Latest news with #F-35
The National
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Daily Express Gaza front page marks a shift, but there's more to do
The newspaper's splash, designed in a hugely impactful way, featured an image of starving one-year old child Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq accompanied by the headline 'for pity's sake stop this now'. A sub-heading detailed how he was 'clinging on to life' and how his suffering 'shames us all'. In this age of digital journalism and social media, somehow newspaper front pages still have a unique way of stopping you in you tracks and making you think. READ MORE: Humza Yousaf's family-in-law 'starving in Gaza' Journalists and pro-Palestine campaigners highlighted the significance of a right-wing newspaper calling out the mass starvation being inflicted upon [[Gaza]]ns and it was not lost on The National's news team either. It signals a potential turning point in the mainstream media's coverage of this dire humanitarian situation. But there is a reason we say potential turning point, because this front page has left us with a few questions. Firstly, why has it taken until now for the torture of Palestinians to get on a mainstream newspaper's front page? The Daily Express is the most right-wing mainstream newspaper in Britain. It now has a better position on Gaza than the Labour government. — Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) July 23, 2025 The National has been calling for stronger action from the UK Government and international community since day one of Israel's brutal assault on [[Gaza]] nearly two years ago. Back in October last year The National's front detailing a chronology of the bombardment went viral. Not a day has gone by where we haven't let the world know – to the best of our ability – about the genocide and war crimes being committed by Israel. Secondly, what is it exactly that the newspaper – and others who are just now speaking up on the starvation of Gaza – is calling for here? Notably, this front page, and many similar concerned statements, contain no mention of Israel, nor the UK Government which continues to supply arms to the country. You can't help but feel the starvation of Palestinians is being presented in a vacuum, almost like it is something this country can't do anything about. Like it's distant from us and all we can do is scream into the void hoping someone, somewhere will stop this horrendous situation. READ MORE: Women and children to be hit hard by Labour's 'short-sighted' aid cuts But surely there is something the UK can do. The UK Government suspended 30 out of around 350 arms export licences to Israel last year but continues licence exports of F-35 fighter jet parts, which have been documented as being used by Israel in Gaza. A raw front page showing us the extent of the suffering of Gazans is all very well, but it is not news to those of us who have been following Israel's activities closely. The mainstream media should surely be asking deeper questions at this point and challenging the UK Government to do its bit to ensure it does not fuel the fire. Surely, that begins with questioning why we are supplying arms to a nation whose government has said Gaza 'will be entirely destroyed'. It is positive to see more corners of the media waking up to the intolerable hell Gaza is facing, but let's not pretend this is a problem the UK is not a part of. If this is to be a proper turning point, we need to see the mainstream media go beyond highlighting how the suffering 'shames us all' and instead insist this translates into tangible action from the UK Government.
Middle East Eye
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
US envoy Tom Barrack accused of plotting Turkey's partition
When billionaire-turned-diplomat Tom Barrack arrived in Ankara in May as US President Donald Trump's ambassador to Turkey, he delivered an unexpectedly emotional speech. 'I think it's a really monumental day for me, feeling the echo of this land from which my ancestors came,' he said. 'But I come with a really simple message from President Trump: his desire to raise the level of the alliance between Turkey and the United States to where it rightfully belongs.' Two months later, Turkish officials are convinced that Barrack is among the most influential US ambassadors ever to serve in the country. His ever-expanding portfolio, now encompassing both Syria and Lebanon, aligns with Ankara's priorities, such as preserving a unified Syrian state under President Ahmed al-Sharaa with a single military. Both Ankara and Barrack seek a stable region. Turkish officials hope that Barrack, who has a direct line to Trump, could help resolve longstanding issues, from the stalled purchase of F-35 fighter jets to the removal of sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system. Barrack also made several remarks expressing his admiration of Turkey and its history. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters However, Turkish public opinion paints a starkly different picture. Newspapers and political influencers have launched a campaign against the US envoy, accusing him of attempting to break up the country. Despite Turkey's longstanding history of anti-American sentiment, rooted in the US partnership with Syrian Kurdish groups and its harbouring of the late Fethullah Gulen and his supporters, for the first time in years, an American ambassador is under attack not from government media, but from the opposition, over his conduct. Misquoted The controversy began with Barrack's interview with Turkey's public Anadolu news agency in late June, where he referenced the Ottoman Empire's millet system, which oversaw religious communities from Christians to Jews. Barrack explained that the millet system, which granted religious communities limited autonomy over their own affairs, ensured the survival of diverse groups in the region. He added that a new dialogue between states and cultures was needed today. 