https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/latvia-lists-russia-as-state-sponsor-of-terrorism-kremlin-co

Latvia lists Russia as "state sponsor of terrorism", Kremlin condemns

The Latvian parliament Thursday has designated Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism", calling on Western allies to implement more comprehensive sanctions on Moscow.

"Latvia recognizes Russia's actions in Ukraine as targeted genocide against the Ukrainian people," the Baltic nation's parliament said in a resolution, which also argued that Western nations should increase their military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic support for Ukraine while also supporting initiatives to condemn Russia's actions.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was grateful for the Latvian resolution.

"Ukraine encourages other states and organizations to follow suit," Kuleba tweeted.

Russia condemns Latvia's statements

Moscow condemned the resolution that designated Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism."

"Considering that there is no substance, except for animalistic xenophobia, behind this decision, it is necessary to call the ideologues nothing more than neo-Nazis," wrote Maria Zakharova, the foreign ministry spokesperson.

On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that Washington will be conducting more military exercises with Baltic nations such as Latvia, as it offers more military training. He further added that the US may bring in more troops if needed to support the region against alleged Russian threats.

Europe’s imperialist viewpoint of the world comes as no surprise – the increasing militarization and systemic brutality of the continent’s armies are resurrecting grounds for fascist violence on its borders as well as its neo-colonies.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/lian-al-shaer-10-killed-by-israeli-shrapnel-brain-tissue-dam

Lian Al-Shaer, 10, killed by Israeli shrapnel brain tissue damage

Al Mayadeen correspondent in Palestine reported today the death of Lian Al-Shaer, a 10-year-old girl from Khan Yunis, southern besieged Gaza. Al-Shaer was announced dead at the Al-Makassed Hospital in Al-Quds, as a result of her injuries during the most recent Israeli aggression on Gaza.

The young martyr arrived at the hospital last Tuesday in a critical state due to a severe head injury, as shrapnel penetrated her brain and damaged sensitive tissue.

Since the start of the most recent assault on Gaza, the number of martyrs since the beginning of the Israeli aggression to 31, including six children, and the number of wounded reached 253.

Gaza: 'Israel' butchers childhood, bereaved parents mourn in solitude

Rasha Qadoom, a Palestinian mother, clutches her five-year-old daughter Alaa's tiny pink backpack, which she will never again carry on her little back.

Alaa was the first of 16 children killed in three days of Israeli brutal aggression in the besieged Gaza Strip.

"It was a Friday like any other," said Qadoom, 27, remembering how Alaa had been dressed in a pink T-shirt to match her pink bag with a pink ribbon tied in her hair.

"She was happy, she wanted to go to the park with her aunt."

But as she went to her aunt on Friday afternoon, “Israel” launched missiles on a civilian area.

When Alaa was knocking on her aunt's door, a missile smashed down from an Israeli warplane.

With her shaky hands, Qadoom holds the blood-stained rags of Alaa's T-shirt, unable to comprehend why her five-year-old daughter was killed.

"Nobody was armed in the neighborhood. Instead of going to play in the park, she came back to me with clothes full of blood," she tearfully said.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-microchip-bill-will-disrupt-global-supply-chains-intl-tra

US microchip bill will disrupt global supply chains, int'l trade: Wang

The newly-adopted Chips and Science Act of 2022, which was passed by US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, not only holds the purpose to compete against China's technological innovation and market, but also a more troublesome role: According to Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, the bill will disrupt global supply chains and hamper international trade.

Wang asserted China's opposition to such behavior.

On Tuesday, Biden signed the landmark bill which will allocate $52.7 billion to subsidize semiconductor production and research.

"The United States stated that the act aims to increase the competitiveness of US technologies and the semiconductor production, however this act provides huge subsidies to US enterprises producing chips and introduces a differentiated policy of industry support, some provisions of which, among other things, restrict the normal investment and trade and economic activities of relevant Chinese enterprises, as well as normal scientific and technical cooperation between China and the US," Wang explained at a briefing.

According to Wang, the ministry expects all these to "disrupt global supply chains and hinder international trade," asserting that "China is strongly opposed to this."

