🇺🇸 Jill Biden champions Weimar Germany in speech warning against LGBT book bans:

"Before WWII, Berlin was the center of LGBTQ culture in Europe.”

🔗 AF Post

🇺🇸🌉 US Army Deploys More Than 1,100 Specialists to Baltimore

The U.S. Army has activated an emergency operations center for the Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Baltimore. This action mobilizes over 1,100 specialists in the fields of engineering, construction, contracting, and operations. These specialists will aid local, state, and federal agencies in responding to the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

“Our thoughts are with those impacted by the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” said Baltimore District Commander Colonel Estee Pinchasin. “Our Emergency Managers are closely monitoring the incident and coordinating with partner agencies for any potential support requests.”

The Army also said it will leverage its mandate and federal authority to clear the Federal channel as part of a comprehensive interagency recovery initiative. Collaboration with local, state, and federal partners is underway to identify the best course of action for removing the fallen bridge.

Among the key resources being deployed, certified underwater assessment capabilities stand out, including services by Structural Professional Engineers who utilize Remotely Operated Vehicles and sonar technology to inspect and evaluate underwater structures thoroughly.

In addition to underwater assessments, the USACE is providing significant structural engineering support to ensure the safety and integrity of critical infrastructure. This support encompasses the deployment of certified bridge safety inspectors, alongside urban search and rescue structural technical specialists, who are tasked with evaluating and ensuring the stability and security of structures in and around Baltimore.

🔗 https://gcaptain.com/us-army-deploys-more-than-1100-specialists-to-baltimore/

🇺🇸 Biden Considering Granting Amnesty, Handing Out Green Cards To Illegal Immigrants

President Joe Biden is currently considering granting amnesty to illegal migrants in a bid to act on the worsening immigration crisis, according to Politico.

Biden and his administration are weighing several ideas to take a tougher stance on the southern border crisis and illegal immigration amid criticisms he has thus far failed to act on either. The administration could start dolling out green cards to illegal immigrants who have long stayed inside the United States, thereby giving them amnesty to stay in the country, three people familiar with the planning told Politico.

The plan would grant migrants who have been in the country for more than 10 years access to the cancellation of removal program provided that they have relatives who would suffer if they were deported, according to Politico. Migrants could then receive a green card — a permanent residency grant — if they meet the cancellation of removal requirements and an immigration judge rules in their favor.

🔗 https://dailycaller.com/2024/03/26/biden-considering-granting-amnesty-handing-green-cards-illegal-immigrants/

🇺🇸☢️ Biden administration will lend $1.5B to restart Michigan nuclear power plant, a first in the US

Holtec International acquired the 800-megawatt Palisades plant in 2022 with plans to dismantle it. But now the emphasis is on restarting it by late 2025, following support from the state of Michigan and the Biden administration.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said it would be the first nuclear power plant to be reopened in the U.S. It still faces hurdles, including inspections, testing and the blessing of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, known as the NRC.

“Nuclear power is our single largest source of carbon-free electricity, directly supporting 100,000 jobs across the country and hundreds of thousands more indirectly,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, a former Michigan governor.

🔗 https://apnews.com/article/michigan-nuclear-plant-federal-loan-cbafb1aad2402ecf7393d763a732c4f8

🇺🇸🗳 Traders bet US election will unsettle market calm

Stock traders have begun placing bets on an upsurge of volatility around November’s US election, which is shaping up to feature a tense rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

Futures contracts tied to the value of the Vix index — the so-called “fear gauge” that measures expectations of near-term swings in the S&P 500 equities benchmark — are pricing in a rise in market stress in the weeks before and after voters head to the polls.

Past elections have sparked market gyrations, giving investors reason to bet or hedge around them. Trump’s surprise victory over Hillary Clinton in November 2016 led to a fleeting drop in S&P 500 futures before stocks proceeded to stage gains.

But “this year traders have started pricing out the election Vix bump way earlier than they have in the past”, said Mandy Xu, head of derivatives market intelligence at exchange operator Cboe Global Markets, which produces the volatility index. Typically, “the two to three months prior is maybe when you start to see it,” she added.