'To me, Izmir is the example of how you blend all these communities - Jews, Muslims and Christians living side by side,' he said. 'I see this as the model of what needs to happen in the Middle East and the world. And I think Turkey can be the centre point of it all.' Why Turkey abruptly cancelled an Iraqi oil pipeline agreement Read More » Within days, a flurry of social media posts and newspaper articles misquoted him, claiming that he had advocated for the millet system as the ideal order for modern Turkey, a statement he never made. For many Turkish citizens, the millet system evokes painful memories of a weakened Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, teetering on the brink of partition along ethnic and nationalist lines. 'US Ambassador Tom Barrack showered praise on the Ottoman's religion-based millet system!' wrote Arslan Bulut, a journalist for the nationalist opposition newspaper Yeni Cag, earlier this month. 'For this, Turkey must be stripped of its nation-state status!' Husnu Bozkurt, a former parliamentarian from the Republican People's Party (CHP), took it further: 'For years, we've warned that imperialist America seeks to divide the secular Republic of Turkey by transforming it into a religiously-governed state under its control, destroying the unitary nation-state structure, turning it into a federation, and eliminating linguistic unity by splitting the nation along sectarian and ethnic lines - the ultimate goal of the Greater Middle East Project (BOP).' Barrack is viewed as unconventional among western ambassadors in Turkey, spending much of his time in the region and in Istanbul. His candid interviews with various publications are often taken out of context, as he speaks without reservation. PKK peace talks As Barrack grapples with these reactions, Turkey is engaged in peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, after more than 40 years of conflict. Earlier this year, the PKK announced an end to its armed struggle and, in a symbolic ceremony this month, burned its weapons, a development that has left many Turks uneasy about the country's future. Retired Colonel Unal Atabay argued that Barrack's alleged suggestion to revive the Ottoman religion-based millet system would undermine Turkey's status as a nation-state. Syrian Kurds face 30-day ultimatum from US and Turkey Read More » 'Isn't it interesting… This is exactly what Ocalan refers to as Middle Eastern unity,' he said. 'It's about ensuring the formation of a separatist Kurdish region while transforming Turkey into an Ottoman-like state.' Barrack's recent interview with the Associated Press about Israeli strikes on Damascus and Sweida in Syria over the weekend did little to help his case. He suggested that Israel would rather see Syria fragmented and divided than governed by a strong central state. 'Strong nation-states are a threat - especially Arab states are viewed as a threat to Israel,' he said. But in Syria, he noted, 'I think all the minority communities are smart enough to say, 'We're better off together, centralised.'' Turkish media and commentators interpreted Barrack's criticism of Israel as indirect approval of US efforts to partition strong nation-states in the region. At the same time, Devlet Bahceli, a Turkish nationalist leader within President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling coalition, proposed that Turkey could, in the future, appoint two vice presidents, one Kurdish and the other Alevi, a minority religious group that has sometimes reported persecution. Mehmet Ali Guler, a columnist for the opposition Cumhuriyet daily, argued that Bahceli's proposal and Barrack's comments on the Ottoman millet system all serve the same purpose: 'The Lebanonisation of Turkey'. Bahceli in a statement strongly rebuked the allegations, calling them 'distortions'. The US Embassy in Ankara has remained silent in the face of these accusations.
News18
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Saiyaara Cringe Reactions: Fans Cry, Scream, Even Faint After Watching Ahaan Panday's Movie
Last Updated: Videos from various theatres across the country show the crowd not just cheering for Saiyaara, but many were seen crying and going mad. Yash Raj Films' latest release, Saiyaara, has created history in the past few days with an exceptional opening, despite featuring newcomers. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film marks the Bollywood debut of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The film's impressive box office performance and positive reviews have left the team delighted. What grabbed everyone's attention, however, were viral videos from theatres across the country showing audiences not just cheering but also getting emotional, with many breaking down in tears and celebrating wildly. In videos that have gone viral online, the audience is seen going wild while watching Ahaan and Aneet's movie. Some fans are shown crying nonstop, while others got so emotional that they collapsed on the ground once the movie ended. But not all viewers felt the same. Among the many emotional reels, one couple shared their honest review and said that they were disappointed after watching the film. They said they were misled by all the emotional posts and felt frustrated after coming to the theatre with high expectations. Reacting to the post, a user wrote, 'A father watching his daughter crying over Saiyaara after paying Rs 1.5 lakh in college fees." 1.5L college ki fee bharne ke baad apni beti ko Saiyaara movie ke liye rote dekhta hua baap — rozgar_CA (@Memeswalaladka) July 21, 2025 'We need a vaccine for SAIYAARA," a comment read. We need vaccine for SAIYAARA One more added, 'British Royal Navy's F-35 decided to leave India after seeing #Saiyaara theatre videos." British Royal Navy's F-35 decided to leave India after seeing #Saiyaara theatre videos. — Utkarsh Verma (@utkarshv13) July 22, 2025 Meanwhile, a couple who came to Saiyaara after watching emotional reels said, 'People are crying in the reels, but we're angry that we came to watch this movie. Waste of money. I especially want to ask the girls and boys who were crying, who were they? How much were they paid? Because if that's the case, then I also want to cry for money. I want to be paid to cry, too." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Suyash Aswal 🧿 (@thesuyashaswal) According to Sacnilk, Saiyaara has made a huge impact at the box office. In just 5 days, the film earned a total of Rs 140 Crore in India alone. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. view comments First Published: News viral Saiyaara Cringe Reactions: Fans Cry, Scream, Even Faint After Watching Ahaan Panday's Movie Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Daily Record
