A spokesperson for the European Commission said on Thursday that it would investigate reports that Hungary had engaged in covert intelligence activity in Brussels. A joint investigation by German, Belgian, Hungarian, and Austrian media outlets alleged that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government operated an intelligence network in Brussels between 2012 and 2019,
Kyiv PostRandom thoughts on an October day
Trump's im Bau befindlicher Ballsaal im Weissen Haus, dem Ballsaal im Winterpalast in St. Petersburg nachempfunden
US: Remaining a superpower despite itself
In its response to the 2008 financial crisis, Washington rescued the financial sector but not its victims, worsening inequality and generating public disillusionment. And in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite having some of the most esteemed public health institutions in the world, the U.S. government bungled its response, further feeding suspicion and undermining public trust. Despite its repeated missteps, the United States remains a global superpower. But it is relying on the luxury of its inherited privilege: like a spoiled child, the United States can afford to make epic mistakes without suffering the devastating consequences that other countries would face if they acted similarly.
Ferngesteuerte Roboter in Japan
Japanische Convenience-Stores stellen Roboter ein, die von Mitarbeitern auf den Philippinen bedient werden. Philippinische Tele-Operatoren
steuern die Roboter in japanischen Convenience-Stores aus der Ferne und trainieren die KI, wobei sie von einer Zunahme der Arbeitsplätze im Bereich Automatisierung profitieren. Philippinische Arbeitnehmer werden
weniger bezahlt als ihre Kollegen in Industrieländern und befürchten ausserdem, dass sie ihre Arbeitsplätze durch Automatisierung verlieren könnten.
Die KI-Roboter wurden vom Tokioter Start-up Telexistence entwickelt und laufen
auf Plattformen von Nvidia und Microsoft. Die Roboter werden rund um die Uhr in Manila von Mitarbeitern von Astro Robotics, einem Start-up für Roboterarbeitskräfte, ferngesteuert überwacht. Japan leidet aufgrund seiner
alternden Bevölkerung an Arbeitskräftemangel und mag keine Einwanderung.
White House new style
At a press briefing, the well known Huffington Post (Huffpost) asked a question about the forthcoming Putin/Trump meeting:
HuffPost asked the White House: Who picked Budapest?
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded minutes later with: “Your mom did.”White House Communications Director Steven Cheung after a minute added the far more succinct: “Your mom.”After HuffPost asked Leavitt if she thought her response was funny, she replied:“It’s funny to me that you actually consider yourself a journal [sic]. You are a far left hack who nobody takes seriously, including your colleagues in the media, they just don’t tell you that to your face. Stop texting me your disingenuous, biased, and bullshit questions.”
Russia: the black widows in search of a soldier
The subject began to emerge last spring, mainly in the tabloid press and, above all, through “Z” bloggers. The very famous and influential Anastasia Kachevarova, for example, warned that, according to her, “honey trap gangs” were operating in the regions of Ukraine under Russian control. Groups of women were hunting for the ideal target for quick marriages that weren't really based on love: volunteer fighters under contract and therefore eligible for generous death benefits.These sums now amount to just over 5 million rubles, or €55,000 at the current exchange rate, for a death, and 3.5 million rubles, or nearly €40,000, for insurance. And again, this is only what the Russian state promises. Often, the regions also contribute, and sometimes even certain companies. Finally, there is also the possibility of receiving a widow's pension if the deceased combatant was the sole breadwinner of the couple.
rfiHeavy Russian losses
As many as 250,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine, with over 950,000 total Russian casualties, according to an estimate in June by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US-based think tank.
Nearly 14,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the Pokrovsk area alone since late August, according to Ukraine’s military command. CNN cannot verify battlefield figures.
In the face of these losses, the Russian defense ministry appears to be changing the way it recruits additional personnel. In recent weeks, Russian regions have begun paring back the generous sign-on bonuses used to attract recruits.
The Kremlin has traditionally relied on financial incentives to attract volunteers and avoid another mobilization, but the practice “is likely hitting diminishing returns, which may compel the Kremlin to adopt an alternative approach,” according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank.
