Can Global South put the Hague on its track.

Related video

Courtesy: kernowdamo

A meeting of a Global South movement, at ministerial level no less aims to not just censure Israel, but take direct action against them.

Right, so for decades, international condemnation of Israel's treatment of Palestinians has echoed through the corridors of the United Nations, international tribunals, and human rights organisations, it has been going on for far longer than just as far back as October of 2023, as we should all know by now. Yet, those condemnations rarely translated into consequences. Instead, international law appeared to exist in two parallel worlds doesn’t it? One in which Palestinian suffering is documented and acknowledged, and another in which Israel is completely immune from meaningful sanction. That may be about to change.

Next week, the Hague Group—a coalition of Global South nations formed to uphold international law in the Israel-Palestine context—will convene an emergency ministerial summit in Bogotá, Colombia. 

The summit represents not just another diplomatic gathering, but the possible beginning of an international legal and geopolitical shift, a meaningful shift with actual action against Israel, hence the emergency bit. Co-chaired by Colombia and South Africa, the Hague Group's intent is not simply to issue statements, but to utilise the very legal tools for too long rendered impotent by the political impunity Israel has enjoyed and that the Bogotá meeting, especially in light of many other non member states – Israel critical states - also attending, constituting a turning point in efforts to hold Israel accountable, marking a transition from symbolic protest to enforceable, meaningful international action.

The discussion emphasizes how *international relations* have long condemned Israel's actions against Palestinians, yet these seldom result in tangible changes. This highlights a disparity between acknowledging Palestinian suffering and enforcing *foreign policy**. The lack of consequences raises questions about global **geopolitics* and the effectiveness of current **international law**.

Banks burst in US!!

Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 13, 2023

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Silicon Valley Bank CEO delivers message to employees

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Bust Rattles INDIAN Firms - Reports

The US Govt’s closure of the largest tech start-up funding bank has left Indian investors and software firms concerned over their deposits, with an estimated 21 Indian start-ups involved with the bank. (Tracxn)

Some are awaiting a bailout, while others some have already started moving their funds out, amid fears of a potential withdrawal limit. 

SVB had a reported $209bn in total assets & $175.4bn in total deposits, as of December 2022.  U.S. cryptocurrency firm Circle announced Friday it has $3.3bn of its $40bn of USD Coin reserves at SVB.

Bubble burst? @RT_India_official

MORE HERE : Record Bank Run Drained A Quarter, Or $42BN, Of SVB's Deposits In Hours, Leaving It With Negative $1BN In Cash

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Silicon Valley Bank's demise was closely followed by that of New York-based Signature Bank.

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3, 2, 1, and... BOOM.

Trading just halted for multiple U.S. bank stocks at open.

W Alliance Bancorp down 75%

First Rep. Bank down 66%

Customers Bancorp down 54%

PacWest down 46%

Zions Bancorp down 44%

Bank Hawaii down 42%

Comerica down 39%

EW Bancorp down 32%

Courtesy @21st Century Wire 

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Armored train of Russian guarding the borders.

 Armored train of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation guarding the borders of the liberated regions

 The combat vehicle is equipped with anti-aircraft guns, an electronic warfare installation. In one of the parts of the composition there is a barracks for fighters, a headquarters with a hospital and a warehouse.

The main armament of the armored train in its current configuration is four double-barreled ZU-23 mounts, placed two by two on two armored platforms. In addition, the train crew has personal weapons. He probably has other systems at his disposal to protect against air attack and armored vehicles.

 This is a fully autonomous combat unit with a wide range of tasks and combat capabilities.

courtesy : Donbas Dovushka 

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CEO of BLACKROCK tried to be interviewed by Journalist

RUSSIA HAS THE RIGHT TO PUNISH NAZIS ANYWHERE (according to UN Charter)

 Share this 👍 throwback 27 Nov 2022  

Articles 106 and 107 of the UN Charter give Russia, as the legal successor to the victor of World War II, the right to take any action, including military ones, against Germany, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, Croatia, Slovenia. , Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine for attempts to revive Nazism.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres was surprised to learn from Putin that there is an article in the UN charter that allows a Russian special operation to be carried out in Ukraine.

RUSSIA HAS THE RIGHT TO PUNISH NAZIS ANYWHERE (according to UN Charter)

The Nuremberg Tribunal sentenced to criminal liability all those who fought against the United Nations and committed genocide. The greatest genocide was committed against the Soviet people. UN Charter, Articles 106 and 107, gives the victors of World War II - the USSR, USA, Great Britain and China - the right to take action against the countries that fought against them to prevent actions that aim to revise the results of the Second World War. .

