Toronto's brief moment at the centre of the national political news cycle
It's not every day that the acting prime minister of Australia walks into the Toronto Men's Shed flanked by uniformed security.
And it's definitely not the venue you'd expect a media pack to be asking questions about US President Donald Trump or the increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East.
However, that's the bizarre situation that unfolded on Tuesday morning in the industrial backroads of Toronto.
Members of the men's shed stood around sipping tea and coffee as, for several minutes, their workshop became the centre of the national news cycle.
Acting PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles fielded questions about Trump's late cancellation of his meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit and the Iran-Israeli conflict before focusing on the issue at hand, promoting men's health.
During the recent election, Labor promised $32 million to support men's health.
Over a quarter of that spend [$8.3 million] was dedicated to funding another two years of the Men's Shed Initiative's National Shed Development Program.
Mr Marles said there were more than 1300 men's sheds in Australia and they provided an "invaluable service" for mental health and well-being.
"They promote community, men getting together, and they really deal a lot with the challenges of isolation that men particularly feel in retirement," Mr Marles said.
"When you listen to the stories of those here at the Toronto Men's Shed and how people are looking after each other, providing camaraderie and doing really good things for the community and keeping their own mental health in stead, you realise how important this men's shed is and how incredible the movement is across Australia."
The acting PM was flanked by the Member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, who was last month appointed the special envoy for men's health.
Mr Repacholi said communication was the biggest challenge that needed to be overcome to improve men's health.
"The biggest gap is us, as men," Mr Repacholi said. "It's actually making that step and having those communication barriers broken down.
"We think we have to be strong. It's not weak to speak, as we say all the time. But it's something that doesn't happen enough."
Mr Marles and Mr Repacholi weren't the only public faces at the Nicholson Street workshop.
Pop music icon John Paul Young, himself a life member of the Toronto Men's Shed and the host of the monthly podcast The Shed Wireless, was also in attendance.
The Love Is in the Air and Yesterday's Hero hit-maker said the men's shed provided an "organic" way for men to address health issues and to find social connection.
"Whether or not they sit there and talk about their prostrate or whatever, it doesn't matter in a way," Mr Young said.
"It's the fact they are together and talking a lot of crap, to be honest, but there will be kernels of truth in there."
Toronto Men's Shed boasts 48 members and is heavily involved in building wood and metal products for the community, such as pencil cases, model cars, and timber toys for charities and also provides a lawn mowing service.
"We'll hear someone that might be down on their luck a little bit, or the husband might be in the hospital and can't get the lawns mowed and we'll come around and do that," Toronto Men's Shed president Glenn Shepherd said.
The benefits for members are also apparent.
"What used to happen is men got to the end of their working life and they'd retire and sit at home and maybe go to the bowls club every day and have a couple of beers but that was their only contact," Mr Shepherd said.
"But we've got a social club that's making something that's unusual, so it's giving back to the community."
It's not every day that the acting prime minister of Australia walks into the Toronto Men's Shed flanked by uniformed security.
And it's definitely not the venue you'd expect a media pack to be asking questions about US President Donald Trump or the increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East.
However, that's the bizarre situation that unfolded on Tuesday morning in the industrial backroads of Toronto.
Members of the men's shed stood around sipping tea and coffee as, for several minutes, their workshop became the centre of the national news cycle.
Acting PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles fielded questions about Trump's late cancellation of his meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit and the Iran-Israeli conflict before focusing on the issue at hand, promoting men's health.
During the recent election, Labor promised $32 million to support men's health.
Over a quarter of that spend [$8.3 million] was dedicated to funding another two years of the Men's Shed Initiative's National Shed Development Program.
Mr Marles said there were more than 1300 men's sheds in Australia and they provided an "invaluable service" for mental health and well-being.
"They promote community, men getting together, and they really deal a lot with the challenges of isolation that men particularly feel in retirement," Mr Marles said.
"When you listen to the stories of those here at the Toronto Men's Shed and how people are looking after each other, providing camaraderie and doing really good things for the community and keeping their own mental health in stead, you realise how important this men's shed is and how incredible the movement is across Australia."
The acting PM was flanked by the Member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, who was last month appointed the special envoy for men's health.
Mr Repacholi said communication was the biggest challenge that needed to be overcome to improve men's health.
"The biggest gap is us, as men," Mr Repacholi said. "It's actually making that step and having those communication barriers broken down.
