(Al Jazeera) United Nations General Assembly backs Palestinian bid for membership

Resolution does not give Palestine full UN membership, but recognises them as qualified to join and extends rights.

143 yes, 9 no, 25 abstained.

And here is the list of countries exact votes. US, Israel, and US puppet regimes are predictably the no votes: https://twitter.com/Raminho/status/1788956393438859580

US official says Chinese seizure of TSMC in Taiwan would be 'absolutely devastating'

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/us-official-says-chinese-seizure-151702576.html

Xi pls

Egypt to back South Africa genocide case against Israel at world court ^[SCMP]^

From what I've heard Egypt cracked down pretty hard on the protests and I'm under the impression no one expects the government to do the right thing unprompted so this was kind of surprising.

And now a massive crowd forging new barricades at Rokin in central Amsterdam. They emptied the tires of the buses supposed to transport the people arrested at the omhp encampment. Oh @UvA_Amsterdam you have started a revolution

https://nitter.poast.org/HarrygPettit/status/1788287605676662795#m

Edit: Also I'd like to note that at this uni the cops literally bulldozed the encampment

Proposal includes 'far-reaching' conclusions Israel doesn't agree to - report

THE ZIONISTS ARE CLAIMING THEY DO NOT AGREE TO WHATEVER HAMAS JUST AGREED TO - WHAT IS HAPPENING?

I somehow completely missed that Ukraine is now using civilian planes to bomb Russia. You'd think the international "rules based" order people would have something against this but they predictably do not.

A Ukrainian Sport Plane Drone Just Flew 800 Miles Into Russia To Blow Up An Oil Refinery ^[forbes]^

UK 's Labour Party inadvertently endorses armed struggle against Israel by the students

David Lammy thinks students should copy Mandela’s protest style. Apparently Lammy doesn’t know about uMkhonto we Sizwe.

https://nitter.poast.org/DavidVeevers1/status/1788455122009210897#m

Biden administration moves to terminate agreement governing conditions for migrant children in US custody

Listening to Mearsheimer is so weird. It’s pure historical materialism that walks straight up to the point of being Marxism, but then he takes a turn and says “…and this is why we must focus on containing China to maintain the US empire, because that’s what it is it’s an empire.”

I can't keep up with Eurovison drama, but it seems like the Israeli delegation kept pissing people off?

If you destroy a wasp's home, they will retaliate. A lesson the IOF doesn't understand

I love how there's an entire genre of news articles coming out every day about "How Joe Biden actually saved the economy" and yet we have to listen to libs shout about how "the media isn't telling the voters about all the good stuff Biden has done".

Hey remember that video of the sniper lighting that IDF dumbass on fire with a bullet and we all were wondering how that happened?

I got decently reliable info saying the sniper was indeed using an Armor-piercing incendiary round.

I just saw some images from southern Brazil on Twitter. The cities are destroyed and flooded, really terrible. And there are still people denying that global warming is real. Fortunately Lula da Silva is the current president and he is acting like a normal human being by sending help. I 100% believe that if it had been Bolsonaro the president, he would have said that this was a punishment from God because the big cities in the south are pro Lula or some shit like that.

Pentagon has confirmed a pause of bombs to Israel.

https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4

Ukrainian military claim that there was no first line of defense along the border, and that desertions by some units have already begun.

Take everything with a grain of salt, but things may start moving more quickly than we're used to. If the map nerds are to be believed, they already are.

on top of the obvious evil of the iSSraeli government, it's frankly ridiculous how officials refer to "the Nazi organization Hamas" or "Hamas-ISIS". embarrassing stuff, not a serious "country".

BenarNews (US Funded Media) - US officials to discuss with Malaysia ‘potential impact’ of Iran sanctions’ violations

Treasury Department says it’s concerned about Washington-sanctioned Iranian oil being moved from ship to ship in Southeast Asian waters.

A U.S. Treasury delegation will discuss the consequences of allowing transshipments of Washington-sanctioned Iranian oil in meetings with government officials here this week, amid longtime allegations by Western news and research firms that Malaysia permits Iran to use its waters for ship-to-ship petroleum transfers.

Western news

YOU YOURSELF ARE WESTERN NEWS?

…The American officials who arrived in Kuala Lumpur late on Monday will engage in blunt discussions with their Malaysian counterparts, U.S. Ambassador Edgard Kagan said on the sidelines of Asia’s largest defense show.

“You brown orientals need to listen to the White Man and stop trading with the Islamofascist Terrorists”

“We are confident that the Malaysian government understands the U.S. position with regard to transshipment of oil that has been sanctioned, and understands the potential impact that this could have,” Kagan said in response to a question about whether Washington sees Malaysia as a transshipment hub for Iranian oil.