📝 Phillip Pilkington: Will Trump get elected in November and the economy - held together with bits of string right now - just fall apart in his hands? Quite possibly. The economy is incredibly fragile and it wouldn’t be hard to knock it over by people motivated to do so.

🔗 https://www.ft.com/content/36335b77-6b3d-4141-82af-5c360ea79648

🗄 Archive

🇺🇸 JD Vance's VP prospects could rise after he helped deliver Trump a big Ohio win

Bernie Moreno's landslide in the Ohio GOP Senate primary reinforced Trump's influence and Vance's reputation as a loyal soldier with a "finger on the pulse of the MAGA movement."

“JD has got an incredible future,” said Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump-aligned consultant. “What does that look like? I’m not quite sure at this moment. But when you look at conservatives who are younger and have their finger on the pulse of the MAGA movement, there aren’t many, and JD is certainly one of them.”

🔗 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/jd-vance-vp-prospects-trump-ohio-win-rcna145016

🇮🇱🇵🇸 Israel admits it may not be able to destroy Hamas now US has turned its back

Israel may not be able to destroy Hamas despite five months of intense fighting in Gaza, intelligence officials have admitted.

The main objective of the Gaza invasion faces failure as international support turns against Israel, sources warned.

Israel believes it has dismantled Hamas’s main command and control structure in central and northern Gaza but pockets of “guerrilla” resistance remain.

Senior officials told The Telegraph four out of an original 24 Hamas battalions remain completely untouched after fleeing to safety in Rafah, which Israel is preparing to invade.

But Israel believes it may be too late to find and destroy them as the US has “turned its back on Israel”.

🔗 https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-admits-may-not-able-160517144.html

🇺🇸🇮🇱 Ben-Gvir: Biden sides with Tlaib, Sinwar over Netanyahu

Israel’s National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has accused U.S. President Joe Biden of siding with the enemies of the Jewish state.

During an interview with The New York Times published on Tuesday, Ben-Gvir said, “Presently, Biden prefers the line of [Palestinian-American Democratic Representative from Michigan] Rashida Tlaib and [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya] Sinwar to the line of [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir.”

“I would have expected the president of the United States not to take their line, but rather to take ours,” he added.

🔗 https://www.jewishpress.com/news/left-vs-right/ben-gvir-biden-sides-with-tlaib-sinwar-over-netanyahu/2024/03/28/

🇺🇸🇮🇱 Independent suggests Biden has “ended America’s love affair with Israel.”

Viewed with the benefit of hindsight, the UN Security Council resolution passed on Monday was no more than the logical conclusion of a painfully gradual revision of US policy that has been going on since at least January. That does not make it any less of a landmark.

Practically every word of Resolution 2728 illustrates just how far the US stance has changed, and how far what was once unacceptable to the US – and its ally, Israel – has now been accepted by the US. These include the demand for an “immediate ceasefire”, although initially only for Ramadan, the fact that it should be “unconditional” – that is, not linked to the release of the hostages, which is the subject of a separate demand.

There is no mention of Hamas, and the resolution implies the release of hostages/prisoners by both sides. A second clause “emphasises the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance and reinforce the protection of civilians in the entire Gaza Strip”, which amounts to direct criticism of Israel.

🔗 https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/israel-us-bibi-biden-relationship-resolution-b2519919.html

📎 AF Post

🇬🇦🇷🇺 Gabon has become the largest supplier of spare parts for Russian airplanes

Almost $2 billion worth of aircraft parts were imported into Russia from abroad in 2023 and most of them - almost $1.5 billion - were allegedly shipped from Gabon, according to Russian customs data seen by The Moscow Times. The Russian companies for which the parts were imported from Africa have the hallmarks of dummy firms.

According to Russian customs data, Gabon imported into Russia spare parts for Boeing and Airbus airplanes: oxygen masks, washers, pipes, bolts, nuts, brackets, fuel regulators, used computers and ground collision warning and fuel level measurement systems.

In addition, 15 used engines for Boeing-737 and Airbus A320/A321 worth more than $58 million were imported from Gabon.

