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Other Games / Re: Starsector [TopDown Sandbox RPG on Space]
« on: March 17, 2024, 12:08:41 pm »
Even so, got to ask ppl's permission to collect their data for any reason
May 9, 2024: The May '24 Report is up.
News: April 23, 2024: Dwarf Fortress 50.13 has been released.
News: February 4, 2021: Dwarf Fortress Talk #28 has been posted.
News: November 21, 2018: A new Threetoe story has been posted.
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There's currently been some kind of amusing drama in the modding scene.I'm not surprised tbh. The starsector modding community on discord and the starsector forums are prone to cultish and antisocial behaviour
Someone, we'll call them A, created a mod called Take No Prisoners. They made it open source, allowing anyone to mod it in any way they wanted. Someone else, we'll call them B, proceeded to fork the mod into an NSFW mod. I don't know the details, but I'd imagine with the OG mod it'd be a wee bit rapey.
A didn't like this. At all. Seriously. He threw all the toys out of the pram and not only stopped working on TNP but pulled it from the forums and removed every link to it. Ironically, this only left B's NSFW mod to do the same thing, so anyone wanting TNP's features was now forced onto it.
Realising that people were now using a mod that he didn't like in larger numbers, A decided the best way to fix that was to then add malware to his other mods. From then on, if one of his mods detected B's mod it'd crash the game and corrupt the save. Hilariously, the code it detected was in the TNP mod too, so what happened was anyone running the OG mod *or* the NSFW one was unable to play with any of those mods.
This was an unpopular move. Once this was discovered the guy was promptly banned from the forums and the subreddit, and Alex basically had to alter the modding rules to include "Don't make malware you fucking idiots". Meanwhile, the unofficial Starsector Discord had the mods act as insane as Discord mods do and they were praising him for it... Right up until they realised people didn't like that where they then temporarily then, I assume reluctantly, permanently banned him from the server.
Occam's Razor says the LEAST likely explanation would be Hamas opening fire on refugees to then blame it on the IDF.
The death toll from tank fire that hit a United Nations shelter in the Gaza Strip's main southern city of Khan Younis has risen to 12, a top U.N. aid official said Thursday.Coupled with them just openly doing it
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on social media that the bombardment showed a "blatant disregard of basic rules of war," noting that the compound had been clearly marked as a U.N. facility and its coordinates shared with Israeli authorities.
If you helped Jews flee from German-occupied countries you didn't help to cleanse Europe from Jews, you did something very different. It is not me who calls Israeli actions in Gaza genocide.Because they were helped home. What you're advocating for is the fucking Madagascar solution
Also, what if a Palestinian wants to leave Palestine and seek a better life elsewhere? Should they be prohibited from doing so because by doing so they help the ethnic cleansing of their own country and their personal rights don't matter?It is because their personal rights matter that Israel shouldn't be the one to decide for them
The UN? UN facilities have been getting damaged and destroyed in air strikes for the entirety of the current conflict, why would they put people at risk just for bureaucracy’s sake in an active war zone?Israel just attacked another U.N. shelter with tanks, killing 12 whilst the UN was distributing aid. In a roundabout where civilians gathered to wait for aid, Israeli infantry opened fire, killing 20..
Israel has form for not letting Palestinian refugees return to the territory so… I find it challenging to believe that they want to leave if the they have no guarantee of ever being able to return home.
That’s also why folk won’t accept Palestinian refugees, too.
Recently, the idea of pushing for the displacement of Gaza’s Palestinian population was given voice by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in what they called "voluntary migration," urging countries to take displaced Palestinians in.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s remarks received immediate and international condemnation, including from the UK, Germany and France
It’s not up to Israel to decide where Palestinians should live: France
France condemned remarks by Israeli officials pushing for the displacement of Gaza’s Palestinian population, saying Israel has no right to decide the fate of people in Gaza.
"France condemns the remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bazalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, calling for the emigration of the Gazan population as well as the re-establishment of (Jewish) colonies and occupation of the land (Gaza)," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Urging Israel to refrain from such provocative remarks, saying they only serve to fuel tensions, the ministry said any forced population transfer would constitute a serious violation of international law according to the Geneva Convention and Rome Statute.
"It is not up to Israeli government to decide where Palestinians should live," it said. "The future of the Gaza Strip and its inhabitants will lie in a unified Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel."
