In Omsk, relatives say men are being seized off the street, subjected to violence, and cut off from contact as authorities pressure them to sign military contracts to fight in Ukraine. Rights advocates report similar raids across dozens of Russian regions. meduza.io/en/cards/rou...

Roundups to force men into the war are surging again in Russia. Families in Omsk and other cities say men are being seized off the streets. — Meduza

Roundups of men forced to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry and then sent to fight in Ukraine have become more frequent again in Russia.

meduza.io

"Do me a favor. Please don't leave. And the reason why that is I don't want the media to turn it into 'people don't like Ken Paxton'" -- Texas Republican pleads with attendees at a Paxton event

Bangerrrrrrrr.

What I Said

Kanine · What I Said · Song · 2019

open.spotify.com

⚡️️ 80% of Ukrainians back strikes on Russian refineries even if US cuts support, poll shows.

80% of Ukrainians back strikes on Russian refineries even if US cuts support, poll shows

Some 80% of respondents back the continued strikes, even if Washington restricts intelligence sharing or Starlink operations. Only 11% said Ukraine should pause the attacks, despite Russia's ongoing a...

kyivindependent.com

I think I'm going to be sick.

The Kyiv Independent@kyivindependent.com · 6d ago

⚡️Putin calls Musk 'genius' as Ukraine recovers from Starshield throttling. "I want to point out that Elon Musk is a genius, a real genius," Putin said, praising the billionaire's vast satellite network as Russia scrambles to develop its own answer to Starlink.

From @theathletic.com: Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas won the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, the top annual individual soccer awards.

Ballon d’Or 2026 live updates: Kane and Putellas win top prizes, full list of results

Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas have been crowned the best players in the world.

nyti.ms

Longest gaps by nation of having a player win the Ballon d’Or: 🇪🇸: Luis Suárez in 1960 to Rodri in 2024 (64 years) 🇵🇹: Eusébio in 1965 to Luís Figo in 2000 (35 y) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿: Michael Owen in 2001 to Harry Kane in 2026 (25 y) 🇫🇷: Raymond Kopa in 1958 to Michel Platini in 1983 (25 y)

The 33-year-old Harry Kane winning the Ballon d'Or means that every winner from 2013 onwards has been aged 28 or older. Lionel Messi (then 25) in 2012 is the last winner of the award who was aged 27 or younger:

⚡️Update: Paramedics caught under fire, university campus struck as Russian ballistic missile attack kills 1, injures 10 in Kyiv.

Paramedics caught under fire, university campus struck as Russian ballistic missile attack kills 1, injures 10 in Kyiv

A team of paramedics came under missile fire as Russian ballistic missiles again targeted Kyiv late on Oct. 26, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

kyivindependent.com

⚡️Moscow to host 2030 International Weightlifting Championships following lifting of Olympic suspensions. The International Weightlifting Federation will be the first Olympic organization to hold a competition in Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Moscow to host 2030 International Weightlifting Championships following lifting of Olympic suspensions

The International Weightlifting Federation will be the first Olympic organization to hold a competition in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

kyivindependent.com

Manchester City’s kit looks familiar…

JUST POSTED: A Russian energy giant has secretly moved to acquire a position in a massive Alaska gas project. Its part of talks between Witkoff/Kushner & Putin. But CEO of US company resigns after learning of Russian money in the project. A wowzer of a story. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/u...

In U.S. Gas Talks With Kremlin, Hidden Financing for Alaska Project Emerges

Interviews and documents show a Russian energy giant secretly funded a U.S. firm. The deal has been discussed in talks to end the war in Ukraine.

nytimes.com

😳 WOMAN REPORTER: Do sexual abuse allegations mean nothing to you, sir? TRUMP: Wait. Wait! Wait wait wait. Slow down. Who are you with? REPORTER: NBC, sir. But they are very serious sex abuse allegations TRUMP: Quiet! Isn't she a fresh person? You're a horrible little reporter, aren't you?

“Of course I have that fear (of life after football). Because I can plan something ... but in the end, I don’t know what my heart tells me. "It’s a fear because I have so many questions that I don’t have the answer to yet." 1-on-1 with Robert Lewandowski. www.nytimes.com/athletic/770...

Sickening.

The Kyiv Independent@kyivindependent.com · 2w ago

⚡️Update: Witkoff lauds Putin as 'humanitarian' as Russia releases US prisoner Stephen Hubbard. "You speak so much about how my president, President Trump, is a humanitarian. You, too, are a humanitarian, sir, and I commend you for that. I offer you my respect," Witkoff told Putin.

