#Poland jobs 2022

[iambecomeafangirl]

Can't wait for The Great Impersonator!! 🕷️🕸️🎃🎭🎪

I hope that this time, I will be able to see @tiredandlonelymuse live, cause in all of the 9 years of loving her music, I have never seen her live.

The one time she was in Poland, I couldn't attend because of work 😭

So here is me manifesting for 🕯️🕯️ Halsey in Poland 2025 🕯️🕯️

[mariacallous]

Last week, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency took the dramatic step of classifying the Saxony state branch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a threat to democracy—a potential first step towards banning it outright as unconstitutional. “There can be no doubt about the extreme right orientation of this party,” declared Dirk-Martin Christian, president of Saxony’s State Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

Although Germany has, in the past, exercised constitutional powers in the name of domestic security to rein in hardcore far-right (and radical leftist) forces, the objects of censure were marginal neo-Nazi parties and associations that had no chance of coming to power—even at the municipal level or in coalition governments. The AfD is a different story. Opinion polls show the AfD as the strongest party by far today in eastern Germany; riding a powerful wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, it has also notched record tallies in western German state elections and is poised to win the most votes next year in the country’s eastern half. It could conceivably wield executive power, should conservatives—such as the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) or the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP)—consider it in their interests to treat the far-right party as a legitimate expression of popular will.

Even though both parties say they rule it out, the option is not so far-fetched: Across the EU, conservative parties have turned far-right parties into governing coalition partners, including in Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Slovakia, and elsewhere. In the German state of Thuringia, the CDU, FDP, and AfD, all in the opposition but with a majority between them, now team up occasionally to bypass the leftist minority government.

Suddenly, Germans are seeing images of the political chaos of the interwar Weimar Republic flash before their eyes—the republic that ended ignominiously in the Nazi party’s victory and Adolf Hitler’s takeover in 1933.

This is why the agency’s ruling and a possible injunction against the AfD—the latter a highly controversial and risky option that is nevertheless gaining backers across Germany’s political spectrum—has observers questioning whether the Europe-wide surge of the far right can be stopped or slowed by legal measures.

The strategies pursued by the political class haven’t done the job thus far—on the contrary, the AfD is booming—and there’s a long history of banning extremist parties and associations in Europe, not least in Germany. Since mid-2022, both Germany and France arrested members of far-right extremist organizations involved in the planning of terrorist attacks. Under its autocratic leader Viktor Orban, Hungary, as well as authoritarian-ruled Poland, have been denied European Union funds, and in 2019, Orban’s party, Fidesz, was expelled from the mainstream conservative European People’s Party.

But Fidesz’s ouster wasn’t a prohibition, and the extremists in France and Germany did not belong to parties with representatives in the national parliament. In fact, the AfD is the second-largest opposition party in the German Bundestag after the Christian Democrats (and their Bavarian counterpart), and it says that it wants to come to power—democratically, through the ballot box.

The ruling makes Saxony the AfD’s third state branch to come under this level of red-button surveillance, which can include measures such as the German spy services’ covert observation and even infiltration of the party. All three state-level parties—Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia—are eastern German states with elections scheduled for next year. (In mid-April, the AfD’s nationwide youth organization was also deemed a threat to the democratic order and thus put under surveillance.)

Moreover, in the wake of Geert Wilders’s far-right Party for Freedom’s victory in the Netherlands in November, like-minded contenders across Europe, including the AfD, are expected to perform better than ever in June’s European Parliament election, an event that would have ominous ramifications for the European Union—and beyond.

Much like the rulings on Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, Germany’s intelligence agency declared that leading members and functionaries of the Saxony AfD regularly express racist, Islamophobic, and antisemitic sentiments. It labeled the branch as one with “typically ethnic-nationalistic positions” and said that both it and its national youth organization work in tandem with known neo-Nazi and officially banned movements, such as the Reichsbürger movement.

The Saxony branch has a diverse membership, the intelligence agency found, but the party’s leadership adheres to the ideology of its “spiritual father and leader,” referring to “the right-wing extremist Björn Höcke, who now shapes and dominates the character of the entire state-level party.”

Höcke, the AfD’s high-profile, outspoken party leader in Thuringia, was on the party’s far-right fringe for years. But the party has drifted so far to the right that its standard-bearer is now the 51-year-old Höcke , a demagogue who publicly espouses revisionist theories of Germany’s Nazi past and employs racist slogans against immigrants. He was charged in June with using Nazi slogans at AfD campaign rallies—a crime in Germany, where the use of slogans, propaganda, and symbolism linked to “anti-constitutional” organizations is banned.

German law gives the constitutional court the authority to shut down a political party when it pursues anti-constitutional goals and is in a position to achieve these goals. In 2017, Germany’s highest court chose not to disqualify the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), a thoroughly neo-Nazi party both in public profile and programmatically, on account of its diminutive size: The party of 6,000 people rarely breached the states’ 5-percent hurdles to be included in parliament and thus never came anywhere near entering government. This autumn, the constitutional court confirmed the expulsion of a former AfD official as a justice in a Saxon state court for constituting a danger to constitutional norms.

This year, the AfD saw representatives voted into official posts as a district administrator and a mayor (in Saxony-Anhalt) for the first time. Presumably, the AfD’s recent showing in the Bavarian and Hessian elections (15 percent and 18 percent respectively, which makes it the strongest opposition party in the regional legislatures) and polling numbers of twice that in eastern Germany endow it with a size unlike the NPD’s and great enough to pose a legitimate threat.

This, at least, is what a growing number of voices from all of Germany’s mainstream parties argue. Those voices are collecting supporters in the Bundestag, where a majority is required to bring the party before the constitutional court.

One of them is a lawyer and CDU parliamentarian from Saxony, Marco Wanderwitz, who argues that “there’s a good reason why the [German Constitution] gives us the option of banning a party,” as he told the daily Die Tageszeitung, “because a defensive democracy [wehrhafte Demokratie] has to wield very sharp swords against its greatest enemies. I have come to the conclusion that the AfD is now undoubtedly radical right wing. They are up to no good and are serious about it. We’ve got to use all of the options at our disposal to beat them. I’m afraid that without a court-ordered prohibition, we’re not going to be rid of them.”

Living in Saxony, Wanderwitz said, he observes how the AfD and its even more militant counterparts draw in disillusioned people and set a confrontational, aggressive tone. “In the parliaments, the AfD is on our backs every day,” he said. “It has thousands of employees who flood the internet and parliaments with right-wing extremist content 24 hours a day. At events in Saxony, I regularly experience that we’re met with burning hatred; we’re shouted at and threatened. I’m glad that there are loads of people standing between us and them outside the door. It’s something that feels a bit like what I imagine the early 1930s were like.”

Wanderwitz added that he thinks it is conceivable that the AfD garner 40 percent in the eastern elections come September. “What democracy here needs is some breathing space,” he said.

Other commentators shoot back that Germany’s democratic culture and the solid arguments of its political parties can beat back a populist party that spins outlandish conspiracy theories, apes Nazi slogans, and wants out of the EU.

“We can’t give the impression that we’re taking the easier route with a ban procedure because we can’t manage it any other way,” retorted Social Democratic lawmaker Sebastian Fiedler, who belongs to the Bundestag’s subcommittee for domestic security. “Well-functioning constitutional states can’t dismiss the way their own populations vote. We have to offer concepts that are convincing: here and now. Of course, the AfD is trying to attack the state from within, but the constitutional state is resilient.”

