Commented - World News

Israeli whistleblowers detail horror of shadowy detention facility for Palestinians | CNN ( edition.cnn.com )

At a military base that now doubles as a detention center in Israel’s Negev desert, an Israeli working at the facility snapped two photographs of a scene that he says continues to haunt him.

European firms that rank China as a top investment destination has hit a record low, could take years to restore confidence, lobby group says ( www.euractiv.com )

Archived link...

Head of PR at China's biggest search engine Baidu apologised after her comments glorifying a work-till-you-drop culture sparked public outcry ( www.bbc.com )

In a series of videos posted on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, Qu Jing, said she had no responsibility for employees' well-being "as I'm not your mother"....

"A genocidal government": Discussion with Cosette Wu, the woman behind the Harvard speech disruption criticizing the Chinese Communist Party ( focustaiwan.tw )

Link to the archived version....

Philippine military chief accuses China of 'malign influence effort' to distract from 'the China coast guard's ongoing aggressive behaviour' ( www.reuters.com )

The Philippines' military chief accused China of a "malign influence effort" on Wednesday, after a local newspaper reported a Filipino vice admiral had made a deal with Beijing to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea....

UK surgeon who described Gaza ‘massacre’ denied entry to France ( www.theguardian.com )

'This is a Crime Ahainst Humanity': 600,000 Children in Line of Fire as IDF Moves on Rafah ( therealnews.com )

Russian soldier says in video that Russian commanders execute their own men ( thebarentsobserver.com )

Archived link...

EU Chief Urges China To Curtail 'Dual Use Goods' Delivery To Russia ( www.barrons.com )

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday urged China to limit the delivery of dual use goods to Russia which end up being used in its war against Ukraine....

German chancellor backs EU plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine arms ( www.reuters.com )

Around 90% of the revenues generated from Russian frozen assets should be spent on arms purchases for Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday, supporting an earlier EU proposal to use Russian assets' interest payments to boost Ukraine defence....

Estonia proposes blocking Russia in the Baltic Sea in the event of a Russian attack on any of the Baltic states ( en.socportal.info )

The commander of the Estonian Armed Forces, General Martin Herem, has suggested that Western countries discuss and prepare for a possible blockade of the Russian Federation in the Baltic Sea. According to Herem, Estonia has the necessary means to achieve this goal, the Melitarny portal writes....

'No to the Russian law!’ - Georgia protesters demand a ‘European future’ ( www.aljazeera.com )

Crowds of protesters have been braving tear gas and water canons after more than two weeks of protest against the Georgian government’s draft law targeting civil society....

Video of Chinese Manager Beating African Workers Sparks Racism Debate ( www.ndtv.com )

Here is the video (Twitter link, 26 sec)...

Rights group urges French President Macron to address "Chinese government’s grave abuses" during Xi Jinping’s visit next week ( www.hrw.org )

French President Emmanuel Macron should lay out consequences for the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity and deepening repression during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Paris, Human Rights Watch said today. Xi’s visit on May 6-7, 2024, will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and the...

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron says Ukraine can use UK weapons for strikes inside Russia ( www.euractiv.com )

Cross posted from: https://feddit.de/post/11698910...

China continues to export its digital authoritarianism playbook across the Indo-Pacific, a new report reveals ( www.article19.org )

Cross posted from: https://feddit.de/post/11665211...

Freedom to Write index says China accounting for a third of the world's jailed writers ( pen.org )

Cross posted from: https://feddit.de/post/11642450...

Taiwan warn its citizens against travelling to China amid fears new 'state secret law' could be used to punish regular business activities ( www.aljazeera.com )

Cross posted from: https://feddit.de/post/11631940...

First scientist to publish Covid sequence in China protests over lab ‘eviction’ as Chinese government attempts to avoid scrutiny over handling of outbreak ( www.theguardian.com )

Cross posted from: https://feddit.de/post/11615272...

Iran intensifies violent crackdown on women: "Morality police" are increasing patrols, and women who refuse to wear headscarves are reporting more violent harassment and arrests ( www.dw.com )

Under a new campaign called "nour" or "light," endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian "morality police" are out in force on so-called "guidance patrols" looking for women who refuse to wear the hijab, or headscarf....

Nato Secretary General in Kyiv: Ukraine is on an “irreversible path” to NATO, support will continue ( www.nato.int )

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Kyiv on Monday (29 April 2024) for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the state of the war and the future of NATO’s support to Ukraine....

"We’ve Become Addicted to Explosions”: The Israeli Military Unit Responsible for Demolishing Homes Across Gaza ( www.bellingcat.com )

Twenty days after more than 1,100 people were killed in a Hamas attack on October 7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched its ground offensive in Gaza with the stated aim of destroying Hamas and bringing hostages home. As of April 12, more than 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza according to UN OCHA reports. In response...

Chinese jets fly sorties over Taiwan strait in show of force as US delegation departs ( www.theguardian.com )

Taiwan has reported that a dozen Chinese warplanes flew sorties close to the island on Saturday, in a sudden surge of military activity just hours after the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, left Beijing following talks with President Xi Jinping and top Chinese officials.