The success of the anti-government demonstrations in Kenya is inspiring others in the region to take action.
![Is a sub-Saharan ‘African Spring’ in the offing?](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/ed1ab677-5f74-4b96-a376-b186c5f0dd3e.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
There's no useful analysis here, since the author hasn't bothered to ask any protestors why they're protesting, but here's hoping these are more steps towards a Red Africa.
Countries with active or recent protest movements mentioned in the article include Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Angola, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa.
Is costplusdrugs.com available where you are? They're about as good as it gets under capitalism.
Cute lawnmower!
This isn't about "great leaders", it's about us. Here's what's meant by the quote:
As for people who are politically backward, [we] Communists should not slight or despise them, but should befriend them, unite with them, convince them and encourage them to go forward.
It's a recipe for organizing.
Now do Lenin!
"No imperialism is when no iphone vuvuzela 100 gorbillion dead" or some shite.
To state the obvious, this is an intimidation tactic. They don't even have to do anything with the footage. Just the fear that they might could be enough to deter future protestors. This is important. Because when we lose our fear, they lose their power.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says if China were to reunify with Taiwan, the US would be devastated due to the ramifications that would hold for the chips market.
![Chinese reunification with Taiwan to devastate US, Commerce Sec. says](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/4a9746d7-e20e-4c81-b7dd-77e4f6b650aa.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
In a congressional testimony on Wednesday, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized the potentially severe consequences for the United States if China were to decide to reunify with Taiwan.
Raimondo, showcasing that the US is only interested in Taiwan's "security" because of its importance in the microchip sector, highlighted the critical role of Taiwan in microchip supply and production, stressing the decades-long collaboration between Taipei and Washington in this domain.
Speaking before the US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, Raimondo underscored the significance of Taiwan's contribution to the microchip industry. She pointed out that the United States currently relies heavily on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), procuring 92% of its leading-edge chips from the Taiwanese firm.
Hind's Hall: https://yewtu.be/watch?v=Qyy27x50SXU&
Slaps!
"Yes, but that's a good thing."
Israeli occupation forces begin to forcefully displace Palestinians formerly displaced to Rafah amid the increased likelihood of the start of the imminent invasion.
!['Israel' makes move on Rafah, forced displacement commences](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/b84e1a05-973e-4643-930c-b4e073d3f6a5.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
The Israeli occupation forces officially began, on Monday, the forceful displacement of the already-displaced Palestinian people currently seeking shelter in Rafah, which had been designated by the Israelis as an alleged "safe zone" early in the war.
Yum! Er, cute!
And all the nice weeks to you as well!
Meanwhile, our rail system is so slow in most of the US that it's quicker to drive. Not to mention you can't get around your destination in 99% of cities without a car.
sigh
Yeah, I reported that shit.
I'm worried about this as well. Once the pressure is off, they can do whatever they want.
What has led to “the relative decline in U.S. standing,” as the report asks? The opening chapter explains America’s problem starkly: “Its competitive position is threatened both from within (in terms of slowing productivity growth, an aging population, a polarized political system, and an increasingly corrupted information environment) and outside (in terms of a rising direct challenge from China and declining deference to U.S. power from dozens of developing nations).”
This decline is “accelerating,” warns the study. ...
What causes national decline? The Rand authors cite triggers that are all too familiar in 2024. “Addiction to luxury and decadence,” “failure to keep pace with … technological demands,” “ossified” bureaucracy, “loss of civic virtue,” “military overstretch,” “self-interested and warring elites,” “unsustainable environmental practices.” Does that sound like any country you know?
The challenge is “anticipatory national renewal,” argue the authors — in other words, tackling the problems before they tackle us. Their survey of historical and sociological literature identifies essential tools for renewal, such as recognizing the problem; adopting a problem-solving attitude rather than an ideological one; having good governance structures; and, perhaps most elusive, maintaining “elite commitment to the common good.”
No chance in hell on that last one, so here's hoping the rest of their analysis is right.
Cute little cat snake!
And a merry happy weekend to you as well!
The broadcaster cited fatigue as the primary reason for the refusal, stating that these servicemembers feel unable to continue fighting in Gaza after nearly 7 months of combat.
