In The Hush Money Case, Trump Is Convicted On All Charges.

Timmy Mabs | 31st May, 2024.

Trump might get a term that varies from four years in prison to community service.

(Image credit: Seth Wenig / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

On Thursday night, a jury in New York found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of fabricating business records as part of a plot to rig the 2016 election by paying a porn star in secret in order to conceal a sex scandal that would have a negative political impact. The first American president to be found guilty of a felony is Trump.

Trump declared himself a "very innocent man" and described the conviction as a "disgrace" as he left the courthouse, saying that "the real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people." Trump's campaign used the phrases "JUSTICE IS DEAD IN AMERICA!" and "political prisoner" in fundraising mailings.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg of Manhattan stated, "The jury's voice is the only voice that matters, and the jury has spoken."

As to The New York Times, Trump's conviction "marks the beginning of a new chapter in presidential politics." He’ll "carry the stain of the verdict during his third run for the White House as voters now choose between an unpopular incumbent and a convicted criminal."

Four days before to the Republican National Convention, on July 11, Judge Juan Merchan will sentence Trump. According to the Times, until then, "Trump will have the same experience as anyone else convicted of a felony" in New York, which includes an interview with the city probation department prior to it recommending a sentence that could range from four years in jail to community service. The attorneys for Trump intend to file an appeal.

 

Turbulence on a Qatar Airways flight to Dublin causes 12 injuries, according to the airport

Timmy Mabs | 27th May, 2024.

Turbulence-related airline accidents are the most common type.

Photo credit: Illustration: Alphonsus Chern

A Qatar Airways flight en route from Doha to Ireland witnessed turbulence that left an incredible twelve passengers injured, reports Dublin Airport May 26, and the plan landed safely.

Flight QR017, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, arrived just before 1 o’clock in the afternoon Dublin time, the airport stated.

Holding the injured, airport staff and emergency services such as airport police/ fire and rescue service were waiting for the plane upon arrival,” Dublin Airport said in a statement following the incident adding, “The six passengers and six crew members on board said they were involve in an injury after the plane experience turbulences mid-air while flying over Turkey.

The unnamed airline suffered what was termed as a near-miss recently as noted by Irish broadcaster RTE, where the confrontation was said to have ensued among passengers arriving at Dublin Airport during a food and drinks service period, with the event lasting approximately 20 seconds.

She therefore spoke to the radio about the incident saying that; ‘the turbulence occurred when the seat belt light was switches off’. This could be when his dinner fell off his laps and this caused his shorts to get ripped.

Another passenger, Conor, he also said, he felt that plane moved downwards for approximately five seconds, and from what he saw a flight attendant floated off the ceiling and immediately fell on the ground.

His companion Emma stated that these were some of the observations; she saw flight attendants with scratch marks on their face and the look of panic on everybody.

A small number of passengers and crew members have been affected by the turbulence resulting in minor injury and are being treated,” it said.

The airline did not specify the occurrence of turbulence, but commented that it is an internal matter under review.

This happened only five days after a Singapore Airlines flight flying from London to Singapore had to crash land in Bangkok resulting in turbulence that caused the death of a 73 years old Briton and sending twenty other passengers to the intensive care unit.

The following are the most common types of airline accidents: Turbulence-related accidents, which constituted 26% of most global accidents in a study conducted by the US National Transportation Safety Board in 2021.

In the case of turbulence occurrences reported by the US agency from 2009 to 2018, the agency discovered that above half of reported airline accidents, and most of them mainly cause one or more serious injuries to passengers but no damage to the aircraft.

Israel disputes Hamas' claim that Israeli soldiers had been captured in Gaza.

Timmy Mabs|24th May, 2024.

During an operation in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the military arm of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, reported on Sunday that they had captured an undetermined number of Israeli soldiers.

Although it hasn't been officially confirmed, a video clip that Hamas posted appeared to show someone being taken down a tunnel, allegedly an Israeli soldier.

Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee responded to the news by saying, "There is no incident of kidnapping a soldier in Gaza."

Iran President Dies In Chopper Crash.

Timmy Mabs | 20th May, 2024.

About half an hour into the journey, the helicopter carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials lost communication.

Iranian media said that Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in the region of East Azerbaijan on Sunday. It further stated that June 28 will see the holding of elections to choose the next President

The helicopter carrying Iran's President Raisi and his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian vanished.

Iran's national media reported that there was "no sign" of life among the occupants of the helicopter. "Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet," according to state television. 

After a period of increased tensions in the region, especially because of the Gaza conflict and Iran's recent escalation with Israel, this incident occurred. Having taken office in 2021, President Raisi has repeatedly reaffirmed Iran's unwavering support for Palestine in his recent speech to inaugurate a dam. 

Videos of the leader inside the helicopter were released on Sunday by Iran's official media. The footage shows the Iranian leader staring out of an aeroplane window while other high-ranking officials, such as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, are seated across from him.

 
Expulsion of the UK defense attaché by Russia is a tit-for-tat move.

