Hundreds converge on European Parliament to protest over subcontracted workers

September 17, 2024
By Guest Contributor - Opinion

More than 700 workers “united” on Tuesday (17 September) in front of the European Parliament, Strasbourg, France, to call upon the EU institutions for urgent action to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains and labour intermediation, writes Martin Banks.

The European action was organised by the EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Woodworkers), EFFAT (the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions), and ETF (European Transport Workers’ Federation).

They said the aim was to demand an EU-binding initiative to limit subcontracting and regulate labour intermediation, including a ban of agencies in posting, and to bolster the frequency and effectiveness of labour inspections.

Following the demonstration, a hearing inside the European Parliament took place.

The event focused on testimonies from workers affected by exploitative subcontracting practices and unscrupulous intermediaries and had the participation of MEPs from the S&D, the Left, the EPP, RE, and Greens/EFA.

EFBWW General Secretary, Tom Deleu: “On the day in which the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, unveils the portfolios of the new commissioners, workers from all over Europe gathered to put workers’ rights at the top of the European agenda.

“The EU cannot ignore what is happening with posted, migrant and third country nationals. In construction, we witness high levels of exploitation, fraud, and other labour abuses, especially in a cross-border context. Subcontracting is always a major risk factor.

“We need to break the chain of exploitation. The new European Commission and the new European Parliament must act urgently, limit subcontracting and ban intermediaries in posting.”

ETF General Secretary Livia Spera said: “Subcontracting takes different forms in transport, with similar patterns observed across Europe.

“Today, subcontracted workers are often second-class citizens with lower working conditions and rights. We are asking EU rules to regulate subcontracting to reestablish fairness.”

EFFAT General Secretary Kristjan Bragason said: “Abusive subcontracting practices and unregulated labour intermediation are two structural issues of an exploitative business model which is increasingly dominating many sectors of the economy. Migrant and mobile workers are the main victims. Today a strong message goes to the EU institutions. It is time for urgent EU action to ensure real equal treatment at the workplace.”

The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) is the European Workers’ Industry Federation for the building sector, woodworking, forestry and allied industries and trades.

The EFBWW has 80 affiliated unions in 36 countries and represents a total of 1.5 million members. The EFBWW is a member organisation of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Myanmar’s military intensifying killing and torture of civilians, UN says

UN report finds 5,350 civilians had been killed by the military since the coup in February 2021.

Members of the Myanmar military march at a parade ground to mark Independence Day in Naypyidaw [File: AFP]

Published On 17 Sep 2024

Myanmar’s military government has ramped up killings and arrests in an apparent bid to silence opponents with tens of thousands of people arrested since a 2021 coup, a United Nations report finds.

The military seized power in February that year, deposing the elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering nationwide street protests that it violently crushed.

The protest movement has since turned into a widening armed rebellion, and fighting has flared on multiple fronts, prompting authorities to introduce conscription in February.

On Tuesday, a report issued by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, said 5,350 civilians had been killed by the military since the coup. The report was based partly on remote interviews with hundreds of victims and witnesses because investigators are denied access.

Of those deaths, 2,414 people died in the latest reporting period from April 2023 to June 2024, an increase of 50 percent compared with the previous reporting period. Hundreds were killed in air and artillery attacks.

“Myanmar is plumbing the depths of the human rights abyss,” said James Rodehaver, head of the UN rights office’s Myanmar team.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Rodehaver noted: “Myanmar’s military has created the crisis by instrumentalising the legal system, criminalising nearly all forms of dissent against its attempts to rule the country.”

The UN report also revealed that nearly 27,400 people have been arrested since the coup and are thought to be in military training centres.

Among those seized by authorities are children who were taken when the parents could not be located “as a form of punishment for political opposition”, the report said.

UN rights office spokesperson Liz Throssell told a news conference that at least 1,853 people have also died in custody since the coup, including 88 children.

“Many of these individuals have been verified as dying after being subjected to abusive interrogation, other ill-treatment in detention or denial of access to adequate healthcare,” she said.

Rodehaver added: “Detainees interviewed by our office describe methods such as being suspended from the ceiling without food or water, being forced to kneel or crawl on hard or sharp objects, the introduction of animals such as snakes or insects or other wild animals in order to provoke fear and terror in individuals.”

Others, he said, described beatings with iron poles, bamboo sticks, batons, rifle butts, leather strips, electric wires and motorcycle chains.

Myanmar’s military has not yet responded to the UN report.

