Israeli Fear Of Iran Nuclear Bomb Rises: Lawmaker’s Plea To Netanyahu Amid IDF Attack On Tehran Prep – hindustantimes.com Source Link Excerpt:
Published on Oct 09, 2024 11:21 PM IST
Israeli Parliamentarian Moshe Saada from Netanyahu’s MK Party made a plea to govt. Saada reportedly called on the Israeli PM to order a strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. He proposed the strike in retaliation for Tehran’s missile attack on Oct 1. Watch this video for all the details.
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Elon Musk’s X is back up in Brazil, but it comes with a hefty cost, both in terms of money and the precedent the win for Brazil sets for other nations looking to shake Musk down to assure the platform bends the knees to approved government censors.
The counter to the cave-in narrative is that Musk measured the cost of the dangerous precedent versus cutting off 21.5 million Brazilians from at least being able to enjoy more “free speech” expressions than they otherwise would be allowed to have without X as an option.
X is Back to Brazil After Paying Hefty Fines – 21.5 Million Users Again Connected to the World | The Gateway Pundit– www.thegatewaypundit.com Source Link Excerpt:
The social media platform X is back in Brazil, after 40 days – that felt like an eternity for users – blocked in the South American country.
There are of course those who will cry that Elon Musk ‘gave in’, ‘backed down’ or in some way reneged his fight for free speech, but there is a good argument for the importance of keeping X’s sixth largest market with 21.5 million users.
And for Brazilians who use the platform, the decision is being widely celebrated.
Brazil’s tyrannical Supreme Court finally cleared X to resume service in the country Tuesday after the social media platform complied with court rulings.
“Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who had been locked in a months-long feud with Musk, gave X the green light to resume operations in Latin America’s largest country effective immediately.”
Justice Moraes said X had met all the necessary requirements and could start operating again in the country.
The platform had been suspended in Brazil since late August for not complying with court orders related to ‘hate speech moderation’ [a.k.a. censorship) and failing to name a legal representative in the country.
“Musk, who had denounced the orders as censorship and called Moraes a ‘dictator’, started to reverse his position in recent weeks, with his social media network blocking accounts flagged by the court, tapping a local representative and paying pending fines.”
Moraes stipulated that Brazil’s telecommunications regulator Anatel should allow X to come back online within 24 hours – which it did.
“Through its Global Affairs account, X said it was proud to return to Brazil, adding that it ‘will continue to defend freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law’ in the countries where it operates.”
X’s suspension was brought about by an individual ruling by Moraes, later unanimously backed by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court and its chief justice.
“Justices flagged at the time, however, that they would be open to reconsidering the suspension if X complied with rulings. The social media company initially said it would not abide by them because they were ‘illegal’.
Brazil is X’s sixth-biggest market globally and as of April had about 21.5 million users, according to data platform Statista. During the suspension, many users migrated to rival platforms such as Bluesky and Threads, owned by Meta.”
X had legal representation in Brazil until mid-August, when it decided to close its offices – because of a threat of imprisonment – due to the orders from Moraes, which it dubbed ‘censorship orders’, failing to name someone to assume legal responsibilities for the firm locally.
South Korea’s defense chief is claiming North Korea is sending soldiers to help Russia fight in Ukraine.
He told the parliament of South Korea, “As Russia and North Korea have signed a mutual treaty akin to a military alliance, the possibility of such a deployment is highly likely. The relations between Russia and North Korea are evolving to be almost as close as a military alliance. As such, more North Korean troops could be deployed in the war, from how we look at it.”
North Korea Now Sending Troops to Ukraine to Fight Alongside Russians – PJ Media– pjmedia.com Source Link Excerpt:
North Korea is already supplying Russia with tens of thousands of 155MM artillery shells and other military supplies in exchange for Russian food and oil the impoverished nation desperately needs.
Now, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is sending his soldiers to fight side by side with Russians in Ukraine.
“As Russia and North Korea have signed a mutual treaty akin to a military alliance, the possibility of such a deployment is highly likely,” South Korea’s defense chief told the country’s parliament, adding that more of Pyongyang’s soldiers are likely to be deployed.
“The relations between Russia and North Korea are evolving to be almost as close as a military alliance,” he said. “As such, more North Korean troops could be deployed in the war, from how we look at it.”
Minister Kim says it’s “highly likely” that six North Korean officers were blown up in a Ukrainian missile strike on Donetsk last week. “We assess that the occurrence of casualties among North Korean officers and soldiers in Ukraine is highly likely, considering various circumstances,” Kim said, adding that they expect North Korea to send more troops to Russia soon.
Russia and North Korea have deepened their ties following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, culminating in a defense pact signed between the two countries in June when President Vladimir Putin visited the Asian country for the first time in 25 years.
The pact, which represents a sign of the strongest partnership between the two since the Cold War, envisions mutual military assistance between Moscow and Pyongyang if either is attacked.
The move added to concerns in the West that North Korea is providing Moscow with munitions to wage its war in Ukraine in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers.
A report in the Washington Post claims senior U.S. intelligence officials have discovered a mass of Chinese Communist online bots targeting American local elections, seeking to “inflame tensions in the country just one month before the 2024 election.” Another report in Newsweek cited Reuters as claiming “China-linked actors… directly interfered in ‘tens’ of down-ballot races, particularly when it comes to issues that most concern the Chinese Communist Party.”
This writer would assume at the local level what China wants most are officials amendable to provide the Chinese Communist Party free access to sensitive institutional territory, as well as preferential treatment to assure the Chinese can move in as seamlessly and stealthily as possible.
Lest you think that means democrats, this writer can assure you there are plenty of republicans, especially at the local level, willing to grift America for personal gain, there’s just even more democrats not only willing to grift America, but to do that grifting with glee, for they hate her to their core. For the democrat, they’re not selling out their country, their selling out ours, America.
US States Sue TikTok Over Privacy Violations– www.ndtv.com Source Link Excerpt:
A group of 14 US states on Tuesday filed lawsuits accusing TikTok of ensnaring young users with addictive features, then harming their minds and violating their privacy.
