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Archiv: bad jokes / schlechte Scherze
What to know about the first Harris vs. Trump debate
State of play: The face-off Tuesday in Philadelphia‘s National Constitution Center won‘t have a live audience and also won‘t feature live mics despite Harris‘ push for the feature.
Netanyahu says ‘shameful’ suspension of UK arms licenses will embolden Hamas
Announcing the move on Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the decision to suspend 30 of 350 licenses did not amount to a blanket ban or an arms embargo, but only involved items with concerns over their use during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian protests sweep Europe
German police broke up a protest by between sixty and eighty pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied a courtyard on Freie Universität Berlin’s campus on Tuesday, May 7.
“An occupation is not acceptable on the FU Berlin campus,” university president Guenter Ziegler said.
Live Updates: Protesters Take Over Building on Columbia Campus
The protest was expanding after university officials had tried to ease the situation by suspending students who had refused to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment.
Deutschland widerspricht Vorwürfen der Beihilfe zum Völkermord in Gaza
„Deutschland hat weder die Völkermordkonvention noch das humanitäre Völkerrecht verletzt“, sagte ein Regierungssprecher. Das werde man vor dem IGH entsprechend darlegen. Bei der Erteilung der Genehmigung von Rüstungsexporten halte sich die Bundesregierung an die Einhaltung des internationalen Rechts, sagte der Sprecher. Deutschland wird seine Position am Dienstag vor den 16 Richtern des UN-Gerichts darlegen. Eine Entscheidung wird in etwa zwei Wochen erwartet.
“#Israel’s apartheid army detained, interrogated and beat Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, a graduate of Syracuse University, with the assistance of Corsight’s facial recognition technology ….
Giora Eiland, a retired Israeli major general, serves on the board of directors of Corsight …. He wrote: ‘The entire population of #Gaza will either move to #Egypt or move to the Gulf.’
The retired general also recommended targeting civilian vehicles in Gaza.” #writingcommunity
Israel Deploys Expansive Facial Recognition Program in Gaza
(March 27, 2024)
The expansive and experimental effort is being used to conduct mass surveillance there, collecting and cataloging the faces of Palestinians without their knowledge or consent, according to Israeli intelligence officers, military officials and soldiers.
The technology was initially used in Gaza to search for Israelis who were taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 cross-border raids, the intelligence officials said.
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
The Journal reported that the U.S. Justice Department is considering whether to allow Assange to plead guilty to a reduced charge of mishandling classified information. The newspaper cited people familiar with the matter.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment on the report.
OBSERVATIONS OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL ON THE REQUEST FILED BY THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ON 6 MARCH 2024 FOR THE INDICATION OF ADDITIONAL PROVISIONAL MEASURES AND/OR THE MODIFICATION OF MEASURES PREVIOUSLY INDICATED
10. Taken together, South Africa’s shrill and repeated submissions also suffer from a more fundamental flaw. They are simply unable to explain how significant measures undertaken continuously by Israel throughout the present hostilities—including various humanitarian initiatives and the ongoing coordination of access to humanitarian supplies, extensive efforts to mitigate civilian harm, a willingness to compromise operational advantage for the benefit of Palestinian civilians (for instance, by advance warning and close quarters combat), humanitarian pauses in fighting, specific directives by the War Cabinet and Israeli Defence Forces addressing the humanitarian situation, and much more—can possibly be reconciled with a genocidal intent to destroy a group in whole or in part. Put differently, which State that is engaged in genocide, or is indifferent to the commission of acts within the scope of Article II of the Convention, works to coordinate humanitarian convoys and airdrops, or facilitates constantly the provision of medical supplies to hospitals, the establishment of field hospitals, and the repair of critical infrastructure damaged in the course of hostilities?
Israel asks World Court not to order new measures over Gaza hunger
THE HAGUE: Israel has asked the (ICJ) not to issue emergency orders for it to step up humanitarian aid to Gaza to address a looming famine, dismissing South Africa‘s request to do so as „morally repugnant“.
