#Lebanon financial crisis

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

The situation in Lebanon today is bleak. Carved out of the remains of the Ottoman Empire and subjected to years of colonialism-lite administration by France, its economy and infrastructure have been devastated by a long civil war, overlapping occupations by Syria and Israel, and corruption on a massive scale. Since 2019, Lebanon has been in the midst of a severe financial crisis, with widespread unemployment and hyperinflation. Now 80% of the population is poor and Lebanon is on the brink of becoming a failed state.

And yet, JD Harlock, Poetry Editor at Solarpunk Magazine, who lives in Beirut, believes in solarpunk. Join us for this episode to find out how that can be and what day to day life is like in Beirut right now.

You can find JD on X and Instagram at @JD_Harlock.

[erotetica]

Fuck Trump, here’s all the civil rights orgs I know:

(Most have education pages and/or socials to follow and boost if u can’t donate right now)

LGBTQ+

Trevor Project—queer crisis hotline/counseling (NOTE THAT THEY CALL POLICE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS)

List of Crisis Hotlines/etc compiled by Inclusive Therapists .com which DON’T CALL POLICE

Point of Pride—helps trans folks having trouble accessing gender affirming healthcare

Trans Lifeline—community support/resources/financial aid for trans folks

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

National Network of Abortion Funds—financial assistance/transport/childcare for people in ban states seeking abortions.

Brigid Alliance—same

Sister Song—reproductive justice for WOC

Indigenous Women Rising—helps Indigenous families access abortions/menstrual hygiene/midwifery/etc

Afiya Center—reproductive justice/HIV care for Black womxn in Texas

Abortion access orgs for Americans in the

Midwest

South

Appalachia (they also offer free emergency contraception/support services/etc)

RACIAL JUSTICE

NYU Law Center on Race Inequality—self-education resources on racism & antiblackness/how to contact elected officials/how to protest safely.

List of orgs protecting Black Americans, compiled by NYU (incl NAACP, Audre Lorde Project, BLM, Black Voters Matter, etc)

National Immigration Law Center—fighting for asylum seeking/DACA; helping immigrants access healthcare/worker’s rights/etc

American Civil Liberties Union—working on many intersectional initiatives

Southern Poverty Law Center—same

GLOBAL AID (While we Americans wait for shoes to start dropping, let’s not forget others in need, and that Trump’s atrocious foreign policies will affect everyone!)

World Central Kitchen—hunger relief

Action Against Hunger—same

War Child—supports and educates children in conflict zones, like Yemen and DRC

Medecins Sans Frontieres— medical aid

Islamic Relief USA—emergency aid

PALESTINIAN AID

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund— medical aid for kids

Anera— emergency relief & long-term development resources for Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan

United Nations Relief and Works Agency—aid for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon/Syria/West Bank/Gaza/Jordan

Palestine Red Crescent Society—medical aid

SUDANESE AID

List of humanitarian orgs working in Sudan, compiled by 500 Words Magazine

CONGOLESE AID

Panzi Foundation—supports assault survivors & their families

Eastern Congo Initiative—supports ands funds local/community-based Congolese efforts

Please reblog, & add any legitimate humanitarian organizations you know of! I love all of you!!

[ancientcharm]

The last Princeps of Rome

Marcus Aurelius Alexander Severus was born in Arca Caesarea, Syria (present-day Akkar district, Lebanon) on 1 October 208. Unlike all assassinated emperors before him, the Senate mourned the assassination of this young Princeps for decades.

He was proclaimed emperor at the age of thirteen on 13 March 222, two days after the death of his predecessor Elagabalus. The historian Dio Cassius, who served as consul, describes Alexander Severus' character as calm and peaceful. He was characterized above all by his religious tolerance; He believed that "everyone is free to freely profess his beliefs." He had an extraordinarily kind attitude towards Christians and Jews.

During his early years, the government was really left in the hands of his grandmother Julia Maesa and his mother Julia Avita Mamaea who dedicated themselves to cleaning up the financial mess left by Elagabalus. His grandmother died in August 224. In 226 He married Sallustia Barbia Orbiana, with whom he had no children and two years later she was banished by order of Julia Mamaea.

As he grew older, Alexander began to make his own decisions. He faced the Sassanians who began to establish their new empire replacing the Parthians. In 230 they attacked the province of Mesopotamia. Alexander gathered an army to begin his military campaign in 231. In 233 Ardacher, king of the Sassanians, withdrew from the newly conquered provinces. Severus Alexander considered this a victory and had a triumph.

A year later, the Germans began to attack the northern borders of the empire. Alexander headed there with his troops and to gain time he sent gifts to the leaders of the enemy peoples. The soldiers took advantage of this to accuse him of a "cowardly" act. In fact the whole army hated him for not continuing with the policy initiated by the first of the Severan Dynasty (Septimius): paying exorbitant salaries to the army. Septimius Severus since the year 193 did this in his day to ensure the loyalty of the troops, as did his son 'Caracalla'. This made the army fill with an excessive ambition and began to see the position of emperor as something that could be taken by force. The young Alexander understood the danger and drastically lowered the salaries of the army: but it was too late.

On 18 March 235 the 26-year-old Emperor Alexander Severus was assassinated by his own soldiers in a camp near Moguntiacum (modern Mainz, Germany). They then killed his mother J. Mamea and proclaimed Maximinius the Thracian as the new emperor. Three years later, after the death of Maximinus the Thracian, the Senate deified Alexander Severus.

The death of Severus Alexander meant the end of the Principate created by Augustus in 27 BC. The government of Maximinus the Thracian was the beginning of 50 years of anarchy with 26 emperors along with countless aspirants to the throne. Except for one, all of them died violently. It is the era of the "soldier-emperors", or "The crisis of the third century" characterized by constant internal struggles that lasted until the arrival of Diocletian to power, who saved Rome from its total collapse- 200 years before the fall of the western empire- by creating the Dominate.