In particular, the use of military force against these countries is permitted. To do this, you only need to NOTIFY the other three winning countries, but not get their consent. Russia, as the LEGAL successor to the USSR, can also use force against states that want to overhaul the Yalta-Potsdam system in Europe. Russia can stop attempts to revive Nazism in Germany, Hungary, Romania, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Croatia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, which acted as the protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia during the war.

Copied from some German anon.

Link to the UN Charter >>>>

18 Years Prison for Macau’s Top Gambling Boss

Macau prosecutors have sentenced former gambling supremo Alvin Chau to 18 years in prison for illegal gaming activities over a year after being arrested amidst accusations of running an illegal cross-border gambling syndicate.

Chau’s syndicate reportedly cost Macau authorities around $1.4 billion in lost tax revenue while siphoning off illegitimate profits from various side-betting activities, while he himself faced almost 290 charges in one of the biggest cases the gambling hub had seen in years.

He was denied an Australian visa in 2019 having poured huge sums into the gambling industry there due to money laundering allegations.

Source RT (https://t.me/rtnews)

Throwback: 1979 Iranians students occupation of US Embassy;

 US Embassy in Tehran was the CIA's HQ for operations in Asia. USD 20 printing was done there! The students collated the shredded confidential documents and were sent to many countries!

 

The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to give an opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. The General Assembly voted 87 to 26 with 53 abstentions on the resolution.

 The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to give an opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. 

 

The General Assembly voted 87 to 26 with 53 abstentions on the resolution.

Where US had bombed since WW2?

 

Gaza holds conference on protecting al-Quds against Israeli plots

 Dec 9, 2022 Ashraf Shannon reports from Gaza.

Israel must give up its nuclear weapons: UNGA voted 149 - 6

The United Nations General Assembly just voted 149-6 that Israel must give up its nuclear weapons. The US, Canada, Israel, Micronesia, and Palau opposed the resolution. The United Kingdom abstained.

 

The world population has reached 8,000,000,000

  The world population has reached 8,000,000,000 people, amid the growing concerns regarding the rapidly increasing global warming, deforestation and food insecurity.

At least 83 Muslim Americans elected in 2022 midterm elections: Report

 Monday, 14 November 2022

Muslim Americans have made history again as a record number of Muslim candidates were elected into office in the 2022 midterm elections, despite rampant hate and discrimination against the faith community.

At least 83 Muslim candidates swept up local, state, and federal seats during Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to a joint analysis by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a civil rights and advocacy group, and Jetpac, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing Muslim political representation in the United States.

Almost 150 Muslim Americans had run for office this year, including 51 state legislative candidates across 23 states.

"I'm inspired by the historic wins we are seeing in local and state elections across the country. It shows that the Muslim community is building solid infrastructure for sustained electoral success," Jetpac Resource Center executive director Mohammed Missouri said.

"Policy decisions on education, housing, climate, and civil rights are shaped by state legislatures and it is critical that our voice is represented in the policymaking process," he added.

Many of the wins were in Republican-leaning states, including Texas, Virginia and Georgia, and included 20 incumbents and 17 new candidates. Those seats range from city councils to the US House of Representatives, where congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Democrat of Minnesota, and Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Missouri, retained their seats.

This marks the highest number of electoral victories for the community of around 3.5 million people, breaking the record of 2020, when 71 Muslim Americans were elected into office.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said the "historic string" of victories in this year’s election "is a testament to our community's ongoing rise in American politics and the trust our neighbors have place in us to represent them and fight for their interests."

"We are witnessing the next step in the American Muslim community's political transformation from marginalized voices that were sidelined, or worse, to decision makers," he said. "These newly-elected officials are building upon the success of our community's decades-long investment in civic engagement, voter registration and running for office."

The victories also ushered in some historic firsts, with state legislatures in Maine, Illinois, Ohio and Texas getting their first Muslim American representatives.

In Illinois’ 51st District, Nabeela Syed, a 23-year-old Muslim candidate of Indian descent, defeated a Republican incumbent to become the first Muslim elected to the state legislature.

“It is so important for us to have a seat at the table, for us to have a voice in the legislative process,” she told local media soon after her victory.

Similarly in Minnesota, 25-year-old Zaynab Mohamed, a Democrat, became the first Muslim woman of Somali descent to be elected to the state Senate.

