A procurement plan obtained by POLITICO shows Berlin’s rearmament spree will overwhelmingly benefit European industry.

Germany's new military procurement plan, obtained by POLITICO, shows that Berlin will steer its massive rearmament drive primarily to European industry, with only 8 percent going for American weapons.

That's a blow for Donald Trump, who has been putting pressure on European countries to continue buying U.S. arms despite the geopolitical turmoil emanating from the White House.

The procurement plan shows Germany preparing to push through nearly €83 billion in contracts over the next year. The list, drawn up for the German parliament’s budget committee, details 154 major defense purchases between September 2025 and December 2026.

Cross posted from https://programming.dev/post/37923169

Publication about the monopoly of GitHub and the fact developers should move elsewhere if they care about their freeedom and the freedom of FLOSS projects

Pro-Palestine student activists across the country have struggled to get their universities to respond to pressure for divestment from Israel and its military–industrial complex. So when a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology withdrew from a grant from the Israeli military after hearing feedback from students protesting the ongoing genocide in Gaza, it was especially welcome news.

“This is one of the only cases where we know that student activism and public pressure led directly to an Israeli tie being cut, let alone a collaboration with its genocidal military,” said Mila Halgren, a postdoctoral associate at MIT. (The university did not respond to a request for comment.)

MIT has come under internal and public scrutiny for conducting research on warfare technology sponsored by Israel. In July, the United Nations condemned the school for conducting “weapons and surveillance research funded by the Israeli ministry of defense — the only foreign military financing research at the institute.”

That research included projects on drone swarm control — technology which the Israeli military has used during its siege on Gaza — pursuit algorithms, and underwater surveillance.

The theory for this is i like good things and everyone else likes bad things.

An Irish airline illegally transported munitions to Israel – despite just months before taking part in a Microsoft Teams call with Department of Transport officials after reports of its munitions flights to Israel.

After The Ditch reported that ASL had transported munitions to Israel – on a flight requiring authorisation from the transport minister – the Department of Transport contacted the airline.

The department and the airline had a Microsoft Teams call.

The airline soon after carried out another illegal weapons flight to Israel.

Continue reading here - https://www.ontheditch.com/department-of-transport-holds-teams-call/

Archived link

• Serbia and Hungary are collaborating with Russia on energy infrastructure, including an extension of the Druzhba pipeline, which undermines EU efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
• Ukrainian drone attacks on the Druzhba pipeline have disrupted oil shipments and highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying on this infrastructure, leading to a strong reaction from Hungary.
• Serbia's actions pose a dual challenge for the EU by maintaining Russian energy dependence and potentially anchoring Chinese influence, complicating its EU accession negotiations on green agenda and sustainable connectivity.

...

EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen unveiled an ambitious plan in June to stop all Russian oil and natural gas exports to the European Union by 2027. A little over one month later, Hungary and Serbia announced a joint effort to build additional infrastructure that would enable Russian oil exports to reach Serbia via an extension of the Druzhba pipeline. Once built, the pipeline will be able to convey upwards of 5 million tons of oil annually to Serbia. The target completion date is 2027.

A recent analysis published by the Western Balkans Center at New Lines Institute explains how Serbia’s actions are “revealing broader inefficiencies in the EU’s strategy to mitigate external energy influences.”

The analysis states Serbia is pursuing a “deliberate strategy of maneuvering between Russia and China to maximize autonomy while extracting concessions from Brussels. The result is a dual challenge for the EU – Serbia’s continuation of Russian energy dependence that undermines sanctions unity, and resource politics that could anchor Chinese influence at the heart of the Union’s green transition.”

...

“Serbian geopolitical maneuvering involving Russia is dangerous to European geopolitical stability and prosperity,” the analysis states. “Russia has historically capitalized on destabilization and conflict in the Western Balkans. This further diverts the region from EU democratic norms and allows Russia to extend its influence in Europe, despite EU sanctions.”

Governments can veto decisions on foreign affairs, enlargement and budget. But this also makes enacting sanctions against countries like Russia or Israel harder to approve.

"Mr Liquorland" hasn't seen people show up on bicycles?

Earlier Chris Hart, of Leith Liquorland, said he wasn’t opposed to cycleways, just poor planning and consultation which undermined businesses. ... Most customers arrived on foot, or in a vehicle, and “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bike turn up yet”.

having a petit mort

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/36309889

I recently had a discussion with a friend on Bluesky who knows more about the inner workings of the platform, and it pretty much solidified what I already thought was going on behind the scenes with ATproto, which seems to be a lot more complex than the system behind AP, however it did seem to improve on it to an extent simply by splitting up different parts of the "social media pipeline". I was curious what people here think of it

Ps: I really don't mean to proselytize about one or the other!! I think it's good that both exist. Although it does raise me the question of wether protocol diversification is good...