“Russia may begin to mobilize members of Russia’s active reserve on a rolling basis to sustain its combat operations in Ukraine,” according to ISW.
Yahoo News.
Krasnov back in full force
The discussion about delivery of American long range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine had sown doubts about President Donald Trump's role as a tool in the hands of Vladimir V. Putin. Would Trump dare to challenge Putin with the Tomahawks? Yesterday, confirmation came that Trump is still the old Krasnov; wax in the hands of Putin. No Tomahawks, Putin happy. Ukraine? Forget it...
Burkhard Fürst Donald TrumpIndem er die Ukraine und Russland aufforderte, die Feindseligkeiten einzustellen und ihre Grenze entlang der aktuellen Frontlinie einzufrieren, obwohl er entschlossen schien, eine Machtprobe mit Wladimir Putin zu beginnen, zeigte der US-Präsident erneut seine Unentschlossenheit.
With his latest comments Trump edged back in the direction of pressing Ukraine to give up on retaking land it has lost to Russia. He urged both sides to “stop the war immediately” and implied that Moscow keep territory it’s taken from Kyiv.
APIn fact, the meeting between Trump and Zelensky ended with another setback for Ukraine: no Tomahawks, no commitments from the US. Instead, the White House made new demands on Kiev. Trump is said to have repeated Putin's demands
“It was pretty nasty,” said one of the insiders. Trump's message to Zelensky, in view of the continuing Russian bombardments, was: “Your country will freeze to death and your country will be destroyed if Ukraine does not sign an agreement with Russia.”
Don't Americans realize what is going on? Krasnov remaining obedient disciple of Vladimir V. Putin.
--ed
Ukraine cannot win its war with Russia and should negotiate peace terms with the Kremlin, according to Britain’s most senior army officer. Field Marshal Lord Richards said Kyiv will not be able to drive Vladimir Putin’s soldiers out of Ukraine without the help of Nato forces – who won’t get involved on the ground. Lord Richards, who was promoted to the UK military’s most senior “five-star” rank earlier this year and led Nato forces during their troop surge in Afghanistan, said Ukraine’s allies have failed Kyiv. “What we have done in the case of Ukraine is encourage Ukraine to fight, but not given them the means to win,” the former chief of the defence staff told The Independent’s podcast World of Trouble.
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It looked, for a moment, as if Donald Trump had finally taken a clear side in the war between Russia and Ukraine: with hints that he might be ready to provide Tomahawk missiles, and a vaunted White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, some observers thought he was on the brink of rowing in behind Ukraine in a decisive way.
Then he got on the phone with Vladimir Putin, and agreed to a face-to-face meeting within the next two weeks. And, after the White House meeting on Friday, Trump downplayed the idea that the missiles would be provided. Later reports suggested that the meeting was a “shouting match” in which Trump echoed Russian talking points and added: “If [Putin] wants it, he will destroy you.”
The Guardian
Werden China &Russland Taiwan & Nato gleichzeitig angreifen?
Im Interview mit dem britischen Magazin „The Economist“ weist Rutte auf das wachsende chinesische Militär und die bestehende Unterstützung Russlands durch chinesische Bauteile für Waffen hin. „Wenn China eines Tages Taiwan angreifen will, ist es meine absolute Überzeugung, dass das kein Krieg mit nur einer Front wird“, sagt Rutte China werde „wahrscheinlich vorher den Juniorpartner, den berühmten Papiertiger in Moskau anrufen, und ihn bitten, irgendwo in Nato-Gebiet hier in Europa anzugreifen“, sagt Rutte weiter. Die Nato müsse darauf vorbereitet sein und die europäisch-atlantischen sowie indopazifischen Räume darum beide im Blick behalten, anstatt getrennt voneinander zu betrachten.
Tagesspiegel
Frontline report
Russia blew up an ammonia pipeline to poison Ukrainian defenders. Russian commanders hoped the toxic cloud would clear a path for a massive assault column to reach trapped soldiers near Pokrovsk.