Head from a bronze statue of the Roman emperor Alexander Severus (222-235 AD), from Ryakia, Archaeological Museum, Dion

Photography by Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA 2.0)

[collapsedsquid]

In the spring of 2020 Lebanon failed to make payments on $32 billion of international bonds. The Lebanese political class did not have the will to enter into serious negotiations with its creditors, resulting in a “hard default”. As the crisis escalated, it was revealed that without government approval the financial elite had used the accounts of the central bank to support Lebanon’s private banks, to the tune of tens of billions of dollars. [...] Meanwhile, the Lebanese parliament in a grotesque act of self-dealing in January 2024 passed a budget that promised to close the budget deficit of 12.8 of GDP by raising regressive value-added tax whilst decreasing the progressive taxes levied on capital gains, real estate and investments. For lack of reforms, the IMF is refusing to disburse any of the $3bn package that are allocated to Lebanon. The strategy of Lebanon’s relatively well-insulated elite seems to be to wait out the crisis hoping that in due course foreign donors will recognize that they have to provide support even in the absence of reform. Meanwhile, the on-going crises leave Lebanese with no option but to rely on the social and political forces that over the last decades have created the disastrous status quo. The most powerful of these is Israel’s antagonist Hezbollah.

[eretzyisrael]

by Melanie Phillips

Five days after Britain’s Labour party won an overwhelming parliamentary majority in the general election, we can see the outline of what this is likely to mean for British Jews and their country’s relationship with Israel. That outline is not reassuring.

The new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is said to have purged his party of antisemitism and has persuaded many British Jews that he has made Labour safe again for Jewish voters. On Sunday morning, he told the Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas — antisemite, Holocaust denier and fan of Hitler’s wartime ally in the Middle East — that an independent state was the “undeniable right” of the Palestinian people and that “financial support for the Palestinian Authority” was one of his “immediate priorities”. 

He did not tell Abbas that a condition of this financial support was that the PA must stop paying financial rewards to terrorists and their families for murdering Israelis. Nor did he say that a condition of receiving more British taxpayers’ money was that the PA must end its indoctrination of Palestinian Arab children in Nazi-themed demonisation of the Jews, teaching them that their greatest ambition should be to murder Jews and steal all their land. 

Instead, Starmer proceeded to lecture Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin  Netanyahu, that there was a “clear and urgent” need for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as an immediate increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians. As for the war being waged by Hezbollah in Lebanon against northern Israel, Starmer warned Netanyahu:

It was crucial all parties acted with caution.

What kind of “caution” does Starmer suggest is appropriate in the face of a threat of genocide by Hezbollah and its patron, Iran? Or to put it another way, with Hezbollah primed to unleash its armoury of 150,000 rockets and other missiles that can reach all of Israel, and with Iran itself along with Iraqi, Syrian and Houthi militias not to mention the terrorist armies of the “West Bank” all primed to attack Israel if it launches all-out war against Hezbollah, does Starmer really believe that Israel actually needs to be told to act “with caution”? 

Can he really not grasp that, given the daily onslaught over the past nine months from dozens of rockets, drones and guided missiles that have destroyed Israeli border towns, left swathes of northern Israel burning, made more than 60,000 Israelis refugees in their own country and kept other residents in the north trapped in their safe rooms (two Israelis were killed today by a Hezbollah rocket strike that hit their car) that if the Israelis abandon that “caution” it’s because they have no other choice?   

Starmer shows absolutely zero understanding that this crisis isn’t about Hamas, Hezbollah or the Palestinian Arabs. They are proxies and pawns in an Iranian war of extermination against Israel, the essential precursor to the destruction and conquest of America, Britain and the west. 

So little does he understand this that the new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, is now poring over the government’s legal advice on whether to stop UK arms sales to Israel.

Once upon a time, Lammy was sympathetic to Israel. Now he is a foe. He has repeated what he said before the election, that Labour supports the request by the International Criminal Court prosecutor, Karim Khan, for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant — and that if these Israelis came to the UK after such warrants were issued, Britain would arrest them.

This despite the fact that the claims upon which Khan relied were lies, distortions and blood libels drawn from Hamas-sympathising and Israel-bashing organisations, and were all demonstrably untrue.

[mariacallous]

In late May, Saudi Arabia appointed its first ambassador to Syria since it closed its embassy in Damascus 12 years ago. The Saudi ambassador’s return was only the latest step by the Arab states to normalize relations with the Assad regime. In 2018, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the first to reestablish ties with Damascus (though it only sent an ambassador to Syria in January 2024). The UAE’s move launched the rehabilitation of a regime that has been treated as a regional pariah since 2011 due to its brutal repression of mass protests. Other regional actors followed in its footsteps, including Jordan and Bahrain, but normalization only acquired real momentum in the wake of a devastating earthquake that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria in February 2023. Just months later, in May, the Arab League voted to restore Syria’s membership, ending a suspension dating back to 2011. In addition, several Arab states, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt established an Arab Liaison Committee on Syria to negotiate Syria’s further return to the Arab fold, including, potentially, providing Syria with badly needed financial support. Since then, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has again routinely participated in regional forums, including a November 2023 emergency summit on Gaza where he decried Israeli violence toward Palestinians—never mind his direct complicity in the brutal murder of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians.

Syria’s neighbors began normalizing their relations with Damascus after years of isolation and punitive sanctions failed to bring about a change in the Assad regime’s behavior, and as their concerns mounted about the spillover effects of Syria’s economic crisis for regional stability. Perhaps carrots, they argued, in the form of a step-for-step approach that would offer Assad incentives, might achieve what a policy heavy on sticks had not. Three issues loomed especially large on the Arab agenda: the need to create conditions that would permit the safe return of refugees; ending or at least curtailing the production and smuggling of Captagon, a narcotic that was flooding into Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries; and the possibility that a return to the Arab fold, along with Gulf money, might temper Iran’s influence in Syria.

A year later, what has normalization wrought? It has extended recognition and legitimacy to a murderous regime but in every other respect has been a failure. Arab regimes have taken unilateral steps with no reciprocal moves from Assad. Normalization led to no discernable progress toward the objectives sought by members of the Arab Liaison Committee. Refugees forced back into Syria from Lebanon are subject to detention and torture. The vast majority are unwilling to risk voluntary return. Huge quantities of Captagon continue to flow across Syria’s borders, with the direct support and involvement of leading regime figures including the president’s brother, Maher al-Assad. In the absence of any serious attempt by the regime to crack down on smuggling, Jordan has attacked production facilities inside Syria, shot down drug-carrying drones, and deployed its military to confront armed smuggling gangs that attempt to break through the border. Nor has a step-for-step strategy been any more effective in diluting Iranian influence in Damascus. In the face of Assad’s intransigence, last year’s cautious optimism has given way to a grim recognition of the limits of normalization and the depth of the Assad regime’s obstinacy. On May 7, 2024, one year to the day of the Arab League’s restoration of Syria’s membership, the Arab Liaison Committee on Syria suspended its meetings. While a future meeting in Baghdad has been announced, no date has been set.

