europe

While Kremlin propaganda feeds Russians fairy tales about “great friendship” and “strategic partnership without limits,” Chinese media calmly discusses exactly how those limits will be redrawn. Not someday in the distant future — but when Russia collapses. And according to Chinese authors, preparations should begin now.

Dame Maggie Smith, star of the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has died at the age of 89

A statement from Dame Maggie’s sons says she died peacefully in hospital on Friday morning

Fellow Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville says she was a “true legend of her generation” with a “sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent”

A legend of British stage and screen, Dame Maggie won two Oscars during her career - for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1970 and California Suite in 1979

The petitioner calls for the European Union to actively develop and implement a Linux-based operating system, termed ‘EU-Linux’, across public administrations in all EU Member States.

This initiative aims to reduce dependency on Microsoft products, ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and promoting transparency, sustainability, and digital sovereignty within the EU.

The petitioner emphasizes the importance of using open-source alternatives to Microsoft 365, such as LibreOffice and Nextcloud, and suggests the adoption of the E/OS mobile operating system for government devices. The petitioner also highlights the potential for job creation in the IT sector through this initiative.

[Edit typo.]

Paywall? archive.is/oTffC

Exclusive: Unofficial sites charging eight times the official price have already sprung up

cross-posted from: rss.ponder.cat/post/119578

Archived

Critics blasted President Donald Trump after he followed up a proposed Ukrainian “peace plan” — that essentially gives Russia one-sided concessions for nothing — with a speech from his private residence in Palm Beach in which he scolded Ukraine for starting the conflict.

“You’ve been there for three years. You should’ve ended it in three years. You should have never started it," said Trump.

“Fact: Russia invaded Ukraine, twice, in 2014 and 2022. President Trump is echoing a Russian talking point here,” wrote CNN’s Jim Sciutto on X.

“Trump once again blames Ukraine for starting the war. Trump blames Ukraine for invading Ukraine,” wrote former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), a one-time Tea Party activist turned conservative Never Trump crusader. “Sure, tell me Trump isn’t working for Putin. Tell me he’s not a Russian asset. Go ahead.”

“Truly, it’s time for everyone to admit it, Trump is legitimately a Russian asset,” wrote former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).

…

“TRUMP IS DISGUSTING!” wrote podcaster Ed Krassenstein. “He literally just claimed that Ukraine shouldn’t have started this war. He’s literally blaming Ukraine for starting the war & is taking Putin’s side. How can MAGA still support this man? He’s siding with a murderous dictator and spouting Russian lies.”

…

“Trump claims Ukraine started the war — a total disgrace against everything America represents,” wrote conservative attorney Heath Mayo. “Don’t be shocked — be motivated. And for damn sure do not bend the knee. Stiffen your spine and get ready to win back an America with a moral compass.”

“Trump’s team allegedly has offered Putin (1) Ukrainian territory, (2) no NATO membership for Ukraine, (3) no US soldiers in Ukraine, (4) the withdrawal of US soldiers from Europe, including from frontline states, and (5) sanctions relief,” wrote former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and Stanford University political science professor Michael McFaul. “Putin’s return offer – nothing.”

“Donald Trump is the President of the United States and the Spokesperson for Vladimir Putin,” wrote Ed Davey, head of the British Liberal Democrats party. “Only we in the UK and Europe will protect Ukraine.”

cross-posted from: lemm.ee/post/59729715

Microsoft is responding to mounting “geopolitical and trade volatility” between the US administration and governments in Europe by pledging privacy safeguards for customers worried about using American hyperscalers, and vowing to fight the US government in court to protect Euro customers’ data if needed.

Under Trump 2.0, some Europeans fear that storing their data in the bit barns of Microsoft, Google and AWS is no longer safe, a concern voiced to The Register in late February by Bert Hubert, a part time technical advisor to the Dutch Electoral Council.