Dubai expats and residents abandoning & killing pets due to Iran war

Op-ed - comment on the latest Middle East news: Quick note because I have had a long day! LBC radio told me today that there is an exodus of British (?) expats and other residents in Dubai who are leaving the country due to the Iran war and in the process abandoning their cats and dogs or worse: tying up a cat to a lamp post so tightly a nasty injury was caused or in one case a pair of dogs were shot dead in the desert. The rescue centres are overflowing and are at a loss as to what to do.

This is a terrible form of animal abuse. To think of it is hard to bear. I understand the panic as drones are falling on Dubai as Iran retaliates but there cannot be any kind of true relationship between these caregivers and their companion animals.

It is humans hitting a new low in animal welfare. It shows how humans behaviour when under pressure towards animals. 

Here is another short video on this:

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Putin has made Russia more vulnerable not stronger by invading Ukraine

Image: DALLE (AI image creator). This is a fictional depiction of the Kremlin

I asked AI the following question in a statement to see if it agreed: "Putin complained about NATO on Russia's borders and the threat it posed. That was largely an imagined threat borne out of his time with the KGB. But ironically invading Ukraine has created a much stronger NATO alliance and unified force on Russia's borders for defensive purposes but this has worked against Putin in creating a real potential threat to Russia. The invasion of Ukraine has dramatically backfired on Putin in this respect. Correct?"

This is AI's response (ChatGPT):

Your analysis is largely correct. Here’s why:

1. Putin's Perception of NATO: Putin has long viewed NATO as a strategic threat to Russia, a view deeply influenced by his KGB background and a worldview rooted in suspicion of Western intentions. He framed NATO's post-Cold War expansion as encroachment on Russia's sphere of influence, despite the defensive nature of the alliance.

2. NATO’s Strengthening Post-Ukraine Invasion: Ironically, Putin's invasion of Ukraine, which he justified in part as a response to NATO's supposed threat, has had the opposite effect of what he likely intended. It has galvanized NATO, increased its unity, and prompted historic shifts in European security policy. For example:

   • Finland and Sweden: Finland has joined NATO, significantly expanding the alliance's direct border with Russia, while Sweden's application is progressing.
   • Defense Spending: NATO countries, particularly in Europe, have increased defense budgets and reinforced their military capabilities in response to the perceived threat posed by Russia.
   • Troop Deployments: NATO has enhanced its military presence along its eastern flank, from the Baltics to the Black Sea, further solidifying its deterrence posture.

3. Strategic Backfire: Instead of diminishing NATO's presence or influence, Putin's actions have revitalized the alliance, strengthened transatlantic cooperation, and underscored the need for collective defense. This has created a more unified and robust NATO, with a greater focus on Russia as a central challenge to European security.

4. Long-Term Implications for Russia: The invasion has not only led to significant military and economic costs for Russia but has also isolated it diplomatically. Its actions have justified the very measures Putin sought to avoid, leading to a tangible, rather than perceived, NATO presence near its borders.

In summary, the invasion of Ukraine has indeed backfired for Putin, resulting in a stronger and more united NATO that poses a more substantial and real defensive challenge to Russia. This development underscores the unintended consequences of aggressive actions based on flawed strategic calculations.

How does this affect cats!? In every way. It has placed increased financial pressure on many Russian citizen which will have a negative impact at least potentially on cat welfare.

In Ukraine, many domestic cats have been killed and injured or become feral as their owners were killed by Putin's merciless and cruel bombardment of Ukrainian homes in the east.

-------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Israel wants to raze the Gaza Strip to the ground and possess it

The security minister of the Israeli government, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has demanded the resettlement of the Gaza Strip during a party-like atmosphere on its border with Israel at a time when there was renewed Israeli bombing of northern Gaza which left hundreds of Palestinians dead.

The security minister has made it clear that they want to possess the Gaza Strip as far as I can tell. He said: "We will encourage voluntary transfer of all Gazan citizen. We will offer them the opportunity to move to other countries because the land belongs to us."

I don't know whether he's speaking on behalf of the Israeli government or not. He may well be but I suspect that a government spokesperson will say that he isn't. But he is in my view. Because the 70% destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip by Israeli bombing together with the 42,000 men, women and children killed and we don't know how many animals, is compelling evidence to believe that what the security minister says is true.

The IDF is making the Gaza Strip uninhabitable and in doing so they want the residents there to leave and find other homes so that the Israel government can possess the Gaza Strip and call it a part of Israel.

Having read this news, I did some research on the history and the creation of the Gaza Strip and its bearing on today's conflict. It's a very complex story. A story of mismanagement by the West I would argue and what is now a complete mess of an arrangement which can never work and will never work. Although, I confess I'm being very pessimistic but perhaps I'm being realistic.

Below is the history of the Gaza Strip. I think it is useful to read it very carefully because it explains a lot of what is happening today.

The history of the Gaza Strip is deeply intertwined with the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the legacies of colonialism and geopolitical strife in the Middle East. Its modern creation and development have made it a central flashpoint in this long-standing conflict. Below is a summary of its historical context and relevance to today's situation.

