Scotty

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4144129

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The Green-Left Front and the Movement of Free Citizens in Serbia have addressed an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, demanding immediate sanctions against the Serbian regime and its leaders for, as they say, police brutality, systematic violence, and suppression of democratic freedoms.

The letter, signed by opposition representatives Biljana Djordjevic and Radomir Lazovic (ZLF) and Pavle Grbovic (PSG), requests that the European Union take concrete and tough measures against the highest leaders of the Serbian state, including President Aleksandar Vucic, former Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Defense Minister Milos Vucevic, state security official Djuro Macut and socialist leader Ivica Dacic, reports the media outlet Nova.

[...]

Main requirements from the EU according to the opposition parties:

• EU travel ban and asset freeze for Serbian leaders who "have organized and supported violence against citizens"

• Punishment of police and paramilitary structures involved in "torture, violence and intimidation of citizens"

• Investigation of EU financial assistance to Serbia to ensure it is not being used to “support the repressive state apparatus”

• Political pressure for extraordinary elections and urgent implementation of ODIHR recommendations for electoral reform.

[...]

The letter also criticizes massive election manipulation since 2016, especially in 2023 and 2024, impunity for violence by police and armed groups against protesters, and "absurd accusations" of "diversion" against citizens after the tragedy of November 1, 2024 in Novi Sad, where 16 people lost their lives from the collapse of a structure at the railway station.

It also includes the creation of illegal paramilitary camps in the center of Belgrade and the mobilization of criminals to suppress protests in Serbia, torture and abuse of detainees, including threats of sexual violence by special units.

[...]

The letter's signatories warn that continued support for Vucic’s regime means abandoning Serbian citizens who believe in European values, describing the EU’s current support as “shameful and harmful.”

"The question that needs to be asked today is simple: Is the European Commission aware of who it is supporting in Serbia? What more needs to happen for the EU to withdraw support for the regime?" the authors of the letter write.

The letter ends with a clear call: the EU should stand with citizens and not with a regime that "denies their freedom and dignity."

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4126080

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The concerns have intensified since July, when reports surfaced of an alleged €12.3 million contract between 2021 and 2025 for Huawei to store sensitive judicial wiretap data for the interior ministry.

...

While the political row has focused on the interior ministry, several public tenders made public in the past weeks reveal contracts for "repairing" or "expanding" existing Huawei storage equipment in other state departments.

Such is the €322.000 two-year contract signed last October by the national railway operator (ADIF) to "repair" Huawei technology already incorporated into the country's rail network communication systems.

Spain's national healthcare system also awarded a €477.000 contract to national telecom giant Telefónica to "maintain" over the next two years an existing Huawei storage hardware installed in its IT department.

“These are common practices to ensure the proper functioning of this equipment,” a healthcare system spokesperson said.

According to them, the hardware “does not store databases or information from social security system applications” but is “used to store server configuration information and analyse anomalies.” Euractiv could not verify this claim independently.

Other public tenders from the Spanish police, dating back to 2022, show Huawei backup systems used in the force's storage infrastructure for the "comprehensive border control storage system of the police."

...

In Madrid, magistrates and law enforcement are particularly worried about the Chinese firm handling highly sensitive police wiretap data.

"We are neither blind nor deaf, and the fact that a company has its headquarters outside Spain causes us concern, " a magistrate told Euractiv.

"There may be delays or difficulties in gathering this information, or in the worst case, the request may even be denied due to their own regulations," they said, adding that there is also a risk of "sensitive data being leaked."

Law enforcement agencies share those concerns, especially over the potential exposure of sensitive information at a time when security forces are under intense scrutiny for prosecuting high-profile political figures.

...

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4126080

Archived link

The concerns have intensified since July, when reports surfaced of an alleged €12.3 million contract between 2021 and 2025 for Huawei to store sensitive judicial wiretap data for the interior ministry.

...

While the political row has focused on the interior ministry, several public tenders made public in the past weeks reveal contracts for "repairing" or "expanding" existing Huawei storage equipment in other state departments.

Such is the €322.000 two-year contract signed last October by the national railway operator (ADIF) to "repair" Huawei technology already incorporated into the country's rail network communication systems.

Spain's national healthcare system also awarded a €477.000 contract to national telecom giant Telefónica to "maintain" over the next two years an existing Huawei storage hardware installed in its IT department.

“These are common practices to ensure the proper functioning of this equipment,” a healthcare system spokesperson said.

According to them, the hardware “does not store databases or information from social security system applications” but is “used to store server configuration information and analyse anomalies.” Euractiv could not verify this claim independently.

Other public tenders from the Spanish police, dating back to 2022, show Huawei backup systems used in the force's storage infrastructure for the "comprehensive border control storage system of the police."

...

