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[ponchi101]

Is that some sort of tradition, or is he joking?
Serious question.

[skatingfan]

Is that some sort of tradition, or is he joking?
Serious question.

It's a tradition - Members of Parliament can purchase their chair when they leave Parliament.

[ti-amie]

US Aims to Reduce Hostile Rhetoric Toward Russia at G7 Meeting
by Thomas Morrow
Updated March 11, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States plans to prevent the use of hostile rhetoric toward Russia at the upcoming G7 Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled for March 12-14. According to Die Zeit, Rubio stated that antagonistic language can make it more difficult to bring conflicting parties to the negotiating table.

"We believe that hostile rhetoric sometimes makes it harder to get conflicting parties to the negotiating table. And this is not about taking sides. The US cannot support any statement that does not align with our position of starting negotiations," Rubio explained.
He acknowledged that other G7 foreign ministers "may have different views on the situation," but stressed that the US is currently committed to peace talks regarding Ukraine.

On March 9, reports emerged that the US opposed creating a G7 group focused on countering sanctions evasion against Russia. Washington is also pushing for stronger language regarding China in the meeting's final joint statement.

While traveling to Saudi Arabia for talks with the Ukrainian delegation, Rubio made more direct comments about the path to peace. According to Politico, he stated that Ukraine must give up some territory to reach a peace agreement, calling it "the only way" to end the military conflict.

"They [Ukrainians] have suffered greatly, and their people have suffered greatly, and after something like that, it's difficult to even talk about concessions. But it's the only way to end this and prevent even greater suffering," the Secretary said.
Rubio had previously indicated this territorial concession would be a key point for the American delegation in their Saudi Arabia meetings.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron has been seeking public support for increased military spending to counter perceived Russian threats. However, Politico reports that Macron has not clarified where funding for the French army would come from, only establishing that taxes should not be raised to finance the spending increase.

These comments have sparked concerns among opposition parties and unions that social spending might be sacrificed for defense efforts. Critics worry war rhetoric could be used to justify unpopular austerity measures. While the French president holds significant power over defense policy, the legislature controls financial flows, and Macron lacks a parliamentary majority. Despite strong anti-Russian rhetoric, France has contributed only €4.8 billion to Ukraine's defense, less than Poland, Sweden, and Denmark.

https://morrow.report/us-aims-to-reduce ... 7-meeting/

[ti-amie]

Former Philippine President Duterte Arrested on ICC Warrant Over Drug Killings
by Thomas Morrow
Updated March 11, 2025

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court, according to AP News. Duterte was taken into custody at Manila international airport after arriving from Hong Kong with his family, becoming the first former Asian leader to be arrested by the global court.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court, according to the Philippine government. Duterte was taken into custody at Manila international airport after arriving from Hong Kong with his family, becoming the first former Asian leader to be arrested by the global court.

The ICC warrant accuses Duterte of crimes against humanity related to the deadly anti-drug crackdowns he oversaw while in office. The March 7 warrant states there are "reasonable grounds to believe" that attacks on victims "were both widespread and systematic" and took place "over a period of several years" with "thousands of people" killed.

Upon arrival, Duterte protested his detention, demanding authorities explain the legal basis for his arrest. The former president's lawyers immediately filed a petition with the Supreme Court to block any attempt to transport him out of the Philippines to the ICC in Europe. Following his arrest, he was driven to the nearby Villamor Air Base.

Death toll estimates from Duterte's anti-drug campaign vary significantly:

National police reports: over 6,000 killed
Human rights groups claims: up to 30,000 deaths
ICC investigation period: November 2011 to March 2019
Families of those killed during Duterte's crackdown expressed relief at the arrest. Randy delos Santos, uncle of a teenager killed by police in 2017, told AP: "This is a big, long-awaited day for justice." Former Senator Antonio Trillanes, who filed a complaint against Duterte with the ICC, called the arrest "historic" and "like the downfall of an emperor."

The ICC began investigating killings under Duterte from his time as mayor of Davao through his presidency as possible crimes against humanity. Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2019, which human rights activists viewed as an attempt to escape accountability. The court ruled in 2023 that its investigation could resume despite Philippine objections.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte in 2022 and later became involved in political disputes with him, has not rejoined the global court. However, the Marcos administration had stated it would cooperate if the ICC requested international police to take Duterte into custody through a Red Notice, according to AP reports.

The arrest comes on the same day Elon Musk lost $29 billion as Tesla stock plummeted 15.43% on the Nasdaq, marking its steepest single-day decline since September 2020. Musk's net worth dropped from $330 billion to $301 billion, while Tesla faces global sales declines and increased competition from rival electric vehicles.


https://morrow.report/former-philippine ... -killings/

[ti-amie]

Britain urged to form breakaway 'Four Eyes' alliance without the US after Trump's 'unprecedented' decision to block intelligence sharing with Ukraine
By ANNA MIKHAILOVA DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 19:38 EDT, 8 March 2025 | Updated: 22:16 EDT, 8 March 2025

Britain must develop a 'Four Eyes' intelligence sharing alliance in response to Donald Trump's actions over Ukraine, defence sources have said.

The US President's 'unprecedented' decision to block allies, including the UK, from giving Ukraine US-generated classified material that could benefit the eastern European country has sparked calls for a breakaway group.

Mr Trump used his powers as part of the 'Five Eyes' alliance of the US, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to suspend intelligence to Kyiv.

Some in the defence establishment are now suggesting forming a sub-group to allow intelligence sharing without a US veto.

'It isn't about pulling out of Five Eyes, it is about creating a new 'Four Eyes' within it – without America,' a source said.

The US's decision would 'damage Ukraine's ability to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks', the Institute for the Study of War said last week.

Former British ambassador to Washington Sir David Manning said the question of intelligence sharing was going to be 'more difficult to approach'.

He told MPs last week: 'Clearly, if you have some Trump supporters in these key jobs who have very strange track records and have said very strange things about Nato allies and the Nato alliance and you have people in the administration who seem to be looking for ways of appeasing Russia, then you have a problem on the intelligence front.

'That is a big question mark against how the special relationship is sustained during the Trump administration.'

A Government spokesman said: 'We have a deep and long-standing defence and intelligence relationship with the US and we continue to work closely with our Five Eyes partners.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... raine.html

[ponchi101]

Marco Rubio is truly becoming a towering example of how NOT to be a decent human being. He has taken "spineless" to a whole new level.