World Politics
- Botswana election: BDP party loses power after nearly six decades to Duma Boko's UDCwww.bbc.com Botswana election: BDP party loses power after nearly six decades to Duma Boko's UDC
President Mokgweetsi Masisi accepts defeat after his party loses its parliamentary majority.
[...] In a phone call to UDC leader Duma Boko, President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded and congratulated his opponent.
Despite overseeing a dramatic change in Botswana, recent poor economic growth and high unemployment dented the BDP’s popularity.
The party "had got it wrong big time", Masisi told a press conference.
"I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process ahead of inauguration. I am proud of our democratic processes and I respect the will of the people."
He has urged his supporters to remain calm and rally behind the new government.
Speaking to Boko on the phone, the outgoing president said: "You can count on me to always be there to provide whatever guidance you might want."
In his first comments to the media since the outcome was clear, Boko, a 54-year-old former human rights lawyer, said: "What has happened today takes our democracy to a higher level. It now means we've seen a successful, peaceful, orderly democratic transition." [...]
- IDF actions against UN peacekeepers suggest Israel may be considering occupying part of southern Lebanon.theconversation.com IDF actions against UN peacekeepers suggest Israel may be considering occupying part of southern Lebanon
If Israel is considering another zone of occupation in southern Lebanon, it will want to remove UN peacekeepers.
- The Elysian Convergence: A Blueprint for Universal Unity (Future plans)medium.com The Elysian Convergence: A Blueprint for Universal Unity
Fellow leaders, esteemed citizens, and custodians of our collective future, the moment has arrived for a pivotal decision – a decision that will shape the trajectory of our world and the countless…
- One Year After the October 7 Attacks: The Impact on Four Fronts.www.cfr.org One Year After the October 7 Attacks: The Impact on Four Fronts
The turbulent year since Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel draws to a close, marked by a sharp escalation in conflict between Israel and Iran and its proxies. Four CFR experts assess the changes since …
- Georgia’s Embrace of Discrimination.www.e-ir.info Opinion – Georgia’s Embrace of Discrimination
The Georgian Dream Party seeks to ban pride marches, censor the media, ban the public endorsement of LGBTQ+ relationships, deny gender-affirming care, and outlaw same-sex marriage and adoption.
- The Nasrallah killing is a crushing blow to Hezbollah.www.cfr.org The Nasrallah Killing Is a Crushing Blow to Hezbollah
Hezbollah leader Sayed Hassan Nasrallah possessed a rare set of abilities that made the group a formidable foe to Israel and a power broker in Lebanon. His killing by Israel sharply weakens the threa…
- Opinion – Israel’s Two Front War.www.e-ir.info Opinion – Israel’s Two Front War
Whatever happens next in the region, the risks of a broader war (although unlikely) cannot be ruled out – especially when considering an Iranian response.
- Ukraine drone strikes demonstrate its continuing intent to fight the long war against Russia.theconversation.com Ukraine drone strikes demonstrate its continuing intent to fight the long war against Russia
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a war of attrition, and most analyses have assumed that plays to Russia’s advantage. But that view disregards the importance of Ukrainian resolve and morale.
- Did exploding pagers break international law?360info.org Did exploding pagers break international law? - 360
The attack on Hezbollah’s communications network has enormously damaged the group, but was the attack, believed to be by Israel, legal under international law? The Middle East is once again on the brink of all-out war, with the Israeli government heralding new battle plans have been confirmed for so...
- The stories we tell: how national narratives drive radical-right support.theloop.ecpr.eu The stories we tell: how national narratives drive radical-right support
How do national stories shape voting behaviour? Odelia Oshri, Eran Amsalem, and Shaul Shenhav reveal that voters who view their nation through an exclusionary lens are more likely to support populist radical-right parties, especially those marginalised in society. Their findings highlight the powerf...
- Israel Is Waging War on Palestinian Prisoners.merip.org Israel Is Waging War on Palestinian Prisoners - MERIP
Behind the systematic torture and sexual violence in Israeli prisons, from MER's fall issue, 'Carceral Realities and Freedom Dreams."
- The Government is already cutting the syllabus in the 'light' oppositions for civil servants and allows candidates to do "pools" to study lesswww.elmundo.es El Gobierno ya recorta temario en las oposiciones 'light' a funcionario y permite que los candidatos hagan "quinielas" para estudiar menos
El Gobierno ya est� aplicando las denominadas oposiciones light, los ex�menes para acceder a la Funci�n P�blica o ascender dentro de la misma con una menor carga de temas, en...
