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Trump Engineers 30 Day Ceasefire

Ukraine 'agrees to a 30-day ceasefire' with Russia as Trump lifts pause on military aid and intelligence sharingUkraine has agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia as President Donald Trump lifts a pause on military aid and intelligence sharing to the country. The agreement, under intense pressure from the U.S. side, now puts the ball in Moscow's court, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the conclusion of a day of talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. 'Today, we've made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that's enduring and sustainable,' said Rubio.We're going to tell them this is what's on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it'll be up to them to say yes or no,' Rubio said. The Trump administration now plans to present the temporary ceasefire offer to Moscow, which has raised a series of demands.Those include the removal of President Volodymyr Zelensky, recognizing seized territory as now independent states, and a prohibition on Ukraine joining the NATO alliance.The breakthrough will put the onus on the Kremlin, just days after an angry Oval Office meeting exposed a rupture between Trump and Zelensky.Now, following high-stakes meetings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the president is also lifting a military aid and intelligence sharing pause to Ukraine.'As a result of that, and I think as a result of this positive step forward, the president has decided to lift the pause on our security assistance to Ukraine going forward, and that's effective immediately,' Rubio said.That allows for the U.S. to continue providing roughly $4 billion in previously authorized money to arm Ukraine.https://mol.im/a/14487421

Sue Hammond ● 13d0 Comments ● 13d

France is aware of the threat of Islamic terrorism, Is the UK ?

Source - Spectator online today"‘Low-cost’ jihadists are Europe’s new danger"https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/low-cost-jihadists-are-europes-new-danger/'There is a new Islamist terror threat in Europe that the French describe as ‘low-cost terrorism’. The expression was deployed in a television interview at the start of this week by Bruno Retailleau, the Minister of the Interior. Warning France that Islamic State is ‘reconstituting themselves in Africa and elsewhere’, Retailleau said that the other menace was the individual extremist acting on his own initiative. Unskilled in bomb-making and with no access to firearms, these ‘low-cost’ Islamists kill with knives or behind the wheel of a car'. However the greatest killers of Muslims around the world are Islamic extremists. Between 1979 and April 2024, Islamists carried out 66,872 attacks worldwide and killed nearly 250,000 people. Of that staggering death toll, 204,937 lost their lives between 2012 and 2024, and most of the victims were Muslims.The data, compiled by the French think tank Fondapol (Fondation pour l’innovation politique), show that the vast majority of the attacks – 96.7 per cent – do not occur in the West. They take place in the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, and rarely do they make the western mainstream news.How many people are aware, for example, that since Christmas 2024, at least 237 Christians have been killed by Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo? In total, since 2017, the Islamist group has murdered 6,000 Christians in this country.The Islamist attacks that do make the news in the West are small by comparison, although they are growing in number. This year alone, there have been atrocities committed in France (Mulhouse), Austria (Villach) and Germany (Aschaffenburg, Berlin and Munich). The attack in Aschaffenburg, which killed two, including a toddler, was carried out by an Afghan, although police attribute the atrocity to mental instability.These five attacks have taken the lives of six people, two of whom were run down by a car and the others fatally stabbed. They are in marked contrast to the Islamist terrorism of a previous generation; those who planned and carried out the mass-casualty attacks in Madrid (2004), London (2005), Paris (2015) and Brussels (2016) had been trained overseas. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph at the weekend, Lord Walney, the former Labour MP who served as the government’s independent adviser on political violence and extremism, stated: ‘Islamist extremism and Islamist terrorism is the greatest threat this country faces.’A similar warning was issued this week in France by Francois Fillon, the former Prime Minister, who said that extremism is ‘gaining ground in Europe, where a growing proportion of Muslim populations are bowing to the rules of a radical, authoritarian, freedom-destroying Islam that represents a real and immediate danger to our values and our way of life’.Some might claim that good starting point for Britain would be to scrap the planned definition of ‘Islamophobia’, which would, in effect, proscribe any criticism of Islam. Is the Labour government unable to distinguish between criticism of a religion and discrimination against a person because of their religion ?