The wave of local court lawsuits demanding corrective measures and financial penalties comes as the popular video-snippet sharing app faces a ban in the United States if it remains owned by China-based ByteDance.
“Our investigation has revealed that TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits,” California attorney general Rob Bonta said in a news release issued jointly with officials from other states.
“TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content.”
Bonta contended that features such as beauty filters, endless scrolling, autoplay videos, and “likes” exploit youthful curiosity and lack of will power to stop.
China made it clear to the world recently that it is committed to following the ESG standards of the DNC-CCP, with ESG standing for Environmental, Social, and Governance. A recent government propaganda piece signaled China’s involvement in the woke ideology and its commitment to following the standards.
From senecaesg.com: Although China’s ESG framework is still developing, it aligns closely with international standards, ensuring that mainland companies adhere to sustainable practices. This regulatory push is expected to promote widespread ESG awareness and implementation across industries.
China Strengthens ESG Compliance with New Regulatory Framework for Carbon Neutral Strategy – senecaesg.com Source Link Excerpt:
China has made significant progress in establishing a regulatory framework for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, evolving over two decades. The first ESG policy, initiated in 2003, laid the groundwork for environmental information disclosure. By 2022, the State Council’s “Opinions on Comprehensively Promoting the Construction of a Beautiful China” emphasized the importance of ESG. This government endorsement advanced China’s focus on ecological governance and green economic development.
Recent developments, like the Ministry of Finance’s 2023 draft “Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Standards,” marked a milestone in ESG regulations. These guidelines broaden ESG disclosure requirements beyond listed companies to include small and medium-sized enterprises. They focus on governance, strategy, and risk management, requiring timely and transparent reporting.
Additionally, the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing stock exchanges have introduced guidelines mandating sustainable development reports for certain companies, emphasizing both financial and environmental impact. These reports must align with the company’s annual reports, fostering regulatory compliance.
Although China’s ESG framework is still developing, it aligns closely with international standards, ensuring that mainland companies adhere to sustainable practices. This regulatory push is expected to promote widespread ESG awareness and implementation across industries.
The last 3 Hezbollah leaders have all been eliminated by precision military strikes conducted by Israeli Defense Forces, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is letting the world to know that trend will continue as long as Hezbollah exists. Commemorating the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Massacre that set off the current war, Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until Hezbollah and Hamas are completely destroyed.
Israel says it has killed slain Hezbollah leader’s successors – Reuters Source Link Excerpt:
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Oct 8 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday Israeli airstrikes had killed two successors to Hezbollah’s slain leader, as Israel expanded its ground offensive against the Iran-backed group with a fourth army division deployed into south Lebanon.
Netanyahu spoke in a video released by his office hours after the deputy leader of Hezbollah, which is reeling after a spate of killings of senior commanders in Israeli airstrikes, left the door open to a negotiated ceasefire.
Israel considering exiling Hamas leaders in Gaza as part of ceasefire deal– www.mirror.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli officials are considering exiling Gaza’s Hamas leaders including the shadowy boss Yahya Sinwar – and having them sent to Sudan.
The Sudan option, if done with Sinwar’s consent, would be part of a ceasefire deal involving the release of hostages still in the Palestinian Strip. If the swap-for-exile agreement is struck it may mean some of Hamas’ assets frozen in Sudan by its government could be unfrozen, although it is not known where they would go.
Your Local Election Might be Invaded by Chinese Bots – mindfulintelligence.com
A report in the Washington Post claims senior U.S. intelligence officials have discovered a mass of Chinese Communist online bots targeting American local elections, seeking to “inflame tensions in the country just one month before the 2024 election.” Another report in Newsweek cited Reuters as claiming “China-linked actors… directly interfered in ‘tens’ of down-ballot races, particularly when it comes to issues that most concern the Chinese Communist Party.”
This writer would assume at the local level what China wants most are officials amendable to provide the Chinese Communist Party free access to sensitive institutional territory, as well as preferential treatment to assure the Chinese can move in as seamlessly and stealthily as possible.
Lest you think that means democrats, this writer can assure you there are plenty of republicans, especially at the local level, willing to grift America for personal gain, there’s just even more democrats not only willing to grift America, but to do that grifting with glee, for they hate her to their core. For the democrat, they’re not selling out their country, their selling out ours, America.
Defense Experts Warn of Dependence on Chinese Technology– www.dailysignal.com Source Link Excerpt:
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—American defense startups are far too reliant on Chinese parts—and that poses a serious risk of exploitation by Beijing, experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Business is booming as hundreds of defense startups have joined the growing U.S. military-industrial complex since 2021, according to The Wall Street Journal. But defense contractors are heavily dependent on China for parts for weapons systems, including motors, chips, and rare-earth minerals, which poses potential avenues for Beijing to exploit or hamper American technologies, experts said.
“This is a serious problem for two reasons,” said John Lee, senior defense expert at the Hudson Institute. “First, as we saw during the pandemic, overreliance on Chinese supply chains for components and inputs leaves countries and economies vulnerable to politically or policy-motivated restrictions being imposed by Beijing.”
“Second, components can have elements inserted into them without the knowledge of the end user. This could be spying equipment, channels for China to disable or damage the component from a distance, or even materials that can weaponize the component,” Lee said.
China slaps sanctions on 3 US firms, 10 senior execs over weapons sales to Taiwan – Reuters Source Link Excerpt:
China’s foreign ministry on Thursday announced it had imposed sanctions on three U.S. military-linked firms and 10 senior excecutives over U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan.
The steps taken against the firms, including Edge Autonomy Operations LLC, Huntingdon Ingalls Industries Inc and Skydio Inc, became effective on Thursday and will freeze any property within China, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Kamala Harris’s Electric School Bus Program Granted $395k to a Chinese Manufacturer. Then Its Top Executive Sent Biden-Harris Scores of Campaign Cash.– freebeacon.com Source Link Excerpt:
Vice President Kamala Harris’s billion-dollar Clean School Bus program provided funding to Chinese EV manufacturer BYD Company’s subsidiary in the United States, according to federal filings reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon. Months later, the subsidiary’s top executive, a Chinese national, wired $50,000 in support of what is now Harris’s presidential campaign.
