Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree speaks on the ballistic missile launched at Israel, September 15, 2024
(photo credit: SCREENSHOT/X)
Archiv: Hühnerlacher / Witzfiguren / KopfTisch / headshaker / laughing stocks
In surprise close call, Lapid holds on to party leadership by a mere 29 votes
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid beat out opponent MK Ram Ben Barak by the skin of his teeth in Thursday afternoon’s Yesh Atid primary, the party’s first leadership contest since it was founded by Lapid in 2012. (…)
Ben Barak had not presented a strong challenge to the longtime leader, stating repeatedly that he does not differ materially in his policy outlook from Lapid and is mainly running in order to promote the “democratization” of the party, which has been under the same leadership for over a decade.
Russian air defenses down 15 Ukrainian missiles over Belgorod
(today)
“Our Russian defenses managed to thwart a new attempt by the Kiev regime to launch a terrorist attack with RM-70 vamp launchers on Belgorod, and 15 missiles targeting the city were shot down, “RIA Novosti quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying in a statement.
Thousands of trucks waiting in North Sinai to enter Gaza, says Sinai governor
North Sinai‘s governor, Mohamed Shousha, said 7,000 aid trucks are waiting to deliver aid into Gaza.
Shousha said in a statement that Israel‘s inspection rules had delayed the flow of aid into Gaza.
EU-Mission im Roten Meer: Bundestag gibt grünes Licht für Marineeinsatz
538 von 573 Abgeordneten votierten in einer namentlichen Abstimmung dafür, 31 dagegen, 4 enthielten sich. Neben den drei Ampel-Fraktionen SPD, Grüne und FDP hatten in der Debatte auch die CDU/CSU und die AfD ihre Zustimmung signalisiert.
A search function, you dummies, is not a tool where you fill in an „URL of a Bluesky post“.
(…)
How to Browse Bluesky without Login or Account
(December 28, 2023)
All you would need is to know the particular profile name to navigate to their handle and see all posts or have a direct link to any particular post.
Now if you do not have the posts’ link and still want to view it on Bluesky, there are some third-party portals that can help you with the same.
– Skyview: This web app offers a simple interface to browse Bluesky posts, threads, and profiles without logging in.
Angriffe im Roten Meer EU-Außenminister wollen Marinemission billigen
Deutschland will sich an dem Einsatz mit der Fregatte „Hessen“ beteiligen. Das Kriegsschiff mit rund 240 Soldatinnen und Soldaten an Bord war dafür bereits am 8. Februar von Wilhelmshaven aus auf den Weg ins Mittelmeer geschickt worden. Das Mandat für die EU-Mission „Aspides“ erfordert die Zustimmung des Bundestags. Die Abstimmung wird am kommenden Freitag erwartet.
Enquete-Kommission zu Afghanistan: „Strategisch gescheitert“
Ebenso deutlich wie in der Gesamtbewertung wird die Enquete-Kommission des Bundestags bei der Auflistung der einzelnen Verfehlungen und Versäumnisse:
„Eine fortlaufende, selbstkritische Bestandsaufnahme hinsichtlich der sehr hoch gesetzten Ziele hat nicht ausreichend stattgefunden“, kritisiert das Gremium und nimmt damit sämtliche mit dem Einsatz befasste Bundesregierungen in den Jahren 2001 bis 2021 aufs Korn.
I am deeply concerned by the reported bombardment and potential ground incursion by Israeli forces in Rafah. My Office has an ongoing and active investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine.
This is being taken forward as a matter of the utmost urgency, with a view to bringing to justice those responsible for Rome Statute crimes.
All wars have rules and the laws applicable to armed conflict cannot be interpreted so as to render them hollow or devoid of meaning. This has been my consistent message, including from Ramallah last year. Since that time, I have not seen any discernible change in conduct by Israel. As I have repeatedly emphasised, those who do not comply with the law should not complain later when my Office takes action pursuant to its mandate.