Its failures notwithstanding, all indications are that Arab regimes are not yet prepared to rethink their engagement with the Assad regime. Instead, they have normalized normalization as a form of politics as usual. Not only did Saudi Arabia return a diplomatic delegation to Damascus in late May, but it also flouted U.S. sanctions to send Syria the spare parts it needed to keep its severely degraded fleet of civilian planes in the air. Flights between Damascus and Riyadh have also resumed. Indeed, as collective negotiations floundered, Arab regimes have shifted course, focusing instead on the development of bilateral ties to advance their particular interests. Even prior to Syria’s reinstatement to the Arab League, Oman and Syria established an Oman-Syria Joint Committee. Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, visited Damascus in mid-2023—the first such visit in over 10 years—while Syria’s foreign minister, Faisal Mikdad, has more recently held discussions on strengthening bilateral ties with counterparts from Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE.

While Syria continues to participate in regional summits, including the most recent Arab League meeting in Manama, there is little question that Assad prefers dealing with neighboring states on a bilateral rather than a multilateral basis. Not least, this approach enables Assad to prioritize his diplomatic outreach. Signaling his relative disregard for Jordan’s priorities—Amman has been an especially vocal critic of the Assad regime’s involvement with the Captagon trade and is said to have led efforts to suspend the work of the Arab Liaison Committee—Jordanian-Syrian ties have been cooler than those between the regime and the Arab states in the Gulf. None of this implies that neighboring regimes have set aside their deep distrust of Assad. Indeed, the Gulf regimes prefer to define their approach to Syria as engagement or non-isolation rather than normalization. For their part, Syrian officials quietly complain about the Gulf regimes’ refusal to provide substantial financial support to Damascus.

For those who view the isolation and sanctioning of the Assad regime as a necessary response to its conduct—its documented role in mass violence and crimes against humanity that include over 300 known uses of chemical weapons, its continued refusal to provide information on the fate of more than 125,000 detainees held in a prison system that Human Rights Watch has described as a “torture archipelago,” its systematic theft of property from the forcibly displaced, its role in the Captagon trade—normalization has shown itself to be a lose-lose outcome. It rewards the regime’s criminality, erodes prospects for accountability, and facilitates sanctions avoidance. If there is a long game lurking behind this “something for nothing” strategy, it has proven exceptionally elusive.

Moreover, persisting with normalization has pernicious consequences for regional and international actors. Neighboring governments working to reduce illicit narcotics flows will be stymied by the Assad regime’s refusal to crack down on the drug trade. Similarly, there is no reason to believe that the incentives held out in exchange for normalization will persuade the Assad regime to change course and create conditions conducive to the voluntary return of refugees. In both respects, Arab governments will pay a steep price for indulging in a normalization process that has been permissive to a fault in its courtship of the Assad regime. Beyond Syria’s neighbors, the rhetoric of normalization has given license for right-wing nativist leaders in Europe to press for the return of Syrian refugees and to reject Syrians’ asylum claims. In early June, officials from seven European countries—Austria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Poland—asserted that conditions in the country had “evolved” sufficiently to reconsider the status of Syrian refugees. More recently, a German court ruled that Syria is now safe for refugee return, a finding that flies in the face of realities on the ground. 

The obvious antidote to a strategy that bestows generous benefits on the Assad regime while gaining nothing in return is to stop it. It is time for regional governments to acknowledge the futility of normalization and change course. Along with the United States and its European partners, Syria’s neighbors need to reaffirm that the Assad regime will itself, directly, pay a steep price for its continued refusal to engage, whether on refugees, Captagon, or the larger issue of a pathway out of conflict consistent with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254. The Assad regime is not normal. Its neighbors are poorly served by pretending that it is.

For its part, the United States would be well served by more assertive efforts to reverse normalization and affirm the Assad regime’s pariah status. The administration should move now, before a transition in January, to deploy the full range of diplomatic tools at its disposal—including more robust economic diplomacy through third-party sanctions—to more firmly signal its intent actively to throw sand in the gears of a deeply flawed normalization process. To date, the administration has instead largely conceded even the limited leverage that Congress gave it through the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act. It has done little more than express skepticism about normalization while making clear it would do nothing to oppose it. In March 2023, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said that the administration’s message has been “If you’re going to engage with the regime, get something for that.” With the evidence of normalization’s failure, it is past time for the administration to get off the sidelines, recover whatever leverage it can muster, push back on Senate obstruction of the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act, and make much wider use of the sanctions that President Joe Biden signed into law through the Caesar Act to deter third-parties from engaging with the Assad regime. The alternative is a continued slow-drip restoration of the Assad regime’s standing that exposes forcibly repatriated refugees to the regime’s violence, even as it enables the continued flow of Captagon out of Syria and ensures the continued suffering of ordinary Syrians.

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

The announcements about soldiers killed in Gaza keep coming, and funerals in some military cemeteries have to, once again, be queued.

There were a lot of financial question marks floating around before, at one point it was stated that over 50% of business in Israel suffered over 50% income loss. Today it seems that it's pretty much official, Israel is headed towards a financial crisis caused by a war that it did not start.

Rockets continue to hit cities, houses, and streets in Israel. Hamas fires from the south, but it has also reached by now Israel's east and north. To just give you an idea of what a rocket like this means, here's one that fell in the sea. The police was called to the scene, to blow it up in a controlled way. This is what that looked like, take note of how high the impact reaches:

Today, footage was released from the body cam of a policeman arriving at the scene of the peace party on Oct 7, where over 270 people were murdered. It's terrifying hearing his voice, as he reports the first body, the second, the fifth, turns a corner, find more bodies, looks to the stage and reports on the radio everyone there is dead, looks to the bar and reports the same, and you can hear the growing distress in his voice as he starts screaming, "Is there anyone here who is alive!?"

