U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized economic and travel sanctions targeting people who work on International Criminal Court investigations of U.S. citizens or U.S. allies such as Israel, repeating action he took during his first term.
Archiv: bad ideas / schlechte Ideen
Birthright citizenship, Paris treaty, death penalty: Donald Trump‘s key executive orders on day 1 at White House
Deportations and birthright citizenship: Donald Trump called for a crackdown on criminal “aliens” and signed an order to end automatic birthright citizenship for children of non-permanent residents. However, the order faces legal hurdles as birthright citizenship is enshrined in the US Constitution.
Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists
(b) Within 14 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to make operational preparations regarding the implementation of any decision I make to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. 21 et seq., in relation to the existence of any qualifying invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States by a qualifying actor, and to prepare such facilities as necessary to expedite the removal of those who may be designated under this order.
Yemen launches missile attack on Israel‘s Tel Aviv
„We carried out a military operation targeting a vital target of the Israeli enemy in Tel Aviv, using a hypersonic ballistic missile,“ Yemeni spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement aired by al-Masirah TV.
„The operation achieved its goal successfully,“ he said, adding that his group also carried out an attack using four drones and targeted „vital targets“ in Tel Aviv.
Is Biden Teeing Up an Iran War for Trump?
(January 3, 2025)
President Joe Biden has less than a month in office, but that might be enough time to leave a very big mess on President-elect Donald Trump‘s desk. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan presented Biden with plans to bomb Iranian nuclear sites before the end of his term „in a meeting several weeks ago,“ Axios reported on Thursday. A source told Axios that Biden‘s inner circle believes that he has both „an imperative and an opportunity to strike“ now.
NYU Imposes One-Year Suspensions on 11 Students for Protesting Gaza Genocide
On Dec. 11, over a dozen NYU students and faculty dropped flyers and hung banners throughout the Bobst Library while 13 people sat in on the administrative floor of thelibrary. The actionists were demanding a meeting with administrators, who had, in the spring during the Gaza solidarity encampment movement at NYU, promised students to disclose the university’s endowment, including all its investments in weapons manufacturers and ties to Israel and companies that profit off its occupation of Palestine.
The direct action was organized by student group Shut It Down NYU, which challenges what it sees as NYU’s ties to imperialism. Not only were the students’ demands ignored, but yesterday, 11 of them were suspended for a year on the pretext of participating “in coordinated and collective disruptive action” — the non-violent action at the library. Several more NYU students are currently going through disciplinary proceedings that could result in similar punishments.
Here is the press release we received from Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine:
US House votes to sanction International Criminal Court over Israel
Forty-five Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill. No Republican voted against it.
“America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel,” Representative Brian Mast, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a House speech before the vote.
Präsident Yoon lehnt in Fernsehansprache Rücktritt ab
Präsident Yoon Suk Yeol hat einen Rücktritt abgelehnt.
Stattdessen wolle er bis zum Ende kämpfen, erklärte er in einer am Donnerstag im Fernsehen übertragenen Ansprache und rechtfertigte dabei die Ausrufung des Kriegsrechts in der letzten Woche.
Zügig zugelassen: BSW vor Regierungsbeteiligungen
Die Parteichefin hat die schnelle Beteiligung an zwei Landesregierungen »beispiellos« genannt. Die zügige Zulassung zur Exekutive ist aber offensichtlich für nicht wenige Wähler der Partei gerade kein Grund zur Freude: Prompt schwächelt das BSW in Umfragen, und die ersten interessierten Diagnosen, die einen »Absturz« konstatieren, gehen in Druck.
Left-wing Jewish MP Ofer Kassif expelled from Knesset for six months
Israel‘s parliament has expelled a prominent left-wing Jewish MP over his support for South Africa‘s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.
Ofer Kassif, the only Jewish MP for the left-wing Hadash party, will be suspended for six month after accusing Israel of committign war crimes in Gaza.
Iran says Israel used US-controlled airspace in Iraq for strikes, warns of retaliation
In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, the Iranian Armed Forces Communications Center said, “We inform the brave and honorable Iranian people that hostile Zionist aircraft, in a blatant violation of international law, used airspace provided by the American terrorist army in Iraq early this morning to launch multiple long-range, air-launched missiles from 100 kilometers away from the Iranian border.” The statement was followed by calls to Iran’s media and experts to rely solely on official sources amid circulating rumors.
