New Freedom Flotilla mission sets sail for Gaza amid blockade challenge
A new international flotilla mission organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is under way, with vessels already at sea and more port calls planned in Europe before an attempt to reach Gaza in October. The coalition says the voyage is intended to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza and to draw renewed attention to the humanitarian situation there. It says the mission will continue despite what it describes as previous violence against flotilla volunteers and activists.According to the coalition, two vessels have already departed. Handala II sailed around Scandinavia in June and July, stopping in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, while the... [Continue Reading]
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Germany urges EU to tighten Russian tourist visas after sabotage fears
Germany is pressing its European partners to impose tighter limits on Russian citizens travelling on tourist visas, following a series of sabotage attacks that Berlin has blamed on Moscow. The call comes as German authorities investigate an alleged plot against Leipzig airport involving drones and explosives. Officials say the case has sharpened concerns about how people enter the Schengen area and how visa rules are being applied.The suspect under investigation is described as a Belarusian national who also holds a Russian passport. According to the information provided by German authorities, he is alleged to have entered the Schengen area on... [Continue Reading]
EU foreign ministers remain deadlocked over Israel sanctions and Ukraine support
Ireland's foreign minister said EU ministers had reached an impasse after two days of informal talks in Wicklow, where they failed to agree on trade sanctions over Israel or on military support for Ukraine. The meeting brought together foreign ministers from across the bloc for the Gymnich format, but divisions over both issues prevented a common position. Ireland and Spain pressed for EU-wide curbs on goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, while several other member states resisted the proposal.Helen McEntee said the bloc had not been able to move forward, while EU foreign policy chief... [Continue Reading]
US Seeks Extradition of American Donor Held in Spain Over Alleged Hamas Financing
A wealthy American donor to Palestinian causes is being held in Spain as Madrid considers a United States extradition request over allegations that he helped finance Hamas. James "Fergie" Chambers was arrested on the island of Ibiza in July and has since been held in a Madrid jail for six weeks, according to the supplied material. His wife and lawyers say the case amounts to political persecution, while Chambers denies wrongdoing.The case centres on a sealed US indictment, meaning the specific allegations have not been made public. US authorities have linked Chambers to the transfer of $7.5m to Tunisia and... [Continue Reading]
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Spain's Sanchez says Russia and Israel spread disinformation on Ceuta crisis as toll and fallout grow
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said there are signs Russia and Israel spread disinformation about Spain's migration policy, helping trigger the mass crossing into Ceuta from Morocco at the end of July. He said the claims were based on research by the European External Action Service, the European Union's foreign policy arm. The remarks add a new layer to an already sensitive border episode that has drawn attention across Spain and the wider EU.Sanchez said more than 72,000 migrants crossed irregularly from Morocco into Ceuta between 30 and 31 July. He said the online activity was linked to Russia... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]

