Search

Marco Setaccioli challenged Marco Travaglio's calculations on European and Russian military spending, stating that Travaglio had indicated 450 billion euros for Europe and 150 for Russia and had argued that Russia had reason to fear Europe, which had invaded it four times in the last 200 years. According to Setaccioli, in the current year Russia would have spent around 17 trillion rubles on defense, equivalent to 181 billion euros, a figure indicated, according to him, by most analysts. He noted that the nominal comparison did not take purchasing power into account: applying indices developed by specialized research centers, Russian spending would rise to 574 billion international dollars, compared to about 700 billion for the entire EU. He added that the EU would have three and a half times the population of Russia and a GDP nine times greater. Setaccioli argued that the Russian federal budget did not show all military costs. He cited studies by economist Craig Kennedy, according to which part of the spending would be financed through subsidized loans and would thus remain on the banks' balance sheets. He also recalled an investigation by Dozhd', which, according to him, had documented pressures on private companies to hire people before signing contracts with the military and to supplement salaries with corporate funds. He added that at least three militias would be linked to Gazprom, which would cover part of the costs. For these reasons, he dismissed as false the claim that Russia spent less than the EU. Historically, Setaccioli criticized Travaglio's reconstruction, according to which the Napoleonic and Nazi invasions, along with interventions in Crimea and support for the Bolsheviks, would justify Russian fears toward Europe. Setaccioli listed Russian troop interventions in Poland in 1939, Finland in 1939-1940, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania in 1940, Bulgaria in 1944, Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, Moldova in 1992, Georgia in 2008, and Ukraine in 2014 and 2022. He stated that there were no Russian regions occupied by European countries, while eight regions—one in Moldova, two in Georgia, and five in Ukraine—would be under Russian control. Finally, Setaccioli accused Travaglio of presenting a selective and misleading reconstruction to make Russia appear not dangerous, portray Europe as a threat, and argue that rearmament was unnecessary and risky. In his view, that reasoning could legitimize a potential Russian attack on Europe and constituted a form of collaborationism. #Russia #Europa #Difesa (translated)

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued a warning to parents against buying e-scooters for children under 18 due to the rising number of serious brain injuries among young riders, as highlighted by a consultant paediatrician who treated over 20 such cases in the past year. #EScooterSafety #ChildSafety #RoadSafety

Paola had anticipated that the fall had gone viral and that that evening the episode with Carmen, Valeria, and the other housemates would be funny. She had also written that the arguments about expenses had fueled tensions, especially between Guendalina and Jonathan, who was accused of manipulating the younger ones. In the post, she had finally mentioned the public vote. #Mattino5 #LaCaduta #Televoto (translated)

Nils Littorin, party leader for Malmölistan, rides into the municipal council on an Icelandic horse as part of a riding protest, where he criticizes the current political leadership for making it difficult for the people of Malmö to use cars. #Malmöpolitik #NilsLittorin #Populism (translated)

Irene wrote that she has returned to intervene after following the discussions in silence and criticized the reactions to an ironic TikTok published by two people. According to her, some users did not grasp the irony and tried to determine what was appropriate to publish and what could be laughed at. She added that a previous TikTok had surpassed a million views. Irene argued that the criticisms were mainly directed at the lightness and complicity shown in the video. She also invited those who were outraged to watch Zeudi's live streams, stating that they would find foul language and reproaches directed at the viewers. In her opinion, the indignant reactions were selective. Referring to the man involved in the TikTok, Irene said he was laughing, perhaps more than the woman, and questioned those who sought to protect him or decide for him, reminding that he was an adult. She described the video as an ironic invitation to "go screw yourself" and wrote that, although it had been removed, the message got through and its authors had won. She concluded by accusing the critics of inconsistency and hypocrisy. #ironia #TikTok #indignazione (translated)

