Latest news with #Falk
The National
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Gaza Tribunal: Complicity in Israel's genocide 'asserted, not hidden'
Richard Falk, an American Jewish professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University who previously served as the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, is leading the public scrutiny of Israel's actions in Gaza in the form of a tribunal. Though it has no legal force, the tribunal – which has its first public hearing taking place in Sarajevo this week – aims to document alleged war crimes, advocate for justice for Palestinians, and address shortcomings of the international legal system, its organisers said. READ MORE: 'Unacceptable': British Palestinians call out David Lammy over UK-Israel trade visit The Gaza Tribunal was officially launched in London last November and is set to conclude with a final hearing in Istanbul in October 2025, at which the tribunal's conclusions and decisions will be published. Over four days, the tribunal's Sarajevo hearing is aiming to 'close the gap in the enforcement of law' with examinations of the Nakba and colonialism, apartheid, forced population displacements, the political economy of genocide, the criminalisation of protest, and a look at the media's role in Israel's occupation of Palestinian land. The Gaza Tribunal is looking to follow on from Nobel prize winner Bertrand Russell's 1966 people's tribunal, which ultimately concluded that the US had perpetrated genocidal acts in Vietnam. Richard Falk speaking remotely to the Gaza Tribunal (Image: Gaza Tribunal) Falk, who is leading the tribunal, said: 'Liberal democracies demonized China over Uyghurs but remain complicit in Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza. One standard for adversaries, another for allies – this undermines law and morality. 'Governments enable Gaza genocide through weapons, financial support, diplomatic cover, disseminating Israeli propaganda. This complicity is asserted rather than hidden." Falk's words echo those of Justice Robert Jackson, the chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials, who said: 'If certain acts and violations of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or whether Germany does them.' Jackson's words were cited by Russell in the establishment of the 1966 tribunal on the US and Vietnam. At the Gaza Tribunal, the Byline Times reported on evidence given by Dr Thaer Ahmad, a Palestinian-American doctor who worked in Nasser in Gaza City in 2024. READ MORE: Tommy Sheppard: End the pretence that Israel is a normal country 'It appeared that the city, block by block, was being levelled from east to west and we would watch from the hospital as giant balls of smoke would fill the sky and then 10 or 15 minutes later, we would get an influx of the mass casualty event,' Dr Ahmad said. He added: 'This was happening multiple times a day … There is no hospital in the United States, no hospital in Chicago, that would have been able to function had they seen the same volume that was being seen at Nasser hospital.' Craig Mokhiber, the former director of the New York office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who stepped down in October 2023 accusing the UN of failing to act on a 'textbook genocide', also spoke at the tribunal. "What can we say of an international system that speaks of human rights but allows a live-stream genocide to rage day after day, year after year?' he said. 'A system that refuses to even name the crime out loud: genocide. 'The word genocide is only permitted in reference to history – not for genocides happening today, certainly not for Palestine. UN offices have non-critically endorsed Israeli propaganda under Western pressure.' READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn secures date to table Gaza inquiry bill in Commons The Worldwide Lawyers Association (Wolas), a Turkish-based rights group, said: "This tribunal is not merely a response to enforcement vacuum left by states and international institutions. It is a peoples' legal, ethical and political initiative exposing the deeper structures behind the failure: an international system where power dynamics consistently override law, and where geopolitics shields atrocity. "Over four days in Sarajevo, lawyers, scholars, survivors, and organisers come together to present evidence, offer expert testimony, and challenge both the violence in Gaza and the global order that sustains it." In the UK, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has spear-headed calls for a public inquiry to examine the Government's role in Gaza. You can find more details of the Gaza Tribunal on Richard Falk's website.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Appleton Memorial Day ceremony pays tribute to Outagamie County Vietnam War veterans