James Coleman | 16th May, 2024.

[File: Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo]

The Russian defense attaché to the United Kingdom was expelled earlier this month due to charges of spying, and in retaliation, Moscow designated the diplomat persona non grata and gave him a week to depart the nation.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday stating that it had called a delegate from the British Embassy in Moscow to convey its "strong protest in connection with the unfriendly and groundless decision" to remove the attaché from London.

“We emphasized that we regard this step as a politically motivated action of clearly Russophobic nature, which is causing irreparable damage to bilateral relations,” the statement read.

A. T. Coghill, the defence attaché of the British Embassy in Moscow, has been made persona non grata. Within a week, he must depart Russian Federation territory, according to the ministry.

The expulsion of Coghill by Russia was referred to as "a desperate move" by UK Secretary of Defence Grant Shapps.

"Putin's only complaint with our DA was that they represented the UK's steadfast support for Ukraine, even though Russia's DA in the UK was functioning as a spy," Shapps stated.

On May 8, the United Kingdom (UK) announced a number of steps aimed at disrupting Moscow's intelligence operations within the country.

These included removing the diplomatic status of several Russian-owned properties because it is thought they were used for intelligence gatherings, expelling Russian colonel Maxim Elovik, whom the British government referred to as a "undeclared military intelligence officer," and putting additional limitations on Russian diplomatic visits and visas.

 According to the government, the actions were taken in response to criminal prosecutions in London that claimed Russian agents were involved in espionage and sabotage.

The report included claims that the Russian government planned to obstruct military assistance for Ukraine in Germany and Poland, conducted espionage in Bulgaria and Italy, violated air space, engaged in cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, and jammed GPS signals to impede civilian aviation.

Russia and the UK have had a tense relationship for many years. The UK accuses Russian agents of espionage and targeted killings, including hacks against British lawmakers and the leakage and amplification of sensitive information to further Russian goals.

Following Russia's military incursion into Ukraine, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on hundreds of affluent Russian nationals and implemented measures to curb the laundering of money via London's real estate and financial sectors.

 

US Secretary of State Blinken says Ukraine is free to strike Russia with US-made weaponry.

James Coleman | 15th May, 2024.

During a visit to Kiev on May 15, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Ukraine must “make its own choice” about the use of US-made weapons to strike targets within Russia.

"We've not enabled or encouraged strikes outside of Ukraine, but ultimately, Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how it's going to conduct this war," he stated.

The statements much softer than the earlier demands that Ukraine refrain from using NATO-made weapons on targets within Russia due to concerns about escalation and the possibility of a Russian retaliation against a NATO member. 

In response, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sent a sharply worded statement reminding the West that Russia is authorized by military doctrine to use nuclear weapons in the event of an attack.

The Russian MFA stated on social media that "the Kiev regime and its Western masterminds should at long last admit that their reckless steps are pushing the situation ever closer towards the explosive tipping point." "The Russian Federation's Military Doctrine and the Basic Principles of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence clearly define the military risks this is producing and the subsequent threats to our country.”

But since the US has been providing supplies to Ukraine slowly over the past six months, worsening the country's military condition, the country's western allies are easing the limitations on the use of their weapons in an attempt to strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

The US has voiced complaints about Ukraine striking deep within Russian territory at Russian oil refineries with its own drones. Ukraine ought to pick "military targets" as opposed to attacking the refineries.

However, the US has also backed down from that criticism, revealed, as it appears that attacking oil refineries is effective.

 Blinken's remarks coincide with those of British Foreign Minister Lord David Cameron, who stated on a comparable visit to Kiev that the UK would not object if Ukraine utilized missiles built in the UK to target locations within Russia.

The Russian government strongly objected, threatening to retaliate by attacking UK assets "in Ukraine and outside."

In response to Ukrainian complaints that the prohibition on using NATO-manufactured weaponry to strike targets in Russia had contributed to Ukraine's losses, Blinken was questioned at a press conference on May 15 about Russia's open build-up of its forces inside Russian territory prior to crossing the border into Kharkiv Oblast as part of its most recent devastating assault.

Oleksandra Ustinova, the head of the Ukrainian parliamentary commission on arms and ammunition, told Politico that "we saw their military sitting one or two kilometers from the border inside Russia, and there was nothing we could do about that."

Specifically, the US has given Ukraine long-range ATACMS missiles, which it has already deployed to hit targets in Crimea, which is under occupation but is not recognized by the allies as Russian territory.

According to David Arakhamia, the parliamentary leader of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's party, the Servant of the People, "the main problem right now is the White House policy to limit our capability" to strike military targets within Russia, the Kyiv Independent reported.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered hurried nuclear missile drills with non-strategic nuclear weapons last week as tensions continued to rise in response to the slow but steady buildup.

In a statement, the Russian MFA stated, "We would like to point out that these drills should be viewed in the context of the recent militant statements made by Western officials and the highly destabilizing actions taken by several Nato countries to increase military pressure on the Russian Federation."