He said that the United States is free to choose its own development methods, but the methods should not harm China's development and it must respect World Trade Organization rules and principles of transparency and non-discrimination, while also safeguarding global production and supply chains.

A 'once-in-a-generation' investment?

"The future is going to be made in America," Biden said, calling the measure "a once-in-a-generation investment in America itself."

Republicans, as well as Democrats, joined Biden on the White House lawn as the US President signed the CHIPS bill that was distilled years in Congress before getting approval.

Attending the signing were the chief executives of Micron, Intel, Lockheed Martin, HP and Advanced Micro Devices. Furthermore, the governors of Pennsylvania and Illinois, in addition to the mayors of Detroit, Cleveland and Salt Lake City, and lawmakers were at the event.

The shortage has been affecting everything from cars, weapons, and washing machines to video games: Thousands of cars and trucks remain parked in southeast Michigan awaiting chips.

This legislation will allow $200 billion over a decade to boost technology research that will compete with Beijing - however, Congress will need to pass separate appropriations legislation to fund those investments.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington said Beijing "firmly opposed" the bill as it strikes as a "Cold War mentality."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/death-toll-of-mali-soldiers-killed-in-jihadist-attack-reache

Death toll of Mali soldiers killed in attack reaches 42

An attack carried out by suspected terrorists on Sunday near the town of Tessit caused the deaths of 42 Malian soldiers, Mali’s army has said.

The document issued by the army was revising an earlier figure of 21 as the names of the fatalities were counted to 42.

The toll is said to be one of the bloodiest in Mali's decade-long insurgency. The attacks have spread to the center and south of Mali and into Niger and Burkina Faso. Across the region, thousands of people have died and more than two million have fled their homes.

On Monday, the army said 17 soldiers and four civilians were killed. Among the victims had been elected officials, according to relatives of the victims who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Monday's statement also mentioned that seven attackers had died, "probably members of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and benefiting from drone and artillery support and using explosives and an explosives-laden vehicle."

Tessit and its nearby military base have been repeatedly attacked.

In March 2021, 33 soldiers were killed in an ISGS ambush as units were being rotated.

The insurgency that has swept the three Sahel countries has claimed thousands of lives and forced more than two million to flee their homes.

Sporadic cross-border attacks have also occurred in Ivory Coast, Togo, and Benin to the south, amplifying fears of a jihadist push toward the Gulf of Guinea.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-diplomats-answer-to-personal-sanctions-not-so-diplomatic

Pelosi responds to Chinese sanctions: "Who cares?"

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told sources on Wednesday that her recent trip to Taiwan was intended to demonstrate a strong relationship based on the status quo.

"In terms of Taiwan, our purpose in going to Taiwan was to say that we have a strong relationship built on the status quo, which we support," Pelosi said during a press conference on her trip.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, when Pelosi was asked to comment on the sanctions China will impose on Pelosi and her close relatives in connection with her provocative visit to Taiwan, she responded, "Who cares?".

Pelosi and her delegates visited the island on August 2-3 as part of a broader trip throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

China condemned Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, as it is a delicate matter at the core of Chinese-American relations, calling her move a "very dangerous act of playing with fire."

The Biden administration defended the trip, claiming that it did not stray from historic norms of the relationship between the US, China, and Taiwan.

But the trip caused severe turmoil in the Taiwan Strait amid protesters contested her visit. Following her visit, Chinese military drills were carried out all across the vicinity of the island.

The Pentagon accused China on Monday of using its military exercises in the South China Sea , claiming they are meant to coerce Taiwan and the international community.

Earlier today, China announced the conclusion of its military exercises around Taiwan, adding that it will "regularly organize combat readiness patrols in Taiwan Straits."

>>17352448

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/tajikistan-hosts-us-central-south-asia-military-drills

Tajikistan hosts US, Central-South Asia military drills

The United States and six Central and South Asian countries have begun ten-day joint military exercises hosted by Tajikistan, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe on Wednesday.

The exercise, known as Regional Cooperation 22, will take place from August 10 to August 20 and will focus on improving multinational stability and counterterrorism operations, according to a statement.

The drills will be held in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Mongolia, according to the statement.

