Protests, plum blossom and the Steel Heart of Azov: photos of the day
A woman sings during a protest outside the Capitol against efforts by Donald Trump and Elon Musk to shrink the federal government Photograph: Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
Boys take part in the Utilita football festival hosted by West Bromwich Albion Photograph: Ryan Browne/REX/Shutterstock
Timo Arp, a butcher from Jagel, uses a chainsaw to cut up a sperm whale carcass that washed up on a local beach Photograph: Jonas Walzberg/AP
, Gaza Strip Palestinians sit around a fire amid the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Israel's offensive Photograph: Mahmoud Issa/Reuters
Pilgrims board a train after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple Photograph: Niharika Kulkarni/AFP/Getty Images
The northern lights appear over the island's capital Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP
A person crossing Sofiiska Square is framed by the Steel Heart of Azov, which commemorates Ukrainian soldiers killed fighting Russian forces Photograph: Ukrinform/REX/Shutterstock
A watermelon vendor at a market Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images
A jetski rider practices before the Nazare Big Wave surfing contest Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Indian soldiers on parade to welcome the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the official residence of the Indian president Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Donald Trump waves in the direction of supporters as he leaves the Trump International golf club Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP
An aerial view of the snow-covered Ishak Pasha Palace, one of the most important Ottoman monuments in Anatolia Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Representatives of trademark owners cut up a counterfeit luxury handbag at a press conference on the infringement of intellectual property rights Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA
A bird perches on a branch of plum blossom Photograph: Costfoto/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
An tea vendor waits for customers at a livestock market Photograph: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images
A state memorial service for the former German president Horst Koehler takes place at the city's Dom Cathedral Photograph: Sean Gallup/EPA
Nigel Farage (right) is interviewed by Jordan Peterson at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA
Fans of the Bay Golf Club cheer their team at the SoFi Center Photograph: Carmen Mandato/TGL/Israeli soldiers sit on a bomb shelter in northern Israel after withdrawing from villages in southern Lebanon Photograph: Ariel Schalit/AP
A cat is seen through a destroyed window in the Nur Shams camp. The 'Iron Walls' operation launched by the Israeli army on camps in the Palestinian National Authority areas in the northern West Bank has displaced thousands of Palestinian families from their homes.
Photograph: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock
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Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Meet London-based ‘Hamas operative' behind Greta Thunberg's ‘Freedom Flotilla' stunt that was foiled by Israel
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN accused in parliament of being a Hamas operative based in London was one of the organisers of Greta Thunberg's "Freedom Flotilla", it has emerged. Zaher Birawi, who has been photographed with slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, was present at the launch of the British-flagged yacht Madleen. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Zaher Al-Birawi, who is close to the Hamas leadership, speaks at anti-Israel protest in London 7 Mr Birawi pictured with Ismael Haniyeh, the former Hamas Leader, in 2012 Credit: Courtesy of Ministry of Strategic Affairs 7 Greta Thunberg is offered a sandwich by an Israeli soldier Credit: Alamy Live News 7 A photo posted on Telegram purportedly showing activists with their hands up on board the Madleen Credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition As a Palestinian-British journalist, Mr Birawi is chair of the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza. He also runs a UK-registered charity called Education Aid for Palestinians, which has raised more than £3 million since 2017. Just a week ago, Mr Birawi was present at the launch of Madleen and live-streamed the event from a dock in Sicily. He called himself the 'founding member' of the Freedom Flotilla International Coalition - which arranged Madleen's voyage to Gaza. The 'selfie yacht' has now been seized by Israel, and all the people onboard have been detained. Labour MP Christian Wakeford named Mr Birawi in the Commons using special parliamentary protections that protect him from being sued. Mr Birawi said Mr Wakeford's claim was 'baseless' and that he was looking at 'all available legal recourse' in response to the MP's comments. According to Israel's strategic affairs ministry, Mr Birawi moved to the UK in the 1990s, has 'close ties to Hamas' and worked for several pro-Palestinian NGOs - including one tied to Hamas. In 2023, The Sun on Sunday revealed Mr Birawi lived in a £500,000 semi-detached house in leafy north London. MP for Bury South Mr Wakeford raised concerns over a 'serious national security risk' from 'Hamas operatives'. Israel issues warning to Greta's 'Freedom Flotilla' as eco-pest SAILS to Gaza He told the Commons: '[Mr Birawi] was designated by Israel in 2013 as a senior Hamas operative in Europe. 'He is listed as a trustee of a UK-registered charity Education Aid for Palestinians, and a publicly available video shows him hosting a 2019 event in London titled 'Understanding Hamas'. 'Two weeks ago, Hamas launched the deadly terrorist attack the world has seen since 9/11. 'This House rightly voted to proscribe Hamas in its entirety in November 2021. It is therefore a serious national security risk for Hamas operatives to be living here in London." There is no suggestion that Mr Birawi was involved in the deadly October 7 terror attacks. He said: 'I have been made aware of the fact that the Member of Parliament for Bury South, Christian Wakefield, made a reference to my name in the proceedings of the House of Commons on October 26. 'Regrettably, this mention appears to have been motivated by an intent to besmirch my character and, potentially, to rationalise any harm that may befall me or my family. 