"The issue primarily pertains to the overt endorsement of and direct support for the terrorist acts against Russia, which are being executed by the Kiev regime through the utilization of progressively more sophisticated Western armaments," the MFA stated.

The MFA emphasized the use of the recently dispatched, US-made ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, which have the ability to strike targets inside of Russia.

The MFA referred to a now-expired Cold War missile control agreement when it said, "At the same time, attempting to build up multifaceted missile threats to Russia, the US has openly and manifestly launched the deployment of ground-based intermediate- and shorter-range missiles around the world, which were previously prohibited under the INF Treaty."


"We hereby declare explicitly that we reserve the right to respond in kind, regardless of the location of US-made intermediate- and shorter-range missiles, thereby terminating Russia's unilateral moratorium on the deployment of these weapon systems," the statement reads.

 

Putin is scheduled to travel to China from May 16–17.

Timmy Mabs | 14th May, 2024.

China's President Xi Jinping (L) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) (file photo)

Following his sixth inauguration as Russian president, Vladimir Putin will travel to China for the first time, according to the Kremlin website.

He'll be there on May 16 and 17. Participation in various events centered around Russian-Chinese ties, as well as visits to Beijing and Harbin, talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Government Chief Li Qiang, are all part of the schedule.

According to a recent report by Bloomberg, Putin may attempt to boost trade between the two countries during the trip. The prospect of Western sanctions caused a 16 percent decline in Chinese exports to Russia in March of this year compared to the same month the previous year. 

China keeps sending electronics, machine tools, and other products to Russia that might be used to support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. Additionally, China restocks its budget by purchasing energy resources from Russia. End of April saw a threat of secondary sanctions from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken against China for continuing to provide Russia with dual-use commodities.

Emmanuel Macron of France and Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use his clout with Moscow to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine during his recent European tour. In reply, Xi Jinping said that China is not involved in the fight and he would just hope for peace.

 

Ukraine Destroys Russian "Alligator" Attack Helicopter Worth $16 Million.

James Coleman | 13th May, 2024.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

After a Ukrainian battalion claimed to have shot down a Russian fighter plane over the weekend, Kyiv's military announced on Monday that Russia had lost one of its highly valued helicopters in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced on X (former Twitter) that the 47th Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine downed the Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter in the hotly contested eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. After months of ferocious combat, Russia has been in possession of Avdiivka since February 2024. Significant equipment losses and high casualty rates have resulted from battles west of the city.

Approximate value of each Ka-52 is $16 million, according to the Ukrainian government.

The Ka-52 helicopters, which can reach a maximum speed of 186 miles per hour and are intended to attack tanks, military vehicles, helicopters, and personnel, have been targeted by Ukraine on multiple occasions, according to Russian state military exporter Rosoboronexport.

The Ka-52 is one of the "most influential Russian weapons systems," according to the British Defense Ministry, which also stated in July 2023 that it has cost Ukrainian troops operating in the south of the nation a "heavy cost."

According to the U.K. government at the time, Russia most certainly upgraded its fleet of helicopters with Ka-52 models, giving them more firepower to launch anti-tank missiles with a range of about nine miles.

According to military officials in Ukraine, Moscow's forces have lost 325 helicopters in all, and on Monday, the Ka-52 Ukraine claims to have shot itself down.

The 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine claimed to have shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter on Saturday, but it provided no other information regarding the attack's location or date.

Russian jet "will keep falling," the brigade declared in a statement posted on the social media .

"Thank you for shooting down another Russian Su-25 aircraft!" Speaking of the brigade, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his evening speech on Saturday.

He claimed that the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade shot down a Russian Su-25 over the eastern Donetsk region earlier this month.

In the course of the more than two years of the conflict, Russia has lost 350 aircraft in all, the Ukrainian military stated on Monday. Russia had lost around ten percent of its fleet of aircraft, according to General Christopher Cavoli, the director of U.S. European Command, who reported this to Congress in the United States in mid-April.

Hezbollah Claims Attacking Israeli Army Base Near Lebanon's Border.

Hezbollah Claims Attacking Israeli Army Base Near Lebanon's Border.

The group claims to have launched two consecutive rocket strikes on the Khirbet Maar facility.

Timmy Mabs |10th May, 2024.

On Friday, Hezbollah declared that it had hit an Israeli army base close to Lebanon's southern border with two missile strikes in quick succession.

The organization claimed in a statement that it used Katyusha rockets to target the artillery positions within the Khirbet Maar facility.

According to a different source, Hezbollah retargeted the site with tens of missiles while Israeli forces were assembling to evaluate the damage.

Hezbollah had earlier claimed that it had used Katyusha rockets to assault the Kiryat Shmona community in northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli attacks on the town of Tyre Harfa in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army has not yet responded to the rocket attack on the Khirbet Maar base.

Hezbollah said on Friday that it had launched two rocket strikes in quick succession that had targeted an Israeli army installation near Lebanon's southern border.

