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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he will personally engage in returning Georgia's former president Mikheil Saakashvili back to Ukraine from a prison in Georgia as he holds a Ukrainian passport.

Saakashvili was arrested in Georgia after the opposition politician returned to the country despite facing imprisonment and called for post-election street protests this weekend.

Saakashvili Applies for Family Reunification (EU) | Jan. 5, 2018 | [Dutch FM Halbe Zijlstra]

Gaining Ukrainian citizenship in a day ...

Ukraine: Former President of Georgia Appointed Governor of Odessa Region | OCCRP -  03 June 2015 |

Losing Ukrainian citizenship in a day ...

Ex-Georgian president Saakashvili arrested in Ukraine | Dec. 9, 2017 |

Saakashvili deported from Ukraine | Feb. 12, 2018 |

Polish border officials confirm they let him into the country.

Supporters of Saakashvili posted videos of what they said was his detention in Kiev, showing men dressed in camouflage storming a restaurant.

A message posted on Saakashvili's official Facebook page described the deportation as a "kidnapping" and an attempt "to get rid of a political opponent."

Biden's Ukrainian Oligarchs and Corruption | by Oui @BooMan on Aug 6, 2017 |

'Sapere aude'

Ukrinform | Georgia explains why it did not vote for Ukrainian resolution in PACE, 29 Apr

[...]
The delegation, which flew to Strasbourg on April 24, included the chairman of the ruling party of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, Deputy Speaker Archil Talakvadze, MPs from the parliamentary majority Irakli Chikovani, Khatia Tsilosani, Givi Mikanadze, and Eka Sepashvili.

The Georgian Dream party stated that they had purchased return tickets in advance, and therefore could not attend the vote.
[...]
At the same time, Beka Davituliani, a deputy of the ruling Georgian Dream party, did not rule out that "the resolution contained something else that they do not support."

"For example, one of the previous resolutions was not only about supporting Ukraine, but also about releasing Saakashvili. Then our delegation said it would support the resolution if this clause was removed. But it was not removed, and we could not support the resolution," he said.
[...]

archived Russia's forced transfer of Ukraine children 'genocide'

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 8, 2023

At the invitation of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will pay a visit to Germany, France, and Norway from May 8 to 12.
[...]

Ukraine looms over Chinese foreign minister's European visit, 8 May
China disinvites [?] German minister last-minute, 9 May

70 billion euros will be invested in our defense over the next three years - Borrell

"I prefer butter to guns, but sometimes if there are no guns, there is no butter"

Only problem Borrell won't be going without " butter" , normal people will. pic.twitter.com/cI80KnM465

— Dagny Taggart (@DagnyTaggart963) May 11, 2023

2019
DW | Interior Minister dismisses 2036 German Olympic bid

..."We would unleash an unspeakable international discussion and would thereby damage the Olympic idea," Seehofer said. "How would that be seen in the world? The Germans celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nazi Olympics? That cannot be."...

2021
gamesbid | German officials tout joint 2036 Olympic bid from Berlin and Tel Aviv to soften anniversary

...In an op/ed published by Berliner Morgenpost Saturday, German Olympic Association president Richard Meng and German athletics official Frank Kowalski proposed that the joint Games on the 100th anniversary of the infamous Berlin 1936 Nazi-hosted Games would show "a strong signal of peace and reconciliation" between the capitals....

gulfnews | Germany considers joint bid with Israel for 2036 Olympics
2023
colisium | Mexico formal bid to host 2036 Summer Olympics
kayhan.ir | India Says 'Seriously' Considering Bid for 2036 Olympics
barrons AFP | Berlin Olympics In 2036 'Imaginable', Says German Sports Minister

German Sports Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said on Friday she could "imagine" hosting the 2036 Olympics in Berlin, 100 years since the 1936 Summer Olympics hosted by the Third Reich. Speaking with online news site 'The Pioneer', Faeser said it was "conceivable that you [sic] deal with it in a special way at the place where it happened, where exclusion and this terrible disregard for humanity took place."

"The 1936 games were terrible. The Nazis organised the games as a means of promoting themselves."

The Social Democrat said the country would have "to do a lot of work" to highlight the nature of the 1936 games while promoting human rights in Germany and across the globe. "If we demand these criteria (human rights), then I think we have to set a good example and allow a major sporting event in Germany since Munich 1972

archived World Cup 2026 joint ventures

Wapoo | Russia blames Ukraine for drone attack on Crimea fuel depot, 30 Apr

Ukraine hasn't claimed responsibility for the strike, which comes as Kyiv is preparing for a long-anticipated spring counteroffensive to retake territory seized by Moscow.

newsqueek | Crimea Oil Depot Blast Was Preparation for Full-Scale Offensive: Ukraine, 30 Apr

On Sunday, during a 24-hour national news broadcast. Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Armed Forces, confirmed that the strike on the oil depot was carried out by Ukrainian forces "in preparation for the broad, full-scale offensive that everyone expects."

wionnews | Ukraine defence ministry's tweet showing Hindu Goddess Kali sparks row in India, 30 Apr
archived Zelensk* wants to hold phone talks with Prime Minister of India

Ukrinform | Government launching ["]corporatization["] of Energoatom

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this at a government meeting, Ukrinform reports.

"With today's government decision, we are launching corporatization procedures. As a result, we will increase the efficiency of management, attract additional funds to implement new projects, and strengthen our energy independence," Shmyhal said.

Ukrinform | Russian sources complain of drone attacks on military airfield in Bryansk[, RU] region

...In particular, five drones, allegedly those of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, were involved in the attack. Two of them exploded within the area of the airfield, and two were reportedly shot down with small arms. The fifth drone is yet to be found....

Zelensk* says learned of U.S. intel leaks from media

That's according to his interview with The Washington Post, Ukrinform reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensk* has not had any conversations with the White House about a massive leak of top-secret U.S. intelligence documents, he said in a wide-ranging interview with The Washington Post on Monday, calling the disclosures damaging to both Washington and Kyiv. Zelensk* learned about the disclosures like everybody else -- in the news.

Zelensk* declined to confirm or deny the information in the leaks -- or even describe the disclosures as "sensitive" -- because that would acknowledge that the documents are real, he said.

"It is not sensitive," Zelensk* said. "If I answer you, that means it's sensitive, it means there are real documents. Please, stop playing games with me. I am the president of a country at war."
[...]

APsplainin Russia says it foiled an alleged drone attack on Kremlin

[...]
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti

Kyiv made an attempt to strike drones on the Kremlin
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti that Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time of the attack by Ukrainian drones, today he is working in his residence near Moscow in Novo-Ogaryovo.
Kiev says they have nothing to do with the attack on the Kremlin
Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of Vladimir Zelensky's office, claims that Kyiv has nothing to do with the drone attack on the Kremlin, Agence France-Presse reports.

that Putin wasn't in the Kremlin at the time and was working from the Novo-Ogaryovo residence. The Kremlin added that Putin was safe and his schedule was unchanged.

There were no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities. The Kremlin didn't present any evidence [?!] from the reported incident, and its statement included few details. Tass quoted the statement

The Kremlin regards the attack attempt by the Kyiv regime as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life of the President of the Russian Federation on the eve of Victory Day. "We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life of the President of the Russian Federation, carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 parade, at which the presence of foreign guests is also planned," the report says.

as saying that the Kremlin considered the development to be a deliberate attempt on Putin's life ahead of the Victory Day that Russia celebrates on May 9.
[...]

