The government of the Maldives has announced a complete entry ban on Israeli nationals to its territory – a popular holiday destination in the Indian Ocean. Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu, who ratified the legislation on Tuesday after it was voted through by the Parliament, described the move as a “firm” response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank:
The ratification reflects the government’s firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people …[and]… reaffirms its resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
The move was first mooted by Muizzu almost a year ago, but this did not prevent some 11,000 Israeli tourists from visiting the archipelago in 2024. The government has confirmed that the ban came into force immediately and that no further Israeli nationals will be permitted entry, adding to political pressure on the Netanyahu regime at the same time as South Africa and other nations pursue their genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, populations demand their governments execute the International Criminal Court’s war crimes arrest warrant against Netanyahu, and around 11,000 Israeli veterans, reservists, officials and others demand an end to Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Israel’s military continues to slaughter Palestinians civilians, target Gaza’s hospitals, medical and rescue staff and, especially, children.
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Never mind Bennies. Being such big fans of genocide, you love this alternative destination! https://youtu.be/U4reO3LabZY?si=E85ln2y8isoHNxlK
Off topic from KernowDamo — if anyone has a mind to sign them, there are 2 petitions highlighted later in the video:
BOMBSHELL Drops On Starmer Over Planned Disability Cuts!
And this by Helen Louise Cliff in Central Bylines:
The cruel impact of Labour’s new welfare reforms
Bedbound reflections on Labour’s welfare reforms from a Labour Party member
I live with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). I am currently chair of the Melton and Syston Labour Party and an elected Labour councillor on Melton Borough Council. I handle emails, phone calls and reading of reports from my bed in my pyjamas…
Unlike most politicians, I have firsthand experience of the support on offer for disabled people in the UK; specifically, Personal Independence Payments (PIP). To be clear, Labour’s reforms would mean me losing 75-100% of my help. Claiming PIP is incredibly intimidating and an emotional rollercoaster. I cannot stress enough that nobody is doing this for fun and that this is definitely one of the most unpleasant experiences I’ve ever had, including:
The assessment, which feels more like a cross-examination, leaving you feeling as if you’re being accused of fraud
Endless waiting with your life in limbo, whilst others decide if you’re worthy enough to live that life with dignity and meaning
The more-often-than-not flawed decision letter, usually full of fun phrases like, “You’ve told us that you can’t manage X, well, I’ve decided that you can!” (How very generous.)
My initial claim failed.
The assessor’s report was full of more misrepresentation and bare-faced lies than a Trump presidency. A particular low point was the assertion that I “didn’t look underweight” so was therefore clearly “able to cook meals and eat”. When challenging the decision, I pointed out that thankfully my husband wasn’t leaving me to starve and would cook, sometimes cutting up my food if necessary.
I went from zero points to sixteen overnight, but I had to fight for the correct judgment. Many lack the capacity to. Yet success at tribunal is fairly high; in the three-month period to July 2023, it was 68%. One wonders how much money the DWP could save simply by making the correct decisions in the first place?
It is not wrong to be tackling the barriers preventing those who could be working back into work. For all the mantras about protecting the ‘most vulnerable’, the government is concurrently redefining who counts as such and who will qualify for protection in the future, forcing thousands more into poverty.
https://centralbylines.co.uk/news/health/the-cruel-impact-of-labours-new-welfare-reforms/
Tax Wealth, not Poverty, would be more appropriate.
These quislings – like their cheerleading shills – either don’t do joined up thinking or are congenital liars and frauds.
The policy of going all out on AI, where the objective is Artificial General Intelligence to enable entire organisations and enterprises to be run and operated without human labour, is totally at odds with the cynical rhetoric about getting people into work.
As Professor Richard Wolff has already pointed out, the 99% are surplus to requirements.
YES! Major Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), the Norwegian traitor who ruled Norway on behalf of the occupying German Nazis, would bePROUD if Starmer incorporated his family-name in the LINO party name.