Fiedler and his parliamentary peers—not all of whom are opposed to putting the AfD on trial—argue that the state has other means at its disposal to mitigate far-right parties. In November,  all of the Bundestag’s democratic parties passed a  law that deprives the AfD from the kind of public funds that other parties use to finance foundations involved in public education work. They also argue there should be more funding for grassroots programs that strengthen civil society and fight fake news in the Internet. Wanderwitz and Fiedler—and just about all of their colleagues—agree that putting the AfD on trial and then losing would be a disaster, as well as a confirmation for the AfD that the mainstream parties are out to get it, based on the party’s specious rationale.

One of the strongest arguments against such bans is that outlawing a party doesn’t annul its supporters—and sometimes even turbocharges them. The Germans need only to look to Greece to see how the prohibition of a far-right party, the Golden Dawn, did nothing to dent the vote tallies of the Greek far right, which reorganized itself under new parties. Golden Dawn itself was disqualified from running in the election this year not because it was an immigrant-bashing, Holocaust-denying scourge, but rather because its leaders had engaged in criminal business activities.

Nevertheless, the party that captured more than 6 percent of the vote in 2015, when economic paralysis gripped the country, was out of the race. Instead, in June, three far-right parties made it into the national legislature, comprising the Spartans, backed by imprisoned Golden Dawn leader Ilias Kasidiaris, the pro-Russian party Greek Solution, and ultra-Christian Orthodox Niki (Victory). They captured 34 seats out of an available 300 and accounted for more than 12 percent of the vote.

It seems that Germany and Greece—in fact, just about all of Europe—will have to dig further down into their respective legal scriptures and political cultures to get at the  toxins that threaten to imperil their democracies.

[marietheran]

ahhhhh... oh my...

so. my family is maybe moving to Italy. that is, my father was offered a job there. they might change their mind but if they take him it'll happen.

there are several reasons to do so. our years in Switzerland were some of the most beautiful in our lives. it's Treviso. near the Alps. My father's skiing hobby would prosper. But the real reason is that, as they see it, Ukraine is losing this war and in some five years, we may be them. In five years, as it happens, my little brother will be at the age of draft.

but the problem is where this leaves me. 2 years ago the prospect of moving would gladden me for various reasons. Some of them are still valid but other things have changed. and of course I could stay here on my own. but. I still have reasons to want to move - it's just that there are ones for staying too. and does it make sense to stay here knowing it's just for the time being? (it was always just for the time being. but it's switching from "I'm dying to leave someday" to "I would like to leave but I may be forced to")

anyway, those vague plans that we might leave Poland again someday were always there. and those voices have been firmer since 2022. but I think this time they're serious. and even if it doesn't work out - that's not better actually. my parents will still be looking for a way to move. even if there's a fair chance there'll be peace for the next ... years. "..." because we haven't had 30 years of freedom since, idk, but at least 2 centuries. and who knows how long this can last. can you really plan the future, say, a generation forwards in this land?

[eliza-styx]

The grand Kömsko (König/Gromsko) timeline & masterpost

The time has come to sum up the lore and history of the ship that stole hearts of many by complete accident and wormed its way into the subconscious of many Polish shippers in the cod fandom. This post is for you, if you wanna participate in our little cult but struggle a bit with realising what headcanons may be appropriate for Gromsko, if you’re not Polish yourself and some König ideas that we think make sense in relation to this ship.

It all started on the fateful day of December 9th 2022 when Ghostytoasty  made the most random joke that was exactly the snowflake needed to start an avalanche of events

It led to Orin pitching an idea of enemies to lovers story for these two and my own brainworms picked it up to basically draft the whole fanfic in the conversation, at which point Shiba promised to make art for, if I actually wrote it.

Well, two days later, a child was born, the very first Kömsko fanfic to be posted on AO3

Shelter Me

written by none other than me aka ElizaStyx with the beautiful cover art done by MizuShiba

And thus the ship became reality.

It gained interest on twitter with artists like @/620_ne1 and @/Capitan_LX among others posting their own fanart of the pair

Shiba, of course also kept creating more  beautiful art of the couple

Encouraged by the small cult that spawned amongst the people of the ghostsoap discord I started working on the sequel fic, a humorous and fluffy take on the pair dealing with being in love while also working for the rival factions

Carry You

meanwhile, Ghostytoasty got their own inspirational angst juices flowing and wrote a beautifully poetic MCD fic

The warmth that lingers as a shattered heart bleeds

Somewhere along the way, a side channel dedicated to Kömsko spawned in the discord and we begun to fill it up with the various headcanons and ideas that are now listed in a twitter thread by Capitan_LX but to sum up some facts to start your own juices flowing

Gromsko basic headcanons:

- born 11.11.1990, on the Polish Independence Day - brought up in roman catholic faith with very strict, religious parents and a younger sister we named Judyta, definitely was either an altar boy or sung in the church choir - wears a cross around his neck since childhood - history nerd, knows everything about history of Poland and will ramble all night long - has two music listening modes: Sabaton or Polish pop like Doda, hates disco polo - very patriotic, brought up basically brainwashed into believing in God, Honour, Fatherland above all else, had dreams of a winged hussar and that’s why he joined the army (but also dreaming of men, huh?) - struggled coming to terms with his sexuality because the catholic church teaches that homosexual love is forbidden, used to say very offensive shit in his youth but definitely had grown since then - swears in Polish even if he speaking in a different language - calling people idiots and other names is his language of love - never recieved gifts as a kid, cries every time König gives him something and  König keeps showering him with gifts - knows English, Russian and German but doesn’t let on just how much German he understands because König loves to whisper sweet things into his ear that he thinks Gromsko doesn’t understand

König basic headcanons:

- born 15.08.1994, on the day of Assumption of Mary which is obviously a big religious holiday in Poland - is an only child, brought up by a single mom who struggled to make ends meet and worked several jobs but would give up anything to care for him, though often was absent overworking herself - severely bullied in school for being tall, awkward and having no dad, called slurs - became a bookworm to escape reality into fictional worlds - keeps a journal of his thoughts and the books he read - daydreams a lot and in the evening writes down many stories that he daydreams about during the day in his journal but thinks they are silly and never showed anyone until Gromsko came around (Gromsko adores them) - his love language is gift giving and he will look for excuses to give gifts - listens to heavy metal and death or black metal, loves Rammstein - gets into Behemoth and other Polish metal bands because of Gromsko - brushes his teeth at least three times a day, never smoked because it’s bad for gum health - decides to learn Polish in secret so Gromsko doesn’t know he understands when he calls him names - will listen to Gromsko ramble about history all night long - anxious mess 24/7, has severe panic attacks sometimes but Gromsko knows exactly how to ground him and calm him down

[tomorrowusa]

Lech Wałęsa is the founder of the Solidarność trade union which contributed to the collapse of communism in Poland in the 1980s. He served one term as president of Poland and won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Like most people in Poland, Wałęsa has no illusions about the intentions of Vladimir Putin. In a recent visit to Washington, he called for strong and united leadership in the West regarding Russia – especially in the ongoing information war.

“The whole world has joined together against Russia. It has never been like this. It’s our great opportunity to finally put some order into this world,” Walesa said in an address on February 8 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank. Walesa said fate has given the United States the role of leader in meeting these challenges and it cannot retreat now. “Our grandchildren will never forgive us” if it does, he said. The co-founder of Poland's Solidarity movement, who served from 1990 to 1995 as Poland’s first postcommunist president, said he fought his struggle against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact more than 40 years ago mainly with information and he encouraged the United States to do a better job “fighting with propaganda” against the current regime of Russian President Vladimir Puin. This includes tactics such as publishing data about the number of Russian soldiers killed and maimed in the war and the stories behind those losses. Ordinary Russians must be reminded that their neighbors or their neighbors’ sons may no longer be alive because they were sent to “die for Putin.” Westerns should help Russians “internalize what needs to be done.” In the decades since he left politics Walesa has been a champion of democracy and the rule of law, encouraging Eastern Europe’s formerly communist countries to pursue progress through democratic means. Walesa was celebrated in Washington in 1989 as the man who did more than any other single individual to bring down communism in Eastern Europe and addressed a joint session of Congress.

