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[Nicolas Guillou, one of six judges and three prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was sanctioned by the USA in August. He described his current situation as a digital time travel back to the 1990s, before the internet age, in a recent interview.]

#1

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Jacob - Today at 01:30:54 PM

Speaking of autonomy:

Nicolas Guillou, one of six judges and three prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was sanctioned by the USA in August. He described his current situation as a digital time travel back to the 1990s, before the internet age, in a recent interview.

The reason for the US sanctions are the arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. They were indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of the destruction of the Gaza Strip. The USA condemned this decision by the court, whereupon the US Treasury Department sanctioned six judges and three prosecutors.
Digitally excluded from almost everything

In Guillou's daily life, this means that he is excluded from digital life and much of what is considered standard today, he told the French newspaper Le Monde. All his accounts with US companies such as Amazon, Airbnb, or PayPal were immediately closed by the providers. Online bookings, such as through Expedia, are immediately canceled, even if they concern hotels in France. Participation in e-commerce is also practically no longer possible for him, as US companies always play a role in one way or another, and they are strictly forbidden to enter into any trade relationship with sanctioned individuals.

He also describes the impact on participating in banking as drastic. Payment systems are blocked for him, as US companies like American Express, Visa, and Mastercard have a virtual monopoly in Europe. He also describes the rest of banking as severely restricted. For example, accounts with non-US banks have also been partially closed. Transactions in US dollars or via dollar conversions are forbidden to him.

https://www.heise.de/en/news/How-a-French-judge-was-digitally-cut-off-by-the-USA-11087561.html

#2

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 01:05:20 PM

Yeah although I think it's less common now. But you'll see chaiwala as a common name for an Indian cafe.

Edit: Looked wallahs up on Wiki and really like that satellite dish installers in India and Pakistan are called dishwallahs. Also quite like puncturewallahs for people who deal with punctured tyres.

#3

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Richard Hakluyt - Today at 01:01:54 PM

It has a different meaning in the UK, picked up from the Raj. It means a person but you link it to something else, eg  a rickshaw-wallah or, much used in Britain in the 1980s a dole-wallah (ie unemployed person).

#4

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Syt - Today at 12:36:44 PM

So apparently the Russian Duma has rejected Trump's farcical peace plan, saying only total victory is acceptable.

#5

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Jacob - Today at 11:57:10 AM

So apparently the Russian Duma has rejected Trump's farcical peace plan, saying only total victory is acceptable.

#6

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Crazy_Ivan80 - Today at 11:54:39 AM

The left loves islam, for reasons unknown.

#7

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Razgovory - Today at 11:49:07 AM

Interesting this gets you so upset when it was dealt with quickly and doesn't seem to have led to anything.
All that Islamophobia out there which X just let's slide by must really annoy you. You're clearly just getting a giant mega post ready.

Is there movement to keep Muslims out of British Universities?  I didn't know about that.  I really didn't know X is putting bounties on Muslims.  That's shocking.  I'm surprised that you care so much about Islamophobia.  I thought you disliked religion.

#8

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by Josquius - Today at 11:13:24 AM

The French doc. One of the French players was saying how lovely the city is as the weather is just like Brittany.
See.
Brilliant.

Why are they here?
I don't think we have them in that u21 international cup? Though it is hard to find info about it.

#9

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Legbiter - Today at 10:59:11 AM

Wasn't that long ago we were talking about finding an exit strategy that Putin can swallow. Now we're talking about how much land to give him. [sigh]

Yeah these are the same reheated russian max demands since 2022. The burgers have given the Ukrainians some kind of deadline to accede to Shitkopfs plan but the Europeans are starting to strangle this brainfart and the russians have not actually formally accepted the plan. Just staggering breakdown of state capacity and general incompetence on part of the Americans.

#10

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 10:35:41 AM

Wasn't that long ago we were talking about finding an exit strategy that Putin can swallow. Now we're talking about how much land to give him. [sigh]

And unless the Ukrainians are in a more desperate situation than the public is being let known, it's hard to see why they'd agree to a conditional surrender where the condition granted to them is that their whole country will not be occupied right now, only later when Russia has been given the chance to regroup.