The missiles, reportedly fitted with warheads one-fifth the size of Iranian ballistic warheads, targeted radar systems in the provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan, and areas near Tehran, the statement noted.
“Thanks to timely intervention by Iran’s air defense, the damage was limited; several radar systems sustained minor damage, with some already repaired and others undergoing restoration.”
Südkorea, Japan, Australien und Neuseeland beraten sich wegen NATO-Verteidigungsministerkonferenz
Am Rande der anstehenden NATO-Verteidigungsministerkonferenz werden Südkorea, Japan, Australien und Neuseeland ihr erstes Treffen abhalten.
Das Treffen zwischen den sogenannten IP4-Staaten, Ländern im Indopazifik, findet am Donnerstag im NATO-Hauptquartier in Brüssel statt.
Laut Berichten ist dies das erste Mal, dass sich die vier Länder ohne andere NATO-Mitgliedsstaaten treffen.
Bei dem Treffen wird voraussichtlich über Möglichkeiten zur Vertiefung der Zusammenarbeit mit der NATO diskutiert.
Scoop: White House loses trust in Israeli government as Middle East spirals
Two U.S. officials told Axios that during a call on Friday White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told Israel‘s minister for strategic affairs Ron Dermer that the U.S. expects „clarity and transparency“ from Israel about its plans to retaliate against Iran because it will have implications for U.S. forces and interests in the region.
Biden, Netanyahu speak, Israel vows lethal retaliation against Iran
– Call was ‚direct and very productive,‘ White House says
– Defence chief Gallant says retaliation to be ‚surprising‘
– Israel‘s UN envoy: ‚It will be painful for the Iranian regime‘
Kamala Harris says Iran is ‘greatest adversary’ of US
In an interview with the CBS television network aired on Monday night, the Democratic presidential candidate said Iran is the “obvious” answer when asked about the country she considers to be the US’s “greatest adversary”.
“Iran has American blood on their hands – this attack on Israel, 200 ballistic missiles,” she said. “What we need to do [is] to ensure that Iran never achieves the ability to be a nuclear power. That is one of my highest priorities.”
Fourteen countries oppose UN resolution to end Israel‘s occupation of Palestine
The resolution urged Israel to „comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank“. It also demanded Israel return land and other assets it has seized since 1967.
Apart from the US, Argentina, Hungary and Paraguay also voted against the resolution. Other opposers were: Oceania‘s Palau, Micronesia, Nauru, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea, East Africa‘s Malawi and Europe‘s Czechia.
Czechia’s Explanation of Vote on the UN resolution – 18th of September
Czechia’s Explanation of Vote on the UN resolution regarding the advisory opinion of the ICJ on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in OPT, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in OPT. Stated by Ambassador to the United Nations, Jakub Kulhánek, on September 18, 2024
Mr. President,
Allow me to begin by reiterating Czechia‘s unwavering support for the people of the West Bank and Gaza in their pursuit of political aspirations for their own future statehood.
My country also stands ready to support any meaningful efforts to end violence in the region.
However, for these efforts to succeed, they must be the result of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, as this offers the only viable path to lasting security and peace for all.
FACTBOX: Drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions
MOSCOW, September 10. /TASS/. At least 14 drones were shot down by air defense forces during an attempt to attack Moscow and the Moscow Region. A 46-year-old woman died in Ramenskoye, while earlier information about the death of a 9-year-old child was not confirmed. Several people were injured.
The effects of the fall of UAV fragments in the area of Zhukovsky airport are being eliminated.
Ukraine strikes Moscow in biggest drone attack to date
Moscow and Kyiv have both sought to buy and develop new drones, deploy them in innovative ways, and seek new ways to destroy them – from using shotguns to advanced electronic jamming systems.
Both sides have turned cheap commercial drones into deadly weapons while ramping up their own production and assembly to attack targets including tanks and energy infrastructure such as refineries and airfields.
Grief over Gaza, qualms over US election add up to anguish for many Palestinian Americans
Demoralized by the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, Palestinian American Samia Assed found in Vice President Kamala Harris’ ascension — and her running mate pick — “a little ray of hope.”
That hope, she said, shattered during last month’s Democratic National Convention, where a request for a Palestinian American speaker was denied and listening to Harris left her feeling like the Democratic presidential nominee will continue the U.S. policies that have outraged many in the anti-war camp.