Hezbollah's leader gave a speech yesterday, in which he basically threw Hamas under the bus. He claimed he basically knew nothing of what Hamas was about to do on Oct 7, and also implied Hezbollah, while it will continue to attack on Israel's northern border, it will not do so on a scale that will force Israel to act with full force in Lebanon.

Israel has turned to the Parks and Nature Authority for help to locate the bodies of people still missing since Oct 7. Since Israel is a station for many birds migrating twice every year between Europe and Africa, there are many birds of prey that are tracked through transmitters placed around their legs. Since they feed off corpses, following their location in the areas hit by Hamas during the massacre helped retrieve bodies that were in more isolated natural locations (like the Be'eri Forest). The link is in Hebrew, but I'm adding it, because this seems to out there, that I thought verification might be needed. This is our new reality.

An American official confirmed that Hamas tried to smuggle some of its people out of Gaza together with the wounded and foreign nationals that were allowed to cross into Egypt.

This is Elhanan Klein, 35 years old. Last year he stopped a Palestinian terrorist, saving lives. He's the Israeli murdered in the independent terrorist attack yesterday.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[girlactionfigure]

🚨IDF BEGINS STRONG & DESTRUCTIVE ATTACKS ON BEIRUT - Updates from Israel  

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

Moadim l’Simcha from Israel - wishes for a happy Succot intermediate holy days.

( VIDEO - demolition of Hezbollah buildings near the northern border adjacent to Israeli towns. )

❗️IDF WARNING TO LEBANON - All Lebanese residents who live near Hezbollah's economic assets - evacuate immediately. We will attack tonight and tomorrow economic assets that have helped Hezbollah.  In the next few hours we will attack in Beirut and throughout Lebanon.  “Buildings will fall in Beirut.”

.. IDF spokesman in Arabic addresses the people of Lebanon and informs them that the IDF is expected to soon attack the infrastructure of the "Good Loan Association" (Al-Karch Al-Hassan), which is a recognized financial institution of Hezbollah, through which Hezbollah finances terrorist activities.

.. ATTACKS HAVE BEGUN.

.. IDF spokesman publishes in Arabic in the last 10 minutes at least 14 evacuation notices in Dahiya and the Al-Baqaa area.

▪️STRONG GPS JAMMING.. reported in parts of Israel.  Mapping apps may not work, set ALERT apps to a location instead of “where I’m at”.

▪️TERROR PREVENTED - GERMANY.. an attack on the Israeli embassy in Germany was prevented: an illegal resident from Libya, a 28-year-old ISIS supporter.

▪️A HERO COMMANDER HAS FALLEN.. in battle in Gaza: Ahsan Daxa, 41, from Daliyat al-Karmel.  May the fallen receive mercy, and may the family be honored.

▪️A NOVA SURVIVOR HAS FALLEN.. to the trauma / PTSD, ending her life on her 22nd birthday.  Nova survivor, Shiral Golan, at 22.  Her family requested the info be shared.  May her family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may G-d avenge her blood!

🔸ANXIETY / MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINES: experiencing issues? Help is available..

.. in English : Tikva Helpline by KeepOlim, call if you are struggling!  dial 074-775-1433.

.. in Hebrew & other languages (and English): Eran Emotional Support Line - dial 1201 or chat via eran.org.il  

.. Get Help Israel is offering 3 free sessions for war-related issues through vetted clinicians -  https://gethelpisrael.com/webpage/?title=israel-crisis-support-center

▪️HARRIS TO BAN?  Senator Bernie Sanders to CNN estimates that Harris will be open to accepting his proposal for a total arms embargo on Israel due to the war in Gaza.  (Although US Senator Sanders has no connection to the Harris campaign nor speaks for her.)

♦️LEBANON - IDF: Golani fighters killed about 60 terrorists in southern Lebanon, terrorist infrastructure were destroyed.

♦️LEBANON - IDF fighters continue their activity in the area of ​​southern Lebanon: many weapons and launchers were destroyed, including the launcher from which the launches towards the north of the country were detected earlier today.

🔹LEBANESE SPEAKER SAYS.. Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Navia Berri: I am authorized to speak on behalf of Hezbollah and it agrees to abide by UN Resolution 1701.

🔹THAAD.. The American THAAD system for intercepting ballistic missiles became operational today in Israel.

🔹SYRIAN PRESIDENT SAYS.. Syrian President Assad conveyed messages to Iran and Hezbollah not to embroil him in a war with Israel and warned that offensive actions from Syria towards Israel could endanger his rule.

▪️THOSE WHO WOULD GIVE UP.. Hundreds of academics signed a petition calling for sanctions to be imposed on Israel in order to save Israel from the Israelis who are interested in continuing the "Gaza massacre". The petition was also signed by MK Ofer Kasif, activists of the organization B'Tselem and Peace Now.

✡️A word of Torah: Crying is very bad; one must serve G‑d with joy.  The only exception is when you cry from joy and bonding with G‑d. Then it is very good. —Tzava’at Harivash 45.

♦️BEIRUT EVAC, HEZBOLLAH THREATENS, HOUTHIS (possibly) LAUNCH - Updates from Israel  

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

Moadim l’Simcha from Israel - wishes for a happy Succot intermediate holy days.

▪️FAKE VISUALS.. within a few minutes of the IDF spokesperson threats, videos of explosions were already appearing on various channels.  THE VIDEOS WERE from 6 days ago - so FAKE NEWS.  We’re sure Beirut videos will be shared, but the real ones are not out yet.

.. Videos of Beirut traffic jams as people evacuate - those appear to be real and semi-live.  

▪️GUNFIRE MODI’IN.. Following inquiries from residents about the sounds of gunshots heard throughout the city, the issue was investigated, and it is training being carried out at the military facility near the city.

♦️LEBANON - Enemy report: a massive movement of people fleeing Beirut has begun - following the IDF's threats to attack al-Qard al-Hassan facilities used by Hezbollah.

.. Hezbollah's "Good Loan" association has 31 branches throughout Lebanon, of which 14 are in Beirut, 10 in southern Lebanon and 6 in the Beqaa area.

♦️LEBANON - The government hospital in Baalbak began to evacuate after the IDF spokesman's announcement in Arabic.