![Israeli troops refusing to follow commands for Rafah ground invasion](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/9c57549a-57a1-49f0-b3ef-caa191d03633.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Israeli news broadcaster Channel 12 on Sunday reported that a total of 30 servicemembers in the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) refused to comply with orders to ready the army for a ground invasion of the city of Rafah.
The broadcaster cited fatigue as the primary reason for the refusal, stating that these servicemembers feel unable to continue fighting in Gaza after nearly 7 months of combat.
Gah! Yes indeed, she said it well before Amin was born.
Iranian top diplomat Mohammad Marandi underlines that the Iranian attacks on the Israeli occupation bolstered the Palestinian Resistance and weakened the Israeli occupation.
![Exclusive: Iran op. bolstered Resistance, weakened 'Israel': Marandi](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/794d269e-d867-4c7c-8999-398eb2d2f272.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Iran imposed itself as major regional player
Scott Ritter, a writer and former Marine Corps officer, told Al Mayadeen that Iran sent a message to the United States that it is capable of breaching the Israeli occupation's sophisticated air defense.
He added that Washington is beginning to see that its capabilities in the Middle East are declining, and this began when Iran shot down a US drone under former US President Donald Trump.
He pointed out that one of the indicators of the decline of the US capabilities in the region has been its inability to stop Yemen's operations in the Red Sea.
Ritter said the United States could no longer do anything in the region, while Iran, on the other hand, is developing its capabilities and is able to harm Washington.
Ritter went on to ask: What does it mean for the United States to tell the Israeli occupation that it would defend it but would not support it in an attack on Iran?
Declassified visits Belfast as Ireland appears on the edge of something truly historic, with most agreeing that Brexit was the game-changer.
![‘The closest we’ve been since partition’:Irish reunification on the horizon | MR Online](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/4436f2eb-ee01-4e9b-955f-27ace64d3008.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Will we see Irish reunification in 2024?
The Israeli army has marked tens of thousands of Gazans as suspects for assassination, using an AI targeting system with little human oversight and a permissive policy for casualties, +972 and Local Call reveal.
![‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza | MR Online](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/3c0d70ad-0576-482d-a722-4a52fa4159e0.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
...during the first weeks of the war, the army almost completely relied on Lavender, which clocked as many as 37,000 Palestinians as suspected militants–and their homes–for possible air strikes.
The Israeli Security Ministry's expenditure on a single reservist is nearly double that of regular troops, forcing the Treasury's chief economist to warn against further call-ups.
![Israeli Treasury sounds alarm on reservist wages, major economic loss](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/61d37de5-9dbd-47db-861d-94e5113481e1.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Isn'treal may be reaching a breaking point, at least in terms of its ability to escalate further
> ...total losses incurred by the Israeli economy amount to a whopping $6 billion since October 7, 2023.
> When comparing the median cost of reservists to that of regular troops, a huge gap in costs arises, as an individual from the former group costs "Israel" an average of $13,000 while the latter costs $7,500.
See also: https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-military-demands-14-500-new-recruits--situation--not
The Israeli forces are now seeking large deliveries from the US.
![Yemeni operations prove fruitful: Israeli forces facing ammo shortages](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/5b8ab3d4-f88d-4fb0-9b2a-6b3859f149ce.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
The ongoing war on Gaza and confrontations with the Lebanese Resistance on the northern front has caused a shortage of ammunition and supplies within the Israeli occupation forces' arsenal, Israeli broadcaster Kan reported on Friday.
The Israeli occupation is once again caught red-handed after it is shown that it was lying about its land bridge aimed at averting the Yemeni blockade on the Red Sea.
!['Israel' lied again, this time about the 'land bridge' from the UAE](https://lemmygrad.ml/pictrs/image/43af77db-515c-4629-adcd-17feabd272b0.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Hehe
Ukraine's Western allies were “overly optimistic" about the war in 2023 and assumed that providing Kiev with the required ammunition and training would lead to victory, chief of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer told the Financial Times on Sunday. ...
For now, the West’s plan is to “keep the Ukrainian military from collapsing".
Are there any books folks would especially recommend for young kids? I found Tales for Little Rebels quite good, but also somewhat dated.