To all those involved: my Office is actively investigating any crimes allegedly committed. Those who are in breach of the law will be held accountable.
I also continue to call for the immediate release of all hostages. This also represents an important focus of our investigations.
Pakistan’s former premier Imran Khan and wife convicted of marriage law violation in a fourth case
(04.02.2024)
Analysts say Khan’s multiple and apparently hasty convictions are seen by his party and supporters as punishment for his rhetoric against Pakistan’s powerful military leadership, which has ruled the country for half of its 76-year history. During his final months in power, Khan had broadened his fight with opponents to include the military.
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.
Bundeswehr-Fregatte soll nächste Woche Richtung Rotes Meer fahren
Wie die Nachrichtenagentur dpa berichtet, soll das Schiff am 8. Februar von Wilhelmshaven aus auslaufen und so Ende des Monats das Einsatzgebiet erreichen. Damit trifft die Bundeswehr Vorkehrungen, um nach einem Mandat des Bundestages schnellstmöglich einen entsprechenden Auftrag ausführen zu können.
Where Is Hamas Getting Its Weapons? Increasingly, From Israel.
But recent intelligence has shown the extent to which Hamas has been able to build many of its rockets and anti-tank weaponry out of the thousands of munitions that failed to detonate when Israel lobbed them into Gaza, according to weapons experts and Israeli and Western intelligence officials. Hamas is also arming its fighters with weapons stolen from Israeli military bases.
Intelligence gathered during months of fighting revealed that, just as the Israeli authorities misjudged Hamas’s intentions before Oct. 7, they also underestimated its ability to obtain arms.
Shin Bet Source in Gaza Reportedly Warned of Major Hamas Attack on Israel Set for Early October
According to the Channel 12 report, the handler of the source passed the information further, estimating that if Hamas‘ plan „indeed nears execution, additional information will reach us.“ However, the specific information was eventually halted at a lower level and did not reach higher-ranking authorities.
The alert received in the summer was revisited as part of the Shin Bet‘s investigations into the intelligence failure. Shin Bet sources claimed that no additional information supporting that specific intelligence was found during the examinations
Report: Shin Bet dismissed Gaza source’s tip on plans, timing of major Hamas attack
The network cited unnamed Shin Bet sources saying that the lack of corroborating intelligence, and the fact that the source had only started speaking to the Shin Bet a relatively short while before — had contributed to the tip not being taken seriously, though they have since admitted that the source is highly reliable.
Even though Bar, the agency’s chief, hadn’t heard about the information, Channel 12 cited multiple sources as saying the Shin Bet won’t blame lower-ranking officers, and admitting the service failed to prevent the assault.
TV report: Israel believes drone fired at tanker off India was launched directly from Iran
Israel believes the drone fired at a tanker off the coast of India a short while ago was launched directly from Iran, Channel 12 reports, although this remains unconfirmed.
Pentagon says chemical tanker struck by Iranian drone in Indian Ocean
A chemical tanker operating in the Indian Ocean was struck by an Iranian attack drone Saturday, a US Department of Defense official said, the seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021.
“The motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker was struck at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran,” the official said in a statement.
ARD-DeutschlandTrend: Mehrheit in großer Sorge wegen Nahost
(heute)
Diese militärische Reaktion Israels auf die Terroranschläge bewerten 35 Prozent der deutschen Wahlberechtigten als angemessen; acht Prozent geben an, dass die Reaktion nicht weit genug gehe. Somit halten 43 Prozent der Bundesbürger das Agieren der israelischen Armee für angemessen oder nicht ausreichend, während 41 Prozent sagen, dass der Gegenschlag der israelischen Armee zu weit geht.
BREAKING: Fox News says it can confirm that Saudi Arabia intercepted a missile barrage heading towards Israel from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, with the US navy‘s USS Carney also intercepting four missiles and fifteen drones.