Sappi criticized the hypocrisy of those who, in her opinion, presented themselves as censors and moralists while boasting of empathy and a sense of modesty. She attributed egocentrism and megalomaniacal and disturbed delusions to these people, defining the situation as concerning and sad. She argued that alexithymia was "devouring" them and that few exercised judgment with discernment, loyalty, objectivity, and good faith. She described them as incapable of living serenely and positively and urged them to learn how to live, smile, and love. She added that hatred, envy, and hostility made them lonely and losers and that they were losing a lot; she concluded by stating that love and truth always win. #Amore #Verità #Empatia (translated)

Julen Bollain responded to Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who had said that we should talk about matters related to food, listing measures to which, according to what he wrote, the PP had voted against in recent years. He included the revaluation of pensions in 2024, the Housing Law, labor reform, extraordinary taxes on banks and large energy companies, the Rider Law, and the tax on large fortunes. He also pointed out the PP's rejection of reducing the workweek to 37.5 hours, reforming unemployment benefits, expanding maternity leave, and protecting vulnerable families from evictions. He added the discounts from the social electricity bond, the prohibition of cutting off basic supplies to vulnerable households, the freeze on self-employed fees included in the social shield, the extraordinary extension of rental contracts, the regulation of seasonal and room rentals, and the restrictions on speculative home purchases by vulture funds. Bollain also stated that the PP had opposed all increases in the minimum wage. He argued that wages, pensions, housing, and labor rights were issues that should be considered when voting on November 29. #DerechosLaborales #Vivienda #Pensiones (translated)

Ultimora.net reported that the Council of Ministers had approved a new Traffic Code. According to reports, it would no longer be necessary to carry a paper driver's license and vehicle registration, as law enforcement would be able to verify them electronically. The site stated that there would be an indefinite ban on circulation for vehicles without insurance and that foreign vehicles present in Italy for more than 30 days would have to comply with Italian insurance regulations. For amounts not paid by foreign users, enforced collection would be provided for. Among the other news indicated by Ultimora.net were the reduction of fines and the suspension of the automatic biennial adjustment to inflation, in addition to the decrease from 90 to 45 days for notifying reports related to remote checks without immediate contestation. The age limit for professional transportation with trucks and buses would rise from 68 to 70 years, while motorcyclists would be allowed to use the emergency lane on the highway in case of accidents or significant slowdowns. Ultimora.net also reported that helmets and identification would become mandatory for powered cycles, including some bicycles used by riders, and that electric scooters would be banned from circulation when obstructing or endangering pedestrians. Finally, all municipalities would have to join the national platform for the European disabled identification badge; those that do not comply would not be able to use remote detectors to confirm violations in reserved parking and ZTL areas. #CodicedellaStrada #SicurezzaStradale #NuoveNorme (translated)

Fabiola had mocked Piera's intelligence, claiming that she hadn't understood Gianmarco's speech. According to Fabiola, he had clearly indicated to her that her image outside the house was not doing well, in an attempt to at least partially save her reputation; she added that it only took Piera two planes to get a big head. #gfvip #gfvip #gfvip #realityshow #intelligenza (translated)

VIA DI QUA had criticized the dynamic in which Valeria asked Jack for a French kiss, justifying it with the choreography, arguing that it was neither fun the first time nor the tenth time. He had added that if the gender roles had been reversed, the audience would have been outraged, and he considered such a reaction justified. #gfvip #gfvip #realityshow #società (translated)

THE DARK BARBIE wrote that Roncaccia had told someone to stay in their place and not to jump on him, adding that he knew how impatient he was. He reported that those present had then laughed and that Roncaccia had said "START WORK." #alepier #gfvip #gfvip #amici #risa (translated)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan said that for four years the team claimed to want to compete on all fronts, but these statements were mocked in some articles. He recalled that in recent years they had reached the Champions League final twice without winning and added that the goals remained high: the team was ambitious and aimed to progress as far as possible. #ChampionsLeague #Ambizione #Calcio (translated)

The article by Daniel Vázquez Sallés criticizes the selfish attitude of certain citizens who, despite the storm that hit Catalonia, requested food delivery, putting the lives of the delivery people at risk, which reflects an increasingly complacent and insensitive society. #RidersEnTempestad #SociedadInmoral #CondicionesLaborales (translated)