Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced on Monday the mobilization of 4.5 million militiamen in response to what he called threats from the United States. The Americans announced an increase in the reward for information leading to the capture of the Venezuelan leader and launched an anti-drug operation with military personnel in the Caribbean.

“This week, I will activate a special plan to ensure coverage, with more than 4.5 million militiamen, of the entire national territory, militias prepared, activated, and armed,” Maduro announced in a televised address, ordering ‘tasks’ in response to “renewed threats” from the United States against Venezuela.

The Bolivarian Militia is composed of approximately 5 million reservists, according to official data. It was created by former President Hugo Chávez and later became one of the five components of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB). The group acts as a support to the Army in the “defense of the nation.”

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Israel set to approve long-delayed pipeline to supply gas to Egypt

Analysts argue the $35-billion gas deal locks Egypt into dependence on Israeli supplies until 2040, giving Tel Aviv leverage over Cairo’s politics and energy security

https://t.me/thecradlemedia

Only cool "Israel"s in chat

US deploys warships near Venezuela to combat drug threats, sources say - Reuters

⚫️ Saraya Al-Quds: — Saraya Al-Quds shows scenes of its fighters shelling the two settlements of "Be'eri" and "Shokeda" in the Gaza envelope with rockets.

https://t.me/PalestineResist

Smol bean nazi country experts marveling over how Finland is now surely a part of the West. Torille!

This is what we are selling our souls for, being vassals of and . Sure is a great time to be alive!

Edit. I haven't often seen a more perfect example of the pathetic "need to become the imperialist" bootlicker mentality that permeates the culture here.

Like oh my god, smol bean country president in the same room with other ghouls of the West! Now everyone must surely take us seriously.

They have marched out the most cringe academic experts to bolster this bs national pride that is really just the shattered wannabe-colonialist ego of the national bourgeoisie hiding in plain sight. It's sickening, having witnessed this bs all my life.

Qatar confirms that Hamas has responded positively to a Gaza ceasefire proposal, including a 60-day truce, but no response yet from Israel.

At least eight people were killed in Israeli attacks on tents housing displaced people in Khan Younis, and four more in an attack on a tent in Deir el-Balah, according to hospitals.

Al Jazeera

CW: suicide

⭕️ Israeli army operates 'Legitimization Cell' to shape Gaza media narrative

The Israeli army is using a specialized unit known as the “Legitimization Cell" to collect intelligence from Gaza and enhance Israel’s public image.

Formed after 7 October, the unit focuses on gathering intel about Hamas’s alleged use of schools and hospitals for military purposes. It also identifies Gaza-based journalists who could be depicted as undercover Hamas operatives, in an effort to counter mounting global criticism over Israel’s killing of reporters, the most recent being Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, killed in an Israeli airstrike this past week.

The Legitimization Cell’s members are reportedly intent on finding journalists they could associate with Hamas and mark as potential targets.

(+972 Magazine & Local Call)

https://t.me/thecradlemedia

For anyone wondering what the largest socialist party in the netherlands supports they've just presented their electoral manifesto for this year, titling it Super Social

Lots of good stuff in there obviously, although you'll start eyerolling a bit at the foreign affairs section

Branko Milanovic on the still ongoing protests in Serbia:

The issue in Serbia is that the govt is not strong enough like in France (gilets jaunes) or China (Hong Kong) to put an end to violent demonstrations by using police/military means. Fear that greater repression will backfire (more people will come out), its international consequences, and not complete trust in police.

But the protesters are not strong enough to overthrow the govt.

So all the ingredients for a long conflict and a civil war similar to what happened in Ukraine after the coup in 2014 are there.

As I wrote in March, movement towards a civil war is inevitable esp. with Vucic's current tactic of not waiting out the protests but accelerating them using literal fascist cohorts. The irony is that he could easily win snap elections but is more comfortable living in permanent tension and strife.

Saudi Arabia, Syria ink deal to protect and promote joint investments

The agreement sets out legal guarantees to safeguard capital flows, expand cooperation across industries, and accelerate Syria’s economic recovery

https://t.me/thecradlemedia

Iran, Armenia sign 10 cooperation deals during Pezeshkian visit

Armenia gave assurances to Iran over its ‘red lines’ relating to the Zangezur Corridor project

https://t.me/thecradlemedia

"My wedding on earth is the day of my martyrdom."

Yesterday's martyrdom operation in "Tel Aviv" came on the eve of the anniversary of the martyrdom operation of Raed Misk, who, on this day in 2003, killed 23 zionists and wounded 135 others in a bus in occupied Al-Quds.

Raed's operation shook the zionist entity, coming as part of vengeance for the martyred leader Abdulallah Qawasmeh. At 9:00 PM on that Tuesday, he set forth to the western part of Al-Quds for the first time in his life, boarded an "israeli" bus disguised as a settler, and executed his decision.

Born in Al-Khalil, he was raised in the city's mosques, having memorized the Quran at 15 years old. At that age, he was abducted by the occupation and imprisoned, during which his mother passed away. He married, had three children, and worked as a teacher. One day, while he was still a student, a teacher he admired asked him about his aspirations. Raed humbly replied, "To become like you, teacher." Years later, he told Raed, "God has granted you your wish and more."

Despite his role in the Al-Qassam Brigades, his family didn't know anything at all of his resistance activity. His conversations were focused on family and Quran (often quoting it in coversation), not politics, according to his wife Umm Mu'min. Deeply committed to his family, he was also known for relieving the hardships of others, often staying up until a person's need was fulfilled. According to his family, "his hand was always on his forehead due to the number of people he greeted" while walking down the street.

The first person to tell Umm Mu'min of her husband's martyrdom was her son, Mu'min. Ater returning from her brother-in-law's house, Mu'min said he had seen his father's picture on television, holding a rifle in his left hand and the Quran in his right, emulating the saying "This is how Ayyash taught us; to hold a rifle with a Quran." Mu'min said, "Mom, Dad went to Nablus, and from there, he ascended to Heaven."

Umm Mu'min described their last moments together, explaining that Raed had insisted on taking her and the children to his sister's house for a meal. He insisted that they stay the night; Raed's sister noticed that he spent the entire night praying, reading the Quran, and checking the windows and doors. It seemed as though he didn't sleep for a moment.

He told his sister he was going to Nablus to work on his master's thesis. "I might not see you again; I might be arrested or martyred." The day before his martyrdom, he distributed Quranic tapes to his family and friends, which he encourages them to listen to in his will.

At the decisive moment at 9:00 PM, Raed disguised himself as a settler, boarding Bus #12 that had just come back from the Western Wall. A 5 kilogram bomb was detonated, killing over 20 zionists and wounding about 150. Raed ascended as a martyr.

All who knew Raed rejoiced, but were affected by the loss of a great man, consoling themselves with the believe that Raed was under Allah's provision.

Afterwards, the zionist security apparatus was stunned by their failure to identify Raed, or even respond to the operation. Dozens asssociated with Raed were abducted, his home was demolished, and three mosques in which Raed taught were shut down. The zionists didn't realize that resistance does not stop at the martyrdom of an individual.

Today, the return of operations like Raed's marks a new phase in the struggle, shaking zionist foundations once more.

Below, excerpts from Raed's will are published.

Glory to the martyrs.

https://t.me/PalestineResist

Estonian PM approval rating is just 5 percent, among the lowest in the world

Source: https://news.err.ee/1609772127/poll-support-for-estonian-pm-michal-hits-record-low