BYD Americas was selected in late 2022 to receive $395,000 under the administration’s Clean School Bus program, which was spearheaded by Harris and EPA administrator Michael Regan, EPA documents show. That funding was disbursed in May 2023, six months before Li’s donations to the Biden-Harris campaign, according to the EPA.
The company applied for federal funding to supply an electric bus to Princeton Joint Unified School District located in northern California.
It remains unclear whether the company is directly providing its buses to school districts that applied for program funding from the EPA. “We are currently not aware of other school districts that may be purchasing buses from this company under the Clean School Bus program,” EPA spokesman Remmington Belford said in a statement to the Free Beacon.
BYD Americas’s president, Ke Li, then donated $25,000 to the Biden Victory Fund (now the Harris Victory Fund), $18,400 to the Democratic National Committee, but earmarked for the Biden Victory Fund, and a maximum individual contribution of $6,600 to the Biden campaign (now the Harris campaign), according to FEC filings reviewed by the Free Beacon. Li made each contribution on the same day: Nov. 14, 2023. President Joe Biden’s $96 million campaign war chest was transferred to Harris’s campaign in July after Biden withdrew from the presidential race.
In BYD Company’s most recent annual report, Li is identified as a Chinese national. Other company documents indicate she is a Chinese national with a “right of abode” in the United States. While federal law prohibits foreign nationals from making campaign donations, there is an exception for individuals with a green card.
Li’s donations are evidence that Chinese electric vehicle industry officials support the Biden-Harris administration’s agenda, even as the administration seeks to curb reliance on Chinese companies for green energy technologies. They also put a spotlight on the taxpayer funds the administration steered to BYD Americas as part of the push to rapidly scale up EV and electric bus production.
BYD is one of a handful of Chinese automakers that Congress began probing last month over potential espionage concerns. The company was also targeted by a provision in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which prohibits federal funding from being used to procure buses manufactured by a company that “is owned or controlled by, is a subsidiary of, or is otherwise related legally or financially to a corporation based in” China.
That provision—designed to block Chinese companies from benefiting both from subsidies awarded by the Chinese government and the U.S. government—applies, however, to programs administered by the Transportation Department. BYD Americas issued a press release last year publicly offering its products for the Clean School Bus program. “We are happy to help children across the U.S. breathe cleaner air,” said Patrick Duan, the company’s senior vice president.
BYD Americas didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The Clean School Bus program was created three years ago as a provision of the 2021 infrastructure bill, which put aside $5 billion for the EPA to distribute in the form of rebates and grants over the course of five years. Since the initial announcement in 2022, when BYD was selected for funding, the EPA has selected hundreds of school districts to receive nearly $3 billion to deploy electric buses.
A recent report published by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight subcommittee concluded the program was “overall a failure,” in part because it serves as a subsidy for products with ties to China. The report also found the program is costly, vulnerable to fraud, and improperly pushes school districts to adopt inefficient technology.
BYD Americas operates a plant in Lancaster, California, where it assembles electric bus and coach models. Its parent company, BYD Company, operates dozens more plants worldwide, and it manufactures batteries and passenger EVs among other technologies. Although BYD Company doesn’t export any passenger EVs to the United States, it is planning to open a plant in Mexico to supply EVs to the American market, Reuters reported in May.
In recent months, BYD Company has emerged as the world’s largest manufacturer of EVs, surpassing Tesla, which held that title for years. The Chinese company delivered more than 500,000 battery-electric vehicles during the final quarter of 2023, more than the 484,000 sold by Tesla, marking the first time Tesla was dethroned as the top EV maker in the world, the Financial Times reported.
BYD’s growing market share of the global EV market exemplifies China’s continued dominance of both the EV industry and the green energy sector more broadly.
According to the International Energy Agency, for example, China produces about 75 percent of all lithium-ion batteries, a key component of EVs, worldwide. China also boasts 70 percent of production capacity for cathodes and 85 percent for anodes, two key parts of such batteries, the data showed.
“Just at a time when American producers have made our country energy independent in oil and natural gas, Biden/Harris are pursuing energy policies that would make us dependent on China,” Kathleen Sgamma, the president of industry group the Western Energy Alliance, told the Free Beacon.
The Biden-Harris administration’s “record of favoring technologies dependent on China that would be disastrous for the American worker, economy, and energy supply makes you wonder about their loyalties,” she added.
The Harris campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment.
October 9, 2024
CHINESE COMMUNIST HACKERS ACCESS FISA WIRETAPS? – A report in the Wall Street Journal claims the U.S. government is aware of a major cyberattack by China. The cyberattack enabled the Chinese Communists to access sensitive, as well as general, American wiretapping assets. Some of these systems include the same systems America’s de facto Star Chamber Courts, the FISA Courts, rely on, the same system that spied on a presidential candidate in 2016.
The report comes from WSJ interviews with informants, from which the publication concluded, “A cyberattack tied to the Chinese government penetrated the networks of a swath of US broadband providers, potentially accessing information from systems the federal government uses for court-authorized network wiretapping requests. For months or longer, the hackers might have held access to network infrastructure used to cooperate with lawful US requests for communications data, according to people familiar with the matter.”
CHINA SIGNALS IT’S WILLING TO PUSH DNC-CCP IDEOLOGY IN BUSINESS, ESG – China made it clear to the world recently that it is committed to following the ESG standards of the DNC-CCP, with ESG standing for Environmental, Social, and Governance. A recent government propaganda piece signaled China’s involvement in the woke ideology and its commitment to following the standards.
From senecaesg.com: Although China’s ESG framework is still developing, it aligns closely with international standards, ensuring that mainland companies adhere to sustainable practices. This regulatory push is expected to promote widespread ESG awareness and implementation across industries.
Censors Delete Claim That China’s Bad Economy Is Packing Jails– chinadigitaltimes.net Source Link Excerpt:
1. Severe economic pressure. The frequency of crime in the “new economy” is attributable to the desperate measures many have resorted to. Many individuals have taken to industries that are illicit or semi-illicit: multi-level marketing, money laundering, and crypto-fraud. A number of businesses with falling revenues have also taken to falsifying invoices and faking contracts.