"We think we have to be strong. It's not weak to speak, as we say all the time. But it's something that doesn't happen enough."
Mr Marles and Mr Repacholi weren't the only public faces at the Nicholson Street workshop.
Pop music icon John Paul Young, himself a life member of the Toronto Men's Shed and the host of the monthly podcast The Shed Wireless, was also in attendance.
The Love Is in the Air and Yesterday's Hero hit-maker said the men's shed provided an "organic" way for men to address health issues and to find social connection.
"Whether or not they sit there and talk about their prostrate or whatever, it doesn't matter in a way," Mr Young said.
"It's the fact they are together and talking a lot of crap, to be honest, but there will be kernels of truth in there."
Toronto Men's Shed boasts 48 members and is heavily involved in building wood and metal products for the community, such as pencil cases, model cars, and timber toys for charities and also provides a lawn mowing service.
"We'll hear someone that might be down on their luck a little bit, or the husband might be in the hospital and can't get the lawns mowed and we'll come around and do that," Toronto Men's Shed president Glenn Shepherd said.
The benefits for members are also apparent.
"What used to happen is men got to the end of their working life and they'd retire and sit at home and maybe go to the bowls club every day and have a couple of beers but that was their only contact," Mr Shepherd said.
"But we've got a social club that's making something that's unusual, so it's giving back to the community."
It's not every day that the acting prime minister of Australia walks into the Toronto Men's Shed flanked by uniformed security.
And it's definitely not the venue you'd expect a media pack to be asking questions about US President Donald Trump or the increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East.
However, that's the bizarre situation that unfolded on Tuesday morning in the industrial backroads of Toronto.
Members of the men's shed stood around sipping tea and coffee as, for several minutes, their workshop became the centre of the national news cycle.
Acting PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles fielded questions about Trump's late cancellation of his meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit and the Iran-Israeli conflict before focusing on the issue at hand, promoting men's health.
During the recent election, Labor promised $32 million to support men's health.
Over a quarter of that spend [$8.3 million] was dedicated to funding another two years of the Men's Shed Initiative's National Shed Development Program.
Mr Marles said there were more than 1300 men's sheds in Australia and they provided an "invaluable service" for mental health and well-being.
"They promote community, men getting together, and they really deal a lot with the challenges of isolation that men particularly feel in retirement," Mr Marles said.
"When you listen to the stories of those here at the Toronto Men's Shed and how people are looking after each other, providing camaraderie and doing really good things for the community and keeping their own mental health in stead, you realise how important this men's shed is and how incredible the movement is across Australia."
The acting PM was flanked by the Member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, who was last month appointed the special envoy for men's health.
Mr Repacholi said communication was the biggest challenge that needed to be overcome to improve men's health.
"The biggest gap is us, as men," Mr Repacholi said. "It's actually making that step and having those communication barriers broken down.
"We think we have to be strong. It's not weak to speak, as we say all the time. But it's something that doesn't happen enough."
Mr Marles and Mr Repacholi weren't the only public faces at the Nicholson Street workshop.
Pop music icon John Paul Young, himself a life member of the Toronto Men's Shed and the host of the monthly podcast The Shed Wireless, was also in attendance.
The Love Is in the Air and Yesterday's Hero hit-maker said the men's shed provided an "organic" way for men to address health issues and to find social connection.
"Whether or not they sit there and talk about their prostrate or whatever, it doesn't matter in a way," Mr Young said.
"It's the fact they are together and talking a lot of crap, to be honest, but there will be kernels of truth in there."
Toronto Men's Shed boasts 48 members and is heavily involved in building wood and metal products for the community, such as pencil cases, model cars, and timber toys for charities and also provides a lawn mowing service.
"We'll hear someone that might be down on their luck a little bit, or the husband might be in the hospital and can't get the lawns mowed and we'll come around and do that," Toronto Men's Shed president Glenn Shepherd said.
The benefits for members are also apparent.
"What used to happen is men got to the end of their working life and they'd retire and sit at home and maybe go to the bowls club every day and have a couple of beers but that was their only contact," Mr Shepherd said.
"But we've got a social club that's making something that's unusual, so it's giving back to the community."
It's not every day that the acting prime minister of Australia walks into the Toronto Men's Shed flanked by uniformed security.
And it's definitely not the venue you'd expect a media pack to be asking questions about US President Donald Trump or the increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East.
However, that's the bizarre situation that unfolded on Tuesday morning in the industrial backroads of Toronto.