At the moment, RT commenters speculate that such small, low-tech drones could have been launched by PUTIN haters from within RU and worry about n-word escalation.

archived: Last year, Russia's UN ambassador presented to the UNSC Ukraine's theory of Urheimat de Gauls instill youthful passion for ascension to EU civilization at long last.

Little did I know, in 2014 research into the Turkic origin of Ukrainians had aduced genetic markers of Tatar ancestry opposed to slavic introgression, a priori genocidal impulse if you will, attributable to modern aggressors' FULL-SCALE WAR on Ukraine's sovereign border beginning in Crimea.

[...]
If you compare with Russians, for example, then anthropological data say that modern Russians are of European type, and Ukrainians are Turkic, Asian. Europeans have a long head, Asians have a wide one. The length of the skull of Russians of the Central-Eastern European type is 191 mm, the width is 154, the Ukrainians of the Central-Ukrainian type are 187 and 157, respectively, but the real difference is not in the sum of the length and width of the skull, but at the height of the skull. Russian carrying high-headed ones - 130-131 mm and higher. Ukrainians are low-headed - 125-126 mm (data from Alekseeva and Alekseeva). Russians are closer to long-faced Europeans, and Ukrainians are closer to Central Asian round-faced Turks - this is known.

archived British Journal of Phrenology

In general, Russians have 45% open eyes, Ukrainians have 35%. The difference is greater if you compare the central types: 50% among Russians, 38% among Ukrainians. There is an even more significant difference in hair pigmentation: Russians have approximately 35% blondes, Ukrainians - 5% (Dyachenko's table). All Ukrainians have light eyes - 35% (see Dyachenko's table, where ALL regions of Ukraine are written). Light hair - 5% (the same table). All Russians have light eyes - 45%. in ALL Russian blond hair - 30-35%, against 8% in the central Ukrainian type (Dyachenko)

archivedGreetings, my Neandertal and Denisovan allele-bearing cousins

Genome research:
...the results of mitochondrial DNA analysis, according to which Russians and Tatars are at the same genetic distance of 30 conventional units that separate them from Finns, but between Ukrainians from Lviv and Tatars, the genetic distance is only 10 units. And at the same time, Ukrainians from the left-bank Ukraine are genetically just as close to Russians...
"The anthropological type of Ukrainians shows complete independence compared to the Polish, Belarusian, and Great Russian type," states S. Rudnytskyi.
[...]

archived A Murky Distinction Grows Still Murkier

Indeed, the evolution of scientific racism that animates the present BATTLE FOR THE SOUL of Middle Earth is far deeper than Nord Stream lanes, yet familiar.

Ukrinform | Invaders plan to "evacuate" over 3,000 ZNPP workers, their families, 10 May De-occupation Day!

The relevant statement was made by Energoatom National Nuclear Energy Generating Company on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"We have received information that the Russian occupiers are preparing to "evacuate" about 3,100 people from the satellite city [52K Energodar?] of the Zaporizh* nuclear power plant. We are talking about the evacuation of 2,700 plant employees who signed a contract with the fake Zaporizh* NPP Operating Organization or another Rosatom enterprise, and their family members," the company said.

good riddance to traitors, yes?

Ener*oatom reminded that ZNPP employees had been banned [by Rada?] from leaving the city almost from the beginning of the occupation. At the same time, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, some families of Zaporizh* nuclear workers have already been [forcibly?] moved [deported?] from Ener*odar to the Rostov region of the Russian Federation.

good riddance to collaborators, yes?

"Thus, the Russian occupiers are proving their inability to ensure the operation of the Zaporizh* nuclear power plant, as there is a catastrophic lack of qualified personnel. Even those Ukrainian workers who, having signed shameful contracts, agreed to cooperate with the racists [ruscists?], will be "evacuated" soon. And this will exacerbate the already extremely urgent issue of having a sufficient number of personnel to ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power plant even in the current shutdown state," Energoatom emphasizes.

no and no.

At the same time, the company stated that it is taking all possible measures to form the necessary number of specialists capable of ensuring the safe operation of the plant in the first period after its de-occupation. The team will be formed on a rotational basis from ZNPP employees currently on the territory controlled by Ukraine [Bakhmut?], as well as specialists from other nuclear power plants. [SUNPP, RNPP, KhNPP, ChNPP, or France EDF?]

2 May IAEA ZNPP: 3K Rosatom FTES, 1K Energoatom FTEs + 1K NEW hires vetted

"As fast as possible de-occupation of Zaporizh* NPP, expulsion of the racists [sic] from Ener*odar, and transfer of control over the plant to its legitimate Ukrainian operator, Energoatom, is the only way to stop the Russian mess at ZNPP and ensure its further safety," Energoatom emphasized.
[...]

Not so fast. Count all the silver ware
Update 156 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine, 6 May

(IAEA) experts present at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) have received information that the announced evacuation of residents from the nearby town of Enerhodar - where most plant staff live - has started and they are closely monitoring the situation for any potential impact on nuclear safety and security, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.
[...]
The IAEA experts at the site are continuing to hear shelling on a regular basis, including late on Friday. ZNPP Site Director Yuri Chernichuk has publicly stated that operating staff are not being evacuated and that they are doing everything necessary to ensure nuclear safety and security at the plant, whose six reactors are all in shutdown mode.
[...]

wapoo | Zelensky, in private, plots bold attacks inside Russia, leak shows, 13 May
knives out

southfront | On May 13, the AFU shot down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters, a Su-34 fighter bomber and probably a Su-25 near Klintsy (Bryansk oblast, Russia)
reuters | Four Russian military aircraft shot down near Ukraine, Russian daily reports

tabloid USaToday | Ukraine intent on liberating its territory, not attacking Russia, Zelenskyy says, 14 May modesty

"We don't attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory," Zelenskyy said Sunday at a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
[...]
"We have neither the time nor the strength (to attack Russia)," Zelenskyy said, according to an official interpreter. "And we also don't have weapons to spare with which we could do this."

oops

Ukranews | Enemy Shells Khmelnytskyi Region: Hit At Critical Infrastructure Recorded, There Are Injured (13.05.23)

"Unfortunately, we have a hit on critical infrastructure. The facility is located outside the settlements. Remain calm. The relevant services are working. Individual trains today will follow a modified schedule. Details later," stated the message of the leadership of the regional administration.

Ukrinform | Four enemy drones hit Khmelnytskyi region - Air Force spox, 13 May

On the night of May 13, air defense forces shot down 17 out of 21 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by Russia to attack Ukraine. The four drones, which could not be destroyed, hit the territory of Khmelnytskyi region.