Turk repeated a recommendation that the rights violations in Myanmar be referred to the International Criminal Court.

 

Titan sub: Former employee says company only wanted to make money

Tuesday 17 September 2024

First image of the Titan wreckage at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean

.Credit: Pelagic Research Services/US Coast Guard

A top OceanGate employee who called the doomed Titan submersible "unsafe" before its fatal voyage said the company was only committed to making money.

David Lochridge, OceanGate’s former operations director, testified on Tuesday at the Marine Board of Investigation, the highest level of marine casualty inquiry by the US Coast Guard.

His testimony echoed statements from former employees on Monday, one of whom described OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush as volatile and difficult to work with.
'All good here': One of the last texts sent from doomed Titan sub

“The whole idea behind the company was to make money,” Lochridge said.

“There was very little in the way of science.”

Rush was one of the five people killed when the Titan imploded in the North Atlantic Ocean in June 2023. The company suspended business after the incident.

British adventurer Hamish Harding and father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood were also killed, alongside French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

The deep-sea vessel was on an expedition to the Titanic wreckage around 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland

Credit: OceanGate Expeditions/PA

Lochridge, who joined the company that owned the Titan sub in the mid-2010s, said he felt the firm was using him as a selling point “for people to come up and pay money,” and that did not sit well with him.

He said: “I was, I felt, a show pony.

“I was made by the company to stand up there and do talks. It was difficult. I had to go up and do presentations. All of it.”

He referenced a 2018 report which raised safety issues about OceanGate operation and said that given all the safety issues he saw “there was no way I was signing off on this".

When asked if he had confidence in the construction of the Titan sub, he replied, "No confidence whatsoever".

Lochridge explained that employee turnover was very high at the time, and leadership dismissed his concerns, prioritising "bad engineering decisions" and a rush to reach the Titanic to start making money.

He said he was eventually fired after raising the safety concerns.


OceanGate suspends commercial operations after Titan submersible deaths


Titan submersible: First image of wreckage revealed at hearing into tragedy

“I didn’t want to lose my job. I wanted to do the Titanic. But to dive it safely. It was on my bucket list, too,” he said.

The hearing's first witness, OceanGate's former engineering director, Tony Nissen, said on Monday he felt pressured to get the vessel ready for diving and refused to pilot it on a trip several years before Titan’s final journey.

He had worked on a prototype hull predating the Titanic missions.

“I’m not getting in it,” Nissen recalled telling Stockton Rush.

When asked if there was pressure to launch the Titan, he responded, “100%".

Tony Nissen, head engineer for OceanGate at the hearing.Credit: AP

In other testimonies, Coast Guard officials said the Titan was left exposed to the weather for seven months in 2022 and 2023 before its fatal dive.

They also revealed that the sub’s hull was never inspected by third parties, as is standard procedure.

The investigation will hear from 24 witnesses before it is expected to conclude on September 27, and recommendations will be submitted to the Coast Guard's commandant.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting its own investigation.

The deep-sea vessel was on an expedition to the Titanic wreckage about 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland, when it lost contact with the tour operator an hour and 45 minutes into the two-hour descent. The vessel was reported missing eight hours after communication was lost.

After days of searching, wreckage from the submersible was recovered from the ocean floor near the Titanic.

NORWAY

Jehovah’s Witnesses arbitrarily deregistered but not the Russian Orthodox Church. Why?


 September 17, 2024
By Guest Contributor - Opinion


On 4 March 2024, the Oslo District Court ruled against the Jehovah’s Witnesses and upheld previous decisions of the government and the State Administrator of Oslo and Viken who arbitrarily revoked the registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses present in Norway for over 130 years and put an end to their eligibility for state grants they had received for 30 years, writes Willy Fautre, Human Rights Without Frontiers.

The reason was the shunning policy of the movement, a teaching recommending that its members do not associate with those who have been excluded from the community as unrepentant of serious sins, or have publicly left it and act against it out of disgruntlement. In this matter, Norway’s judgment runs counter to dozens of decisions on shunning by jurisdictions in other countries, including supreme courts. Legal experts and scholars in religious studies in Norway and abroad agree that their deregistration is arbitrary and is based on ill-founded grounds. They also stress that the decision will have a “stigmatizing effect” on the association and its members while the community will lose inter alia its right to celebrate legal marriages with civil effects, which may be considered discriminatory.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been state-recognized as a religious organization in Norway since 1985 and no criminal case could be invoked to take such a radical decision as their sudden deregistration leading to the loss of approximately 1.6 million EUR every year. An appeal has been lodged.