♦️LEBANON - Six more sites have been added to the IDF's evacuation orders, 24 at the moment.

♦️GAZA - A strong attack is also reported in the north of the Gaza Strip.

🔹HEZBOLLAH COUNTER-THREATENS.. Hezbollah threatens through American intermediaries: "Israel will make the mistake of attacking our economic assets, we will be forced to escalate and launch precision missiles at the banks in the center of the entity”.

🔹UNIFIL ALERT.. Sirens sounding at UNFIL Naquora - Lebanon, Level (3): Extreme Danger.

⭕MULTIPLE ROUNDS of SUICIDE DRONE attacks on NAHARIYA from HEZBOLLAH.  No casualties reported.

❗️(unconfirmed) Reports of LAUNCHES by the HOUTHIS - YEMEN.  If ballistic missiles, we’ll know within 15 minutes as alerts come in.  If cruise missiles, in a hour.  Drones much longer (2-6 hours).  The ballistic missiles are low volume but high flying, so result in a very wide alert area due to possible falling debris from interception.

🇺🇸The Jerusalem Post: "The Biden government leaked to the Iranian government Israel's plan to attack Iran and gave the exact date it would be carried out and the targets of the attack."

Part 2

⚠️ ESCALATING ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES AND PREPARATIONS FOR A MAJOR ATTACK ON IRAN AMID INCREASING THREATS FROM HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN-BACKED FORCES

🚨 US Army convoy, including THAAD systems, is moving around Be'er Sheva, Central Israel. The convoy also includes fuel tankers and generators.

💥 Intense Israeli airstrikes target the southern suburbs of Beirut, including a strike on the main entrance of Al-Manar TV headquarters, affiliated with Hezbollah.

🔴 Israeli military spokesman Hagari stated, "We have drawn up attack plans targeting every place in the Middle East that poses a threat to us."

🔴 An Israeli security official revealed to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority that Israel is preparing for a major attack on Iran and is ready to repel any subsequent Iranian responses.

💩 Iranian military sources to "Tasnim" News Agency warned, "Our finger is on the trigger, and the biggest surprise awaits the Israelis." They added that if Israel attacks military or nuclear sites, Iran's response would be "certain and beyond Israeli expectations," potentially leading Iran to reconsider its nuclear policies.

❗️ Donald Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, regarding a strike on Iran, "You do what you have to do."

⭕ The IDF confirmed that a drone launched from Iraq towards Israel was shot down over Syria before entering Israeli airspace. The drone was intercepted without any sirens being sounded. The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the drone attack on a target in the Golan Heights.

Source: t.me

[opencommunion]

"In accordance with the program of their 1968 second congress, the Lebanese communists considered Lebanon as a capitalist country with bourgeois relations of production prevailing in most sectors, including agriculture. But in spite of its relatively advanced level of development in the region, Lebanon still remained dependent on foreign capital: it was a country with distorted social and economic structures, with the service sector dominant over the main and vitally needed productive sectors. According to the congress, the attempted reforms by the big bourgeoisie forces were doomed to failure because 'they did not get at the root and main causes of the crisis: the supremacy of the financial oligarchy, which fully controlled the economic and political destiny of the country, and the dependence of the Lebanese economy on neocolonialism.'

The necessary task ahead was therefore to 'establish national democratic power and complete the stage of the general democratic struggle, preparing the ground for the transition to socialism.' The party called for setting up 'a national democratic regime representing the alliance of the workers, peasants, urban petty bourgeoisie, revolutionary intellectuals and those sections of the middle bourgeoisie linked with domestic industrial and agricultural production.' If it gained power, such a regime would liquidate the assets of foreign (predominantly American) monopoly capital, nationalize the holdings of Lebanese financial capital, establish a public sector assuming control of foreign trade, develop the industrial sector, and enact farreaching agrarian reforms." Tareq Y. Ismael and Jacqueline S. Ismael, The Communist Movement in Syria and Lebanon (1998)

[fandomtrumpshate]

2024 Supported Org: Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA)

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza reached a boiling point this past October, and continues to take a toll on civilian lives - many of them children. But families and children in Gaza and throughout the Middle East have been living in unsafe and impoverished conditions for decades. In areas lacking basic infrastructure to support healthy communities, conflict at any scale has an outsized impact.

The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) works to protect the rights and improve the lives of children in the Middle East through aid, empowerment and education. Based in Berkeley, California, MECA operates both in the Middle East to provide direct humanitarian aid and services, and in the US and internationally to raise awareness about the lives of children in the region and encourages meaningful action.

MECA's work in the Middle East includes:

Direct aid including food, medicine, medical supplies, and clothes as well as books, toys and school supplies. Since 1988, we have sent more than $31 million in aid to children in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon

Financial support and professional assistance to community organizations in the West Bank and Gaza that help meet Palestinian children’s needs, including clinics, kindergartens, counseling centers, libraries; accessible parks and playgrounds; sports teams, and dance, music and art programs

University scholarships for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank

You can support MECA as a creator in the 2024 FTH auction (or as a bidder, when the time comes to donate for the auctions you’ve won.)

[magz]

Palestine Summary June 13 to June 27, 2024. From LetsTalkPalestine. (Part 1, June 13 to 19. Part 2 in reblog)

Related Helpful Links: [LetsTalkPalestine Links (including vetted information sources)] [gazafunds.com] [eSims for Gaza] [UNRWA] [Decolonize Palestine, learning basics and debunking myths]

Summary Quote:

June 13

Day 251

‼️ IOF killed 3 Palestinians in raid on Jenin (West Bank), incl. 2 by IOF attack on home w/ missiles & bulldozing 

•⁠ 30 Palestinians killed, 105 injured in past day 

🤐 Israel’s military chief held secret meeting w/ military leaders from Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan & Egypt 

💰 Israel seized $35m of Palestinian Authority tax revenue from West Bank Palestinians to transfer to Israelis — likely destabilizing the PA & cause financial crisis. Background on PA: https://tinyurl.com/3fmhaav3

🇱🇧 Hezbollah launched round of attacks incl. firing 150 missiles & ambushed IOF army vehicle killing soldiers inside as tensions escalate after Israel killed senior Hezbollah commander

•⁠ Central Gaza: Israel attacked “designated humanitarian zone” al-Mawasi by air, land & sea. More attacks on Nuseirat kills 4 & injures 10 + separate attack killed 1 & injured 7

•⁠ Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City (north) kills 7 in Daraj; kills 1 in Zeitoon; kills 3 women in Shati

June 14.