No recordings for a year allegedly of the training and planning of the biggest attack on Jews since the Holocaust but they got a recording discussing the Israeli reports of a failed rocket that hit a Christian hospital in Gaza in a few hours? Interesting how their intel works again all of a sudden
Bericht über neue Verzögerung auf Langzeitbaustelle Stuttgart 21
(heute)
Das Projekt werde voraussichtlich auch im Jahr 2025 noch nicht in vollem Umfang in Betrieb genommen werden können, berichtete der „Spiegel“ heute unter Verweis auf interne Dokumente der Deutschen Bahn (DB). Außerdem stiegen die Gesamtkosten um weitere 614 Millionen Euro auf rund 9,8 Milliarden Euro.
Warum Bluesky gerade durch die Decke geht – und was Mastodon daraus lernen kann
„In vielen Fällen siegt Usability über hehre Netz-Ideale.“ Viele Menschen seien eben keine Technik-Afficionados, denen Open Source oder eine nicht-kommerzielle Ausrichtung digitaler Angebote ein Herzensanliegen ist. Solche idealistischen, nicht-kommerziellen Angebote fänden zwar viele in der Theorie gut, in der Praxis setzten sich aber oft jene Angebote durch, die besonders leicht zu benutzen sind und die bereits von vielen Bekannten im eigenen Umfeld genutzt würden.
White House Close To Providing Kiev With Cluster-Armed ATACMS
During the Vietnam War, US forces dropped hundreds of millions of cluster bomblets on Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. People still die in Laos on a yearly basis because of the tens of millions of unexploded ordinances left behind following US bombing campaigns.
U.S. will send Ukraine long-range missiles, after delay
The Biden administration plans to provide Ukraine with a version of ATACMS long-range missiles armed with cluster bomblets rather than a single warhead, according to several people familiar with the ongoing deliberations.
„Know the Limits of Your Power“: Knesset Speaker Threatens Israel‘s High Court Ahead of Dramatic Judicial Coup Hearing
Israel‘s Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana warned Supreme Court justices on Wednesday that the parliament „will not acquiesce to its trampling,“ less than a week before the court is set to hear petitions against a key law in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s judicial coup.
Knesset speaker warns High Court voiding of Basic Laws may ‘plunge us into the abyss’
“Israel is democratic, and in a democracy, the sovereign is the people. In a democratic state, the justice system respects the sovereign, the people and its elected officials, and this respect is mutual. There is no debate, and there cannot be one, over the question of whether the Knesset has authorized the court to nullify Basic Laws,” he says, arguing that the court possesses no such power.
Taliban: Neue Abkommen für Betrieb von sieben Bergwerken
Welche Firmen den Zuschlag erhielten und aus welchen Ländern die Investitionen genau stammen, war nicht klar. Laut einer Mitteilung des Taliban-Wirtschaftsministeriums handelt es sich um den Abbau von Gold, Kupfer, Blei und Eisenerz. Die Investitionen stammen demzufolge aus Asien und Europa. Genauere Details nannte das Ministerium zunächst nicht.
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.
Europawahlprogramm: AfD fordert nun doch nicht die Auflösung der EU
(06.08.2023)
Krah relativierte die Forderungen aus der Partei nach einer radikalen Abkehr von der Europäischen Union. Die EU und der Euro müssten verändert, aber nicht sofort abgeschafft werden, sagte Krah am Rande der Europawahlversammlung in Magdeburg. Einen Nato-Austritt befürworte er derzeit nicht.
Europawahl-Programm AfD: wollte EU nur „aus Versehen“ auflösen
(14.07.2023)
Dass solch eine gravierende Forderung ohne einen Beschluss der Bundesprogrammkommission redaktionell „aus Versehen“ in einen Leitantrag gerät, klingt etwas skurril. Aus Parteikreisen heißt es, dass vor allem Co-Parteichefin Alice Weidel im EU-Auflösungsstreben ein Problem gesehen habe und daher die Umformulierung vorziehen würde. Auch die Formulierung aus dem Bundestagswahlprogramm 2021 habe sie nicht für geeignet gehalten. Damals hatte die AfD geschrieben, sie halte einen Austritt Deutschlands aus der Europäischen Union für notwendig.
