Ok, we’ll be watching the #eclipse from Shelbyville, Indiana (#GEZ) tomorrow. A nominal fee includes lunch. Probably spend the night in Madison (#MSN) prior to returning to Minneapolis (#MIC) Tuesday.
#Noraway v Spain / Close the Norwegian Weapons Loophole; Spain's lies about ending arms to 'Israel' exposed
[...] Norwegian law says that no Norwegian weapons shall be sold to countries at war, or where there is a threat of war. Even though, Norwegian produced weapons end up in Gaza. Why? Well, because the law only applies to weapons produced on Norwegian soil. Norwegian arm producing companies have factories in many countries in addition to Norway, such as Spain and the United States. Here, the control is weaker and consequently Norwegian arms end up in countries at war, nevertheless.
[...] Data on the official foreign trade portal Comex analyzed by Center Delàs researcher Alejandro Pozo and verified by elDiario reveal that Spain exported weapons to "Israel" worth 987,000 euros.
#MIC / The 2023 financial reports revealed a record-breaking year for Israel's state-owned aerospace and defense giants like Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Their success was fueled by surging global demand for military equipment amid the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
IAI announced its highest-ever annual sales of $5.3 billion, a 7% increase from 2022, with net profits soaring 49% to $318 million. Its order backlog swelled to $18 billion thanks to the conflicts.
According to the Swedish #SIPRI institute's report on the world's 100 largest arms companies, #Elbit ranked 24th, #IAI 35th, and #Rafael 42nd in 2022 sales - not yet reflecting the full impact of the Gaza war revenues.
The report highlights how the aerospace giants, including former Labor party leader Amir Peretz who chairs IAI with a $125,000 monthly salary, have profited immensely from the surge in global arms trading driven by the region's wars.
Israel's well-established defense exporters capitalized on heightened military spending, solidifying their positions among the world's largest weapons manufacturers dominated by U.S. corporations like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
#Netherlands / Future of Dutch arms sales to Israel to be decided today
The Hague Court of Appeal will announce its verdict in the case brought by Oxfam Novib, PAX and The Rights Forum against the Dutch government regarding the delivery of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
Other EU countries like Wallonia and Spain have already decided to stop arms exports to Israel due to the risk of contributing to serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The NGOs are confident ahead of the verdict, but regret that legal action was necessary. They warn about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in #Gaza with disease and acute hunger outbreaks amidst ongoing bombings and fighting. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed "total victory."
The NGOs criticize the contradiction of the Netherlands providing medical aid while also supplying F-35 parts used to bomb Gaza, saying this narrative cannot be justified.
#Netherlands / Future of Dutch arms sales to Israel to be decided today
The Hague Court of Appeal will announce its verdict in the case brought by Oxfam Novib, PAX and The Rights Forum against the Dutch government regarding the delivery of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
Other EU countries like Wallonia and Spain have already decided to stop arms exports to Israel due to the risk of contributing to serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The NGOs are confident ahead of the verdict, but regret that legal action was necessary. They warn about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in #Gaza with disease and acute hunger outbreaks amidst ongoing bombings and fighting. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed "total victory."
The NGOs criticize the contradiction of the Netherlands providing medical aid while also supplying F-35 parts used to bomb Gaza, saying this narrative cannot be justified.
Military Contractors Are Framing the Israeli War on Gaza as a Win for Investors
“I think really across the entire Raytheon portfolio, you’re going to see a benefit of this restocking,” said Hayes. “On top of what we think is going to be an increase in DOD [Department of Defense funding] top line.”
it will eventually lead to additional orders, most likely. Our focus right now is: How do we support the Israeli Defense Force?
The Americans are Unleashing Monsters They Have No Idea How to Contain
most Americans wildly detached from the genocidal foreign policy being carried out in their names.
a significant proportion of the population is being permanently disabled by long Covid.
millions of Vietnamese nationalists were slaughtered. The war left three and one-half million Vietnamese dead and the land poisoned with Agent Orange. It finally ended in 1975.
Exposes the Horror of the US’s Endless, Invisible Wars
framework for understanding geopolitical crises and the enduring costs of militarism.
.“Ukraine is a laboratory” for the future of warfare: “a center-stage, relentless and unprecedented effort to fine-tune, adapt and improve [artificial intelligence]-enabled… systems.”
Mobilizing AI software, companies such as Planet Labs and BlackSky Technology provide intelligence to soldiers in real time
Ello ELLO (clips.twitch.tv)
Watch roflgator's clip titled "Ello ELLO"
Nice mic Bobe (clips.twitch.tv)