All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Iran’s leader says ‘Death to America’ means to Trump, not people

Ayatollah Khamenei has defended the chant “Death to America” as being directed at “evil” US leaders and not towards the American people. He also said Europe could not be trusted.

‘Political earthquake’ as Thai princess runs for PM against military junta

1772.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=forma

Surprise move pits Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Varnavadi against leader of 2014 coup

The sister of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been unveiled as a prime ministerial candidate in next month’s elections in a country where strict lèse-majesté laws make criticism of the royal family in effect illegal.

On Friday, the Thai Raksa Chart party confirmed princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi had joined the race, a move one expert said had created a “political earthquake”.

Continue reading…

Rome’s war of words with President Macron may prove self-defeating | World news | The Guardian

The danger is that the stream of insults pouring off the Italian party leaders’ Facebook pages has not just political but also economic consequences, with Italy coming off worse. Trump can insult with impunity since he heads a superpower. Italy, by contrast, is less powerful, and an alliance with Viktor Orbán’s Hungary is hardly a sufficient shelter. Already some businesses that co-operate across the Franco-Italian border are feeling uneasy. Alitalia is hoping for French capital to save the airline. Infrastructure plans such as the Turin-Lyon high-speed rail link are in doubt. Italy, in recession and heading for only 0.2% growth this year, will need some allies in Europe and in Brussels. Its banking system remains undercapitalised. M5S is determined to show it is on the side of the people, and not the bankers, but translating that emotion into practical budgetary policy is proving difficult. Insults by contrast come easier, and cheaper.

Source: Rome’s war of words with President Macron may prove self-defeating | World news | The Guardian