- The Guardian
- Issue #2182
GERMANY: Thousands of students protested against a recently adopted law that could reinstate compulsory military service. The ‘School strike’ against the draft brought out more than 50,000 students to the streets across Germany. Slogans read “Dying is not in the curriculum,” “Friedrich Mertz to the front,” “A smart head does not fit under a steel helmet,” “Never, never, never again conscription,” and “The rich want war, the youth want a future.” One of the organisers remarked: “With the historical responsibility, the Federal Republic should advocate for peaceful solutions and democracy – not for rearmament”.
LAOS: Party Secretary General Thongloun Sisoulith has addressed the 2nd Plenary Session of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. He called for swift action on the resolutions of the recent National Party Congress, including spurring rural development, and continuous development on the path to creating an independent economy.
US: The US-Israeli war on Iran is estimated to have cost US$3.7 billion so far for its first 100 hours, according to research by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). According to the analysis, US forces used more than 2,000 munitions of various types during that time. Replenishing those weapons is estimated to cost about $3.1 billion, with replacement expenses increasing by roughly $758.1 million per day. Apart from the financial impact, the war has already caused significant human casualties. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that more than 1,332 people have been killed in Iran since Israeli and American bombings began. According to UNICEF, at least 181 children have been killed. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has verified 13 attacks on healthcare infrastructure. “An estimated 100,000 people have left Iran and in Lebanon, more than 60,000 people have been displaced,” said WHO’s Director General.
HUNGARY: Hungary has detained seven Ukrainian citizens on suspicion of money laundering, including a former general of the Ukrainian Special Services responsible for transporting US$40 million, 35 million euros and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine. “We demand an explanation of why Ukrainians have been transporting such a large amount of cash through Hungary. What are they using this money for, whose money is it? We demand immediate answers and explanations from the Ukrainian side on these serious issues,” said the Hungarian Foreign Minister.
AFGHANISTAN: The UN’s International Organisation for migration warned that “escalating cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan have a growing humanitarian impact on civilians and people on the move.” According to the UN, nearly 66,000 people have been displaced in Afghanistan amidst continuing heavy shelling and explosions as fighting continues along the country’s border with Pakistan.
ECUADOR: The US has announced that it’s collaborating with Ecuador to combat “terrorists” there. US General Francis Donovan said: “On 3 March Ecuadorian and US military forces launched operations against designated terrorist organisations in Ecuador.”
CYPRUS: Protest actions and demonstrations against the presence of US bases are taking place in many countries. The UK retains two sovereign bases on Cyprus – Akrotiri and Dhekelia. the bases have served as launch points for British military operations in the Middle East. Aircraft from RAF Akrotiri supported campaigns in Iraq and Libya, while recently assisting Israeli operations in Gaza, where 70,000 people have been killed. More than 600 surveillance flights linked to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza have taken off from Cyprus so far. Two days after the US-Israeli unprovoked attack on Iran, a drone struck RAF Akrotiri, putting the locals at risk and strengthening their determination to fight against the presence of foreign bases on their land.