In a legal filing to the United Nations‘ top court, made public on Monday, Israel said it „has real concern for the humanitarian situation and innocent lives, as demonstrated by the actions it has and is taking“ in Gaza during the war.
FragDenStaat-Chefredakteur Arne Semsrott nach Berichterstattung über Gerichtsverfahren angeklagt: Verfassungswidrige Strafnorm gefährdet die Pressefreiheit
Berlin, 20. Februar 2024 – Die Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin hat gegen Arne Semsrott, Chefredakteur von FragDenStaat, wegen der verbotenen Mitteilung über Gerichtsverhandlungen Anklage zum Landgericht Berlin erhoben. Die Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF) und Strafverteidiger Lukas Theune unterstützen Semsrott und FragDenStaat in dem gegen ihn geführten Strafverfahren. Kernpunkt der Verteidigung ist, dass die Strafnorm verfassungswidrig ist und gegen die Pressefreiheit verstößt.
Arne Semsrott hatte im August 2023 über die Ermittlungsmaßnahmen gegen die Letzte Generation und den unabhängigen Sender Radio Dreyeckland berichtet und im Zuge dessen mehrere relevante Gerichtsentscheidungen veröffentlicht. Er riskierte damit bewusst Strafanzeigen. Die Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin leitete ein Ermittlungsverfahren gegen ihn ein und erhob nun in dem Komplex zur Letzten Generation Anklage, wegen der besonderen Bedeutung des Falls sogar zum Landgericht. Die einschlägige Strafnorm (§ 353d Nr. 3 StGB) verbietet ohne Ausnahme jede Veröffentlichung des Wortlauts von Dokumenten eines laufenden Strafverfahrens vor der Hauptverhandlung. Das erschwert die Berichterstattung über Strafverfahren und schränkt damit die Pressefreiheit unverhältnismäßig ein.
Nawaz Sharif declares victory in Pakistan‘s election, despite failing to win a majority of seats
Mr Sharif‘s party won the most seats by a single party in Thursday‘s election, but supporters of imprisoned former prime minister Mr Khan, who ran as independents instead of as a single bloc after his party was barred from the polls, won the most seats overall.
Trump: Israel was in on Soleimani assassination, backed out at 11th hour
(04.02.2024)
The former president and current presidential candidate also told Fox News the Iranian regime was in the final stretch of their controversial nuclear drive, with the connivance of Joe Biden, the sitting U.S. president and Trump‘s main political rival.
„Iran is going to have a nuclear weapon in 60 days, and Biden is allowing them to do it! Now they are a very rich country and they are taking over Iraq.“
The hard truth about Biden’s coming retaliation for the killing of US troops
Ketaib Hezbollah (KH) finally got the picture. President Joe Biden’s statements about US plans for retaliation make it clear that the United States does not have an appetite for war with Iran. But the United States sure has an appetite for KH’s destruction. KH recognizes that the drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan on Sunday puts it squarely in US crosshairs. Oh the impending irony, after years of fighting to push US forces out of Iraq, to be obliterated just months before the United States voluntarily withdraws.
Exclusive: Nearly half of the Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are imprecise ‘dumb bombs,’ US intelligence assessment finds
The assessment, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and described to CNN by three sources who have seen it, says that about 40-45% of the 29,000 air-to-ground munitions Israel has used have been unguided. The rest have been precision-guided munitions, the assessment says.
Presidential frontrunner reveals Judaism conversion plans
(20.11.2023)
Argentina‘s libertarian presidential candidate Javier Milei, a prominent supporter of Israel, has outlined his intention to convert to Judaism, though he also acknowledged that any move to do so would likely have to wait until his political career is over.
‘Chaos, darkness and fire’: Fighting erupts around another embattled Gazan hospital.
The precise source of the strike could not be independently verified.
