[AFRICANEWS] Fighting has intensified in western Sudan. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed grave concerns over the worsening situation in and around the city of El-Fasher located in North Darfur.
The spokesperson for the UN human rights chief briefed reporters Friday (Apr. 26).
"Reports indicate that both parties have launched indiscriminate attacks using explosive weapons with wide-area effects, such as mortar shells and rockets fired from fighter jets, in residential districts," X Magango said.
"At least 43 people, among them women and children, were killed as fighting was taking place between the SAF and RSF — backed by their respective allied militia — since 14 April, when the RSF began its push into El-Fasher."
Speaking from Nairobi, Magango said Commissionner Volker Turk called for "an immediate de-escalation and an end to the conflict".
Turk also urges both parties to the conflict and their allies to grant civilians safe passage to other areas, ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects, and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
ETHNICALLY-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE
The spectre of ethnically-motivated violence still lurks.
"Since early April, the RSF has conducted several large-scale attacks on the villages in western El-Fasher mostly inhabited by the African Zaghawa ethnic community," the spokesperson revealed.
Some of the villages, including Durma, Umoshosh, Sarafaya, and Ozbani were burnt down by the RSF.
Last year fighting and attacks between the Rizeigat and the African Masalit in West Darfur left hundreds of civilians dead or injured, and thousands displaced from their homes.
For now, civilians who haven't fled El-Fasher live in exruciating anguish: "[they] are trapped in the city, the only one in Darfur still in the hands of the SAF, afraid of being killed should they attempt to flee."
"This dire situation is compounded by a severe shortage of essential supplies as deliveries of commercial goods and humanitarian aid have been heavily constrained by the fighting, and delivery trucks are unable to freely transit through RSF-controlled territory," Magango added.
Local media outlet Sudan ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans... Tribune reported that Minni Minnawi, the governor of the state of Darfur, who leads a militia that back the national army, accuses the RSF of seeking to establish an unrecognized entity in the region.
[Iran Press TV] The United States says it plans to withdraw part of its troops from Chad days after announcing the pullout of forces from neighboring Niger.
The withdrawal of about 75 US special forces is reportedly scheduled to begin this weekend and will be completed within days.
The US keeps approximately 100 troops in Chad, under the pretext of fighting extremism.
"USAFRICOM is currently planning to reposition some US military forces from Chad, a portion of which were already scheduled to depart," Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told a news conference on Thursday, referring to the US Africa Command.
"This is a temporary step as part of an ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chad's May 6 presidential election."
However,
it was a brave man who first ate an oyster... Sahel area countries have started to question the legality of the US military presence.
In March, Niger’s government also said it was ending a military cooperation agreement with Washington, saying US military presence was illegally imposed on Niger.
The country has also launched discussions with the US on ending its military presence in the African country.
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04/27/2024 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
[HODHODYEMENNEWS.NET] The Political Bureau of Ansarullah condemned the repression by US officials of peaceful protesters at universities demanding an end to the genocide in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... .
The Bureau affirmed in a statement that the unjustified repression of protesters exposes the falsehood of the US government’s claims to defend freedom, protect human rights, and promote democracy.
It also affirmed the right of American citizens to peaceful protest and commended their ethical stance, reflecting an increase in societal awareness regarding the Paleostinian cause and rejection of Israel’s brutal practices in Gaza.
The Political Bureau of Ansarullah called on international human rights organizations to condemn these oppressive practices against peaceful protesters in the US and to pressure the US government to cease its human rights violations.
The statement emphasized that the genocidal crimes committed by Israel in Gaza require a firm international stance to stop them, and that peaceful demonstrations in the US reflect the American people’s rejection of these crimes and solidarity with the Paleostinian people.
It reiterated that the Paleostinian cause will remain central to Arab and Islamic nations, and Ansarullah continues to support the Paleostinian people through all means until their legitimate rights are achieved.
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04/27/2024 00:00 ||
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[IsraelTimes] Authorities say former athletic director used software to fake recording of boss, in which he threatens to ’join other side’ over frustration with complaints from Jewish community.
Police say ex-employee used AI to frame Baltimore school principal as antisemitic
Authorities say former athletic director used software to fake recording of boss, in which he threatens to ’join other side’ over frustration with complaints from Jewish community
A former athletic director of a Baltimore-area high school was arrested Thursday morning and charged with using artificial intelligence to fake antisemitic and racist comments supposedly made by the school’s principal.
The case was part of a growing body of AI-generated impersonation incidents, which experts say is a newfound worry in a growing, barely regulated field of technology. This was an unusual instance of faking antisemitic comments in order to damage a public figure’s reputation.
