Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Six In The Morning Wednesday 3 July 2024

Gaza policy makes US a ‘target’: Former officials

The 12 officials say the cover provided to Israel has ‘ensured’ the US’s ‘complicity’ in the war on Gaza.

A group of former United States government officials have claimed that Washington’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza puts national security at risk.

The 12 officials, who resigned over the last nine months protesting against the US policy, said in a letter released late on Tuesday that President Joe Biden’s support for Israel means that Washington has “undeniable complicity” in the killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. They labelled the White House policy on the war in the enclave “a failure and a threat to US national security”.


 

Video appears to show gang-rape of Afghan woman in a Taliban jail

Exclusive: Activist claims she was threatened with release of the footage in order to silence her, amid multiple reports of sexual violence inflicted upon imprisoned Afghan women

The Guardian has seen video evidence of a female Afghan human rights activist being gang-raped and tortured in a Taliban jail by armed men.

There have been mounting reports that sexual violence is being inflicted on women and girls being held in detention in Afghanistan, but this video is believed to be the first direct evidence of these crimes occurring.

According to the activist, the mobile phone footage was later sent to her as a threat that it would be shared more widely if she continued to speak out against the Taliban regime.


Can India's farmers keep up their fight against PM Modi?

In northern India, defiant farmers continue their steadfast protest amidst challenges posed by the sowing season. Despite facing political obstacles and personal sacrifices, their determination is growing.

For nearly five months, around 40 farmers have been living in reinforced tents on a highway in northern India, 212 kilometers (132 miles) from Delhi. These farmers have been protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, despite their numbers dwindling since earlier this year.

In February, tens of thousands of farmers gathered at the Shambhu border, a key interstate checkpoint, expressing anger towards the government for not fulfilling its promise to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

The proposed MSP, which would be at least 50% higher than the cost of production, was seen as a crucial safety net to protect the farming community from volatile price fluctuations.


How France’s far-right National Rally plans to secure its absolute majority in parliament

Buoyed by its resounding success in the first round of the snap legislative elections, France’s far-right National Rally party (RN) is hoping to secure an absolute majority in the second round on July 7. Before it can achieve this however, NR’s President Jordan Bardella will have to fend off both the leftist New Popular Front and President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble coalition.

The question on everyone’s lips ahead of the second round of the snap legislative elections on July 7 is: will France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party win an absolute majority in the National Assembly?

The RN – backed by some members of the right wing Republicans party – won the first round of the legislative elections with 33.1% of the vote, followed by the New Popular Front (28%) and President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble coalition (20%). A clear favourite to win the second round, the NR could nevertheless lose if the leftist coalition and Macron’s party work together and withdraw their respective third-placed candidates in order to block the far-right. The New Popular Front has withdrawn more than 130 of its candidates and the presidential camp more than 80 in constituencies where the RN has a good chance of winning.


Top court rules old eugenic law unconstitutional, orders redress

By TAKASHI ENDO/ Staff Writer

July 3, 2024 at 17:20 JST


In a landmark victory for aging plaintiffs, the Supreme Court on July 3 again ruled that the former Eugenic Protection Law was “unconstitutional” and ordered the central government to compensate those forcibly sterilized under the law.

The plaintiffs were forced to undergo sterilization surgery more than half a century ago.

In anticipation of the ruling, much attention was focused on how the highest court would interpret the “statute of limitations,” during which the right to seek compensation expires after 20 years.


German interior minister condemns Turkish defender for using Euro 2024 as ‘platform for racism’ as UEFA opens investigation


The German interior minister has condemned the celebrations of Turkish defender Merih Demiral following Turkey’s win against Austria at the European Championship on Tuesday.

Demiral scored twice in Turkey’s 2-1 round of 16 victory and celebrated by making a gesture known as the “wolf salute,” which is associated with the Turkish right-wing extremist group “Grey Wolves.”

“The symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, adding that the group is under surveillance in Germany.




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