分类： politics

Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini activist imprisoned since the 2011 Arab Spring protests, has initiated an open-ended hunger strike to draw attention to his internationally condemned detention. Al-Khawaja, who also holds Danish citizenship, began the strike on Wednesday while held at the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center in Bahrain. This marks his second hunger strike; his first, in 2012, lasted 110 days. Medical professionals, including Dr. Damian McCormack, have warned that al-Khawaja’s health is precarious, citing his 10-kilogram (22-pound) underweight status and a pre-existing heart condition. McCormack emphasized that any duration of hunger strike poses a high risk of death for the 64-year-old activist. Bahraini authorities have not directly addressed the hunger strike but maintain that prisoners receive fair trials, full rights, and prompt medical care. Al-Khawaja’s detention has been widely criticized by human rights groups and UN experts, who describe it as arbitrary following a life sentence imposed by a military tribunal on terrorism charges. His hunger strike aims to pressure Denmark and the European Union to negotiate his release. The timing coincides with Bahrain’s annual Manama Dialogue, a security summit attracting global leaders. Al-Khawaja, a founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, has long advocated for democratic reforms in the Shiite-majority nation governed by a Sunni ruling family. His activism has made him a symbol of the ongoing struggle for human rights in Bahrain, where unrest persists despite the violent suppression of the 2011 protests.

The Netherlands is on the brink of a pivotal election as Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) faces a fierce challenge from left-leader Frans Timmermans and liberal Rob Jetten. Despite Wilders’ victory in the 2023 elections, his prospects of forming a government appear slim this time around. Opinion polls indicate a decline in his support, with Dutch voters grappling with pressing issues such as a chronic housing shortage, rising living costs, and overcrowded asylum centers. Unlike the previous election, Wilders’ rivals are refusing to collaborate with him after he dissolved his own coalition government in June 2024. The election, which commenced at 07:30 local time on Wednesday, is marked by uncertainty, with over a third of voters undecided. Analysts suggest that the second-place finisher could play a decisive role in forming the next government, likely from the center-left or center-right. Wilders’ controversial stance on immigration and Islam, coupled with internal party issues, has alienated both radical and moderate voters. Meanwhile, Timmermans and Jetten have prioritized addressing the housing crisis, with promises of significant construction projects. Unemployment, though low by European standards, has risen to 4%, the highest in four years, fueling voter anxiety. As the Dutch electorate seeks stability, the election outcome could signal a shift away from populism towards more traditional governance.

The Netherlands is witnessing a pivotal moment as voters cast their ballots in a tightly contested general election on Wednesday. The campaign has been dominated by pressing issues such as migration, a housing crisis, and the potential collaboration with Geert Wilders, the controversial anti-Islam lawmaker whose Party for Freedom (PVV) secured a surprising victory two years ago. This election unfolds against a backdrop of heightened polarization and recent violence, including clashes at anti-immigration rallies and protests against new asylum-seeker centers across the country. Polls indicate that Wilders’ PVV, advocating for a complete halt to asylum-seekers entering the Netherlands, remains a frontrunner. However, moderate parties are gaining ground, and pollsters warn that many voters may decide their choice at the last minute. Voting stations, ranging from city halls to historic landmarks like the Anne Frank House, opened at 7:30 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m., with exit polls expected shortly after. The election’s outcome will shape the formation of a coalition government, as the Dutch proportional representation system ensures no single party can govern alone. Mainstream parties have largely ruled out working with Wilders, citing his role in destabilizing the previous coalition over migration policies. Leaders like Rob Jetten of the center-left D66 and Frans Timmermans of the Labor-Green bloc have criticized Wilders’ divisive rhetoric, emphasizing the need for constructive solutions to migration challenges. Wilders, meanwhile, defends his record, blaming other parties for obstructing his agenda. The election could also mark the decline of the New Social Contract party, which faces potential obliteration after joining the outgoing coalition with Wilders and losing its popular leader, Pieter Omtzigt, earlier this year.

In a significant strategic move, President Donald Trump has redirected the USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, from the Mediterranean Sea to South America as part of an intensified campaign against drug cartels. This decision comes at a critical juncture, as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza faces renewed threats. The redeployment leaves the U.S. with only one active carrier deployed globally, marking a stark shift from recent military engagements, including joint strikes with Israel on Iran and intense combat operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Aircraft carriers, long symbols of U.S. military power, have been a cornerstone of American foreign policy, with five deployments to the Middle East since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. The Ford’s new mission underscores the Trump administration’s heightened focus on the Western Hemisphere, escalating firepower in a region already saturated with warships, aircraft, and troops. Trump, speaking from the USS George Washington in Japan, emphasized the U.S. commitment to halting drug trafficking, both at sea and on land. However, experts like Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies question the sustainability of this deployment, given the limited availability of U.S. carriers. Meanwhile, the U.S. military’s growing presence near Venezuela, coupled with 13 fatal strikes on alleged drug boats, has raised concerns about potential regime change efforts against President Nicolás Maduro, who faces U.S. narcoterrorism charges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operations as counterdrug efforts, while Maduro accused the U.S. of fabricating a war narrative. Analysts warn of potential instability in Venezuela, with some fearing a Libya-style meltdown if Maduro is ousted. The Ford strike group, accompanied by five destroyers, adds to an unprecedented U.S. military buildup in the region, including submarines, fighter jets, and bombers. Trump’s declaration of drug cartels as unlawful combatants has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, with some lawmakers questioning the lack of congressional approval for these operations. Despite concerns, allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham support the president’s actions, suggesting land strikes in Venezuela are a real possibility.