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Muslim, European FMs to meet in Madrid on Israel-Palestine two-state solution today

Muslim, European FMs to meet in Madrid on Israel-Palestine two-state solution today

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Muslim, European FMs to meet in Madrid on Israel-Palestine two-state solution today – Tribune UK
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The foreign ministers of several Muslim and European countries will meet in Madrid on Friday to discuss how to implement a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Spanish and Norwegian governments said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares will host the meeting, which will be attended by his European counterparts, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, and members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group for Gaza.

The two-state solution set out in the 1991 Madrid Conference and the 1993-95 Oslo Accords has long been seen by the international community as the best way to settle the decades-long conflict, but the peace process has been moribund for years.

However, the search for a peaceful solution has been given new urgency by the 11-month-long war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas – the bloodiest episode yet in the overall conflict – as well as escalating violence in the occupied West Bank.

On May 28, Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognised a unified Palestinian state ruled by the Palestinian Authority comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital. With them, 146 of the 193 member states of the United Nations now recognise Palestinian statehood.

Flooding death toll climbs after delayed warning from Myanmar junta – myanmar-now

Flooding death toll climbs after delayed warning from Myanmar junta – myanmar-now

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Flooding death toll climbs after delayed warning from Myanmar junta – myanmar-now
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Excerpt:

More than 60 have died this week in floods caused by Typhoon Yagi in various parts of Myanmar, with most of the confirmed deaths occurring between Mandalay and the junta’s administrative capital of Naypyitaw, according to rescue workers.

Heavy rains started in and near Tachileik, eastern Shan State on Monday, causing floods by the next day. Flooding also occurred in Myawaddy, Karen State and in southern Shan State over the next few days.

Since Thursday, flooding has impacted Mandalay Region’s Kyaukse, Myittha, Pyawbwe, Thazi and Yamethin townships along the road from Mandalay to Naypyitaw, as well as Pyinmana, Tatkon, and Zayathiri townships in the Naypyitaw Union Territory, rescue workers said.

10 people have died in the floods in Yamethin Township, according to the rescue workers, with as many as 200 missing and feared dead after dozens were carried off in floodwaters in rural villages. In Pyawbwe Township, 15 people are reported missing and three bodies have been recovered, they said.

Israel seeking to close down Unrwa, says agency’s chief after school bombing | United Nations– www.theguardian.com

Israel seeking to close down Unrwa, says agency’s chief after school bombing | United Nations– www.theguardian.com

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Israel seeking to close down Unrwa, says agency’s chief after school bombing | United Nations– www.theguardian.com
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A campaign is under way to drive the UN relief agency for Palestinians, Unrwa, out of existence, its commissioner general has said, days after 18 people were killed when Israeli jets bombed an Unrwa school in Gaza.

Philippe Lazzarini said in an interview that the Israeli government was seeking to close down the agency, having failed to persuade western donors to stop funding it on the grounds of allegations about links between Unrwa staff and Hamas.

“This deliberate attempt to eliminate Unrwa and prevent it from operating would have devastating consequences for the multilateral system, the UN and the cause of a Palestinian transition to self-determination,” Lazzarini said.

Vance says Trump’s plan to end the war would likely force Ukraine to give up land, NATO aspirations– www.washingtonexaminer.com

Vance says Trump’s plan to end the war would likely force Ukraine to give up land, NATO aspirations– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Vance says Trump’s plan to end the war would likely force Ukraine to give up land, NATO aspirations– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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VANCE’S VISION OF UKRAINE PEACE: Former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), has laid out a vision of how he expects Trump’s plan to bring the war in Ukraine to a quick end will play out, and it’s pretty much everything Russian President Vladimir Putin could have hoped for.

Trump has repeatedly refused to say he wants Ukraine to win but has promised to end the war as soon as he wins the November election — before he actually takes office. “I will get that settled and fast, and I’ll get the war with Ukraine and Russia ended,” Trump said at this week’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. “If I’m president-elect, I’ll get it done before even becoming president.”

“I think what this looks like is, Trump sits down, he says to the Russians, the Ukrainians, the Europeans, you guys need to figure out, ‘what does a peaceful settlement look like?’” Vance said in a podcast interview Thursday with former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan.

“And what it probably looks like is something like the current line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine — that becomes like a demilitarized zone, it’s heavily fortified so the Russians don’t invade again,” Vance said. “Ukraine retains its independent sovereignty. Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine, it doesn’t join NATO, it doesn’t join you know some of these sort of allied institutions. And I think that’s ultimately what this looks like.”

Is Labour teetering on the edge of a rental market collapse?

Is Labour teetering on the edge of a rental market collapse?

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Is Labour teetering on the edge of a rental market collapse? – Property Reporter
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Excerpt:

“It seems that our new Labour government is picking up where its predecessors left off within the rental market landscape, driving legislative changes designed to deter landlords from the sector”
– Jonathan Samuels – Octane Capital

With Labour planning a capital gains tax attack on landlords in the Autumn Statement, Octane Capital commissioned a survey of UK landlords to gauge current sentiment within the sector.

The survey found that no less than 66% said they had already reduced the size of their investment portfolio in the last year, with reduced profitability due to previous legislative changes cited as the primary reason for these reductions.