In Madrid, magistrates and law enforcement are particularly worried about the Chinese firm handling highly sensitive police wiretap data.

"We are neither blind nor deaf, and the fact that a company has its headquarters outside Spain causes us concern, " a magistrate told Euractiv.

"There may be delays or difficulties in gathering this information, or in the worst case, the request may even be denied due to their own regulations," they said, adding that there is also a risk of "sensitive data being leaked."

Law enforcement agencies share those concerns, especially over the potential exposure of sensitive information at a time when security forces are under intense scrutiny for prosecuting high-profile political figures.

...

Archived link

The concerns have intensified since July, when reports surfaced of an alleged €12.3 million contract between 2021 and 2025 for Huawei to store sensitive judicial wiretap data for the interior ministry.

...

While the political row has focused on the interior ministry, several public tenders made public in the past weeks reveal contracts for "repairing" or "expanding" existing Huawei storage equipment in other state departments.

Such is the €322.000 two-year contract signed last October by the national railway operator (ADIF) to "repair" Huawei technology already incorporated into the country's rail network communication systems.

Spain's national healthcare system also awarded a €477.000 contract to national telecom giant Telefónica to "maintain" over the next two years an existing Huawei storage hardware installed in its IT department.

“These are common practices to ensure the proper functioning of this equipment,” a healthcare system spokesperson said.

According to them, the hardware “does not store databases or information from social security system applications” but is “used to store server configuration information and analyse anomalies.” Euractiv could not verify this claim independently.

Other public tenders from the Spanish police, dating back to 2022, show Huawei backup systems used in the force's storage infrastructure for the "comprehensive border control storage system of the police."

...

In Madrid, magistrates and law enforcement are particularly worried about the Chinese firm handling highly sensitive police wiretap data.

"We are neither blind nor deaf, and the fact that a company has its headquarters outside Spain causes us concern, " a magistrate told Euractiv.

"There may be delays or difficulties in gathering this information, or in the worst case, the request may even be denied due to their own regulations," they said, adding that there is also a risk of "sensitive data being leaked."

Law enforcement agencies share those concerns, especially over the potential exposure of sensitive information at a time when security forces are under intense scrutiny for prosecuting high-profile political figures.

...

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4097567

In Russia, barter is back for the first time since the chaos of the 1990s as settlement problems resulting from the conflict in Ukraine have forced at least one Chinese company to seek steel and aluminium alloys in exchange for engines.

In the economic and political chaos which followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, spiralling inflation and chronic shortages of funds forced enterprises across the land to agree to payment in kind.

Barter, though, sowed even more chaos through the economy as vast chains of contingent deals were set up for everything from electricity and oil to flour, sugar and boots, making pricing even harder to determine, and earning some people fortunes.

More than three years into the Ukraine war, barter is back again in Russia.

At the Kazan Expo business forum on Monday, Chinese companies cited settlement issues and Russian demands that they bring production to Russia as major issues hindering the development of bilateral trade.

"We offer innovative cooperation models aimed at reducing settlement risks," Xu Xinjing from Hainan Longpan Oilfield Technology Co., Ltd told the forum through a translator, adding that "we offer a model of barter trade."

In exchange for the power equipment, his company wants to receive Russian shipbuilding materials.

[...]

In Russia, barter is back for the first time since the chaos of the 1990s as settlement problems resulting from the conflict in Ukraine have forced at least one Chinese company to seek steel and aluminium alloys in exchange for engines.

In the economic and political chaos which followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, spiralling inflation and chronic shortages of funds forced enterprises across the land to agree to payment in kind.

Barter, though, sowed even more chaos through the economy as vast chains of contingent deals were set up for everything from electricity and oil to flour, sugar and boots, making pricing even harder to determine, and earning some people fortunes.

More than three years into the Ukraine war, barter is back again in Russia.

At the Kazan Expo business forum on Monday, Chinese companies cited settlement issues and Russian demands that they bring production to Russia as major issues hindering the development of bilateral trade.

"We offer innovative cooperation models aimed at reducing settlement risks," Xu Xinjing from Hainan Longpan Oilfield Technology Co., Ltd told the forum through a translator, adding that "we offer a model of barter trade."

In exchange for the power equipment, his company wants to receive Russian shipbuilding materials.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4036685

Australia and Vanuatu have agreed to a 10-year deal, aimed at strengthening security and economic ties, worth A$500m ($328m; £241m).

The so-called Nakamal agreement - the result of months of negotiations - will transform Australia's relationship with its Pacific neighbour, leaders from both countries said on Wednesday.

"We are family," Australia's deputy prime minister Richard Marles said, adding, "Our future is very much bound together". Vanuatu's leader Jotham Napat described the deal as "win-win situation" for both nations.

The deal, to be officially signed in September, comes as Australia tries to grow its influence in the region, to counter China's increased spending and power.