Israel will begin 4-hour pauses in military operations in Gaza each day, White House says
(Updated 8:54 PM EST, Thu November 9, 2023)
The White House said Thursday that Israel had agreed to move forward with daily four-hour pauses of military operations in areas of Northern Gaza.
UK’s Sunak fires aide who called for Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Tory MP Paul Bristow, who served as Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan’s parliamentary private secretary, was ousted from that role following a letter he sent to Sunak last week accusing Israel of carrying out “collective punishment” on the people of Gaza.
“Paul Bristow has been asked to leave his post in government following comments that were not consistent with the principles of collective responsibility,” a Downing Street spokesperson says.
I am from Gaza and I am telling you this is a JOKE. Israel destroyed many water pipes. Also, without electricity we can NOT turn on the water pumps. Water in Gaza does not simply run into the taps. We have to fill water tanks about twice a week.
(16.10.2023)
Another Israeli trick:
While some parts of Gaza MAY get running water, many others won’t.
And it’s FRESH water we badly need now for drinking and cooking.
Over 95% of Gaza’s running water is not fit for human consumption.
Nach Putsch in Gabun: EU überdenkt Afrika-Politik
In Reaktion auf den Umsturz in Niamey haben Berlin und Paris jedenfalls gemeinsam Sanktionen gegen führende Mitglieder der Junta vorgeschlagen, was der EU-Außenbeauftragte Josep Borrell aufgegriffen hat. Baerbock betonte, dass man sich dabei eng abgestimmt habe mit der Regionalorganisation Ecowas, der 15 westafrikanische Staaten angehören.
Donald Trump‘s federal election interference trial set for March 2024
The judge overseeing the former president’s federal election case ignored Trump’s request to postpone the trial until 2026.
Niger: We’re more likely to use force — ECOWAS
Fielding questions on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, also dismissed insinuations that ECOWAS was acting under the influence of a foreign power.
He explained that the community’s chances of using military force to restore constitutional order in Niger were very likely.
He said: “Right from the 1960s, I have never seen a coup that has not enjoyed continuous support from the people.
Netanyahu still not committing to abiding by Supreme Court ruling
Netanyahu, who has refused to answer questions from the Israeli media has been giving interviews to American Networks. „I think we have to follow two rules. One is that Israeli governments abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court and the at the same time the Supreme Court respects the basic laws which are the closes thing we have to a constitution. I think we should keep both principles.“
Netanyahu won’t commit to abiding by ruling if Supreme Court blocks controversial law
(Fri July 28)
“What you’re talking about is a situation, or potential situation, where in American terms, the United States’ Supreme Court would take a constitutional amendment and say that it’s unconstitutional, Netanyahu said. “That’s the kind of the kind of spiral that you’re talking about, and I hope we don’t get to that.”
The so-called “reasonableness” law is an amendment to one of Israel’s Basic Laws, which exist in place of a formal constitution.
Vilnius Summit Communiqué
(11 Jul. 2023)
11. We fully support Ukraine’s right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine’s future is in NATO. We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and today we recognise that Ukraine’s path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan.
(…)
23. The People’s Republic of China’s stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values. The PRC employs a broad range of political, economic, and military tools to increase its global footprint and project power, while remaining opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up. The PRC’s malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation target Allies and harm Alliance security. The PRC seeks to control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials and supply chains. It uses its economic leverage to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence. It strives to subvert the rules-based international order, including in the space, cyber and maritime domains.
Umstrittenes Analyse-Tool: Bund rückt von Software Palantir ab
Auch die innenpolitische Sprecherin der Linksfraktion, Martina Renner, begrüßt die Entscheidung des Bundes, von Palantir abzurücken. Sie fordert im BR-Interview eigenständige Entwicklungen der Behörden, bei denen man über den Quellcode verfügt: „Das hat den großen Vorteil, dass man dann genau weiß, was das Programm macht.“
Das Bayerische Innenministerium betont, die anderen Bundesländer könnten weiterhin den bayerischen Rahmenvertrag nutzen, um Leistungen von Palantir abzurufen.