Tajikistan and the United States will also conduct a five-day bilateral field training component at the Fakhrabad Training Center as part of the exercise. The exercise will enable forces to coordinate, synchronize, and react to events in a safe environment.

The exercise is intended to enhance regional security and stability; increase national capabilities and commitment to interdict weapons of mass destruction, terrorist elements, and narcotics; and help develop regional defense forces in international peace operations and information sharing.

"As the largest US military-to-military exercise involving Central and South Asian nations, Regional Cooperation 22 is an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen relationships with our partners in that region," US Ambassador to Tajikistan John Pommersheim said in the statement.

The Ambassador claimed that the exercise will serve as a forum for discussing regional issues, such as information exchange, security cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Cooperation exercise had been held annually in one of the participating countries since 2004, according to the statement. However, the exercise was held in the United States last year at Fort Harrison in the US state of Montana.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/switzerland-to-represent-ukraine-diplomatically-in-russia

Switzerland to represent Ukraine diplomatically in Russia

Ukraine has asked Switzerland to represent it diplomatically in Russia, Bern confirmed on Wednesday, emphasizing that the arrangement must be approved by Moscow.

Switzerland, known for its neutrality, has stated that it is prepared to provide diplomatic assistance and act as a go-between. The Foreign Ministry revealed that Ukraine has asked Switzerland to "assume a protecting power mandate" for Kiev in Russia, confirming a story in the Luzerner Zeitung newspaper.

The Foreign Ministry explained that such protecting power mandates "allow states to maintain low-level relations and provide consular protection to nationals of the other state concerned." "The corresponding negotiations have been completed," a Ministry spokeswoman told AFP in an email.

She did not provide further details about the duration or content of the negotiations, emphasizing that "discretion is a crucial element in providing good service." But the spokeswoman stressed that "in order for the protecting power mandate to come into force, Russia still has to give its consent."

This could be difficult, because Moscow has been enraged by Bern's decision to follow the European Union in imposing sanctions on Russia, reportedly questioning whether Switzerland can still be considered neutral.

Switzerland has a long history of acting as a protectorate, beginning with the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71.

The wealthy Alpine country, which has held such mandates hundreds of times since then, now represents the diplomatic interests of a number of countries facing similar challenges. It represents US interests in Iran, and Iran's interests in Canada.

It also represents Iranian interests in Saudi Arabia and vice-versa, and Iranian interests in Egypt. And, notably, it represents Russian interests in Georgia and vice-versa.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/palestinians-forced-off-buses-to-make-way-for-israeli-settle

Palestinians forced off buses to make way for Israeli settlers

Three Israeli settlers on a bus bound for the West Bank were responsible for the removal of dozens of Palestinians.

Tnufa Transportation Solutions operates public transport lines in the occupied Al-Quds corridor and the West Bank. One of the company's routes travels from "Tel Aviv's" Central Bus Station to the West Bank illegal settlement of "Ariel". This route also serves Palestinians who have work permits and commute home at night or on the weekends.

Last Thursday, about 50 Palestinian workers were forced to get off the bus in the occupied city of "Bnei Brak" in order to accommodate three Israeli passengers. Not only that but the Israeli settlers refused to ride with them and demanded the driver force them off.

The driver stopped the bus under a bridge and made a phone call to his superiors, according to M, a Palestinian passenger. Following the call, he asked all the Palestinians to get off. "The driver told us to 'get off and figure it out' who then drove off with the settlers," added M.

The Palestinian construction workers waited at “Tel Aviv’s Hamasger Junction” for Bus 288 to go back to the occupied West Bank only to see several of those buses passing them without stopping.

Eventually, an empty bus stopped for them, and 50 Palestinian workers got on.

Racial segregation and apartheid are no strangers to Palestinians living in their own homeland occupied by "Israel". Palestinians are exposed to Israeli aggression every second of every day under the occupation.

For 73 years, Palestinians have been faced with injustice and have been stripped from more than just their land, but from their freedom and right to live as well.

Today and every day, Palestinians are not only forced off of buses, but they are also forced out of their homes.