Members of the men's shed stood around sipping tea and coffee as, for several minutes, their workshop became the centre of the national news cycle.
Acting PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles fielded questions about Trump's late cancellation of his meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit and the Iran-Israeli conflict before focusing on the issue at hand, promoting men's health.
During the recent election, Labor promised $32 million to support men's health.
Over a quarter of that spend [$8.3 million] was dedicated to funding another two years of the Men's Shed Initiative's National Shed Development Program.
Mr Marles said there were more than 1300 men's sheds in Australia and they provided an "invaluable service" for mental health and well-being.
"They promote community, men getting together, and they really deal a lot with the challenges of isolation that men particularly feel in retirement," Mr Marles said.
"When you listen to the stories of those here at the Toronto Men's Shed and how people are looking after each other, providing camaraderie and doing really good things for the community and keeping their own mental health in stead, you realise how important this men's shed is and how incredible the movement is across Australia."
The acting PM was flanked by the Member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, who was last month appointed the special envoy for men's health.
Mr Repacholi said communication was the biggest challenge that needed to be overcome to improve men's health.
"The biggest gap is us, as men," Mr Repacholi said. "It's actually making that step and having those communication barriers broken down.
"We think we have to be strong. It's not weak to speak, as we say all the time. But it's something that doesn't happen enough."
Mr Marles and Mr Repacholi weren't the only public faces at the Nicholson Street workshop.
Pop music icon John Paul Young, himself a life member of the Toronto Men's Shed and the host of the monthly podcast The Shed Wireless, was also in attendance.
The Love Is in the Air and Yesterday's Hero hit-maker said the men's shed provided an "organic" way for men to address health issues and to find social connection.
"Whether or not they sit there and talk about their prostrate or whatever, it doesn't matter in a way," Mr Young said.
"It's the fact they are together and talking a lot of crap, to be honest, but there will be kernels of truth in there."
Toronto Men's Shed boasts 48 members and is heavily involved in building wood and metal products for the community, such as pencil cases, model cars, and timber toys for charities and also provides a lawn mowing service.
"We'll hear someone that might be down on their luck a little bit, or the husband might be in the hospital and can't get the lawns mowed and we'll come around and do that," Toronto Men's Shed president Glenn Shepherd said.
The benefits for members are also apparent.
"What used to happen is men got to the end of their working life and they'd retire and sit at home and maybe go to the bowls club every day and have a couple of beers but that was their only contact," Mr Shepherd said.
"But we've got a social club that's making something that's unusual, so it's giving back to the community."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Wall Street edges higher ahead of Fed's rate verdict
Wall Street's main indexes have ticked up as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision while the Israel-Iran attacks entered the sixth day. Investors will closely monitor Fed chair Jerome Powell's comments to gauge how he plans to combat the risk of rising prices, which remains a dominant concern for the central bank. The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged at its meeting, scheduled later in the day. "We're still at the beginning stages of feeling that real income shock from higher tariffs in the United States, and the uncertainty effect builds up over time," said Simon Dangoor, head of fixed income macro strategies at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. "So I think the next couple of months of data is going to be really key about where we go from here." Ahead of the monetary policy decision, money market moves show traders are pricing in about 46 basis points of rate cuts by the end of 2025, with a 55 per cent chance of a 25-bps rate cut in September, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Following strong monthly equity trading in May, the benchmark S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq were close to record peaks before the ongoing conflict in the Middle East made investors risk averse. The S&P 500 index stood 2.5 per cent below its record level, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq remained 3.3 per cent lower. Investors have been anxious over the possibility of a more direct US military involvement in the Israel-Iran aerial war. A source familiar with internal discussions said US President Donald Trump and his team were considering a number of options, which included joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. In early trading on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 73.93 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 42,289.73, the S&P 500 gained 13.90 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 5,996.62 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 49.31 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 19,571.01. Ten of the 11 major S&P 500 sub-sectors rose. Energy and consumer discretionary stocks gained 0.6 per cent each while healthcare stocks declined 0.4 per cent. Tesla gained 1.8 per cent. Shares of networking and custom AI chipmaker Marvell Technology hit a three-month high and were last up 8.7 per cent. Shares of stablecoin issuer Circle Internet rose 6.2 per cent after the US Senate passed a bill to create a regulatory framework for dollar-pegged cryptocurrency tokens known as stablecoins. Scholar Rock rose 17.4 per cent after the drug maker said its experimental drug helped overweight patients preserve lean mass in a mid-stage trial when used in combination with Eli Lilly's weight-loss treatment. Steelmaker Nucor rose 4.9 per cent following a second-quarter profit forecast that came above analysts' estimates. Initial jobless claims data on Wednesday showed the number of people in the US filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week but stayed at levels consistent with a further loss of labour market momentum in June. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.63-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.3-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted four new 52-week highs and six new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 31 new highs and 53 new lows. Wall Street's main indexes have ticked up as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision while the Israel-Iran attacks entered the sixth day. Investors will closely monitor Fed chair Jerome Powell's comments to gauge how he plans to combat the risk of rising prices, which remains a dominant concern for the central bank. The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged at its meeting, scheduled later in the day. "We're still at the beginning stages of feeling that real income shock from higher tariffs in the United States, and the uncertainty effect builds up over time," said Simon Dangoor, head of fixed income macro strategies at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. "So I think the next couple of months of data is going to be really key about where we go from here." Ahead of the monetary policy decision, money market moves show traders are pricing in about 46 basis points of rate cuts by the end of 2025, with a 55 per cent chance of a 25-bps rate cut in September, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Following strong monthly equity trading in May, the benchmark S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq were close to record peaks before the ongoing conflict in the Middle East made investors risk averse. The S&P 500 index stood 2.5 per cent below its record level, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq remained 3.3 per cent lower. Investors have been anxious over the possibility of a more direct US military involvement in the Israel-Iran aerial war. A source familiar with internal discussions said US President Donald Trump and his team were considering a number of options, which included joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. In early trading on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 73.93 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 42,289.73, the S&P 500 gained 13.90 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 5,996.62 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 49.31 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 19,571.01. Ten of the 11 major S&P 500 sub-sectors rose. Energy and consumer discretionary stocks gained 0.6 per cent each while healthcare stocks declined 0.4 per cent. Tesla gained 1.8 per cent. Shares of networking and custom AI chipmaker Marvell Technology hit a three-month high and were last up 8.7 per cent. Shares of stablecoin issuer Circle Internet rose 6.2 per cent after the US Senate passed a bill to create a regulatory framework for dollar-pegged cryptocurrency tokens known as stablecoins. Scholar Rock rose 17.4 per cent after the drug maker said its experimental drug helped overweight patients preserve lean mass in a mid-stage trial when used in combination with Eli Lilly's weight-loss treatment. Steelmaker Nucor rose 4.9 per cent following a second-quarter profit forecast that came above analysts' estimates. Initial jobless claims data on Wednesday showed the number of people in the US filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week but stayed at levels consistent with a further loss of labour market momentum in June. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.63-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.3-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted four new 52-week highs and six new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 31 new highs and 53 new lows. Wall Street's main indexes have ticked up as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision while the Israel-Iran attacks entered the sixth day. Investors will closely monitor Fed chair Jerome Powell's comments to gauge how he plans to combat the risk of rising prices, which remains a dominant concern for the central bank. The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged at its meeting, scheduled later in the day. "We're still at the beginning stages of feeling that real income shock from higher tariffs in the United States, and the uncertainty effect builds up over time," said Simon Dangoor, head of fixed income macro strategies at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. "So I think the next couple of months of data is going to be really key about where we go from here." Ahead of the monetary policy decision, money market moves show traders are pricing in about 46 basis points of rate cuts by the end of 2025, with a 55 per cent chance of a 25-bps rate cut in September, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Following strong monthly equity trading in May, the benchmark S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq were close to record peaks before the ongoing conflict in the Middle East made investors risk averse. The S&P 500 index stood 2.5 per cent below its record level, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq remained 3.3 per cent lower. Investors have been anxious over the possibility of a more direct US military involvement in the Israel-Iran aerial war. A source familiar with internal discussions said US President Donald Trump and his team were considering a number of options, which included joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. In early trading on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 73.93 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 42,289.73, the S&P 500 gained 13.90 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 5,996.62 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 49.31 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 19,571.01. Ten of the 11 major S&P 500 sub-sectors rose. Energy and consumer discretionary stocks gained 0.6 per cent each while healthcare stocks declined 0.4 per cent. Tesla gained 1.8 per cent. Shares of networking and custom AI chipmaker Marvell Technology hit a three-month high and were last up 8.7 per cent. Shares of stablecoin issuer Circle Internet rose 6.2 per cent after the US Senate passed a bill to create a regulatory framework for dollar-pegged cryptocurrency tokens known as stablecoins. Scholar Rock rose 17.4 per cent after the drug maker said its experimental drug helped overweight patients preserve lean mass in a mid-stage trial when used in combination with Eli Lilly's weight-loss treatment. Steelmaker Nucor rose 4.9 per cent following a second-quarter profit forecast that came above analysts' estimates. Initial jobless claims data on Wednesday showed the number of people in the US filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week but stayed at levels consistent with a further loss of labour market momentum in June. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.63-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.3-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted four new 52-week highs and six new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 31 new highs and 53 new lows. Wall Street's main indexes have ticked up as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision while the Israel-Iran attacks entered the sixth day. Investors will closely monitor Fed chair Jerome Powell's comments to gauge how he plans to combat the risk of rising prices, which remains a dominant concern for the central bank. The Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged at its meeting, scheduled later in the day. "We're still at the beginning stages of feeling that real income shock from higher tariffs in the United States, and the uncertainty effect builds up over time," said Simon Dangoor, head of fixed income macro strategies at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. "So I think the next couple of months of data is going to be really key about where we go from here." Ahead of the monetary policy decision, money market moves show traders are pricing in about 46 basis points of rate cuts by the end of 2025, with a 55 per cent chance of a 25-bps rate cut in September, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Following strong monthly equity trading in May, the benchmark S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq were close to record peaks before the ongoing conflict in the Middle East made investors risk averse. The S&P 500 index stood 2.5 per cent below its record level, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq remained 3.3 per cent lower. Investors have been anxious over the possibility of a more direct US military involvement in the Israel-Iran aerial war. A source familiar with internal discussions said US President Donald Trump and his team were considering a number of options, which included joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. In early trading on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 73.93 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 42,289.73, the S&P 500 gained 13.90 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 5,996.62 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 49.31 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 19,571.01. Ten of the 11 major S&P 500 sub-sectors rose. Energy and consumer discretionary stocks gained 0.6 per cent each while healthcare stocks declined 0.4 per cent. Tesla gained 1.8 per cent. Shares of networking and custom AI chipmaker Marvell Technology hit a three-month high and were last up 8.7 per cent. Shares of stablecoin issuer Circle Internet rose 6.2 per cent after the US Senate passed a bill to create a regulatory framework for dollar-pegged cryptocurrency tokens known as stablecoins. Scholar Rock rose 17.4 per cent after the drug maker said its experimental drug helped overweight patients preserve lean mass in a mid-stage trial when used in combination with Eli Lilly's weight-loss treatment. Steelmaker Nucor rose 4.9 per cent following a second-quarter profit forecast that came above analysts' estimates. Initial jobless claims data on Wednesday showed the number of people in the US filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week but stayed at levels consistent with a further loss of labour market momentum in June. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.63-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.3-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted four new 52-week highs and six new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 31 new highs and 53 new lows.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Iran will respond firmly to US joining Israeli strikes
Iran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva says. Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters on Wednesday that he saw the US as "complicit in what Israel is doing". Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. The US has so far only taken indirect actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel. It was deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials told Reuters. Bahreini said Iran would also respond strongly to Israeli strikes. "We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land - we will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters. Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran and other major cities on Wednesday, Iranian media reported, as Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other despite US President Donald Trump calling for Tehran's unconditional surrender. The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv. Iran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva says. Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters on Wednesday that he saw the US as "complicit in what Israel is doing". Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. The US has so far only taken indirect actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel. It was deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials told Reuters. Bahreini said Iran would also respond strongly to Israeli strikes. "We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land - we will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters. Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran and other major cities on Wednesday, Iranian media reported, as Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other despite US President Donald Trump calling for Tehran's unconditional surrender. The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv. Iran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva says. Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters on Wednesday that he saw the US as "complicit in what Israel is doing". Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. The US has so far only taken indirect actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel. It was deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials told Reuters. Bahreini said Iran would also respond strongly to Israeli strikes. "We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land - we will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters. Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran and other major cities on Wednesday, Iranian media reported, as Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other despite US President Donald Trump calling for Tehran's unconditional surrender. The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv. Iran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva says. Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters on Wednesday that he saw the US as "complicit in what Israel is doing". Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. The US has so far only taken indirect actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel. It was deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials told Reuters. Bahreini said Iran would also respond strongly to Israeli strikes. "We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land - we will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters. Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran and other major cities on Wednesday, Iranian media reported, as Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other despite US President Donald Trump calling for Tehran's unconditional surrender. The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Kneecap rapper faces London court on terrorism charge
