Latest news with #BDS
Spectator
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Israel has gone too far
If any other country in the Middle East had behaved as monstrously as Israel has in recent weeks, the jets would be lined up on our runways ready to do a bit of performative bombing. Never mind BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) and diplomatic pressure. I mention this because those of us who support Israel, and have done so largely uncritically since 7 October 2023, need the scales to fall from our eyes a little – for the good of Israel, as well as the good of those starving Palestinians. I have been to Israel many times, as a journalist, as a holidaymaker, as a friend. I accept without demurral the argument that it is the region's only democracy – and a liberal democracy at that – surrounded on all sides by authoritarian failed states which wish to see it wiped from the face of the Earth. I subscribe to the notion, too, that if Palestine got what Palestine wants – from the river to the sea and all that vainglorious spite – then they would turn one of the most remarkable countries in the world into a variant of Somalia within about six months (if that), no matter how much money its gullible white liberal well-wishers poured into the place. I have an absolute lack of respect for the impoverished Arab countries that are governed, in the main, by bloodthirsty and intellectually challenged religious maniacs, just as I have an absolute lack of respect for the rich Arab countries that were lucky enough to find a reservoir of oil in their sandpits and have created odious totalitarian slave states as a consequence. This may be unfair, but I have the distinct feeling that the Arab culture, when allied to Islam, makes for a uniquely toxic mindset; one fuelled by absolutism, hatred and a disrespect for human life. I despise the feral savages of Hamas and was wholly in support of Israel's incursion into Gaza, even if, at the time, I thought it might be more useful to begin by lobbing a few missiles at Tehran. Why not target the organ grinder rather than its imbecilic monkeys? Equally, I have a fierce loathing of the Keffiyeh Klan, the deluded legions of affluent western liberals who have embraced anti-Semitism with gusto and when asked to identify the sins of the world have only one answer. In short, I am instinctively, politically, morally and pragmatically on the side of Israel. I do not wish our country to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state (and Keir Starmer's decision to do so is a crass genuflection to his idiot backbenchers. Just what is it you are recognising, you abject little man?). Nor do I think, pace Starmer, that Palestinians have 'an inalienable right' to independent statehood. Just to press the point home, I believe that from the Maghreb to the Levant and then eastwards, over those vast dunes, into what was once much better off when it was called Persia, corrupt and vindictive regimes govern a corrupt and vindictive culture, one that is responsible for much of the misery in the world. Israel, then, is an oasis – which is why we cannot afford to allow it to pollute its own waters. And that seems very much like what it is doing right now. If you are already howling that I have swallowed Hamas propaganda, and that either it is Hamas who is stopping the aid getting through or that the far-from-starving Palestinians are tucking into three square meals per day, eggs Benedict, shrimp étouffée, bananas Foster and so on, then you are labouring under a delusion. If virtually every non-aligned observer in the world, including the President of the USA, believes that the people of Gaza are starving to death and Israel is primarily responsible, then that's good enough for me, frankly. Of course Hamas has looted aid convoys and of course it lies to the press and the press is often far too quick to report what it says as being the truth. But that does not alter the fact that people – largely blameless people – are dying and that Israel is in large part to blame. Of course this conflict has, in the West, become hideously polarised and so it is all too easy simply to continue repeating the mantra that everybody is against Israel and one should believe only what one hears from the mouth of Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF press office. (Even in that case, Netanyahu accepts that there are several areas where assistance has not made it through.) But if you sign up to that credo you are morally lost. We have to form opinions based upon the evidence that is put before us, not have them devolve from partisan loyalties, no matter how well-founded those loyalties might be. It has to be said that the United Nations should be held primarily responsible for the partisan nature of the debate. Supposedly neutral, it has vilified Israel at every turn, just as in the past 20 years it has entertained resolution after resolution condemning Israel while ignoring every other transgression which occurs anywhere else on Earth. It came as no surprise to discover that Hamas terrorists were actively involved in UN programmes. As soon as that was revealed, the awful secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, should have resigned. Meanwhile, we should take our leave of an organisation which cleaves to the palpably stupid view that the wrongs of the world are the consequence of colonialism, except when those wrongs are committed by Israel. It is very far from being a force for good. Instead, it has become a force for disseminating demonstrably absurd post-Marxist delusions. I do not have a solution to the crisis. Frankly, Donald Trump's idea of turning the Gaza Strip into a kind of Las Vegas, except with falafel in place of T-bone steak, has much to commend it, but that simulacrum of Sodom should not be built over the bodies of dead children. We support Israel because of its erudition and its strength but most of all because it has decency. Had decency. Please let it get that decency back.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Caught cheating in exam, 19-year-old college student dies by suicide in Greater Noida
