17 Oct, 2023 11:47

Israel to invade Gaza after Biden leaves – Der Spiegel

The US president condemned Hamas’s “brutal terrorist attack” as he announced a Wednesday wartime trip to Israel

An Israeli ground offensive in Gaza will likely only take place after US President Joe Biden concludes his visit to the country, news website Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

The German outlet cited anonymous sources as suggesting that there are “increasing signs”that any plans to invade the Palestinian enclave will be “almost impossible” while Biden is in Israel.

The Spiegel report comes hours after the White House confirmed that Biden was to travel to Israel and Jordan on Wednesday as part of Washington’s efforts to demonstrate its support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas, while also easing humanitarian issues in war-torn Gaza.

The US has also expressed concerns about the situation spiraling into a wider conflict if other regional powers get involved.

“On Wednesday, I’ll travel to Israel to stand in solidarity in the face of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack,” a post from Biden on X (formerly Twitter), read early on Tuesday. “I’ll then travel to Jordan to address dire humanitarian needs, meet with leaders, and make clear that Hamas does not stand for Palestinians’ rights to self-determination.”

Israel has amassed thousands of troops on its border with Gaza for a widely expected ground operation in the enclave. The move is part of retaliatory measures against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, following its October 7 incursion into Israeli territory. About 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians, were massacred by Hamas.

Israel’s armed forces have conducted an unprecedented bombing campaign on the enclave in the days that followed. The Israeli Air Force stated that it dropped more than 6,000 bombs on Gaza in the first six days of the conflict. Reports indicate that more than 2,800 people have died in the air strikes, while the United Nations (UN) has said that at least one million people have been displaced.

The UN has also warned that the situation in Gaza could deteriorate into a severe humanitarian crisis.

Referencing Biden’s visit to the Middle East early on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it would demonstrate Washington’s “solidarity with Israel” and represent an “ironclad commitment to its security.” (He doesn’t have to go to show solidarity)

(Maybe this trip results and solves the radical Admin problems, it interferes with the war Israel conducting, and if Bidan gets hurt and is put in danger, the dems can replace Bidan for 2024. Sending a dementia patient to an active war zone is crazy, except when you consider their motives. Obama and Trump’s visits to Middle East war areas were done undercover. They didn’t announce them to the world. So Joe’s Admin is trying to seem like Joe is the bravest President of all time and its intentional to interfere with Israel; and maybe the Admin are trying to give justification for escalation of the war, especially if Joe or others are harmed while there. I wonder why Netanyahu didn’t tell him not to come? The Joe that goes there is going to be the least important clone. Pushing WWIII hard by doing this.)

https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2023.10/l/652e714985f5401768049882.jpg

17 Oct, 2023 12:52

UN peacekeepers step up withdrawal from Mali over security concerns

Heightened tensions in the north of the country endanger the lives of hundreds of personnel, the organization insists

The UN has begun withdrawing peacekeeping forces from camps in Mali’s northern Kidal region in response to a “rapidly deteriorating security situation,” the organization has announced.

The exit of forces from the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) started on Monday from bases in Tessalit and Aguelhok, and will be followed by the Kidal camp, MINUSMA said in a statement.

“The mission is doing everything it can to complete this process as soon as possible, in the midst of the rapidly deteriorating security situation and theincreased risk to the lives of hundreds of peacekeepers. This is becoming increasingly difficult,” it stated. (Calling them peace keepers is a joke, they only agitate the war.)

MINUSMA additionally reported that personnel had to “seek shelter in bunkers due to an exchange of fire” in Tessalit during the evacuation process.

In a separate statement on Monday, the Malian Armed Forces (FaMa) confirmed that its aircraft coordinating the UN disengagement had been targeted with “heavy weapons fire from terrorist groups” during landing at Tessalit airport.

The plane was able to land and depart without difficulty after the “enemies” were neutralized, FaMa said, adding that “all arrangements have been made to continue the process of occupation of MINUSMA rights of way.”

The UN Security Council agreed in June to complete the withdrawal of MINUSMA forces by the end of the year in response to Malian authorities’ demand for a prompt end to the mission,which was launched in 2013 to counter jihadist insurgencies in the country. (Ten years without success, thats what the UN brings, the same as France getting kicked out of Africans because they never got rid of terrorists.)

However, its removal has heightened tensions in the north of Mali between the military rulers and the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), a coalition of Tuareg ethnic-dominated groups seeking autonomy.