2. Strike Hard. This year, every public security and procuratorate agency has run a “strike hard” campaign, with key targets including prostitution, gambling, and “new economic crimes.”
3. “The criminalization of formerly legal activity and the harsh penalization of minor crimes.” For example, a few formerly non-criminal activities are now sometimes construed as crimes, and so side-hustles are viewed as “illegal economic activity” and playing mahjong is classified as “gambling.” [Chinese]
It is difficult to confirm whether the Douyin trend claiming that “jails are packed” is true. Chinese authorities have touted mass arrests this year as part of an effort to root out financial crime. In May, the Ministry of Public Security announced it had “investigated and solved” approximately 95,000 cases of economic crimes. Prosecutors have also vowed that a crackdown on organized crime that is entering its seventh year will continue at full force. In July, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced that it had approved the arrest of 367,000 people in total over the past half-year.
China hits European Union with new anti-dumping tax on mostly French brandy imports – upi.com Source Link Excerpt:
The Chinese government is reportedly considering additional tariffs on other EU imports including cars, pork and dairy products.
Currently, China is seeing a downturn on cognac and brandy imports into the Chinese market. Import volumes for August were down 40% on a year-on-year basis, according to the UBS spirit tracker. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 8 (UPI) — The Chinese government on Tuesday announced it will be placing an anti-dumping tax on Brandy produced in the European Union that is imported into China.China’s Ministry of Commerce said officials on Friday will begin collecting security deposits from companies that sell European-made Brandy. The security deposits would equal more than 30% of the products’ total value.
The announcement came days after the EU decided on Friday to move ahead with tariffs on China-made electric vehicles of up to 45%. The extra tariff could be as high as 35% and would come on top of the existing 10% rate.
“The relevant brandy industry within China has been substantially damaged or threatened,” China’s Commerce Ministry said Tuesday.
Chinese Laser Weapon “Protects” Iran’s Supreme Leader Amid Fear Of Israeli Attacks – Speculative Reports – Eurasia Times Source Link Excerpt:
In an unusual development, a Chinese laser anti-drone system has allegedly been spotted in Iran as the West Asian country fears an Israeli retaliation to its missile strike conducted earlier this month.
On October 4, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave a rare public sermon. The site where the leader spoke was protected by a host of defensive systems for security, including a possible Chinese laser counter-drone system, which was spotted by military observers after photos of the event were published online.
In the sermon, which came days after Iran’s strike on Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei justified Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack and declared that Iranian-backed proxies would continue fighting.
He also lauded the October 7 attack launched by Hamas on Israel last year, which led to the latter declaring war on the Gaza-based militant group.
1. Severe economic pressure. The frequency of crime in the “new economy” is attributable to the desperate measures many have resorted to. Many individuals have taken to industries that are illicit or semi-illicit: multi-level marketing, money laundering, and crypto-fraud. A number of businesses with falling revenues have also taken to falsifying invoices and faking contracts.
2. Strike Hard. This year, every public security and procuratorate agency has run a “strike hard” campaign, with key targets including prostitution, gambling, and “new economic crimes.”
3. “The criminalization of formerly legal activity and the harsh penalization of minor crimes.” For example, a few formerly non-criminal activities are now sometimes construed as crimes, and so side-hustles are viewed as “illegal economic activity” and playing mahjong is classified as “gambling.” [Chinese]
It is difficult to confirm whether the Douyin trend claiming that “jails are packed” is true. Chinese authorities have touted mass arrests this year as part of an effort to root out financial crime. In May, the Ministry of Public Security announced it had “investigated and solved” approximately 95,000 cases of economic crimes. Prosecutors have also vowed that a crackdown on organized crime that is entering its seventh year will continue at full force. In July, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced that it had approved the arrest of 367,000 people in total over the past half-year.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied violating any rules as she and her National Rally party and two dozen others went on trial on Monday, accused of embezzling European Parliament funds, in a case that has the potential to derail her political ambitions.
Former Iranian President Says “the highest person in charge of the counter-Israel unit at the Iranian Intelligence Ministry was an Israeli Mossad agent”– www.reddit.com Source Link
HEZBOLLAH LEADERS DYING AS FAST AS THEY’RE APPOINTED – The last 3 Hezbollah leaders have all been eliminated by precision military strikes conducted by Israeli Defense Forces, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is letting the world to know that trend will continue as long as Hezbollah exists. Commemorating the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Massacre that set off the current war, Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until Hezbollah and Hamas are completely destroyed.
Hezbollah Heir Apparent Safieddine Likely Eliminated in IDF Airstrike, Israeli Defense Minister Gallant Says– legalinsurrection.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s likely successor, Hashem Safieddine, may have been killed in a recent Israeli airstrike.
Defence Minister Gallant told senior Israeli military officials that the Iran-backed terrorist group has been rendered “headless” after the elimination of its long-time chief, Nasrallah, and his likely successor, Safieddine, the Israeli media reported Tuesday.
Safieddine, a long-time Hezbollah operative, and Nasrallah’s cousin was targeted in an Israeli airstrike on a terrorist stronghold in southern Beirut. The mainstream media widely regarded the 60-year-old terrorist as a ‘potential successor’ to Hezbollah chief Nasrallah after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike nearly ten days ago.
Netanyahu Vows Victory Against Hamas, Hezbollah on Anniversary of Oct. 7 – RedState– redstate.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the nation would be victorious in the war against its enemies in remarks made just before the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Gaza against Hamas.
On October 7, 2023, the terrorist group launched a surprise attack on Israel, murdering scores of Israeli civilians. Since then, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been engaged in a military effort to eradicate the terrorist group.
Recently, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group based in Lebanon, became a larger player in the war after Israel launched an attack to prevent a planned October 7-style assault.
While addressing IDF troops, Netanyahu vowed that Israel “will win” its war against Hamas and Hezbollah. “A year ago, we suffered a terrible blow. Over the past 12 months, we have completely transformed reality,” Netanyahu told troops, according to his office.
The prime minister said the “whole world admires the blows you are delivering to our enemies, and I salute you.”