Jesus cant find his keys!!!!!!

Do you consider those YouTubers to be right-leaning or conservative-leaning?:

• Chibi Reviews
• Asmongold
• Vara Dark

And as a bonus, do you have in mind any left-leaning YouTubers covering similar topics?

SponsorBlock, Timestamps, and Generated Summary below:

SponsorBlock Timestamp:

1. 0:00.000 - 0:10.022 Intermission
2. 45:40.000 - 45:59.850 Endcards/Credits

Video Description:

Timestamps:

1. (0:00) Intro
2. (2:16) The Silent Feud Between Israel and Kirk
3. (12:52) Netanyahu and Kirk
4. (19:54) Netanyahu’s courting of alt media
5. (23:19) The coming crackdown
6. (30:57) Years of Lead
7. (35:38) Rittenhouse
8. (39:30) McCarthyism
9. (45:22) Outro

Generated Summary:

Israel, Charlie Kirk, and the Weaponization of Murder: A Discussion with Max Blumenthal

This video features Chris Hedges interviewing Max Blumenthal about the assassination of Charlie Kirk and its implications for the United States, focusing on Kirk's relationship with the Zionist lobby and the potential weaponization of his murder.

Key Points:

• Charlie Kirk's evolving stance on Israel: Initially supported by the Israel lobby, Kirk later faced pressure from his grassroots base due to Israel's actions in Gaza. This led to Kirk inviting figures like Tucker Carlson, who criticized Israeli influence, to his events.
• Netanyahu's alleged attempts to influence Kirk: Blumenthal reports that Netanyahu personally offered to re-fund Kirk's organization with a massive infusion of Zionist money, which Kirk refused. This refusal reportedly left Kirk feeling frightened.
• Netanyahu's courting of alt-media: Netanyahu has been increasingly engaging with alternative media outlets, particularly right-wing podcasters, to bypass mainstream media and directly influence American public opinion.
• Weaponization of Kirk's murder: The Zionist lobby is allegedly using Kirk's assassination to target critics of Israel and the left in general, pushing for measures like revoking passports of those accused of supporting terrorism.
• The Red-Green Alliance: Netanyahu views the "marriage of radical leftism and Islam" as a significant threat in the U.S., using this narrative to justify crackdowns on dissent.
• Agenda of Mass Repression: Blumenthal argues that Kirk's death is being exploited to push an agenda of mass repression, criminalizing anti-Israel activity and expanding the powers of secret police.
• The influence of Zionist figures in US Politics: Blumenthal highlights the influence of Zionist figures like Stephen Miller in shaping US policy and the pressure exerted on politicians to align with Israeli interests.
• The chilling effect on free speech: Blumenthal describes a "dystopian scenario" where individuals are being doxxed and losing their jobs for expressing critical views of Israel or minimizing Kirk's death.
• Netanyahu's overcompensation: Netanyahu's repeated declarations of Charlie Kirk being a true friend of Israel felt like overcompensation and fear of the truth getting out.
• Listening Devices: Allegedly, listening devices were planted by Israeli agents on Secret Service emergency response vehicles during one of Netanyahu's visits to the US.

About Channel:

Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, author and commentator provides compelling story telling, archive interviews & show content covering US foreign policy, economic realities and civil liberties in American society.

Background:

The parameters of acceptable journalist inquiry has dramatically narrowed over the nearly four decades I have been a reporter and author. Newspapers, where I began my career, have atrophied or died. The electronic media is in the hands of a half dozen corporations that impose a uniformity of opinion and ban the views of us who decry the crimes of empire, the permanent war economy, the apartheid state of Israel, our money saturated political process and social inequality. Whistleblowers, the life blood of investigative journalism, have been virtually silenced through a combination of wholesale government surveillance—the reason Edward Snowden immediately left the country after revealing that we were all being watched, tracked and monitored by the government—and the misuse of the Espionage Act to prosecute those who reveal government malfeasance and crimes. Julian Assange, who never committed a crime, is on the verge of being extradited to the United States and spending the rest of his life in prison, setting a dangerous legal precedent that criminalizes anyone who possesses or publishes government secrets, as other investigative reporters and I did at The New York Times. Algorithms imposed by digital media platforms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter, shadow ban critics or, as in the case of the New York Post, which was locked out of its own account so it could not disseminate the contents found on Hunter Biden’s laptop, censor them. America’s premier investigative journalist, Sy Hersh, who exposed the war crimes at My Lai and Abu Ghraib, has difficulty publishing in the United States.