The group asserted in a statement that it attacked the artillery batteries within the Khirbet Maar plant with Katyusha rockets.
A separate source claims that as Israeli forces were gathering to assess the damage, Hezbollah retargeted the location with tens of missiles.

Hezbollah had earlier declared that it had attacked the Kiryat Shmona settlement in northern Israel with Katyusha rockets in revenge for Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanon town of Tyre Harfa.

The missile attack on the Khirbet Maar base has not yet elicited a response from the Israeli army.

 Hezbollah said on Friday that it has quickly followed up two missile strikes on an Israeli army facility near Lebanon's southern border.

In a statement, the organization said that it targeted the artillery positions within the Khirbet Maar plant using Katyusha rockets.
As Israeli forces gathered to assess the damage, Hezbollah retargeted the location with tens of missiles, according to an unnamed source.

In response to Israeli attacks on the town of Tyre Harfa in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah had previously declared that it had attacked the Kiryat Shmona hamlet in northern Israel using Katyusha rockets.

In response to the missile attack on the Khirbet Maar base, the Israeli army has not yet moved.

It further stated that two rockets were fired by Israeli fighter jets at the town of Ayta Al-Shaab in Bint Jbeil.

As Tel Aviv continues its devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 34,900 people since last October after a Hamas attack, tensions have increased along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border strikes between Hezbollah and Israeli soldiers.

  

 

The Actual Rationale Behind Israel's Invasion Of Rafah.

With 1.5 million people stranded in Rafah, Israel is advancing its invasion without any discernible objectives. Israel's only recourse now that it hasn't been able to crush the resistance in Gaza is to slaughter more Palestinians.

James Coleman | 9th Many, 2024.

Smoke RISES FOLLOWING ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ON THE JNEINA AND SALAM NEIGHBORHOODS IN RAFAH, MAY 8, 2024. (PHOTO credit:  ABED RAHIM KHATIB/DPA VIA ZUMA PRESS/APA IMAGES)

On May 6, when Israeli forces advanced into the southernmost portion of the Gaza Strip, the eastern edge of Rafah began to be invaded, more than 100,000 Palestinians were escaping to the al-Mawasi region west of Khan Younis, where Israeli forces previously withdrew in March. Since the start of the Israeli onslaught last October, many of them were on their eighth or ninth escape.

For months, Israeli officials had insisted on entering Rafah despite growing international pressure for Israel to halt their actions. Most of the 1.5 million Palestinians seeking shelter in the never-ending tent cities in and around Rafah are from the north and center of Gaza. In the event that Israeli troops assaulted the city, the UN issued a dire humanitarian warning.

That being said, Benjamin Netanyahu has been promising for weeks to attack Rafah. Israel's Prime Minister asserts that the invasion of Rafah is essential to accomplishing the war's declared objectives, including pressuring Hamas to agree to a prisoner swap agreement through "military pressure."

There is agreement in Israeli politics on the attack on Rafah. If Netanyahu doesn't carry out the invasion, itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, his two biggest far-right allies, have vowed to leave the governing coalition, raising the possibility of its disintegration. Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, has echoed Netanyahu's assertion that there are still four Hamas battalions in Rafah, but every other Israeli official has stated that they are in favor of some sort of action there.

Even with this understanding, the invasion's true objectives are still unknown. Since Israel's declared objectives don't match what is actually happening, analysts have come to the conclusion that the real purpose of the Rafah invasion is to complete the ethnic cleansing of Gaza and possibly set the stage for future attacks aimed at trying to reestablish the deterrence that was permanently destroyed on October 7.

An invasion without clear goals

According to Israeli officials, an invasion of Rafah is required since it is home to the last of Hamas's forces and will compel Hamas to engage in talks. However, none of the claims seem grounded in actuality.

First off, nothing suggests that the four "remaining" battalions of Hamas, who are confined in Rafah, are the organization's only fighting units. From the north to the south of Gaza, resistance activities by all Palestinian factions, particularly the armed Qassam Brigades of Hamas, have not stopped. Hamas fighters attacked Israeli troops in the "Netzarim corridor," the buffer zone Israel established south of Gaza City that essentially divided the Gaza Strip, two days prior to the start of the Rafah invasion. 

According to Israeli officials, an invasion of Rafah is required since it is home to the last of Hamas's forces and will compel Hamas to engage in talks. However, none of the claims seem grounded in actuality.

First of all, there is no evidence that Hamas's fighting strength has been whittled down to its four "remaining" battalions, which are encircled in Rafah. From Gaza's north to its south, resistance operations by all Palestinian factions, particularly Hamas's armed Qassam Brigades, have not stopped. The Gaza Strip is functionally divided by Israel's buffer zone south of Gaza City, known as the "Netzarim corridor," where Hamas gunmen struck Israeli troops two days prior to the start of the Rafah invasion. Four soldiers were killed and 10 more were wounded, three of them were critically injured, according to information that Israel has admitted so far.