The proposed rental market reform which includes the ban on Section 21 Notices also placed highly along with the inevitable increase in age, as many approach retirement.

52% of those surveyed also stated that when it came to their investment into the rental market, they feel less confident under the new Labour government and as many as 75% said that they are concerned that the current government may equalise capital gains tax in line with current income tax thresholds in the upcoming Autumn Statement.

U.S. moves USS Theodore Roosevelt from Middle East, leaving USS Abraham Lincoln as sole carrier in vicinity

U.S. moves USS Theodore Roosevelt from Middle East, leaving USS Abraham Lincoln as sole carrier in vicinity

pgnewser September 13, 2024

U.S. moves USS Theodore Roosevelt from Middle East, leaving USS Abraham Lincoln as sole carrier in vicinity – 13 News Now
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Excerpt:

WASHINGTON — The United States has reduced the number of aircraft carriers it has stationed in the Middle East,

The Pentagon announced Thursday that it has moved USS Theodore Roosevelt from the region. That decision leaves the U.S. with just one carrier in the vicinity: USS Abraham Lincoln.

Both carriers have been in place since August 23 to provide presence, as Israel continues its war with Hamas.

“Following a period of dual carrier coverage by the Theodore Roosevelt CSG and the Abraham Lincoln CSG in the CENTCOM region, the Theodore Rosevelt has departed and begun its transit into the Indo-Pacific area of operations,” said Major General Pat Ryder, Department of Defense Press Secretary.

China raising its retirement age may be unpopular but it’s much needed, analysts say– www.cnbc.com

China raising its retirement age may be unpopular but it’s much needed, analysts say– www.cnbc.com

pgnewser September 13, 2024

China raising its retirement age may be unpopular but it’s much needed, analysts say– www.cnbc.com
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Excerpt:

China’s top legislative body passed an official plan Friday to begin incrementally raising the nation’s statutory retirement age from Jan. 1 of next year and concluding in 2040, according to Chinese state media.

The final goal of the roughly 15-year plan is to raise the retirement age by three years for men to 63 years old, five years for women that work in factories from 50 to 55 and three years for women that work in white-collar jobs from 55 to 58.

The reforms are “overdue and very much welcome,” Erica Tay, director of macro research at Maybank Investment Banking Group, told CNBC.

China has been grappling with a shrinking workforce and looming pension budget shortfalls that could significantly damage the economy.

Viktor Orban praises Germany for leading the EU in major migrant crackdown | World | News– www.express.co.uk

Viktor Orban praises Germany for leading the EU in major migrant crackdown | World | News– www.express.co.uk

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Viktor Orban praises Germany for leading the EU in major migrant crackdown | World | News– www.express.co.uk
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Hungary’s Viktor Orban praised his liberal German counterpart Olaf Scholz for cracking down on migrants. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stunned his pro-EU allies after unveiling strict border rules which will allow for a “massive step-up in rejections” of asylum seekers.

Mr Orban whose anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions has sparked huge rows with Brussels, sent a message of support to Mr Scholz: “Germany has decided to impose strict border controls to stop illegal migration. Scholz, welcome to the club! #StopMigration.”

EU officials have warned that Mr Scholz’s new policy threatens to unravel the entire European bloc, as one leading German politician remarked: “Border controls would be the beginning of the end for the EU.”

Unveiling the plan on Monday, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) said: “Until we achieve stronger border protection with the joint European asylum system, we must further protect our national borders.”

Myanmar junta says fifth batch of conscripts begins training

Myanmar junta says fifth batch of conscripts begins training

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Myanmar junta says fifth batch of conscripts begins training– Frontier Myanmar
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A fifth batch of conscripts Myanmar’s junta hopes will help reverse its battlefield losses has begun training, state media reported on Tuesday.

A military source also told Agence France-Presse the new batch followed around 15,000 other conscripts who had already completed their training.

The junta enforced a conscription law in February, three years after its coup that sparked armed uprisings across Myanmar and as it reeled from a string of defeats.

The law allows the military to summon any man aged 18-35 and woman aged 18-27 to serve in the armed forces for at least two years.

“Eligible citizens” from the fifth batch arrived at the “respective military training depots” on Monday, according to state-run outlet The Global New Light of Myanmar, without saying how many were involved.

Junta’s airstrikes on No-2 border police battalion in Maungdaw, over 50 killed, many injured

Junta’s airstrikes on No-2 border police battalion in Maungdaw, over 50 killed, many injured

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Junta’s airstrikes on No-2 border police battalion in Maungdaw, over 50 killed, many injured – narinjara.com
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Excerpt:

Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 10 September 2024

The junta forces carried out airstrikes on 2nd border guard police
battalion (NaKhaKha-2) in 4-mile of Maungdaw town, which was occupied by
the Arakan Army (AA) fighters. The attack, conducted by two jet fighters,
resulted in the death of more than 50 people, including prisoners of war and
civilian inmates, with many others injured.

According to a statement issued by the AA, two airstrikes were
conducted by jet fighters on 9 September at around 9:30 pm. The casualties
included prisoners of war and civilian inmates temporarily detained at
NaKhaKha-2 base in Arakan State.