The Russians deployed six tanks, over 40 armored vehicles, and hundreds of troops. Instead, Ukrainian drone operators turned the advance into a massacre, destroying over 60 vehicles and killing more than 100 troops in a matter of hours.
By nightfall, the road to Volodymyrivka had become another "road of death" littered with burning wrecks, and the trapped Russian forces remained cut off.
EuroMaidan press
Fleeing America
Mark Bray, an American historian threatened with death for his work on anti-fascism, goes into exile in Europe
The Rutgers University professor moved urgently to Spain with his family after being targeted by far-right circles, including the organization Turning Point USA, co-founded by ultra-conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, who was murdered on September 10.
Madagascar: a feud among the Merina or the specter of civil war?
There will be a civil war between the Coastal people and the Merina. Well, well! Does that mean that the Malagasy have enough “courage” (?) to launch themselves into a stupid civil war? But not enough balls to get rid of their current oppressors themselves? That's a high opinion of the specific characteristics of the Malagasy!
The Merina believe themselves to be “more educated and want to show their superiority.” This is a risky generalization that is common among the pseudo-intellectuals (I prefer the term “shock intellectuals”) of Madagascar. Whether in the bush of Anivontany or in the remote corners of Anindrantany, the brave inhabitants couldn't care less about this kind of stupid credo.
Saint-Jo (8511).Madagascar: “France exfiltrated President Rajoelina because he is French” Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina was reportedly flown out of the country by French military aircraft on Sunday, October 12, according to RFI. According to Wilfrid Bertile, former secretary-general of the Indian Ocean Commission, this French intervention comes as no surprise.
Liberation.
“I’ve never smoked or used drugs, so I don’t know what chemical addiction feels like, but I feel like I’m addicted to TikTok,” said Freilich, whose daily watch time on the app increased by more than 50 percent last year. “There are times when I know I should stop scrolling and get work done or go to sleep, but it’s so hard to stop, knowing the next swipe might bring me to a truly interesting video.”
That’s how TikTok draws people in, with an algorithm that serves up an endless stream of hyper-personalized content to users such as Freilich.
But TikTok is massive, fragmented and opaque: Millions of Americans — a third of U.S. adults — are pulled into a nearly infinite variety of niche corners by a recommendation system that we don’t know much about.
Washington Post
Trump administration hides report on toxic forever chemical
Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency completed a report on the toxicity of a “forever chemical” called PFNA, which is in the drinking water systems serving some 26 million people. The assessment found that PFNA interferes with human development by causing lower birth weights and, based on animal evidence, likely causes damage to the liver and to male reproductive systems, including reductions in testosterone levels, sperm production and the size of reproductive organs.The final report was ready in mid-April, according to an internal document reviewed by ProPublica, but the Trump administration has yet to release it.
ProPublicaPFAS INVESTIGATION: From land to beets, sugar giant Cristal Union caught in the cycle of eternal pollution. From beet fields to factories, PFAS have found their way into Cristal Union's production chain and are affecting products intended for animal consumption. This contamination could be linked to the use of pesticides.
FRANCEINFO;Als Konsequenz aus den Untersuchungsergebnissen fordert Greenpeace ein umfassendes PFAS-Verbot. "Die deutschen Behörden müssen Speisefische, Muscheln und Krabben viel stärker als bisher auf PFAS untersuchen", sagte Julios Kontchou, Ökotoxikologe bei Greenpeace. Einige der Stoffe könnten sich im Körper anreichern, wodurch die gesundheitliche Belastung mit der Zeit steige. Auch das Umweltbundesamt bestätigte auf SWR-Anfrage, in eigenen Untersuchungen PFAS-Belastungen in Fischen nachgewiesen zu haben - teils über den Grenzwerten.
