cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/5952260

Archived version

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This is not rhetoric; it is the logic of deterrence. Discussing the use of Russian assets is not an ideological crusade. It is a rational choice and a matter of preventive security.

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Some will point to corruption in Ukraine, a criticism revived by the recent revelations in the energy sector. Yet this scandal shows the opposite of what critics claim.

It was uncovered by Ukraine’s own oversight bodies. Investigations began immediately. And Ukraine’s civil society, one of the strongest in Europe, continues to scrutinise every euro, every contract, every decision.

A sick democracy hides its scandals. A functioning democracy exposes them and acts on them. Ukrainians are defending European values not only on the battlefield, but also through watchdog institutions, investigative bodies and rigorous public accountability.

This is exactly why funds directed to Ukraine today have a genuine chance of being monitored, audited and used properly.

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The option now being discussed in Brussels and across the EU is not a “donation” to Ukraine. It is a European reparation loan mechanism supported by the immobilised Russian assets.

Under this approach, Ukraine receives the funds it needs today. Repayment would take place once Russia pays the reparations it is legally obliged to provide. And until that happens, the interest generated by the frozen assets would cover the costs.

This fully aligns with international law: the aggressor pays, the victim survives.

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Archived version

...

This is not rhetoric; it is the logic of deterrence. Discussing the use of Russian assets is not an ideological crusade. It is a rational choice and a matter of preventive security.

...

Some will point to corruption in Ukraine, a criticism revived by the recent revelations in the energy sector. Yet this scandal shows the opposite of what critics claim.

It was uncovered by Ukraine’s own oversight bodies. Investigations began immediately. And Ukraine’s civil society, one of the strongest in Europe, continues to scrutinise every euro, every contract, every decision.

A sick democracy hides its scandals. A functioning democracy exposes them and acts on them. Ukrainians are defending European values not only on the battlefield, but also through watchdog institutions, investigative bodies and rigorous public accountability.

This is exactly why funds directed to Ukraine today have a genuine chance of being monitored, audited and used properly.

...

The option now being discussed in Brussels and across the EU is not a “donation” to Ukraine. It is a European reparation loan mechanism supported by the immobilised Russian assets.

Under this approach, Ukraine receives the funds it needs today. Repayment would take place once Russia pays the reparations it is legally obliged to provide. And until that happens, the interest generated by the frozen assets would cover the costs.

This fully aligns with international law: the aggressor pays, the victim survives.

...

No I don't understand how this works either

Web archived link

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Recruitment is disguised as ordinary job ads. Such content often mentions illegal earnings and criminal “services,” but listings with sabotage tasks were found only in chats administered by Bomba Poland Media. Vacancies can be posted there through a paid bot, and new “job ads” frequently appear seeking candidates who are ready to set fire to railroad relay cabinets, military enlistment offices, courthouses, and police stations, among other targets.

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Recruiters provide detailed instructions on how to prepare a flammable mixture, which vehicles to target, how to film the arson, what details to show on camera, and how to conduct “reconnaissance” of the target. Some offer “coordination” schemes in which one person receives a percentage for bringing in perpetrators.

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From exile in Moscow, ex-intel chief Kamal Hassan and Assad cousin Rami Makhlouf are spending millions of dollars in competing efforts to build fighting forces that would lead a revolt along Syria’s coast. They are also vying for control of a network of 14 underground command rooms stocked with arms and ammunition that were built in the dictatorship’s last days. Syria's government has deployed another former Assad insider – a childhood friend of the new president – to neutralize the plotters.

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DAMASCUS - Former loyalists to Bashar al-Assad who fled Syria after the dictator’s fall are funneling millions of dollars to tens of thousands of potential fighters, hoping to stir uprisings against the new government and reclaim some of their lost influence, a Reuters investigation has found.

Assad, who escaped to Russia last December, is largely resigned to exile in Moscow, say four people close to the family. But other senior figures from his inner circle, including his brother, have not come to terms with losing power.