The legal dimension of the court decision has been extensively analyzed and criticized by Massimo Introvigne and the undersigned in “Bitter Winter” and “Religion News Service”.
State subsidies in Norway are not a gift. The Lutheran Church of Norway, which is a state church, is supported by the government with transfers of money proportional to the number of its members. For the sake of coherence and non-discrimination, the Constitution mandates that to respect the principle of equality other religions should receive the same proportional subsidies. More than 700 religious communities receive state grants in Norway, including Orthodox parishes subordinated to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus’ who blessed Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses more dangerous than another religious entity of foreign origin registered in Norway since 1996 and eligible to state subsidies, the Russian Orthodox Church?

In recent years, the Orthodox Church of Russia has acquired properties in Norway next to military bases, which has been a source of concern since the beginning of Putin’s war on Ukraine. In 2017–2021, some properties were acquired by the Russian Orthodox Church in the coastal area of Rogalan.

According to cadastral data, the Orthodox Church of Russia purchased in 2017 a building in the town of Sherrey (Bergen community), located on a hill three kilometers from Haakonsvern, which offers a view onto the main base of the Royal Norwegian Navy and the largest naval base in the Nordic area. Before the acquisition of this house, the religious community was located in the city center. The Orthodox priest in Bergen, Dimitry Ostanin, is Ukrainian and was appointed by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ in 2008 when the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was fully subordinated to him. Before that, he had served in Kaliningrad and Smolensk.

In the town of Stavanger, the former priest of the local community of the Russian Orthodox Church has a property near the NATO Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) in Jatta, according to Dagbladet. It is located just one kilometer from an important military building, about fifteen minutes walk. That NATO Centre celebrated its 20th anniversary during a formal ceremony on 26 October 2023. Over the last two decades, the JWC has planned and delivered more than 100 exercises and training events and ensure that NATO’s commanders and their staffs are well-prepared and ready to respond to any mission, whenever and wherever the call may come.

The Russian Orthodox Church also has a parish in Trondheim. On 21 March 2021, the first Orthodox service in the city was celebrated for almost a thousand years as part of the celebrations of the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy at the parish of the Holy Princess Anna of Novgorod, in Russia. News of this important event in the life of Orthodox Christians in Norway was shown on the Russian The Saviour and Unity TV channels.
In 2015, the Russian Orthodox Church also bought a property in Kirkenes (Finnmark county) in the far north-east of Norway, on the border with Russia.

In addition, the Moscow Patriarchate sponsors work in Tromsø in northern Norway and in the Svalbard islands, also known as Spitzbergen. In 1996, the Moscow Patriarchate established a parish in Oslo. Among all Orthodox Churches in Norway, the parish of St. Olga in Oslo, is currently the largest one; another parish under the Moscow Patriarchate in the capital city is Saint Hallvard.

The presence of Orthodox Churches subordinated to the Russian Orthodox Church/ Moscow Patriarchate in EU countries has raised national security concerns because in a number of cases they were suspected or accused of serving as relays for Putin’s propaganda or Russia’s spying activities.

Czechia, Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden and Ukraine have taken various measures to anticipate or tackle security risks, including with the assistance of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.In Norway, a historical Orthodox parish dedicated to St. Nicholas under the Patriarchate of Constantinople was founded in Oslo in 1931 by a small group of Russian refugees who fled the Bolshevik Revolution.In the light of security threats attributed to the Russian Orthodox Church/ Moscow Patriarchate in several European countries, the deregistration in Norway of the peaceful and law-abiding movement of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a state-recognized religious association appears as discriminatory. It is even more ununderstandable with regard to Oslo’s inaction towards the Russian Orthodox Church, which remains registered and goes on receiving state grants. Certainly the Jehovah’s Witnesses do not deserve less than that.

Further reading about FORB in this country on HRWF website.

Companies abandon LGBTQ+ rights report card system after backlash

Experts say the index has helped improve workplace benefits for LGBTQ+ people

Critics lament the rollback, saying it reverses years of hard-won progress.

Cathy Bussewitz
THE INDEPENDENT

09/17/2024

A Pride parade in Miami Beach, Florida, in September 2021

 (EPA-EFE/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH)

More than two decades ago, when gay men and lesbians were prohibited from serving openly in the US military and no state had legalized same-sex marriages, a national LGBTQ+ rights group decided to promote change by grading corporations on their workplace policies.

