Category Archives: Global Politics

Palestinian girl shot near Bitar Elit settlement, West Bethlehem | PNN

Israeli media claimed that the girl named Helwa Elayyan (22)  attempted to stab  a policeman and was immediately shot and left to bleed on the ground, surrounded by armed settlers and soldiers.

Source: Palestinian girl shot near Bitar Elit settlement, West Bethlehem | PNN

Video: Israeli soldiers fire at car, killing elderly woman | The Electronic Intifada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mSm7YNxbFUThe Israeli soldiers broke into the station and took its fire extinguishers in order to put out a fire that had been lit outside, the eyewitness said.He said that the soldiers then went outside and at that moment al-Sharawi’s car approached towards the gas station from the direction of the Ras al-Jora area in what he called a normal manner.The Israeli soldiers opened fire on it with volleys of bullets.The eyewitness said al-Sharawi was likely trying to escape towards the gas station from the large amount of tear gas in the Ras al-Jora neighborhood when the soldiers riddled her car with bullets.Occupation forces then barred medics from reaching her, he said.More than half of the Palestinians killed since violence escalated at the start of October were killed during alleged, suspected and actual attacks that have killed 11 Israelis.

Source: Video: Israeli soldiers fire at car, killing elderly woman | The Electronic Intifada

ISIS, Russia, and Egypt | Nervana

Regardless of all this speculation, in fact, whether or not the Russian plane crash was indeed caused by a terror attack, it is more paramount for Egypt to turn this tragic event to its advantage. The Islamic State should not be allowed to establish its dream state by targeting domestic planes. If the terror group resorted already to such tactics, then is a potential sign of weakness hiding under the evil glamour of terror. The group has failed to clinch a state in Egypt, and it may have resorted to bombing planes just to maintain a deceptive perception of existence.Therefore, the Egyptian authority must work harder to project this weak side of IS, and enhance its counter-terrorism abilities. Airport security may need substantial updates, but other aspects of fighting IS must also be considered.This Russian tragedy might have been Egypt’s version of 9/11. Egypt should project itself as a responsible country that need support, not a reckless state that is hiding its own wrongdoing. Bomb or not, Egypt must prevail against terrorism in these circumstances.

Source: ISIS, Russia, and Egypt | Nervana

Afghan Mullah Leading Stoning Inquiry Condones Practice – The New York Times – FAIL! 

One of the leaders of that presidential delegation, however, is a prominent, pro-government mullah who believes the stoning and flogging of adulterers is perfectly justified — as he made clear both in a sermon on the Ghor killing at Friday Prayer and in a subsequent interview on Friday.“If you’re married and you commit adultery, you have to be stoned,” said the mullah, Maulavi Inayatullah Baleegh, during his sermon at Pul-e Khishti mosque, Kabul’s biggest, on Friday. “The only question was whether this was done according to Shariah law, with witnesses or confessions as required,” he said. “It is necessary to protect and safeguard the honor of women in society, as it was done in the past during the time of the prophet.”

Source: Afghan Mullah Leading Stoning Inquiry Condones Practice – The New York Times

German BND Intelligence Spied on Friends and Vatican – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Three weeks ago, news emerged that Germany’s foreign intelligence service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), had systematically spied on friends and allies around the world. In many of those instances, the BND had been doing so of its own accord and not at the request of the NSA. The BND came under heavy criticism earlier this year after news emerged that it had assisted the NSA in spying on European institutions, companies and even Germans using dubious selector data.

Source: German BND Intelligence Spied on Friends and Vatican – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Stoning Rukhshana

What is justice?

Why is a 19-year-old girl stoned to death?

Why do police take no action?

Rukhshana is gone and our

Hearts cry for her

Rukhshana, I hope one day women

Change this country

Government is absent when it comes to women

Advocacy does not change it

Protesting does not end it

It happens over and over

It is time now to protect women from wrong traditions

Rukhshana was stoned because a

Girl in Afghanistan does not have a

Right to love, does not have the

Right to choose her life partner

Shall I write more?

Who will read and who will listen?

I am tired.

On Facebook I see only bad news about women in Afghanistan but

Good news about women from Afghanistan in other countries

We are the victims living here.

By Seeta

Source: Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Stoning Rukhshana

Aung San Suu Kyi – A conqueror of hearts | Asia | DW.COM | 06.11.2015

Tens of thousands flock to see her. For weeks Aung San Suu Kyi has been traveling across Myanmar to rally her supporters ahead of a landmark election on November 8. She is also seeking to win new voters for her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), by assuring them that she will run the country after the poll, despite the fact that a clause in the country’s army-scripted constitution bars her from the presidency.During a recent press conference, the NLD leader reiterated her leadership claim: “If we win, and the NLD forms a government, I will be above the president. It’s a very simple message.” When asked if this arrangement violated the constitution, Suu Kyi replied: “No. The constitution says nothing about somebody being above the president.”

Source: Aung San Suu Kyi – A conqueror of hearts | Asia | DW.COM | 06.11.2015

Aung San Suu Kyi Seems to Have Myanmar’s Countryside in Her Corner – The New York Times

In an impoverished country without a tradition of opinion polls, there is no way to reliably predict the outcome of Sunday’s election. Five years after the end of the brutal military dictatorship here, the military remains powerful, not only controlling the current government but also retaining the power to appoint a quarter of the seats in Parliament and the heads of several key ministries.But if this village is any guide, the country’s heart remains with Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, whose rallies across Myanmar have been drawing frenzied crowds. Such outpourings suggest that her backing goes well beyond the Internet-connected city dwellers who have plastered their support for her on their Facebook pages and the celebrities who have very publicly broadcast their affection.

Source: Aung San Suu Kyi Seems to Have Myanmar’s Countryside in Her Corner – The New York Times

France now more repressive of boycott calls than Israel | The Electronic Intifada

On 20 October, France’s highest court of criminal appeals upheld the conviction of a dozen Palestine solidarity activists for publicly calling for the boycott of Israeli goods.The ruling by the Court of Cassation adds to growing concerns about the harsh crackdown on free speech, backed by French President François Hollande, since the murders of journalists at the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo in January.It also makes France, along with Israel, the only country to penalize appeals not to buy Israeli goods.But the French law, which includes criminal penalties, is arguably harsher than Israel’s which allows boycott supporters to be pursued for financial damages, but not jailed.

Source: France now more repressive of boycott calls than Israel | The Electronic Intifada