BruceVC

Yes there is interference from several countries that include the UAE and Russia and they all have vested interests in the war continuing but the 2 Sudanese factions fighting it are the main problem But the real disappointment for me is this should be something that the AU resolves but its toothless. Very good at rhetoric and podium statements but terrible at implementation of its own policies Africa cannot realize its full potential until the likes of the AU is effective and consistent So failing that we constantly fall back on the UN to resolve Africa's problems with mixed results. And then if a UNSC is vetoed you see nothing constructive Unfortunately Trumps direct intervention and transactional approach to geopolitics has more success in several conflicts than the UNSC but the US has no interests in this Sudan war so I cant see the US intervening unless asked?

Yes its a horrific ongoing war and Im being generous if I say its gets 5% of the attention and outrage that the Palestinian vs Israeli conflict gets And that includes attention and activism from Africa which is where you would expect to find the real concern But there was attempts to pass UNSC resolutions last year declaring a ceasefire but Russia vetoed it, the only country that blocked the resolution https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/11/25/un-russia-vetoes-sudan-resolution-despite-global-support

Im about 80 hours into Cyb2077 and Im about to finish the last mission Its been fun but not fantastic, firstly the game gets a 60/100 on the globally respected " BruceVC game rating system ". Thats not a terrible score, anything higher than 50 is still worth playing I found myself getting bored with the game and most of the missions and the main reason for this is because Im not a big cyberpunk fan. So its not like Witcher and fantasy which is my favourite RPG genre First what I liked about the game very stable now. No serious bugs or crashes, maybe 3-4 CTD and I was using loads of mods I liked the hacking and braindance mechanics I liked the details with Night City and the NPC. It felt like a living city NPC and companions had interesting side quests I completed Phantom Liberty in the middle of the main quest and that was an interesting diversion There were some unique side-quests and choices I had to make like should I support the guy who wanted to crucify himself on live TV The races were fun and hunting all the cyberpsychos added some challenge to combat What I didnt like about the game Combat becomes too easy, nothing really can kill you on higher levels the city doesn't really have much to do outside of a few common activities the lore didn't motivate or interest me. not enough Romance or adult content. This is suppose to be a city of depravity and corruption and you were limited around what you could interact with despite extensive crafting available I ended up just using 3 weapons all the time I didnt end up using most of the special abilities as you increase in levels because I didnt need to use them in combat. Its a strange mechanical implementation in a game if you dont need to use something you have levelled up towards? As I mentioned my main issues with the game is because Im just not a cyberpunk fan Overall, fun game but nothing like the Witcher games

Yes but the US influence is clear which is why Netanyahu and Likud voted against this motion. But the US cant stop these types of bills being presented and then the Knesset votes like any other similar parliament If it wasnt for the USA Netanyahu would have voted to support it and this motion was raised by other far right parties Its basically dead in the water and it wont get advanced despite it being passed But this development for me is more about the factions in the Israeli right-wing coalition and differences in opinions and what Israel should be doing And most of the far-right parties dont seem to understand how they need to align with what the US\Trump wants to achieve around a lasting peace or they will lose much US support Here is a more detailed article around this https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-election-nears-annexation-fiasco-shows-netanyahu-losing-control-of-his-coalition/

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/world/middleeast/trump-israel-west-bank-annexation.html This story is a few days old but relevant for the future of the region Israel's Knesset voted " symbolically " in a razor thing majority to annex parts of the West Bank but the US rejected this firmly and vociferously Netanyahu and Likud also voted against it because this would have undermined the US peace plan that Trump is responsible for and Netanyahu doesn't want to upset or alienate Trump Its another example of the influence the US has over Israel "The next steps in shaping a peaceful, postwar Gaza remain vague, but the Trump administration has made one thing clear. Any Israeli attempt to annex parts of the occupied West Bank will not be tolerated. President Trump drove the point home in an interview with Time magazine published on Thursday. “It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” he said of West Bank annexation. “Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.” The day before the interview came out, the Israeli Knesset, or Parliament, passed two largely symbolic votes in favor of annexing land in the West Bank, a territory that much of the world envisions as the core of a future Palestinian state. The United States is Israel’s most important ally and the preliminary votes clearly raised the hackles of the Trump administration, which has worked hard to keep its Arab partners to the Gaza deal on board. Vice President JD Vance, who was wrapping up a two-day visit to Israel on Thursday, vented his anger at the vote. He said someone had told him that this was a symbolic political stunt with no practical significance. “If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it,” he said. “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. The Wednesday votes took place on the same day he arrived in the country. The messages left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrambling to distance himself on Thursday from the votes that angered the U.S. administration. “The Knesset vote on annexation was a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel,” he said in a statement issued in English. "