These Crakkkers need to STFU. Keep swinging buddy, it’ll just encourage further decoupling from the West.

He did not elaborate on what he meant by “potential impact,” which could mean anything from sanctions on Malaysia to an emboldened Iran potentially causing more trouble for Washington.

Sanctions deny people or companies access to assets within the United States and prevent American citizens or financial institutions from doing business with them.

Don’t know how that concerns people in Southeast Asia but okay

“We look forward to candid and frank discussions that are going to be done very much from our standpoint in the spirit of working together to address a common problem,” Kagan said.

Go ahead and sanction. I don’t think the numerous American companies based in Malaysia are gonna react too kindly to the political machinations of the warmongers affecting their bottomline.

common problem

It clearly ain’t a problem for the numerous local businesses benefiting from trade with Iran.

In December, the U.S Treasury Department imposed sanctions on four Malaysia-based companies it accused of helping Iran’s production of drones. Washington accuses Iran of supplying deadly drones to what it says are terrorist proxies in the Middle East, and to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Only four? The companies in Malaysia need to step up their game.

On Friday, the Treasury Department said that two of its top officials would visit Malaysia and Singapore on May 6-9 to advance its work in countering what it called terror financing by Iran and its proxies, and the implementation of sanctions against Russia.

Only Singapore has imposed sanctions on Russia. The USA is not in the position to dictate how an independent country wants to handle their own trade and diplomatic relations. Fuck off

“In Malaysia, Under Secretary Nelson and General Counsel MacBride will discuss the United States’ efforts to disrupt terrorist financing, including through fundraising for fraudulent charities and illicit oil sales, while ensuring that U.S. sanctions and other financial measures do not impede the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.”

efforts to disrupt terrorist financing, including fundraising for fraudulent charities

We should ban the New Endowment for Democracy to be in line with the stated objectives.

humanitarian aid

Such as “lethal aid” for Israel mayhaps?

BenarNews contacted the Prime Minister’s Office and the foreign ministry for comment on the U.S. officials’ visit and Kagan’s comments, but did not immediately hear back.

I don’t think they care to respond to US propaganda outlets.

Both the issues – sanctions against Russia and Iran – have seen the East and the West divided in their responses. 

No shit.

…Malaysia has taken a stance supporting Iran, which launched drones and fired missiles at Israel on April 13. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described Iran’s actions as a “legitimate act” in response to Israel’s “barbarous” attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus.

This is the opinion of the Global Majority.

‘I will not accept any threats’ …He said in November that Malaysia would maintain ties with Hamas and not be cowed by the threat of “unilateral” sanctions for doing so in the face of a proposed U.S. law to sanction the group’s supporters.  He was responding to the Nov. 1 passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act. It has yet to be passed by the Senate. “I will not accept any threats, including this,” Anwar said in Parliament back then.  “This action is unilateral and not valid because we, as members of the United Nations, only recognize decisions made by the United Nations Security Council.” 

I have covered this before but I’ll repeat again: Anwar faces internal opposition from more radical Islamic political factions that are staunchly pro-Palestine and Anti-Zionist. Even if he wasn’t himself a believer of a modernist Islam, it would be political suicide if he did not take a stance for Hamas.

The government’s position is entirely in line with the opinion of the vast majority in Malaysia.

In December, Malaysia banned Israeli shipping company ZIM, vessels flying the Israeli flag and those headed there from docking at its ports, saying the move was a response to the Jewish state’s actions in Gaza.

Is the article trying to imply hypocrisy here? Lmao.

Washington ups the pressure Still, allegations about Malaysia’s support for Iran evasion of U.S.  sanctions have been made for years, and long before the latest crisis in the Middle East.  More recently, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA), in September, noted that China’s oil imports from Malaysia in the first half of 2023 rose to 1 million barrels a day – a figure that exceeded total production in Malaysia.

Actually maybe Malaysia increased production imo I think we are rushing too much on our conclusions.

USEIA pointed to a May 2021 article from the Washington-based Middle East Institute’s website  to explain this discrepancy. The article was titled “Iranian sanctions evasion and the Gulf’s complex oil trade,” and cited news sources like Bloomberg and Reuters as well. “With a heavy discount on Iran’s high-risk, illegal oil exports, buyers in China are purchasing so much that oil tankers are ‘clogging up’ ports in the country,” the article said, referring to a Bloomberg News story for the information about the choked ports.

Thank you China, very cool.

The Treasury officials’ visit to Malaysia comes less than two weeks after President Joe Biden signed a national security package that included the “21st Century Peace through Strength Act,” which extends the statute of limitations for violations of sanctions to 10 years.

“Peace through Strength Act” sounds like satire

In a recent article for The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, research assistant Rebecca Redlich wrote that “Kuala Lumpur is once again displaying its willingness to facilitate Iran’s illicit activity.”