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Dozens gathered Saturday outside the Old Outagamie County Courthouse to honor 62 local service members who died during the Vietnam War. Hosted by the Fox Valley Veterans Council, the annual Memorial Day ceremony included a solemn reading of names, placing carnations and flags, a rifle salute by the Hortonville American Legion Honor Guard, bagpipe music and the playing of Taps. Hometown Heroes Special: Local 5 tributes those who made ultimate sacrifice serving our nation Don Falk, a Vietnam veteran from the Village of Fox Crossing, said the event is deeply personal. 'I get misty eyes talking and thinking about it, you know? But to know these guys and go to Washington D.C. and see the wall where I know 13 guys — those guys are heroes,' Falk said. He added, 'I went to school with some of them. I did know some of those names.' Falk has attended the ceremony for years and said he'll keep returning as long as possible. Timothy Cody, president of the Fox Valley Veterans Council and a retired U.S. Army colonel, said honoring fallen veterans is one of the group's core missions. 'This Saturday, we focus on Vietnam,' Col. Cody said. 'We've got 62 service members who fell in that war.' Col. Cody reflected on the war's legacy and how many veterans came home unrecognized. 'The tragedy of that war, more than anything, is the service members who came home, while nobody appreciated them,' he said. 'They didn't get that support when it was needed.' To Col. Cody, the best way to honor their sacrifice is to live with purpose. Neenah honors late WWII veteran's craftsmanship with flag disposal box 'You be a good person, you be a good American citizen so that they have value for what they've given their life for,' he said. The Fox Valley Veterans Council plans to continue this annual tradition, encouraging the public to pause and reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael Jordan's former agent David Falk said MJ would win 15 championships if he did the same thing as LeBron in his career: "He would've won 15 championships"
Everyone has a take on the GOAT debate, and David Falk is no exception. Unsurprisingly, Michael Jordan's longtime agent backs his former client, but he doesn't stop there. Even though he considers LeBron James a top 10 player all-time, Falk adds a pointed remark that many see as a subtle jab at the Los Angeles Lakers superstar. "I really like LeBron, but I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would've won 15 championships," said Falk, per David Schaefer of Sports Business Journal. Advertisement Fifteen championships is obviously an exaggeration. MJ played only 13 years before the two-year stint with the Washington Wizards. However, the 75-year-old former sports agent's point is crystal clear: Jordan won organically, leading a core that was primarily built, not bought. LeBron's route, built through free agency and alliances, remains a lightning rod in the GOAT debate. Is LeGM actually real? LBJ's "LeGM" moniker began to make the rounds in 2014 when he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to reports, James lobbied for the Cavs to trade No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins for Minnesota's Kevin Love to assemble a win-now core with Kyrie Irving. After all, no matter how good Wiggins was coming in, he still needed to get his feet wet while K-Love was already a double-double machine who could space the floor. Although James and others familiar with the situation didn't explicitly acknowledge LeBron's role in roster construction, they referenced it indirectly on several occasions. For instance, Stefan of the YouTube basketball channel Heat Check showed clips of the four-time champion taking credit for the Russell Westbrook trade in 2021. Advertisement Moreover, Irving said this on the I Am Athlete podcast (H/T: Outkick): "Bron was like, behind the scenes… what's his nickname that people call him? LeGM? He put the squad together. I wasn't mad at him. I was like, 'Alright, this is how it goes.'" "There is no secret that James and (his agent Rich) Paul help build rosters," OutKick's Sam Amico said back in 2022. "They did it with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-18, and they've been doing it with the Lakers since. Usually, it works out OK." Nonetheless, an athlete of James' stature should have that type of pull anyway. After all, the Akron native cannot afford to waste his final years playing for a rebuilding team with no real shot at a title. The four-time MVP's supposed efforts to acquire his preferred players do not always go as planned, but they reflect a calculated urgency to stay in contention while time runs short. Did MJ stay in his lane? As Falk alleged, "His Airness" chose not to meddle with front office affairs and let Jerry Krause do his job. Krause himself admitted that MJ "never once" pressured him to draft or trade a particular player. Advertisement However, that's not entirely true. Jordan Rules author Sam Smith wrote about Jordan's repeated explicit requests to acquire players of his choosing directly to Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf. For instance, the six-time champion publicly wanted Walter Davis, a fellow UNC alum. Jordan lobbied for a Horace Grant-Buck Williams trade because he never believed Grant would develop to become a trusted force at power forward. Whether they admit it or not, superstars almost always leave their fingerprints on roster construction. Some, like Jordan, benefited from stability and a front office that ultimately delivered a co-star in Scottie Pippen, one he grew with over time. Others, like LeBron, have had to be more assertive, adapting on the fly and building competitive rosters across different franchises, often with less patience and more pressure. In the end, comparing eras means comparing different systems, expectations, and paths to winning. The GOAT debate will always reflect those differences more than it resolves them. Related: "Jordan had Dean Smith. LeBron James has no coaching tree" - Isiah Thomas made a case for LeBron over Jordan in the GOAT debate due to coaching disparity
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich take interest in Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma
Bundesliga record champions FC Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing up Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma as a potential replacement for departing German winger Leroy Sané. This claim has been made by German transfer expert Christian Falk of Sport Bild on the Bayern Insider Podcast. Falk claims that FCB scouts have traveled to East Sussex several times to scout the 27-times-capped Japanese international. The current Bundesliga champions explore the possibility of acquiring the 28-year-old from his Premier League side for a price tag of €40-45m. Advertisement Falk also reports that Bayern's interest in Marseille winger Luis Henrique is unlikely to yield anything. The Brazilian attacker, per Falk, appears more likely to switch to Inter Milan. Mitoma scored ten goals and contributed three assists in 35 EPL appearances for the Seagulls this season and can actually play a wide variety of attacking positions. Mitoma's technical ability, pace, and dynamism render him one of the more interesting players to watch in the English top flight. GGFN | Peter Weis
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Journalist: Wirtz Spotted Househunting as Liverpool Plot £126m Record Transfer
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz Gamble: Why Bayern Are Nervous—and What It Means for the Reds The tug-of-war for Florian Wirtz is heating up, and it's not just another transfer rumour—it's a high-stakes chess match between two of Europe's biggest clubs. While Bayern Munich might feel they have the inside track, Liverpool are looming larger than ever in the rear-view mirror. German journalist Christian Falk has brought this latest twist to light, and it's one that should make fans on Merseyside sit up and pay attention. Liverpool Make Bayern Sweat Over Wirtz Bayern Munich were confident. The German champions had verbal assurances from Wirtz's camp. They believed the deal was theirs to lose, set for 2025 or 2026. But according to Falk, who spoke exclusively on CF Bayern Insider, Liverpool's interest has thrown a spanner in the works. Advertisement 'Bayern Munich still believe they have the Wirtz family's word that he will join Bayern in 2025 or 2026,' Falk said. 'But now, there is a bit of fear inside the club around Liverpool.' The Reds, under new manager Arne Slot, appear ready to do what Bayern won't: commit to the transfer fee. Bayer Leverkusen want €150m (£126.1m). Bayern are holding firm at €100m (£84.6m). That gap could be decisive, and Liverpool may just be willing to fill it. Househunting on Merseyside? In one of the more surprising elements of Falk's report, it was revealed that Wirtz has already begun househunting in Liverpool. That's a bold move if Bayern truly had everything sewn up. Advertisement 'The family is playing this transfer game quite openly,' Falk said. 'They're telling Bayern what they're doing with Liverpool, and they're telling Liverpool what they're doing with Bayern Munich.' This openness suggests Wirtz's camp is not as committed to Bayern as the German club hoped. It also gives Liverpool a genuine shot at snatching one of the Bundesliga's brightest stars. Bayern Try to Regain Control at Tegernsee Bayern aren't giving up. The next play in their strategy involves some old-school persuasion at Uli Hoeneß's residence in Tegernsee. It's a power move from the old guard, designed to lean on relationships and reputation. Advertisement 'Here, they want to make a deal with the family. They're hoping to gain some ground with the father (and agent), Hans-Joachim,' Falk noted. 'His generation certainly admires Hoeneß, so this is a big chance for Bayern.' But Liverpool aren't idle. Michael Edwards, back in the fold at FSG, is reportedly flying to Boston for crunch talks with key figures. If the Reds are willing to hit that €150m mark, it may be Bayern who find themselves outmanoeuvred. Wirtz Impressed by Liverpool's Ambition Money aside, there's a less tangible but equally crucial element at play: impression. Wirtz is said to have been wowed by what Liverpool had to offer. Advertisement 'Wirtz was impressed with what he saw from Liverpool. It's a really big, professional club – another world when you're working in Leverkusen,' Falk said. That contrast between Liverpool and Bayern is striking. 'Bayern Munich is more of a family club. It's one of the biggest clubs in the world, of course, but the training ground isn't quite as big as you'd expect!' Those details matter to players. The professionalism, the infrastructure, the vibe—it all feeds into a young star's decision. And if Wirtz felt the scale and vision at Anfield, that could be a deciding factor. Strategic Spending and a Big Summer Ahead Liverpool have cash to spend, but they also have multiple positions to strengthen. The club is eyeing Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, likely to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, should he move on. They still need a centre-back and possibly a striker, given the underwhelming seasons of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez. Advertisement So, while they could meet Wirtz's asking price, the question becomes one of priorities. Can they afford to splash £126m on one player and still complete their rebuild? Regardless, the interest is real. The threat to Bayern is real. And Christian Falk's reporting makes one thing clear: this saga is far from over. 'They want to stop the efforts of Liverpool and complete the deal,' Falk said. That sentence alone signals how seriously Bayern are now taking the Reds.