Four Muslim Americans were elected to state office in Georgia for the first time, including Ruwa Romman, who won a seat at the state House of Representatives, and Nabilah Islam, who was elected to the state Senate.

In Texas, the first two Muslim lawmakers getting elected into office were Salman Bhojani and Suleman Lalani, who won elections to House districts 92 and 76 respectively.

 

Ukrainian bankruptcy looming

 🗣 Russian Duma speaker Volodin stated that 2014 coup d’etat in Ukraine have resulted in complete loss of sovereignty of the country. Before 2022 its budget deficit was almost 40% covered by foreign loans and credits. Next year deficit will amount 58%

“Kiev is spending over a half of its income on loan payments and is forced to take new credits. Kiev tries to conceal it, but the problem is obvious. Zelensky has stolen future of Ukrainian people selling the country to debt slavery”

☝️ In 1990 Ukrainian GDP was $90.3 billion exceeding GDP of countries like Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria. Russia took all USSR’s debt and Ukraine became an independent state, a country without debts. Ukraine inherited about one third of all Soviet space industry, aviation industry, ship building industry and had really huge industrial capacity at the onset of its existence. 

➖ There was a good reason why Yanukovich’s government refused to sign the EU association agreement. According to Prime Minister Azarov, Ukraine would need about 160-170 billion euros in ten years only to adapt technical regulations for EU standards as a part of the association agreement. That was about three yearly budgets of Ukraine and almost ten times its national debt by the period. 

❗️In June 2022 Ukraine’s debt reached historic record of $94 billion. Considering continued fall of hryvna and chronic budget deficit of Ukraine amplified by military expenses, Ukraine is unable to sustain its own economy without resorting to foreign financial aid, which also often takes the form of debt. 

➖European countries and the U.S. are no longer willing to give “free” financial and military aid to Ukraine. What does it mean? It means inevitable default and bankruptcy of Ukraine. Nobody will give them anything for free. While Ukraine is already doomed, this does not apply to its regions. Crimea, Donbass, Kherson and Zaporozhye are not going to pay debts made by Zelensky’s regime and its predecessors. 

🤔 Maybe it’s time for other Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine to think about money?


courtesy : telegram WAR  CRIMES IN UKRAINE

Nurses across UK vote to go on strike over pay dispute first time in 106 years

🔹The British Nurses Union, representing hundreds of thousands of nurses in the United Kingdom, has voted to hold the first nationwide strike in the union's 106-year history to demand fair pay and safe staffing.

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The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the action will affect most National Health Service (NHS) employers. The primary grievance of the nurses are pay levels and patient safety concerns.

The union said all NHS employers in Northern Ireland and Scotland will be included in the strike, and all employers in Wales have also reached the threshold to join.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen also said anger was turning into action and all staff believed enough was enough. He said the voice of nurses in the UK is loud and will definitely be heard because nurses can no longer tolerate the financial knife edge at home and the raw deal at work.

Cullen said now is the time for ministers to look in the mirror and ask themselves how long they will leave nursing staff in this situation.

“While we plan our strike action, next week's budget is the UK government's opportunity to signal a new direction with serious investment. Across the country, politicians have the power to stop this now and at any point.”

“This action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses.”

“Standards are falling too low and we have strong public backing for our campaign to raise them. This winter, we are asking the public to show nursing staff you are with us.”

The union, with more than 300,000 members, had asked its members for a pay rise of 5% above RPI inflation, which is currently more than 12%.

The RCN said surveys showed the salary of an experienced nurse had fallen by 20% in real terms since 2010, and that nurses were working as little as one day a week without pay.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said while thanking the efforts and sacrifices of NHS staff, including nurses, “we are very sorry that some union members have voted for industrial action.”

“These are challenging times, which is why we accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year.”

He said the priority was to keep patients safe during any strike and predicted that strikes across the NHS were likely this winter.

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, and Emma Runswick, vice president, said in this regard that they want the government to listen to the concerns of health workers and to make the investments the NHS and its workforce desperately need.

Meanwhile, health workers in other unions, including ambulance staff, hospital porters and cleaners are also voting on industrial action over pay.

courtesy PressTV | Wednesday, 09 November 2022 6:35 PM

Tech Giants are firing!

 Elon Musk orders job cuts at Twitter

Days after acquiring Twitter, its chief Elon Musk has reportedly ordered some managers on Saturday to "draw up lists of employees to cut". 