Day 252

‼️ Israeli-made starvation ‘returns’ to north Gaza as Israel imposes harsher aid blockade since early May, this time causing even more dire conditions yet receiving less coverage. 200,000+ kids have shown symptoms of malnutrition

•⁠ 34 Palestinians killed, 71 injured in Gaza in past day 

🔻 Hamas claims blew up house w/ IOF soldiers inside in Gaza City (north), killing & wounding them + targeted IOF tank west of Rafah

•⁠ Hamas announced Israeli airstrike on Rafah killed 2 Israeli captives

🇺🇸 US sanctions Israeli group (Tzav 9) known for facilitating the blocking & damaging of aid trucks going to Gaza

•⁠ Central Gaza: IOF fired at fishing boats northwest of Khan Younis, killing 2. Strike on home in Deir el-Balah killed 2 & injured 4

•⁠ West Bank: IOF injured 12 y/o amid raid on el-Bireh + IOF abduct 13 y/o in Jenin raid

🇱🇧 Amid rising tensions, Hezbollah fired 60+ projectile+ + Israel air raided south Lebanon killing 1 woman, injuring 7

June 15.

Day 253

🔻 8 IOF soldiers killed by Hamas ambush in Rafah, most successful attack on Israeli forces in months. Another soldier killed separately in Rafah

•⁠ 30 Palestinians killed, 95 wounded in Gaza in the past 24 hours

•⁠ Israeli raid on Gaza City (north) targets 3 homes killing 19+ Palestinians incl. a baby & injured 50

🛳️ US pier to be temporarily removed again due to expected high waves & stormy seas, halting its aid delivery

•⁠ 50,000+ children in Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition due to Israel’s aid blockade 

💧⁠ 1 million people in south Gaza trapped without clean water & sanitation

•⁠ 9 dead Palestinians found buried under rubble in Rafah after various Israeli airstrikes. IOF bulldozers demolish homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes west of Rafah

•⁠ West Bank: Israeli forces shot & killed Palestinian teen amid raid of Nablus (West Bank); IOF withdraw from Beita (near Nablus) raid after storming homes & threw tear gas; IOF injured 2 & abducted 1 during raid of Ramallah

June 16.

Day 254 - Eid 

🕌 Israel restricted access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Eid. IOF assaulted many worshippers

•⁠ 41 Palestinians killed, 102 injured in Gaza in past 24 hours

•⁠ Israeli army to have ‘daily tactical pauses’ on main road in Rafah to allow aid delivery, clarifying doesn’t mean stop to ‘fighting’. Netanyahu reportedly wasn’t told of the decision & expressed disapproval. Implementing pauses not guaranteed. Bombings continue on Rafah, 2 killed & targeting responding ambulances

•⁠ Central Gaza: Israel targeted home in Bureij killing 9 incl. 5 kids + bomb homes in al-Mughraqa

🔻 2 more IOF soldiers killed in tank explosion in north Gaza yesterday. 1 other soldier killed in Rafah

West Bank:

•⁠ Settlers raid homes & assault residents injuring 1 in Al-Jubiyah; set fire to Palestinian land in Nablus; attacked cars in Ramallah

•⁠ IOF raid Tubas, fired at civilians injured 1 + abducted 3. IOF detained 7 y/o boy near Ramallah 

•⁠ IOF abduct 69 Palestinians in past week

June 17.

Day 255

•⁠ Despite announced “tactical pauses” of attacks for aid trucks, IOF massacred 8+ Palestinians waiting for trucks in Rafah & continued shelling across Rafah killing 2. Only 8 aid trucks entered south Gaza today (minimum is 500/day)

•⁠ 10 Palestinians killed, 73 injured in Gaza in last 24 hours. Likely underreported 

•⁠ IOF fully raze east Rafah, destroying homes & farmland + destroyed Rafah crossing departure hall to keep it non-operational

🇬🇧 UK arms export licenses to Israel drop >95% since Oct

🐀 Netanyahu dissolves 6-seat war cabinet

•⁠ IOF says it has control of 60% of Rafah, but contradicted by ongoing fierce clashes w/ Hamas & Saturday ambush that killed 8 soldiers

🥺 IOF in “urgent need for more troops”, creating new division for age 40+

⛺️ London School of Economics 1st British uni to evict pro-Palestine encampment. Despite less media coverage, encampments are still spreading across UK & world

•⁠ Gaza City (north): attack on home killed 2, injured 13; another attack killed 3

June 18.

Day 256

‼️ AP: several families in Gaza have been fully wiped out since Oct. Over 60 families had 25+ members killed

•⁠ 25 Palestinians killed, 80 injured in past day

•⁠ Israel bombed Nuseirat overnight killing 17 in 2 separate attacks on buildings housing displaced families + injured taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital that faces lack of fuel, medical supplies & capacity

🇫🇷 Court overturns gov’t ban on Israeli firms at a big French arms fair, said ban is discriminatory. Israeli arms leader admits ban still hurt Israel’s image

🔻 Fierce clashes in Rafah; Hamas claims launching series of attacks on IOF HQ + targeted 2 IOF tanks

West Bank: 

•⁠ Israeli settler attack by throwing stones at vehicle in Jericho injuring passengers + another attack in Nablus injured 2 Palestinians

•⁠ IOF shot & killed man in Bethlehem; shot 3 young men in Hebron; beat up 46 y/o man at Tubas checkpoint

•⁠ IOF abducted a dozen Palestinians in raid on Nablus & interrogated them overnight + abducted 16 y/o in Hebron

June 19. Day 257

•⁠ Israel bombed group of aid seekers near Karem Abu Salem crossing in Rafah, killing 9+ & injuring 30+. 2 Palestinians also killed in west Rafah. While heavy shelling on tents in 'safe zone' al-Mawasi killed 7+ where many fled from Rafah

•⁠ 24 Palestinians killed, 71 injured in Gaza yesterday

🇱🇧 IOF approved military plan for an offensive on south Lebanon, US vows to back Israel