Russia’s ‘Merchant of Death,’ Released by Biden in Prisoner Exchange, Now Selling Arms to Houthi Terrorists– freebeacon.com Source Link Excerpt:
Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer released by the Biden administration nearly two years ago in exchange for U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, is now selling weapons to Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,” met with Houthi representatives in Moscow in August under the guise of purchasing pesticides and vehicles to negotiate a $10 million deal for automatic weapons, the Wall Street Journalreported. The Houthis, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, have repeatedly launched drone and missile attacks against Israel and terrorized Israeli commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The Biden administration faced intense scrutiny in December 2022 after agreeing to swap Bout for Griner, a WNBA star who had been arrested in Russia on drug charges. Critics say that the deal favored Moscow by releasing a high-value prisoner while failing to secure the release of Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine detained in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges.
Israeli military deploys fourth division in Lebanon ground offensive | Lebanon– www.theguardian.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israel has said it is expanding its ground operation in Lebanon with the deployment of a fourth division after another night of intense airstrikes across the south and east of the country.
The reservist 146th division was sent to southern Lebanon overnight, hours after Israel announced the mobilisation of a third standing division, meaning the number of troops on the ground is now likely to number 15,000.
Launching what it has called Operation Northern Arrows last week, the Israeli army said the ground offensive would involve “limited, localised and targeted raids” to remove Hezbollah infrastructure along the disputed de facto border between the two countries, known as the blue line.
‘My Jake died here…it breaks my heart into a million pieces,’ says mum of victim at vigil a year on from Hamas massacre– www.thesun.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
A BRITISH couple poured out their heartbreak — and fury — as they joined families of October 7 victims at a remembrance vigil in Israel yesterday.
Michael and Lisa Marlowe were the only Britons among victims’ relatives at a gathering marking the first anniversary of the Hamashorror.
Mum Lisa fought back tears as she recalled her 26-year-old son Jake — a happy-go-lucky boy “living his best life” who had everything to look forward to.
“But I had to come here because this is the place where I feel closest to him now — it’s become sacred to me.
Israel considering exiling Hamas leaders in Gaza as part of ceasefire deal– www.mirror.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli officials are considering exiling Gaza’s Hamas leaders including the shadowy boss Yahya Sinwar – and having them sent to Sudan.
The Sudan option, if done with Sinwar’s consent, would be part of a ceasefire deal involving the release of hostages still in the Palestinian Strip. If the swap-for-exile agreement is struck it may mean some of Hamas’ assets frozen in Sudan by its government could be unfrozen, although it is not known where they would go.
Massive Explosions Rock Beirut and Southern Lebanon as Israel Steps Up Bombing Campaign – democracynow.org Source Link Excerpt:
Dozens of massive explosions rocked the Lebanese capital overnight Sunday, marking Israel’s heaviest bombardment on Beirut and the city’s southern suburbs since Israel widened its war on Lebanon two weeks ago. Earlier today, Israeli warplanes bombed a fire station in the town of Baraachit, killing at least eight people. Hezbollah fired rockets at the Israeli port city of Haifa, wounding at least 10 people. Israeli’s assault has now displaced 1.2 million people in Lebanon. After headlines, we’ll go to Beirut for the latest.
October 4, 2024
As the War in Gaza becomes the Middle East war with Israel now invading Lebanon and declaring war on Iran after being hit by ballistic missiles from Iran, the U.S. is announcing plans to send 1,000 or more additional U.S. troops to the region, bringing the total number in the region to as much as 43,000.
As the U.S. announced its plans, Iran launched more than 200 ballistic missiles into Israel, with President Biden responding by saying“I’m more aware than you might know (of the missile attacks), and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a cease-fire now.”
The US is sending a few thousand more troops to the Middle East to boost security – Baltimore Sun Source Link Excerpt:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending a “few thousand” troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to defend Israel if necessary, the Pentagon said Monday. The announcement follows word that Israel has already launched limited raids across the border into Lebanon.
The additional forces would raise the total number of troops in the region to as many as 43,000.
The increased presence will involve multiple fighter jet and attack aircraft squadrons, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters. U.S. officials said the total includes small numbers of other troops to augment the presence as well.
U.S. condemns Iran attack on Israel, says there will be consequences– www.cbsnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
The U.S. vows severe consequences for Iran over its attack on Israel, but what those are remain unclear. President Biden has pushed for a cease-fire in Lebanon to avoid a wider war, but he also stressed the U.S. is fully supportive of Israel.
LEBANON
Israel attacks heart of Beirut as Hezbollah pushes back in southern Lebanon | Israel attacks Lebanon News– www.aljazeera.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israel’s military has killed at least six people in an air attack on central Beirut after suffering losses in fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The attack on Lebanon’s capital occurred overnight, hitting an apartment building in the residential district of Bashoura, not far from the parliament. Lebanese health officials said a further seven people were wounded.
The attack is the second one on the Lebanese capital this week, with Hezbollah-aligned al-Manar TV station saying the apartment building was linked to the armed group’s health unit.
Reporting from the scene, Al Jazeera’s Laura Khan said the sound of the explosion “reverberated around the buildings and shocked everyone nearby”.
Meanwhile, missiles also hit Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a densely packed residential area that is also a Hezbollah stronghold and where the group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week.
Israeli military says regular infantry, armored units joining limited ground operation in southern Lebanon– www.foxnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
The Israeli military announced Wednesday that regular infantry and armored units were joining what it described as its limited and localized ground operations in southern Lebanon.
This comes after Israel said Tuesday that commando and paratroop units had crossed the border in a ground operation in Lebanon, according to Reuters.
The military said that special forces units had been conducting ground raids against Hezbollah terror targets across the border for months in which tunnels and weapons were found under homes.
The Israeli military said regular infantry and armored units were joining what it has called its limited and localized ground operations in southern Lebanon. (IDF)
The infantry and armored troops from the 36th Division include the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armored Brigade and the 6th Infantry Brigade.