1. Pre-1948: Ottoman and British Rule

• Ottoman Empire (1517-1917): The Gaza Strip, part of historic Palestine, was under the control of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. It was a modestly populated area, primarily consisting of Arab Muslim communities, with smaller Christian and Jewish populations.
• British Mandate (1917-1948): After World War I, the Ottoman Empire collapsed, and Britain took control of Palestine under a League of Nations mandate. During the British Mandate, tensions between Jewish and Arab communities grew, exacerbated by Jewish immigration to the area due to Zionist movements and European anti-Semitism, particularly after the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s.

2. Creation of Israel and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War

• 1947 UN Partition Plan: In response to growing violence and competing claims over Palestine, the UN proposed a partition plan that would divide the land into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international control. The Jewish community accepted the plan, but Arab states and Palestinian leaders rejected it.
• 1948 War and Nakba: After the creation of Israel in 1948, surrounding Arab nations (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and others) declared war. The conflict led to the displacement of around 700,000 Palestinians, an event known as the "Nakba" (catastrophe), many of whom fled to the Gaza Strip, then occupied by Egypt. By the war’s end, Israel had expanded beyond the UN’s partition boundaries, controlling 78% of historic Palestine, while Egypt held the Gaza Strip and Jordan took the West Bank.
• Egyptian Control (1948-1967): After the 1948 war, Gaza was controlled by Egypt, but it was not annexed. Gaza became a narrow, densely populated enclave, primarily housing refugees from the war. Egypt did little to develop the area, and it remained impoverished, with no formal Palestinian government established there.

3. 1967 Six-Day War and Israeli Occupation

• 1967 War: Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in what became known as the Six-Day War. Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights.
• Israeli Occupation: Following the war, Israel began occupying the Gaza Strip, instituting military rule over the Palestinian population. Israeli settlements were established in Gaza, and the Strip became a zone of intense conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian resistance.

4. Oslo Accords and Palestinian Self-Rule (1990s)

• Oslo Accords (1993): The peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which gained limited self-rule over parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The agreement envisioned a two-state solution, though key issues (borders, refugees, status of Jerusalem) were left unresolved.
• Division Between Hamas and Fatah: In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its settlements and military forces from Gaza, although it retained control over Gaza's borders, airspace, and waters. In 2006, Hamas, an Islamist militant group, won Palestinian parliamentary elections. A year later, a violent split between Hamas and Fatah (the ruling party in the West Bank) left Hamas in control of Gaza, while Fatah maintained authority over the West Bank.

5. Gaza Under Siege: Blockade and Conflict (2007–Present)

• Israeli-Egyptian Blockade: After Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the Strip, severely restricting the movement of goods and people in and out of the area. The blockade has been devastating for Gaza's economy and living conditions, resulting in widespread poverty, high unemployment, and shortages of basic necessities.
• Hamas-Israel Conflict: Since Hamas's rise to power, Gaza has been at the center of recurring wars between Israel and Hamas, often sparked by rocket fire from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes. Major conflicts occurred in 2008-09, 2012, 2014, and most recently in 2021. These conflicts have left thousands dead, mostly Palestinians, and Gaza’s infrastructure severely damaged.
• Humanitarian Crisis: The population of Gaza has continued to grow, with over 2 million people living in a territory about 140 square miles. Over 70% of Gaza's residents are refugees or descendants of refugees from 1948. The blockade, wars, and Hamas' rule have contributed to a dire humanitarian crisis, with the UN frequently warning that Gaza is becoming unlivable.

6. Relevance to Today:

• Ongoing Conflict: The Gaza Strip remains a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The blockade, combined with the militant activities of Hamas, leads to regular flare-ups of violence, resulting in civilian casualties on both sides. The area has become symbolic of the broader struggle between Israelis and Palestinians, with Gaza often seen as emblematic of Palestinian suffering and resistance.
• Geopolitical Significance: Gaza's situation is a source of broader regional tension. Hamas is supported by Iran and other actors opposed to Israel, while Israel’s policies are backed by the U.S. and other Western nations. Egypt also plays a key role, controlling Gaza’s southern border and often mediating between Hamas and Israel.
• Humanitarian Concerns: Gaza’s economy is on the verge of collapse, with inadequate access to clean water, electricity, healthcare, and education. International organizations continue to call for an end to the blockade and for more aid to be allowed into the area.
• Peace Efforts: The split between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority complicates any peace negotiations, as Israel, the U.S., and others consider Hamas a terrorist organization. This fragmentation in Palestinian leadership, coupled with Israel's security concerns and expanding settlements in the West Bank, has stalled peace efforts for a two-state solution.

Key Points Today:

• Gaza remains a densely populated area under blockade.
• Hamas controls Gaza, leading to periodic escalations in violence with Israel.
• The humanitarian situation is dire, with international calls for improved living conditions and peace.
• The broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including issues of borders, refugees, and Jerusalem, continues to fuel tensions.

