What definitions are in universal use?

No definition is in universal use.

meant to say gender when he said sex

He meant to say exactly what he said, and it was incorrect. He was not using your definition of sex. He was using it in the same sense as “I had a sex change operation”.

Or “Now I want to change the sex on my birth certificate”. Do you also chime in to inform people it’s wrong to do that?

Your definitions of sex and gender are not in universal use, and they are not the definitions used by Sunak. So his statement was not “correct”, because what it meant was not correct.

it’s something you mostly see among the poor.

It is, until it isn’t.

And when it isn’t, we should all cheer.

What a weird take. Nobody is punishing people who smoke.

I see what you did there…

Nothing is infinite. But fresh water is renewable, which means it can be used sustainably.

What did the US gain in Vietnam?

What did the USSR gain in Afghanistan?

Superpowers have a long history of leaving quagmires with their tails tucked between their legs.

The USSR and the US both backed down in Afghanistan, gaining nothing.

The US also backed down in Vietnam, gaining nothing.

Ukraine is Russia’s Vietnam. They will leave Ukraine when they realize they will never gain anything by staying.

We already have a hostile response, so the golden bridge is no longer useful.

This was a civil fraud case so incarceration is not on the table. Just huge fines and the end of his company.

Jail is still possible after future trials though.

Well, there is definitely an anti-assassination sentiment. Probably why Saudi Arabia doesn’t get much love either.

“Very” unique indicates being unique in more ways and/or in more severe ways.

The term you’re looking for is “very unusual”.

Similarly, being “very pregnant”

LOL, ok now say to a pregnant woman, “I don’t think you’re very pregnant”. Please report back to us with her response.

I didn’t downvote, but nothing is “very unique” for the same reason that nobody is “very pregnant”.

Either it is unique or it is not.

All those satellites fall back to earth after five years

This NGO has been in Afghanistan for >50 years and provided medical care and education to underserved communities, including women. In 2010, ten of their doctors were murdered.

While it’s possible that all 18 employees in Ghor suddenly went rogue and started trying to convert people to Christianity, I think it’s more likely that the Taliban took the opportunity to crack down on education of women.

Venezuela has been selling oil in euro and yuan since 2018.

It’s an American ship. They can’t transport Iranian oil for the same reason they can’t transport cocaine. It’s illegal.

The DoJ told the company they were breaking the law. The company admitted wrongdoing and told the captain to turn around and bring the oil to the US. By handing over the oil, the company hopes their fines will be reduced.

No naval forces were involved. No piracy, no interception at sea. Just a company trying to get out of hot water after it was busted

International laws do not exist.

Alena Douhan, the Special Rapporteur you cited.

States have an obligation under international human rights law

Make up your mind. If they don’t exist, then what she said is meaningless.

And on the subject of Ms Douhan…

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. … Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Looks like she was speaking for herself, not for the UN.

Trade embargoes do not violate international law. Otherwise, we would condemn Iran for its embargo against Israel. But Iran is free to pursue whatever trade policy it wants.

And don’t confuse a statement by a UN employee for a statement by the UN.

Iran sanctions are meant to slow their nuclear program and thus de-escalate the region. It’s possible they are now counterproductive. But it’s also possible that without them, a paranoid right wing Israeli government would have openly attacked Iran by now. So it may well be the lesser evil.

They are not illegal. All sovereign countries can refuse to trade with any other country or restrict the use of their own currency.

Which is all that these sanctions amount to.