In May, "Israel" committed one of the largest forced expulsions in Palestine. The Israeli Supreme Court rejected a petition challenging the forced displacement of over 1,000 Palestinians from a rural area of the occupied West Bank that "Israel" has designated as a military drill zone.

The Supreme Court released its verdict opening the path for the demolition of eight communities in Massafer Yatta near Al-Khalil, after two decades of unproductive legal maneuvering.

However, this eviction operation is one of the many Israeli plans to cleanse Palestine from its people.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/xi-jinping-to-visit-saudi-arabia-next-week–is-the-us-sideli

Xi Jinping to visit Saudi Arabia next week- Is the US sidelined?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is anticipated to pay a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia next week, and is set to be welcomed with a high-profile ceremony.

US president Joe Biden however received a low-key reception during his controversial visit to the Kingdom, reflecting the strained ties between the two countries and between Biden and the de facto Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

It is important to note, that China is the US’ primary competitor in the region.

Opportunity for KSA

Biden’s trip put Saudi Arabia back on the main stage, making it a global matter of discussion within hours. The Biden administration even called the trip a “really bad idea”, especially considering the “pariah status” of the Kingdom coming after journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, but the status was seemingly "put on hold" due to the US gas crisis and its need of Saudi crude oil to alleviate it.

Yemen even condemned Biden’s visit to the Kingdom, notably following the opening of Saudi airspace to Israeli flights and banning those coming from Yemen.

Still, Saudi Arabia sees an opportunity worth grabbing with the Chinese President's upcoming visit.

“China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trade partner. It is the largest buyer of Saudi oil,” said Mohammed Alyahya, a fellow at the Harvard Belfer Center’s Middle East Institute and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, commented similarly to that statement.

Yuan vs dollar for KSA oil export

Saudi Arabia agreed earlier this year to price part of oil exports in yuan to China, as China's General Administration of Customs released a statement disclosing that Saudi Arabia was China's top crude supplier in 2021. US Republican Senator Ben Sasse however has called this move “a big, bad thing” since this puts the hegemony of the US dollar at risk.

During his visit, Biden voiced that the US won’t leave space to be filled by China, Russia or Iran, but if Xi Jinping does visit the Kingdom next week, the US may have to step aside as Beijing is clearly aiming to strengthen its ties with Riyadh.

>>17352599

This is an odd one.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-embassy-memo-to-bosnia-supports-anti-semitism

Israeli embassy memo to Bosnia supports anti-Semitism

Bosnian officials attacked on Tuesday the Israeli occupation over a leaked memo that praised a controversial, discriminatory electoral reform plan supported by nationalist parties.

A leaked document showed the Israeli occupation praising the electoral reform plan, which was heavily criticized by Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic.

Turkovic accused the Israeli embassy in Albania, which is also responsible for Bosnia, of inappropriately interfering in the Balkan state's internal affairs by supporting the aforementioned electoral reform plan.

Critics say the proposed change in the electoral system would minimize the political influence of minorities in the country, including Jews and Roma people.

"It is hard to fathom how the official policy of the State of Israel could be to welcome the discrimination of Jews in not being able to hold office in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Turkovic told Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "The proposed electoral legislation would cement the current discriminatory system towards minorities in Bosnia."

His statement came after a memo "Tel Aviv's" military mission to Tirana, Albania, was widely circulated in the country on Monday, stirring political crises and storms within the Balkan state.

The memo came in response to an electoral plan promoted by the Office of the High Representative, an EU-supported institution created in the wake of the Balkan wars in the 1990s to oversee civilian aspects of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The body can overrule government decisions in Bosnia.

The plan is supported by Croatian and Serbian nationalists, while it is opposed by the current ruling government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Bosnian political system is based on a power-sharing agreement among the country's three major ethnic groups: Muslim Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs, and Bosnian Croats, who are said to have marginalized more than 100,000 citizens from attaining senior-level political representation.

High-level positions in the Bosnian government and within local authorities are currently distributed among members of its constituent peoples, regardless of the size of their respective populations. However, the change proposed by the OHR would weigh local demographics and subsequently consolidate the power of ethnonationalist parties.