Die Grünen und die Landesverräter
Der Vorsitzende des Europaausschusses im Bundestag, Hofreiter, etwa warnt aktuell eindringlich vor der AfD und hat ihr Landesverrat vorgeworfen. Dabei schloss er auch ein Verbot der Partei nicht aus, wie Medien berichten. Aufmerken lassen vor allem zwei Sätze Hofreiters. Zum einen:
„Man muss sich bewusst sein, welch unglaubliche Gefahr für Demokratie und Rechtsstaat sowie den Wohlstand vieler Menschen die AfD darstellt; das ist noch nicht in allen Teilen der Gesellschaft angekommen.“
Und zum anderen:
„Es ist auch kein ausreichendes Bewusstsein dafür vorhanden, welche Gefahr die AfD in dieser schwierigen Lage mit immer aggressiveren Diktaturen wie Russland und China für die äußere Sicherheit unseres Landes darstellt. Die AfD ist überwiegend eine Truppe von Landesverrätern, die nicht im Interesse unseres Landes, sondern im Interesse gegnerischer Mächte agieren.“
Homeland Security report details how teen hackers exploited security weaknesses in some of the world’s biggest companies
(August 10, 2023)
Staffed by senior US cybersecurity officials and executives at major technology firms like Google, the board does not have regulatory authority, but its recommendations could shape legislation in Congress and future directives from federal agencies.
Israel clinches largest-ever defense deal with Germany for $3.5 billion after securing US approval
Although Israel has long had close economic and military links with western European countries, the deal with Germany could draw the attention of Russia. Israel has maintained working relations with Russia throughout the war in Ukraine and has repeatedly rebuffed requests to sell arms to Kyiv for fear of antagonizing Moscow.
Comer says Kushner ‘crossed the line of ethics’ with Saudi deal
(August 11, 2023)
“I’ve been vocal that I think that what Kushner did crossed the line of ethics,” Comer said on CNN when asked to respond to Christie’s claim. “What Christie said — it happened after he left office. Still no excuse, Jake, but it happened after he left office.
U.S. moves to put Marines on commercial ships to stop Iranian seizures
The effort has not yet received final approval, but it has buy-in from senior Biden administration officials and could commence as soon as this month, said one official, …
“We have a cohort on the ground,” the official said. He added that the “policy decision has pretty much been made.”
Herzog wraps up meeting with Netanyahu, will hold talks with Lapid later tonight
President Isaac Herzog has finished meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, his office says.
Herzog will meet later this evening with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, according to a statement from the President’s Office.
FULL TEXT: Israeli President Isaac Herzog‘s Address to Congress
A country which takes pride in its vibrant democracy, its protection of minorities, human rights, and civil liberties…
A state founded on complete equality of social and political rights for all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or gender…
Truly, a modern-day miracle.
This is the sweetness with which our country has been blessed. However, dear friends, the bitter casts a dark shadow on our country, on our region, on our world.
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the greatest challenge Israel and the United States face at this time, is the Iranian nuclear program….
‚Antisemitic Boycott of Israel‘: Republicans Threaten Retaliation Over Biden Settlement Policy
(Jul 12, 2023)
Republican members of Congress and presidential contenders are amplifying their criticism of U.S. President Joe Biden‘s Israel policy, largely centered around Biden‘s decision to stop transferring funds to research institutes or scientific and technological projects in the West Bank.
This is despite the fact that Biden stopped short of reversing the majority of Donald Trump‘s doctrine on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
US says overhaul consensus crucial as Netanyahu coalition unilaterally restarts push
White House reiterates importance of ‘broadest possible base of popular support’ for judicial reforms as bill shackling court on ‘reasonableness’ doctrine heads to committee
New Partygate video ‘shows Tories dancing, drinking and laughing at lockdown rules’
At least 24 guests were reportedly at the gathering which was held just a few days before Mr Johnson’s 19 December announcement that Tier 4 Covid curbs would be implemented. This put London and the southeast of England under severe restrictions which meant many could not see their families on Christmas Day.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” he said just five days after the party.