As Israel’s decapitation strategy has Hezbollah reeling, Biden administration hopes to avert wider war– www.washingtonexaminer.com Source Link Excerpt:
HEZBOLLAH DEFANGED: Israel’s stunningly effective campaign to decapitate Hezbollah’s leadership with exploding devices and precision airstrikes has left the once fearsome terrorist group rudderless and seemingly in disarray.
The death of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s longtime leader, capped a week in which the group’s entire military chain of command was wiped out, along with several high-ranking Iranian commanders working with Hezbollah.
“Nasrallah … made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.”
Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who hopes to succeed him, expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself while warning of the risk of escalation.
“I have an unwavering commitment to the security of Israel. I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis,” Harris said in her statement.
US warns Iran as tensions rise over Israel-Hezbollah conflict – jpost Source Link Excerpt:
US President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he would speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – at a time when the two men are at odds over Lebanon and amid a fear of an all-out war regional war.
”I’ll tell you what I say to him when I talk to him,” he told reporters but did not say when the conversation would take place. Asked whether the all-out war in the Middle East could be avoided, he replied: “It has to be. We really have to avoid it.”
Biden’s Latest Response to the Israeli Missile Strikes in Yemen Shows He’s Cooked– townhall.com Source Link Excerpt:
One thing that comes to mind is that if you’re a Democrat, you must be relieved that this man is no longer your 2024 nominee. President Joe Biden spoke to the press about the recent Israeli missile strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. It did not go well, with Biden seemingly thinking that the two parties were involved in a labor dispute.
“They gotta settle the strike. I’m supporting the collective bargaining effort,” he said.
Holy smokes Biden thought Israeli missile strikes in Yemen were WORKER STRIKES.
“They gotta settle the strike. I’m supporting the collective bargaining effort.”
Kamala worked to cover this decline up for the past 4 years. Never forget that.pic.twitter.com/GjWKj48qyv
IDF meets little resistance in Lebanon after weeks of hitting Hezbollah hotspots, leaders– www.foxnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israel has been increasing its strikes for weeks against the terrorist organization in southern Lebanon, as well as with targeted strikes in Beirut.
On Tuesday, the IDF confirmed in a statement shared with Fox News Digital that since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel – after which Hezbollah began striking military posts along Israel’s northern border – the IDF has conducted dozens of “targeted operations” to “dismantle Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities” that pose a threat to civilians in the north.
Israeli Forces Enter Hezbollah’s Underground Tunnels Ahead of Likely Ground Assault– freebeacon.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli forces have been quietly conducting cross-border raids in southern Lebanon, entering Hezbollah’s sophisticated underground tunnel network to prepare for a likely ground assault on the terror group’s remaining strongholds.
The raids, first reported in the Wall Street Journal, are part of a broader effort to kneecap Hezbollah ahead of a ground assault teased by Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant on Monday. President Joe Biden responded with dismay, saying he would be “comfortable with [Israel] stopping.”
“The elimination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is a very important step, but it is not the final one. We will employ all the capabilities at our disposal,” Gallant told “infantry and tank brigades” positioned near the Lebanese border. “We will use all the means that may be required—your forces, other forces, from the air, from the sea and on land.”
Israeli special forces are said to be using the “targeted” raids to collect intelligence as they prepare for the full-blown assault, which would aim to destroy the Radwan Forces, Hezbollah’s own special forces unit, along Israel’s northern border.
Hezbollah’s tunnel system is key to moving militants and arms closer to Israeli territory. By dismantling these networks, Israel is setting the stage for its troops to clear out any remaining Hezbollah outposts that pose a threat to the Jewish state’s northern communities. Upward of 50,000 Israelis have been forced from their homes since Hezbollah began lobbing missiles and drones at towns along the northern border in the wake of Oct. 7.
“If you’re going to tell people it’s safe to come home, it better be safe to come home,” said Richard Goldberg, a former White House National Security Council member and regional analyst. “Getting rid of tunnel infrastructure, clearing out missile stockpiles and ensuring no one ever sees a Hezbollah flag from their window ever again is the only way to give people the confidence to return.”
Israel Begins Ground Operations Against Hezbollah in Lebanon– legalinsurrection.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli military on Monday night began ground operations against the terrorist group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. “Israeli ground forces crossed into southern Lebanon early Tuesday,” the Associated Press reported. “Israeli artillery units pounded targets in southern Lebanon and the sounds of airstrikes were heard throughout Beirut.”
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), current ground operations are limited to Hezbollah-held border areas of southern Lebanon. “In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel,” the Israeli military said early morning Tuesday.
After operating in Gaza, where the soldiers of the 98th division gained skills and operational experience, they moved north and are now conducting limited, localized, targeted operations that began last night.
IDF begins ground offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon– www.euronews.com Source Link Excerpt:
The Israeli military said it was carrying out “targeted ground raids” in villages close to the Israeli border.
Israeli raids force 100,000 to flee Lebanon for Syria | Israel-Lebanon attacks News– www.aljazeera.com Source Link Excerpt:
Some 100,000 people have fled to Syria from Lebanon in a bid to escape Israeli air raids, according to the head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
“The number of people who have crossed into Syria from Lebanon fleeing Israeli airstrikes – Lebanese and Syrian nationals – has reached 100,000,” Filippo Grandi said on X on Monday. “The outflow continues,” he warned.
The number of displaced people crossing the border has more than doubled over the past two days, according to the UN official’s figures.
UNHCR was “present at four crossing points, alongside local authorities and (the Syrian Red Crescent) to support new arrivals,” Grandi added.
According to UNHCR, the mass displacement of people into war-torn Syria began a week ago, on September 23, as the focus of Israel’s air attacks widened from Gaza to include Lebanon, where it says it is targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group.
Israeli airstrike hits central Beirut for the first time in nearly a year of conflict– www.euronews.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli airstrikes flattened a multi-storey apartment complex in central Beirut, killing at least one and wounding dozens more.
The first apparent Israeli airstrike on central Beirut in nearly a year of conflict levelled an apartment building early on Monday.
The airstrike hit a multi-storey residential building, according to witnesses. Videos show ambulances and a crowd gathered near the building in a mainly Sunni district with a busy thoroughfare lined with shops.
