International Events Next-

[House Balstroko]

32 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said:

I just don't see how Gaza and the WB can be one country. It would be far too messy. 

It might not appear pragmatic, but there’s no reason Palestinians should lose access to the Mediterranean and by extension become a landlocked country. 
 

 

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

46 minutes ago, House Balstroko said:

It might not appear pragmatic, but there’s no reason Palestinians should lose access to the Mediterranean and by extension become a landlocked country. 

Most countries are. The idea of some highway between the two is just not workable. It's pure fantasy. That's why I think the fairest trade is to give all the settlements in the WB to the Palestinians for free and also give them some of the taxes and revenue generated from Gaza for a long period time. There could also of course be business deals that benefit Palestinian interests. I just don't think you can create a country that's broken into two pieces in this specific way. It's not the same as making Alaska a part of the US. 

[The Anti-Targ]

12 minutes ago, House Balstroko said:

That’s highly risky. While they share common traits, Arabic and Hebrew are two distinct languages, each with their own alphabet. 

I think it’s perfectly fair for Jews to have their own state, with an Arab minority as is, that is fully integrated and respected. They shouldn’t hold on to any territory in the West Bank though. The entirety of the West Bank and Gaza become part of an independent Palestine. Jews can live there, but they do not have any settlement. 
 

What’s your take on the Golan Heights? 

There are plenty of countries that operate with multiple languages. Claiming there needs to be two separate states because of language is not a strong justification. If they don't want to learn each other's language they can always adopt French or English as a third official language so that they can always communicate without having to translate to be understood. Not terribly unlike India, a lot of people who's first language isn't Hindi prefer to learn English to do out of state communications than learn Hindi.

My parents lived in Israel for 12 years through the Oslow peace accord years and Intifada II as somewhat objective observers, being neither Jewish or Palestinian or Arabic or Muslim or American, they came to the same conclusion, it'll be one state with all welcome or bust. It's just a question of how long and how much more suffering.

[dog-days]

Asking a from a position of ignorance – would Israel want Gaza as a full part of the state? To maintain a Jewish state, it seems key that a definite majority of the population are Jewish. Not sure what Israel's demographics are like at the moment. 

Appreciate the idealism of calls for a single mixed state, but given the two thousand years of anti-Semitic persecution, it seems to me a Jewish state is necessary, even if for the sake of the Palestinians, I could wish it weren't Israel. 

Edited July 26, 2023 by dog-days

[Liffguard]

If the West Bank becomes a fully independent Palestinian state, do the current Israeli settlers there just leave willingly? I doubt it. Do they accept Palestinian sovereignty? I doubt it.

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

1 hour ago, Liffguard said:

If the West Bank becomes a fully independent Palestinian state, do the current Israeli settlers there just leave willingly? I doubt it. Do they accept Palestinian sovereignty? I doubt it.

Yes. If you ask the people from Gaza to relocate then you also have to ask the Israeli settlers to leave and the governments will have to pay for it. If people want to stay that's their choice. 

[A Horse Named Stranger]

On 7/24/2023 at 11:07 PM, Mentat said:

I certainly am, but it's not all good news. Other than PSOE, which had marginal gains, the left performed poorly. While they managed to avoid a debacle, the current situation is a stalemate at best, and will likely lead to a new election in a few months' time. How that turns out is anyone's guess. That said, you're right that the forecasts were so dire this feels very much like a reprieve.

You don't think Sanchez can reach some sorta compromise with the Catalans like making those silly indictments for Puigdemont and the others go away.

[Mentat]

4 hours ago, A Horse Named Stranger said:

You don't think Sanchez can reach some sorta compromise with the Catalans like making those silly indictments for Puigdemont and the others go away.

As President, Sánchez can pardon a crime after a sentence has been passed (what's known as Indulto -Pardon-) or declare that certain people or actions are not subject to prosecution (what's known as Amnistia -Amnesty-). The first has already been used to pardon the Catalan nationalists who stayed in Spain and stood for trial. Junts wants an amnesty for all nationalists that were involved in the 1st of October Referendum (which would allow Puigdemont to return to Spain and not stand for trial). This would likely be a very hard pill to swallow for the socialists and have problems of constitutional legality. It's not completely beyond the pale, but I think it's unlikely.

The other thing Junts want is a legal referendum, and that will be completely outside the question. I'm pretty certain Sánchez would prefer another election or even a right-wing government.

Sánchez might be able to convince the Catalan nationalists to support his government in exchange for some of the other things they want (control over Catalan railways and improved regional financing), but if he does manage to pull it off I'll be seriously impressed. The Catalan nationalits have been bleeding votes due to internal division and basically failing to do much about achieving independence. That said, both Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz (the leader of Sumar) seem to think they can pull it off, so we shall have to wait and see.

[Zorral]

India’s opposition is trying to force the prime minister to address the violence in Manipur, which has killed more than 150 people and displaced 60,000 others.

". . . analysts say the situation in Manipur exemplifies India’s broader vulnerabilities even amid the nation’s rise as an economic and diplomatic power."

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/30/world/asia/india-manipur-modi.html.

Quote

 

... It also stretches India’s military resources. The troops sent to Manipur come from a division primarily responsible for security at the long border with China, where the two sides have remained in a standoff for more than two years now.

Gaurav Gogoi, an opposition leader who initiated the no-confidence vote, termed it an effort “to force” Mr. Modi, who rarely attends sessions or participates in debates, to speak about Manipur.

Mr. Gogoi, deputy leader of the Indian National Congress party in the lower house of Parliament, said that the ethnic groups involved in the violence were spread across several states, and that “ripple effects” were possible. He added that mobs have looted police weapons depots, with about 5,000 weapons unaccounted for in a region with a history of violent insurgencies.