His trip to the US comes at a time aid to Ukraine is stalled in Congress as a result of Donald Trump's open advocacy of the Putin dictatorship.

Poland's current Prime Minister Donald Tusk has been far more direct about pointing the finger of blame.

Reagan ‘must be turning in his grave’: Poland’s Tusk slams Republicans over Ukraine aid

Ultimately it's up to American voters to get Republicans to quit acting like mindless stooges for the Evil Empire.

Progress has been made in the Senate on aid to Ukraine. But the House, led by religious fanatic Speaker "MAGA Mike" Johnson remains a problem.

Here is a list of Republican House members from districts won by President Joe Biden in 2020. These GOP representatives are particularly vulnerable. Presumably the 2020 presidential figures have been adjusted to 2022 district boundaries.

If you live in one of those districts, you have a disproportionate amount of influence on aid to Ukraine. Contact your representative and politely demand that the House quits starving Ukraine of needed assistance. Remind these Republicans that Ronald Reagan would be disgusted by the GOP acting as lap dogs for Putin's Evil Empire. Interestingly, 11 of those 18 districts are in either New York or California.

And yes, that table was made before the ouster of George Santos – otherwise it's up to date.

Not sure who represents you? Use your ZIP+4 to find out here...

Find Your Representative

[usafphantom2]

Saab delivers the first serial-produced Gripen E fighter to Sweden's Defense Material Administration

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 10/20/2023 - 09:08am Military, Saab

On Friday, October 6, an important milestone was surpassed when Saab delivered the first serially produced Gripen E aircraft to the FMV (Sweden Defense Material Administration), which will now operate the aircraft before delivering it to the Swedish Armed Forces.

In the past, two JAS39 Gripen E were delivered to FMV for use in flight test operations, but under the Saab operating license.

"I am very happy and pleased that we have reached this important milestone towards the implementation of the hunt. It is an important milestone and more deliveries will take place soon," says Lars Tossman, head of Saab's aeronautical business area.

Lars Helmrich accompanied the development of the Gripen system for almost 30 years, first as a fighter pilot and then as commander of the Skaraborg F7 air flotilla. As the current head of FMV's aviation and space equipment business area, he is impressed with the aircraft that are now being delivered.

"The delivery means that FMV has now received all parts of the weapon system to operate the Gripen E independently," said Mattias Fridh, Head of Delivery Management for the Gripen Program. "Its technicians have received training on the Gripen E and have initial capabilities for flight line operations and maintenance. The support and training systems have already been delivered, and parts of the support systems delivered in 2022 were updated in August to match the new configuration."

So far, three aircraft have been delivered to the Swedish state, used in testing operations. From 2025, the plan is for FMV to deliver the JAS 39E to the Swedish Air Force. However, Air Force personnel are already, and have been since 2012, involved in development activities with both pilots and other personnel. It is an important part of the Swedish model to ensure that what the user receives is really necessary.

“This is a very important step for deployment in the Swedish Armed Forces in 2025 at F7 Satenäs, and FMV has now applied for its own flight test authorization from the Swedish Military Aviation Safety Inspection. This is the culmination of intensive work in both development and production, where many employees have done a fantastic job."

In addition to Sweden and Brazil, which have already placed orders for JAS 39 E/F, several countries show interest in the system. Today, Gripen is operated by Hungary, the Czech Republic and Thailand through agreements with the Swedish government and FMV. Brazil and South Africa have business directly with Saab.

Tags: Military AviationFlygvapnet - Swedish Air ForceFMVGripen EJAS39 Gripensaab

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[the-jam-to-the-unicorn]

The Ukrainian Fencer Olga Kharkan got unfairly disqualified from the World Championship today because she refused to shake the Russian Fencer's hand after winning

Here is what happened:

She got later disqualified.

And a bit more context (I used to fence and have been following fencing for years): True, in fencing it is good manners and rules that after the fight the two opponents shake hands. It is a symbolic gesture of friendliness, sportsmanship and respect for the opponent. Normally, the winner offers his hand to the loser. Refusal of this sporting gesture can be punished by the judges, in the most extreme case with disqualification.

Now comes the big but.

The handshake is not obligatory. Alternatively, the weapons can be crossed (exactly what the Ukrainian fencer offered after the fight, as you can clearly see). The Russian fencer did not want this and insisted on the handshake.

For understandable reasons, the Ukrainian fencer refused (especially since she had offered a gesture of respect shortly before).

And what does the Russian do? Playing the poor, poor victim and staging a childish sit-down strike.

(By the way, after the Ukrainian had defeated her clearly and by a large margin. The fights lasted max. 3 rounds. Already after round 1 the Ukrainian was leading 8:6 and in round 2 she was the first to score 15 points (15:7)).

In the end she even pushes through that the Ukrainian fencer is actually disqualified.

And a bit more context:

The FIE (the international fencing federation) refused to exclude Russian athletes from competitions.

This could be due to the fact that the FIE has a long, friendly financial relationship with Russia. The money comes from Alisher Usmanov - a Russian oligarch and one of the 100 richest people in the world. He is actually the president of the FIE. Because of the sanctions he has to pause since March 2022. Yes, pause. De facto he is still president. Interim because of sanctions makes the job just someone else.

After massive pressure from the public and various countries (e.g. Poland), the FIE then announced that the Russian athletes must start under a white flag.

With the white flag they should start basically neutrally, so detached from the war against Ukraine. And the Russian athletes are ooof cooourse all toootaaal neutral. Nooothing is about politics.

Well ... works only half-good (not at all) in a country (Russia), where the sport is politicized and the connection to the military is very close.

Small example with said Russian fencer: She supports the Russian war of aggression, her brother fights in the Russian military in Ukraine.

Totally neutral. Not.

By the way, the Ukrainian fencer was disqualified from the entire world championship.

[beardedmrbean]

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Monday that 23 of its 32 member states were expected to meet the alliance's defense spending commitments this year. That is 13 countries more compared to last year's data, and five more than an earlier estimate in February.

"This is good for Europe and good for America," Stoltenberg said in a speech unveiling the newest numbers in Washington, "especially since much of this extra money is spent here in the United States."

The NATO defense investment target was agreed upon in 2014. The goal of the pledge was for members of the alliance to spend 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on national and joint defense, and to put 20% of annual defense expenditures toward new equipment. Much to the dismay of the US, the alliance's largest military power, only 10 countries had met this target last year.

At the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, member states agreed to make 2% of national GDP the minimal defense spending commitment rather than the highest target to aim for. This commitment, coupled with the impression of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, appears to have had an effect, as NATO's most recent defense expenditure report shows. Across the alliance, all member states aside from Slovenia and Italy have upped their defense budget.

Germany and France increase spending

The leading three country countries spending the highest percentage of national GDP on defense are Poland (4.12%), Estonia (3.43%), and the US (3.38%). Among the countries who have stepped up their defense spending most noticeably are European powers Germany and France.

This year, Germany met the 2% defense target for the first time since the early 1990s, a defense ministry spokespersonsaid in February. Germanramped up its military spending in response to Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to NATO, Germany is gearing up to spend €90.5 billion ($97.2 billion) on defense this year.

The Netherlands, whose outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte iseyeing to become NATO's next Secretary,General, is also expected to fulfill the defense spending target.

Rutte is still missing approval from one country to get the job: Romania are yet to publicly back him. Like Rutte, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is running to be the next NATO leader. But there is still time to iron out the vote, as Stoltenberg's term ends in October. 

The new list of countries expected to make the minimum target includes Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Romania.

Turkey, the Czech Repulic, Slovakia, the newest alliance member Sweden as well as their neighbor Norway are all also expected fulfill the 2% target. 