Second, just before the Rafah invasion, Hamas declared that it had accepted a plan proposed by Egypt and Qatar, backed by the United States, that included the exchange of prisoners. That same evening, the relatives of Israeli prisoners chose to accept the arrangement instead o

f invading Rafah and staged a protest in Tel Aviv's streets. However, Netanyahu persisted in carrying out the invasion, casting doubt on the attack's actual goal.

‘Re-inventing’ the Zionist project

Various analysts have put up various theories regarding the real motivations behind the Rafah invasion. The majority usually point out that Netanyahu and his right-wing supporters are its main forces, with Netanyahu wanting to drag out the conflict in order to escape responsibility for October 7's mistakes and the right-wingers wanting to flatten and ethnically cleanse Gaza. Some think Netanyahu is stuck and is attempting to please his war cabinet members. To that end, he dispatches a diplomatic team to Cairo in order to win over "pragmatic" leaders like Gadi Eizenkot and Benny Gantz, while initiating the invasion in order to pacify hardliners like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir.

Although there are some truths to each of these arguments, they are far from sufficient to describe the real motivations behind the Rafah assault. The most significant thing they fail to acknowledge is that the entire Israeli political establishment is in favor of the invasion; the only things that separate them are the exact dates on which it should occur and the role that a prisoner swap will play.

Fears that the Zionist experiment's military performance in the war will decide its fate, particularly in light of the crushing blow to its deterrence on October 7, are the true cause of Israel's unwillingness to yield. 

Israeli colonial studies professor and organizer of Palestine's Popular University project, Khaled Odetallah claims that Israel is "retreating forward" with its attack on Rafah.

"The Zionist organization must make difficult decisions on all fronts," Odetallah stated to Mondoweiss. "There are no attainable aims in Rafah, no clear strategy for the campaign, and no success in achieving any of its declared objectives. This has a profound impact on Zionist society as a whole, considering the aftermath of the events of October 7.

According to Odetallah, "Netanyahu is only a small part of the picture." "The harsh fact that faces Zionist society is that it has been predicated in recent years on the notion that it is safe from any significant external threats. All of Israel's attempts to maintain stability and a sense of supremacy were dashed, including the internal fissures that had begun before to October 7.

In detail, Odetallah claims that "all of this has pushed 'Israel' to try and reinvent itself and the entire Zionist project, similar to 1948." Israel will attempt to "regenerate its own society," of which the army is a reflection, "by projecting force" onto its enemies, which essentially entails "displacing large numbers of Palestinians."

Throughout the present conflict, the displacement of Palestinians has been a primary issue, especially since the invasion of Rafah has been drawing near in recent weeks. Numerous times, Egypt has rejected the entry of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees on its soil. On May 6, UNRWA declared that it will not assist in the evacuation of Palestinians from Rafah.

While Israeli settler groups have been pushing for the resettling of Gaza, with the vocal support of Ben-Gvir, Israel has persisted in refusing the return of all displaced Palestinians to the remains of their houses in the northern part of the Strip.

"A key component of how 'Israel' defines itself is the displacement of Palestinians before they can settle in their place and the projection of military superiority over the region," Odetallah told Mondoweiss. However, it appears that the international and regional community is not prepared to tolerate the widespread relocation of Gaza's population. The Zionist entity is forced to carry on with the conflict, advancing without end, in light of this new reality and with no way out of it.

Leaked documents revealed that the agreement that Hamas approved was largely the same one that the US had previously approved. In response to the invasion of Rafah, the United States declared on Tuesday that it has suspended the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel.

According to Odetallah, "the U.S. seems more interested in ending the current war in order to restore an atmosphere amenable for resuming Israeli-Arab normalization deals, especially with Saudi Arabia." But the basic foundation of the Zionist enterprise, which has lasted for a century, is under attack at this very time. For this reason, even if a truce is actually achieved in Gaza, it must reinvent itself and the battle will continue.

Odetallah concludes, "It is highly likely that the Zionist entity will carry on this war in various forms." "It will not only cover Gaza; it will also stretch to Palestine's northern border with Lebanon and other areas of its territory, such as the West Bank."

Odetallah predicts that "there will be bloodshed in every form that the war takes."

"Because it can no longer reestablish its prior sense of security and dominance," he claims. "It appears that the entity can only choose between blood, blood, and more blood."

 

Business News: Malawi Airlines Is Set To Launch New Routes To Three Nations.

Timmy Mabs | 9th May, 2024

According to Malawi Airlines, additional flights will be offered to Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The new routes, according to the corporation, indicate the airline's expansion.

Only Taulo, the airline's marketing manager, informed journalists that the fares were reasonably priced.

"We will shortly begin providing services to Kigali, Rwanda. Additionally, we will establish connections with Nampula and Bemba in Mozambique, and by year's end, we hope to begin offering services in Uganda. We are not costly; we are reasonable," Taulo said.

Dr. Lameck Zetu Khonje, dean of Mzuzu University's faculty of tourism, hospitality, and management, commented on the development and told Nyasa Times that it was a positive step in the right path for tourism development.