President Trump has pushed to move briefings out of the White House press room. Aides say he wants an indoor swimming pool instead. nyti.ms/4eoW3AV

⚡️ 'Planned operation' — Zelensky confirms Ukraine's Starlink access not fully restored. Zelensky called the restrictions a "planned operation" targeting Ukraine, noting that Starlink speed limits remain in effect in Ukraine but not in EU countries.

'Planned operation' — Zelensky confirms Ukraine's Starlink access not fully restored

Zelensky called the restrictions a "planned operation" targeting Ukraine, noting that Starlink speed limits remain in effect in Ukraine but not in EU countries.

kyivindependent.com

⚡️ 'Putin feels joy' — Zelensky calls Trump's waiving of key Russia sanctions 'wrong.'

'Putin feels joy' — Zelensky calls Trump's waiving of key Russia sanctions 'wrong'

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on oct. 17 U.S. President Donald Trump was "wrong" to further "block" sanctions against Russia, while expressing hope that he would do "everything possible" to stop t...

kyivindependent.com

Breaking News: President Trump signed an executive order to exempt Russia from new sanctions legislation that Congress passed last month. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/u...

Pffffffffffft.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 3w ago

Breaking News: President Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was fired after less than a week on the job, according to people familiar with the matter. nyti.ms/4yqxU46

July: Happiness Is So Sad September: Live Again October: This Dream Of You & Fight For Love What a couple of months.

Fight For Love

Alesso, Kaitlin Aragon · Fight For Love · Song · 2026

open.spotify.com

Working on video calls, parenting, and going about daily routines — all while explosions echo in the background. As Russia intensifies its aerial strikes on Kyiv, residents carry on with essential life tasks while living under constant threat and fear.

⚡️ Kyiv stopped attacking Russia's oil refineries, Moscow continues pounding Ukraine's energy grid, Zelensky says.

Kyiv stopped attacking Russia's oil refineries, Moscow continues pounding Ukraine's energy grid, Zelensky says

"Ukraine has not carried out strikes on Russian oil refineries or the energy sector in general for the two days since the American president announced an energy ceasefire. But Russia did not heed," Pr...

kyivindependent.com

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Ex-Scotland manager Craig Levein revealed he once attended an exorcism with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in an attempt to sign a player. nyti.ms/4hYuCz5

‘They were casting out demons’: Scottish manager recalls attending exorcism with Gordon Brown to sign a player

Craig Levein said the politician brought him to a church where they were "casting out demons" to meet with defender Marvin Andrews.

nyti.ms

Donald Trump and his war in Iran are to blame for our nation's sky-high diesel and gas prices. His latest ploy—buying fuel from his friend Vladimir Putin—reeks of weakness and will help pay for Russia’s war but will do nothing to make life more affordable for American families.

The Associated Press@apnews.com · 3w ago

BREAKING: Trump says Ukraine should get a new president as he blames Zelenskyy for U.S. diesel prices.

20 years ago today Anna Politkovskaya, one of Russia’s most prominent investigative journalists, was murdered. I found no mention of the anniversary in today's Russian newspapers. #ReadingRussia

Russian papers silent on the 20th anniversary of journalist's murder

YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg

youtu.be

Don't fuck with Jorge Jesus www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

Nobody, not even Cristiano Ronaldo, messes with Jorge Jesus (Gift Article)

The man that may have played a key role in the end of Ronaldo's Portugal career bends for no one. Jesus is as uncompromising as coaches come

nytimes.com

⚡️Plague death triggers quarantine, mask mandates in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia. The measures come after Darya Shipilova, a lab technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, died after reportedly contracting plague on Oct. 2.

Plague death triggers quarantine, mask mandates in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia

The measures come after Darya Shipilova, a lab technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, died after reportedly contracting plague on Oct. 2.

kyivindependent.com

⚡️Latvia's pro-Ukraine party wins parliamentary election by wide margin. "I congratulate Andris Kulbergs on his convincing victory in the parliamentary elections in Latvia ... Ukraine deeply appreciates Latvia's unwavering friendship and support," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 4.

Latvia's pro-Ukraine party wins parliamentary election by wide margin

"I congratulate Andris Kulbergs on his convincing victory in the parliamentary elections in Latvia ... Ukraine deeply appreciates Latvia's unwavering friendship and support," President Volodymyr Zelen...

kyivindependent.com

JUST POSTED: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have pushed a multibillion oil deal with Russia as part of peace talks that will bring profits to their family business partners. A new front for Trump-era conflicts of interest. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/u...

U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Now Involve an Oil Deal Tied to Trump Allies (Gift Article)

President Vladimir V. Putin brought up a sale of Russian energy assets with President Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, pushing a deal that raises new questions about conflicts of inter...

nytimes.com