Ukrinform | Number of injured in Russian night attack on Khmelnytskyi region rises to 21, 13 May

The number of people injured in the Russian attack on Khmelnytskyi region has risen to 21 people, two of them have been hospitalized.[...] According to his information, in populated settlements near the epicenter of the hit, powerful blast waves caused damage to civilian objects: windows and doors were broken, roofs were damaged. In particular, educational, healthcare, and cultural institutions, administrative buildings, industrial facilities, apartment blocks and private houses were damaged.

tabloid Mail | Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi rocked by huge explosion after Russia sends 21 drones to army missile silo causing enormous fireball which 'injured 30 people', 14 May

Vladimir Putin appears to be targeting ammunition storages in west Ukraine as Kyiv's counter-offensive approaches.

yahoo! warzone | Ukraine Ammo Storage Site Obliterated Where Huge Fireball Seen, 14 May

What exactly was stored at this site at the time of the blast also isn't clear. It likely held old dilapidated ammo and explosive material that dated back deeply into the Cold War era, but some have posited that newer ammunition used to support the war effort may have also been stored there.

pravda.ua | We are coming back with new defense packages, 15 May

Details: Zelensk* noted that in Italy he had "good talks" with Prime Minister Giorgia [Meloni] and a "rather encouraging meeting" with the pontiff, as well as a meeting with the president of Italy. In Germany, defense issues were discussed meaningfully with President Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz. [...] Zelensk* recalled that he had a meeting with President Macron in France, "long, useful negotiations" resulting in a new "powerful military package" and new political agreements. In Great Britain, the Ukrainian president met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, they talked about defense and British leadership in military coalitions.

Russia's military death toll in Ukraine rises to 199,460, 15 May

Ukranews | Mineral Deposits Concentrated In Ukraine Included In List Of Critical For EU, U.S. And Canada, 13 May

"In Ukraine, mineral deposits are concentrated, which are included in the list of critical ones for the EU, U.S. and Canada. Among them are lithium, rare earth elements, titanium and others. Available resources and global prospects for the development of low-carbon "minerals of the future" give Ukraine the opportunity to become an element of joint supply chains with strategic North Atlantic partners, promoting the economic integration of the national economy into modern high-tech production cycles, and ensuring the EU's strategic autonomy in the green transition," said, in particular, Mykola Kolisnyk.

Speaking at the panel of the Critical Raw Materials forum, Deputy Minister of Energy Mykola Kolisnyk drew attention to the prospects for the development of this area, recalling the Memorandum on Strategic Partnerships on Critical Raw Materials concluded in July 2021 between Ukraine and the European Union.

Memorandum of Understanding between the European Union and Ukraine on a Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials [12.07.21]
[...]
Ukraine confirms its ambition and willingness to join EU efforts in the area of climate change, environmental protection, and the decarbonisation of energy and mobility systems. Furthermore, the Sides have recently initiated a focused dialogue on Ukraine's green transition within the framework of the European Green Deal. The areas of shared interest of the dialogue include energy efficiency, hydrogen, coal regions in transition, European industrial alliances (in raw materials and batteries), and climate governance architecture. The proposed Partnership would also be one of the key elements of our positive and long-term green agenda.
[...]

The Deputy Minister noted that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a list of subsoil plots [mines] that are of strategic importance for the sustainable development of the economy and the state's defense capability, which will be provided for use by tenders for concluding production sharing agreements.

icog.es, "The mineral resources of Ukraine" sub-plots. 17.05.22

The people to decide ...

Council leadership lost to 22-year candidate 😄

Maidenhead Liberal Democrats @maidenheadLD

Congratulations to George Blundell elected as councillor in Hurley & the Walthams ward.

Conservative leader of the council falls to Lib Dem candidate George Blundell

'Sapere aude'

HEADLINE 2025:
Germany raids Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) office.
Germany seizes COSCO Hamburg assets.

< wipes tears >

Qin Gang Holds Talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, 11 May

....Noting that President Macron had an in-depth exchange of views with President Xi Jinping during his visit to China and deepened his understanding of China, Colonna said the visit was a great success. France-China relations are of vital importance. The two heads of state have made clear the direction, and the two sides should make joint efforts to work for greater development of bilateral relations. She suggested that the two sides fully restart cooperation mechanisms in various fields and strengthen cooperation in such areas as climate change, biodiversity and energy transition. France attaches importance to its economic relations with China, believing that such relations are interdependent, mutually beneficial as well as complementary, open and transparent. France does not engage in bloc confrontation and holds that all countries should live in harmony and achieve common development. Noting that China plays an important role in the world's peace and stability, Colonna said France is willing to strengthen communication with China on Ukraine and other major international and regional issues to seek more common ground.
[...]
On the same day, Qin Gang also met with French President's Diplomatic Advisor Emmanuel Bonne, and the two sides exchanged views on China-France relations, the Ukraine crisis, and other issues.

EU relations with China will not develop normally unless China convinces Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine, Josep Borrell, following an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Stockholm.

This person is a top diplomat in the EU.
Ultimatums isn't a diplomacy Borrell.

— Dagny Taggart (@DagnyTaggart963) May 12, 2023

"state-controlled" ekathimerini | Focus on coalition horse-trading as election looks unlikely to deliver a strong winner, 20 May candidates feat. European Realistic Disobedience Front (MeRA25)

...A second election on July 2 seems likely. It would be held under a new electoral law giving the winner a boost of up to 50 of Parliament's 300 seats, which the current system doesn't....

Conservative party in lead but unlikely to form government outright, 21 May post-pandemic Inflation Reduction Act exit poll smoke

If confirmed by official results, Mitsotakis will have to seek coalition partners to secure a majority in the 300-seat parliament. If coalition talks fail, a second election could be held in late June or early July.

Exit polls showed Mitsotakis' main rival, former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, 48, and his left-wing Syriza party, in second place. The polls projected New Democracy [!] winning between 121 and 125 parliamentary seats, with Syriza [!] at between 86 and 89 seats, with a total of either six or seven parties making it past the threshold of 3% of the vote to enter parliament.
[...]
Greece's once-dominant socialist Pasok [!] party is likely to be at the center of any coalition talks. Overtaken by Syriza during Greece's [GLOBAL] 2009-2018 financial crisis, the party has been polling at around 10%. Its leader, Nikos Androulakis, 44, was at the center of the wiretapping scandal in which his phone was targeted for surveillance.
[...]

Politico.eu.com | insignificant significant MOE, 21 May

The New Democracy Party of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a significant lead over its main rival...Nonetheless, New Democracy didn't gather enough votes—45 percent—to win an outright majority

apathy! meddling! EXCESS plurality!

New Democracy was expected to get from 37.5 percent to 41.5 percent; Syriza from 23.5 percent to 27.5 percent; Socialist Pasok party 11.5 percent to 12.5 percent; Communists KKE party 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent; nationalist Greek Solution 4.3 percent to 5.3 percent; leftist DiEM 25 from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent; leftist Course of Freedom 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent; and nationalist Victory party 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent.

The participation rate was at 48.8 percent as of 4:30 p.m., the Interior Ministry reported.

euronews | What next for Spain after PM Pedro Sanchez calls snap general election?, 29 May
"The move follows the success of the conservatives in Sunday's key local and regional elections, which represented a clear shift in the political map of Spain. Conservatives won in seven out of the 12 regions holding elections and succeeded in several regions previously dominated by the Socialists."

AP | Latvian Parliament elects foreign minister as new president, 31 May

The 100-seat Saeima legislature elected Edgars Rinkevics, the country's top diplomat since 2011, as president to serve for a four-year term. He received 52 votes, one vote more than required to win the race. Incumbent Egils Levits, Latvia's head of state since 2019, didn't seek reelection.

Rinkevics, who announced in 2014 that he is "proudly" homosexual. will be the first openly gay president in the Baltic nations -- all former Soviet republics where attitudes to sexual minorities have been less tolerant than in western Europe.