Deranged Member of Knesset and guardian angel of rapists Tally Gotliv, of the Likud, calls for the execution or life imprisonment of Yuli Novak from @btselem , following Novak‘s speech at the UNSC.
‘Assistance to Enemy in War’ – Israeli MK Requests Death Penalty for B’Tselem’s Director
The Israeli Likud Party Knesset Member Revital Gotliv requested the death sentence or life imprisonment for Yuli Novak, the executive director of the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, for what she labeled as “the suspected serious crime of assistance to the enemy in war,” the Anadolu news agency reported.
Gotliv reportedly made her request in a letter addressed to the Israeli Chief Police Commissioner Daniel Levy, in which she demanded the detention and interrogation of Novak.
The move followed a speech delivered by Novak on September 4 at the United Nations Security Council.
Hear RFK Jr.‘s sister‘s response to her brother endorsing Trump
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister and human rights activist Kerry Kennedy joins CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and shares her reaction to her brother announcing that he is suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump.
Fight breaks out at UCLA; Fireworks thrown at pro-Palestine tents
Multiple fights broke out in dueling protests between Israel and Palestine protesters.
Pro-Israel counter-protesters attempt to storm encampment, sparking violence
Fireworks, tear gas and fights broke out just after 10:50 p.m. Tuesday night and continued early Wednesday morning as around 100 pro-Israel counter-protesters attempted to seize the barricade around and storm the ongoing Palestine solidarity encampment in Dickson Plaza.
The chaos comes as Chancellor Gene Block faces criticism for improper handling of the encampment and the same day the university deemed the encampment to be unlawful, threatening students inside with suspension and expulsion. Security and UCPD both retreated as pro-Israel counter-protesters and other groups attacked protesters in the encampment – led by Students for Justice in Palestine and UC Divest Coalition at UCLA – that followed similar ones across the country.
Violence breaks out at UCLA after officials declare pro-Palestinian encampment ‘unlawful’
Just before midnight, a large group of counterdemonstrators, wearing black outfits and white masks, arrived on campus and tried to tear down the barricades surrounding the encampment. Campers, some holding lumber and wearing goggles and helmets, rallied to defend the encampment’s perimeter.
Deutschrussen in Untersuchungshaft: „Agententätigkeit für Putins Verbrecher-Regime“
Kiesewetter sprach sich auch dafür aus, „extremistische Bereiche“ in den Blick zu nehmen. Konkret nannte er „AfD-Sympathisanten, die sich Russland freiwillig andienen“ sowie deutsche Kämpfer bei russischen Söldner-Truppen oder anderen russischen Kampftruppen, die nach Deutschland zurückkehrten.
10 Questions and answers about Iran‘s retaliatory attack on Israel
2- What was the legal basis for Iran‘s attack?
Article 51 of the UN Charter states that „nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.“ This article recognizes the right of countries to defend themselves against armed attacks.
3- Is Iran‘s attack on Israel the beginning of a war?
In its attack, Iran used its less advanced weaponry in relatively low quantity. It also made sure that no infrastructure or civilian sites were hit during the operation. Iranian military leaders have explicitly explained that they are not looking for a war and that the attack was meant to send a message to Israel.
April 14, 2024 – Iran‘s attack on Israel
The Middle East was plunged into uncharted waters after Iran launched scores of missiles toward Israel late Saturday. Israel‘s military said „99%” of the more than 300 projectiles were intercepted by Israel and its partners.
US Air Force B-1B bombers on Barents Sea mission met by Russian fighter jet
Asked by the Barents Observer, the Joint Headquarters near Bodø, however, confirms that the planes were inside Norwegian airspace before flying out over international airspace in the Barents Sea.
“The activity included both Norwegian and international airspace,” says spokesperson Reidar Flasnes.
“We cannot detail the activity,” Flasnes says and points to the United States as in charge of Sunday’s flights. He adds that the flights are “approved by Norway’s Ministry of Defense.”
Russian MiG-31 fighter intercepts US bombers over Barents Sea
„On March 24, 2024, Russian airspace control capabilities spotted an aerial target over the Barents Sea approaching the state border of the Russian Federation. A MiG-31 fighter jet from air defense quick reaction alert forces was scrambled to identify the aerial target and prevent it from violating Russia’s state border,“ the ministry said. „The fighter’s crew identified the aerial targets as a pair of B-1B strategic bombers of the US Air Force, it said.