I watched him being asked questions around this and it was one of those awkward press questions where even Trump wasnt sure how it would or should work because he makes the decision, he did say he would give the money to charity ....yeah right

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/medvedev-says-trumps-actions-are-like-an-act-war-against-russia-2025-10-23/ Man the Russians are really butthurt about the latest US sanctions, the dream of Rusmerica really is over " Trump, who has described Russia as a "paper tiger", said on Wednesday he had canceled a planned summit with Putin, and the U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on two of Russia's biggest oil companies. "The United States is our adversary, and their talkative 'peacemaker' has now fully embarked on the warpath with Russia," Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, wrote on Telegram, referring to Trump. "The decisions taken are an act of war against Russia. And now Trump has fully aligned himself with loony Europe."

EPIC is offering Amnesia Bunker for free till 25 October I like the Amnesia franchise so I got it, good horror games

Its not really about who is pro-Russian because that is debatable and subjective . But both Hungary and Slovakia are considered pro-Russian and they always the ones who argue about additional EU sanctions or who are opposed to them This is about removing any dependency on Russia for energy because then the EU isnt contributing towards its revenue stream and the war in Ukraine But this takes time, you cant just cut energy sources until you have alternative markets and both Hungary and Slovakia do have alternative energy sources but they have ignored investing in them. So now the EU is acting https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-slovakia-quit-russia-energy-crea-report/ "Hungary and Slovakia show no real signs of decoupling from Russian crude despite the EU legal text stating this was the exemption’s purpose," the researchers conclude. "Hungary increased its Russian crude reliance from 61% pre-invasion to 86% in 2024, and Slovakia remained almost 100% dependent on supply from Moscow.” The assessment comes at a pivotal moment for both countries, with the EU preparing proposals to fully sever all Russian energy links. Hungary and Slovakia have lashed out at the move, insisting it will raise prices for consumers and imperil both countries’ energy access. The study insists the countries' arguments don't hold up. It says both countries can import non-Russian oil from Croatia via the Adria pipeline. And it notes that Hungary's MOL energy company has the capability to refine crude brought in from elsewhere. Meanwhile, an abundance of natural gas from countries like the U.S. and Qatar is available on the Central European market. The continued import of Russian oil and gas into Hungary and Slovakia is not the result of technical or infrastructural constraints," said Martin Vladimirov, director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy. "It is the product of a deeply entrenched network of intermediaries and offshore trading structures that have enabled Russian companies to maintain their grip on Hungary’s energy sector — and profit handsomely in the process.” Both countries can still import oil because of sanctions exemptions granted in 2022. The carve-outs were meant to give the landlocked nations time to find alternative energy suppliers. But Budapest and Bratislava have instead lobbied for continued access to Russian fuel, while earning hundreds of millions via the loopholes. "

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-countries-move-pull-plug-on-russia-gas-hungary-slovakia/ "After three years of reasoning, pleading and conceding, the EU has had enough. On Monday, the bloc’s 27 member countries are expected to back a new bill that will permanently cut Russian gas supplies to Hungary and Slovakia — whether they like it or not. Since Moscow launched its all-out war in Ukraine in 2022, the EU has weakened the Kremlin’s long-held grip over the bloc’s energy supply, all but eliminating its imports of Russian oil, coal and gas." Long overdue, the EU needs to cut all energy dependency from Russia They cant be seen to be financing Russia's war machine as much as reasonably possible

Yes, thats what almost all companies do Its best practice, so why wouldn't you apply a recommended fix or update for your personal office products or your gaming machine Whats the difference? The point Im making is thats one reason why Microsoft needs access to your PC and its for a good reason

I see Australia and the USA have signed several rare minerals deals and the submarine deal is back on https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/21/sha...itical-minerals-deal-lynas-alcoa-pilbara.html China is to thank for this with there recent stockpiling of critical minerals but its good for Australia mining investments and a lesson to Trump around humility that countries like Australia matter. The USA cannot thrive on its own and its allies that include Western countries matter