In August, the UN announced that it had expedited the evacuation of its base in the northern town of Ber, citing worsening security conditions that it claimed posed a “high risk” to its blue helmet forces stationed there. The UN mission said its convoy leaving Ber had been attacked twice, injuring three peacekeepers. FaMa also reported at the time that seven of its soldiers had been killed in clashes with the CMA group.

On Monday, MINUSMA expressed concern about the escalating tensions, warning that the mission may be forced to leave“without being able to repatriate equipment belonging to troop-contributing countries and the UN.”(There you have it, they are leaving their weapons for the terrorists! The Afghanistan model)

(The UN is just sent in to protract wars.)

https://www.rt.com/africa/585146-mali-un-peacekeepers-withdrawal/

17 Oct, 2023 12:52

UN peacekeepers step up withdrawal from Mali over security concerns

Heightened tensions in the north of the country endanger the lives of hundreds of personnel, the organization insists

The UN has begun withdrawing peacekeeping forces from camps in Mali’s northern Kidal region in response to a “rapidly deteriorating security situation,” the organization has announced.

The exit of forces from the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) started on Monday from bases in Tessalit and Aguelhok, and will be followed by the Kidal camp, MINUSMA said in a statement.

“The mission is doing everything it can to complete this process as soon as possible, in the midst of the rapidly deteriorating security situation and theincreased risk to the lives of hundreds of peacekeepers. This is becoming increasingly difficult,” it stated. (Calling them peace keepers is a joke, they only agitate the war.)

MINUSMA additionally reported that personnel had to “seek shelter in bunkers due to an exchange of fire” in Tessalit during the evacuation process.

In a separate statement on Monday, the Malian Armed Forces (FaMa) confirmed that its aircraft coordinating the UN disengagement had been targeted with “heavy weapons fire from terrorist groups” during landing at Tessalit airport.

The plane was able to land and depart without difficulty after the “enemies” were neutralized, FaMa said, adding that “all arrangements have been made to continue the process of occupation of MINUSMA rights of way.”

The UN Security Council agreed in June to complete the withdrawal of MINUSMA forces by the end of the year in response to Malian authorities’ demand for a prompt end to the mission,which was launched in 2013 to counter jihadist insurgencies in the country. (Ten years without success, thats what the UN brings, the same as France getting kicked out of Africans because they never got rid of terrorists.)

However, its removal has heightened tensions in the north of Mali between the military rulers and the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), a coalition of Tuareg ethnic-dominated groups seeking autonomy.

In August, the UN announced that it had expedited the evacuation of its base in the northern town of Ber, citing worsening security conditions that it claimed posed a “high risk” to its blue helmet forces stationed there. The UN mission said its convoy leaving Ber had been attacked twice, injuring three peacekeepers. FaMa also reported at the time that seven of its soldiers had been killed in clashes with the CMA group.

On Monday, MINUSMA expressed concern about the escalating tensions, warning that the mission may be forced to leave“without being able to repatriate equipment belonging to troop-contributing countries and the UN.”(There you have it, they are leaving their weapons for the terrorists! The Afghanistan model)

(The UN is just sent in to protract wars.)

https://www.rt.com/africa/585146-mali-un-peacekeepers-withdrawal/

17 Oct, 2023 09:54

Putin meets EU-defying Orban in China

The prime minister of the EU state has snubbed Western attempts to isolate Russia diplomatically

China has hosted a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during which the Brussels-defying leader said he has sought to keep relations with Moscow afloat even as the West tries to isolate Moscow diplomatically.

The meeting took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. Senior Russian officials participated in the talks, according to the Kremlin.

Putin said that opportunities for such contacts were “quite limited” under the current “geopolitical circumstances” and noted that Hungary and Russia maintained good bilateral relations despite the crisis.

“A chance to exchange opinions with Hungary, an EU member, not only on bilateral issues but also on the situation in the world and in Europe is important,” he added.

Putin noted that the two nations’ positions differed on some things, which made keeping the dialogue open more valuable.

Orban admitted that Western sanctions imposed on Russia have had a detrimental impact on Hungary's relationship with the country. He further stated that Budapest is actively working to salvage whatever aspects of the cooperation can be preserved.

“Hungary never sought confrontation with Russia; on the contrary, Hungary’s goal was to establish and improve the relations,” the prime minister added.

He specifically noted Russian energy supplies and work on a nuclear plant in Hungary as examples of beneficial ties, which have continued despite the Russian-Western rift.