The first aircraft parts from Gabon went to Russia in August 2023.

🔗 NEXTA

🇷🇺 Russian investigators have evidence of Ukraine link to Crocus terrorists

The committee also pointed out that the initial results of the investigation fully confirmed that the actions of the terrorists were carefully planned, while the masterminds of the crime were equally diligent and provided financial support to them

"Investigators have verified information that large amounts of money and cryptocurrency that the perpetrators of the terrorist attack received trace back to Ukraine; the funds were used in preparing the crime," the statement reads.

🔗 https://tass.com/emergencies/1767427

🇧🇦🇷🇸 The following proposals were made at the special session of the Republic of Srpska's National Assembly following the crisis sparked by unconfirmed High Representative Christian Schmidt's changes to the Electoral Law of Bosnia:

— Annul all decisions made by the Unconfirmed High Representative, Christian Schmidt, within seven days.

— Failure to comply will result in scheduling a session of the Parliament of Bosnia by representatives of Srpska to declare Schmidt's decisions illegal and null.

— Prohibit the implementation of Schmidt's decisions and declare the Office of High Representative website an unacceptable and illegal platform for publication.

— Pass the Electoral Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina with technical improvements at the Parliament session for immediate application in elections.

— Enact a special act confirming that decisions at the state level can only be made in the Parliament of B&H and establish a fast-track for EU integration.

— Adopt a declaration affirming the territorial integrity and political system of Bosnia and Herzegovina for rapid stabilization.

⚠️ If these proposals are not implemented, the authorities of the Republic of Srpska will take the following actions:

— Representatives of the Republic of Srpska will not participate in the decision-making system of Bosnia.

— The Republic of Srpska will issue a declaration confirming the territorial integrity and constitutional arrangement of Bosnia and Herzegovina with two entities and three constituent nations.

— Srpska will enact its own Electoral Law.

— Srpska will continue implementation of decisions regarding its status, including withdrawing from agreements on the Armed Forces, Bosnia's indirect taxation, judiciary, prosecutor's office, and other agreements.

— The government will create a comprehensive program of measures and activities aimed at equipping and modernizing the police force of the Republic.

— Srpska will insist that a declaration be made at the planned Easter Assembly with Serbia declaring that the Bosniaks have violated the Dayton Agreement and that Serbia can no longer stand behind it and that it is ready, as a subject of international law , at international institutes to defend Srpska and the Dayton Agreement.

🔗 National Independent

🇫🇷🇵🇱 France seeks help from allies to bolster security during Paris Olympics

France has asked its foreign allies to send several thousand members of their security forces to help guard the Paris Olympics, officials said Thursday, underlining the strains caused by the sporting extravaganza which begins in July.

"Several foreign nations are going to reinforce us in certain critical areas, such as dog-handling capabilities where the needs are enormous," an official at the defence ministry told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The official did not say how many foreign soldiers would be on French soil, but Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed his country was joining "an international coalition established by France" for the Olympics.

🔗 https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240328-france-asks-for-foreign-help-for-olympics-security-officials

⚫️ ISIS Spokesperson al-Ansari gave a speech about the last 10 years of the group.

He talks about what ISIS has done globally, saying that a "Roman, Persian and Jewish" alliance was formed against them during the Obama era. He talked about the expansion from the Philippines to Pakistan and from there to Somalia, Mozambique and the Sahel.

He praised the Kerman and Moscow attacks. He called for patience to his sleeping cadres in Sinai, Libra, Yemen, Tunisia and the Caucasus. The reason why Istanbul is not mentioned is that - as I said before - the desired success could not be achieved.

He pointed out that while America used to deal with terrorism in Syria and Iraq, it has now spread all over the world. For this reason, he said that the organization is currently in a worldwide war of attrition. In this speech, the ISIS Spokesperson advised his followers that they are on a long road and to be patient.

🔗 Cagatay Cebe

⚫️ New speech by Islamic State spokesman commemorating ten years of the caliphate (because caliphate was announced in Ramadan tem years ago): how establishment was turning point in history, and despite campaign against it, the caliphate has expanded as far as Mozambique.

