disapproval of Trump is the majority view, and even at the beginning of his second term that was still about a dead even split, but not even Trump’s atrocious performance in his first term was enough to galvanize a large portion of the US voter base in the 2024 election, despite it clearly being a critical inflection point. Unfortunately, if it doesn’t affect their life immediately and directly, a large portion of America simply doesn’t give a shit. Overcoming that apathy is likely going to require something large, noticeable, bombastic, demonstrably wrong, and personally painful, and by that point there’s a good chance it’ll be too late. Additionally, any revolution or unrest is likely to be heavily suppressed by the second issue: the US police state and its willingness to use deadly force, regardless of the severity of the situation. Between police forces, riot police, swat teams, the national guard, domestic surveillance, and now the might of the US military turned on its own populace, the Trump administration has all the tools to make any true resistance deeply costly and incredibly painful. Talk of resistance, of revolution, of taking up arms against this fascist takeover is easy, but the feasibility of a clean revolution in the face of the US police, military, and intelligence apparatus is doubtful. More likely we would end up with either civil war or insurgency, fighting an asymmetric campaign against an overwhelming force. We know that the US is vulnerable to such tactics (see: US expeditionary wars in Vietnam and the Middle East), but we also know that those tactics are incredibly costly, and require a populace that is highly motivated by what they perceive to be an existential threat.
The key here, in my opinion, is the military. Historically, he who controls the military, controls the state. The victors of coups and revolutions practically always have the military on their side, and for good reason; very few things are as persuasive as the threat of a bullet. Morale in the US military right now seems to be low, and if we can manage to break the trained obedience to hierarchy, we might just have a chance, but without them, I don’t see a way forward. Even every citizen striking and causing a complete shutdown of the US economy would just be likely to lead to threats being made to and examples being made of them, and getting people onboard for that is unlikely to be feasible from a fundamental level, given that the majority of America lives paycheck to paycheck.
I don’t want to be fatalistic or claim that this can’t be done or that we shouldn’t be doing anything about it; we should, and have a moral obligation to act, but the reality of the situation is that the time to act while avoiding discomfort was last November, and the viable options available to us now are going to hurt, and will likely only get more painful as time goes on. That makes people hesitant to act, and until such a time as they have more to lose from inaction than they do from action, I don’t expect that to change.
God, do I hope I’m wrong, though.
frongt
in reply to Lee Duna • • •Now whose administration was it that signed the withdrawal deal, I wonder?
Oh that's right. Donald Trump's.
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engene
in reply to Lee Duna • • •like this
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Bronzebeard
in reply to engene • • •abigscaryhobo
in reply to Lee Duna • • •SereneSadie
in reply to abigscaryhobo • • •More troops getting slaughtered by the nut jobs means less troops at home shooting minorities.
I see this as a win.
selkiesidhe
in reply to Lee Duna • • •Archangel1313
in reply to Lee Duna • • •