Mike Robinson, Patrick Henningsen and Vanessa Beeley with today’s UK Column News.
The Summit for Democracy
00:24 Summit for Democracy 2023: Agenda and Video of Official Events
UK and U.S. have announced their winners of the privacy-enhancing technologies prize challenges
Ursula von der Leyen participates via videoconference in the second Summit for Democracy
Index On Censorship: Online Safety Bill edges forwards
USA: H.R.1153—DATA Act, 118th Congress (2023–2024)
USA: S.686—RESTRICT Act, 118th Congress (2023–2024)
EU: COM(2022)209—Regulation—rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse
Online Censorship Efforts
13:33 New York Times: The prime ministers of eight European countries signed an open letter asking major social media companies to take more aggressive steps to halt the spread of misinformation designed
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: A joint letter from European heads of government to global technology companies on the need to engage in the fight against disinformation
Julian Assange has been confined in Belmarsh, a category A prison, in London since April 2019
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong moves to dampen expectation of breakthrough in Julian Assange case
The Intercept: Congressional Effort to End Assange Prosecution Underway
El País: Spanish company provided CIA with information leading to Julian Assange’s arrest
Trump Indictment: Case Could Go On For Years
22:49 CNN: Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury on more than 30 counts related to business fraud
The Hill—DeSantis: Florida won’t cooperate with Trump extradition
Another Week, Another Attack on Syria by Israel
26:51 Second consecutive attack on Syria in two days, not reported on by the mainstream press
Syrian Allied Resistance have been attacking US bases
Reuters: Six U.S. troops suffer traumatic brain injuries in Syria
Biden officials hold off on more airstrikes in Syria, for now
Biden asked Netanyahu to do the strikes instead
Times of Israel: Syria accuses Israel of airstrikes in Damascus for second night in a row
PR Schemes for Ukraine: Support Coming Unstuck?
35:15 Austrian MPs walk out during Zelensky speech
Zelenskyy meets British actor Orlando Bloom in Kyiv
Security Council rejects draft resolution establishing commission to investigate sabotage of Nord Stream pipeline
21st Century Wire—Ukraine Three-way Deal: France to Buy MIRAGE Jets from UAE, Greece and Indonesia for Kiev
BBC: BP 'stands to receive blood money’ from Ukraine war
Politico: Kyiv says Big Oil should pay to rebuild Ukraine’s shattered infrastructure
African Bases From Obama
45:34 Tulsi Gabbard: Twitter
Summary of H.R. 608 (115th U.S. Congress): Stop Arming Terrorists Act
Crisis Group: Russia's Influence in the Central African Republic
The African Report—CAR: ‘I have nothing to hide about the Russians,’ says President Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Rob Lee on Twitter: CAR President Faustin Touadera attended a ceremony for the unveiling of the statue of FACA and Wagner private military contractors.
BBC: Wagner Group: Why the EU is alarmed by Russian mercenaries in Central Africa
Empire Files on YouTube: A Guide to US Empire in Africa: Neocolonial Order and AFRICOM
Patrick asks: “Where was Tulsi Gabbard?”
Currency is Changing, NATO Expanding
1:00:55 NATO Secretary-General statement on Finland's membership in NATO
FT: Prepare for a multipolar currency world
Gene Breeding: Palace Betrayal
1:03:12 21st Century Wire: Disbelief as ‘Green King’ Charles Gives Royal Assent to New Gene Breeding Technology
Daily Clout: Renz Missouri House Testimony—BioTech Admits Gate’s GMO Factory Food IS a Gene Therapy
Freedom of Information
1:09:33 Tobias Ellwood MP, Conservative—Bournemouth East
UK Column article by Philip Ridley: 77th Brigade and the Parliamentary Conflict of Interest
Philip Ridley FoI Requests on WhatDoTheyKnow
Philip Ridley made this Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence: Active Service, Tobias Ellwood
Rory Stewart: The Legacy of Lawrence of Arabia
Cornish Blastoff: Has The Space Bubble Popped?
1:15:16 Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit slashing 85% of its workforce
Grant Shapps posted:
The UK Govt is delighted to be backing the FIRST ever satellite launch from European soil. Lift-off scheduled Monday at Spaceport Cornwall, Newquay.
He followed the Tweet with a rocket emoji
Three-year mission two satellites will operate close to Earth experimenting and test imaging and interoperability (published 10 May 2022)
And Finally: In Memory of Greg Sharkey
1:16:49 The death has occurred of Gregory (Greg) Sharkey
21st Century Wire interview: Greg Sharkey on the Lack of Rebels in the Music Industry