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St Pauli, a planned attack on a supporters’ coach and the possible political motivation behind it It's sports related and from the Athletic. I'll try to quote it a bit, but just seemed interesting with all the news about Germany recently.

In the early hours of last Sunday morning, a service station in north-east Germany was the setting for what appears to have been a planned attack on a travelling band of St Pauli supporters.

The Saalepiraten — the Saale Pirates — are a St Pauli fan group, with members drawn from Halle, Leipzig and Dessau, three cities in Saxony-Anhalt, all situated on or around the Saale River. The group had made the journey south to the Olympiastadion in Germany’s capital on Saturday, September 30, to watch their team move to the top of the 2.Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory over Hertha Berlin. When the game finished, they began their coach journey home shortly after 11pm local time.

At around 12.45am, they made the first of their scheduled stops at an Esso garage outside Dessau, a city 50km from Leipzig. Some fans got off the coach as planned and headed towards their cars, others chose to stretch their legs on the garage forecourt. According to supporters — all of whom have been granted anonymity by The Athletic to respect their privacy — between six and eight vehicles then appeared, in addition to three nine-seater minibuses, before a group of masked attackers wearing red and white balaclavas emerged, and descended upon the coach and the supporters nearby. Some were able to escape to their cars parked nearby and others made it back onto the coach.

Another witness believes that an extra wave of attackers appeared from behind the petrol station itself, before surrounding the coach and physically assaulting fans, while shouting “Scheiß Zecken — Scheiß St Pauli (S*** ticks — S*** St Pauli)”.

St Pauli are arguably the most famous politically left-wing club in Europe and are known as much for their values and ideals as their football. It is not known who the attackers were, but clashes with far-right groups from rival clubs are not unusual. The club’s rivalry with Hansa Rostock, for instance, has periodically been punctuated with violence between St Pauli ultras and a group of right-wing Rostock supporters.

“Zecken” is also a slur with which St Pauli fans are often taunted, at home in Hamburg and beyond. Its literal translation is “tick” but, in English, its implied meaning would be “leech” and, as such, it carries derisory connotations regarding social class and welfare dependency.

The supporters’ coach, which contained three minors, was surrounded and prevented from moving to safety. According to the witnesses, the masked group also tried to force its doors open, before the police arrived and the attackers scattered, disappearing back to their vehicles. Members of the fan club who escaped the scene later reported being passed by minibuses containing the attackers. Later that night, one of the coaches involved in the attack was later stopped by police at another petrol station, 20km away in Kockern.

Hello hexbear. Thanks for all the info.

I was taking surveys for money, and in one of them the only thing they had that was notable about the Obama stand-in was that he was pro-charter school lol.

I got an article from switzerland again, from SRF which is basically swiss bbc/pbs.

What now, Wolodimir Selenski?

The Pro-Ukraine-Alliance is in danger of falling apart. How dangerous is the situation for Ukraine? Three scenarios.

Russias raid on the ukraine has claimed tens of thousands of lives and devestated cities and infrastucture. The fact that the ukranian forces were able to defend their country was thanks to support from a broad coalition of nations. Alone from the USA there was weapons, munitions and additional military support worth more than 40bn dollars. (Quite a bit more than that but whatever.)

But after one and a half years of war there's a danger of the Pro-Ukraine-Alliance, which consists of mainly NATO-Countries, to fall apart. The support is in danger of shrinking.

Ukraine Scepticism grows

After a dispute over grain between Poland and the Ukraine escalated, the Polish head of government threatened to end arms deliveries. In Slovakia , a party won the weekend's election whose leader rejects further aid to the Ukraine.

And in the USA, a government shutdown could only be averted with an interim budget without additional funds for the Ukraine. Only the funds that have already been ratified will be paid out. What happens after that is unclear.

In general, the USA threatens to become a less reliable partner. Politicians from the right fraction of the republican party brought the chairman of the large parliamentary chamber, their party colleague Kevin McCarthy to fall.

McCarthy already had made critical comments about Ukraine. It is unclear what they want to achieve with all the aid: "What's the Plan for Victory?". The party-hardliners go even further and call for the immediate stop of all military aid.

The situation for the Ukraine and for Ukrainian President Wolodimir Selenski is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. What scenarios could declining support result in?

Scenario One: The Ukraine falls

Without american help, the core of western support will collapse. It is only a matter of time before russian tanks take over the ukranian capital Kiev and a pro-russian puppet president takes Selenskis place.

The result: The USA's reputation is ruined; In countries like Japan, South Korea or Taiwan they are losing their credibility as a protective power against China. A rather unlikely scenario.

Scenario Two: The Ukraine shrinks

This scenario is more likely, skepticism about the Ukraine continues to grow in the west and with it the pressure on Selenski to reach an agreement with russian leader Wladimir Putin. The Ukraine leaves the Crimean Peninsula and the Donbass Basin to him. This fits with the promise of the american former and perhaps soon-to-be-re-President Donald Trump, according to which he would make peace with Selenski and Putin "within 24 hours".

This agreement however will lead to the fall of Selenski. Most of the Ukrainians reject concessions, they don't trust a peace with Putin. Who would annex more areas should opportunity arise. (Fucking citations needed)

Scenario Three: Russian-Ukrainian standoff

A third scenario seems most likely: The Ukraine continues to fight. Western support is decreasing but not disappearing. The war drags on, with little movement at the front, fewer victims than today -- but for years without a cease fire or even a peace treaty. (There could always be MINSK III)

Instead of the "plan for victory" there would be a stalemate: The Ukraine would remain as an independent state, the nuclearpower Russia would be spared the shame of defeat -- and thus the hope the danger of nuclear war would be averted. (Sure doesn't feel like the west is all that concerned about nuclear war but what do I know)

Obviously there's a lot of cope and all that but it is interesting to see mainstream news here think that a Ukrainian victory is now impossible. Also I had a major headache so my translation is probably shitty you can see the original here

Pedro Sanchez Set for Fresh Bid to Form Government in Spain

He has until Nov. 27 to form a government. Otherwise, Parliament will be dissolved and new elections called for January.

On Tuesday, Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), was nominated by King Felipe to try and form the country's new government.

Sanchez, who has been acting prime minister since the July 23 general election, will now conduct talks with political party leaders with the aim of establishing a viable coalition government.

His opportunity comes after the leader of the right-wing People's Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, last week lost two investiture votes in Congress.

"I have accepted the responsibility given to me by His Majesty the King to be a candidate to be invested as prime minister," Sanchez said, adding that he felt "honored and responsible to the whole of Spanish society."

It will not be easy for Sanchez to gain the support needed to win an investiture vote. The PSOE has the support of its 121 legislators, who would be joined by 31 legislators of the left-wing Sumar party and predictably six legislators of Basque Country Unite (EH Bildu) and five nationalist legislators of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV).

Currently, in full negotiation are the votes of 14 pro-independence lawmakers of The Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Together for Catalonia (Junts).

Sanchez will not seek the votes of the right-wing Popular Party (PP), the far-right Vox, the regional UPN, and the Canarian Coalition to return as prime minister.

This progressive politician has until Nov.27 to form a government, otherwise, Parliament will be dissolved and new elections called for January.

"I must study Chinese and Engineering, that my children may have the liberty to study English and warfare, and their children might have the opportunity to study Spanish and music."

Here's a Google map of what's going on: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1IqWoLg25-OtyFVPjzw-T2lz6O2WafLY&ll=31.362823450184184%2C34.76358393704144&z=10

I'm guessing the author could update it whenever they want.