🇩🇪 Germany's intel agency labels BDS movement as 'suspected extremist'

•⁠ Airstrikes & IOF vehicles targeted homes in Nuseirat killing 5+

💧 Conditions in north Gaza worsen due to lack of water as Israeli forces destroyed all water wells & hindered water aid distribution

•⁠ Multiple airstrikes on Gaza City (north) incl. bombing home in Sabra neighborhood killing several & trapping many under rubble. 2 also killed by drone strike

West Bank:

•⁠ IOF abducted 90 people during Eid, incl. children & women

•⁠ IOF shot 4 Palestinians amid raid on Qalqiliya, incl. 2 teens & elderly

[wordsmithic]

Hello ! About your post on how greeks arent western, do greeks really considers themselves closer to levantine/north africans than to northern europeans ? Most of the greeks i've seen were adamants that they had way more in common with england or sweden than lebanon or syria and most of you dislike muslims so greeks actually feeling more connected to non euro mediterraneans than others europeans and hanging out with them bc of perceived similarities is really surprising.

(My apologies if you got my ask multiple time my wifi was having a stroke)

I think Greeks who claim we are closer to NW Europeans refer mostly to the social aspect of things, probably to the situation of Human Rights and views of women and minorities. That's what my experience has shown me, at least.

They also forget that they eat roasted lamb on Easter and dance kalamatiano on full volume with their family outside the whole day, or go to a pazari for the festivity of a saint and eat souvlaki, or watch people jump over the fire at festivities, and scream every time they see their grandma putting semedakia everywhere 😂 (stuff closer to the Middle Eastern life) When they have grown up with singers like Sharbel (Lebanese Greek-Cypriot) and Arash (Iranian-Swedish) and songs which are covers with 50 more versions across the Middle East!!!

The latest trend in Greece is to try to be more like the US and NW Europeans culture-wise (Americanization is a big thing here, and it was discussed also in Greek school). This includes seeing traditional Greek culture as barbaric/rural and being ashamed of it. Hence why many Greeks conveniently forget that part of their culture when they compare their daily life to a foreigner's.

Due to the Americanization and turn of Greece toward the EU, many Greeks have not learned about Middle Eastern cultures and actually tend to believe US propaganda which paints Eastern countries as savage backwaters. I've met grown Greeks who think Iran is still at war with Iraq, for example. But they don't know that Iran is actually friendly with Greece (as a Greek you can get an Iranian visa pretty fast), that Greece bought cheap oil from them during our financial crisis, and they also have a cultural center and an embassy in Athens.

Greeks who feel closer to NW Europeans tend to be misinformed about Eastern cultures. I don't think they have taken into account factors like the multitude of common phrases and basic words, our common ways of politeness (how to bring gifts and how to have complicated rituals of politeness like tarof), common ways of receiving guests and honoring other people, same traditional coffee + 90% of our dishes being the same, similar dances, instruments, fairytales, legends, symbolism like the pomegranate, etc.

I don't personally know the Greeks you've spoken to but the attitude of some Greeks when it comes to Eastern cultures is "wait, do you imply that we are like them??" And then you show them how the other culture actually looks like and they're like "huuuh! I had no idea!" Also, last time I checked, NW (Catholic, Protestant, etc) churches didn't have a balcony for women but guess which do: Greek orthodox churches (it's called γυναικωνίτης) and mosques!

Some have not even thought of our similarities until they go abroad and find themselves suddenly vibing and having fun with Arabs and Turks (bonus points for historical jokes). And Lebanon?? The Lebanese are like Greeks 2.0 in appearance, customs (especially with the Christian population), songs, food, family etc. When I first discovered videos of a Lebanese youtuber (shoutout to Mark Hachem) I initially thought his family was Greek-Lebanese from all the similarities. You would have Pascha or a wedding with a Lebanese family and you wouldn't know they were of another ethnicity until you tried to speak to each other 😂

Something else to consider: Greeks say all the time how NW Europeans are not open, how they don't have proper nightlife and don't enjoy their lives, how their cuisine sucks, their dances are silly, they drink without meter, they are too strict, they don't want to be open to other cultures and speak to foreigners in English, they take too long to form friendships, they are very set in their ways. I don't mean that this is true for every single NW European. I only mean that these are basic cultural things that Greeks (with their own biases) recognize as different from theirs to the degree of dislike. How come then that so many Greeks criticize NW Europeans for such basic elements of life, and yet they see themselves to be just like them? Isn't that contradictory?

It's true that in Greece, Afghanis, Syrians, Iranians, Pakistanis, and other Middle Easterners are not seen in the best way but this is mostly because they are "the poor immigrants". You won't be shocked to learn that in Middle Eastern countries they also look down upon their own "poor immigrants" who "bring crime and take jobs". So I would say this is a worldwide phenomenon. In Greece, there's always the historical trauma from our former Muslim conquerors/slavers/genociders (search about the amele taburu) and Erdogan who is quite provocative, but modern socioeconomic barriers and political biases play a much bigger role in how Greeks approach their neighbors. I don't see Greeks having such a problem with rich Arabs from the UAE who buy Greek land, bring their yachts, and close off hotels for their parties, in spite of the larger cultural and religious differences 😉

It's not that we cannot have fun with NW Europeans or that we have nothing in common. Many Greeks have comfortably made a new life in the UK, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Germany etc. Many NW Europeans are a pleasure to befriend as a Greek. And there are various levels of similarities with Western countries depending on the country. With some Greek friends were were saying the other day how we can more easily share a life philosophy with people from the UK and France than the US, for example. (The US is more isolated and far) Of course, we are more likely to feel quite close to South Italians, Spanish, and Portuguese people because we are all around the Mediterranean basin.

Hopefully I covered you and I didn't bloat your liver too much with such a wall of text 😂 Have a great day, or night!