Gazans 'should not be subject' to forcible relocation: UK
Britain "firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza," said a statement from Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
"Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state," it said, adding that it rejects suggestions from Israeli officials pushing for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.
"We share the concerns of our allies and partners that Gazans should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza," the office added.
Rejection of Gazans displacement in 'strongest possible way': Germany
The German Foreign Ministry also underlined its opposition to the dislocation of the Palestinian population in Gaza, saying: "We reject the statements made by the two ministers in the strongest possible way."
Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer said the issue was discussed during the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tokyo last November.
Fischer added: "The forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza and the reduction of the territory of the Gaza Strip should not be out of the question."
Displacing population would violate international law: Spain
Spain, one European country that has been outspoken in defending Palestinians, joined countries condemning the Israeli officials pushing the forced relocation of the population in Gaza.
"The Government of Spain rejects recent statements by members of the Government of Israel evoking population movements in Gaza that would be contrary to international law," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Spain reiterates the urgent need to respect international law, international humanitarian law and to guarantee the protection of the civilian population," it added.
Displacement calls 'do not fit' future two-state solution: Netherlands
The Netherlands called the Israeli officials' proposal for the voluntary migration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip "irresponsible."
Amsterdam supports a two-state solution, the Dutch Foreign Ministry underlined in a statement.
"The Netherlands rejects any calls for Palestinian displacement from Gaza or reduction of Palestinian territory," it said. "This does not fit a future two-state solution, with a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.”
Mass emigration of Palestinians is against international law: Slovenia
Slovenia also rejected the idea of the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
"Slovenia rejects the recent statements of members of the Israeli government who proposed mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Warning that any emigration of the Palestinian population from Gaza is against international law, the ministry stressed that it would further threaten the prospects for a sustainable two-state solution.
"We once again call for respect for international law and international humanitarian law and the protection of the civilian population in Gaza," it added.
Israeli officials’ proposal 'inflammatory, irresponsible': EU
Although only a handful of European countries condemned the Israeli officials’ call individually, a top official of the 27-member EU bloc slammed the call for the displacement of people from the Gaza Strip.
"I strongly condemn the inflammatory and irresponsible statements by Israeli ministers Ben Gvir & Smotrich slandering the Palestinian population of Gaza and calling for a plan for their emigration," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X.
He also stressed: "Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave violation of IHL (international humanitarian law), and words matter."
"In general, this is just a hugely profound moment looking at the history of both Israel's support for the apartheid government in South Africa and the ongoing solidarity between anti-apartheid movements globally for South Africa and for Palestine," says Jo Bluen, an international relations scholar and organiser at South African Jews for a Free Palestine.
South African Jews for a Free Palestine have been at the forefront of Johannesburg's protests decrying Israel's actions in Gaza.
Professor Salim Vally, director for the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation at the University of Johannesburg, says: "Most South Africans also recognise Israel's complicity in our own oppression.
"For example, Israel was an important arms supplier to apartheid South Africa, despite the international arms embargo. As late as 1980, 35% of Israel's arms exports were destined for our country."
"When the global anti-apartheid movement forced countries to impose sanctions on the apartheid regime, Israel imported South African goods and re-exported them to the world as a form of inter-racist solidarity," he adds.
"Israel was loyal to the apartheid state and clung to this friendship when almost all other relationships dissolved."
November 1, 1983, South Africa Arms Industry
South African officials, however, have frequently expressed a preference for US military equipment, especially high-technology items. Continued acquisi- tion by Armscor of US military technology either through international arms dealers or through the cooperation of close US allies such as Israel will create periodic problems for the United States. The Soviets can be expected, for example, to cite South Africa's ease in circumventing the UN arms embargo to bolster their claims that Washington is colluding with Pretoria against black Africa.
The Gaza Strip is somewhere upwards of 50% urban terrain I think, a few cities of various sizes along a major road with some stretches of empty-ish land in between, there's not much space for farms, so it's entirely dependant on food from outside sources. It's a bit like if New York City tried to feed itself with an area of farmland smaller than New York City itself, it's just not workable. They have a coastline, so they might get some fish to supplement what farms and livestock they have, but I don't know what if any fishing rights they have or how territorial waters work around there. I think the bulk of their supplies come in through a few Israeli checkpoints.Fishing was a hazardous activity even before operation iron swords, since the Israeli Navy has a long history of shooting them
In theory the populace could flee to Egypt or Israel proper, both are accessible albeit unwilling, but in the Gaza Strip itself there's not really anywhere to go.