Greater investment in military equipment

Speaking to DW, Davis Ellison, a strategic analyst from the Hague Center for Strategic Studies, said that the collective recognition of NATO targets is especially noticeable when examining how much defense spending is now dedicated to new equipment.

"In the past, you had a lot of focus on personnel costs, which ranges everything from pension to health care and everything else," Ellison explained. "But now you have a much greater collective investment in equipment, which is more to meet NATO targets than anything else." The security expert pointed out that this extra spending compounded NATO's military might.

Of NATO's 32 member states, onlyCanadaandBelgiumare not expected to meet the NATO guideline of 20% defense spending going to equipment.  Iceland is also expected to fall short of the target, albeit because the country does not have a standing military at all.

Countries including Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Spain will not reach the NATO minimum defense spending goal.

Trump and Russia worries

Former US President Donald Trump, who is hoping to return to the White House after the November elections, rattled the alliance in February saying that he would "encourage" Russia to attack members of NATO who had not met their financial commitments.

"I would not protect [NATO members]," Trump said to supporters at a rally. "In fact, I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever ... they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills." This promted a strong responsefrom the White House, condemning Trump's statement as "appalling and unhinged." NATO chief Stoltenberg pointed out that the suggestion that "allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security."

Ellison believes that uncertainty about the future was prompting so many countries to increase their defense spending to meet NATO's targets. 

"There's always a little bit of that specter behind the scenes of what happens. If Donald Trump wins again, then there is significant reduction in US support to Europe," he said. "At the same time, I think it is just part of a collective recognition amongst many of the other NATO members, that there is a significant threat from Russia."

Ellison also believes that member states will reaffirm their defense spending commitments at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington ahead of the US elections in November.

"The real watershed for whether or not that sticks around would be the summit in the Netherlands next year, depending on what the administration is," he added. "But even beyond the US administration, I think there's a bit of a rush to get this, because you're also going to have the elections in the UK and France. This is a very election-heavy year."

The NATO summit hosted by the United States in Washington will take place from July 9-11.

[lil-scout-precure]

Junior Eurovision 2023 detailed opinions before the show. Part 4 (final)

After three parts, we're finally here! The final part of my tier-ranked opinions of the Junior Eurovision 2023 songs before the big day at Sunday, November 26th! 12 songs were already covered, from the decent (in a good way) to the almost winner-alerts, with some personal wildcards in the middle. Now we are left with 4 of the 16 songs, these ones being the top of the top of my personal favorites! And days before the main show!

The opinions on these songs will be longer than the others, but it's just I have a lot to say about them! :D

Let's show the tier-chart reference one last time, shall we?

Tier 1: "Very nice of them to invite Junior Eurovision to their concert"

🇮🇪 Jessica McKean (featuring legend herself Sophie Lennon) "Aisling"

Ireland is one of those countries that somehow fail to get a good spot (or even a Grand Final spot itself) in adult Eurovision, something strange knowing they won 7 times before the 2000's (and now Sweden ties them); but when they play in the Junior version, they get better placings (if not Top 5) compared to their adult counterparts (Poland and Georgia are another examples, with the first either giving decent masterpieces or the worse things to ever touch adult Eurovision soil for their JESC counterparts to surpass, and the latter with more undeserved low places/NQs than the previous one *cough, cough, Iru Khechanovi* and having their JESC counterparts to avenge them). And recently, it looks like their JESC broadcaster had been making a better job with a trio of Celtic songs than their ESC broadcaster's elections.

After the marvelous and eye-catching song that was Sophie Lennon's "Solas" in Yerevan that got a 4th place behind Mariam, Nare and Lissandro; no wonder the Irish delegation wanted to make a good election of their next singer (and ofc, the song) to reach victory. And boy, they kept their mood with this year's song

Why did this new Celtic-Irish song went above Ohne Worte, you ask? Well, first, the melody (once again) it's something that makes its job and lets Jessica's voice get along with it with the mesmerizing Irish lyrics, co-written by Sophie herself alongside other composers who made the 2019 and 2022 JESC Irish entries. While slower than Solas, it still gives the vibe of a magical and mystical song that really tells "it's from Ireland" more than the adult ESC entries.

When I watched the song reveal with the videoclip from TG4 (before the JESC YT channel XD), it was something beautiful. The eerie yet pretty castle, the landscapes, Jessica's princess vibes....And just of nowhere, when I thought I had seen everything, the final verses come in and THEN THERE IS SOPHIE IN THE CASTLE! Yes, you heard me, Sophie fricking Lennon in the videoclip, and singing with her partner the ending! Not only she wrote the lyrics (and invited the Wild Youth fellas to her concert during the Eire finale XD), but also OFFICIALLY joins Jessica in the entry, both studio and LIVE! As one of Sophie's fans, this was something I NEVER EXPECTED IN THE SONG. One thing is lyrics writing, but THIS IS TAKING THEIR LEGACY TO ANOTHER LEVEL! :D ;w;

For two legends together, the staging and live harmony is REALLY THE KEY for Ireland to get the victory they almost got in Yerevan! And knowing they sing 4th after Kvitka, I REALLY EXPECT them to blow the stage and at least have ALL THE LUCK I would wish for them! As the officially declared "ending of the Celtic JESC trilogy of 2019, 2022 and 2023" by the Irish delegations, I hope they end this cycle with honor, and at least brings a new start for Ireland in Junior Eurovision (and hopefully the senior one, because Sweden will kick them from their winner pedestal more sooner than expected if they don't step up. Seriously)

🇪🇸 Sandra Valero "Loviu"

As a fellow Hispanic, I ALWAYS expect the best from Spain in both contests (a language bias, since here in LatinAmerica we don't have Eurovision yet, junior or senior T-T). And while most of them are, well, not my style, there are some I hold dear in my heart: El Chiki Chiki, Amanecer, SloMo (and how not to love her? Chanel IDOLA!) and Eaea (still singing it, even if being another Big 5 robbery that hurted me a lot in Liverpool, and the worst of all with ONLY 5 TELEVOTE POINTS. Darn on the card system, sabotaging my credit payment in the website voting!) for the adult songs; and Antes Muerta Que Sencilla (campeona la María Isabel), Marte, Pa'lante and Señorita (a baby king following Chanel's Latino vibes ;W;) for the Junior!

And this year they didn't dissapoint again (even with HoD changes from RTVE)! They brought another queen to the JESC list, Sandra Valero, with her upbeat song "Loviu"

For all the expectatives I imagined for the Junior Eurovision Spanish song, this one blew me! So happy, so Junior-flavored (without being too sugar-coated), so catchy even for those who don't speak Spanish, so moving (and needed with the ballad parade)! I can say a lot of things of this song, but there is character limit in the posts, so I'll stop now. And Sandra giving it the nostalgic childhood vibes in her acting and voice! The imagination she conveys, her kindness and her energy...The second time I felt a Junior song very close to my native language (Señorita did it first).