The Human Rights Campaign initially focused its report card, named the Corporate Equality Index, on ensuring that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer employees did not face discrimination in hiring and on the job. Just 13 companies received a perfect score in 2002. By last year, 545 businesses did even though the requirements have expanded.

But the scorecard itself has come under attack in recent months by conservative activists who targeted businesses as part of a broader pushback against diversity initiatives. Ford, Harley Davidson and Lowe’s are among the companies that announced they would no longer participate in the Corporate Equality Index.

Emboldened by a Supreme Court decision last year that declared race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions unconstitutional, conservative groups have won lawsuits making similar arguments about corporations. They’re now targeting workplace initiatives such as diversity programs and hiring practices that prioritize historically marginalized groups, and widening their objections to include programs focused on gender identity and sexual orientation.

“We don’t believe that people should be identified as groups and that you should right past wrongs by advantaging one group and disadvantaging another group,” said Dan Lennington, deputy counsel for the Equality Under the Law Project at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. His firm has represented dozens of clients in challenges to diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs.

Critics lament the rollback, saying it reverses years of hard-won progress.

“Almost all LGBT community members have been bullied when they were young, and the concept of being bullied is something that hits us really hard. ... It feels like you’re you’re letting the bullies win,” said David Paisley, senior research director at Community Marketing & Insights, which helps companies market to LGBTQ+ consumers.

Bikers, center, ride a Harley Davidson motorcycle in the annual Pride Parade in San Francisco June 30, 2024 (**MANDATORY CREDIT FOR PHOTOG AND SF CHRONICLE/NO SALES/MAGS OUT/TV)

While many challenges to DEI programs have been about race, activists working to change corporate policies they deride as “woke” have made a point of demanding that companies end their participation in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index. Most of the companies that recently announced changes to their DEI approaches did.

Like LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S., the requirements corporations need to meet to receive a high score on the annual index have expanded over the years.

In 2004, the index placed more emphasis on providing comprehensive benefits to domestic partners and improving health care coverage for transgender workers. Later it added categories that gave employers points for promoting equality in the broader LGBTQ+ community.

In 2019, it specified that supplier diversity programs, which encourage companies to work with minority-owned or veteran-owned businesses, must include LGBTQ+ suppliers. By 2022, the index said employers should offer same-sex spouses and domestic partners the same benefits as other couples for in-vitro fertilization and adoption, and that employers must create gender-transition guidelines, among other changes.

Experts say the index has helped improve workplace benefits for LGBTQ+ people. The index also prompted many companies to create employee resource groups, which are voluntary, employee-led diversity and inclusion groups for people with shared backgrounds or identities, said Fabrice Houdart, a consultant on LGBTQ+ issues.

The index is also a resource for LGBTQ+ workers to consult before deciding whether to accept a job, Paisley said.

“A company that’s getting 100% versus a company getting 25% is an indication to our community about which companies are treating their employees more fairly and equitably,” he said.

Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO, speaks during a presentation on Sept. 28, 2021 (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Several big companies announced they would end their participation in the index amid pressure from conservative activists who have threatened boycotts and firms such as the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty that have challenged DEI programs.

“We have no problem with nondiscrimination, but we’re worried about these policies going too far and harming innocent third parties who have either religious objections or they’re being excluded because they’re not LGBTQ or a certain race,” Lennington said.

Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley told employees that the company stopped participating in external culture surveys, citing the wide range of beliefs held by employees and customers and the evolving legal environment. He said Ford does not use hiring quotas or tie compensation to diversity goals.

Harley-Davidson posted a statement on X about withdrawing from the index, adding that the company does not have hiring quotas or supplier diversity spending goals, and that employee resource groups would focus exclusively on professional development, networking and mentoring.

When Lowe's announced its departure from the index, the company said it was combining resource groups into one umbrella organization. It also planned to stop sponsoring and participating in some festivals and parades to ensure that company policies are lawful and aligned with its commitment to include everyone.

Brown-Forman, the company that makes Jack Daniel's whiskey, and beer and beverage maker Molson Coors, highlighted no longer taking part in HRC's corporate survey in their announcements about scaling back their diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

LEGAL THREATS

Dozens of legal cases have been filed against employers for DEI initiatives, including complaints that target hiring practices, employee resource groups or mentorship programs that plaintiffs say prioritize people of certain races or sexual identities while excluding others.