NDR.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine -- a wake-up call for Taiwan
It was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that served as the wake-up call for Taiwan. The war made clear that peace cannot be secured through appeasement. It also showed how quickly coercion can escalate into full-scale assault and how the survival of a small democracy up against a powerful authoritarian adversary depends on preparations made long before the first shot is fired. Kyiv’s resistance against overwhelming odds was a clear lesson for Taipei, which is why, three years ago, then President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration quietly initiated preparations across government agencies to integrate civil defense planning into daily life, fortify critical infrastructure, and foster a society prepared mentally and materially for any contingency. . Germany is facing another reckoning. The economic situation is judged to be so bad that the long German retirement is under threat. James Rothwell reports that the archetypical hard-working Teutonic worker is no more, and that the country’s authorities are having to consider plans to raise the retirement age from 65 to 73. It’s a hard fall for a country whose economy was once considered the envy of Europe.Viktor Orban has closed the door on the euro: there is no reason for Hungary to adopt it given that the European Union is disintegrating. This was reported by the Hirklikk portal.
“The EU is currently in a state of disintegration. It is falling apart,” Orban said, adding that “Hungary should not tie its fate even more closely to the EU. Introducing the euro would be the closest possible link.” Therefore, he assured, “joining the eurozone will not be on my agenda.”
Forint, Fillér, Pengő....
Noch ein Fenstersturz...
Vyacheslav Leontyev, ein früherer Redakteur der sowjetischen Zeitung Prawda, ist nach einem Sturz aus 22 Metern Höhe aus seiner Moskauer Wohnung ums Leben gekommen, wie Vox News berichtet. Die Prawda war einst das offizielle Sprachrohr der Kommunistischen Partei und eine der einflussreichsten Zeitungen der Sowjetunion. Der 87-jährige Leontyev soll viel über das erstaunliche geheime Vermögen der russischen Elite gewusst haben. Die Polizei untersucht nun, ob sein Sturz ein Unfall, Selbstmord oder etwas anderes war. Er reiht sich ein in eine lange Liste russischer Eliten, die unter mysteriösen Umständen ums Leben gekommen sind, meist durch einen Sturz aus großer Höhe. Der im Exil lebende Journalist Andrey Malgin bezeichnete es als einen weiteren seltsamen Tod und schrieb: „Die Fensterstürze gehen weiter... Leontjew stürzte aus einem Fenster... Er wurde in der Nähe seines Wohnhauses gefunden.” Malgin, der Leontjew kannte, fügte hinzu: „Er machte den Eindruck einer Art Untergrund-Millionär ... Er wusste viel über das ‚Geld der Partei‘ – der Pravda-Verlag war das profitabelste Unternehmen im Geschäftsimperium des Zentralkomitees der KPdSU.
Michael Bociurkiw
The future becomes the present: daunting armies of unmanned robotic tanks
“Modern armor is becoming increasingly problematic. Tanks are not useless, but placing humans [on board] limits their capabilities, their duration of action, and their use on the battlefield,” Louis Saillans wrote.
Remote operations and autonomous navigation tactics are already technically feasible. The main obstacle is not technology but institutional inertia. Removing the crew means less armor, less weight, lower costs, and much more open deployment options. A $24,000 robot equipped with guided munitions does not need to survive. A $12 million tank with a crew of three does. This completely changes doctrine and design. Tanks are not obsolete. But manned tanks could be.
Zone Militaire.
This Easy Diet Could Help
- Dementia is on the rise in the U.S., igniting urgency in brain health research.
- People with a genetic tendency for dementia who follow the Mediterranean diet may lower their dementia risk.
- Eat more plants, olive oil and seafood for brain health and dementia prevention..
EatingWell
Chinese money in Elon Musk’s SpaceX ?
Chinese investment in the company has been disclosed, raising new questions about foreign ownership interests in one of America’s most important military contractors.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has taken money directly from Chinese investors, according to previously sealed testimony, raising new questions about foreign ownership interests in one of the United States’ most important military contractors.The recent testimony, coming from a SpaceX insider during a court case, marks the first time direct Chinese investment in the privately held company has been disclosed. While there is no prohibition on Chinese ownership in U.S. military contractors, such investment is heavily regulated and the issue is treated by the U.S. government as a significant national security concern.