‘Israeli intelligence likely spent years inserting agents into Hezbollah operations’– www.mirror.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
The Mirror’s Defence and Security Editor Chris Hughes shares his analysis of the latest events in the Middle East and says Israeli spies have exploited the mayhem of the Syrian civil war, which may have led to the degrading of the Hezbollah network’s security checks
Another high-ranking Hezbollah commander killed by Israeli airstrike as conflict escalates– www.cbsnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
The Israeli military said Sunday that it killed another high-ranking Hezbollah official in an airstrike as the terrorist group in Lebanon reels from a string of devastating blows and the killing of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israel Defense Forces said it killed Nabil Kaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central County, in an airstrike on Saturday. Hezbollah confirmed his death, making him the seventh senior Hezbollah leader slain in Israeli strikes in a little over a week. They include founding members who had evaded death or detention for decades.
Kaouk was a veteran member of Hezbollah going back to the 1980s and served as Hezbollah’s military commander in southern Lebanon during the 2006 war with Israel. He often appeared in local media, where he would comment on politics and security developments, and he gave eulogies at the funerals of senior militants. The United States had announced sanctions against him in 2020.
Iranian officials visit Hezbollah office in Tehran to offer condolences over Nasrallah’s martyrdom Source Link Excerpt:
TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that the world should recognize that the blood of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his associates will fuel a strong resistance against tyranny and oppression.
During his visit to Hezbollah’s office in Tehran on Monday, Pezeshkian honored Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader who was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut on September 27, which utilized munitions supplied by the U.S.
Pezeshkian criticized the United States and its allies for their disregard for human rights, stating that those who claim to defend human dignity ironically label those fighting oppression as “terrorists.” He praised Nasrallah for dedicating his life to the liberation of the Palestinian people and assured that Iran would continue to support both the Palestinian and Lebanese causes.
In a cabinet meeting on Sunday, he emphasized the need for Tehran to respond decisively to the Israeli regime’s actions.
Additionally, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi paid a visit to Hezbollah’s office in Tehran and offered his condolences for the martyrdom of Nasrallah.
Risking escalation everyday American soldiers are on the ground in the middle of the Gaza and Lebanon War, the U.S. decided to double down on this risk in the wake of further escalations of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. The Defense Department announced plans to send dozens more soldiers to the region.
Major General Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said of the decision, “In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region.”
Pentagon to Send More U.S. Troops to Middle East as Tensions Rise – The New York Times Source Link Excerpt:
The Pentagon is sending additional U.S. troops to the Middle East as tensions continue to rise after Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah killed at least 350 people in Lebanon, Defense Department officials said on Monday.
The troops will number in the dozens, one official said, and will head to the region to help protect the thousands of Americans who are stationed there.
Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, declined to say exactly how many troops were deploying, citing operational security.
“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region,” he said.
The U.S. government has announced plans to ban Chinese software companies from being used in American-sold cars. The move will not only affect China, but it will also affect American vehicle manufacturers like Ford. The government cited national security concerns for the reason behind the decision.
U.S. moves to ban Chinese software, hardware from all vehicles in America– globalnews.ca Source Link Excerpt:
The U.S. government is proposing a ban on key Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles on American roads due to national security concerns, the White House announced Monday.
The move marks the latest crackdown on China’s automotive industry by the Biden administration and would effectively bar all Chinese cars from entering the U.S. market. It also raises questions about whether Canada will do the same, after matching America’s lead in slapping high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and weighing further restrictions.
The planned regulation by the U.S. Commerce Department, which still needs to be finalized, would also force American and other major automakers in the coming years to remove key Chinese software and hardware from vehicles in the U.S.
A fact sheet from the White House says the proposed rule targets technology and components imported from “countries of concern,” which also includes Russia.
EU’s recognition of González as winner in Venezuela vote historic, opposition leader tells Euronews– www.euronews.com Source Link Excerpt:
The European Parliament’s decision showed Europe is with us, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said in an exclusive interview…
On Thursday, the European Parliament voted in favour of a non-binding resolution stating that González, not Maduro, is the legitimate winner of the presidential election.
The partnerships with Russia, Cuba and Iran, as well as oil, gold and drug trafficking and human rights violations, have put Venezuela among countries antagonist to the interests of the West.
In an exclusive interview, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Maria Corina Machado, told Euronews why Venezuela is crucial for European interests and why the decision in Brussels matters so much to her and her compatriots.
Israel obliterates hundreds of targets in Lebanon after Hezbollah leader vowed revenge for pager blitz that left 37 dead– www.thesun.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
ISRAEL has bombed hundreds of targets just hours after Hezbollah’s leader vowed revenge for the sabotage attack that left 37 dead.
Israel and Hezbollah trade heavy fire as cross-border strikes escalate– www.cbsnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
Israel and Hezbollah continued to trade hundreds of strikes on Sunday as the sides appear to be spiraling toward an all-out war following months of escalating tensions.
The Iran-backed militant group launched more than 100 rockets across a wider and deeper area of northern Israel, with some landing near the city of Haifa. The barrage overnight set off air raid sirens across northern Israel, sending thousands of people scrambling into shelters.
Israel’s military said the rockets were fired “toward civilian areas,” pointing to a possible escalation after previous barrages had mainly been aimed at military targets.
Israel could face further weapon sanctions as war fears escalate, hints Foreign Secretary David Lammy– www.thesun.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy hinted Israel could face further weapon sanctions as war fears escalated yesterday.
Labour has blocked some British arms shipments amid concerns over the bloodbath in Gaza, said to have claimed 40,000 Palestinian lives and violence against Arabs in Israel’s West Bank.
Mr Lammy said a full arms embargo on Israel would be a “mistake” – but left the door open to further curbs.
The Labour minister did not comment on the overnight barrage of 150 rockets fired by Hezbollah, but hit out at Israeli violence in the occupied territory.
Speaking at a Labour conference fringe meeting, Mr Lammy said: “I’m deeply, deeply worried by the growing violence and settler violence that we see in the West Bank.
“I’m in discussions with G7 partners, particular European partners on that.