Most American companies launched a review of their DEI programs last summer in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard, said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the labor and employment practice group at Gibson Dunn, a law firm that has helped more than 50 major corporations audit their DEI programs.

“The opponents to these efforts are winning the war of words, and they’ve got a lot of momentum in the courtroom, so I do think it’s a serious threat that needs to be responded to in a thoughtful way,” Schwartz said.

But there's also a flip side. Companies built DEI anti-harassment programs in part to mitigate potential legal risks that come with a toxic workplace, and "abandoning these programs in fact opens them up to risk down the road if employees feel discrimination or harassment,” said Eric Bloem, vice president at the Human Rights Campaign.

DEI Shoppers exit a Lowe’s in Warrington, Pa., Feb. 4, 2022

 (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Companies that distance themselves from the Corporate Equality Index also risk driving away a growing customer group. A Gallup poll conducted in March found that 7.6% of adults in the U.S. identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or some other sexual orientation besides heterosexual, up from 3.5% in 2012. Among Generation Z, that number climbed sharply to 22.3%.

In a survey conducted in August, 80% of LGBTQ+ customers said they would boycott companies that are rolling back inclusion initiatives, and more than half said they would take concerns to social media or share negative reviews online, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

“I think they will lose, in the end, LGBT talent and LGBT consumers,” Houdart said. “And the parents of trans kids, which are an increasing population in the United States, they’re probably going to remember that those were companies who went out of their way to side with the bullies.”

Scientific American makes presidential endorsement for only the second time in its 179-year history


‘The US faces two futures,’ according to editors at top science magazine

Myriam Page
The Independent

09/17/2024

A top science magazine has waded into the political sphere after making a presidential endorsement, only the second in its 179-year history.

“Vote for Kamala Harris to Support Science, Health and the Environment,” read the headline in Scientific American on Monday, announcing the publication’s official support for the Democratic presidential candidate.

Harris is Scientific American’s second presidential endorsement in its history, after the magazine backed President Joe Biden during the 2020 election.

“The US faces two futures,” the editors wrote, pushing one candidate who “offers the country better prospects, relying on science, solid evidence and the willingness to learn from experience.”

They continued: “In the other future, the new president endangers public health and safety and rejects evidence, preferring instead nonsensical conspiracy fantasies.”

Scientific American, which has a global readership of six million, cited Harris’s record as vice president, senator and presidential candidate as reasons for endorsing her.

They acknowledged that Trump, “also has a record - a disastrous one,” during his time in the White House.

The magazine firstly focused on the candidates’ healthcare policies and proposals, in particular, health insurance in its comparison.

Praising the Biden-Harris administration for bolstering the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - which expanded the number of adults eligible for health insurance - the editors noted that while Harris has said she would expand the program, Trump has pledged to repeal it but failed to clarify what he would replace it with.

“I have concepts of a plan,” he said while facing off against Harris during the September 10 presidential debate.

Kamala Harris shakes hands with Donald Trump before the debate on September 10 in Philadelphia (AFP via Getty Images)

The article refers to the debate multiple times, seemingly agreeing with many across the political spectrum (including some of Trump’s closest allies) that Harris won.


The article highlights Trump’s baseless claim during the debate that some states allow a person to obtain an abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy, and calling it “execution after birth.”

“No state allows this,” Scientific American clarified. The magazine also emphasized that Trump refused to answer whether he would veto a national abortion ban.

Meanwhile, Harris was hailed as a “staunch supporter of reproductive rights” for vowing to improve access to abortion care and for co-sponsoring a package of bills to reduce rising maternal mortality rates when she was a senator.

Turning to technology, the editors highlighted the CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law by Biden in 2022, which brought more funding to the chip-making industry to boost homegrown production and research.

They said the legislation “invigorates the chipmaking industry and semiconductor research while growing the workforce.”

The magazine claimed that a second Trump administration would “quickly” undo this progress under a conservative framework, Project 2025, that has been set out to guide his potential second term.

“Under the devious and divisive Project 2025 framework, technology safeguards on AI would be overturned,” the editors wrote. “AI influences our criminal justice, labor and health-care systems.

“As is the rightful complaint now, there would be no knowing how these programs are developed, how they are tested or whether they even work.”

The article concludes: “One of two futures will materialize according to our choices in this election.”

The editors closed by underlining their point. “We urge you to vote for Kamala Harris.”