His closest rival, businessman Uldis Pilens, got 25 votes in the third round of voting between the two remaining contenders after the third candidate, Elina Pinto, had dropped out of the contest.
[...]
Rinkevics is due to be inaugurated on July 8.

NATO Summit: Vilnius, Lithuania - 11-12 July 2023

Alle beetjes helpen

'237 alleenstaande minderjarige vluchtelingen verdwenen uit Ter Apel' #rtvnoordhttps://t.co/ZiQ2Ec94ZG

— RTV Noord (@rtvnoord) May 26, 2023

'Sapere aude'

So few and far in between ... Peace ☮️ movement

Sleurt de VS Europa mee in een oorlog met Rusland? | GeoPolitics |

A Flemish blogger Paul Lookman, supporter of NatoWatch.

In 2000, US Gov debt was $3.5 trillion, equal to 35% of GDP; by 2022, the debt was $24 trillion, 95% of GDP. Rather than cutting military spending cuts to social programs are on the cards. Economist Jeffrey Sachs argues for a different path [_link]

— NATO Watch (@ianNATOWatch) May 25, 2023

'Sapere aude'

waz.de | Weber calls for the termination of the ascension process, 29 May

Manfred Weber, head of the Europen People's Party [EPP], spoke to this editorial office in favor of ending the ascension process with Turkiye, which has been running since 2005 but has been on hold for several years. "The last few years have shown that a close partnership is important, but NOBODY WANTS full membership of Turkiye in the EU anymore—neither Turkiye nor the EU," said the CSU politician. "We have to put this proceess aside, because it blocks better relationships more than it helps."

< wipes tears >

The EU is open to "further parnership-based cooperation between < wipes tears > immediate neighbors who have many common challenges," said Weber. But the expectations are clear: Erdogan MUST BRING the country together and modernize it. "We need cooperation" especially when it comes to the goals of peace between UKRAINE and Russia, migration policy, or The Cyprus Question. Specifically, Weber also demanded: Erdogan should now IMMEDIATELY AGREE to Sweden's membership in NATO."
[...]

France's controversial pension reform was at the center of May Day rallies, with some turning violent and triggering clashes with police. pic.twitter.com/NuciWpwdoW

— DW News (@dwnews) May 2, 2023

'Sapere aude'

French police fire teargas as clashes erupt at May Day pension protests | France24 |

Police fired teargas in Paris and other cities as protesters turned out for May Day rallies across France on Monday amid anger over the passage of President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform. Interior ministry figures estimated the number of protesters at 782,000 nationwide; unions put the number much higher, at 2.3 million. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded.

Nothing to see here

Just another day in Paris pic.twitter.com/i3fbg407Ib

— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) May 2, 2023

'Sapere aude'

An EU diplomat, granted anonymity to allow them to speak candidly, was equally scathing of the behavior of Poland's right-wing government, which wants to shore up the farm vote ahead of a general election due this fall.

"Polish representatives use blackmailing tactics," this diplomat said, referring to Warsaw's move to block separate agreements to finalize a long-awaited cooperation deal with African nations and agree on a package of sanctions against Belarus, which has sided with Vladimir Putin's Russia in the war.

Poland's elections could be won or lost in the countryside

History's archive: Belarus orders out EU, Polish envoys over sanctions | Reuters - Feb. 28, 2012 |

'Sapere aude'

El 29 por ciento de la #economia mundial está ahora bajo sanciones de EE.UU., la UE o la ONU y esto tiene un gran impacto económico, social y de salud pública negativo. Potentes datos de Francisco Rodríguez (CEPR) pic.twitter.com/wPmMuVYLF6

— José Carlos García (@carlosgarciapan) May 5, 2023

Francisco Rodríguez, "The human consequences of sanctions," May 2023, 113 pp

bloomberg | Italy Intends to Exit China Belt and Road Pact as Relations Sour, 9 May

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reassured US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a meeting in Rome last week that while a final decision hasn't been taken, her government is favoring an exit from its role in China's massive Belt and Road Initiative, according to people present at the talks.

Italy signed onto the infrastructure initiative in 2019 when Giuseppe Conte was premier, becoming the only Group of Seven country to become part of the deal. Participation will automatically renew in 2024 unless Rome actively exits the agreement.
[...]
Meloni's ["]diplomatic["] advisers are still discussing the details and timing of a decision, fearing economic retaliation from China, and nothing will likely be made public before the start of the G-7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19, according to the people.
[...]

Global Gateway UPDATE! Wed Mar 1st 2023, Wed Dec 21st 2022, Tue Nov 22nd 2022, Sun Jun 26th 2022, Thu Dec 2nd 2021 official denial

EU to press South Korea to provide Ukraine with ammunition, 15 May racketeering

The EU is expected to pressure* Seoul to send ammunition directly to Ukraine during a visit by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later this month, EURACTIV has learnt.

* to suborn unlawful or illegal conduct including, but not limited to, perjury

Since "stocks are low across EU and the US, they are looking at South Korea for ammunition in the short term, not only to replenish their stocks but also to provide Ukraine directly," [Korea Chair of the Center for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy of Brussels Free University Ramon] Pacheco Pardo said. In addition, "Korean-manufactured ammunition is compatible with NATO's standards," meaning also with a large amount of equipment used by the Ukrainian armed forces, he added. The EU's push is motivated by the fact that "we have seen South Korea reluctant to deliver ammunition to Ukraine," the senior EU official told EURACTIV.

Hankyoreh | Seoul appears to have discussed loophole for supplying lethal aid to Ukraine (10.04.23)
According to US news reports, the South Korean government internally discussed the possibility of an indirect arrangement where the US would give Ukraine artillery shells provided by South Korea. Seoul also expressed concerns that US President Joe Biden might [extort] South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to supply munitions.
[...]
In November, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it was in discussions with the US on the exportation of 155mm shells, which it said was meant to make up for the shortfall in the US stockpiles of shells due to the support it was providing to Ukraine.
The ministry stressed that there had been no change in the government's policy and that it would "provide shells on the understanding that the US is to be the end user." But some analysts suggested this was intended as a means of indirect aid -- and that the shells exported to the US were essentially ending up in Ukraine.
[...]

Although Seoul's production capacities have allowed "a degree of backfilling" of  EU member states stocks depleted by their deliveries to Kyiv, member states are not allowed to then donate them to Kyiv.

Hankyoreh | US spying confirms the risks of Yoon's diplomacy (12.04.23)
The NY Yella Cake and other news outlets reported that the leaked [DISCORD] documents revealed that in early March, Lee Mun-hee, then-secretary for foreign affairs, told Kim Sung-han, the then-national security advisor, that ammunition given to the US might end up in Ukraine. Lee also stressed that South Korea "was not prepared to have a call between the heads of state without having a clear position on the issue."

Why were these authorities worried about a call between the two heads of state? If Yoon were to be consistent in South Korea's [Art. 5] position  and state that "South Korea will not supply lethal aid," there wouldn't have been a problem.

"From a legal point of view, South Korea says it is not possible for them to provide ammunition to a country involved in war," Pacheco Pardo said. Another option [same as the prohibited option] is for Seoul to sell the equipment to an EU member state, which will then donate the equipment [to Ukraine], such as Poland did for instance, according to recent US intelligence leaks.