In conclusion, Gaza's creation, its history of occupation, and its role as a site of conflict are central to understanding the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The situation in Gaza exemplifies many of the broader regional and political dynamics that make the conflict so difficult to resolve.

------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Trump is a Putin apologist and says that Zelensky "let that war start"

Zelensky with Trump. Image: Rex Features.

The Metro newspaper reports that Trump has claimed that Ukraine allowed the current Russia-Ukraine water start whatever that means. He actually blames Biden for instigating the war 😢 (according to the Metro report) and that he would never have let it happen. 

Former US President Donald Trump cast blame on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – not Russian President Vladimir Putin – for the latter’s invasion of the smaller European country. - METRO

No one knows what he means and he appears to be a Putin apologist in blaming others rather than Putin for starting the Russia-Ukraine war. I think you will find that all the experts clearly argue that Putin started the war to annex Ukraine, all of it, but is now settling on annexing the eastern part, a section of Ukraine he has had designs upon since 2014.

This is nothing less than a power grab of a large part of an adjacent sovereign state because that's the way Putin operates. We can only come to the conclusion that Trump is a Putin apologist as stated. He claims that the war would never have happened if he was in the White House. He's always claimed that and that he is a friend of Putin. How you can be a friend of a mass murderer?

Many commentators and leaders will be concerned about Trump's relationship with Putin. One reason is that Putin knows how to use people like Trump. We know that Putin is interfering in many countries through the use of cyber attacks and the large-scale dissemination of misinformation to try and alter the views of hundreds of millions of people.

Putin is a damaging influence on the world in general. He destabilises the world and is doing a lot more to achieve this than people realise. I don't think you can talk to him to try and find a resolution to the war. That will be playing in his hands. The way to defeat Putin is to be strong; something he understands.

And Trump's appeasement talk, sidling up to Putin as a friend is not going to work but of course Trump's massive ego thinks it will work.

--------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Kittens rescued after Israeli airstrike on Beirut (video)

We have no idea how many companion animals have been killed in these airstrikes and those in Gaza. A lot I suspect. The mother of these kittens was killed. They will have to be raised by these volunteers unless they can find a surrogate mum.

---------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Ukrainian border guards adopt fox that regularly sneaks into their shelter (video)

"Ukrainian border guards fighting the Russians on the front line have adopted a young female fox cub after it sneaked into their shelter. The inquisitive animal has since become a frequent visitor as the soldiers care for and feed her. The heart-warming relationship was captured in footage from October 10." - Yahoo News.

For me, this is unsurprising. This is a fox that has become habituated to humans, in this case Ukrainian soldiers, and it didn't take long for the fox to understand that they can get some food from the soldiers who were willing to give it to them. It's a nice symbiotic relationship with both the soldiers and the fox benefiting. Of course, my mind must be drawn to the fighting. The soldiers I presume are vulnerable to being harmed in this fighting and therefore the fox is also vulnerable to being injured. I don't think that we can remove that thought from the discussion. That said, this is a really sweet video because both human and fox are enjoying each other's company until things might go horribly wrong.

⚡ Soldiers of the State Border Guard Service have befriended a wild fox.

Initially drawn to their dugout by the smell of food, the fox has now become a regular visitor.pic.twitter.com/FJNWf9BJhi

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) October 10, 2024

Video screenshot.

-------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Shelter cats and dogs run frantically as Israeli bombs drop on Beirut (video)

A hard watch but necessary as we must think of the animals as well as people in war. Far too often animals are ignored. How many animals have been killed in Gaza? Has anyone, any newspaper reported it? I have never seen a report. How many animals have been killed in Ukraine. The same. My guess is probably around 500,000 including wild and domestic. All killed by Putin. Humans are great killers of animals.

The video shows how the sound of war terrifies animals.

The video may well be removed from YouTube at some time which means it will stop working here. It may be removed because 'the establishment', big business etc. including advertisers don't like reality. Advertising is built on dreams and reality gets in the way.

---------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Ukraine say that North Korea is in a facto state of war with them

There are rather vague reports coming out of Ukraine and out of North Korea as one might expect. But we know that Putin has done a deal with Kim Jong-un such that North Korea becomes a partner to Russia in Putin's war against Ukraine.

North Korea is providing a substantial percentage of all the munitions used currently in Ukraine. Western intelligence sources said last week that half the shells used by Russia, about 3 million a year, were being supplied by North Korea. That's the level of support by North Korea.

The Times also reports that, "A security official in the Ukrainian government was responding to speculation by South Korea's defence minister that North Korean troops could soon be sent to fight in Ukraine. "It has already sent them" said the head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation in Ukraine.

So, on the basis that North Korean troops are already fighting on the ground in Ukraine, it would probably be fair to argue that even if North Korea does not declare war on Ukraine, this action would constitute a de facto state of war between the two countries. To restate that, arguably, North Korea is in a deep facto state of war with Ukraine at this moment.

North Korea would argue that they have North Korean troops on the ground in Ukraine but they are engineers and other support personnel overseeing the quality and use of North Korean weapons by the Russian army. It's confirmed that some of the support troops have died in Ukraine.