Scientific American is not the only endoresment Harris has won following the debate, with Taylor Swift posting her endorsement on Instagram almost immediately after the showdown.

Polls currently place Harris with a 2.6 point the lead over Trump.

EssilorLuxottica extends smart glasses agreement with Meta by 10 years

This collaboration was first established in 2019

By Dwaipayan Roy
Sep 17, 2024

What's the story

EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in eyewear, has announced the extension of its partnership with Meta for another 10 years.The renewed long-term agreement aims to continue the development of smart eyewear together, into the next decade.This collaboration was first established in 2019, and has since produced two generations of Ray-Ban branded smart glasses.

Strategic alliance
CEO's view on partnership with Meta

Francesco Milleri, CEO of EssilorLuxottica, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership's progress.He stated, "The incredible work we've done with Meta, still in its early stages, has already proven to be an important milestone in our journey to making glasses the gateway to the connected world."This statement underscores the strategic significance of this alliance for both companies.


Market response
Ray-Ban glasses gain traction among consumers

Despite initial challenges in attracting consumer interest, the latest version of the smart glasses introduced in late 2023, has seen significant success.It has sold more units within a few months than its predecessors did over two years.This indicates a growing market acceptance and demand for such innovative products.


Product capabilities
Features and functionality of smart glasses

The Ray-Ban Meta's smart eyewear offers users the ability to make phone calls, listen to music, and take photos with a simple button press on the right-side temple of the glasses.In May, a multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) function was introduced for US and Canadian customers.This feature further enhances the user experience by providing additional capabilities through AI integration.

Future outlook
Meta CEO's vision for smart glasses

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed his enthusiasm about the extended partnership, and shared his vision for the future of smart eyewear.He said, "I'm proud of the work we've done with EssilorLuxottica so far, and I'm excited about our long-term roadmap ahead."Zuckerberg believes that they have an opportunity to transform glasses into a major technology platform, while also making it fashionable.


Done!

Kremlin’s Grip on Moldova: Criminal Oligarchs and Church Sway Elections


17.09.2024

PRESIDENT MAIA SANDU TWEET
Source: X, screenshot.

On September 4, after meeting with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu wrote on X: “We discussed Estonia’s remarkable development after joining the EU. This is a journey that inspires Moldova as we move towards modernization and integration with Europe.”

A few hours later, the infamous Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor responded on X: “Estonia joined the EU 20 years ago. During this time, Estonia has lost a sizable part of its population and most of its machinery industry. All in return for visa-free travel and handouts from Brussels.”

CRIMINAL OLIGARCH ILAN SHOR TWEET

Source: X, screenshot.

It may be deceptively comforting that President Sandu has 190,000 followers on X, while Shor has only 146. However, instead of elite X, Shor uses other channels to influence his electorate, some of which we will describe today.

Back in March, Propastop provided a detailed description of the narratives Russia successfully uses to instill fear among the 2.5 million residents of the country.

To begin with, it’s important to emphasize that on October 20, Moldova will simultaneously hold presidential elections and a referendum on joining the European Union. It is with the help of oligarch Shor that the Kremlin is attacking the pro-European President Sandu and her desire to lead the country into the EU.

“All surveys indicate that support for the EU and President Sandu stands at around 50-52%. About 15% are firmly against joining the EU, and 30% have not yet decided, making them the most easily influenced part of the population,” says Tiina Ilsen, Chair of the Board of the NGO Practnet, which implements a European Commission project aimed at strengthening Moldova’s strategic communication. “Pro-European sentiment is strongest in the capital, Chișinău, and its surroundings, as well as among the nearly one million Moldovans living abroad. However, in Gagauzia and northern Moldova, messages from the Russian information space dominate.”
Pro-European President vs. The Great Thief from Moscow

In 2014, Ilan Shor gained worldwide notoriety for a money-laundering scheme that led to the theft of one billion dollars from Moldovan banks. Although this resulted in the loss of 12% of the GDP for the small, impoverished country, it did not diminish the support many Moldovans had for Shor and the political parties he funded.

Shor was sentenced to seven years in prison for money laundering but enjoyed life under house arrest until he fled to his homeland of Israel. This year, he obtained Russian citizenship and now lives in Moscow. Both the European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on him due to his role in organizing and funding anti-government protests in Moldova, in collaboration with various Russian institutions.

It is important to emphasize that, unlike Estonia, Moldova’s referendum is taking place before the start of EU accession talks. President Sandu decided to hold the referendum to secure a mandate from the people for the government to begin negotiations.