Orban has been highly critical of the EU’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, which the bloc has blamed on “unprovoked Russian aggression.” He has urged de-escalation rather than military support for Kiev, arguing that Western assistance has resulted only in mounting costs from the conflict. For instance, the Hungarian leader stated that sanctions have done more harm to the EU than to Russia and have failed to change the Kremlin’s policies.

Moscow has said that NATO’s expansion in Europe and militarization of Ukraine since the 2014 armed coup in Kiev, as well as Ukraine’s refusal to stop attacks on rebels in Donbass, were the key causes of the crisis. It perceives the conflict as part of a wider US proxy war against Russia.

(Watched for the EU release 1,000s of article that Orban is a traitor to democracy and punish the country with fines. A lot of “hair on fire” with EU heads. And also violating the unwritten “rules based order”)

https://www.rt.com/russia/585131-putin-orban-beijing-forum/

17 Oct, 2023 10:51

HomeIndia

India’s Supreme Court refuses to back gay marriage

The country’s highest court announces much-awaited verdict on marriage-equality rights

India’s Supreme Court refuses to back gay marriage

FILE PHOTO: Members and supporters of LGBTQ community holld rainbow flag while taking part in the annual LGBTQ Pride Parade, Kolkata, India. © Dipa Chakraborty / Eyepix Group / Future Publishing via Getty Images

India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to legally recognize same-sex marriages, leaving the decision to Parliament and state legislatures to validate such unions legal, Indian media are reporting.

A bench of India’s highest court, delivering its eagerly-awaited verdict on a batch of pleas seeking legal backing for same-sex marriages in the country, held that it is beyond the remit of courts to issue a positive direction to the legislature regarding the issue.

“The court can’t make law but only interpret it and it is for Parliament to change the Special Marriage Act,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud said. “The court can neither strike down nor read words into the Special Marriage Act to include same-sex members within the ambit of the 1954 law,” the CJI’s order read. Apart from Chandrachud, the bench also comprised Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha.

The Special Marriage Act of 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for civil marriage for people of India and its nationals overseas. Petitioners in support of same-sex marriages have argued for an interpretation of this Act “in a gender-neutral manner where a person is not discriminated against due to sexual orientation.”

Despite the verdict, the CJI noted that the institution of marriage has “undergone a sea change” and it is not static. “The meaning of liberty is the ability to be who one wishes to be,” he added.

The five-judge bench also ruled that non-heterosexual couples cannot be granted the right to jointly adopt a child. However, Chandrachud struck down the Central Adoption Resource Authority’s (CARA) regulation thatrestricted queer and unmarried couples from adopting children. CARA, a statutory body, is affiliated with India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Meanwhile, Chandrachud has asked the federal government to constitute a committee to “decide the rights and entitlements of persons in queer unions.”The committee will address the practical concerns of same-sex couples, such as getting ration cards, pensions, and succession issues. The CJI has also directed India’s federal and state governments to “ensure that the queer community is not discriminated against” because of their orientation.

In March, the Supreme Court had referred several petitions seeking legal recognition for same-sex marriages in the country to a constitution bench of five judges of the court, on the grounds that these petitions were “seminal” and an “important matter.”

The petitioners included same-sex couples, rights activists, and various organizations, who challenged the constitutionality of the existing legislation, including the Special Marriages Act, Hindu Marriage Act, Foreign Marriage Act and others. Raising its objection, the Indian government filed a plea asking the Supreme Court to quash these petitions, saying that the “creation of a new social institution” is beyond the ambit of the judiciary.

The petition, filed by India’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, calledsame-sex marriage an “urban elitist concept far removed from the social ethos of the country.”Chandrachud, however, maintains that “people may be queer regardless of whether they are from small towns, urban or semi-urban areas.” Mehta’s petition argued that biological gender defined a person’s gender, which was challenged by Chandrachud. “There is no absolute concept of a man or an absolute concept of a woman at all,” he said.

The Narendra Modi-led government has staunchly maintained that the matter of same-sex marriages is best left to the legislature “to deliberate and decide upon.” The Supreme Court’s verdict comes nearly five years after the country decriminalized homosexuality. In September 2018 the five-judge Bench partially struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, decriminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. The bench then, however, clarified that theverdict should not be construed as “conferring any right, including the right to marry.”

https://www.rt.com/india/585134-india-supreme-court-gay-marriage/