It’s the free market at work baby. The invisible hand supports Iran and Hamas, what can I say?

“The United States has repeatedly sought to curb Kuala Lumpur’s growing ties with Iran by sanctioning various Malaysia-based entities,” she said in her article dated April 24.

Ya’ll repeating what the colonizers did 300 years ago and think no one here will see the ploy for what it is.

“U.S. officials have focused most of their outreach and punitive actions on areas where Malaysian decisions directly threaten U.S. objectives, such as facilitating illicit Iranian oil sales and creating a permissive environment for sanctions evasion.”

So much for the free and open trade and markets.

Again - why should Malaysia care if what they do threaten US objectives? Should a Global South country not advocate for and do stuff that is in their best interests?

Death to Amerikkka

yfw you'll never be as cool as the dude with the DPRK flag

https://twitter.com/african_stream/status/1787682258138055127

Several hundred protesters gathered on 3 May outside the US embassy in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, expressing anger and discontent with Washington for recently criticising the African state's military leadership.

It is pretty interesting to see the gradual decline of America’s image since the Bush administration. Obama managed to bring some life back into it and everyone after him only continues to dig it further.

US soft power becoming more controversial for the wrong reasons (“woke culture”) has somewhat helped as well in leading people to look for alternatives. Europe and the rest of NATO will probably keep worshipping them with a few outliers. They seem to love slop.

Zionazis really do be treating Rafah as the "final battle" and will most definitely finish off the "terrorists" for good.

Would like some affirmation that this is, you know, bullshit.

I began to get the awful feeling last night that the Biden admin is going to let the Rafah invasion go on the full 90 days that Israel claims is planned (meaning it ends in August), and then let them slow roll/block letting aid until closer to the election. He will claim a "victory" in "forcing" Israel to let more aid in closer to the election, even though its all kayfabe. The casualty count in Gaza is almost assuredly undercounted by an order of magnitude. Part of the reason for Israel attacking all of the hospitals and emergency services was definitely to make an accurate count during the war (and for a while after) logistically impossible. If the war ended today, there would be enough time for an official casualty count to begin, and for the death toll to reach six figures before the election. Hitting 100K+ is going to tank what's left of Biden's approval, and I suspect that the White House is going to do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen until after the election.

Colombia Proposes Arrest of Netanyahu and Peace Force in Gaza

President Petro made these proposals given that Israel will not stop the genocide against the Palestinian people.

On Friday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to his genocidal military offensive on the Gaza Strip.

“Netanyahu will not stop the genocide, which implies an international arrest warrant from the Criminal Court,” he said.

“The United Nations Security Council must consider establishing a peacekeeping force in the territory of Gaza,” he added.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli occupation forces have killed 34,904 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where they have also injured 78,514 people.

The number of fatalities, however, could be much higher given that the Palestinian authorities have not been able to recover the bodies that lie under the rubble of buildings and homes destroyed by indiscriminate bombings.

During all these months, the Colombian president has maintained strong criticism of the bombings carried out by the Zionist state. On May 1, at a massive event for International Workers' Day in Bogota, Petro announced the breaking of diplomatic relations with Israel.

Meanwhile, in the last week, Netanyahu has confirmed that he will continue the military offensive in Gaza even if he does not have the support of U.S. weapons.

Al Jazeera calls this a "significant step" by Israelis.

25m ago

Palestinians now trapped in Gaza

Tareq Abu Azzoum reporting from Rafah, southern Gaza

The Israeli military carried out a limited incursion on the eastern side of Rafah and the main target was to control the crossing.

Israeli military tanks were stationed at the Rafah crossing, as we have seen images emerging from there, in which these tanks were moving on the yards of the crossing.

That is devastating because this is the only point that Palestinians have been using to travel abroad and leave Gaza. Palestinians will no longer be able to leave the territory in light of this limited Israeli operation.

During the raid on the crossing, there was a heavy exchange of fire between Hamas fighters and the Israeli military, accompanied by an intense bombing campaign.

This is a significant step taken by the Israeli side.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/5/7/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-blasts-rafah-fate-of-ceasefire-uncertain?update=2884264

Palestinians Flee Rafah for Fear of Israeli Ground Offensive

UNESCO Director Russell warned that 600,000 children of Rafah have no safe place to go.

Since Monday morning, thousands of Palestinians began to flee the area east of Rafah to avoid bombing by the Zionist army.

Previously, through leaflets dropped from the air, the Israeli occupation army announced that it "will work with extreme force" in neighborhoods such as Al-Salam, Al-Jeneina, Tabba Zaraa, and Al-Byouk, as well as in the blocks 10-16, 28, and 270.