“The Moldovan president’s and government’s campaign in support of EU membership emphasizes the need to keep European markets open and highlights the potential for increased European investment,” explains Tiina Ilsen. “Moldovans have been inspired by the success story of our own Kaja Kallas, showing that even a small country can become a significant player in shaping EU policies.”
The Orthodox Church of Moldova is a subsidiary of Patriarch Kirill.

Today, Propastop provides two examples of Kremlin-organized information attacks against Moldova.

Over 90% of Moldova’s population is Orthodox, and according to surveys, the church is trusted more than state institutions. The Orthodox Church of Moldova is subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate, a key element of the “Russian World” ideology. This subordination to Moscow and the church’s high level of authority among the people make the Orthodox Church of Moldova a highly effective tool for influence.

Many church leaders in Moldova faced a very awkward moment on August 20 when dozens of journalists at Chișinău airport bombarded them with questions about why they were flying to Moscow in business class.

The flight and the luxurious reception in Moscow were paid for by Ilan Shor. In Moscow, the church leaders were encouraged to influence their congregations to oppose President Sandu’s re-election and Moldova’s accession to the EU. Election propaganda instructions for churchgoers were personally given to them by Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian church, and on their way home, the priests were provided with Promsvyazbank cards, with promises of personal financial support.

NO COMMENT! This was the response of Moldova’s church leaders flying to Moscow in business class on August 20 when asked about the purpose of the trip paid for by a Kremlin-friendly oligarch.
Source: TV8, screenshot.

Similar motivational trips to Moscow have been organized by Shor in the run-up to the elections. A week ago, nine leaders of the Orthodox Church of Moldova visited Moscow, led by Nicolae Rosca, the Bishop of Ceadîr-Lunga in Gagauzia, who also holds the rank of colonel as the head of the ecclesiastical body providing chaplain services to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. More participants were expected to join the trip, but Moldova’s Ministry of Defense warned that it would cut ties with chaplains who visit Moscow before the elections.

These pre-election visits highlight the role of the Orthodox Church in shaping public opinion. Leaders of the Orthodox Church of Moldova preach to their congregations the narrative that “Moldova is a hostage to foreigners.”

To support this claim, they argue that, similar to Ukraine, Moldova is being forced by puppet masters in Washington and Brussels to ban the activities of the Orthodox Church. Additionally, the church amplifies one of the Kremlin’s favorite narratives about “Gayrope,” claiming that new EU member states are being pressured to adopt same-sex unions.
Join the European Union, and you’ll end up at war with Russia.

In June, Moldova’s cooperation partner Tiina Ilsen was sent a link to two fake videos that were widely circulating in Moldova. These videos were being distributed through cable television and streaming platforms that violated copyright laws, rather than on explicitly pro-Russian media and Telegram channels, as this would have cast doubt on the authenticity of the clips.

The professionally made, emotionally impactful video falsely claims in its opening scenes that it was produced by the European Union’s External Action Service and Moldova’s Ministry of Education. The video alleges that Moldova is planning to organize military camps for teenagers as part of patriotic training, and to support this claim, it shows footage of black U.S. soldiers in uniform training Moldovan boys.

FAKE VIDEO: A fear-mongering clip was falsely attributed to the European Union and Moldova’s Ministry of Education.

This clip amplified one of the Kremlin’s most influential narratives: by joining the European Union and establishing ties with NATO, Moldova will become militarized and dragged into the war in Ukraine. According to research, the narrative “Integration with the EU will pull Moldova into the war in Ukraine” is one of the most widespread reasons in the country for opposing EU membership.

The Kremlin reinforces this narrative, with statements such as that of Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who claimed that the birth rate in Moldova is declining because “men are forced to participate in military training alongside American and Romanian soldiers.”

“Fear of war is the main narrative Russia uses to scare Moldovans. This is why President Sandu is working intensively to counter this narrative,” confirms Ilsen.

The NGO Practnet, established two years ago, brings together experienced experts from Estonia’s Eastern Partnership initiatives and advises Moldova and government institutions in Ukraine and Armenia. “A year of hard work in Moldova shows that calmly explaining how things really work in the EU is essential. We can successfully debunk many Russian propaganda lies using examples from Estonia,” says Ilsen.

Iraqi PM announces imminent end of US-led coalition mission, timetable for withdrawal soon

"The justification for the coalition's presence no longer exists," the Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani said.