In the internal promotion of the Higher Corps Cadastral Management has eliminated 34 topics, and in Medical Inspectors the reduction has also reached free access
- UN envoy warns more attacks on Iraq threaten its hard-won stabilitywww.independent.co.uk UN envoy warns more attacks on Iraq threaten its hard-won stability
Iraq’s government is focused on avoiding a domestic or regional spillover of the Israel-Hamas war but continuing attacks on the country threaten its hard-won stability, the U.N. envoy for Iraq is warning
- Geert Wilders’ hopes of becoming Dutch PM dim after centrist party quits talkswww.theguardian.com Geert Wilders’ hopes of becoming Dutch PM dim after centrist party quits talks
NSC’s Pieter Omtzigt said to be shocked by public finances as he abandons talks to form coalition under far-right leader
- ICJ ruling increases pressure on Israel to prevent civilian deaths in Gazawww.theguardian.com ICJ ruling increases pressure on Israel to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza
Court in The Hague tells Israel it must ‘take all measures within its power’ but stops short of ordering a ceasefire
- 'India Lurches Toward Full-Fledged Fascism' as Modi Opens Contentious Hindu Templewww.commondreams.org 'India Lurches Toward Full-Fledged Fascism' as Modi Opens Contentious Hindu Temple | Common Dreams
"The people of India have struggled for decades to secure a democracy that is secular, just, and equal. Modi must not be permitted to rob them of it now," admonished Progressive International's cabinet.
- What links Rishi Sunak, Javier Milei and Donald Trump? The shadowy network behind their policies | George Monbiotwww.theguardian.com What links Rishi Sunak, Javier Milei and Donald Trump? The shadowy network behind their policies | George Monbiot
The Atlas Network’s dark-money junktanks are behind neoliberal policies around the world, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
"A crash programme of massive cuts; demolishing public services; privatising public assets; centralising political power; sacking civil servants; sweeping away constraints on corporations and oligarchs; destroying regulations that protect workers, vulnerable people and the living world; supporting landlords against tenants; criminalising peaceful protest; restricting the right to strike."
- [Jeremy Scahill, The Intercept] This Is Not a War Against Hamastheintercept.com This Is Not a War Against Hamas
The notion that the war would end if Hamas was overthrown or surrenders is as ahistorical as it is false.
It has become indisputably clear over these past two months that there are not actually two sides to this horror show. Without question, the perpetrators who meted out the horrors against Israeli civilians on October 7 should be held accountable. But that is not what this collective killing operation is about. And journalists should stop pretending it is
- How October 7 has changed us all — and what it signals for our strugglewww.972mag.com How October 7 has changed us all — and what it signals for our struggle
It can be hard to recognize a historic moment while living through it, but this time in Israel-Palestine, it’s plain for all to see.
- Listen to Israeli survivors: They don’t want revenge - 972 magazinewww.972mag.com Listen to Israeli survivors: They don’t want revenge
Against the prevailing public mood, many survivors of the Oct. 7 massacres and relatives of those killed or kidnapped are opposing retribution on Gaza.
- I Fought for the I.D.F. in Gaza. It Made Me Fight for Peace.
>These periodic episodes of killing and destruction, which Israeli commentators and politicians cynically call “mowing the lawn,” have been a price Israel was willing to pay to avoid being pushed toward a two-state solution. We chose to “manage” the conflict through a combination of brute force and economic incentives, instead of working to solve it by ending our perpetual occupation of Palestinian territory.
>Many of my Palestinian human rights partners who organize nonviolent protests are targeted and harassed by the Israeli military. I believe these policies have the goal of preventing pressure for a Palestinian state and permitting Israeli settlement development and creeping annexation in the West Bank.
>For years, many of us on the left in Israel have been warning that we will never have peace and security until we find a political agreement in which Palestinians achieve freedom and independence. It isn’t just human rights activists taking this position: Even Ami Ayalon, the former head of the Israeli security service Shin Bet, has argued for years that Palestinian terror can be defeated only by creating Palestinian hope.
- Western Journalists Have Palestinian Blood on Their Handswww.thenation.com Western Journalists Have Palestinian Blood on Their Hands
The mainstream media’s relentless dehumanization of Palestinians is enabling Israeli war crimes.