But the point here is that North Korea would cover up the presence of active fighting troops on the ground in Ukraine because they don't want to be in a de facto state of war with Ukraine.

However, Putin, we know, is running out of personnel to be killed in the war. He has stripped out many of the prisoners in prison in Russia and sent them to the front line to be killed. He is paying enormous salaries to Russians to fight in the war, several times their normal average wage. And there are signing on fees et cetera.

He is desperate to conscript new Russians (and non-Russians actually!) to fight in the war and is struggling to keep pace with the amount of deaths. This would point, I would argue, to the possibility that North Korean troops are actually fighting on the ground and that we have already entered a state of war between North Korea and Ukraine although this is not intended or stated.

Just to restate that because it is important. If North Korean troops are confirmed to be fighting in Ukraine, it would likely place North Korea in a state of war with Ukraine, even without a formal declaration. Such direct involvement would make North Korea a co-belligerent alongside Russia, escalating its role in the conflict and triggering international repercussions, including further isolation and sanctions. It would deepen the perception of the Ukraine war as a global conflict between authoritarian states like Russia and North Korea on one side, and Ukraine and its democratic allies on the other.

North Korea's direct involvement could potentially escalate the war by drawing in more countries or increasing the scale of the conflict. Other nations may respond by increasing their support for Ukraine, and some could treat North Korea as an enemy combatant in the conflict.

North Korea's direct involvement could potentially escalate the war by drawing in more countries or increasing the scale of the conflict. Other nations may respond by increasing their support for Ukraine, and some could treat North Korea as an enemy combatant in the conflict.

------------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Are the exploding pager attacks killing 9 including a girl and boy state-sponsored murder or an act of war?

Image: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

I asked AI the above question. Note: for me this alleged Israeli attack on Hezbollah is very close (or is) state-sponsored murder as a boy and girl were killed and of course non-Hezbollah members might have been killed or badly injured. It was reckless. How could Israel (if they did it) guarantee that only Hezbollah members would be carrying the pagers? There was a real risk of killing and injuring innocent civilians which is what has happened. Update: latest count is 12 dead with thousands injured some very seriously. Further update: Hezbollah say that 300 have been injured and 9 dead so far.

Further update, next day: 'New phase' in conflict as walkie-talkie blasts kill 20. Same sort of thing. In this case 20 killed and 450 injured by booby-trapped walkie-talkie devices that blow up in your hands. This is certainly the work of sophisticated Mossad, Israel's spy service. This is a different kind of warfare but is it cold-blooded murder?

Further update: Also hand-held radios used by Hezbollah have exploded across the country's south, and in the southern suburbs of the capital. And solar energy systems have exploded in several areas as well. This is an incredible example of underhand warfare which I have suggested might be state sponsored murder and mayhem. But if it is Israel, they won't give a damn. They've killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians including children and babies in Gaza, by recklessly shelling and firing rockets into civilian buildings.

The pagers where were made under licence in Budapest by a firm called BAC Consulting, using the Gold Apollo name.

 Here is AI's response (ChatGPT).

The incident you’re referring to involving exploding pagers killing nine people, including a girl and boy, sounds like a targeted or violent attack, but without additional details about the specific case, it's difficult to categorize it definitively as state-sponsored murder or an act of war. The distinction depends on several factors:

1. State-Sponsored Murder: This occurs when a government or a state-backed entity carries out or orders the assassination or killing of individuals. Examples include targeted assassinations, politically motivated killings, or extrajudicial killings that a government either directs or endorses. These are typically covert operations intended to silence or eliminate threats or opposition.
2. Act of War: An act of war refers to aggressive actions between states or factions engaged in armed conflict. If the attack was carried out by one state or an armed group as part of a larger military campaign against another state, then it could be seen as an act of war. In this context, civilian casualties can occur as a result of broader hostilities.

To determine whether this particular attack was state-sponsored or an act of war, you'd need to consider:

• The perpetrator: Was it a state or state-backed group that carried out the attack, or was it a non-state actor, such as a terrorist organization or criminal group?
• The motive: Was the attack politically motivated, part of a conflict, or related to some other cause like terrorism or organized crime?
• The context: Was the attack part of a larger military conflict, or was it a targeted strike on individuals?

If this attack was part of a broader conflict between states, it could be considered an act of war. If it was a targeted killing carried out by or on behalf of a government, it could fall under the category of state-sponsored murder. If more context can be provided, a more specific classification could be offered.

When an innocent boy and girl are killed and possibly non-Hezbollah individuals too this is very close to murder isn't it?

Yes, when innocent civilians, including children, are killed in an attack—especially if they are not involved in any armed conflict or militant activities—it is generally viewed as a grave injustice and could be described as murder. Whether or not the attack was carried out by a state or a non-state actor, the intentional or reckless killing of non-combatants, especially children, is often considered a violation of international humanitarian law and human rights.