Noida: A 19-year-old BTech student died by suicide at her residence in Greater Noida days after she was allegedly caught cheating during an exam earlier this month. The girl, from Bihar's Vaishali, was studying at Greater Noida Institute of Technology and had shifted to Beta-2 with her mother and two sisters to complete the engineering course. According to police, she was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her room on Tuesday night. The family has claimed that the girl has been distraught since July 9, when she went to KCC College to write an exam. An examiner had allegedly found a chit in her answer booklet and taken away her sheet. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida Though the student was later allowed to write the test in a new answer booklet, the incident had left her distressed, and she even approached the college authorities to discuss the matter. Following her death, a complaint was lodged against KCC College management under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A senior officer confirmed that police were exploring all angles and will question college officials about the July 9 incident. This case comes weeks after Jyoti Sharma, a BDS student at Noida's Sharda University, allegedly died by suicide, accusing university staff of harassment. Two faculty members were arrested in the case and later suspended by the university. Jyoti's family alleged that the faculty member in question had accused her of forging signatures.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Nationwide Walmart, McDonald's boycotts to begin from August 1: Here's all you need to know
The People's Union USA will launch a nationwide boycott of Walmart and McDonald's that is set to start on August 1 and run the entire month. The group is urging Americans to stop spending money at the retail behemoths. Walmart, McDonald's boycott: John Schwarz, the founder of The People's Union USA, announced on Instagram that a boycott of McDonald's and Walmart was planned for August.(Representative Image/AFP) This comes after a string of boycotts initiated by consumers that occurred after President Donald Trump was re-elected in January. Progressive organizations have taken the lead in this campaign, voicing disapproval of firms' retraction of their diversity employment pledges as well as worries about worker rights and corporate tax evasion. People's Union USA founder announces Walmart, McDonald's boycotts John Schwarz, the founder of The People's Union USA, announced on Instagram that a boycotts of McDonald's and Walmart were planned for August. In the past, this grassroots campaign has led nationwide 24-hour 'economic blackouts' and coordinated boycotts against Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Schwartz has over 360,000 TikTok fans and over 500,000 Instagram followers. The goal of the August campaign is to prevent customers from spending money at McDonald's for the whole month. Walmart and Lowe's will also be the targets of comparable measures. The People's Union has advised customers to postpone unnecessary purchases at the Walmart during the period of the boycott or, if possible, reroute purchases to small, independent firms. 'We are not a political party,' The People's Union USA's mission said in a statement. 'We are not a protest. We are a movement of people, organizing to take back control of our economy, government and future of our country.' Also Read: What happened to Laura Dahlmeier? German Olympic champion dies in tragic incident in Pakistan What we know about McDonald's boycott With an estimated 68 million patrons every day, McDonald's is the biggest restaurant chain in the world. McDonald's has been facing boycotts from the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement since 2023. Last year, McDonald's decision to reduce its diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has drawn criticism. A list of the main complaints with each targeted corporation was posted on the website of The People's Union USA earlier this year. The grievances inlcuded tax evasion, labor conditions, and general monopolistic conduct. McDonald's landed on the list due to alleged 'tax avoidance and known lobbying against wage increases.' What we know about Walmart boycott The People's Union USA launched Walmart boycott in April as well, with Schwartz saying, 'We're boycotting Walmart because they've become the symbol of everything that's wrong with corporate power in this country... Our mission is simple, we want these corporations to start paying their fair share of taxes so the American people can finally be relieved of the burden of federal income tax.' Boycott of Lowe's is also planned for August. Moreover, Amazon, Uber, and Pepsi Co. will face boycotts in September.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Boeing Co (BA) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amidst Challenges
Revenue: $22.7 billion, up 35% year-over-year. Core Loss Per Share: $1.24, showing significant improvement from the previous year. Free Cash Flow: Usage of $200 million, better than expectations due to higher commercial delivery volume and favorable timing of CapEx. Commercial Airplane Deliveries: 150 airplanes in the quarter, 280 in the first half of the year. BCA Revenue: $10.9 billion with an operating margin of -5.1%. BCA Backlog: $522 billion, up more than $60 billion sequentially. BDS Revenue: $6.6 billion, up 10% year-over-year. BDS Operating Margin: 1.7%, showing significant improvement. BGS Revenue: $5.3 billion, up 8% year-over-year. BGS Operating Margin: 19.9%, up 210 basis points compared to last year. Debt Balance: $53.3 billion, down $300 million in the quarter. Cash and Marketable Securities: $23 billion. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with BA. Release Date: July 29, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) announced its largest wide-body order ever for up to 210 commercial airplanes, indicating strong market demand. The company delivered 150 commercial jets in the quarter, marking the most deliveries in the second quarter since 2018. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) achieved a production rate of 38 airplanes per month for the 737 and is on track to request an increase to 42 per month. The 787 program successfully increased its production rate to seven airplanes per month, with stable key performance indicators. Boeing Global Services (BGS) delivered strong financial results with a 19.9% operating margin, reflecting improved commercial and government volume. Negative Points The 737-7 and -10 certification is delayed to 2026 due to prolonged technical solution development for engine anti-ice. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) reported a core loss per share of $1.24, despite improvements compared to the previous year. Free cash flow was a usage of $200 million in the quarter, reflecting ongoing challenges in working capital management. The 777X program continues to grow inventory as it moves towards entry into service, impacting financials. Boeing Defense and Space (BDS) margins remain low, with ongoing challenges in stabilizing fixed-price development programs. Q & A Highlights Q: Can you explain the $2 billion better performance in free cash flow for the second quarter and how it affects the full-year target? A: Brian West, CFO, explained that the $3 billion figure is a reasonable assumption for the year. The first half free cash flow usage of $2.5 billion exceeded expectations, with the second quarter usage of $200 million being better than anticipated. This was driven by better BCA delivery performance and timing items, including an incremental $700 million from 13 777 deliveries. The third quarter is expected to mirror the second quarter, with a potential $700 million one-time DOJ payment. The fourth quarter is anticipated to be positive, setting up for a strong 2026. Q: How do recent trade agreements and tariffs impact Boeing's order momentum and pricing? A: Kelly Ortberg, CEO, noted that recent trade agreements have been beneficial, particularly the Japan agreement, which includes zero tariffs on imports. The order environment is strong, and Boeing is managing pricing to reflect the constrained environment, which helps offset inflationary cost growth. The focus remains on avoiding retaliatory tariffs with China and maintaining favorable trade terms with Mexico and Canada. Q: What are the long-term production rate plans for the 737 MAX and 787, given the strong demand? A: Kelly Ortberg stated that Boeing is stabilizing the 787 production at seven per month and plans to increase rates as market demand is strong. For the 737 MAX, the current rate is 38 per month, with plans to increase in increments of five, no earlier than six months apart, pending FAA discussions. The focus is on maintaining stability and high-quality production. Q: Can you provide an update on the engine anti-icing issue with the 737-7 and -10? A: Kelly Ortberg explained that the delay is due to unresolved design issues affecting airflow into the engines. The engineering designs have not met expectations, requiring additional design changes to meet de-icing requirements. The certification is now expected in 2026. Q: How is Boeing addressing the challenges in Boeing Defense and Space (BDS) and what is the outlook for margin improvement? A: Kelly Ortberg highlighted that BDS is focused on stabilizing production and executing development programs. Recent contract wins have been cost-plus, avoiding past mistakes of fixed-price development contracts. The goal is to return to high single-digit margins, with active management and derisking of programs being key strategies. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC questions Gr Noida varsity delay in reporting student suicide, calls for ‘lawful' probe
New Delhi The bench refused to pass any further order, directing the probe to proceed. (Representative photo) The Supreme Court on Monday called for the probe into student suicide deaths at Sharda University and IIT Kharagpur to proceed 'expeditiously, in accordance with the law', while questioning the silence of Sharda University in reporting the incident and directing IIT Kharagpur to ascertain the reason for four student deaths at the institute over the past seven months. A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had taken suo motu cognisance of the two incidents as part of its broader directions passed in March for setting up a National Task Force (NTF) to identify causes behind increasing student suicides. 'We are doing this for our children, our progeny,' it said, as it took up responses filed by the two educational institutions explaining their conduct. The court was informed by amicus curiae senior advocate Aparna Bhat that in the Sharda University case, the complaint was lodged by the student's parent after two hours had lapsed since the discovery of the body at the college hostel room on July 18. Bhat pointed out that the father was informed of the incident by students, and that the management failed to inform the police and parents. 'You (management) should have informed…Was it not your duty to immediately inform the police and parents?' the bench asked senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the university. The amicus curiae told the court that a note left by the student, a 24-year-old second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student, led to the arrest of two members of the faculty. The bench refused to pass any further order, while noting, 'Our concern was the investigation should proceed. We will not say anything further as it may prejudice the investigation.' The court also sought to know the progress of the investigation into the death reported from IIT Kharagpur. The amicus pointed out that the IIT administration had informed the police after they discovered that a fourth-year student had committed suicide in the hostel room. The incident took place soon after he joined classes upon returning from vacation at home. The court said, 'What is wrong with IIT Kharagpur? Why are students committing suicide? Have you given it any thought?' Senior advocate MR Shamshad, appearing for the IIT administration, told the court that a 10-member committee has been constituted to probe the present incident. He said that, in addition, a 12-member counselling committee was established by the institute for students to report their problems. Bhat informed the court that she could not carry out a spot visit to IIT Kharagpur, but confirmed that a complaint was lodged, converted into an FIR, and an investigation is ongoing. 'Let investigation in both matters proceed expeditiously in accordance with law and in the right direction,' the court said in its order, while posting the matter after four weeks. In March, the court constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to probe into the larger issue of student suicides across the country and the systemic changes required to address this issue. The NTF is headed by former Supreme Court judge S Ravindra Bhat and is expected to submit its preliminary report in September.