"We spoke to South Korea about this, the weapon delivery and delivery of ammunition," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz ["Westinghouse4Me"] Morawiecki told the NY Yella Cake in April. "But I don't think that this is going to be possible without the ["]intervention["] of the United States. South Korea is fearful of Russian reaction and Chinese reaction," he added.

Yonhap | Seoul declines to comment on reported S. Korea-U.S. deal on ammunition lending (12.04.23)
The local daily, the Dong-A Ilbo, reported that the Seoul government and a local defense firm inked the contract with the Joe Biden administration, under which 500,000 rounds of 155-mm artillery ammunition will be "lent"—rather than being sold—to the United States.

[...]
Even though selling to a country at war is forbidden, "I think if a company or the government decided to provide to Ukraine, I don't think anyone would bring either to court", Pacheco Pardo said.

Yonhap | U.S. respects 'sovereign decisions' on weapons support to Ukraine, 25 Apr

[...]
John KIRBY, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, was responding to a question about whether U.S. President Joe Biden will have a message for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol regarding providing further aid to Ukraine, including ammunition, during their summit at the White House on Wednesday.
[...]

statewatch.org | Detention of children and families for the asylum "border procedure", 11 May

As reported by EUobserver earlier this week, the Swedish Presidency of the Council has proposed removing an exception to examining asylum applications from "minors below the age of 12 and their family members" through the "border procedure" included in the forthcoming Asylum Procedure Regulation.
[...]
Those "ghetto-like" camps have in large part been replaced by high-tech prisons built with hundreds of millions of euros in EU funds, as Refugee Support Aegean have recently documented, and as was reported by Statewatch in late 2021.

The Parliament opposes the application of the border procedure to children and their family members, but whatever form the final Regulation takes, it appears that a lot more people will be imprisoned at the EU's borders in the name of orderly "migration management".

archived 'ghetto plan' 2018

When you blow up a gas pipeline of the largest supplier to Europe, what elaborate measures one may invent, it will be a sellers market and the end consumer will suffer. Plenty of managers and corporations in between will pick their profits which includes the country's tax services.

The Dutch government briefly lowered it's 100% taxation on energy for consumers in the Fall of 2022. The 100% tax on energy returned on Jan 1st 2023 when a price cap was implemented for the first 1800 kWh and 1200 cubic meter gas. Above the cap the consumer pays the flex price or what the seller wants to charge as there is no competition. Pure capitalism to instill energy poverty for the less fortunate living on old housing which lack insulation ... happy landlords who refuse to invest.

Upcoming tax codes will target savings and assets for pension incomes. Persons not contributing to the free-market of capitalism by actively working at a job, making more hours per week, yes tax benefits for full 40 hours jobs ... will suffer the consequences.

All ugliness in present day society rears its head. The elderly are hit hardst as the savings are literally flying through the walls, single pane glass and floors, roofs. Reaping profits for the fossil fuel corporations dictating US policy in Washington DC.

The happy few are seen on news items about energy savings, sustainability and the benefits of green energy. Riding in an EV, parking outside their spacious home with loading station, solar power and feeding the electric appliances. Most,y of their investments heavily subsidized by Rutte & Co. to be paid for for other consumers not able to invest.

The new generation ... who cares a fuck about others ... not a level playing field.

'Sapere aude'

RFERL | Italy Signs $8 Billion Gas Deal With Libya As It Seeks To Cut Russian Dependence, 28 Jan
"During her visit to Libya, Meloni said Italy wasn't seeking a 'predatory' role but wants to help African nations 'grow and become richer.'"
reuters | CEO of Italy's ENI sees no major energy price upsets in 2023, 29 Apr
"'demand is not at its highest because China has not yet resumed full operations,' Descalzi said in an interview with La Stampa newspaper."
euractiv | Habeck proposes EU-backed bloc-wide industry power tariff, 5 May
"The mechanism will be tied to electricity spot prices. Should wholesale prices exceed 6 cents a kilowatt-hour, companies will receive the difference between the 6 cents and the actual trading price for 80% of their electricity consumption. "

7 May
azerbaycan24 | ENI: Italy to need another two years to ditch Russian gas

"At the moment, the replacement of Russian gas is partial, it will take two years to replace it completely," - said the Eni CEO [Claudio Descalzi]. "The work has not been completed yet, because we have replaced 30 billion cubic meters (out of almost 40 billion cubic meters - ed.). This is not so simple, because in the last eight years, domestic production has not been stimulated, we have lost the gas that we produced in Italy, and investments in the gas sector were not promoted," he noted. Claudio Descalzi explained that the rapid replacement of Russian gas was made possible thanks to Italy's historical ties with countries such as Egypt, Angola, Algeria, the Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and Libya, where the company maintained its presence "producing 70% for the local market."

FT | Russian oil ban costs Polish oil company PKN Orlen millions a day, says boss

"I wouldn't call it [a] loss: this is a matter of not supporting Russia," [CEO Daniel Obajtek] said. "This is a market cost that applies to every company that does not import oil from Russia."

archived Sun Apr 9th 2023, Sat Feb 25th 2023

However, he said his company was still using Russian oil piped through the Druzhba network for the group's Czech refinery in Litvínov, which has not been covered so far by sanctions even as the government in Warsaw pushes for tougher EU sanctions against Moscow.
[...]
Asked whether he was concerned about countries such as Germany getting access to re-exported Russian crude oil via recent supply deals with Kazakhstan, Obajtek said "the German side should better rethink the morality of what they are doing".

FT | Brussels plans sanctions on Chinese companies aiding Russia's war machine
"The draft includes measures that would allow the EU to restrict sales of certain products to third countries if diplomatic pressure did not change their behaviour."

The full story here: [_link]

— Jonathon Shafi (@Jonathon_Shafi) February 5, 2023

• Staff in Scots mutiny plot as green jobs lost to cheap foreign labour | Nov. 22, 2022 |
• Global Port Services lands contracts for Scotland's largest offshore wind farm | Dec. 8, 2022 |

'Sapere aude'

Canary Wharf offices and retail spaces to be powered by Scottish windfarm [_link]

— The Guardian (@guardian) May 8, 2023

'Sapere aude'

APsplainin G7 finance ministers to vow support for Ukraine, seek ways to spur global economy as debt [jubilee] looms

Ukraine's ["]finance["] minister, Serhiy Marchenko, was participating online in the first session of the [PRICE CAP COALITION] talks in Niigata, a port city on the Japan Sea coast.

SEND mo' money, mo' sanctions, mo' missiles

"We have taken a wave of actions in the past few months to crack down on evasion. And my team has traveled around the world to intensify this work," [U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet] Yellen said indignantly.

The war and its toll on the global economy, debt crises in [the U.S.] and a stalemate in Washington over the national debt are topping the agenda of the three days of talks by finance ministers and central bank governors of [PRICE CAP COALITION] countries and Others® invited to attend.

value chain bankruptcy

"A default is frankly unthinkable," she told reporters. "[US] America should never default. It would rank as a catastrophe [OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS]."
[...]
Yellen also will be seeking to reassure her [PRICE CAP COALITION] over recent bank failures that have raised worries over risks for the [PRICE CAP COALITION] financial system.