- For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faceswww.timesofisrael.com For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faces
The premier's policy of treating the terror group as a partner, at the expense of Abbas and Palestinian statehood, has resulted in wounds that will take Israel years to heal from
- Sources reveal Israeli shipments to Myanmar military after coupwww.frontiermyanmar.net Sources reveal Israeli shipments to Myanmar military after coup
An Israeli state-owned company has sent four shipments of aircraft parts to Myanmar since the military seized power in 2021, as the air force ramps up attacks on resistance groups and civilians.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/4693394
> Israel has supplied the Myanmar military since the 2021 military coup, according to a major general in the Myanmar air force, who spoke with Frontier on the condition of anonymity, and new trade data shared by activist group Justice for Myanmar.
- World Bank freezes loans to Uganda because of anti-gay laws. But it doesn't mean it's becoming a human rights watchdog.theconversation.com World Bank freezes loans to Uganda because of anti-gay laws. But it doesn’t mean it’s becoming a human rights watchdog
The challenge is to ensure that the bank is making decisions on a principled and predictable basis.
- The US scores 83/100 in freedomfreedomhouse.org Explore the Map
Freedom House - Explore the map of global freedom and internet freedom around the world.
For a country that values freedom so much, it seems ironic that it scores so low.
- South Africa may seek way out of hosting Brics summit over Putin arrestwww.theguardian.com South Africa may seek way out of hosting Brics summit over Putin arrest
Pretoria would be required to arrest Putin if he attended and send him to The Hague for trial on war crimes charges
South Africa may abandon its role as host of this year’s Brics summit in an attempt to avoid international pressure to arrest the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who is wanted by the international criminal court on charges of war crimes.
- Trump allies cite Clinton email probe to attack classified records case. There are big differenceswww.independent.co.uk Trump allies cite Clinton email probe to attack classified records case. There are big differences
As Donald Trump readies for a momentous court appearance Tuesday on charges related to the hoarding of top-secret documents, Republican allies are amplifying, without evidence, claims that he's the target of a political prosecution
As Donald Trump readies for a momentous court appearance Tuesday on charges related to the hoarding of top-secret documents, Republican allies are amplifying, without evidence, claims that he's the target of a political prosecution
- Ukraine war: Russia moves to take direct control of Wagner Groupwww.bbc.com Ukraine war: Russia moves to take direct control of Wagner Group
It appears to be the latest in a public falling out between the Wagner boss and Russian officials.
Russia appears to have moved to take direct control of Wagner, after months of infighting between defence officials and the private military group.
- Ukraine's Zelenskyy confirms that an offensive against Russia is underway
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday gave his first formal confirmation that Ukraine's long-awaited offensive was underway against Russian troops.
"Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. At what stage, I will not say in detail," Zelenskyy said in a joint news conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
- From ‘cranks’ to contenders: how Spain’s far-right Vox party is rising toward powerwww.theguardian.com From ‘cranks’ to contenders: how Spain’s far-right Vox party is rising toward power
Once dismissed as anachronistic, the radical party hopes to ride a wave of patriotism in next month’s elections. In the town of Rascafría, its focus on local issues is proving effective
Once dismissed as anachronistic, the radical party hopes to ride a wave of patriotism in next month’s elections. In the town of Rascafría, its focus on local issues is proving effective
- What’s up with those claims the US has recovered UFOs?www.vox.com What’s up with those claims the US has recovered UFOs?
The ultimate “whoa, if true.” Especially the “if true” part.
A former government official named David Grusch, who has worked in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office, has gone public and is saying some curious things.
Grusch says that he’s been told of secret government programs that have “intact and partially intact vehicles” of non-human origin. He says he’s been told both the US government and other governments have been engaged in a “publicly unknown Cold War” to try to reverse-engineer technology from these craft.
- How the right’s defeats gave us the anti-LGBTQ momentwww.vox.com How the right’s defeats gave us the anti-LGBTQ moment
The American right is returning to its homophobic roots.
- Ex-Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested in connection with party funding probe, reports say
Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday, the BBC and Sky reported, after Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was in custody being questioned as part of its investigation into the Scottish National Party's funding.
- Trump-appointed judge will stay on Mar-a-Lago documents case unless she recuseswww.independent.co.uk Trump-appointed judge will stay on Mar-a-Lago documents case unless she recuses
Aileen Cannon previously issued rulings that helped Trump, but were overturned on appeal
A federal judge appointed to the bench by Donald Trump and previously scrutinised for rulings that were solidly in Mr Trump’s favour was assigned to preside over his prosecution in a Florida court under normal procedures, denying the possibility that the case will be reassigned.