I will threatPLEAD France TV (host broadcaster) to not chicken out with Sandra's staging. The swing of the videoclip MUST BE THERE, even if from a low height for security measures, because it's not like dealing with Loreen's 1.8 kg panini press, Blas Cantó's moon or Brunette's LED platform, it's UN JODIDO PINCHE COLUMPIO (and they previously put a ring-swing for Tanya's song in Paris 2021, so no excuses). The train and the clouds can be optional and they can innovate, but for everyone's sake don't ruin Spain's chance to win (more than they could already have since they perform FIRST) or I will burn France/j. And for those Hispanic fellas from here, remember to vote for Sandra! :D

🇳🇱 Sep & Jasmijin "Holding On To You"

As Netherlands was one of the first countries to begin their pre-selections for their JESC 2023 song, I played the Junior Songfestival 2023 song-snippet video as soon as Fan Del Junior Eurovision Song Contest streamed it in YouTube. And of the four songs, I got two favorites: one of them being Duron's "Magic" with a nice and catchy rhythm that would be fit in the Junior essence (even if they massacred his song at the live performance for the JSF Final T-T, like it happened to Kazakhstan's "Jer-Ana" in 2022). But alongside him, there was ONE song that spoke for me, in high volume and no doubts, "we are THE song for Nice", and managed to keep into the first place of my list for a VERY LONG TIME (before the next song occupied their throne)

This is, with no discussions, the most EDM and dance-inciting song I've ever heard and expected its victory before the great show in a Junior contest, let alone a Dutch JESC song after years of calm and chill songs such as Luna's "La Festa" (her 7th place by performing first is the sole reason I hope Sandra slays the stage this year to not suffer the same fate), Ayana's "Mata Sugu Aō Ne" (the robbery of 2021, a REAL robbery!) or even Ralf Mackenbach's "Click Clack" (both a JESC winner and now a plasma physicist...THE FUTURE THIS LAD GOT O-O).

Sep and Jasmijin's vocals are no doubt, harmony itself displayed in this AMAZING entry. And not only in the studio version, but also live in the Finals of Junior SongFestival itself! The lyrics telling a story of a friendship that could become something else between two souls, in a child-friendly yet effective and addictive! And the JSF staging, being a prototype of the Grand Finale version to see soon, it's so connected to the entry itself, and both not only swept the national jury and online voting with 12 points each, but also spoke "winner" from miles.

For the staging, as the JSF version was related enough with the song, it needs some serious changes if they want to elevate it to Nice (and to check what to do with the dancers since the 6-people-max rule of staging counts in Junior Eurovision too). Otherwise, and with an advantage of being the final song to perform this Sunday, I can see them winning (if there are no obstacles) and I will be happy for them (well, any of the Tier 1 and 2 songs, honestly, I love them). (well, at least they can make Dutch Eurovision champion Duncan Laurence feel better after his own ESC 2023 duo flopped at their own song since the pre-parties XDXD)

🇦🇲 Yan Girls "Do It My Way"

We reached the last song of the list!

Let's start with the country itself, Armenia. They are recently getting better in the adult Eurovision (Snap, Future Lover) and more than they were of perfect in the Junior edition: One winner being Vladimir Arzumanyan in 2010 with "Mama", another in 2021 being Malena with the JESC's Euphoria "Qami Qami" (alongside her 2020 song "Why" she couldn't sing in JESC 2020 due to conflicts happening in Armenia more than the pandemic, and the song itself not speaking other things than those ;w; T-T), and a runner-up of Nare's "Dance!" in 2022 (and the entire country at her side during the voting before Lissandro surprisingly won). And of course they couldn't lower their guards for this year again in France!

After a long run of mostly ballads revealed in the song list, and after my recovery of Poland's videoclip, this song is what I never thought I would need to listen in the Junior playlist and yet, by leagues, became my Top 1 election to win the contest at first listen!

From all the genres I thought Armenia would bring it on for Nice (anything but more ballads, knowing their Eurovision competitive spirit), K-Pop was definitely not in my list! And yet, even if not being a fan of the genre itself, "Do It My Way" made me head-bang and tap my feet while I heard it for the first time! The five girls' voices really give the feelings of this special song, from the calm beginning to the dance-breaking choruses, combining Armenian with English in the song so perfectly with their dance moves and the entire videoclip that it feels like an authentic K-Pop song that famous groups could create!

Even if like most cases in this list, I can't understand most of the lyrics without a translation (since it's mostly Armenian by EBU 70%-national-language rule to avoid English overusing like it happens in the adult Eurovision), the energies they deliver make it a good song. And it really speaks "being authentic to one self, to break the rules and do anything you want!" not only by the English chorus, but also the voice styles!

I know it will a bit more difficult for the Yan Girls to mix their dance moves with perfect live singing during the grand day unlike a studio video (same for the props and lights displayed in the clip), but I can tell by their videos (before the Opening Ceremony, not the rehearsals, I'm not fond of rehearsals as they're spoilers for me) they are ready to get a Top scoring, and maybe even repeating the "Armenia wins in France, and France wins in Armenia" cycle of victories we had since 2021!

Yes, I know it's sort of a polemic declaration since most of the ESC fandom is not too eager for them (or France itself) to win again with so many options and newcomers, but still, I won't be mad imo if they get a third trophy and tie Georgia in the winner list!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

And with this, I officially declare this JESC 2023 tier-ranking detailed opinion compilation finished! All of the 16 songs covered and reviewed!

If I have to talk about the contest itself, I got some opinions:

I'm a bit bummed there's no rock songs in this edition like in 2022 (Anos 70) or 2021 (Specchio) and others in previous years. And no, "Un Mondo Giusto"'s rock-chord finale doesn't count. It has to be a song of those vibes from beginning to end. But well, K-Pop covered that void in the list :D!

I'm surprised there's not a single boy solist in this edition. It's the "Cure Wing among the other Cures" situation in this edition, because there are three boys, yes, but in groups (Georgia, Oto and Nikoloz) or duets (Sep); and most of the singers are girls! XD

At least the running order is a bit decent this time. Germany is not first to begin (finally!), Spain is not a bad song to open the show (and we have televote on our side), and Netherlands can end the evening so fine

If the rumours of La Zarra not being a guest interval (like Barbara Pravi in 2021, Rosa Linn in 2022) are true, I will be sad, but yet comprehensive (since they say it was because she wants to rest from Eurovision after the kerfuffle, and the middle finger cancelled her in France, and so on...). But at least I hope the guests are some good singers!

And that's finally all! Hope you enjoyed this compilation! See ya next time! :D

[lil-melody-moon]

Thank you @lovely-menza for tagging me <3 This is the first time I'm doing such a post, as in, answering for questions in the post, without it being an ask game, so let's roll with it!

Are you named after anyone? Nope, my mom just heard the name on a party one day and she loved it ever since. And that's why I am named how I am named

When was the last time you cried? In the last year, quite a few months ago. It was connected with being laughed at by a close person due to him being after one beer and him not being able to drink at his age. And let's leave it at that

Do you have kids? Nope, but I would like to, if I find a good guy. I mean, I don't want a random weirdo or a creep in my life. I'm either getting a good guy or I'm living alone, without a care - I mean I have music...

Do you use sarcasm a lot? Only when i'm joking. Other than that, I'm brutally honest

What's the first thing you notice about people? Their eyes or smile. It's usually the eyes though. You can fake a smile, be more kinder with it, if you intend to do so. But eyes? You can't hide anything behind them. If you have bad intentions, it is shown in the way you look at someone. I usually am looking in the eyes when speaking to someone and when they speak to me I do the same. Let me tell you one thing - you can get scared shitless when you hear kind words and the person's eyes shine in a very bad way and you know they have bad intentions. I like to know if I'm safe or not

What's your eye colour? They are hazel. Once blue, the other time green, some other time gray blue or gray entirely or kinda white if I feel ill. Mom says that I usually have gray eyes when I'm very sleepy

Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings. I like to see the adventure presented in the media I'm watching have a good ending. Additional point if I like the characters! Then it's double the fun to see them happy at the very end

Any special talents? Maybe it's not a special talent, but I can hear wrong notes in a song very often, catch the rhythm of the song - oh boy, if it's changing during the song then I have so much fun with listening to it! - and memorize the entire melody if I hear the song a lot of times. I literally sometimes sit and play the entire song in my head if it's too quiet. I did that on the last test on statistics! Hehe, silence in class and I was listening to Scars on Broadway in my head while counting - got an A, that proves something XD

Where were you born? Poland! I'm still living there and I don't plan on moving somewhere else - maybe to another city, but then again I don't wanna leave my parents behind so yeah (a little bit of babbling :3)

What are your hobbies? Listening to music, playing on guitar - I started playing in July in 2022, I'm not very good at it yet, but I have a lot of fun! - and maybe writing from time to time some fanfiction. I like creating ocs ^u^

Have you any pets? Yes, a female canary. She's my lovely orb of feathers, who has almost the same music taste as mine - oh GOD, I played "Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)" by The Doors yesterday on my phone to quickly clean and come back to watching a tv series. The feathery orb sung so loudly along with Jim Morrison and the rest! I wasn't expecting her to give such a bright concert ;u;

What sports do you play/have played? None, I am the person who hated sports XD

How tall are you? 162/164 cm I believe? I am fairly short

Favourite subject in school? Polish lessons. They were fun, despite that some of the school readings were boring. But I could listen to so much stories about the society in the past ages. This was interesting!