Neuwahl in Griechenland für 25. Juni festgelegt
Eine Große Koalition zwischen ND und Syriza galt aus politischen Gründen als ausgeschlossen. Die beiden Parteien liegen thematisch und ideologisch zu weit auseinander.
Wiederwahl zum Präsidenten: Erdogan erhält Gratulationen aus aller Welt
US-Präsident Joe Biden beglückwünschte Erdoğan in einer Twitter-Nachricht: „Herzlichen Glückwunsch an den türkischen Präsidenten Recep Tayyip Erdoğan zu seiner Wiederwahl. Ich freue mich weiterhin auf die Zusammenarbeit als NATO-Bündnispartner in bilateralen Fragen und bei gemeinsamen globalen Herausforderungen“.
China warnt EU: „Gefährliche“ Sanktionen
Bereits am Mittwoch werden die ständigen Vertreter der 27 EU-Mitgliedsstaaten in Brüssel über das weitere Vorgehen beraten. Dem Vernehmen nach soll das neue Sanktionspaket noch in diesem Monat beschlossen werden.
Israel Prepares Forces ‚On All Borders‘ Amid Lebanon Rocket Attacks, Unrest
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, IDF spokesperson Richard Hecht said that about 34 rockets were launched earlier in the day from Lebanon into Israel, 25 of which were intercepted and six of which fell into Israeli territory. The barrage is one of the largest since the last war between the neighboring rivals fought 15 years ago, and Hecht called the new attack a „very serious event.“
While Hecht said the IDF has not yet identified the perpetrator, he said the launch was believed to have been conducted by a Palestinian group, potentially tied to Hamas or Islamic Jihad, two movements present in the Gaza Strip,
JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass review – Oliver Stone returns to the grassy knoll
(24 Nov 2021)
But, exasperatingly, and despite speculation being the order of the day, the film never attempts to name any supposed second or third shooter, to say exactly where these gunmen would have been positioned, and how the inevitable witnesses to their activity would have been suppressed. The old question reasserts itself: can you do this with any historical event? Could you, with enough time, undermine the case against Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo in 1914?
Netanyahu hits back after Biden expresses alarm over judicial overhaul
Netanyahu tweeted Tuesday that he has known Biden for 40 years and appreciates his “longstanding commitment” to Israel. But he said Israel’s government will not make decisions based on external pressure from other countries.
“Israel is a sovereign country which makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends,” Netanyahu said.
Petition for Netanyahu’s removal from office rejected by High Court
(March 27, 2023 15:45)
The court rejected the petition by the Defenders of Israeli Democracy on all grounds, saying that judicial intervention was a last resort after all other avenues had been exhausted.
The petition was viewed as unacceptable in its framing, and the petitioners were ordered to pay NIS 5,000 for expenses to the state treasury.
A year after its launch, details of submarine affair probe’s work yet to surface
(28 January 2023)
However, as of this time, the name of only one witness has been publicly announced — Amos Gilad, who was the director of the Defense Ministry’s Political-Military Affairs Bureau at the time of the purchase of the submarines.
The names of any other witnesses, if they exist, are unknown. Nor is it known how many times a week the commission meets, and which of the panel members are present when it does.
A year after its launch, details of the submarine affair probe’s work have yet to surface While the identities of the witnesses and the materials studied remain unknown, some believe staying under the radar may save panel from being torpedoed by Netanyahu
Biden, Scholz to ‚get into the weeds‘ on Ukraine war, China concerns in Washington
The German leader arrives as United States is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, according to four U.S. officials and other sources.
OPEC+ Exports Show Russia Surges While Saudi Arabia Dials Back
(03.02.2023)
It’s also unclear exactly what drove the decrease in Saudi shipments, which dropped by 580,000 barrels a day last month, or about 8%.