[birds-are-really-nice]

Hello there! My large Gaza family is filled with love and warmth, and losing them is a tremendous loss. I appreciate your efforts and time in reading my plea. I never expected to find myself in this situation.It is incredibly challenging to navigate these circumstances as an independent woman proud of her financial independence, finding herself in this dire situation.I understand the value of every donation and the effort behind it. I assure you that all funds will be strictly used for the evacuation of my sisters and my parents. I will personally bear any additional expenses incurred.Your support will make a significant difference in alleviating the suffering of my family and ensuring that my sisters and my parents receive the care they urgently need. As time ticking away translates to lives lost in Gaza I'm here and ready to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Don't hesitate to reach out and connect with me

This is literally an AI generated copy and paste of your pinned post, and has already been called out for being a scam. This applies to everyone, it’s honestly pathetic and disgusting to use the suffering of others and a literal genocide to profit off of and taking the money that could have been put towards an actual charity from those wanting to help actual people being literally slaughtered. If anyone reading sees this post, please ignore it as it is a scam, and if you really want to help, donate to a real genuine charity, such as:

https://www.pcrf.net/

I also encourage you to do your own research on charities if you want to donate, and at the very least, educate yourself about what’s happening in Gaza and Palestine - Israel conflict

[unpluggedfinancial]

Bitcoin: The Dawn of a New Digital Age

Throughout history, transformative technologies have reshaped society by dismantling barriers and expanding human potential. The printing press democratized knowledge during the Renaissance, while the internet revolutionized information sharing in our time. Bitcoin represents the next step in this evolution—a technology that could fundamentally transform our financial system, though not without important challenges to consider.

The Current Financial Landscape

Today's financial system faces significant challenges. In Venezuela, where inflation exceeded 200% in 2023, citizens watched their savings evaporate within months. In Lebanon, banks imposed strict withdrawal limits during the financial crisis, effectively trapping people's money. Meanwhile, approximately 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked globally, unable to access basic financial services due to geographical, economic, or political barriers.

Bitcoin's Practical Solutions

Bitcoin offers concrete solutions to these challenges. During Venezuela's hyperinflation, thousands of citizens converted their bolivars to Bitcoin, preserving their purchasing power despite the national currency's collapse. In Afghanistan, where women face restrictions on banking access, organizations like Code to Inspire have used Bitcoin to pay female programmers, circumventing traditional barriers.

The technology's core features enable these solutions:

Decentralization: No single entity can freeze accounts or block transactions.

Programmability: Smart contracts enable transparent, automated financial services.

Borderless nature: Transfers work the same whether sending money across the street or across continents.

Fixed supply: The 21 million coin limit provides a hedge against inflation.

Real-World Impact and Adoption

The adoption of Bitcoin as a practical tool is already showing promising results:

El Salvador's Bitcoin adoption has enabled faster, cheaper remittances for its citizens.

The Lightning Network processes millions of small Bitcoin transactions daily, with fees under a cent.

Companies like Strike are using Bitcoin's rails to enable instant, nearly free cross-border payments.

However, significant challenges remain:

Price volatility makes Bitcoin a risky store of value in the short term.

Energy consumption of Bitcoin mining raises environmental concerns.

Technical complexity creates adoption barriers for many users.

Regulatory uncertainty in many jurisdictions.

The Path Forward

Rather than an instant golden age, Bitcoin's impact will likely unfold gradually:

Near term (1-5 years):

Continued integration with traditional financial systems.

Improved user interfaces and education.

Development of clearer regulatory frameworks.

Growth of Lightning Network adoption for small payments.

Medium term (5-10 years):

Stabilization of price volatility as market matures.

Broader institutional adoption.

More energy-efficient mining through renewable energy.

Integration with Internet of Things and autonomous systems.

Long term (10+ years):

Potential emergence as a global neutral settlement layer.

Evolution of new economic models enabled by programmable money.

Reduction of financial inequality through broader access.

Development of currently unimagined applications.

A Balanced Revolution

Bitcoin represents not just a new form of money, but a fundamental upgrade to how value moves and is stored in our digital age. While it won't solve all financial problems or create utopia, it offers real solutions to pressing challenges in our current system.

The true revolution lies not in overnight transformation, but in Bitcoin's steady empowerment of individuals. From the Venezuelan preserving their savings to the Afghan woman accessing the global economy, Bitcoin is already changing lives in measurable ways.

As we move forward, success will require:

Thoughtful development of the technology.

Balanced regulation that protects while innovating.

Focus on real-world problems and solutions.

Recognition of both possibilities and limitations.

The dawn of this new digital age isn't about blind optimism—it's about building pragmatic solutions to real problems. Bitcoin may not create a perfect world, but it offers tools to build a better one, one block at a time.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

Support the Cause

If you enjoyed what you read and believe in the mission of spreading awareness about Bitcoin, I would greatly appreciate your support. Every little bit helps keep the content going and allows me to continue educating others about the future of finance.

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[mindsandpens]

🌍 The World is Shifting Faster Than You Think: This Week's Key Geopolitical Headlines You Can’t Ignore

Another week brings another set of crises that the world seems content to ignore. From Israel's covert pager bombings across Lebanon and Damascus to Russia's steady march in Ukraine, the global stage is far from settling down. Here's what you need to know before the next big thing comes along and distracts everyone again.

1. Israel-Hezbollah: The Unofficial War Begins 3,000 pagers mysteriously explode across Lebanon and Syria, killing 16 and injuring over 2,750. Hezbollah blames Israel, and honestly, they're not wrong. With Netanyahu openly expanding the Gaza war's goals, it's clear this is part of a bigger plan. Now, Iran might just get dragged in. How long before the U.S. joins the fray?

2. Russia-Ukraine: The War Drags On Ukraine’s eastern front is teetering on collapse. Russian forces inch closer to Pokrovsk while Kyiv makes bold but disastrous missteps. The battle for Kursk was supposed to be a victory, but it's turned into another reminder of Ukraine’s strategic mismanagement. Meanwhile, Western aid pours in—but for how long?

3. Sri Lanka’s Political Reset A nation crippled by economic collapse votes on its future. This isn't just about electing a new president—it's a referendum on the government’s bungling of the worst financial crisis in its history. Can a leader emerge from this quagmire? Or will the dynasties that drove the country into chaos reclaim power?

These events are not just headlines—they're the shifting gears of a world in motion, and it's time you took note. For the full deep dive into these stories and more, head to my latest World Brief on Substack.

📍 Get your weekly dose of sharp, no-nonsense foreign policy analysis, conflict insights, and global economy trends. Read the full brief here.