Two of the men once closest to Assad, Maj. Gen. Kamal Hassan and billionaire Rami Makhlouf, are competing to form militias in coastal Syria and Lebanon made up of members of their minority Alawite sect, long associated with the Assad family, Reuters found. All told, the two men and other factions jostling for power are financing more than 50,000 fighters in hope of winning their loyalty.

[...]

To counter the plotters, Syria’s new government is deploying another former Assad loyalist – a childhood friend of new President Ahmed al-Sharaa who became a paramilitary leader for Assad and then switched sides mid-war after the dictator turned against him. The task of that man, Khaled al-Ahmad, is to persuade Alawite ex-soldiers and civilians that their future lies with the new Syria.

Web archive link

“The government is preparing to declare an emergency situation due to the threat to civil protection,” Ignas Algirdas Dobrovolskas told BNS.

Under Lithuania’s crisis management law, the government may declare a state-level emergency when an incident meets established criteria in at least two municipalities, or when a municipal emergency lasts more than a year or requires resources from other municipalities. Such a regime can be applied nationwide or in specific regions.

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Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič said Wednesday that an emergency declaration was among the measures under consideration and that he planned to raise the issue with the National Crisis Management Centre.

New prepaid virtual network provider which doesn't know anything about you except your zip code. This proves other telecoms could do it too. Founder is famous for fighting court orders: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Merrill

EFF had some vague support to give

Cheapest plans currently start at 25/mo. So much more than minimalistic providers, but not outrageous.

Five drones were detected Thursday night over the submarine base of Île Longue, in Brittany, western France, a strategic military site home to ballistic missile submarines, the AFP reported, citing the the French gendarmerie, which is part of the military. The submarines harbored at the base carry nuclear weapons and are a key part of France's nuclear deterrent.

French navy troops in charge of protecting the base opened fire, the report said. It was unclear whether the drones were shot down.

https://archive.is/1jBoL

Many Filipinos say floods are worse than ever — and now, the government has admitted that vast sums were embezzled from a program meant to fight the problem.

Today, the Commission has issued a fine of €120 million to X for breaching its transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The breaches include the deceptive design of its ‘blue checkmark', the lack of transparency of its advertising repository, and the failure to provide access to public data for researchers.

After a years-long battle, the European Commission’s “Chat Control” plan, which would mandate mass scanning and other encryption-breaking measures, at last codifies agreement on a position within the Council of the EU, representing EU States. The good news is that the most controversial part, the forced requirement to scan encrypted messages, is out. The bad news is there’s more to it than that.

Chat Control has gone through several iterations since it was first introduced, with the EU Parliament backing a position that protects fundamental rights, while the Council of the EU spent many months pursuing an intrusive law-enforcement-focused approach. Many proposals earlier this year required the scanning and detection of illicit content on all services, including private messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. This requirement would fundamentally break end-to-end encryption.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of digital rights groups, including European Digital Rights (EDRi), we won a significant improvement: the Council agreed on its position, which removed the requirement that forces providers to scan messages on their services. It also comes with strong language to protect encryption, which is good news for users.

Continue reading here - https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/12/after-years-controversy-eus-chat-control-nears-its-final-hurdle-what-know

India's government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to force smartphone firms to enable satellite location tracking that is always activated for better surveillance

Hello people I just got my hands on an old PC, and I took it as a sign to finally start my on server. Right now, I'd mostly be looking into running jellyfin since I'm working on a digital music library. On the technical side, I run Mint on my laptop, so I have basic familiarity with Linux. Are there any guides you recommend that will take me through installation of OS to a functional server? Thank you!

Three teenagers were killed when their car skidded off the road in southern France, went through a wall and crashed upside down in a private pool, trapping them inside.

The vehicle was a similar size to the pool and the teenagers - aged 14, 15 and 19 - were unable to open the doors and drowned.