Previous reports indicate Musk seeks to cut down on Twitter’s workforce by 75%, though he reportedly told employees otherwise when he arrived at the company's headquarters carrying a sink on Wednesday.

Twitter currently has about 7,500 employees, but the number of staff being laid off remains to be seen, although it is noted that some departments will be affected more than others.

Layoffs could occur before November 1, the same day employees are due to receive stock grants, which "typically represent a significant portion" of their pay. By firing workers before this date, Musk thus may avoid paying the grants.

Source Russian Market - 30th Oct 2022

Meta Culls 11K Jobs - Zuckerberg says his ‘missteps’ led to overstaffing

Facebook’s owner is laying off 13% of its workforce, some 11,000 employees, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a letter to staff.

“Today I’m sharing some of the most difficult changes we’ve made in Meta’s history,” Zuckerberg said.  Adding the firm is “taking a number of additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending and extending our hiring freeze through Q1.”

The layoffs come as Meta’s share price plunged 70+% this year, with investors weary of its spending on the Metaverse and threats to the core business.

Reality Bites @RT_India_official  Nov10, 2022

BRICS getting bigger - 12 as of Nov 7, 2022

Lavrov:  At least TWELVE COUNTRIES want to become part of BRICS.  @Pepe Escobar 

A number of other countries, including Argentina and Iran, want to join BRICS. Indonesia,Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are also thinking about joining BRICS, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Russia welcomes Algeria's decision to apply to join the BRICS- the deputy Foreign Minister of Russia . He also added that the President of Algeria may pay a visit to Russia by the end of the year.
@ AZgeopolitics 

Algeria Files Official Application To Join BRICS Group Of Nations — Foreign Ministry

BRICS unites Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa currently.

Argentina and Iran are reportedly also hoping to join the economic bloc.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says that several other countries are “knocking at the door of BRICS, including Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well.

Subscribe to RT (https://t.me/rtnews)

UN, votes to end blockade of Cuba

5 Nov 2022

Kei Pritsker reports from the UN, which just voted 185-2 to end the U.S. blockade of Cuba. This is the 30th year in a row the UN has voted to do so. So why is the U.S. refusing to comply? Pritsker speaks with Cuba’s UN Ambassador, explains why the U.S. first enacted the blockade and why it's universally condemned, including by people in the U.S.

>>>>>>>>> Today at the UN, 185 countries voted to demand an end to the criminal, 62-year U.S. blockade on Cuba. That’s 95% of the world.

Guess which lone two states voted against it, again? The United States and Israel, of course. The very same entities currently starving Yemen and Gaza. courtesy :

sarah

@https://twitter.com/sahouraxo   

The UN General Assembly adopts a resolution calling on the US to lift the blockade of Cuba for the 30th time Voting has been held almost annually since 1992 

 185 countries voted in support of the resolution,

Israel and the US opposed it,  Brazil and Ukraine abstaineD.

COURTESY :  AZgeopolitics 

Imran Khan survives assassination attempt

 

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has survived an assassination attempt during a political rally. He was shot in the leg but now he is in stable condition. @PressTV

Today marks the 105th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration

2nd Nov 2022 ~

The Balfour Declaration was issued by Britain laying the foundations for settler-colonialism in Palestine. 

The Balfour Declaration was named after British politician  Arthur James Balfour a white supremacist who is today revered by Britain.

As prime minister, Balfour passed the Aliens Act in 1905, an explicitly anti-immigration legislation which was designed to block entry to Britain for Jewish refugees fleeing from pogroms. Zionism, according to Balfour, was  a “serious effort to mitigate the age-old miseries created for western civilization by the presence in its midst of a body which is too long regarded as alien and even hostile, but which it was equally unable to expel or absorb.”

Known as "Bloody Balfour" for his brutal rule in Ireland until 1891, which he once said: "All the civilization in Ireland is the work of England”.  There's a drawing called  “Ireland wrestles with famine while Balfour plays golf”, which encapsulates his reputation there.

 In 1906, Balfour argued against giving Black people in South Africa the vote: “Men are not born equal, the white and black races are not born with equal capacities: they are born with different capacities which education cannot and will not change.”

Balfour's 1917 declaration set the stage for full-blown land theft and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the decades that followed, which is ongoing today. 105 years after the declaration was issued people across Palestine are continuing to  resist against settler-colonialism.

For more information with regard to the Balfour Declaration I recommend reading the book “The Balfour Declaration Empire, the Mandate and Resistance in Palestine”, by Bernard Regan"