"This is a really positive step forward. Given Rwanda's popularity as a travel destination in Africa, Malawi stands to gain greatly from direct aircraft service between Rwanda and Malawi. Our neighbor, Mozambique, is becoming a popular travel destination in Africa.

Thus, direct flights to Rwanda and Mozambique would make it easier for us to receive immigration from these two nations. That's a really good thing, as it links Malawi with the tourist destinations," Khonje said.

 One means of creating foreign exchange for nations worldwide is through airlines.

 

A Georgia court has agreed to hear Trump's appeal of the disqualification decision made by Fani Willis.

In the massive Rico case, Donald Trump and eight of his co-defendants called the Fulton County district attorney's disqualification a "plain legal error."

Timmy Mabs | 8th May, 2024.

Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference   case on 1 March 2024 in Atlanta (AP)

The decision allowing Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis to continue working on the state's election meddling case against the former president and his friends was challenged by Donald Trump, and his request for an appeal was granted by a Georgia appeals court.

In March, following weeks of heated hearings centered on the intimate relationship between the district attorney and a colleague prosecutor, Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Ms. Willis could continue working on the complex Rico case.

Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Ms. Willis may continue working on the complex Rico case, following weeks of heated hearings that focused on the district attorney's intimate involvement with a fellow prosecutor.

Subsequently, asserting that the court's inability to remove her from office was a "clear legal mistake," the former president and eight of his associates filed a request for authorization to challenge the decision.

On Wednesday, the Georgia Court of Appeals decided to review the ruling of the lower court.
After being accused of impropriety about her relationship with the prosecutor she had chosen to handle the case, Nathan Wade, Mr. Trump and his co-defendants attempted to remove the DA from the case.

The court heard testimony regarding the intimate relationship between Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade over the course of several days of hearings. 

Judge McAfee ultimately decided that Ms. Willis could continue working on the matter as long as Mr. Wade stepped away from it to prevent any perception of "impropriety." Shortly after the ruling, Mr. Wade stepped down from the case in court.

According to the judge, the defendants "failed to meet their burden" of demonstrating a "conflict of interest" that would require Ms. Willis's disqualification.

"This finding is by no means an indication that the court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment or the unprofessional manner of the district attorney's testimony during the evidentiary hearing," the judge stated in his decision.

The Georgia election interference lawsuit may proceed to trial before the 2024 presidential election, while it is unknown how an appeal will impact the case's timeline. 

EU takes action to transfer Ukraine's earnings from Russian assets.

James Coleman | 8th May, 2024.

Photo Credit.: Getty

Ambassadors from EU member states have agreed in principle to seize windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to finance arms supplies to Kyiv.

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, EU countries froze hundreds of billions of euros worth of assets.

If the decision is approved at a gathering of EU finance ministers next Tuesday, the interest - worth up to €3bn (£2.5bn) per year - will be used to buy weapons for Ukraine.

The European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, said: "There could be no stronger symbol and no greater use for that money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live."

European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis also welcomed the decision.

He said the funds would have to get to Ukraine as soon as possible, with the first €1bn tranche - to be used "mainly for military support" - ideally reaching the country by summer.

The idea behind the agreement reached by ambassadors of EU member states is to use the windfall earnings from the freezing of Russian assets to pay some armament sales to Ukraine.

Hundreds of billions of euros' worth of assets were placed under lockdown by EU nations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Up to €3 billion (£2.5 billion) in interest will be used to purchase weapons for Ukraine if the decision is accepted by a meeting of EU finance ministers on Tuesday.

Making Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live is the best use of that money, according to European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen.

"Russia will pay directly for its crimes," Mr Dombrovskis said.

Earlier this week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said around 90% of revenues from frozen Russian should be spent on arms purchases for Ukraine.

 The value of frozen Russian assets in the EU alone is estimated to be almost €211bn (£181bn).

The majority of the profits from the assets are currently being held in Euroclear, a Belgium-based clearing house.

The expropriation of the profits has been a topic of discussion among EU officials and heads of state since the start of the war.

The money had not been spent yet, though, as EU members had taken issue with a 25% tax enforced by Belgian law. The tax will now be waived by Belgium.

For a long time, the central bankers of Europe were doubtful that they would create a challenging legal precedent that would jeopardize the stability of the global financial system and discourage other nations from putting their assets in the West as safe havens.

Snatching up the interest on Russian assets that had been placed under lockdown, according to the Kremlin, was a step toward the "destruction of the legal foundations of European law and international law".

Biden will meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan as expectations for an Israel-Hamas peace wane.

James Coleman | 6th May, 2024.

Photo credit: Reuters 

The likelihood of a Gaza truce seems remote, and Israeli officials and the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas are blaming one another for the standoff. On Monday, President Joe Biden will meet with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu categorically dismissed Hamas's appeal on Sunday for the end of the fighting in exchange for the release of captives. Additionally, Hamas targeted the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza, which Israel claims resulted in the deaths of three of its soldiers.

The meeting between King Abdullah and Biden on Monday is an informal private gathering rather than a formal bilateral one, a Jordanian diplomat told Reuters.

