Новости за 14.01.2024

By George Ford Smith

Donald Trump, Julian Assange, Alex Jones, and Rudy Giuliani are in deep trouble with the US state. How about you?

Most likely you feel safe because your voice hasn’t attracted a large following. What would the state’s enforcers gain by attacking a little guy? They’re big-game hunters. Pull the plug on the big guys and their everyday followers float away like bathtub water down a drain.

Possibly you believe you aren’t really attacking the state with your social media posts... Читать дальше...

(Eurasianet) — Azerbaijan’s president doubled down on his country’s right to sovereignty over a handful of territories that belonged to Soviet Azerbaijani but have been under Armenian control for more than 30 years. 

While Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza, the United States is directing a major military operation in the Red Sea, where U.S. warships are maintaining a persistent presence to protect shipping lanes.

(RFE/RL) — U.S. President Joe Biden said Washington had sent a private message to Tehran about Yemen-based, Iran-backed Huthi rebels responsible for attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

The Indian Ministry of Defense released its Year End Review 2023 a few days ago. The review provides a state of play on areas under its purview including defense production and exports, major defense acquisitions, border infrastructure, and individual service updates from the Indian army, navy and air force.

By Napon Jatusripitak

Thailand’s May 2023 general election produced an unexpected alliance between former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the royalist conservative establishment. This was part of the deal to prevent the Move Forward Party (MFP), the election winner widely seen as a threat to the establishment, from taking power.

To inhibit the MFP, Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party was allowed to form the government with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, supported by military-aligned parties and senators. Читать дальше...

Putin’s fascism, like fascism of all kinds, seeks to homogenize everything by destroying all exceptions to its rules, Mark Lipovetsky says; but it is infected by post-modernist ideas that those who are more powerful are always right – and that makes it “especially dangerous” not only domestically but internationally.

By Mark Angelides

To suggest that the right pick for a vice presidential running mate can impact a campaign is a major understatement. The right-hand man or woman becomes next in line for the throne and often represents the United States on international trips – a duty for which presidents rarely have time – either bolstering or denigrating the nation’s international reputation. And, of course, the right pick for VP can bring electoral benefits, too.

Which brings us to the question on everyone’s lips... Читать дальше...

By Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan

Taiwanese voters elected Vice President Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, as their new president on Saturday, signaling a continuation of the island’s policies aimed at preserving its de facto independence, despite increasing tensions with China.

Nonetheless, the results were split between three main candidates, and Lai and his party will face a challenging journey in managing the escalating pressure from Beijing. Читать дальше...

On January 8, US Senior Adviser on Caucasus Negotiations Louis Bono visited Yerevan, engaging in discussions with local officials regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. The Armenian side reported that one of the issues discussed during this visit was the organization of a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Washington.

When I was a boy, my father sold dresses and blouses to the wives of factory workers. As the wages of those workers rose through the 1950s, my father earned enough to expand his business to a second shop in another factory town not far away. We were by no means rich, but he earned enough to put us in the middle class.

Libya will submit an invitation to the International Court of Justice. This invitation is in relation to the case filed against the Israeli occupation authorities for their crimes in the Gaza Strip, as an act of solidarity with South Africa.

In the unique nature of Büyükada, a garden located just above Kadıyoran Hill (Hristos Slope) crosswise from the Stone School (Taşmektep), once harbored three large cypress trees that had gradually fallen into obscurity. These cypress trees seemed to bear witness to the island’s history and stories through their natural beauty. However, these trees are not only remembered for their natural allure but also for the tragic events that unfolded around them.

Religious minorities in Pakistan issue their demands for equal rights and protection of their lives, properties, and worship places ahead of national elections.

At the beginning of 2024, the Love Our Pope Movement (LOPM) will launch a global campaign of spiritual bouquets for the Holy Father. The campaign will run until March 2024, in time for the eleventh anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as Vicar of Christ and Bishop of Rome. 

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have studied pancreatic islet cell loss in people with no previous pancreatic problems. They identified key trends in the types of cells lost due to islet cell loss in different age groups and sexes, finding that ICL in the elderly population was largely due to insulin-producing beta cell loss. This may be the cause of age-related diabetes and help inform new preventative treatments.

Astronomers analyzing 13 years of data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have found an unexpected and as yet unexplained feature outside of our galaxy.

Tidal range schemes can protect estuaries and coastal areas from the effects of sea level rise according to Lancaster researchers.

Despite widespread legislation and fishing regulations aimed at reducing wasteful shark finning practices, global shark fishing mortality is still on the rise, researchers report. The findings suggest that improved regulations are needed to reverse the continued overexploitation of these species.

By Yossi Mekelberg

On the face of it, 2024 should be the biggest celebration of the idea of democracy since the concept was introduced by the Greeks 2,500 years ago. Countries that between them account for more than half of the world’s population — more than 4 billion people — will hold elections in the months ahead. Among them are some of the most populated and influential nations, including the US, the UK, Russia, India and Pakistan.

Yet, as history has taught us, while elections... Читать дальше...

By Saeed Al-Batati

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have threatened a “strong and effective response” after the US carried out another strike in the country, ratcheting up tensions as Washington vows to protect shipping from attacks by the group.

The latest strike, which the US said hit a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British attacks on Houthi facilities in Yemen.

“This new strike will have a firm, strong and effective response,” Houthi spokesperson Nasruldeen Amer said... Читать дальше...

By Diego López Colín

The Catholic bishops of the Mexico-Texas border region issued a joint call Jan. 10 urging the governments of both countries to implement concrete actions to improve the situation of migrants and their families.

The 11-page document provides background on the drama of immigration, the biblical basis for welcoming migrants, and public policy recommendations.

In their joint statement, the prelates proposed a series of measures, including “increasing... Читать дальше...

By Edward Yeranian

After the latest U.S. and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to Houthi drone attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, some commentators in Egypt said that more attacks could reduce Suez Canal traffic and damage the Egyptian and world economy. 

Former Egyptian deputy foreign minister Hussein Haridi told Arab media that the U.S. and British attacks would probably damage Egypt’s already-struggling economy and cut shipping through the... Читать дальше...

A Pakistani naval flotilla that has docked at Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas is going to attend a joint military exercise with Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf.