difficult not to sound tinfoil but when you look into the global narcotics trade it’s remarkable how big a role drugs play in recent political history yet is entirely unremarked upon. just reading about how ISIS are alleged to have worked pretty closely with the turkish secret service to move over a billion dollars worth of heroin since 2014. incredible, staggering sums of money. the supply chain will stretch right across europe too, down into africa, across to the americas. various organised crime and corrupt state agencies will be involved all over the world. then that money gets recycled into legitimate enterprises like construction, finance, etc. no links, just reading bits and pieces here and there.
Exit polls show Netanyahu’s Likud Party trailing Gantz’s Blue & White bloc, but with a clearer path to forming a governing coalition. Two of the three main TV channels show Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc with more than the 61 seats needed to form a government, and with Gantz unable to form a coalition.
Protests in Khartoum have been going on for a couple of months, with large crowds calling for president Omar Hassan al-Bashir to step down. In recent days these protests have gained momentum and it looks like many rank-and-file soldiers support the protesters, abandoning their loyalty to the dictator, who has ruled Sudan for 30 years. Protesters have begun to express hope that the army will force al-Bashir out.
However, intermittent fighting between different sections of the country’s security forces raises concerns that Sudan could descend into anarchy. That fear is especially acute now because two neighbouring nations — Libya and South Sudan — are convulsed by civil war and chaos.
With 97% of votes counted, current prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on course to form another right wing cabinet.
Netanyahu’s Likud and the Blue and White Party lead by Benny Gantz appear to have 35 seats each, while the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties each win 8 seats. The once mighty Labor party is down to just 6 seats. Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu party, Hadash-Ta’al and Meretz are all set to claim 4 seats apiece.The Union of Right-Wing Parties has won 5 seats while the New Right party led for Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked are hoping the soldiers’ vote, not yet counted will carry them over the required threshold.
The results put the the rightist bloc in the lead with 65 seats, while the leftist bloc stands at 55 seats.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service has announced the release of all political prisoners across the country, according to state news agency SUNA.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been removed from power and detained by the army, Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf announced on state television.
“I announce as minister of defence the toppling of the regime and detaining its chief in a secure place,” Auf said.
Seated on a gold-upholstered armchair, Auf announced a three-month state of emergency, a nationwide ceasefire and the suspension of the constitution. He also said Sudan’s air space would be closed for 24 hours and border crossings shut until further notice. A two-year transition government administered by the military would take over before general elections will take place in 2021.