Baltimore County police charged Dazhon Darien, formerly of Pikesville High School, with disrupting school activities. Authorities said he had used the school’s network to access OpenAI software allowing him to fake a recording attributed to principal Eric Eiswert, according to the Baltimore Banner, a local nonprofit newsroom.
In the recording, a voice sounding like Eiswert says, "If I have to get one more complaint from one more Jew in this community, I’m going to join the other side." The voice also made racist remarks about Black students. Pikesville is in the center of greater Baltimore’s Jewish community.
The recording spread on social media in January and was also sent to at least three district teachers, including one who told police she forwarded it to a student knowing they would quickly spread it online. An email address linked to Darien sent the audio to various sources.
Some in the community were quick to attribute the comments to Eiswert, who is white, alluding to a history of tension with minority communities. "I am in no way surprised by his comments in this recording," Deray Mckesson, a prominent racial justice activist from the Baltimore area who said he had had Eiswert as a high school teacher, wrote on the social network X in January. He called for Eiswert to "be fired immediately" and for his teaching license to "be permanently revoked."
Superintendent Myriam Rogers said the comments were "highly offensive and inappropriate statements about African American students, Pikesville High School staff, and Pikesville’s Jewish community."
But Eiswert denied making the comments, and questions were soon raised about the voice’s authenticity. Both the local authorities and the school district soon mounted investigations. Eiswert has not worked at the school since they began, although the district would not say if he was removed from his position.
In March, AI experts told local news the audio was most likely faked, citing its flat quality and lack of consistent breathing sounds.
"From the beginning of this incident, the recording seemed odd and suspicious," Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Thursday. Libit said this was why the organization had held off on any initial comment.
"I am appreciative for the police and school system taking the time to investigate and to apparently get to the bottom of what really happened," Libit added. "It is scary to see how AI can be manipulated like this and do such damage to a school community and an individual. We have enough incidents of antisemitism and racism in our communities without things like this."
In the charging document, the police note that Eiswert suspected that Darien created the fake recording as payback after his contract was not renewed.
It sounds like the Egyptians, at least, have stopped forbidding and are considering pleading...
[GEO.TV] An Egyptian delegation met Israeli officials on Friday, looking for a way to restart talks to end the war in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... and return the remaining Israeli hostages, an official briefed on the meetings said.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel had no new proposals to make, although it was willing to consider a limited truce in which 33 hostages would be released, instead of the 40 previously under discussion.
"There are no current hostage talks between Israel and Hamas ...a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",... , nor is there a new Israeli offer in that regard," the official said. "What there is, is an attempt by Egypt to restart the talks with an Egyptian proposal that would entail the release of 33 hostages - women, elderly and infirm."
There was no decision on how long any truce would last but if such an exchange were agreed, the pause in fighting would be "definitely less than six weeks," the official said.
The visit by the Egyptian delegation followed Israeli media reports of a visit to Cairo on Thursday by the Israeli army chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, and Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence service.
Egypt, concerned about a potential influx of Paleostinian refugees from neighbouring Gaza if the war continues with the long-promised Israeli offensive into the southern city of Rafah, has taken an increasingly active role in the negotiations.
"The Egyptians are really picking up the mantle on this. Egypt wants to see progress, not least because it's worried about a prospective Rafah operation," the official said.
Qatar, the previous main broker, had increasingly been excluded, according to the official, after failing to respond to Israeli demands to expel Hamas leaders from its territory or curb their finances.
"Qatar is still involved but in a lesser capacity," the official said. "It's clear to everyone they failed to deliver, even when it came to expelling Hamas or even shutting down their bank accounts."
Officials say Israel is willing to make further widespread concessions to secure a deal, but won’t allow Hamas to drag out talks in a bid to forestall assault on southern Gaza
Talks between Israeli officials and a top-level Egyptian delegation sent to discuss Israel’s impending offensive in Rafah and efforts to reach a hostage deal with Hamas ended on Friday, with Israel reportedly warning that this was the “last chance” for a truce agreement before Israel launched its long-planned assault.
A senior Israeli official told Hebrew media that talks were “very good, focused, held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters.”
The official told Ynet that the Egyptians seem willing to pressure Hamas toward reaching a deal and that “in the background, there are very serious intentions from Israel to move ahead in Rafah.”
The Israeli official said Israel warned it would not agree to foot-dragging by Hamas, particularly its leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, on the hostage deal in a bid to forestall the Israel Defense Forces operation and noted that reserve forces have been called up. “This is the last chance before we go into Rafah,” the official said, according to Channel 12 news.