Dream job? Working in a library - I'm working hard to get to that goal

Tag 15 people... Let's see if I have so much mutuals XD @furiousbirdballoon @juliearchery107 @jimmysdragonsuit13 @malakianwhvre @explodingegg123 @itsdareeeh @cantag-curtis @diedeadenovgh @circle-bircle @w0rldl0ngg0ne That's all I can think of at the moment. If anyone stumbles upon this post and wants to join, feel free <3 The rest of tagged people? Join the fun if you want :3

[odkrycia-nauce-i-foldery-online]

Whether scientific research is needed for canidae assemblage?

Importantly, most of the canids are poorly known. The priority species and sites are two endangered ones: wild dog of Africa (Lycaon pictus) and dholes (Cuon alpinus). As for the first one, there is a need to pioneer a small project for evaluating ethnozoological status and presence-absence study of this rare creature in West Africa. The most important area is northern Cote D'ivoire, namely Parc national de la Comoé, where the species was recorded historically. Another priority site is located somewhere in Ghana, in the east part of the country. The area of interest is Kyabobo National Park near the border with Togo. Hunters that have lived there for years reported that dog-like carnivores occured in the park. Another canid of interest is dhole, and the ecosystem of Central China. We are keen for pioneer studies or update distribution records in areas covered vast territories, from Daba Shan up to Luoxiao Range. Most interesting is the so-called Shennongjia Sanctuary, an area of mystery of biodiversity. Dhole is rare, pack-hunter recorded in various habitats of Central China. With various local names and a great role in human-wildlife conflict it is a pejorative species. This elusive carnivore has collapsed by decades, due to diseases, depletion of prey base, persecution and a bit by habitat loss. There are of course ideas of small jobs, which are so-called species hunting. Little is known of ecological requirements of Canidae guild in high, wild plateaus of Katanga (south Congo), where explorers have recorded quaint undescribed canid. There is a lack of data about basal data on canidae guild in West Africa in such wild places, as the woodland of Nasarawa (central Nigeria), Kwahu Plateau of Ghana, but there are some studies in Atakora Mountains of Benin near well-known W-Arly-Pendjari Transboundary Park. We would undertake a small camera trapping survey for searching two canids of these lands recorded historically, such as Lycaon pictus and side-striped jackal. Short carnivore survey can be done in Koro-Toro of central Tchad. There are needed for conservation efforts in wild Asia in such wild places as indochinese region called Tonkin Jungle (of Vietnam). In such two regions research and conservation of rare canids are kindly appreciated. Other project can be undertaken in mountains of Central China, where scientists have recorded dholes Cuon alpinus of Szechuan and another canid of the Vulpes genera with shaggy fur, being not yet described by science. It is now believed to be only domestic dog but with lack of proof. Ecological requirements of these canids can be studied in this vast land. Authors of pictures: Aelurodon/paleosleuths.org, atlas of the world/Louis Hansel and Africa part of project/Top Gear. Posted by Tomasz Pietrzak, popular-science author and bachelor biologist from Poland/EU. Contact with @echlleaguescientific. This Q&A abstract is written under Creative Commons Licence.

Redigerat 2022-11-05, 14:33 av league-scientifique

[mariacallous]

Since winning power in October 2023, Poland’s current (and former) prime minister, Donald Tusk, and his foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, have visited Paris and Berlin and sought a revival of the Weimar Triangle, a multilateral format once central to reconciling the western and eastern visions of European affairs, largely marginalized over the past decade due to the right-wing Law and Justice party’s antagonistic approach to Germany. And in late January, a trip to Kyiv—of vital symbolic importance—reassured Ukraine that Poland will continue to be its advocate in Europe, a job ever more burdensome given the waning resources and growing war fatigue among other allies.

Cynical observers might conclude that Tusk and Sikorski are simply wining and dining in other countries’ capitals rather than governing their own country. But that is not the case. The diplomatic offensive they have ushered in is, in fact, an integral part of their political mission: They campaigned under the promise of Poland returning to Europe after years of self-initiated conflict with Brussels.

Tusk and Sikorski have even buried the hatchet with Andrzej Duda, Poland’s president, backed by Law and Justice, their archenemy in domestic politics. On the occasion of visiting U.S. President Joe Biden in the White House to rally support for Ukraine (and to seal military deals for Poland along the way), they spoke in harmony.

Duda, a Euroskeptic, commenting on plans for Poland’s 2025 EU Council presidency, even concluded that “just as there is no strong NATO without Europe, there is no strong Europe without the United States and NATO.” Liberal internationalism seems to be spreading through osmosis in Polish politics.

Tusk has also become feisty on social media, bashing U.S. Republicans for withholding aid for Ukraine, with references to former President Ronald Reagan “turning in his grave,” as well as writing a powerful critique of Russian President Vladimir Putin after the death of Alexei Navalny.

A Christmas gift of unlocked EU funds arrived from Brussels in December, previously suspended due the European Commission objecting to Law and Justice’s reforms violating independence of the judiciary and state media, but now made available as a goodwill gesture on behalf of the EU just days after Tusk’s swearing-in. The second coming of Donald Tusk seems almost like a campaign for an unelected leader of Europe.

Except it is not—at least, not in a way in which most European commentators are hoping for it to be. Poland is back, no doubt. After years of self-proclaimed isolationism, when Law and Justice did not see any value even in being present at the continent’s most important negotiating tables, the surge in Warsaw’s international activity is impossible to miss.

Tusk, a figure of authority in European politics due to his tenures at the helm of the European Council and the European People’s Party, is not solely responsible for it, of course. Equally—and in some aspects, even more important is the role of Sikorski, returning to the foreign office just as Tusk comes back to lead the government. Sikorski, a University of Oxford graduate, is well-acquainted with Britain’s conservative elite and the high-profile figures in Washington but equally appreciated on the continent for his efforts to expand both EU and NATO influence eastward

He took his previous job as a member of the European Parliament extremely seriously, defying the commonplace perception of the parliament as a political retirement home. Even before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he campaigned heavily both for a more sober approach to Russia and a rapid increase in Europe’s defense capabilities—and both these efforts gave him enormous political clout. As a result, Sikorski is now a clear front-runner to become the EU’s first defense commissioner, should this post be eventually established after the June parliamentary elections, as proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

With such a pair of diplomatic heavyweights at the helm, Poland might appear to be a rising power, capable even of shifting the continent’s balance away from populism and authoritarianism and in favor of liberal multilateralism and cooperation, especially in the realm of geopolitics. And despite the fact that there is enormous hunger, both domestically and abroad, for that to happen, Tusk and his team might have neither the resources nor the energy to assume a long-term leading role in Europe.

And if they succeed, it might be different than many now imagine.