OneDrive facial recognition is definitely not a mandatory authentication method and you can opt out I have never come across any MFA with facial recognition from Microsoft that is mandatory, its just one way you use MFA I use about 6-8 different Microsoft services and Im studying M365 so I have a trial M365 cloud tenant with access to every Microsoft cloud service and I access them all with my authenticator app and a password code. I never use facial or fingerprint recognition What you talking about I assume is a feature to access photos on Onedrive? That wont apply to files like .docx or other files https://www.tweaktown.com/news/108204/microsoft-adds-ai-facial-recognition-to-onedrive-can-only-be-disabled-three-times-per-year/index.html And then Microsoft constantly looks for security risks in the OS and Office applications and patches and updates get released every 2-3 months on cycles, if you not connected online or you dont want these security updates then you create a security risk for yourself In this world of ubiquitous hacking, viruses and Ransomware I cannot understand why anyone would want to expose themselves to these risks by not being online and allowing Microsoft patches to be installed?

Im watching loads of series and mostly new seasons like Law and Order and Chicago but I have watched 3 new series and they really good Task : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28013708/ One of the best crime dramas I have ever seen, right up there with Sopranos and The Wire. It has some of the most believable and complex characters in any series and the narrative is absolutely captivating. It might be HBO best limited series from the same guy that did Mare of Easttown. If you havent watched this you are denying yourself an absolute unforgettable series experience Murdaugh: Death in the Family : All about the real life story of Alex Murdaugh, fascinating to see how utterly depraved and dysfunctional Murdaugh was and how far he fell The Last Frontier : A plane of convicts crashes in Alaska and one of them is a former CIA black ops agent and its all about capturing the criminals in the wilderness of Alaska and what does this ex-CIA agent want to do now he is free

I dont see the relevance? Where do you live, dont you have groups that are banned? You need to look at the specific reasons why a government bans any group to see if its fair or legitimate But you cant generalize and say " banning any group is bad " Or that would mean any Neo-Nazi , AQ or ISIS linked group would be able to operate in any country And thats obviously not the reality of the world and how most governments operate There are legitimate reasons to ban groups

Palestinian Action has members which have faced a wide range of criminal charges that include breaking into a RAF base and damaging and vandalizing planes https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/20/uk/palestine-action-protest-uk-airbase-security-breach-intl " Pro-Palestinian activists broke into Britain’s largest air base and damaged two military aircraft in central England early Friday. Palestine Action, a UK-based group that aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government, posted footage of the action to its X account. The video shows two people riding on electric scooters on the tarmac of RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire. Britain isn’t just complicit, it’s an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East,” a Palestine Action spokesperson said in a statement. By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people,” it added. A Ministry of Defence source told CNN that RAF Voyagers do not carry anything for the Israeli forces or refuel Israeli aircraft. The incident raises wider questions as to how the activists – who have not been apprehended – managed to get into the airbase undetected. RAF Brize Norton has approximately 5,800 service personnel, 300 civilian staff and 1,200 contractors. " Im not sure what the criteria is to get banned in the UK but like all countries when you part of a banned group you will get arrested by association If Canada banned a Neo-Nazi group and you decided to join that group and then the Canadian authorities raided a safehouse of this group and you were there you would be arrested and charged because you an active member, even if you havent broken other laws just the fact you a member is enough. Im sure that's normal anywhere in the world where a group is determined to be illegal or banned? Thats all the UK is doing around Palestinian Action, they enforcing the law now that the group is banned and its on the proscribed list

The UK has never past broad laws that banned all people from protesting or arrested anyone who criticizes the governments and its policies. The constant criticism of the UK state and its leaders by many different groups on a wide range of issues occurs on a daily basis in the UK. Its nothing like Russia or China and its oppressive laws criminalizing basic freedom of speech Palestinian Action was banned because of constant criminal acts during protests and damage to property and it took months of these criminal acts before they were banned. We have discussed this before. Palestinian action was never banned for " holding signs " https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-09-08/debates/5FF141EC-DE6E-4A17-AD2B-121416D0681B/PalestineActionProscriptionAndProtests " Some of those holding placards in support of Palestine Action may not know the extent of its activities. It has conducted an escalating campaign involving intimidation and sustained criminal damage, including to Britain’s national security infrastructure. Some of its attacks have involved the use of weapons, resulting in alleged violence and serious injuries to individuals. Palestine Action’s members have been charged with violent disorder, grievous bodily harm with intent, actual bodily harm, criminal damage and aggravated burglary—charges that include, in the assessment of the independent Crown Prosecution Service, a terrorism connection.These are not the actions of a legitimate protest group, and for a Government to ignore expert security assessments, advice and recommendations would be highly irresponsible. Were there to be further serious attacks or injuries, questions would rightly be asked about why action had not been taken. "