ProPublica
Luigi Mangione
Accused of shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in New York in December 2024, the young man from a good family became a hero. By targeting the representative of a much-maligned health insurance system, he has sparked a wave of fervent support from both the left and pro-Trump supporters. But “Luigimania” above all embodies the rise of political violence, recently illustrated by the assassination of ultra-conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Le Monde.
Poverty in the United States
Surprise, surprise: the highest poverty index to be found in the Nation's capital, Washington D.C.
Visual Capitalist
China Provided Russia With Satellite Data
Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has obtained evidence that China supplied Russia with satellite intelligence used to target missile strikes on Ukraine, including sites tied to foreign investors, an official told the state-run news agency Ukrinform, according to a report released Saturday.
Oleh Aleksandrov, a representative of the agency, told Ukrinform there is proof of “a high level of cooperation between Russia and China in conducting satellite reconnaissance of Ukraine’s territory to identify and reconnoiter strategic targets for destruction.”
He added that some of the targets identified with Chinese data in recent months were facilities owned by foreign investors
KYIV POST
Russia escalating
Europe needs to “get serious” about the existential threat posed to it by Russia, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister has said, warning that Vladimir Putin will “escalate escalating”. In an interview with the Guardian, Sergiy Kyslytsya – Kyiv’s former ambassador to the UN – said the Kremlin was already at war with Europe. He said Russia’s recent drone incursions against several EU countries were well-calculated and an attempt to “move the red lines”.
In recent weeks Russia has sent decoy drones across the border into Poland and dispatched fighter jets that violated Estonia’s airspace. Incidents involving drones that restricted flights at Munich and Copenhagen airports have raised fears of Russian involvement. Kyslytsya claimed Russia had infiltrated EU countries with “agents and moles” he said were responsible for drone flights over airports in Denmark and Germany, as well as in allied military bases. He described them as konservy – literally tin cans in Ukrainian – who could be activated or “opened” by Moscow when needed.
The Guardian.President Donald Trump hasn't made a public appearance since his rambling and authoritarian speech to top military leaders, and people are noticing.
The president told high-ranking military leaders to prepare to deploy in American cities for "a war from within," saying he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use "dangerous cities as training grounds," but he disappeared from view for the rest of the week.
"Donald Trump is in the presidential witness protection program," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joked at MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "No one can find him."
"Trump has not been seen in public since Tuesday and has no public events on his calendar today," noted journalist Aaron Rupar.
Many observers noticed that Trump's energy seemed low the last time he was in public and expressed confusion about his extended riff on taking care not to fall down stairs during the military speech.
IrontortoiseUpdateThe only events on his public schedule were a dinner with JD Vance and a military inspection. On Saturday, he played golf. On Sunday, he visited the USS George Bush to watch America’s woke Navy show that even with women and LGBTQ in the ranks, they can still kick ass.
A common thread among these brief appearances is his shambling gait and careful steps. He can stand, shake hands, clap people on the back, smile, and shmooze. However, the spark is gone, as is his lateral movement.
He no longer conducts telephone interviews. When was the last time he called into Fox News? Over the weekend, he fueled speculation that he’s in a tailspin when he did an interview with Jake Tapper by text. Bizarre.
TheCriticalMind. Update IIKaroline Leavitt's panicked two-word yell as medical emergency unfolds in Oval Office
President Donald Trump was forced to cut short a White House media briefing today, as the President's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told the press to evacuate the room after a medical emergency
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had to abruptly conclude a White House press conference on Friday, as President Donald Trump was compelled to shorten his speech.
The briefing was underway while President Donald Trump was inaugurating TV personality, Dr. Memhet Oz, who is slated to serve as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) during Trump's second term.
As the press conference was nearing its end, it was suddenly interrupted, with the screen turning black. "Press OUT," Leavitt yelled at the reporters and media in the Oval office, demanding them to leave the room.