Wait is there such a thing as humane torture?If you have a safe word
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 26 (Reuters) - South Africa hailed what it called a "decisive victory" for international rule of law on Friday, after the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of its request to impose emergency measures against Israel over its military operations in Gaza.
The court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, as it wages war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
It has not yet ruled on the core of the case brought by South Africa - whether genocide has occurred in Gaza.
Israel has called South Africa's allegations false and "grossly distorted", and said it makes the utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
"Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people," South Africa's department of international relations and cooperation said in a statement.
"South Africa sincerely hopes that Israel will not act to frustrate the application of this Order, as it has publicly threatened to do, but that it will instead act to comply with it fully, as it is bound to do."
It said South Africa would continue to act within the institutions of global governance to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza.
THE HAGUE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The World Court on Friday ordered Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, but it stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Ruling on a case brought by South Africa, the court said Israel must ensure its forces did not commit genocide and take measures to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinian civilians in the enclave.
In the ruling, 15 of the 17 judges on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) panel voted for emergency measures which covered most of what South Africa asked for, with the notable exception of ordering a halt to Israeli military action in Gaza.
Israel's military operation has laid waste to much of the densely populated enclave and killed more than 25,000 Palestinians in nearly four months, according to Gaza health authorities.
Israel unleashed its assault after a cross-border rampage on Oct. 7 by Hamas militants. Israeli officials said 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and 240 taken hostage.
The court said it was "gravely concerned" about the fate of the hostages in Gaza and called on Hamas and other armed groups to immediately release them without conditions.
But the ruling, welcomed by Palestinians, will still be an embarrassment for Israel and its closest allies, including the United States.
Israel had asked the court to reject the case outright, saying it respects international law and has a right to defend itself.
"The state of Israel shall...take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of the Genocide convention," the court said.
Israel must report back to it on what steps it was taking in a month's time, it said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the charge of genocide leveled against Israel was "outrageous" and said it would do whatever is necessary to defend itself.
For provisional measures to be enacted, it is not necessary to prove conduct amounting to genocide but that at least some of the alleged acts are capable of falling within the convention.
In court, the South African lawyer Adila Hassim alleged that genocidal acts committed by Israel included the mass killing of Palestinians, causing serious mental and bodily harm to Palestinians, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Gaza in whole or in part, and Israel’s military assault on Gaza’s healthcare system.
She told the court: “Nothing will stop this suffering, except an order from this court. Without an indication of provisional measures, the atrocities will continue; with the Israel Defense Forces indicating that they intend pursuing this course of action for at least a year.”
As well as an immediate ceasefire, South Africa also asked the court to order measures prohibiting the deprivation of access to adequate food and water, humanitarian assistance and medical supplies and assistance.
Cindy McCain, the executive director of the UN World Food Programme, said: “Supplies of food and water are practically nonexistent in Gaza, and only a fraction of what is needed is arriving through the borders. Civilians are facing the immediate possibility of starvation.”
The World Health Organization said it was “extremely concerned about the spread of disease when the winter season arrives” with diarrhoea and respiratory infections rising faster than expected in crowded shelters.
From a purely political standpoint it's also a bit of a gaffa in making the labour position identical to the tory position, of being surprisingly pro war crimes. Like the time where he said he was pro no water for Gazans and then spent the next 10 days managing the fallout as labour party members resigned and labour spokesmen insisted he did not mean he was pro collective punishment. Mega gift to the liberal democrats and the SNP who both adopted pro-ceasefire stance, especially since the only British-Palestinian MP is libdem. Sad though, she's British-Palestinian from the Palestininan Christians, and her family were the ones who were held under siege in one of the Churches where already one of her family members have died. Just not a good look for the reds and blues. Ppl still asked if she condemned Hamas, Russia and Saudi ArabiaNeither Keir Starner nor Rishi Sunak able to say killing a civilian walking under a white flag is a war crimeAh, Keir, how long it takes to build a reputation for standing up for human rights, and how quickly someone can lose it.
Fun fact, teeth seem to have evolved from scales.I'm a bit jealous tbh. I know there's this one fish whose "teeth" are actual bones and regenerate. And sharks get to grow back teeth too