John Hawkes ● 16d0 Comments ● 16d

Trump takes on Hamas

BBC News 6/3/25"Trump issues 'last warning' to Hamas as US confirms direct hostage talks" 'US President Donald Trump has issued what he called a "last warning" to Hamas to release the hostages being held in Gaza."I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say," Trump said in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform.Hamas accused the US president of encouraging Israel to break the ceasefire deal currently in effect between the two sides.Trump's statement came just hours after the White House confirmed it was holding direct talks with Hamas over the remaining hostages.Washington has until now avoided direct engagement with the group, and there is a longstanding US policy against having direct contact with entities it lists as terrorist organisations.In his social media post, Trump said there would be "hell to pay" if the hostages were not released, while not specifying the nature of the support he was sending Israel."Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," he added."For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance."He also appeared to issue a wider threat: "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!"At last perhaps the force required to crush these terrorist killers and the destruction of their craven leadership not already hiding in exile.

John Hawkes ● 18d16 Comments ● 18d

Arab leaders approve $53bn alternative to Trump's Gaza plan

Previously I posted a report of Trump's plan turn Gaza into a holiday resort: away from being a base solely for Hamas Palestinian terrorists intent on annihilating Israel and its Jewish citizens.Though I commented it being somewhat fanciful I did feel that the concept was a good one for both civilising the area and providing meaningful employment for Gazans.An alternative to murder, kidnapping and digging tunnel repositories for arms and the corpses of its captives.I have also commented on the fact that near by Arab states with great wealth have kept their distance from the 'freedom fighting' of their Palestinian, Iranian and Syrian neighbours.And particularly had not offered to invest their wealth for the betterment of all. However, on BBC News today -'A $53bn (£41.4 billion) reconstruction plan to rival President Donald Trump's idea for the US to "take over Gaza" and move out more than two million Palestinians has been approved by Arab leaders at an emergency summit in the Egyptian capital Cairo."The Egypt plan is now an Arab plan," announced the secretary general of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the end of this hours-long gathering.Without referring specifically to President Trump's ideas, he underlined that "the Arab stance is to reject any displacement, whether it is voluntary or forced".Good news.An Arab solution to an Arab problem and no displacement of peace seeking Gazans.I wonder how Hamas will respond ?

John Hawkes ● 19d3 Comments ● 19d

Thought on a new world order ...

I've been pondering what Trump and Putin are up to and Steve Rosenberg (BBC's Russian correspondent) brought my ideas together - he proposed they want a "Yalta 2" to determine the future world order. Appears it's essentially what they're trying to do in Ukraine, and Trump is attempting for in Gaza. However, I can't see how they do this and not include Putin's far east ally, Xi, so tariffs and canal disputes with China don't fit. I guess North Korea and Israel would follow them for their own self interest? I guess the EU, UK, Saudis and others in the middle east would just be sidelined if they ignored the new order? Basically a new world order governed by oligarchs? But does alienating all your friends and neighbours help?A slight issue is there's a lot of internal backlash to many of Trump's internal moves inthe US; there's talk of withholding federal taxes because of the emasculation of some federal agencies - no taxation without representation ... would Trump risk internal conflict?There's another aspect to this; perhaps Trump really does hate war? I'm not sure criticising his miraculous bone spurs is altogether fair. Going back to that time, there was a strong anti Vietnam war movement in the US and elsewhere. (I was glad Wilson and others didn't involve the UK.) Aside from not wanting to get killed many didn't feel the US should be there for reasons of conscience - and eventually the US had to pull out. Perhaps, that's given him a particular viewpoint, although the Russian aggression against Ukraine doesn't seem comparable with the US in Vietnam? Mind you, my memory of those days is a little distant!Alternatively,  perhaps Trump's only plan is Buckingham all the world's wealth into his control and Russia's a useful vehicle for that?