With record of Gaza truce vetoes, US unveils new, ambiguous UN resolution
A copy of the new draft resolution, obtained by Al Jazeera, reads: “The Security Council determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides, allow for the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, and alleviate humanitarian suffering and towards that end unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.” (…)
No vote has yet been scheduled on this text.
Blinken: U.S. submitted draft resolution to UN calling for Gaza ceasefire
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the U.S. has submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council that calls „for an immediate ceasefire“ in Gaza that‘s „tied to the release“ of hostages held by Hamas.
Putin says Russia will deploy troops to Finland‘s border now it is in NATO, RIA reports
„We didn‘t have troops there (at the Finnish border), now they will be there. There were no systems of destruction there, now they will appear,“ he said.
Pro-Ukrainian armed groups launch incursion into Russia
The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion said they conducted a string of raids into the Belgorod region in May and June 2023, claiming to have taken temporary control of several settlements after breaking through a border checkpoint.
In March last year, Russia launched a wave of retaliatory missile strikes on Ukraine after it said a sabotage group killed civilians in the Bryansk border region.
US State Department says that assassination of noncombatants by death squad is justice. The US is now against the Geneva Conventions, which protects noncombatants. Further, extrajudicial assassination is a major attack on the very concept of law.
Even accusing ‚Israel‘ of genocide crosses ‚moral red line‘: French FM
France has opted not to endorse South Africa‘s genocide case against „Israel“ at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), AFP reported citing the recently inaugurated French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne: who claimed that accusing „Israel“ of genocide is „immoral“.
I’m not a Trump supporter (if I were, I wouldn’t be running against him!) But I want to beat him in a fair election, not because he was kicked off the ballot. Let the voters choose, not the courts!
Colorado Voters Share Sense of Unease After Court Disqualifies Trump
“I think it disenfranchises voters,” said Jeremy Loew, a longtime defense lawyer in Colorado Springs who described himself as a progressive who had never voted for Mr. Trump. “Our whole system is built around people running for office and letting the voters decide.”
“We can’t just kick people off the ballot because they have been accused of something,” he added.
„Divorced From Reality“: US Vetoes UN Resolution On Gaza Ceasefire
Its deputy representative at the UN, Robert Wood, said it was „divorced from reality“ and „would have not moved the needle forward on the ground“.
That was in spite of warnings from the World Health Organization that civilisation was collapsing in Gaza.
“Detestable! We‘ll turn Gaza to dust! Dust!” The Israeli police threatened & assaulted [@AhDarawsha], a highly respected journalist from [@AlarabyTV] while performing his work in Ashdod.
France‘s decision to pull troops out of Niger does not change US posture -State Dept
(25.09.2023)
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday 1,500 troops would withdraw by the end of the year, dealing a huge blow to French influence and counter-insurgency operations in the Sahel region.
Militär: Nordkorea feuert zwei ballistische Kurzstreckenraketen aufs Ostmeer ab
Der JCS kritisierte, dass die fortgesetzten Starts ballistischer Raketen durch Nordkorea schwerwiegende Provokationen darstellten, die den Frieden und die Stabilität auf der koreanischen Halbinsel und auch in der internationalen Gemeinschaft untergrüben. Man verurteile diese als eindeutigen Verstoß gegen Resolutionen des UN-Sicherheitsrats und fordere einen sofortigen Stopp, hieß es.
Russia holds elections in occupied Ukrainian regions in an effort to tighten its grip there
The voting for Russian-installed legislatures in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions has already begun and concludes Sunday. It has been denounced by Kyiv and the West.
“It constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, which Russia continues to disregard,” the Council of Europe, the continent’s foremost human rights body, said this week.
Obama-era veteran Kurt Campbell to lead Biden‘s Asia policy
(Jan 13, 2021)
Campbell, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia under Democratic President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is considered an architect of their “pivot to Asia” strategy, a vaunted but so far still limited rebalancing of resources to the region.
Why Biden Skipping the Asean Summit Is a Mistake
The deliberate cherry picking of allies and partners is the brainchild, insiders tell me, of Biden’s key Asia policy czar, Kurt Campbell. It is likely to continue, as Campbell has pointed out in a discussion earlier this year at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
ECOWAS sets ‘D-Day’ for possible military intervention in Niger
(Fri August 18, 2023)
Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc, said that military forces are “ready to go anytime the order is given” for military intervention in Niger.
“The D-day is also decided, which we are not going to disclose,” Musah told journalists after the two-day meeting of West African defense chiefs in the Ghanaian capital of Accra.
U.S. Approves Allies Sending F-16s to Ukraine: Report
A group of 11 countries was due to begin training Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft this month in Denmark, with the Danish acting Defense Minister Troels Poulsen saying last month that his country hoped to see “results” from the training in early 2024.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan sentenced to three years in prison, arrested
In a video recorded before his arrest and posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Khan called on his supporters to take to the streets in protest.
“I only have one request, one appeal for you. You must not sit quietly inside your homes. The struggle I am doing is not for my own self, it’s for my nation, for you. For the future of your children,” he said.
“If you don’t stand up for your rights, you will live lives of slaves and slaves don’t have a life.”
West African Nations Threaten Military Action Unless Niger Coup Is Undone
The new junta, however, insisted it was going nowhere. In a statement before the summit, it warned forcefully against any foreign military intervention.
“We want to once more remind ECOWAS or any other adventurer of our firm determination to defend our homeland,” a junta spokesman said on Saturday night in a televised statement.
Bank of England set to raise base rate to 5.25 per cent
(today)
This will push interest rates to their highest since early 2008 and further hikes are expected this year.
If the rise goes ahead on Thursday, 3 August, it will be the 14th successive rise to the base rate and will pile more pressure on borrowers.
EZB erhöht Leitzins auf 4,25 Prozent
(today)
Zu diesem Zinssatz können sich Geschäftsbanken Geld bei der EZB leihen. Am sogenannten Hauptrefinanzierungssatz orientieren sich Banken bei der Kreditvergabe, etwa für private Baukredite.
Der sogenannte Einlagensatz, den Banken für das „Parken“ von Geldern bei der EZB erhalten, steigt somit von 3,50 auf 3,75 Prozent.
Fed Raises Interest Rates to 22-Year High, Leaves Door Open for More
(26.07.2023)
The quarter percentage-point hike, a unanimous decision, boosted the target range for the Fed’s benchmark federal funds rate to 5.25% to 5.5%, the highest level in 22 years.
Russia to inspect ships in Black Sea if necessary — MFA
Russia wants ships in the Black Sea to be inspected to make sure they are not being used to carry weapons, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told a briefing on Friday.
Speaking about the statement of the Russian Ministry of Defense that Moscow will consider all ships that go to Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea as carriers of military cargo, Vershinin said: „What is meant there is that we must make sure of this, we must check if a ship is carrying something bad.“
UK invites Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit
(14.07.2023)
News of the UK visit, first reported by the Financial Times, comes as Saudi Arabia tries to end the war in Yemen, and has opened up diplomatic relations with Iran. The US is seeking to persuade Saudi Arabia also to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel, but Riyadh, unlike its Gulf Arab allies the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, is resisting until there is progress on the Palestinian issue.
Biden Invites Netanyahu to U.S., Easing Tensions
President Biden on Monday invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to a meeting in the United States for the first time since Mr. Netanyahu re-entered office in December, easing months of tensions about the direction of Israel’s government.
Mr. Netanyahu’s office said that Mr. Biden made the invitation in a “warm and long” phone call on Monday evening, on the eve of a visit to Washington by Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president. Until Monday, that visit had been widely seen as a slight to Mr. Netanyahu.
SBU to reveal all details of ‚cotton‘ on Crimean bridge after victory – Dehtiarenko
„In the meantime, we are watching with interest how one of the symbols of the Putin regime once again failed to withstand the military load,“ he said.
Dehtiarenko said that „in one of his interviews, SBU Head Vasyl Maliuk stated that the norms of international law, analysis of the operational situation and the traditions of warfare make it possible to cut the enemy‘s logistical routes. The Crimean bridge today is one of the transport corridors of military supplies for the Russian army.“
US sending controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine until other ammo is ready: Kirby
„This is literally a gun fight. … They‘re running out of inventory,“ he said. „We are trying to ramp up our production of the kind of artillery shells that they‘re using most. But that production rate is still not where we wanted it to be.“
„So you‘re sending those cluster munitions because we don‘t have enough of the kind of munitions they need?“ Raddatz clarified.
„That is right,“ Kirby said.