After the electoral victory of the liberal and progressive parties last October, when the self-proclaimed democratic opposition defeated Law and Justice after two terms in power, enthusiasm was palpable in Europe. Sandwiched between triumphs of the far-right in Slovakia and the Netherlands, Poland became almost automatically a beacon of hope for the left across the continent.

Defeating a modern-day populist incumbent through direct elections is no small win, and Tusk deserves credit for it, but expecting him to lead a Europe-wide charge of liberals against populists and far-right Euroskeptics is both naive and unrealistic. First, because he will continue to have his hands full at home. Second, because Poland under his leadership will not be the Poland that everybody in Europe remembers from more than a decade ago.

This was already apparent on his first visit to France. Widely criticized in the past for being Germany’s supposed puppets, both Tusk and Sikorski signaled decisively that Poland is ready and happy to talk—but as an equal, not as anyone’s patsy.

At a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Tusk said that while “it would be difficult to find a politician in Europe that would be more pro-Ukrainian than me,” the food security of both Europe and Poland needs to be taken into account. These comments, made with regard to a farmers blockade on the Polish-Ukrainian border and a crisis over the importation of Ukrainian grain to EU, were already a signal that being favorable to Kyiv does not mean bowing to all of its demands.

Similarly, in Berlin, Tusk made rather spiky remarks at a press conference with German officials when he reflected on complacency being a thing to be avoided in relationships—a multilayered comment that many in the room saw as both a criticism of Berlin’s policy toward Russia over recent decades as well as an announcement heralding change in Poland’s approach to Germany.

Weeks earlier, Sikorski touched a similar note by jokingly offering Germans a discount on war reparations (previously demanded by the Law and Justice government) “should they transfer the whole amount by year-end.” It was not so much the mischievous humor but the very fact that he did not dismiss the notion of reparations entirely that made the comment a focal point of his visit.

For the past decade, hunting for arguments to back up financial claims from Germany was the idée fixe of Law and Justice’s diplomacy—to the point to which some civil servants included it in their email signatures. While in opposition, the liberals and progressives many times labeled the idea as absurd and harmful for bilateral relations. Now it is an integral part of the bilateral conversation.

Sikorski’s stature and experience will be pivotal for Poland’s return to multilateral decision-making —and he needs to move fast. Domestically, he started his tenure short of experienced personnel, as Law and Justice purged the civil service and filled it with political loyalists and party members, the latter being forbidden before the party took over power.

It should come as no surprise that he appointed as many as seven deputies, a move that came under fire from the opposition as an unnecessary expansion of administration and political hirings. But a careful examination of the nominations shows that Sikorski is gearing up for battles on many fronts: Among the state secretaries are Marek Prawda, a former ambassador to Germany and head of Polish mission to the EU; Robert Kupiecki, an ex-ambassador to the United States, deputy ambassador to NATO, and deputy defense minister; and Anna Radwan-Rohrenschef, an experienced think-tanker and public policy expert, well-connected in Brussels and Paris.

It’s not all rosy, however, since Duda does not share all of the foreign-policy views that Tusk and Sikorski are trying to impose. Although legally, according to a 2009 ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal, it is the prime minister who decides the country’s foreign strategy, it still needs to be agreed on with the president. And Duda is, after all, a conservative politician, who famously refused to congratulate Biden on his electoral victory in November 2020. In the event of former President Donald Trump winning another term, more disagreements on the U.S. front will arise, as Tusk and Sikorski are clearly siding with Biden while Duda actively praises Trump for good, especially economic, relations during his first term.

Sikorski himself takes on the issues of rallying support for Ukraine—where he is remembered for his involvement in attempted peace talks after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea—as well as trying to control bilateral relations with the United States. Heavy criticism of Trump will not earn him many favors should the former president return to the White House, but Sikorski will not be entirely isolated. Good trade relations between Washington and Warsaw will help, even in the event of a Republican administration in 2025.

The biggest challenge, however, lies at home. Tusk’s government enjoys a stable majority in the parliament but needs to cohabit with a hostile Duda. Backed by Law and Justice, he will remain in office until mid-2025, and he is likely to try to influence Sikorski’s strategy. Duda and Tusk have already clashed multiple times over the new government’s attempts to restore the rule of law and remove the public broadcasters from political control, with the president even accusing the prime minister of creating the “first political prisoners” since the 1989 democratic transition. An already-strained relationship will be echoed in Poland’s diplomatic endeavors, as Duda is unlikely to back down.

In January 2025, Warsaw assumes the presidency of the European Union—and Law and Justice had passed a bill that compels the government to agree its priorities with the sitting president. On the basis of that, Duda already announced the pillars of Polish EU leadership, wanting to focus on relations with the United States, the proposed accession of Moldova and Ukraine, and Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and energy transition. On paper, these do not appear too hard to swallow for Tusk, but it remains to be seen how the government will implement them and who will be the face of the EU presidency.

Duda will claim the right to represent Poland as head of state, but Tusk has a history of clashing with Law and Justice presidents; he was repeatedly challenged by the late President Lech Kaczynski over EU summit participation during his first tenure as prime minister. Tusk might have a stronger hand this time, which is also due to an instrumental role of Piotr Serafin, his former chief of staff during the European Council days, now Poland’s acting permanent representative to the EU. With Tusk’s man in Brussels, he will be more ambitious both at home and abroad.

On the other hand, Duda is also responsible for approving the government’s choices for ambassadorships. Back in January, he was expected to agree on the vast majority of replacements proposed by the foreign office, but now the presidential palace is objecting to the government’s plans. Sikorski wanted a swift and sizable turnaround, proposing to replace some 50 ambassadors in a very short time span—and Duda objected.

An unofficial stalemate continues, to the point that the presidency has reportedly threatened to block a potential nomination for Sikorski to become an EU commissioner if he does not bow to pressure. The Foreign Ministry plans to respond by recalling ambassadors and sending new chargés d’affaires in their place, a provisional solution at best. It could result in a severely polarized diplomatic corps, on the one side faithful to Law and Justice, on the other heavily pro-European.

Right now  there is certainly a lot of will in Warsaw to transform Poland’s role in Europe—but there might not be a way. Domestic struggles will consume time and energy, possibly at the expense of international aspirations.

Last year, during the Warsaw Security Forum, an annual geopolitical gathering, a senior foreign diplomat noted that Poland has become Europe’s center of attention, but not yet the center of its gravity. Tusk and Sikorski will want to change that.

[crystal-charlotte-lynch]

Trying my hand at Willam S. Burroughs cut-out technique

Joseph Derito, an 81-year-old retired baker in Elmyra,Overall, about half the

New York, sees immigration

country - 49% - say democracy is not working traveled to Ukraine with

policy as not representing well in the United States, his wife, Kim Keon Hee,

the views of most following trips to Lithu-

icans. "The government compared with 10% who ania for a NATO summit say it's working very or and to Poland. It's his first

today is all for the people

extremely well and 40% visit since Russia invaded who have nothing - a lot of

only somewhat well. About Ukraine in February 2022.

them are capable of working half also say each of the Yoon toured Bucha and but get help," said Derito, a political parties is doing a Irpin, two small cities near white political independent bad job of upholding democ- Kyiv where bodies of civil-who leans Republican and voted for Trump. "They just racy, including 47% who say ians were found in the that about Democrats and want to give these people

streets and mass graves after

even more - 56% - about Russian troops retreated everything"Republicans.