Due to this announcement, the Palestinians fear that the Israeli State will soon order a ground military assault against Rafah, which is home to over 1.2 million internally displaced Palestinians due to the violence that the Israeli forces have deployed since October 2023.

Thousands of Palestinians began evacuating from areas east of Rafah amid Israeli plans to invade this city in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to local accounts, at least 100,000 could evacuate the area east of Rafah and head west towards Khan Younis and north towards Deir al-Balah.

“Rafah is now a city of children, who have nowhere safe to go in Gaza," said Catherine Russell, the director of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

"If large scale military operations start, not only will children be at risk from the violence, but also from chaos and panic, and at a time where their physical and mental states are already weakened,” she pointed out.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) stated that Israel is preparing to launch a large-scale ground offensive "without considering the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip" or the fate of the Israeli hostages.

"We affirm that any military operation in Rafah will not be a picnic for the fascist occupation army. Our brave resistance, led by the Al Qassam Brigades, is fully prepared to defend our people, defeat this enemy, and thwart their plans and objectives," Hamas said.

Currently, the Palestinian presidency is intensifying its contacts with the United States and other countries in the region to avoid a massacre in Rafah.

It turns out that "I feel unsave and I'm afraid" loser served in the IOF as a naval officer lmao:
https://twitter.com/LegalishCA/status/1788690668027519190

‘My vote snatched’: How to win India’s election without a single vote

Two weeks [before the election], the Election Commission of India (ECI) had already called the seat in favour of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after cancelling the nominations of the opposition Congress party’s candidate and five others. The eight remaining candidates all withdrew.

Yet, Surat is only the most extreme example of a peculiar phenomenon that is playing out in multiple constituencies across India: opposition candidates dropping out, joining the ruling BJP or alleging threats to their lives. Even as the BJP has denied any foul play, opposition candidates claim these instances are evidence of an uneven political playing field.

Russia crossing into Sumy and Kharkov has finally made Twitter exciting again, thank you Mr Putin

I've become like really actually prejudiced against the Baltics, like not "I have a cogent critique of the ruling regime of the nation state of Lithuania" or "Official sanction of revisitionist history and anti-semetic violence within the Baltics is bad", but like prejudice against the people and the non-Nazi parts of the culture. Gonna work on that. : |

US & Friends are complaining a lot about China subsidizing their EV industry, so I tried to look up what those subsidies are, but it seems like no one really knows any specifics? Maybe I'm just bad at searching for information, but I couldn't really find much at all about what kinds of subsidies they're supposedly using, and how they're different from the subsidies the Western countries are handing out to their own industries. It looks to me like they're just mad coz bad at free market competition.

Apache crashed

Two Army aviators were injured when their AH-64 Apache helicopter was involved in a mishap on Tuesday at Fort Riley, Kansas, said Lt. Col. Jefferson Grimes, a spokesman for the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

“The crew is receiving all necessary medical treatment,” Grimes told Task & Purpose. “They are in stable condition.”

...

At the time, 11 helicopters and one C-12 fixed-wing aircraft have crashed since October,

The crash is the latest in a rapid series of flying mishaps for Army pilots. Army officials announced in April that all aviation units would be required to undergo mandatory training to reinforce basic flying skills following 12 crashes in the past six months that had killed nine soldiers and one Border Patrol agent.

This is the saber American politicians constantly rattle at Russia, China, and Iran!

The Cuban Communist Party is mad at the German Embassy over a Facebook post.

On that same date, Press Freedom Day, 8 161 kilometers from Berlin, the German Embassy in Cuba, and through the Facebook account of that legation, consummated a gross act of interference and flagrant violation of international standards for diplomatic relations, by altering the text and photo on the front page of Granma with erasures typical of (un)classified documents, even on the name of Palestine. "There is not much to see here," the publication added.

Israelis in the North seek to partition, become 'State of Galilee'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
Today 12:47

As a result of the loss of deterrence, the Israeli Conflict Zone Forum plans to announce the establishment of the "State of Galilee" and full separation from "Israel".

"The full details of the tender can be found in the evacuated hotels and the accommodation apartments of the displaced throughout the country, with the business owners who collapsed in the north, in the dead tourism areas in the north, and in the offices of the authorities in the north."

Palestine Action's recent action in Leicester, where they ripped a hole in the roof with pickaxes and vandalized a partially constructed drone:
https://twitter.com/Pal_action/status/1788523404225544631

Can I get a DEATH TO ISRAEL! in here

Shout-out to our Macedonian comrades for tripling (from 2 to 6) their numbers in parliament yesterday. May the growth continue and may some more of the countries of former Yugoslavia follow your lead.

MIT's encampment got Israelied

15m ago

BREAKING via Axios:

Israeli forces are going to take over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza in the next few hours.

https://bsky.app/profile/yasharali.bsky.social/post/3kru3gqqjqd24