She said Biden's "HISTORIC" investments in modernizing U.S. [TAX CREDIT] infrastructure were a step toward improving the resilience of an economy whose reliance on global [RACKETEERING] was sorely tested during the COVID-19 [MARKETING CAMPAIGN].

"We are taking a broad range of individual and joint actions to [INCREASE INTEREST RATES], sustain [PROFITS], and help mitigate the impact of [HUMAN MIGRATION], including to developing countries," she said. But she added that, "even as we face [CREDIT DERIVATIVE] risks, I believe that global [RACKETEERING] remains in a better place [kingdom of heaven?] than many predicted six months ago."
[...]

7 May Photoshop *flation? Erdoğan addresses 1.7 million in historic Istanbul rally

dailysabah | Turkish voters attacked by PKK sympathizers in Netherlands, 9 May

Police rushed to the scene and intervened with batons and dogs against the attackers, who shouted slogans in favor of the PKK and its convicted ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan. They maintained security in the area until the process of closing the ballot boxes, counting the votes and envelopes and putting them in sacks and sealing them was completed.
[...]
Meanwhile, 24 political parties and 151 independent candidates are vying for seats in the 600-member Turkish Parliament.

dailysabah | Turkish diaspora wraps up voting with high turnout
"Official figures suggest more than 1.7 million people cast their votes overseas since April 27."

1 month ago

HRW | Thailand: Upcoming Election Fundamentally Flawed

[...]
The participation of Thai opposition parties in the upcoming elections should not be interpreted to mean that they believe the electoral process in Thailand is free and fair, Human Rights Watch said.

"As Thailand's election approaches, democratic governments around the world should be clear with the Thai leadership that violating the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Thai people will have consequences," said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. "An election held under a deeply flawed system and in an atmosphere of fear will not have democratic legitimacy."
[...]

2 days ago
foreignpolicy | Thailand Prepares for Pivotal Election

... Unofficial voting numbers are expected on Sunday night, but local election authorities said it is likely the official results won't be confirmed for weeks. At that point, parties that garnered more than 25 seats in the House can put forward a candidate for prime minister, with a vote likely to be held in August. To win the top post, a candidate must secure 376 votes, which can be drawn from both the House and the Senate. Given recent polling, it's possible that the opposition parties could overcome the military's Senate advantage if they band together. This year is also likely to be the last time the Senate will vote for Thailand's prime minister, as the rule was established in 2017 as a temporary measure....

14-15 May
wion | Thailand election 2023: Preliminary result out, MFP and Pheu Thai likely to join hands

The national election in Thailand started on Sunday (May 14) with around 52 million people eligible to vote. The election is becoming a clash between army-backed establishment parties and resurgent opposition movements. It is for the 500-seat House of Representatives. Voting began at 8:00 am (0100 GMT) at the 95,000 polling stations. The election is the first since major youth-led pro-democracy protests erupted across Bangkok in 2020. ...

bangkkock Post | New generation tires of old guard, blog 23.02.23 - 15.05.23

[...]
Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, said the latest Suan Dusit Poll findings ahead of the election showed the MFP and Pheu Thai can form a coalition without the support. But according to the Nida Poll, the PPRP and the United Thai Nation Party still have a chance, Mr Wanwichit said. "As it happens, the liberals have won a victory over the conservatives.

"I don't think the victory of the MFP will trigger any coup. But the party must compromise on certain conditions while it carries out what it can do first, such as economic policiees."
[...]

reuters | Factbox: Preliminary results of Thailand's election, 8 party-lists

Parliamentary seats are distributed based on 400 open constituency seats and 100 'party-list' seats - or seats won by parties based on their share of national votes. Below are preliminary results of Sunday's ballot, according to the Election Commission of Thailand, with 97% of the vote counted. The tabulation of party-list seats is based on a Reuters tally of voting data made available by the election commission....

aerbaycan24 | Ukraine neighbor disputes pro-Russian election result - media, 17 May ©Telegram/gagauzinfo

Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia has voted in a new governor.

Moldovan police raided the central election commission of Gagauzia on Tuesday [16 May], alleging irregularities after a politician championing better relations with Russia won the gubernatorial vote.

Gagauzia, an autonomous region in southern Moldova, elects its own bashkan - governor - and Sunday's run-off [14 May] saw the victory of Yevgenia Gutsul, with 52.36% of the vote. Gutsul represents the Shor party, which the government in Chisinau has tried to ban.

Navanti News |  Understanding the US-Sanctioned Shor Party in Moldova: Ilan Shor is "a dual citizen of Moldova and Israel and a current member of Moldova's Parliament. Notably, Shor has lived in exile in Israel since June 2019 when he illegally fled the country. He was detained in 2015 and in 2017 was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for orchestrating a complex international money laundering scheme known as the 'theft of a billion,' though the sentence was never finalized..."

The operation at the election office in Comrat was "part of a criminal investigation into bribing of voters," a spokesperson for the National Anti-Corruption Center (NAC) in Chisinau said in a statement. The NAC had executed search warrants for eight individuals on Saturday, just before the election, alleging that Shor had offered bribes of 15,000 lei ($3,200) each to some 30 voters. No arrests were made....

International Republican Institute | Moldova (undated)

IRI's work in Moldova promotes accountability and inclusivity in the country's political parties, with the goal of building trust between parties and voters. With IRI's partnership, political parties have built nationwide democratic structures that allow them to connect with citizens and provide policy solutions that address real needs. In addition, through IRI's programs on transparency, citizens have a greater level of knowledge about the finances of their elected officials and political parties....

archived Moldova's pro-EU government falls 3 months ago

SCENES AT JUDICIAL COMPLEX...Arrest of #ImranKhan#chairmanPTI pic.twitter.com/0R6rmQvDZZ

— Sumaira Khan (@sumrkhan1) May 9, 2023

SC terms Imran's arrest `unlawful', directs him to appear before IHC tomorrow, 11 May

"The manner of execution of the arrest warrant issued by the Chairman, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) dated 01.05.2023 in the Al-Qadir Trust case within the premises of the Islamabad High Court against the petitioner is invalid and unlawful," the ruling said.
[...]
In the written verdict, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the top court said that the execution of NAB's arrest warrant violated the petitioner's right of access to justice and "the sanctity and safety of the court as he had already surrendered to the court for seeking judicial relief against the action taken by NAB in the Al-Qadir Trust case".

In this regard, it highlighted that the fundamental rights of the petitioner under Articles 4, 9, 10-A, and 14 of the Constitution had been infringed.

PK Hooman Rights LIVE Blotter

• Govt terms it 'fastest relief'
•Top PTI leadership, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, arrested in Islamabad for 'inciting violent protests'; 7 cases filed against them
• At least 8 killed across country in clashes between police, protesters
• Mobile internet, social media shutdown continues for 3rd day
• More than 1,600 miscreants arrested in Punjab for vandalism

It is with the most profound sadness that I announce the passing away of my husband, @DavidMirandaRio. He would have turned 38 tomorrow.

His death, early this morning, came after a 9-month battle in ICU. He died in full peace, surrounded by our children and family and friends. pic.twitter.com/wtRvGyJyGl

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 9, 2023

'Sapere aude'

US House Armed Services Committee | Full committee hearing, 26 Apr, "US Military Posture and National Security Challenges in Europe" (02:10:30)

center of psychoville
The Honorable Celeste Wallander (throne of mayhem)
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
opening statement: "NATO's eastern flank, and Poland in particular, is a linchpin of our work to strengthe European deterrence and defense."