Israel launches ‘Third Lebanon War’ as IDF warplanes pound Hezbollah targets | World | News– www.express.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
Israeli warplanes have begun striking targets in the south and east of Lebanon after the IDF warned locals to evacuate as it steps up its military operation against Hezbollah, with one official referring to it as the “Third Lebanon War.”.
IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee added on X: “Residents of Lebanese villages: The raids will begin in the near future – evacuate the houses where Hezbollah weapons are hidden immediately!
“Hezbollah is lying to you and sacrificing you. Hezbollah says that you are its environment and that you are its audience, but it seems that its missiles and drones are more valuable and important to it than you.”
An Israeli security source told the Hebrew outlet Ynet that Israel expected a massive response from Hezbollah after the attack adding: “There are days ahead of us when the public will have to show composure.” They referred to the conflict as the “Third Lebanon War”.
Following up the Israeli operation against Hezbollah leaders through blowing up rigged electronic devices like pages, Nicolas Maduro, the embattled President of Venezuela, is warning members of his government to avoid accepting any electronics gifts. He stated in a Presidential speech on national tv, “Do not accept electronic gifts… be careful with telephones, cellphones, be careful everyone.”
Maduro issues Christmas gift warning — RT World News– www.rt.com Source Link Excerpt:
The Venezuelan leader has pointed to recent pager blasts in Lebanon, while urging caution for the upcoming festive period
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has warned members of his government against accepting electronic devices as Christmas presents.
Maduro’s comments at a meeting on Venezuelan culture in Caracas on Friday followed a series of deadly explosions involving communications equipment in Lebanon last week.
”Do not accept electronic gifts… be careful with telephones, cellphones, be careful everyone,” the president said during a speech broadcast on national television.
It appears Elon Musk is ready to back down in his fight against Brazil’s Judicial branch of the government, specifically, his fight against Brazil’s head judge, Alexandre de Moraes. Moraes ordered X to remove certain politicians from its platform, or face being banned. Musk was defiant, so Moraes next moved against Musk’s other venture, Starlink.
The reports from the NY Times claim Musk and X have agreed to comply with the orders of the Brazilian court, but no official statement had been made. In addition to complying with orders, Musk has also agreed to pay all the fines as well.
Elon Musk’s X Backs Down In Fight Against Brazil’s Top Judge – themorningnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
Elon Musk, the owner of the X, has apparently backed down from his months long fight with the Brazilian judiciary.
Mr. Musk has agreed to pay fines and remove accounts the Brazilian top judge Alexandre de Moraes deemed threatening Brazil.
The decision to withdraw from the fight came when X was banned in Brazil for not complying with court orders.
According to the New York Times, X has agreed to implement court orders the platform ignored for months.
X previously failed to appoint a legal representative in the country, failed to block accounts that were threatening Brazil’s democracy and didn’t pay a fine.
While the platform didn’t respond to the court’s orders, the top judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the seizure of X and Starlink linked accounts in Brazil.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian top court has said that they have not received proper documentation from the company showing it had appointed his legal representative.
Almost three months after a snap election saw France’s current President Emmanuel Macron’s party get effectively voted out of office, a new government is forming with a new Prime Minister, Michael Barnier, who will lead a center-right coalition parliament.
The appointment of Bruno Retailleau to Interior Minister signals the shift to the right for this government as Retailleau comes from the conservative Republicans Party, a party founded by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Among Macron’s new cabinet, only one leftist politician was represented.
Macron unveils new right-wing French government – BBC Source Link Excerpt:
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his new government almost three months after a snap general election delivered a hung parliament.
The long-awaited new line up, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, marks a decisive shift to the right, even though a left-wing alliance won most parliamentary seats.
Despite the partnership between Macron’s centrist party and those on the right, parliament remains fractured and will rely on the support of other parties to pass legislation.
It comes as the European Union puts France on notice over its spiralling debt, which now far exceeds EU rules.
By a vote of 124-14, the United Nations has passed a non-binding resolution demanding Israel leave Gaza and the West Bank completely within 12 months of the passing of the resolution. 43 nations abstained from voting. The United States was one of 14 nations voting against the resolution.
UN members vote 124-14 Israel must end ‘unlawful’ occupation of Palestinian territories– www.news24.com Source Link Excerpt:
UN member states voted Wednesday to formally demand an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories within 12 months and sanctions for non-compliance.
The non-binding resolution, which Israel claimed would fuel violence, calling it “distorted” and “cynical,” is based on an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) saying the occupation since 1967 was “unlawful.”
There were 124 votes in favour, 14 against and a notable 43 abstentions, with the Palestinian delegation heralding the adoption as “historic.”
Arab countries called the special session just days before dozens of world leaders meet at UN headquarters to address the kick off of this year’s General Assembly.
The withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Niger was completed Monday, September 16, according to American officials. The withdrawal followed a decision by the junta that had just overthrown the government to order U.S. troops out of the country. While the bases were officially handed over to Niger last month, a handful of soldiers remained behind to help with the administrative transfer. Now, these soldiers have also departed.
US military completes withdrawal from junta-ruled Niger – AP Source Link Excerpt:
The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger is complete, an American official said Monday.
A small number of military personnel assigned to guard the U.S. Embassy remain, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters.
Earlier this year, Niger’s ruling junta ended an agreement that allowed U.S. troops to operate in the West African country. A few months later, officials from both countries said in a joint statement that U.S. troops would complete their withdrawal by the middle of September.
The U.S. handed over its last military bases in Niger to local authorities last month, but about two dozen American soldiers had remained in Niger, largely for administrative duties related to the withdrawal, Singh said.
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A report in the Washington Post claims senior U.S. intelligence officials have discovered a mass of Chinese Communist online bots targeting American local elections, seeking to “inflame tensions in the country just one month before the 2024 election.” Another report in Newsweek cited Reuters as claiming “China-linked actors… directly interfered in ‘tens’ of down-ballot races, particularly when it comes to issues that most concern the Chinese Communist Party.”
The move marks the latest crackdown on China’s automotive industry by the Biden administration and would effectively bar all Chinese cars from entering the U.S. market. It also raises questions about whether Canada will do the same, after matching America’s lead in slapping high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and weighing further restrictions.