Exclusive: First ever Partygate video revealed as Tories drink, dance and laugh at Covid rules
When one man sees he is being recorded, he says: “Oh Christ.” Then another asks: “Are you filming this?” Someone else responds: “It’s for party, erm, party use.”
A man then laughs after declaring: “As long as we are not streaming that we’re, like, bending the rules.”
It was just days after the party that Mr Johnson announced even tighter restrictions which meant people in the areas worst hit by Covid could not see their loved ones over Christmas.
Supermarkets ‚to be urged to cap price on some foods‘
The scheme would aim to get retailers charging the lowest possible amount for some basic products like milk and bread, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
A Number 10 source said the plans are at „drawing board stage“ and would not involve government-imposed price controls.
US and UK rule out sending fighter jets to Ukraine
(31 Jan 2023)
US president, Joe Biden, when asked at the White House late on Monday if his country would provide F-16s, answered simply “no”, although he emphasised on Tuesday morning he would remain in discussions with Ukraine about its weapons requests.
Later on Tuesday, the UK also said supplying western jets was not practical. “These are sophisticated pieces of equipment,” a Downing St spokesperson said. “We do not think it is practical to send those jets into Ukraine.”
It’s time to worry about a US default. For real this time
There’s a banking crisis, which regulatory officials and big American banks very much want you to believe is ending after decisive action over the weekend to take over and swallow up another failing bank.
And there’s a debt crisis, which is becoming more urgent as the US approaches the “X-date” – when it would default – and on which opposing lawmakers aren’t currently talking to each other.
Stefan Lorenz Sorgner contra Philipp von Becker: „Transhumanismus“
Auf Grundlage einer solchen Akzentverschiebung von dem, was gegeben ist, auf das, was machbar ist, unternimmt Stefan Lorenz Sorgner eine Neuausrichtung bioethischen Denkens. In seiner Betonung „reproduktiver Freiheit“ vollzieht er dabei einen Perspektivwechsel weg von einem diskriminierungsträchtigen Fokus auf eine bloße Verhinderung unerwünschter Eigenschaften. Stattdessen vertritt er ein Paradigma, das die kreative Schaffung von Menschen mit von den Erzeugern erwünschten Eigenschaften ins Zentrum stellt. Gleichzeitig wird die technische Verbesserung der menschlichen Lebensverhältnisse als zentrales Verfahren zur Aufhebung globaler Ungleichheit wie auch, über eine sich durch Wohlstand und Bildung ergebende Senkung der Reproduktionsrate, der Steuerung des Klimawandels angesehen.
EU erhielt die zwölfte Cybersicherheitsorganisation
(04.07.2021)
Ein aktuelles, schlagendes Beispiel dafür ist die Neufassung der deutschen Cybersicherheitsstrategie. In Deutschland ist es Teil dieser Strategie, gewisse neuentdeckte Software-Sicherheitslücken für Polizei – und Geheimdienste offenzuhalten, die deutsche Cyberbehörde ZiTis soll die zugehörige Trojaner-Schadsoftware für mehrere Dutzend deutsche Bundes- Landesbehörden entwickeln.
Ukraine-Liveblog: Pistorius sieht keine Kursänderung bei westlichen Kampfflugzeugen
No indictment for Netanyahu
(20. April 1997)
Netanyahu told CNN‘s Walter Rodgers he was „glad that the truth came out,“ and said the entire incident was „blown out of proportion and twisted out of shape.“
„It‘s politics,“ he said in an interview shortly after the attorney general released his report. „Of course there were people out to get us. But this is going nowhere. It‘s done. It‘s finished.“
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.