General Christopher G. Cavoli, USA
Commander, U.S. European Command (Stoltenberg Strategic Concept bot)
opening statement: "USEUCOM's combat credibility in all domains is the foundation of our deterrence of Russia." (And the PRC)

The balloon that flew over Hawaii? US says it's not China's, 2 May "36,000 ft (11,000 meters")
possibly 10.97 km

The balloon was first detected by radar on Friday and Pacific Air Forces launched three F-22s to assess the situation and visually identified a spherical object," U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said. "We monitored the transit of the object and assessed that it posed no threat."

WSJ | Epstein's Private Calendar Reveals Prominent Names, Including CIA Chief, Goldman's Top Lawyer, 30 Apr

"First response is that it is none of your business. Or anyone's. Second is that I knew him and we met occasionally."

Carroll v TRUMP
"I was not thrown on the ground and ravished."

#WorldNews | Blinken deflects question on Hunter Biden laptop story, says, 'I'm not engaging in politics.' #USNews #HunterBiden #JoeBiden https:/t.co/kyzaWPJXM0

— Republic (@republic) May 2, 2023

How the US reports COVID data is about to change. Again.

First Republic has been seized and sold to JPMorgan in the 3rd U.S. bank failure since March. @LesliePicker has more. https:/t.co/D9rymoO3or pic.twitter.com/Me2xxvVSao

— CNBC (@CNBC) May 1, 2023

FTX influencer ghosts lawyers, gets served on Twitter

• The Don Cheeto (R)
  
• Nikki Two-Tones (R)
  
• Vivek WHO? (R)
  
• Perry WUT? (R)
  
• not that Scott, the other one (R)
  
• Asa (R)
  
• Marianne (D)
  
• RFK, Jr (D)
  
• dont-say-Desantis (R)

archived April

This "report" rambles from one moronic statement to the next to demostrate that the authors haven't their faintest fucking clue about US American history much less US American federal and state constitutions as pertains to "electoral law". For example,

The November 8 mid-term congressional elections were competitive and < wipes tears > professionally managed [by volunteers], with  [unspecified] active voter participation. However, the noted efforts to undermine voters' trust in the electoral process by baselessly questioning its integrity can result in systemic [sic] challenges

systematic challenges

[...]
Many in the diverse media landscape made efforts to present accurate information, but polarization and widespread disinformation affected voters' ability to inform themselves. Election administrators enjoyed general confidence, but the politicization of the offices of chief election officials and the intimidation of election workers are of concern. Restrictions on international observers in some states are at odds with OSCE [?!!] commitments.

The electoral legal framework is complex and diverse, with states adopting and applying their own laws and regulations on most aspects. The [US] Constitution [Art.I §4, Art. II §1, 10 amdt. and U.S.C. Title 52, Subtitle I, Ch. 103, §§ 10301 - 10314in part or in whole] and a number of federal laws establish a broad ["]framework["] for federal [sic] elections and form a sound basis for the respect of fundamental civil and political rights.
[...]

rentier math: 33 + 11 = 50 states and 15 "territories" incl. the D.C. but excl. IS and UA

Following the 2020 population census, the 435 House seats were reapportioned among the states, and [many] electoral districts were redrawn. Redistricting is < wipes tears > highly political, with state legislatures responsible for delimitation [sic] in 33 states, and external commissions [appointed by governors] in the remaining 11

FF >|| painfully pretentious

The use of New Voting Technologies [?!] is extensive and varies considerably across and within states. Ballot scanners combined with automatic tabulation are used in almost all jurisdictions. Voters in jurisdictions in six states must use machines which do not provide a paper record and cannot be audited. Most states require or have the option for post-election audits (PEAs), which are a crucial in identifying possible malfunctioning of tabulating equipment. However, not all states that conduct PEAs are required to complete them before the certification of an election. Federal and [RIP lives of John R. Lewis Voting Rights (Advancement) Act of 2019, H.R.1 to H.R.4, and 52 U.S. Code § 10303">] state authorities introduced numerous initiatives to help secure election technologies

ie. voice and paper ballot of 1888, gear-and-lever machine 1889-2006, mail in 1918, punch and butterfly 1964-2000, touch screen and optical scan ballots 2000-present

and mitigate potential cybersecurity risks. Overall, ODIHR LEOM < wipes tears > interlocutors expressed confidence in the integrity of election infrastructure and positively assessed efforts to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
[...]

Anybuddy up in there claiming US-English literacy know, at least, that new voting technologies in not a proper noun? IF not, y'all need to study codification, before you err as so many have done by misinforming persons, present in the USA or not, that Title 42, for example, and legislative processes have "ended" over the past SIX YEARS.
archived What surprises me is ...

rollcall | DOJ urges Supreme Court not to decide case on federal elections, 11 May

I spent three minutes trying to work out where the electricity to run this gigawat H2 facility is coming from. All the articles about the future factory are rewrites of the Nel press release. They are (self)described as a "green hydrogen company", but that depends ENTIRELY on where the power for the electrosys comes from.

So I boobled "michigan electricity power generation by source" :

Michigan Quick Facts
In 2021, coal provided the largest share of Michigan's electricity net generation (32%), followed by nuclear energy (30%) and natural gas-fired power (27%). Renewables provided about 11% of Michigan's electricity net generation in 2021, and wind energy accounted for three-fifths of that power.

Dirty brown hydrogen.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}

Letting European politicians take decisions while in a pressure cooker will cost the consumer a lot of money extra today and tomorrow. Large fossil fuel corporations will be biggest profiteers cashing in on subsidies for "renewables".

Volldal on Woodside contract: "It takes us to a higher league"

H2OK is Woodside's first hydrogen project in the US, this equipment will support phase 1 of the proposed project (60 tpd). Woodside will site the facility in Ardmore, Oklahoma, an area well suited for hydrogen production with good availability of water and energy. The company will utilize these resources to produce liquid hydrogen for hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial and heavy transport vehicles.

Woodside Energy is looking to expand its US footprint and is also working on two proposed hydrogen projects in Australia: H2Perth and H2Tas.

The contract with Woodside was signed only a couple of months after Nel received its record size 200 MW purchase order for another large-scale project in the US.

• A primer: Not all hydrogen is created equal
• State of Michigan Energy Sector Risk Profile

Related reading, formerly the Detroit Edison Company, founded in 1886 ...

Our Bold Goal for Michigan's Clean Energy Future | DTE |

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our era. That's why DTE Electric recently unveiled our 2022 CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), our proposal to dramatically increase renewable energy and storage, hasten the retirement of our last two coal plants, and accelerate our carbon emissions reduction goals.