Michael Ixer ● 20d7 Comments ● 19d

I Want My Country Back ~ Lee Anderson MP

I want my country back.Just sat on the train scribbling a few notes.Tell me what you think
'What exactly do you mean when you say you want your country back?' 
This is the question every wet, woke and weak left leaning liberal individual asks me. The response they want is based on the colour of a person's skin, their ethnicity, or their religion. These people are the race baiters who love nothing more than to describe anyone who does not agree with them as a 'racist.
So here are a few examples of what I mean.I remember a time when children went to school and were not told that they could be a different gender, or they may have to use a different toilet and they did not have to sit down and watch a drag queen reading them stories. If people had been told this would happen 30 years ago then they would have been told you that you were insane. Yet it has been happening under our watch.I want this nonsense to stop, let kids be kids and let them grow and develop as they have always done. Just because a little boy picks a doll up it doesn't mean he wants to be a girl and every girl that kicks a football does not want to be a boy.
I want my country back and the country I am talking about would not tolerate this stupidity.
Imagine telling people just 20 years ago that over 130,000 illegal migrants would cross the English Channel in three years and would be picked up by British boats then placed in 4-star hotels, given free legal advice, and then allowed to settle in our country. Then tell the same people from 20 years ago that over 90% of these arrivals would be voung men destined for a life of crime and and some would go on and murder and rape British citizens.Imagine telling them that the government of the day would pass three Acts of Parliament to try and stop these crossings, but the young men kept coming and coming.
I want my country back and the country I am talking about would not tolerate this stupidity.
Many people remember the 1970s when East German female shot-putters had to undergo a sex test to see if they were really females. Have no fear as sex tests are not needed these days. A six-foot 6 hairy arsed bloke can put on an ill-fitting wig, a charity shop dress, and a bit of lippy and enter sporting competitions alongside women. To make matters worse on his way home he can then nip into a lady's boutique and try on a pair of size 16 stilettos whilst sat in a lady's changing room.
I want my country back and the country I am talking about would not tolerate this stupidity.
Back in the 80s and 90s if you applied for a council house you would get the choice of three houses but nowadays you have literally no chance of even being considered for one, yet we are letting over 1 million people a year into this country. That's hundreds of thousands of people putting extra pressure on our public services and whilst decent hard-working Brits struggle to get a GP appointment, a dental appointment, a school place for their kids the politicians tell them that immigration makes us all better off.
I want my country back and the country I am talking about would not tolerate this stupidity.
Back in the day if we had civil unrest on our streets, you could be rest assured that our boys in blue would be quickly on the scene to get stuck in so as decent folk could go about their daily business. Imagine telling folk on the picket lines of the 80s that in the future that a load of under nourished grey-haired vegans in their 60s could turn up in their Jesus sandals and bring London to a standstill whilst the Met police stood by and did nothing?
I want my country back and the country I am talking about would not tolerate this stupidity.Don't even start me on the pro-Palestinian marches.I want my country back.
WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK 

Sue Hammond ● 21d23 Comments ● 20d

Doubleplusgood Newspeak

"The Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee chair instructed GOP staff to refer to the West Bank by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria.The term is still used by Israel’s government to refer to territory of the West Bank along the Jordan River, claimed by both Israelis and the Palestinians. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), chair of the committee, wrote in a staff memo that all “formal correspondence, communication, and documentation” would refer to the territory of the West Bank as Judea and Samaria. The term is often used by Israel’s religious and political right to emphasize Israel’s claim over the territory. Mast said he was making the change to recognize the “inherent right of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland” and demonstrate the U.S.’s “unbreakable bond with Israel.”https://thehill.com/homenews/5165472-gop-house-committee-west-bank-name/"In the U.S., the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has officially updated “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America.” As we announced two weeks ago and consistent with our longstanding practices, we've begun rolling out changes to reflect this update.10 Feb 2025""President Donald Trump appeared to make a U-turn on his opinion on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, denying he ever called him a dictator.When asked about that comment, he told reporters in the Oval Office: 'Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question.'" (Daily Mail)"‘Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it."" (1984)

David Ainsworth ● 20d0 Comments ● 20d

Israel air-dropped 600 highly [and widely] destructive 2000 lb bombs in 6 weeks on Gaza