It’s a case of “either a deal in the near future, or Rafah,” the source said. Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 massacre, is widely believed to be hiding in the Hamas tunnel network in the Rafah area, with hostages in close proximity as human shields.
The official confirmed that Israel is prepared to settle for the release of fewer than the 40 living hostages as earlier proposed, but also that it will not agree to only 20 hostages being freed, as Hamas reportedly suggested in recent indirect contacts. Rather, said the report, Israel believes that Hamas holds 33 living hostages who meet the so-called “humanitarian” designation — that is, women, children, men aged over 50 and the sick — and is insisting that they all be freed.
The Channel 12 report said this could be a major sticking point if the mediation efforts make headway with Hamas, but stressed that, for now, that is not the case.
There was no mention in the report of whether this would be the first phase of a wider deal for all the hostages, of the length of the proposed accompanying truce, or of Hamas’s relentless demand that Israel halt the war altogether as a condition for any further hostage releases.
“This is part of what the negotiations are going to focus on now,” an unnamed Israeli official told Axios on Friday. “The number of days of the ceasefire will be linked to the number of hostages who will be released. If Hamas does want a humanitarian deal, Israel will not be the obstacle.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out ending the war until Hamas is destroyed as a military and governing force.
The official also said Israel was willing to make further major concessions like allowing the return of residents to northern Gaza, and possibly to do so without any checks to prevent Hamas members from returning with them. Israel also indicated a willingness to withdraw forces from a key corridor bisecting Gaza in two, Channel 12 said.
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[GEO.TV] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) rulings on the Paleostinians' genocide case would "set a dangerous precedent" but would not affect Israel's actions.
"Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to undermine its basic right to defend itself," Al Jazeera quoted the prime minister's statement shared online.
"While decisions made by the court in The Hague will not affect Israel’s actions, they will set a dangerous precedent that threatens soldiers and public figures."
Last month, the Law for Paleostine organization made the first in a series of submissions to the ICC, accusing Israeli leaders of committing the crime of genocide committed against Paleostinians.
"The 200-page document, drafted by 30 lawyers and legal researchers from across the world and reviewed by more than 15 experts, makes a compelling case for the genocidal intent as well as for the prosecutorial policy that the court has followed in other cases," the group's Anisha Patel and Hassan Ben Imran wrote in an opinion piece published by Al Jazeera.
"If the ICC fails to act once again, it risks undermining its own authority as an institution of international justice and the international legal regime as a whole," they said.
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#1
Time to bring some accountability to courts: both national & international?
[GEO.TV] Paleostinian group Hamas Hamas ...the well-beloved offspring of the Moslem Brotherhood,... responded to the letter of 18 countries, including the United States (US), calling for the release of Israeli captives and said that it is "serious about releasing Israeli captives within the framework of an agreement" that also ensures the release of thousands of Paleostinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Khalil al-Hayya, a member of the group's political bureau, told Al Jazeera Arabic in a televised interview on Thursday it remains committed to achieving an agreement with Israel to end the war on Gaza Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... , but only if its conditions including a lasting ceasefire are met.
In response, Hamas said it regretted that the letter did not address basic issues facing people in Gaza. It added that the letter failed to stress the necessity of a permanent ceasefire in the enclave and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Hamas said it remained open to any proposals that took into account the rights of Paleostinians. The statement further called for the safe return of internally displaced people in Gaza and aid for reconstruction, as well as a pathway towards self-determination.
The countries that signed the letter to Hamas all have citizens believed to be still held captive in Gaza. Signatories included Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, the UK and the US.
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[An Nahar] Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has revealed that he has "received major warnings from the Europeans and Arabs" regarding the Israel-Hezbollah clashes, a media report said on Thursday.
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has also told him in their latest phone call that "there is a need to cease fire in the south and not wait for the course of the war in the Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... Strip," al-Akhbar newspaper reported.
Hezbollah has meanwhile informed Mikati and other Lebanese officials that "the threats -- regardless whether they are serious or a repetition of the intimidation campaign -- will change nothing in the decision to maintain the military support for Gaza."
Informed sources also told al-Akhbar that "the intimidation comes amid the Israeli enemy’s preparations to enter Rafah with a full US cover for an assault that might last for more than six weeks."
"It needs to halt the war of attrition on the northern front amid its inability to open two fronts at the same time," the sources added.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans...
...a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",...
[GEO.TV] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) rulings on the Paleostinians' genocide case would "set a dangerous precedent" but would not affect Israel's actions.
...the well-beloved offspring of the Moslem Brotherhood,...