He also suggested the bombs are intended to be temporary, „to help bridge the gap as we ramp up production of normal … artillery shells.“
Biden faces renewed pressure to embrace Supreme Court overhaul
As Democrats reel from another painful set of defeats at the Supreme Court in recent weeks, President Biden is facing renewed pressure from a range of elements in his party, from liberal lawmakers to abortion rights activists, to more forcefully embrace far-reaching changes to the high court.
Biden: „I‘m Hoping“ Supreme Court Justices „Realize Their Legitimacy Is Being Questioned“
(29.06.2023)
BIDEN: Oh, I think they may do too much harm, but I think, if we start the process of trying to expand the court, we‘re going to politicize it, maybe forever, in a way that is not healthy.
WALLACE: That you can‘t get back?
BIDEN: That I can‘t get back.
And I think — look, I think — maybe it‘s just the optimist in me. I think that some of the court are beginning to realize their legitimacy is being questioned in ways it hadn‘t been questioned in the past. And I think there‘s a concern on some, maybe even the chief justice, that maybe, maybe we better…
Live: French PM says gendarmes to use armoured vehicles against riots
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne said Friday that the government was considering „all options“ to restore order, including declaring a state of emergency, after a third night of unrest across the country.
US accusation of Chinese intercept of US spy plane aims to hype ‘China threat’ theory at Shangri-La Dialogue: experts
The incident took place shortly before the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, a major defense forum in the Asia-Pacific region to be held from Friday to Sunday in Singapore.
In response, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei said in a statement on Wednesday that while China values China-US military ties and bilateral military interactions are not suspended, dialogue can’t take place without principles and communication can’t happen without a bottom line.
USINDOPACOM Statement on Unprofessional Intercept of U.S. Aircraft over South China Sea
A People‘s Republic of China J-16 fighter pilot performed an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver during the intercept of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft, May 26, 2023. The PRC pilot flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence. The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law.
Russian and Belarusian defence ministers sign on non-strategic nuclear weapons
Western nations have basically been waging an undeclared war against Moscow and Minsk, according to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was speaking on 25 May 2023 with his Belarusian colleague Viktor Khrenin. Sergei Shoigu stated, ‚Today we are facing the collective West, which is virtually waging war against our countries‘. (…)
‚In the circumstances of an extremely sharp escalation of threats and activity of NATO joint nuclear missions, we are compelled to take retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere. The deployment of Russian Federation non-strategic nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus has been planned in accordance with the decision of Supreme Commanders-in-Chief of the Russian Federation,‘ Sergei Shoigu stated.
Germany hands over air surveillance system, reconnaissance UAVs to Ukraine
Germany has handed over a new military aid package to Ukraine, which includes the TRML-4D air surveillance radar system and 54 VECTOR reconnaissance drones, the press service of the German government said.
Reporter for right-wing network attacked while covering anti-government protest
Shalev said he is accustomed to facing animosity at anti-government demonstrations because he reports for Channel 14, which critics consider a mouthpiece for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that the incident the night before had for the first time included physical violence.
He said protesters used their flagpoles to beat him and his crew on the head and body.
“At that point I felt afraid. Until now I have not felt afraid in all the demonstrations I have been to, but here with the flags when it reached the physical level I started to be afraid,” Shalev said.
Britain has delivered long-range ‘Storm Shadow’ cruise missiles to Ukraine ahead of expected counteroffensive, sources say
The United Kingdom has delivered multiple “Storm Shadow” cruise missiles to Ukraine, giving the nation a new long-range strike capability in advance of a highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces, multiple senior Western officials told CNN.
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, calling the donation Ukraine’s “best chance to defend themselves against Russia’s continued brutality,” confirmed the transaction on Thursday after CNN exclusively reported the deal.
Britain moves first to supply Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles
Highlighting what he called the deliberate targeting of civilians, Britain‘s Defence Minister Ben Wallace told parliament: „Russia must recognise that its actions alone have led to such systems being provided.“
Iran TV airs footage of commandos seizing US-bound tanker
The capture on Thursday of the Turkish-managed, Chinese-owned Advantage Sweet represents the latest seizure by Iran amid tensions with the U.S. over advancing nuclear program. While Tehran says the tanker was seized over it running into another Iranian vessel, it has provided no evidence yet to support the claim — and the Islamic Republic has taken other ships as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.