It occurs at a time when tensions between Israeli and Biden administration officials are still high over Israel's intended military incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which Israel ordered Palestinians to begin fleeing on Monday.

When Biden and King Abdullah last met at the White House in February, they talked about a wide range of difficult issues, such as the impending Israeli ground offensive in southern Gaza and the suffering of Palestinian civilians. Since the middle of October, when civilian casualties started to rise sharply, Jordan and other Arab nations have been sharply critical of Israel's conduct and have been calling for a ceasefire.

According to Israeli estimates, the battle started on October 7, when Hamas surprised Israel with a cross-border operation that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and the capture of 252 captives.

 According to Israeli estimates, the battle started on October 7, when Hamas surprised Israel with a cross-border operation that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and the capture of 252 captives.

The health ministry in Gaza reports that over 34,600 Palestinians have died and over 77,000 injured as a result of Israel's assault.

When Biden and Netanyahu spoke recently on April 28, the White House stated that Biden "reiterated his clear position" regarding a potential invasion of Rafah. The president of the United States has made it clear that Israel must have a plan in place before beginning a ground attack in Rafah in order to protect Palestinian civilians.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are breaking out on American college campuses, and Biden is under growing political pressure to persuade Israel to postpone an invasion. In response to last week's student protests over the Gaza War, Biden stated that he had not been compelled to reevaluate his Middle East policies.

President Xi: The relationship between China and France is an example of win-win cooperation and harmonious cohabitation between nations with diverse political systems.

James Coleman | 5th May, 2024

Photo Credit: CGTN

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a written speech on Sunday upon his arrival in Paris for a state visit to France that China-France relations have long been at the forefront of China's ties with major Western countries over the past 60 years, setting a good example for an international community of peaceful coexistence and for win-win cooperation between countries with different systems.

According to him, the strengthening of links between China and France serves both peoples and stabilizes and uplifts the unstable world.


According to Xi, China is prepared to strengthen the long-standing alliance, advance political mutual trust, forge an agreement on strategy, and expand communication and collaboration with France.

Source(s):  Xinhua News agency

India and Nigeria will shortly sign a local currency agreement.

Timmy Mabs |24th May, 2024.

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At the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting in Ajuba, both parties talked about working together on the United Payments Interface (UPI) in addition to the settlement of transactions in local currency.

In order to facilitate trading in domestic currencies and settle other capital and current account transactions, India and Nigeria have agreed to expedite the conclusion of the Local Currency Settlement System Agreement, according to a statement released on Friday.

At the Joint Trade Committee (JTC), which was convened in Ajuba, both parties addressed cooperation in the United Payments Interface (UPI) in addition to the settlement of transactions in local currency.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), EXIM Bank of India, and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) officials were included in the official delegation from India to Nigeria in addition to representatives from the commerce ministry.

India began trading in its own currency with neighboring Nepal and Bhutan in March 2024. Additionally, the Indian rupee has been recognized by Sri Lanka as a foreign currency, enabling two-way trade.

Bangladesh and other nations are also keen to trade in rupees with India. Rupee-Dirham commerce has also begun in the UAE and India.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in March in Mumbai by the Bank Indonesia (BI) and the RBI to create a framework to encourage the usage of local currencies.

Indian banks have offered Special Rupee Vostro Accounts for banks from over 22 countries. These nations include the UK, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Belarus, Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, and Mauritius.

Both parties committed to working together to resolve market access issues at the JTC and conducted a thorough evaluation of recent developments in bilateral trade and investment ties. The power industry, renewable energy, medicines, natural gas and crude oil, and pharmaceuticals were among areas of collaboration that were proposed. Topics including education, transportation, agriculture, and food processing were also discussed.

India's second-largest trading partner in Africa is Nigeria. In 2023–24, bilateral trade between Nigeria and India was valued at $7.8 billion, a decrease from $11.8 billion the year before. Approximately 135 Indian firms are actively participating in the Nigerian industry, having invested a total of $27 billion.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) includes Nigeria as a member. India purchased $2 billion worth of crude from Nigeria between April and January of the preceding fiscal year, a significant decrease from $5.4 billion the year before. Petroleum products are India's main export to Nigeria. Moreover, India imports LNG from Nigeria.

Breaking News: Appeal Court overturns Lokoja court ruling in Yahaya Bello v. EFCC, rules against former Kogi Gov.

Timmy Mabs |3rd May, 2024.

In a lawsuit brought by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello alleging contempt, the Court of Appeal has overturned the order of the Lokoja High Court against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

The EFCC moved for a stay of execution and proceedings in the contempt matter, which was pending before the Kogi State High Court. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole, approved the petition.

The court postponed the hearing on the motion until May 20, 2024 after finding that the motion ex parte had merit.

Additionally, it mandated that any litigation proceedings be served by substitutes to Yahaya Bello's last-known address in Abuja.

The EFCC and its chairman are no longer facing contempt charges as a result of the appellate court's verdict, which also permits the anti-graft agency to pursue its appeal of the Lokoja High Court's decision.

Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. EFCC, Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/413/2024, is the case in question.

US to Declare New Sanctions on North Korea-Russian Oil and Arms Transfers.

James Coleman| 3rd May, 2024.

According to the U.S. State Department, more restrictions will be unveiled this month to prevent North Korea and Russia from exchanging weapons and fuel. South Korea is among the nations that would be affected by these penalties.

At a news conference on Thursday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the country is now working with its allies, which include South Korea, Japan, the European Union, Australia, fresh Zealand, and South Korea, to announce fresh coordinated sanctions designations this month.

Miller declared that the United States will keep enforcing sanctions on anyone who helps to enable the transit of refined petroleum and weapons between North Korea and Russia.

Russia sent more than 165 thousand barrels of refined oil to North Korea in March alone, according to a statement made earlier in the day by John Kirby, the national security spokesperson for the White House. He continued by saying that Russian exports to the North this year have already exceeded the yearly limit set by the UN Security Council (UNSC).

More than 500,000 barrels of refined petroleum products cannot be imported by the North annually due to UNSC sanctions.

First aid cargo that entered Gaza through the restored Erez gate was seized by Hamas, according to the US.

Timmy Mabs | 3rd May, 2024.

Workers unload a truck in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip of humanitarian aid delivered from Jordan to the coastal territory through the Erez border crossing with Israel, on May 1, 2024. (Photo credit: Jack Guez/AFP)

According to the State Department, the UN is "in the process or has recovered" the humanitarian aid that the terrorist organization stole, marking the "first widespread case of diversion" that the US has acknowledged.

According to US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Thursday, Hamas was able to capture a significant consignment of humanitarian aid that was brought to Gaza from Jordan earlier this week. The supplies were the first to be sent to the enclave via a recently reopened Israeli border crossing.

Just before it left the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization's headquarters in Amman on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken saw the aid. It was headed for the newly renovated Erez crossing into Gaza, which Hamas largely destroyed during its terror attack on October 7 that ignited the ongoing conflict.

The reopening of Erez, Israel’s sole crossing on the northern edge of Gaza, had been a main pleas of international aid agencies for months, to alleviate the humanitarian situation which is believed to be most severe among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the north of the enclave.

“The UN is either in the process or has by now recovered that aid, but it was an unacceptable act by Hamas to divert this aid to begin with,” Miller said during a press briefing.

He added that UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, would likely issue a statement soon condemning the incident, indicating it was the organization from which Hamas stole the aid.

He said that this was the "first widespread case of diversion that we have seen" in Gaza and that "if there's one thing that Hamas could do to jeopardize the shipment of aid, it would be diverting it for their own use, rather than allowing it to go to the innocent civilians that need it."

Miller claimed that Hamas detained the relief vehicles for "some time" before releasing them.

His comments follow Israel’s long-standing contention that Hamas stockpiled supplies and kept them from increasingly desperate civilians. Footage from Gaza has shown gunmen, who were reportedly linked to the terror group, stealing trucks delivering humanitarian aid from Egypt.

In February, the US diplomat who was then involved in humanitarian assistance for Gaza denied allegations that Hamas stole aid and commercial shipments into the enclave, saying that no Israeli official had presented him or the Biden administration with “specific evidence of diversion or theft of assistance.”

At the same time, he acknowledged that Hamas had used other aid delivery channels to “shape where and to whom assistance goes.”

Blinken denounced the Israeli demonstrators' "unacceptable" attack on the relief convoy traveling from Jordan to Gaza, where it was being transferred.

The right-wing group Tzav 9, which is against sending aid to Gaza while hostages are still being held there, planned a protest outside the Allenby Crossing between Israel and Jordan late on Tuesday night in an attempt to stop the convoy. Social media posts featured pictures of the hostages and Israeli flags being held by some protesters, while other images had young ladies squatting in front of a truck on the road.

Videos appeared to show the activists throwing flour bags onto the street.

According to what I've been told, Israeli officials detained the attackers of this caravan today. That conveys a really powerful message, he said in an interview with NBC Nightly News.

The Israeli government must “continue to send a strong message that this aid cannot be, must not be interfered with as it goes through Israel… Israel is better than this,” he added while noting that the atrocities committed against Israel on October 7 and Hamas’s continued holding of hostages since.

“The people who so desperately need this aid and who are now getting more of it because of the important steps that [Israel has] taken in recent weeks — including right here at Ashdod port — have nothing to do with October 7, nothing to do with the hostages,” Blinken said.

He said, "They've been caught in this Hamas-made crossfire, and it's imperative that they get the food, water, and medical supplies they need, as well as access to hospitals and health care."

In retaliation for the Palestinian terror group's horrific attack on Israel on October 7, Israel launched a military campaign against Hamas that has destroyed the Gaza Strip and thrust its 2.3 million residents into a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has increased its attempts to distribute aid by land and has created new ground routes, such as opening Erez to relief vehicles on Wednesday. Although aid distribution has greatly risen in recent weeks, Washington claims that more is still required.