A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has appeared in a London court charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, as hundreds of people gathered outside in support. Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge against O'Hanna as an attempt to silence them. O'Hanna appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court where supporters, including some Northern Irish politicians and musicians including Paul Weller, massed before the hearing on Wednesday. A group of musicians sang Irish ballads and many in the crowd waved Irish and Palestinian flags and held placards. He had to push past a scrum of photographers when he arrived as supporters chanted "Free Palestine" and "Free Mo Chara". Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court the case was not about O'Hanna's support for Palestinians or his criticism of Israel, saying he was well within his rights to do that. "The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O'Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah ... while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'." O'Hanna's lawyer Brenda Campbell said the defence would argue the charge was brought after the six-month limit to bring such a charge. "If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case," she said. A hearing will be held on August 20 to determine whether the charge was brought too late, Judge Paul Goldspring said. O'Hanna spoke only in court to confirm his name, date of birth and address. One of his lawyers, Darragh Mackin, told the crowd of supporters: "The more they come after Kneecap, the louder they will get." A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has appeared in a London court charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, as hundreds of people gathered outside in support. Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge against O'Hanna as an attempt to silence them. O'Hanna appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court where supporters, including some Northern Irish politicians and musicians including Paul Weller, massed before the hearing on Wednesday. A group of musicians sang Irish ballads and many in the crowd waved Irish and Palestinian flags and held placards. He had to push past a scrum of photographers when he arrived as supporters chanted "Free Palestine" and "Free Mo Chara". Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court the case was not about O'Hanna's support for Palestinians or his criticism of Israel, saying he was well within his rights to do that. "The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O'Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah ... while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'." O'Hanna's lawyer Brenda Campbell said the defence would argue the charge was brought after the six-month limit to bring such a charge. "If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case," she said. A hearing will be held on August 20 to determine whether the charge was brought too late, Judge Paul Goldspring said. O'Hanna spoke only in court to confirm his name, date of birth and address. One of his lawyers, Darragh Mackin, told the crowd of supporters: "The more they come after Kneecap, the louder they will get." A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has appeared in a London court charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, as hundreds of people gathered outside in support. Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge against O'Hanna as an attempt to silence them. O'Hanna appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court where supporters, including some Northern Irish politicians and musicians including Paul Weller, massed before the hearing on Wednesday. A group of musicians sang Irish ballads and many in the crowd waved Irish and Palestinian flags and held placards. He had to push past a scrum of photographers when he arrived as supporters chanted "Free Palestine" and "Free Mo Chara". Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court the case was not about O'Hanna's support for Palestinians or his criticism of Israel, saying he was well within his rights to do that. "The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O'Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah ... while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'." O'Hanna's lawyer Brenda Campbell said the defence would argue the charge was brought after the six-month limit to bring such a charge. "If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case," she said. A hearing will be held on August 20 to determine whether the charge was brought too late, Judge Paul Goldspring said. O'Hanna spoke only in court to confirm his name, date of birth and address. One of his lawyers, Darragh Mackin, told the crowd of supporters: "The more they come after Kneecap, the louder they will get." A member of Irish rap group Kneecap has appeared in a London court charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, as hundreds of people gathered outside in support. Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge against O'Hanna as an attempt to silence them. O'Hanna appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court where supporters, including some Northern Irish politicians and musicians including Paul Weller, massed before the hearing on Wednesday. A group of musicians sang Irish ballads and many in the crowd waved Irish and Palestinian flags and held placards. He had to push past a scrum of photographers when he arrived as supporters chanted "Free Palestine" and "Free Mo Chara". Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court the case was not about O'Hanna's support for Palestinians or his criticism of Israel, saying he was well within his rights to do that. "The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O'Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah ... while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'." O'Hanna's lawyer Brenda Campbell said the defence would argue the charge was brought after the six-month limit to bring such a charge. "If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case," she said. A hearing will be held on August 20 to determine whether the charge was brought too late, Judge Paul Goldspring said. O'Hanna spoke only in court to confirm his name, date of birth and address. One of his lawyers, Darragh Mackin, told the crowd of supporters: "The more they come after Kneecap, the louder they will get."