Dana Taib Menmy
Iraq
17 September, 2024

US President Joe Biden (R) meets with the Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on 15 April 2024. [AFP]


Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani has revealed that the official end date for the international coalition's mission in Iraq will be announced soon, marking a significant turning point as the country moves from years of conflict to a period of stability.

In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, Al-Sudani stated, "We will announce the conclusion of the international coalition's mission in Iraq during our participation in the international conference against ISIS." He emphasised that this decision is a crucial part of the government's broader agenda.

"The justification for the coalition's presence no longer exists," the Iraqi PM noted, stressing that Iraq no longer requires the support of 86 nations. He highlighted that the Islamic State (ISIS) no longer poses a significant threat after its defeat. Al-Sudani expressed his gratitude to coalition forces and Iraq's international allies for their vital role in overcoming ISIS.

The Prime Minister elaborated on the ongoing dialogue with the coalition, which includes extensive discussions about the mission's conclusion. He also underscored the importance of Iraq's bilateral relations with the US, noting that Iraq respects US domestic politics and the current administration. He stressed the importance of implementing the strategic agreement between the two nations to foster a stable relationship moving forward.

Sudani recounted his recent meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington, where the two leaders discussed the future of the coalition's presence in Iraq. A joint military committee, formed in August 2023, has been working on an exit strategy and reached a mutual understanding on the withdrawal. However, the official announcement will be made at the international anti-ISIS conference to prevent any miscommunication.

The Prime Minister also touched on Iraq's delicate position in regional politics, emphasizing the country's unique relationships with both the US and Iran. He highlighted Iran's support in defeating ISIS and Iraq's efforts to bridge differences between the two nations.

Despite Iraq's progress toward stability, regional tensions persist. One major issue is the influence of Iran-backed militias, particularly the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which were formed in 2014 to combat ISIS. While integrated into Iraq's security forces, these Shia paramilitary groups remain politically and militarily powerful, often operating independently of Al-Sudani's command. The militias have occasionally attacked Iraqi bases hosting coalition forces and have been involved in targeting Israeli interests under the banner of the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq."

The Islamic Resistance recently claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel's Jordan Valley. With Israel planning possible military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iraqi militias have vowed to defend Hezbollah if war breaks out in southern Lebanon.

These geopolitical shifts could potentially impact Iraq's stability and the timeline for the coalition's withdrawal. While Iraq has largely transitioned to peace, the threat of renewed regional conflict remains a critical factor in the nation's future.

Armenia-Azerbaijan peace crucial for Caucasus stability, says Turkish intelligence chief

Ibrahim Kalin praises Azerbaijan’s efforts to normalize conditions in Karabakh after reclaiming region

Tugba Altun |17.09.2024 - TRT/AA


ANKARA

Chief of Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin, has underscored the necessity of a final peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan for ensuring stability and development in the Caucasus.

Speaking at the Baku Security Conference in Azerbaijan on Sept. 14-15, Kalin highlighted that the Zangezur Corridor’s opening would significantly boost regional connectivity.

The conference, which focused on “Modern security challenges of global transport,” assembled intelligence and security leaders from around 50 countries.

During the event, Kalin engaged in bilateral discussions with various international counterparts, addressing both regional and global concerns, according to security sources.

Kalin praised Azerbaijan’s efforts to normalize conditions in Karabakh after reclaiming the region from Armenian control during a 44-day conflict in 2020.

He emphasized that a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is critical for the Caucasus' long-term stability and for enhancing connections along the Azerbaijan-Armenia-Nakhchivan-Türkiye-Europe route, including the Zangezur Corridor.

Kalin also addressed the broader context of global instability, noting two significant crises: the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

He called for a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict through a new security framework based on international law and urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed.

Kalin stressed that lasting peace in the region would require a two-state solution to end Israel's occupation, asserting that the security and freedom of the Palestinian people are fundamental rights.

Türkiye continues intelligence diplomacy

Türkiye remains committed to both public and covert diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, said Kalin.

He also highlighted the persistent global threat of terrorism, advocating for a unified approach to combat groups such as ISIS/Daesh, the PKK, and FETO.

Kalin also emphasized the need for equal efforts against all terrorist organizations, stating that "no one is safe until everyone is safe."

In response to the evolving complexity of global threats, Kalin pointed out the crucial role of intelligence diplomacy in managing issues ranging from prisoner exchanges to ceasefire negotiations.