Usual exhortations to steadfastness, giving and maintaining allegiance. Then commendation of the Mozambique and Central Africa affiliates for fighting and displacing affiliates, while Sahel affiliate praised for controlling territory, establishing Islamic law etc.

Khorasan affiliate is praised but not stated that the affiliate was responsible for the attacks in Iran or Russia (indicating the speech is very recent). Somalia affiliate praised for fighting Al-Shabaab. Least active affiliates praised but urged to be patient.

Notable emphasis in this speech on fighting the Russians and the Syrian government forces in the badiya region of Syria, where the Islamic State generally underreports activity.

Usual stress on the crisis facing Muslims being one & solution being one: need to unite under Islamic State & pursue its program. Re-emphasis on fight apostates & target ‘Jews & Crusaders’ everywhere incl. in America etc.: portrayed as only correct path to ‘liberate’ Palestine.

Also calls on Muslims to migrate if possible to join up with Islamic State members in affiliates around the world. He notably says that the Africa affiliates have been receiving ‘muhajirin’ (foreign fighters).

Ending addressed to prisoners (usual stuff) and then to disbelievers and America in particular. Just as America has previously failed to destroy IS, so it will fail now. Islam will eventually prevail as foretold by Prophet.

🧵 Aymenn Al Tamini

🇺🇦🇺🇦📝 Turkish Anon: In Ukraine, the Islamist organization Hizb-ut-Tahrir (ISIS sometimes uses them as a cover) widespread among Central Asians, was not banned.

It was banned in Europe, Russia and Central Asian countries, but not in Ukraine or Israel . Apparently, in Ukraine, Crimean Tatar leaders lobbied to keep it legal, among whom there are also many “Hizb” supporters.

Therefore, representatives of the Tajik opposition feel calm in Ukraine. And immediately after the start of hostilities with Russia, they got the opportunity to travel to Europe where one family were preparing attacks on behalf of ISIS and got arrested.

ISIS operates clandestinely, with various cells hiding behind the mantra of other groups to avoid detection by law enforcement

@CIG_telegram

🇷🇺📞🇷🇺 — 🇷🇺 RIA Novosti: Russian nationalism does not exist in nature, and no one should be frightened by it, said Patriarch Kirill

🇮🇱 Benjamin Netanyahu Is Israel’s Worst Prime Minister Ever

One man’s ambition has undermined Israel’s security and consumed its politics.

If Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted defeat in June 2021, finally yielding the stage to a coalition of his opponents, he could have retired at the age of 71 with a decent claim to having been one of Israel’s more successful prime ministers.
He had already surpassed the time in office of Israel’s founder, David Ben-Gurion, becoming the country’s longest-serving prime minister in 2019. His second stretch in office, from 2009 to 2021, coincided with perhaps the best 12 years Israel had known since its founding in 1948. The country enjoyed relative security, with no major wars or prolonged Intifadas. The period was one of uninterrupted economic growth and prosperity. Thanks to its early adoption of widespread vaccination, Israel was one of the first countries in the world to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. And toward the end of that span came three agreements establishing diplomatic relations with Arab countries; more were likely on the way.

Within 18 months, he was back as prime minister for the third time. The unwieldy coalition that replaced him had imploded, and this time around, Netanyahu’s camp of far-right and religious parties ran a disciplined campaign, exploiting the weaknesses of their divided rivals to emerge with a small parliamentary majority, despite still being virtually tied in the vote count.

Nine months later, Netanyahu, the man who promised, above everything else, to deliver security for Israel’s citizens, presided over the darkest day in his country’s existence. A total breakdown of the Israeli military and intelligence structure allowed Hamas to breach Israel’s border and embark on a rampage of murder, kidnapping, and rape, killing more than 1,100 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostage. The calamities of that day, the failures of leadership leading up to it, and the traumas it caused will haunt Israel for generations. Even leaving completely aside the war he has prosecuted since that day and its yet-unknown end, October 7 means that Netanyahu will always be remembered as Israel’s worst-ever leader.

🔗 https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/03/benjamin-netanyahu-worst-prime-minister-israel-history/677887/

🗄 Archive