My television show on TeleSur, which was later broadcast on RT America, went off the air when these two media outlets where shut down. The staff of Truthdig and I were fired by the wealthy publisher when we went on strike to protest her attempt to fire the legendary Editor-in-Chief Bob Scheer and demand a union. Bob, who had been a columnist for The Los Angeles Times, had been fired from the paper for opposing the Iraq war, similar to my own experience at The New York Times.

Substack is the last best hope for me to retain my independence and do the journalism and writing I find meaningful and impactful. The great investigative journalism, I.F. Stone, a victim of the McCarthyite witch hunts of the 1960s, unable to get a job even at The Nation magazine, founded I.F. Stone’s Weekly, which he printed in his basement. This Substack is an updated version of his weekly, begun for the same reasons and determined to replicate Stone’s fierce honesty and independence.

Corporations will not fund us. The model of relying on the wealthy does not work. The commercial press, along with National Public Radio and PBS, also heavily dependent on corporate funds, has been largely neutered.^[[1] https://chrishedges.substack.com/about]

Edit:

1. Added missing SponserBlock Timestamps; added source to About Channel section
2. Fixed about channel section naming

Archived

Russia has asked the UN’s aviation body to ease sanctions on spare parts and overflights that were imposed over the invasion of Ukraine

[...]

In a working paper [...] Russia argued to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that the sanctions go against global rules.

[...]

SponsorBlock, Timestamps, and Generated Summary below:

SponsorBlock Timestamp:

1. 0:00.000 - 0:44.200 Preview/Recap
2. 6:43.600 Highlight
3. 11:08.500 - 11:16.556 Unpaid/Self Promotion

Video Description:

It has recently been revealed that Susie Wiles, a top Trump adviser, previously worked on Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2020 re-election campaign, a fact that raises alarm about foreign influence over U.S. politics. The segment also highlights the unprecedented trip of 250 U.S. state legislators to Israel, framed as an effort to block pro-BDS legislation and strengthen pro-Israel policy positions at the state level.

Guest host James Li and Jimmy point out the hypocrisy of American leaders planting trees in Israel while the country has destroyed over a million Palestinian olive trees, underscoring the disconnect between U.S. foreign aid priorities and domestic crises. They conclude that bipartisan political capture by foreign interests is eroding U.S. democracy, leaving voters frustrated and distrustful.

James Li on Twitter: / 5149jamesli

James Li on YouTube: / @5149jamesli

Generated Summary:

U.S. Legislators' Israel Trip & Foreign Influence Concerns

This video discusses concerns about foreign influence in U.S. politics, highlighting a trip by 250 U.S. state legislators to Israel and the prior work of a Trump advisor for Benjamin Netanyahu. It argues that such actions erode U.S. democracy and prioritize foreign interests over domestic needs.

Key Points:

• Susie Wiles's Connection to Netanyahu: Susie Wiles, a top Trump advisor, previously worked on Benjamin Netanyahu's 2020 re-election campaign, raising concerns about foreign influence.
• Legislator Trip to Israel: 250 U.S. state legislators traveled to Israel in what is described as the largest ever such delegation. The trip's stated aim is to counter pro-BDS legislation and strengthen pro-Israel policies at the state level.
• Hypocrisy of Tree Planting: The hosts criticize the hypocrisy of American leaders planting trees in Israel while Israel has destroyed over a million Palestinian olive trees.
• BDS Movement: The video mentions efforts to block anti-Israel bills, such as those supporting the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, and promote initiatives combating anti-Semitism and strengthening U.S.-Israel ties.
• Mike Johnson's Meeting with AIPAC: House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly pledged to screen out isolationist GOP candidates during a private meeting with AIPAC and Jewish leaders.
• American Dissatisfaction: The speakers suggest that Americans are becoming increasingly aware and dissatisfied with the government's ties to foreign countries, especially as domestic issues are neglected.
• Erosion of Democracy: The main concern is that bipartisan political capture by foreign interests is eroding U.S. democracy, leading to voter frustration and distrust.

About Channel:

"I don't 3 Democrats cuz I side with Republicans, I criticize Democrats Cuz THEY side with Republicans.

Our fight is not Left/Right anymore, it is Us vs.Them.

We have 2 corporate party's that serve Wall St/War Machine/Corporations & crush everyone else. #UniParty @0rf"^[[1] https://twitter.com/jimmy_dore/status/1559374176904814594]

#TheJimmyDoreShow is a hilarious and irreverent take on news, politics and culture featuring Jimmy Dore, a professional stand up comedian, author and podcaster. The show is also broadcast on Pacifica Radio Network stations throughout the country.

“Jimmy Dore is outrageous and outraged, bothersome and bothered. A crucial, profane, passionate voice for progressives and free-thinkers in 21st century America. Jimmy will anger you if you’re a conservative and enrage you if you’re a liberal.”—Patton Oswalt