Windows 11 is great, you shouldn't have have any issues and the upgrade from 10 is online and works well and its free

That was never a serious idea from Trump and it was just him making his " normal " illogical and inane public statements which is just his random thoughts Its no different to invading Greenland and making Canada part of the US. Only people who want to outraged take those types of Trump comments seriously and certain MAGA cultists This Gaza plan is completed different, it involved meeting with Arab leaders and major planning from Witkoff and Kushner who both travelled extensively to the ME Its based on reasonable objectives implemented in obvious stages and both the Palestinians and Israel had to make concessions Here is a good link that summarizes how this peace plan was crafted and all the different considerations and people involved https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3yke64vp6o @rjshae I think you will also find it interesting because its a good summary of all the events that led to the plan being implemented

Im about 23 hours into Cyb2077 and Im really enjoying it Firstly no serious or noticeable bugs, I have been able to complete every quest and do everything without any real problems I am not a big player of the cyberpunk genre so the " hardest " part of the game has been learning how to effectively use all the new mechanics like quickhacks and braindances but once you understand them its simple. I enjoy the concept of implants and how they make a real difference in combat I am enjoying all my adult mods, everything is working fine I like the city and all the side activities and general NPC details, I havent used fast travel yet because I enjoy travelling and seeing the sights. They did an excellent job at making Night City seem alive and populated And the NPC are interesting, I like there side-quests and potential Romance arcs Further updates to follow once I have completed 50 hours

Nuclear holocaust or re-emergence of the black plague in the ME ....its going to happen !!!! Either way the entire world is over because of the USA

Trumps peace deal for Gaza has broad support in the region and globally We have been talking about how terrible this war has been for 2 years and no single country could have pulled off what the US has achieved because its the only country that has real influence over Israel and good relations with Arab countries that matter around Hamas influence like Qatar and Egypt The first few deliverables of the Trump plan have been successfully implemented It could still collapse around things like how Gaza is governed going forward because Hamas wont be part of that and if Hamas is still around that will motivate Israel to continue its military campaign Those points of the plan need to still be implemented I dont see this as a final solution to the Israeli vs Palestinian conflict because I firmly still believe only a 2 state solution can achieve that But its more about ending the latest war and that is definitely achievable

Israel has withdrawn to the yellow line, Hamas now has 72 hours to release all the hostages This peace plan is now mostly going to measured on specific timelines around dependencies like Israel does X and then Hamas does Y in xxx number of hours like this 72 hour hostage release Its obviously been created like that for a reason so its obvious to see who is not doing there part Its a good way to ensure both sides deliver

I read about this, it is a problem for the Serbian economy. They still going to negotiate with the US so you may get sanction relief but foreign banks will also avoid payments to NIS so that will impact how you pay for fuel. Of course you can still use cash and local banking cards. Im surprised Serbia doesn't have alternative sources of oil/gas outside of the Russian owned NIS? Its never good to have all your eggs in one basket @Elerond https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-remarks-bilat-alexander-stubb-finland-october-9-2025/ I watched the Trump WH press interview with the Finnish PM and president. They were much more positive and upbeat around the US relationship and the economic benefits this icebreaker deal will bring Finland. I included all the questions and answers in the link but the main ones for me were Finland the US have an important and mutually beneficial relationship Trump respects the Finnish military and its commitment to NATO Spain is bad, bad Spain !!! The USA will defend Finland and NATO if attacked by Russia Nokia and Erickson are significant Finnish companies with an important US footprint Finland can work with the US around Quantum and Quantum Computing around AI No one will be forced to leave Gaza under this new peace deal

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cx2nzlj2j4kt Trumps peace plan is gaining momentum, Im still cautiously optimistic because both sides could potentially collapse it but its the best effort and consensus we have seen since 7 October "Here is what you need to know about Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of Trump's Gaza peace deal: US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first first phase of a ceasefire peace deal for Gaza If formally approved by the Israeli government, it will pave the way for an end to the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the entry of aid into Gaza The Israeli government will meet on Thursday to approve the deal. If the deal is approved, the ceasefire will go into effect immediately. Hamas has also agreed to the deal. While world leaders, families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians displaced the war have welcomed the agreement, its details have not been fully disclosed. Negotiations for the deal were held in Egypt. Aside from the Egyptian government, Qatar, the US and Turkey also helped broker the talks."