Here’s how different perspectives might frame such an event:

1. Murder: From a moral and legal perspective, the killing of innocent civilians, particularly children, could be considered murder if it was intentional or if the attackers acted with reckless disregard for human life. Murder implies an unlawful, unjustified, and deliberate act of killing. Even in conflict zones, the deliberate targeting of civilians is a criminal act.
2. War Crime: In the context of armed conflict, if the attack violated the rules of war, such as the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit attacks on civilians, it could be considered a war crime. Targeting civilians, including children, is explicitly forbidden, regardless of the attackers' affiliation.
3. State-Sponsored Assassination vs. Collateral Damage: If a government or state-backed entity carried out the attack, and it was aimed at specific targets but resulted in civilian deaths, it could be categorized as state-sponsored murder or extrajudicial killings. Even if the target was not civilians (but militants, for example), the killing of innocent bystanders, especially when children are involved, could be interpreted as a failure to observe the principle of proportionality and distinction in warfare, potentially leading to criminal liability.

Innocent lives lost in such a situation, especially if the victims were not involved in any hostile activities, reflect the devastating human cost of violence. Even when not labeled outright murder, the attack would likely be condemned as reckless, unjustified, and deeply tragic.

If this incident occurred in the context of a military operation or state-sponsored attack, international law, ethics, and public opinion would view the loss of innocent lives as highly problematic and likely demand accountability.

--------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Putin is good at 2 things: warming the planet and making devastating weapons

This is a quick note because this news has got my goat! I have decided that Putin is good at three things: producing oil and gas and manufacturing devastating weapons. The oil and gas significantly contribute to global warming which is an existential threat to humankind while the devastating weapons he produces kills, maims thousands of people including children and destroys their homes and vital infrastructure including hospitals, schools and libraries et cetera.

So, Putin is good at making things which destroy humankind, damage humankind, damage the planet and therefore he is an incredibly negative presence on the planet. He is a menace to humankind, world peace and stability. He needs to be stopped as soon as possible.

The world in general is too tolerant of him. We simply react to what he does by for example helping Ukraine defend themselves against his illegal invasion of their country to try and annex it to Russia.

But why does humankind tolerate this man? In fact some countries support him like China, North Korea and India. This is highly immoral behaviour. It is a behaviour which damages the prospects of our very existence.

Today, in my newspaper, there is the story of Vladimir Putin visiting the leader of Mongolia which might strike some people as very strange because Mongolia is a signed up member to the International Criminal Court. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for the forced deportation of Ukrainian kids. And yet, the leader of Mongolia has failed to ensure that Putin is arrested under that arrest warrant. And therefore Mongolia is supporting Putin's criminality. How does the world view that?

By newspaper also tells me that Ukrainian officials, human rights groups and Russian opposition figures have all urged Mongolia to honour its legal obligations and arrest Putin during his two-day visit. But he was greeted by the Mongolian Foreign Minister before walking down a red carpet flanked by guards. There was a guard of honour to welcome him and shepherd him through the main square for his meeting with the president. The Kremlin had earlier brushed away any speculation that Mongolia could detain him. Putin's spokesman said that there "are no worries. We have a great dialogue with our friends from Mongolia".

As I said, too many leaders in this world are supportive of Putin despite the fact that he is a persistent and serial murderer and criminal of the highest order. He needs to be stopped as stated. It appears to me that the world simply lacks enough integrity to do what is right and necessary. Mongolia's behavior also fatally undermines the ICC.

In the newspapers today, to make a point, there is the story that Russia is developing a nuclear powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile, that could, in theory, circle the earth for an indefinite period of time. It has been nicknamed "the flying Chernobyl". No doubt he is very proud of it. Another armament which threatens humanity. How can you be proud of that?

The weapon is apparently stored in a bunker in Vologda about 295 miles north of Moscow. He wants to develop invincible weapons and the most devastating weapons possible. He's constantly pronouncing to the world in shocking declarations that he will push the nuclear button if the West threatens Russia beyond a certain threshold.

These are idle threats but they are unpleasant threats. And they are getting worse. He has changed the nuclear policy of Russia. It is more likely he'll use them because he perceives a threat from the West. He is inherently hostile to the West. He can't see straight. His deeply ingrained hatred and disdain of Western values colours his thinking and behaviour.

And he's used illegal armaments against Ukraine. He has killed children in their hundreds. He is killed hundreds of thousands of animals and left many more homeless. He's killed grandmothers in their beds. He's done the most horrifically objectionable things and yet we tolerate him. 

He is a threat to humanity and he must be stopped. It needs courage and bold behaviour from the West to do this. Let's see it.

-------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Latvian authorities send cars of drunk drivers to Ukraine (no compensation)

If you are arrested for drink driving in Latvia, you lose your car and it is sent to Ukraine to support the country in their fight against the Russian invaders. More $1m of cars have already been sent (by Dec 2023). Lithuania is planning on doing the same. Also, all vehicles with Russian registration plates are confiscated and sent to Ukraine for the war effort. Great. Tough for Russians living in Russia.