'Sapere aude'

plutonium pits for Granholm

DOE and NSSA, "Fiscal Year 2023
Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan - Biennial Plan Summary", 244 pp

US Senate Armed Services Comte, "To receive testimony on the Department of Energy [DOE] and National Nuclear Security Administration [NNSA] atomic energy defense activities...." 26 Apr (02:07:07), witnesses' opening statement: DOD nuke capability and no-nuke systems' modernization

Sen. ERNST (@ 00:59:38): Thank you, Mr Chair. Secretary Granholm, I would like to start this morning by asking about the Biden administration's energy policies and their impact on our national security. The president's been cheer-leading for green tech, and I feel that this has harmed the DOD's operational energy approach. It's enriching our adversaries and boosting harmful players on the forced labor supply chain. Last year, the president proposed to mandate the Department of Defense's non-tactical vehicle fleet in exchange for an all-electric vehicle by 2030. The senate intervened last year on a bipartisan basis to prevent the directive from becoming law, because number one, we recognize the CHINA controls mining and production for electic vehicle components; and number two, this administration has hamstrung a number of aggressive permiting reforms for mining and processing of renewables right here in the United States, domestic mining and energy. So, Secretary Granholm, you've been one of the Biden administration's leading advocates for green energy, and you've even praised CHINA's work on climate change. So, do you believe CHINA is a reliable partner in achieving and stabilizing US energy indepence and security?
Sec. GRANHOLM: First, I was comparing CHINA's investment in renewable energy to the rest of the globe, and they have invested four times as much as the US has, even as they are not a reliable partner with respect to their human rights abuses. Number two, though, I just want to respond to the elecctric vehicle issue. CHINA does control a big amount of the critical minerals, but that's exactly what the president's "Invest in America" agenda is slated to overturn. We want to see responsible extraction here. We want to see processing here. We want to see the critical minerals integrated in battery packs here and put into vehicles. In fact since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed, one-hundred fifty battery companies have announced, they are coming or expanding battery supply chain, including extraction to the United States.
ERNST: That's great, and I can't wait to see that happen. I hope that happens before 2030, because that's a very aggressive mandate. I know that the permitting process for a number of these operations will take years and years and years. So, if we don't streamline that, it's not going to happen.
GRANHOLM: I don't know anyone who would not disagree with you on that.
ERNST: So, we'll watch for that in the next year or so. I hope that this really takes on a much faster approach than we've seen in the past. I know, your department also has on-going considerations of a two-hundred million dollar grant to a CHINA-based lithium battery company. So, I don't want to see American dollars going toward CHINESE investment. I think that's really irresponsible. Let's invest in domestic energy production and mining. The administration's failure to greenlight year-around, low cost, low carbon fuel like E15 is another concern that I have, and I think that all of these things combined are negatively affecting the DOD. So, I believe, the proposed swapping of the military's non-tactical vehicles for an all-electric fleet, again, by 2030 is really putting the climate crusade ahead of our department's lethality. We need to focus on that first. Sp, do you support the military adopting the EV fleet by 2030?
GRANHOLM: I do, and I think we can get there as well. I do think that reducing our reliance on the volatility of globally traded fossil fuels where we know that global events such as THE WAR IN UKRAINE can jack up prices [OF GRAINS!] for [STARVING AFRICAN] people back home. It does not contribute to energy security. I think that energy security is achieved, when we have home-grown clean energy that is abundant like you see in Iowa. We think that we can be a leader globally in how we have become energy independent.
ERNST: When it comes to the EV fleet, I don't support it. I think we've got a ten billion price tag here on a very expensive, unreliable product. We need reliability, and I'm going to make a plug again for our home-grown energy. We have a fleet right now that can use ethanol products, that can use bio-diesel right now. We don't have to invest that ten billion dollars. Anyone of our non-tactical vehicles can pull up to a pump, fill up with bio-diesel, and we are good to go right now at no additional cost to the DOD. And at a time when we're constrained by dollars, we need to take what we have right now and utilize it.

FOX News informants
IER | Energy Secretary Granholm's Perverse and Dangerous View of Military Electrification, 3 May: "...Just imagine a son or daughter in an EV military tank operated by enormous and heavy batteries that go dead in the middle of battle with no ability to be recharged quickly or at all..."
USPS fleet progress: 236,532 vehicles
electrek | Under new postmaster general, a Trump donor, electric mail trucks get postponed again, 13 May 2020
"The Postal Service started its mail truck replacement process in 2015...Meanwhile, Amazon made a deal to purchase 100,000 Rivian electric trucks that are expected to start rolling out as early as 2021."
CBS | U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs and thousands of charging stations, 1 Mar 2023: "Ford E-Transit Battery Electric Vehicles ...The goal is to have a fleet of 66,000 electric vehicles deployed by 2028."
autobodynews | Amazon Has Tripled Its Fleet of Rivian EDVs to 3,000 Across the U.S., 3 Apr 2023
"Obviously, the 3,000 vehicles currently in Amazon's fleet represent a tiny fraction of the 100,000 units Rivian is bound to deliver by 2030."USPS "non-tactical" fleet: 236,532 vehicles
electrek | Under new postmaster general, a Trump donor, electric mail trucks get postponed again, 13 May 2020: "The Postal Service started its mail truck replacement process in 2015...Meanwhile, Amazon made a deal to purchase 100,000 Rivian electric trucks that are expected to start rolling out as early as 2021."
CBS | U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs and thousands of charging stations, 1 Mar 2023: "Ford E-Transit Battery Electric Vehicles ...The goal is to have a fleet of 66,000 electric vehicles deployed by 2028."
autobodynews | Amazon Has Tripled Its Fleet of Rivian EDVs to 3,000 Across the U.S., 3 Apr 2023: "Obviously, the 3,000 vehicles currently in Amazon's fleet represent a tiny fraction of the 100,000 units Rivian is bound to deliver by 2030."

UK FIRES | Absolute Zero, Cambridge 2019, 60 pp pdf, illustrated

UK demand for energy-intensive materials is growing, driving increased emissions in the UK and abroad. UK FIRES is a research programme sponsored by the UK Government, aiming to support a 20% cut in the UK's true emissions by 2050 by placing Resource Efficiency at the heart of the UK's Future Industrial Strategy.

Industry is the most challenging sector for climate mitigation—it's energy efficient and there are no substitutes available at scale for the energy-intensive bulk materials—steel, cement, plastic, paper and aluminium. UK FIRES is therefore working towards an industrial renaissance in the UK, with high-value climate-safe UK businesses delivering goods and services compatible with the UK's legal commitment to zero emissions and with much less new material production.
[...]
We can't wait for breakthrough technologies to deliver net-zero emissions by 2050. Instead, we can plan to respond to climate change using today's technologies with incremental radical change. This will reveal many opportunities for growth but requires a public discussion about future lifestyles.

stretch goals, pp 8-9
2020-2029: There are currently no freight ships operating without emissions, so shipping must contract
2030-2049: All shipping declines to zero.

NEOM Obtains Funding For The World's Largest Green Hydrogen Plant

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company, which is building the world's biggest green hydrogen plant in Saudi Arabia, on Monday said it had reached the financial close on the world's largest green hydrogen production facility, which will need total investments of $8.4 billion.
[...]
NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) is an equal joint venture by ACWA Power, Air Products, and NEOM. The company plans to build the world's largest green hydrogen plant to produce green ammonia at scale in 2026.
[...]
The hydrogen mega-plant will integrate up to 4 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind energy to produce up to 600 tons per day of carbon-free hydrogen by the end of 2026, in the form of green ammonia. Earlier this year, ACWA Power, one of the green hydrogen facility's developers, said that it plans to build three more giant green hydrogen projects in Saudi Arabia.

NGHC has also concluded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement with Air Products as the nominated contractor and system integrator for the entire facility, the joint venture company said on Monday. Air Products, in turn, has already awarded major contracts to various technology and construction partners.

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