"Russian-based companies make up about half of the 61 entities added to the EU’s list Monday. In addition to the 19 Chinese companies, it also added nine from Turkey, two in Kyrgyzstan, one in India, one in Kazakhstan, and one in the United Arab Emirates.

Yes, I forgot Germany has a “diehard” constitution. Tnx for explaining this aspect. That would make it a third argument, or need of an " extra A-okay" mandate.

I also remembered, that big eavesdrop hack scandal while the Taurus issue was internally being discussed with the military brass and ministers. Having that scandal and the discussion " in the open" hasn’t helped either.

Their basis for holding back was Ukraine might use them to strike targets in Russia, and that cannot be allowed…

That was one argument, the other one was that a (German) ground force maintainance crew & training & encoding experts and stuff would be needed. Regarding sending maintainance crews, the opinions seem more and more positive of late. I’ll reckon we’ll might see Taurus , and hopefully more of it’s friends, being send. Then again, it will also depend on the outcome of the ( EU) elections this year.

Ofc Ukraine may defend itself! Anyway, here their quote:

“We think that we should allow them to neutralize military sites where missiles are fired, from where … Ukraine is attacked,” Macron said at a joint press conference alongside the German chancellor following talks at Schloss Meseberg near Berlin, the official state guest house of the German Federal Republic.

At the same time, he stressed that “we should not allow them to touch other targets in Russia, and obviously civilian capacities.”

Probably, but that’s the problem right? Even if you could, it’s about sustainability. But also that’s there isnt very much . And, it’s a complete inventory chaos, because of different specs. And ofc, there’s always political reasons and what nots. Generally, that’s what’s being said anyway.

This deal will allow Ukraine to boost its capabilities, including its essential air defence systems to protect its civilians, cities and infrastructure, which are still suffering indiscriminate attacks as seen this weekend in Kharkiv,” Sánchez told a press conference after the signing.

He said Spain had already pledged to supply Patriot missiles and said it would also send “another batch of Leopard tanks and above all ammunition”.

The Spanish government said the agreement would also include other areas, such as intelligence, training, de-mining, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

If I’m reading this in its context correctly, it seems that this meeting is about Europe (hopefully now) really starting to wake up.

I imagine the meeting will focus on the arguments of The Danish PM, to take a more proactive stance and response in Europe ( added: for more immediate needs of Ukraine’s defense situation.

Here a more up2date versionlink dec 2023. If you have better info, please feel free to post your own findings, that would be very constructive.

is trying to destabilize multiple western countries

Yes, and has been trying for many years, so we learn now. But it seems getting a lot worse of late.

Chancellor would stop being such a pussy

I understand your sentiment, and not that I expecially care for Scholz, but he deserves better: he can’t do it without the support the German Parliament. He might have been able to overcome that, if he’d had more public approval. In these turbulent disinformation/influence times, this is often the determinator…

Here a link EU polls Germany " Germany divided on military aid: The Bundestag has approved supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine - but Germans public opinion is quite divided on the issue as shown in different polls: in the Politbarometer survey, most of German respondents surveyed (56%) think it right to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, while 39% were against it. Otherwise, 59% believe that the delivery of such weapons increases the danger of a Russian attack on Western, see source."

Yips, it will get worse for Ruzz for sure.

It’s exactly the same op as they ran in Donbass and Luhsnsk

Yes, instigation & occupation comes right out of the Ruz Imperialisic playbook. There are more examples, like Georgia, and some attempts in Lithuania as well.

added: found this List of battles involving the Russian Federation

Because that would be an excellent way to get a bunch of NATO countries to stop fucking around and actually directly intervene both there and in Ukraine.

As I see it, using Transnistria as a western “front” by the Z army to encircle Kiev, will definitely risk more border incidents. This is without even considering Moldova’s EU candidate status, and Moldova’s ambiguous relationship with that " breakaway " region.

deleted by creator

It’s never been about reading the post/ articles. Mmm?!

should be a push to public transport.

Don’t know where you are from, but most of Europe has had good public transport. Though it can always be better, so Europe is pushing further with for example the TEN project, and check some vids on YT.

Also, imo, there is no " one" right answer. No holy grail nor whatever. Most choices are incrementel.Usuallly It’s a shift of awareness, technology ( in a form) and culture, which hopefully leads to a better tomorrow. The difference is that the majority of the problems we face have no precedent. 8 bn humans worldwide is a first since for ever.

That doesn’t seem very much at all.

This article is also 3 three years old; Germany allocated € 5 bn and UK 3 bn for EVs.

If I see this correct, it was a 44-56 % split three years ago.

I couldn’t find any proper comprehensive and comparable studies for subsidies and investments in ICE and EV.

Also there is a difference between subsidies like incentives, tax cuts, and investments

Thx! And, to clarify the situation I copied this comment from @Sarah link.

It’s not a “plug type door”. It’s a plugged door. They’re different things. This isn’t a door at all. It doesn’t open.

Indeed it’s NOT part of the fuselage (plane frame), it was built as an empty socket for the placement of an eventual (extra) emergency door, depanding the seat configuration. In this plane they did a faulty install of a " plug-in "instead.

exit door plug, which are installed as “blanking plates”.

Do you have some more info? I can’t find any new detailed info and I’m no airplane mechanic.Afaik, blanking plates are usually cosmetic, and the problem occured due to cabin pressure loss. Also, the plane was supposedly certified, recently.

over the past 60 years the West

I reckon the writer is saying this about the West because that’s the only data he had access to. And, that this techno-pessimism should be a worldwide phenomena.

On the other hand, I wonder whether other cultures, apart from the West, have adopted a similar risk averse mindset. I mean, “the Haves” (and not the Have- Nots) are the only ones prone to be afraid to loose their accumulated wealth & lifestyle. But probably other affluent groups in the Non- Western world, might have adopted similar tendencies.

Or, they might have not. And this risk averse mindset, is exclusively a Western post-industrial cultural element. It would be very interesting to find out what the cultural & regional differences actually are world-wide.