'In a time when we should all exercise vigilance and contemplate the potential consequences of our words, particularly their capacity to incite violence and animosity, Mr Wakefield chose a contrary course of action. 'I wish to reaffirm that what the respected MP said about the accusation is baseless and that it is part of the distortion attempts undertaken by the occupying state to prevent activists supporting Palestinian rights from carrying out their duties in supporting the Palestinian human rights.' 7 Greta Thunberg is one of the 12 people aboard the vessel 7 The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says it is carrying essential supplies to the Gazan population Credit: Getty 7 Thunberg with part of the crew of the ship headed to the Strip Credit: Getty Hamas has been proscribed as a terror group in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000 since 2021. Swedish eco warrior Greta, ten other activists and a journalist were on the Madleen when it left the Italian isle of Sicily last week. Israel accused the Freedom Flotilla Coalition of supporting Hamas terrorists. The 'selfie yacht' operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition was said to be "safely making its way to the shores of Israel", Israel's Foreign Minsitry said. All passengers were safe and unharmed and activists handed out sandwiches and water before the vessel docked at the southern Israeli port of Ashdod. The boat was carrying a "tiny amount of aid" on board - which will be sent to Gaza. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said that he has instructed the Israeli Defence Forces to screen footage of the 7 October attacks as soon as they arrive. Who is on board the "Freedom Flotilla"? Greta Thunberg - Swedish climate activist Rima Hassan – French-Palestinian MEP Yasemin Acar – German activist Thiago Avila – Brazilian activist Omar Faiad – French journalist Pascal Maurieras – French activist Yanis Mhamdi – French reporter Suayb Ordu – Turkish activist Sergio Toribio – Spanish activist Marco van Rennes – Dutch activist Reva Viard – French activist Liam Cunningham - Irish Game of Thrones actor Baptiste Andre - French Physician The disturbing footage - titled "Bearing Witness" - shows innocent people being massacred and mutilated. And all the footage was taken from the Hamas terrorists' bodycams as they filmed their massacre. Hamas branded the interception of the yacht as a "crime of piracy". The group said in a statement that activists were on a "humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip and exposing the crime of mass starvation." It added that Israel's action was "organised state terrorism, a clear violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers motivated by humanitarian motives."
The Independent
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‘Funny, caring, hardworking' boy stabbed to death named as Ibrahima Seck
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The Independent
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- The Independent
White House struggles to find qualified people willing to serve under Pete Hegseth: report
The White House is struggling to find sufficiently qualified personnel to work with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a report. Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News weekend host, is currently in need of a new chief staff and at least two new senior advisers but has so far failed to attract suitable candidates, according to four current and former administration officials and a Republican congressional aide who spoke to NBC News. At least three people have reportedly turned down roles working under Hegseth, an unusual situation given that the positions in question would normally be considered highly prestigious. As a result, Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump 's White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles have been forced to pitch in and help with the recruitment drive, according to NBC. After being nominated by the president to lead the Pentagon in November, the tough-talking Hegseth endured a torrid nomination process, in which accusations about his drinking and a sexual assault allegation came to light, before he was finally confirmed by the Senate in January. Just two months into his tenure, as he busied himself with conducting an anti-woke purge of the U.S. military, the 'Signalgate' scandal erupted in which it emerged that Trump's short-lived national security adviser Mike Waltz had accidentally added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat in which top secret information about an upcoming bombing raid on Houthi rebels in Yemen was discussed. In April, The New York Times reported that Hegseth had shared sensitive material in another group chat that included his wife, brother and personal attorney. The secretary responded to that story by abruptly suspending two senior aides, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, as well as Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, having accused them of leaking classified material. The accused trio said the treatment they had received was 'unconscionable' and an investigation later found no evidence against them, which reportedly cast fresh doubt on Hegseth's judgment within the West Wing. Shortly after that, his own chief of staff, Joe Kasper, and spokesperson John Ullyot both left the Department of Defense (DOD), leaving behind a portrait of chaos. NBC reports that Hegseth is currently relying on retired military aide Ricky Buria for support, who is not approved of by the White House as a fruitful choice to serve as the secretary's new chief of staff because of his lack of political experience and because of his alleged past criticisms of Trump and Vance. Questions over Hegseth's competence have also seen him stood down from visiting Israel this spring, with Homeland Security Kristi Noem going in his stead, and reportedly being reprimanded by Trump for approving a classified briefing on China for Elon Musk, which was cancelled on the president's say so. 'Not a single one of these ridiculous Pentagon palace intrigue stories points to a single thing that's not getting done at the Pentagon because of the alleged 'chaos,'' Arthur Schwartz, a Republican operative with close ties to the Trump administration, said in a statement denying the story. 'This is the very definition of manufactured beltway drama that serves no purpose other than to keep reporters of questionable talent employed.'