Sandra Wyatt, a 68-year- "I don't think either of year.from the capital region last

old retired data collec- them is doing a good job just South Korea, a key U.S.

tion worker and Democrat because of the state of the ally in Asia, joined inter-

in Cincinnati, blames economy - inflation is kill- national sanctions against

Trump for what she sees ing us," said Michael Brown, Russia and has provided as an erosion in democ- 45, a worker's compensation Ukraine with humanitar-racy. "When he got in there,WASHINGTON - Only ian and financial support it was like, man, you're about 1 in 10 U.S. adults to Ukraine. But the Asian trying to take us back to give high ratings to the way nation, a growing arms the day, before all the rights democracy is working in the exporter, hasn't provided and privileges everybody United States or how well it weapons to Ukraine in line fought for," said Wyatt, who represents the interests of with its longstanding policy is Black, adding that she's most Americans, according of not supplying arms to voted previously for Repub- to a new poll from Associ- countries actively engaged licans as well.ated Press-NORC Center in conflict. She sees those bad dy. for Public Affairs Research.

During a joint news Majorities of adults say conference with Ukrainian

prime minister took a fresh U.s. laws and policies do turn Saturday as the candi-

President Volodymyr Zelen-

a poor job of representing skyy, Yoon announced date who led his party to what most Americans want plans to expand support first place in May's general on issues ranging from the dozen years. The case election said he is open to economy and government endured through five police bowing out of contention spending to gun policy, commissioners, more than if he cannot win a second I immigration and abortion. 1,000 tips, countless theo-round of voting in Parlia- The poll shows 53% say ries and supposed conspira-

ment. Congress is doing a bad job zies. Then a fresh review last Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, of upholding democratic year tied an old clue, about the leader of the progres- values, compared with just a pickup truck linked to a sive Move Forward Party, 16% who say it's doing a victim's disappearance, to said he would be willing to good job.

a new name: Rex A. Heuer- let a coalition partner party 'Lawmakers failed to mann.

field its candidate. However, confirm Pita as prime minis- Energized by the truck

he indicated the political ter Thursday despite his sidbit, investigators charted battling could continue for party's surprising victory the calls and travels of

weeks. in the May polls, when it multiple cellphones, picked The findings illustrate garnered 151 seats in the part email aliases, delved widespread political alienation as a polarized country

500-member House of into search histories and Representatives. It then collected discarded bottles

limps out of the pandemic assembled an eight-party and into a recovery haunted

- and even a pizza crust I

coalition that together holds or advanced DNA testing, by inflation and fears of a

312 seats, a clear majority in cording to court papers. recession. In interviews, the lower house, giving it the respondents worried less On Friday, Heuermann, 59,

bout the machinery of right to nominate a prime was charged with murder in

minister. democracy - voting laws

A second round of voting

and the tabulation of ballots is expected Wednesday.

- and more about the outputs.

[aurumjank]

I realised that @simplysummers tagged me on this half a year ago and I never replied 😅 I'm doing it now!

Name: My real name is Zlata, which means gold (so y'all can call me Goldy, I'm fine with it 😉)

Sign: Gemini.

Height: 5'3'' I guess? I mean, I don't usually use feet and inches and in cm I'm ~161cm.

Time: GMT+2 (Poland)

Birthday: June 1 (Yes, I just had my birthday! But for some reason I already started telling people I'm 23 back in March 😂)

Fave band/artist: Queen, since I was around 2yo! I guess I've just had a soft spot for gays since early childhood 🤷🏼‍♀️🌈

Last movie: Wolverine Origin. Or, no! I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy part 3 on my birthday! 😄

Last show: The last one I actually finished? Probably Glee. Or Good Witch. Or Lucifer. Because I was watching and finished them around the same time. But the ones I'm watching right now? Flash and rewatching Teen Wolf.

When I created my blog: Around 1,5-2 years ago, to send an ask to an author about their story. But really use the blog (posting and reblogs) I started less than a year ago (Mid Summer - Early Fall 2022).

What I post: I'm using Tumblr as my diary most of the time when I actually post something myself. But when it comes to reblogs? EVERYTHING!

Other blogs: None.

Followers: Less than 20. Around 17, I think. And I'm happy to have them 😊

Average hours of sleep: 6-8 hours. I'm trying to control myself (for the last 2-3 years) and to not read for too long before going to sleep.

Instruments: Sadly, none. But I want to learn how to play guitar! My dad has one and I'm trying to make myself give it a try 😄

What I'm wearing: Sweats and a t-shirt, with a plaid shirt (I just had an online lesson and I had to look presentable in front of the kids, hence the shirt)

Dream job: I'm actually really happy with my job right now - I love being a teacher. But if I ever had an opportunity to appear in a movie or on the show, or if I were able to write stories/scripts - that would be a dream come true!

Dream trip: Around the world!

Favourite songs: Hmm... That's a tough one 🤔 I guess, most of Queen (obviously). Also, for the last year 2step by Ed Sheeran (feat Antytila) was my top1. Play with Fire by Sam Tinnesz (feat Yacht Money) and Wild One by MALINDA are close second. Taylor Swift and Glee Cast are always on the top near the Queen no matter how long has passed or the mood (because it's possible to find something for any mood among their works 💜).

Yeah, I guess that's it 😃

Tagging: I don't want to tag someone and unintentionally make them feel pressured to share something about themselves, so everyone who wants to share more about themselves feel free to do it!

[septentrrional]

2022 was a good year for me. I am proud that I trated well with each challenge and that I created and seized opportunities.

- I changed my job, as the last one became unbearable and toxic. I now work remotely only, and there is a greater variety of the skills that I grow. The current job is more dynamic and I earn almost twice as much.

- I suck less at housework.

- I made new friends and moved from a 1-1 friendship mode to a group of friends one. In fact I integrated in the friend groups of my friends.

- Some of my friendships are of greater quality

- I have a relationship, albeit early stage

- I did a bit of travelling: Poland (+ Auschwitz), Czechia, and throughout Romania (Brasov, Sibiu, Alba Iulia, Sf Gheorghe, Constanta, Iasi, Suceava, Baia Mare, Sigehtu Marmatiei, Moldova, Bucovina, Maramures, Tg Mures, Sighisoara, Dunare, Vama Veche, Transfagarasean, Balea, Vidraru, Valea Oltului)

- many concerts: Mayhem, Maiden, Bucovina, Moonspell, Judas, Sabaton, Slipknot, Kreator, Behemoth, Nightwish, Jinjer, Mgla, Khors, Septicflesh, Hypocrisy, Groza, Godsmack. And also Rockstadt Extreme Fest.

- found out about a lot of new bands, mainly in the black metal scene: Abbath, Immortal, Mayhem, Carpathian Forest, Melechesh, Beast in Black, Celtic Frost, Dark Funeral, Vader, Heidevolk, Arkona, Mgla, Mork, Falconer, Cattle Decapitation, Burzum, Batushka, Lunatic Gods, Khors, Hypocrisy, Groza, Carcass, Afsky

- I am calmer and more at peace with myself. And more rational and emotionally stable.

[chimneyfall]

Happy New Year!

I wanted to begin this blog by recording some 2022 milestones. 

If There’s Anyone Left vol. 2 came out in January with my first published short story ever, “Travel Guide to Spaceport Rest Stops.” 

In May, Strange Horizons published a story I’ve been working on since 2019 that’s very close to my heart, “Heavy Possessions.” Huge thanks to Aigner Loren Wilson for helping to make it publication-ready. 

I attended the Lambda Literary Retreat in August and met many wonderful authors. I’m so excited to see their future work in the world. 

In December I published my first short Twine game, “The Bird With My Brother’s Face.”

I’ve also had several acceptances and I’m looking forward to seeing them in 2023: in Anathema, Cast of Wonders, the Asian Cyborg Zine, and Pride Quarterly.

In life news: I quit my job in Michigan and will be relocating to Chicago at a new library, my partner and I submitted an application for a marriage visa to bring them to the states, and I’m going to Poland for two weeks at the end of this month.  

My favorite books published this year were Ducks by Kate Beaton and (for the first time in English) Banana Yoshimoto’s Dead End Memories.

Hope 2023 brings you all good fortune! ❤