26 Sep, 2024 12:42

Russians warned to back up Google data

The Alphabet subsidiary has restricted the creation of new accounts in the country, according to Moscow’s digital ministry

Russian Google users should create backup copies of their data, Moscow’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media has warned, as the tech giant’s parent company Alphabet has begun preventing users from registering new accounts in the country.

The ministry said that the confirmation of authorization via text messages sent to Russian telephone numbers is still working for previously created accounts, but warned that “there is no certainty that this feature will remain in effect.” It added that users should switch to other methods of two-factor authentication.

Google operates over 40 digital services, including the Google search engine, Gmail email, Google Drive cloud storage and YouTube video hosting. Some of them are available for users without registration.

Earlier this month, some Google users in Russia faced problems while trying to verify their identity via SMS, with the service reporting an error. Alphabet has not commented on the introduction of new restrictions related to Russia.

The company said it was deactivating AdSense accounts in Russia in August. The service allows users to earn money from placing advertisements on their content, which are managed by Google. Alphabet said at the time that it would no longer be able to make payments to users of its advertising service in the country.

YouTube, Google’s video-hosting platform, started experiencing slowdowns in Russia over the summer. Lawmakers attributed the issues to Google’s failure to upgrade its equipment in the country since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

Google has been under pressure in Russia for several years, particular in relation to YouTube’s deletion of channels belonging to Russian media outlets, including RT, public figures, bloggers, journalists, and artists, who have positions that differ from Western narratives.

The US tech corporation stopped displaying ads to users shortly after the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict in February, 2022, having paused monetization for content makers. In July, Russia’s media and digital watchdog, Roskomnadzor, saidthat Google has blocked access to more than 200 YouTube channels in Russia.

https://www.rt.com/russia/604714-google-russia-accounts-restrictions/

Biden orders Pentagon to drain billions in unspent Ukraine aid as Trump-Zelensky relationship sours further

By Steven Nelson and Caitlin Doornbos Sep. 26, 2024, 6:01 p.m.

(How has it soured?)

WASHINGTON — President Biden said Thursday while hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House that he’s ordering the Pentagon tospend “all” congressionally approved aid to Ukraine before he leaves office— ahead of former President Donald Trump’s possible return to power.

As Zelensky looked on, Biden, 81, told reporters in the Oval Office that his Kyiv counterpart had “shared a preview of [his] plan to win this war” and thatthe US would bankroll the effortto defeat Russia’s nearly three-year-old invasion — moments before Trump posted a private letter from Zelensky seeking a meeting to social media. (What? every other world leader says it sucks and nothing new)

“Today I’m proud to announce a new $2.4 billion package of security assistance. I’ve also directed the Pentagon to allocate all of the remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated to Ukraine, period, by the end of my term, which is Jan. 20,” Biden said before Zelensky separately met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.

The White House said Biden was releasing $2.4 billion from the Pentagon’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to spend on drones, ammunition and air defense, andapproving $5.5 billion worth of US military equipment using “presidential drawdown authority” ahead of the end of the fiscal year Monday.

It’s unclear exactly how much congressionally appropriated money remains to be spent — though $3 billion in additional drawdown authority recently found due to a Pentagon accounting error remains unspent, Reuters reported.

(Bidan family wants their cut of the aid left, its not about using it for Ukraine.)

https://nypost.com/2024/09/26/us-news/biden-orders-pentagon-to-drain-billions-in-unspent-ukraine-aid-as-trump-zelensky-relationship-sours-further/

Anons is there any real possibility that Joe and his family will be arrested and tried for treason? Will Trump and the government do it? I sure hope so