The drivers are not compensated financially when their vehicles are confiscated due to drink driving. The confiscation is part of the penalty for the offense. In Latvia, this measure is intended to be a deterrent against driving under the influence, with the additional benefit of aiding Ukraine by providing vehicles for their efforts in the ongoing conflict.

The loss of the vehicle is a consequence of the criminal act, and the government does not provide financial compensation to the convicted drivers. This policy aims to send a strong message about the seriousness of drink driving and the importance of supporting Ukraine.

How about that? Amazing don't you think? Very bold action. The UK government might learn from that and be a lot bolder in their actions to put things right in the country. 

------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

British rescuer of animals and humans shot in the head in Ukraine

A BBC2 documentary has been made about Chris Parry and it's called Hell Jumper. That's because what he did was like jumping into hell. And what he did was save the lives of people and their pets in the east of Ukraine where the Russians, as you probably know, have decimated towns and cities and razed them to the ground with incessant bombing and shelling.

Chris Parry. Image: believed Chris Parry's estate via the BBC.

Our rescue worker son always stood up to bullies like Putin. We won't forget his sacrifice. - His parents.

Chris Parry was a British volunteer. He simply was in Ukraine to help. He had a strong sense of injustice. He wanted to do something. He had no military training. He went to Ukraine eight days after the Russians invaded the country in February 2022.

He didn't tell his parents but he told his sister, Katy. She was very frightened for him. She thought that he was dramatizing the rescues that he got involved in but then learned that it was the truth.

Chris begged her not to tell mum and dad. On one occasion Chris Parry texted back that he was buzzing. He said that he had "rescued 11 people, two dogs and a budgerigar". That was in communication with his father Rob.

It's believed that he was executed by a shot to the head by the Russian Mafia group called Wagner Group.

The Sunday Times reports that Chris went missing after he had told Rob that he was buzzing about rescuing dogs and people. He was with another evacuated, Andrew Bagshaw, 48, at the time.

Their car was found abandoned. Katy was contacted, remarkably, by Russians on social media who were rubbing their hands in delight at having killed Chris. Or one of their colleagues had killed Chris.

Katy said "They sent photos of dead bodies saying, We've got your brother, he's got what he deserved."

Two weeks later, Rob received a call from Devon and Cornwall police. Rob said that they 'cried like babies'. Chris's body was returned in a prisoner swap. His clothes had been changed and his body washed. The Russians said that there had been killed in artillery fire but this was untrue. Rob says it was an execution because of the gunshot wound placement.

A coroner ruled that his killing was unlawful. His parents instinctively felt that it wasn't just another random killing. They believe, as mentioned that it was an execution. The family hope that the documentary will help highlight the plight of Ukrainians in this horrible war.

"The world has to wake up and realise that Putin is a bully and if he's not stopped, then it's not going to affect just Ukraine." The words of Christine, Chris's mother.

Rob said that, "We will do whatever we can to keep Chris's name alive and Ukraine in people's minds."

P.S. Chris had fallen love with a Ukrainian lady: Olha Volodymrivna Khomenko. They lived together. They had planned a future together. RIP Chris. A brave guy. He saved more than 400 Ukrainians. And let's remember Andrew Bagshaw too.

Hell Jumper will air on BBC2 this Wednesday at 9 pm.

-----------------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Was the world ONE INCH AWAY from a US civil war and world war?

There is a reasonable argument that suggests that the recent failed assassination of Donald Trump was an event that put humankind one inch from civil war in the US followed by world war.

The bullet missed his head by one inch because (he says) he turned to his right - something he rarely does. A God given head movement he claimed. But if he hadn't moved his head and he had been killed, it might have led to a civil war in the US.

This would have led to the US stopping making payments to Ukraine to support the country and donating billions of dollars or armaments upon which Ukraine depends to defend itself from the terrorist leader of Russia, the evil Putin and his acolytes.

This would lead to Russian winning the war in Ukraine which would lead to a new world order in which Russia continued to expand by taking other countries that Putin believes should be in Russia's orbit.

This new world order would eventually lead to world war as the terrorist state called Russia placed too much stress on the West to accept their behaviour. 

There would have to be military intervention. China, North Korea and Iran would also be involved as they would became emboldened by Russia's success.

The reasonably plausible but shocking suggestion is that the world was one inch from US civil war and world war.

Crooks was a bad shot at school. Perhaps he was trying to prove to his school colleagues who bullied him that he was a good shot. Thankfully he was not.

But the event highlights how fragile the world is right now. How stressed the world is. It only takes one silly wrong move under these circumstances to begin and avalanche of violence.

And I believe that people feel this. There are signs that citizens of the West are more stressed. The canaries in the coal mine are the kids. They feel it more. In the UK there are clear signs that they are going through a kind of collective nervous breakdown with suicidal thoughts and self-harm.

Self-harm is a mental health state in which the victim is trying to wrestle back control of their lives. In a an increasingly chaotic world it is understandable that school kids feel that their lives are out of control.

------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

UK's Prime Minister calls Russia's bluff. War?