The Israeli occupation's embassy decided to support the OHR's change by writing the note, welcoming "the readiness and proposals of the Croat side, as demonstrated throughout negotiations on change to the electoral legislation".

Turkovic said she was surprised by "Tel Aviv's" response, calling on the occupation to have a "sincere approach and genuine support […] in order to protect the rights of the Jewish people in Bosnia and Herzegovina rather than heaping praise on those who perpetuate inequality by denying people of other backgrounds, such as Jews, their rights in Bosnia."

She then asked the Israeli occupation government for clarification, stressing that the majority of the Bosnian parties were against the proposed reform.

"Israel" is endorsing a model that had been "abandoned long ago in the world because it is based on systematic discrimination," Croat politician Zeljko Komisc was quoted by Bosnian news website N1 as saying. The system is only supported by "political actors whose policies are based on the denial of genocide, the glorification of war crimes and criminals and on the realization of the goals of adjudicated joint criminal enterprises, which I firmly believe is not the official policy of Israel."

The Israeli memo voiced support for nationalist politicians Milorad Dodik, a Serb, and Dragan Covid, a Croat, for "recent encouraging actions taken by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions with the aim of protecting the Jewish community and its position in the country."

Dodik, one of the men supported by the Israeli occupation, has denied the 1995 Srebrenica genocide that many international tribunals say saw Bosnian-Serb forces killing some 8,000 Bosnian-Muslim men and boys. The bodies were dumped in mass graves that mourners are still discovering and burying to this day.

The Srebrenica genocide is the worst atrocity in the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, according to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, which saw the killing of around 100,000 people.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry's "undoubted intent to support" Dodik and Covic is "why Turkovic is angry," said former Bosnian Energy Minister Reuf Bajrovic. "We can safely say that this has hurt Israel’s image among the Bosniak population. It came out of left field."

"Why would Israel do this?" he asked. "I can only speculate […] it is seen as Israel siding with people who want Bosnia gone, far-right genocide."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/man-takes-lebanese-commercial-bank-hostage-demands-frozen-fu

Man takes Lebanese commercial bank hostage, demands frozen funds

An armed man has taken an unspecified number of people hostage on Thursday, demanding the release of his deposits frozen by his bank in the wake of the economic crisis in Lebanon. The debacle is unfolding at the Federal Bank of Lebanon in Beirut, a security source said.

Lebanese banks have imposed limited withdrawals of hard currency for most depositors, leaving more than 75% of the population struggling to make ends meet and afford even the most basic goods.

The man entered the Federal Bank of Lebanon's branch in the Western Hamra neighborhood just before noon on Thursday, bearing a firearm, a security source told Reuters.

The man demanded access to some $200,000 that he had in his bank account due to a relative being in the hospital and him needing the money. After the employee refused the request, he pulled out his gun.

The man’s brother who was on the scene told the Associated Press his brother was seeking to withdraw his money to pay for his father’s medical expenses and other family needs.

"My brother is not a scoundrel, he is a decent man," Atef al-Sheikh Hussein told the news agency. "He takes what he has from his own pocket to give to others."

A gunman broke into a bank in Beirut with a gallon of gasoline, threatening to set himself on fire if the security forces break into the bank, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.

"Work is currently underway to provide part of the gunman's funds as means to negotiate with him," our correspondent added, noting that information suggests that he has five hostages.

At least one elderly man was released from the bank because of his age and government negotiators were deployed to begin talks with the hostage taker, the interior ministry said.

A Reuters witness could see a bearded man in a black shirt behind the gated entrance to the bank speaking to several men in plainclothes on the outside.

"Let them give me back my money!" he was heard telling them.

The situation caused a crowd to gather outside the bank, many of which were changing "down with the rule of banks!" a slogan that has been echoing throughout Lebanon for a while now, since the start of the economic crisis and the protests that followed suit.

Commercial banks cap monthly cash withdrawals in US dollars while only allowing limited amounts to be withdrawn in Lebanese pounds at a rate much lower than the parallel market rate, which leads to significant cuts in the original value of the deposits that have become incredibly inflated.

Banks claim to make exceptions for humanitarian cases, such as hospital care, but depositors say these exemptions are very rarely implemented.