"BOSTON, MA – October 10, 2024 A new study reveals that between October 7 and November 17, 2023, the Israeli military air-dropped nearly 600 highly destructive 2000 lb bombs with the capacity to damage hospital infrastructure and kill or cause severe injury hundreds of meters away. One-third of the bombs identified were within dangerous proximity of hospitals across the Gaza Strip.“This study supports emerging evidence that the Israeli military has disregarded the protection of hospitals, mandated by international humanitarian law, through the systematic pattern of dropping massive M-84 bombs close enough to hospitals to knowingly cause significant damage, injury, and death. The damage to hospitals due to these and other munitions will have immediate and long-term effects on the health of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” said Yara M. Asi, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida, Visiting Scientist at the FXB Center, and one of the authors of the study.Using publicly available data from CNN and The New York Times satellite imagery investigations, the authors created a map of the Gaza Strip with the locations of craters formed by air-dropped 2000 lb bombs. They then overlaid this map with geospatial data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and Open Street Map to measure the distances of these bomb craters to hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The 2000 lb bombs, made by the American arms manufacturer General Dynamic and Ordinance Tactical System, have a blast radius that can kill people 360 m away from the point of detonation and can cause severe injury and damage building infrastructure 800 m away. Data analysis showed at least one bomb crater within 800 m of 83% percent of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and nine of those hospitals had 2000 lb bomb craters within 360 m. Most hospitals in Gaza had several bomb craters within dangerous proximity. During the time when this satellite imagery was captured, tens of thousands of civilians used these hospitals and their surrounding areas as places to seek refuge, all while the hospital system itself was losing capacity to treat the overwhelming number of casualties. This analysis raises serious concern for the violation of international humanitarian law. “The ongoing genocide in Gaza is an escalation amongst a litany of catastrophic events of a mass genocidal plan spanning decades. Almost a year bearing witness to an abhorrent imperialist violence, there is a total failure to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings or normative framework of international law,” said Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health. “I continue my call on Israel and its allies to immediately ceasefire and end the occupation.” The analysis also found the Israeli military air-dropped over one hundred 2000 lb bombs in the officially designated evacuation zone for civilians. In the time span that this analysis covers, approximately 1 million people (about the population of Delaware) were estimated to have evacuated from the northern Gaza governorates to the southern governorates below the Wadi Gaza."https://fxb.harvard.edu/2024/10/10/new-study-shows-israel-air-dropped-2000lb-bombs-within-lethal-and-damage-ranges-of-hospitals-in-gaza/#:~:text=The%202000%20lb%20bombs%2C%20made,building%20infrastructure%20800%20m%20away.

David Ainsworth ● 27d8 Comments ● 22d

Foreign Aid Cut To Fund Increase To Defence Spending

I have been waiting for an outraged bleeding heart to post about this and I am shocked nobody has, so I am kindly doing it instead. Starmer slashes aid to fund major increase in defence spending:Keir Starmer has announced that Britain will “fight for peace in Europe” with a generational increase in defence spending paid for by slashing the foreign aid budget.The move, just two days before the prime minister is due to meet Donald Trump, raised immediate concerns that he was pandering to the US president, and fury from aid groups that say it could cost lives in countries that rely on UK support.In a surprise announcement, Starmer announced the biggest increase in defence spending since the end of the cold war, with the budget rising to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than planned – and an ambition to reach 3%.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/25/starmer-slashes-aid-to-fund-major-increase-in-defence-spendingThe fact that Starmer announced it 2 days before his face to face meeting with Trump, was this purely coincidental, or a panic move to take something positive to the table in order to ingratiate himself? I would say the latter.  However I am glad that the foreign aid budget is being cut at long last.   Over the decades it has become hugely bloated and open to corruption and no longer fit for purpose.  Farage and Reform have always advocated for it to be cut, so at least Starmer has listened. I doubt that #NoCharmerStarmer will sleep much tonight and I would love to be a fly on the Oval Office wall tomorrow!🥹

Sue Hammond ● 26d4 Comments ● 23d