“The fact that there are these weapons which are at large — massive number of sophisticated weapons — is a very huge risk to our national security,” Mr. Gogoi said in an interview. ....

,,,, Mr. Singh has remained in his job despite widespread calls for his resignation, some from his own party. Tribal lawmakers from the B.J.P. have essentially accused Mr. Singh of complicity in the violence..

Instead of holding Mr. Singh accountable, analysts said, the government has tried to put a lid on Manipur, blocking internet access in the state.

Recently Mr. Modi spoke obliquely about Manipur when a viral video on Twitter evaded the internet shutdown. It showed a Meitei mob parading tribal women naked and assaulting them. His comment focused on the “shame” of the episode before lumping it with abuses against women and violence during local polls in opposition-run states.

His government moved to pressure Twitter into taking the video down, and officials told local news media that the man who had filmed it had been arrested. ....

 

 

[Spockydog]

Hang on a minute. I thought Italy had elected a bunch of far right nutters. Thought they'd be for the banks, not the people.

Italy approves 40% windfall tax on banks

The Italian government is hitting the country’s banks with a new windfall tax, to help families through the cost of living squeeze.

Italy’s cabinet yesterday approved a 40% “windfall tax” on bank profits this year, with the proceeds earmarked to help mortgage holders and cut taxes.

Deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini told a news conference that the levy will hit the profits reaped from higher interest rates:

“One only has to look at the banks’ first-half 2023 profits, also the result of the European Central Bank’s rate hikes, to realise that we are not talking about a few millions, but we are talking one can assume of billions.”

 

 

[horangi]

1 hour ago, Spockydog said:

Hang on a minute. I thought Italy had elected a bunch of far right nutters. Thought they'd be for the banks, not the people.

Italy approves 40% windfall tax on banks

The Italian government is hitting the country’s banks with a new windfall tax, to help families through the cost of living squeeze.

Italy’s cabinet yesterday approved a 40% “windfall tax” on bank profits this year, with the proceeds earmarked to help mortgage holders and cut taxes.

Deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini told a news conference that the levy will hit the profits reaped from higher interest rates:

“One only has to look at the banks’ first-half 2023 profits, also the result of the European Central Bank’s rate hikes, to realise that we are not talking about a few millions, but we are talking one can assume of billions.”

 

 

Unfortunately the way its structured makes it sound more performative/populist rather than an attempt to make any real difference in the economy/address inequality. I'd have rather seen it used in a targeted fashion such as building food insecurity infrastructure than tax cuts and mortgage relief which will mostly benefit the top half of the population. Even if they divided it up equally, it would just be $50 a citizen.  (Not nothing to someone on the edge, but I dont get the impression those folks are going to be the ones receiving the benefit)

Edited August 8, 2023 by horangi

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

Meanwhile down in Ecuador:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/09/americas/ecuador-presidential-candidate-fernando-villavicencio-assassinated-intl-hnk/index.html

[Padraig]

On 8/8/2023 at 3:48 PM, horangi said:

Unfortunately the way its structured makes it sound more performative/populist rather than an attempt to make any real difference in the economy/address inequality.

And they watered it down significantly once the stock market reacted.

Although, populism does add wrinkles to the traditional left v right divide.

On 6/30/2023 at 8:31 PM, Winterfell is Burning said:

This specific case was about Bolsonaro using his office and public money to spread lies about Brazil's electoral system in a meeting with ambassadors. While he can appeal, it's unlikely he'll have the chance to be president again.

But Lula got round his ban?  Does this seem more durable?

[Varysblackfyre321]

Hey at least they remembered trans men also compete in sports that’s a step up from the usual transphobe when discussing this topic. 
 

[Heartofice]

15 hours ago, Varysblackfyre321 said:

Hey at least they remembered trans men also compete in sports that’s a step up from the usual transphobe when discussing this topic. 
 

...genocide... ok...

This decision is apparently to give them time to understand more about the situation. Either way, the real question is why are there competitive categories divided by gender in chess anyway. Here is an answer. 
 

 

[Zorral]

 

India Could Soon Change Its Name to ‘Bharat’

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/if-india-bloc-changes-name-to-bharat-arvind-kejriwal-after-g20-dinner-invite-triggers-row-article-103394852

 

[TheLastWolf]

3 hours ago, Zorral said:

 

India Could Soon Change Its Name to ‘Bharat’

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/if-india-bloc-changes-name-to-bharat-arvind-kejriwal-after-g20-dinner-invite-triggers-row-article-103394852

 

Guess who gets to stand in line/ queues for eternity, correction of documents and currency denominations. Hint: Not these petty pompous assholes. Yippee, luckily just the most populous country, no time at all. 

[IheartIheartTesla]

The etymology for the name 'India' comes from the Indus river, also called the Sindh river (actually the reverse, Indus is a bastardization of Sindh by outsiders). However, people living near the Sindh were called Sindhus (or finally, as Hindus). So for the Hindutva obsessed BJP, they should have no problem with the name India as the name of their beloved religion arises from the same root. Bharat itself is just the name of a dude the descendants of whom form a tribe that maybe were the OGs of India, but thats in my mind debatable. 

At any rate, the Constitution has placed both names on equal footing, so all this is performative garbage anyway.

Edited September 8, 2023 by IheartIheartTesla

[Mr. Chatywin et al.]

Christ, over a thousand dead in Morocco after a massive earthquake. 

[Zorral]

In the region where couscous originated.  Yesterday evening while making dinner with couscous I decided to look up the origin of the word and the process and the ingredients on my tablet.  This morning I wake up to this news.

We are -- were? -- planning to go there in 2025.