UK's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has called Russia's bluff in allowing Ukraine to decide how they want to use the Storm Shadow missiles including firing them into Russia if needed to defend themselves. Zelensky has consistently said that they need to fire the missiles into Russia to destroy military installations in Russia. See update at base.

Image: MikeB

Putin has also consistently said that if this happens they will retaliate. Putin has issued many threats including the use of nuclear bombs to try and subdue the West into become submissive and to keep out of his invasion of Ukraine.

Here and now we have a real test for both Starmer and Putin. What will Putin do if anything? Was he bluffing and using empty threats or was he being truthful? Will he attack the UK? That is what he must have meant.

But how will he attack the UK? Will he destroy undersea cables that serve the nation? There are many and they are not well protected.

It is impossible to envisage Russia bombing Britain! That would be WW3. He can't do it because all NATO nations are obligated to defend each other when under attack.

So what will Putin do? The world's greatest terrorist in living memory.

Zelensky said: 

“This morning, I learned about the permission to use Storm Shadow missiles against military targets in Russian territory. Today, we had the opportunity to discuss the practical implementation of this decision.”

Zelensky has always urged his Western allies to put an end to “all limitations” placed on donated weapon systems in a speech on the fringes of the NATO summit in Washington.

Update 2 days later! From RBC Ukraine -- The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom clarified that it did not permit Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian territory, citing The Telegraph. Downing Street said that the government's policy has not changed regarding the deployment of long-range missiles, despite comments from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggesting that he was easing restrictions on missile use.

Storm Shadow

The Storm Shadow (also known as SCALP) is a long-range, air-launched, stand-off attack missile developed by France-based MBDA Systems. Here are its key features:

1. Deployment:

   • The missile can be integrated into various aircraft, including the Tornado GR4, Tornado IDS, Saab Gripen, Mirage 2000, Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
   • It’s designed for precision strikes against high-value stationary assets such as airbases, radar installations, communications hubs, and port facilities.

2. Capabilities:

   • Range: Over 250 km (nearly 200 miles).
   • Stealth: Its low altitude and subsonic speed make it difficult to detect.
   • Guidance: Equipped with advanced navigation (INS, GPS, and terrain referencing) for exceptional accuracy.
   • Autonomy: Fully autonomous guidance system.
   • Weather: Operates day and night in all conditions.
   • Terrain Hugging: Descends to fly at low altitude to avoid detection.

The Storm Shadow missile is a formidable weapon for deep strike missions, offering precision and versatility. 🚀💥

--------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Russian citizens terrorised into complete silence on pain of death

This is an opinion article. It's based on the news. It is not hard news. Although I am sure many agree with me. Russian citizens are terrorised into complete silence on pain of death and indoctrinated into false beliefs. Of course the Kremlin denies it.

Image: MikeB - free to use.

Russia is not only a terrorist state, terrorising other countries. In fact Russia is terrorising the entire world because Vladimir Putin and his cabal of mafia-like comrades in the Kremlin consistently threaten nuclear war. Medvedev has threatened that they will use nuclear armaments if NATO intervenes in Ukraine and if the land in Ukraine seized by Russians is taken back as a consequence. This is threatening the world because you can't use nuclear arms against another country without a global threat.

It's almost certainly a bluff and playing poker for the Russians but it is an example of how they terrorise the rest of the world. 

And what is depressing is that the rest of the world accepts his presence. We just get around the problems as they occur and wait for the next attack or murder. Surely we can do better. Putin and his cronies need to be stopped. Russia is a bad apple in the barrel and it is poisoning the world. He has supporters from fellow dictators which indicates the moral turpitude of the world. No hope is there, really?! For instance the UN allows Russia to remain on the Security Council where their representative lies and lies and lies.

Nebenzya is brazenly lying at the UN about the attack on the children's hospital.

He has been blatantly lying for years.
And will he continue? Does the UN seem to be fine with that? https://t.co/hmnIG1d6j3 pic.twitter.com/o3EyozP1QC

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) July 9, 2024

But this article is about how Putin and his cohort of gangsters terrorise their own citizens consistently and perpetually.

Putin terrorises his own citizens by picking up people who criticise the Kremlin and Putin's diktats and then killing them by placing them into a Gulag somewhere in Siberia where they die mysteriously. The charges against these brave people are completely spurious and fictional.

If the Russian who criticises Putin isn't killed in this way they are simply murdered on the streets of Moscow or in some other place. The murders are nearly always dressed up as accidents such as "a 55-year-old man falls out of the sixth floor a block of flats". If that can't be arranged they simply shoot them in the back of the head. Nobody is ever prosecuted because this is a terrorist state. It's run by the 'mafia' which brings me to the next point and the point of this article.

Yulia Navalnaya

Yulia said: 

“When you write about this, please don't forget to write the main thing: Vladimir Putin is a murderer and a war criminal. His place is in prison, and not somewhere in The Hague, in a cosy cell with a TV, but in Russia – in the same [penal] colony and the same 2-by-3-metre cell in which he killed Alexei.”