While the Australian government did not provide further details of the deal, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports it will provide funds to build two large data centres in the capital, Port Vila, and Vanuatu's largest island, Santo.

Millions will also be poured into helping the low-lying island to deal with the impacts of climate change, as well as building up its security.

[...]

Australia and Vanuatu have agreed to a 10-year deal, aimed at strengthening security and economic ties, worth A$500m ($328m; £241m).

The so-called Nakamal agreement - the result of months of negotiations - will transform Australia's relationship with its Pacific neighbour, leaders from both countries said on Wednesday.

"We are family," Australia's deputy prime minister Richard Marles said, adding, "Our future is very much bound together". Vanuatu's leader Jotham Napat described the deal as "win-win situation" for both nations.

The deal, to be officially signed in September, comes as Australia tries to grow its influence in the region, to counter China's increased spending and power.

While the Australian government did not provide further details of the deal, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports it will provide funds to build two large data centres in the capital, Port Vila, and Vanuatu's largest island, Santo.

Millions will also be poured into helping the low-lying island to deal with the impacts of climate change, as well as building up its security.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4036679

[...]

Food is so scarce in [Sudanese city of] el-Fasher that prices have soared to the point where money that used to cover a week's worth of meals can now buy only one. International aid organisations have condemned the "calculated use of starvation as a weapon of war".

The hunger crisis is compounded by a surge of cholera sweeping through the squalid camps of those displaced by the fighting.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Thursday said Sudan is experiencing the worst cholera outbreak the country has seen in years, fuelled by the ongoing civil war. There have been nearly 100,000 cases and 2,470 deaths over the past year, it said, with the current epicentre near el-Fasher.

[...]

[...]

Food is so scarce in [Sudanese city of] el-Fasher that prices have soared to the point where money that used to cover a week's worth of meals can now buy only one. International aid organisations have condemned the "calculated use of starvation as a weapon of war".

The hunger crisis is compounded by a surge of cholera sweeping through the squalid camps of those displaced by the fighting.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Thursday said Sudan is experiencing the worst cholera outbreak the country has seen in years, fuelled by the ongoing civil war. There have been nearly 100,000 cases and 2,470 deaths over the past year, it said, with the current epicentre near el-Fasher.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/3988737

Archived link

...

China is pushing forward with designs for its new diplomatic outpost at Royal Mint Court, a large plot in the heart of London, near Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The imposing building, which currently lies empty, was once home to the facility that manufactured Britain’s coinage.

...

If the proposal is greenlighted by UK authorities, China has plans to invest several hundred million dollars to transform the building, on the historic parcel it purchased in 2018 for the not-so-shabby price of 280 million pounds.

But China’s plans have raised espionage fears, rattled locals in the area, who are nervous for their personal security, and come at a time when Beijing has issued bounties for Hong Kongers in the UK.

...

After much government controversy, Angela Rayner, the UK’s deputy prime minister and housing secretary, is expected to make a final decision on whether to green-light the controversial plans by September 9th.

...

The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association, which represents around 300 people living in nearby buildings and has fought against the Chinese plan for years, said they fear how China could exercise its powers as landlord once the embassy is built next door.

China has previously been accused of using its outposts, in effect, as overseas police stations to monitor Chinese citizens abroad and coerce them to return home.

One such incident occurred in the UK in October 2022, when a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the grounds of a Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten, in events captured on camera

....

Immediately after, China removed six diplomats from Britain whom the police wanted to question in connection with the alleged beating.

...

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/3988737

Archived link

...

China is pushing forward with designs for its new diplomatic outpost at Royal Mint Court, a large plot in the heart of London, near Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The imposing building, which currently lies empty, was once home to the facility that manufactured Britain’s coinage.

...

If the proposal is greenlighted by UK authorities, China has plans to invest several hundred million dollars to transform the building, on the historic parcel it purchased in 2018 for the not-so-shabby price of 280 million pounds.

But China’s plans have raised espionage fears, rattled locals in the area, who are nervous for their personal security, and come at a time when Beijing has issued bounties for Hong Kongers in the UK.

...

After much government controversy, Angela Rayner, the UK’s deputy prime minister and housing secretary, is expected to make a final decision on whether to green-light the controversial plans by September 9th.

...

The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association, which represents around 300 people living in nearby buildings and has fought against the Chinese plan for years, said they fear how China could exercise its powers as landlord once the embassy is built next door.

China has previously been accused of using its outposts, in effect, as overseas police stations to monitor Chinese citizens abroad and coerce them to return home.

One such incident occurred in the UK in October 2022, when a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the grounds of a Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten, in events captured on camera

....

Immediately after, China removed six diplomats from Britain whom the police wanted to question in connection with the alleged beating.

...