Ой, а что не будет обычной процедуры? Иностранный агент, потом заведение уголовного дела, потом уже арест?! Когда будете писать об этом, не забудьте, пожалуйста, написать главное: Владимир Путин - убийца и военный преступник. Его место в тюрьме, и не где-нибудь в Гааге, в уютной…

— Yulia Navalnaya (@yulia_navalnaya) July 9, 2024

The Kremlin has denied ordering the killing of Mr Navalny, her husband who died under mysterious circumstances in a Siberian prison. Some say he was killed with a punch to the heart under extended freezing conditions. Yulia has vowed to fight on in his name.

All over the news today is the story of a Moscow court issuing an arrest warrant for the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. That person is Yulia Navalnaya. If I may say, she is a statuesque beauty and I mean that in the best possible way. She looks good and she is good. She has vowed to continue her husband's fight against this terrorist state.

As a consequence Putin's administration has ordered a Moscow court to issue an arrest warrant on trumped up charges which happen to be the "participation in an extremist society". Just another fictional charge which is not in any way grounded in reality.

That said, the laws of Russia as enacted by Putin's administration have effectively silenced all people in that benighted country because if you even hold up a sheet of white paper with nothing on it you are arrested as a protester against the Ukraine war. That actually happened.

A young man held up an A4 sheet of blank paper. Nothing on it at all. Within minutes the police arrested him for protesting against the war. We don't know what happened to him but he almost certainly ended up in some ghastly prison where he might well have been murdered.

In combination with terrorising Russian citizens to shut up and put up and never criticise Putin and his Mafia comrades, the Russian government indoctrinates all Russian citizens into believing that Putin is a wonderful leader in the Stalin-style. Strong and very nationalistic. The Russians like that but most of them don't understand that he is a dangerous mass murderer of the worst kind, terrorising his own citizens into complete silence.

Yulia Navalnaya lives outside Russia and she must remain outside Russia for the rest of her life because if she goes back to Russia she will be arrested and incarcerated where she will die. In fact, she must be on her guard all the time from now on because Putin likes to murder people on foreign soil as well. His tentacles spread everywhere. It isn't just murder that he engages in worldwide but his computer hackers hack into databases worldwide to try and damage economic activity in foreign countries.

A bunch of Russian hackers recently hacked into the NHS in the UK and damaged blood testing services perhaps for as long as one year. This has had a very negative impact on medical operations. Another setback to the NHS but this time from perhaps the greatest terrorist state the world has ever known.

Some examples:

Here are a couple of notable examples of Russian dissidents who were murdered, allegedly by the Kremlin:

1. Boris Nemtsov:
   • Date: February 27, 2015.
   • Details: Boris Nemtsov, a Russian politician and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, was assassinated while crossing the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge in central Moscow. An unknown assailant fired several shots, hitting Nemtsov in the head, heart, liver, and stomach, killing him almost instantly. His Ukrainian partner, Anna Duritskaya, witnessed the killing but was unharmed.
   • Motive: Retaliation for Nemtsov’s criticism of Putin and opposition to the government.
   • Perpetrators: Zaur Dadaev and Anzor Gubashev, among others, were convicted for their involvement in the crime.

2. Anna Politkovskaya:
   • Date: October 7, 2006 (on Putin’s birthday).
   • Details: Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative journalist and dissident, was shot dead in the elevator of her building. She worked for the Russian Novaya Gazeta newspaper and had been a fierce critic of the Kremlin.
   • Motive: Her reporting on human rights abuses and corruption in Russia.
   • Perpetrators: The murder remains unsolved, but it is widely believed to be politically motivated.

About Navalny

Alexei Navalny: A Life in Opposition

Alexei Navalny (1976-2024) was a prominent figure in Russian politics, best known for his fierce opposition to President Vladimir Putin. His life can be summarized by his work as a lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and politician.

Early Life and Education:

• Born in 1976, Navalny earned degrees in law and finance.
• He studied at Yale University's World Fellows program in 2010.

Rise to Prominence:

• Navalny gained recognition in the early 2000s through his online investigations into corruption by government officials.
• He used a LiveJournal blog and later social media to expose his findings.
• In 2011, he founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which produced investigative documentaries about corruption at the highest levels of Russian government.

Political Activism:

• Navalny became a leading figure in Russia's opposition movement.
• He participated in anti-government protests and formed a political party.
• In 2013, he achieved a surprise second-place finish in the Moscow mayoral election.
• He attempted to run for president in 2018 but was barred due to a disputed embezzlement conviction.

Poisoning and Imprisonment:

• In 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent, an attack he blamed on Putin.
• He survived after receiving medical treatment in Germany.
• Upon returning to Russia in 2021, he was arrested and imprisoned on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Legacy:

• Navalny is considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International and received the Sakharov Prize for his human rights work.
• Though imprisoned, he remains a symbol of opposition to Putin's regime.
• He died in prison in 2024.

It's important to note that Navalny's story is complex and controversial. Further research using the resources above can provide you with more details.

-----

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.