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Man charged with terror offences after protesting outside Scots court
Michael Napier, of West Lothian, is a founding member of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. A founding member of a pro-Palestine group has appeared at court charged with two terror offences. Michael Napier, 78, appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, July 22, charged with two counts of inviting support to a proscribed terror organisation. The West Lothian pensioner made no plea. He was committed for further examination and granted bail. His next appearance at court is yet to be confirmed. Supporters of Napier held a protest outside the court, many waving Palestinian flags or holding placards with pro-Palestinian slogans. Mr Napier, who is a founding member of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, was arrested on Monday July 21 while he was protesting the arrest of three women outside of the same Court in the capital. Naomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, Susan Riddell, 42, and Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, appeared on petition at the court charged with malicious mischief after a van was allegedly driven into a fence at an Edinburgh arms factory. The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection", after a van was allegedly driven into the fence of the Leonardo factory in the Crewe Road North area of the capital on July 15. Riddell was also charged under the Road Traffic Act 1988, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection". During a short private hearing the Sheriff granted Fitzherbert, of London, and Riddell, of Glasgow, bail. Their next appearance at court is to be confirmed. Stubbs-Gorman, of Glasgow, had her application for bail continued one day and will appear before the court on Tuesday. Protestors supporting the three women held a demonstration outside the court before their appearance. Jessie Normaschild, 67, who was at the demonstration holding a Campaign Against Arms Trade banner, said she was attending to show support for the three women, and to protest about government support for arms manufacturers. "Leonardo is a big arms factory in Edinburgh, and it makes the F-35 (fighter jet) targeting system," she said. "The F-35s are being used to bomb Gaza. And we don't want Leonardo in Edinburgh. We don't want Scottish Government money, taxpayers' money, to fund Scottish Enterprise to give the money to Leonardo and Raytheon and BAE." Leonardo previously said it does not supply equipment directly to Israel and that its main customer is the UK Armed Forces. On Sunday Police Scotland said its counter-terrorism unit is leading the investigation into the incident, and that inquiries are ongoing. The force also issued an appeal for information to trace the movements of two vehicles. One is a blue Ford Transit van which was seen around Gorgie Road on Monday and Tuesday prior to the incident. The other is a white Honda CR-Z which was found in a car park on Gorgie Road after the incident. Police have asked anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference number 0416 of July 15. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Newsweek
20 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
F-35 Myths Debunked as Foreign Faith in US Fighter Jet is Tested
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. U.S. President Donald Trump's triumphant strides back into the White House put NATO's European countries, as well as Canada, on edge. His historic skepticism about the alliance was one thing, but military planners in countries buying U.S. hardware began questioning whether the F-35—the world's most expensive weapons program—had been the right choice. The Lockheed Martin-made F-35 is the only real option for Western militaries outside the U.S. to get hold of a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft, and many of the 20 nations operating or buying them are NATO members. Fifth-generation planes are the most advanced currently in operation, with sixth-generation aircraft in the early development stages. As Trump settled back into the Oval Office, rumors of a "kill switch" started floating around in defense circles. There was—according to the whispers—effectively a button the U.S. could press to control the aircraft bought and operated by recipient countries. Although the Pentagon and analysts quickly tamped down on such talk, when paired with the Trump administration's at times abrasive and unpredictable approach to foreign policy, it made many think twice about just how wise it was to put all the fifth-generation eggs in the F-35 basket. A F-35B Lightning II fighter. The American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has become arguably the most coveted fighter jet across the globe. A F-35B Lightning II fighter. The American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has become arguably the most coveted fighter jet across the globe. Chris Hanoch/Lockheed Martin Corporation For now, after months of uncertainty for many U.S. allies, the worries seem to have cooled—at least for now. The U.K. announced at NATO's biggest summit of the year in June that it was buying at least 12 F-35A fighter jets, adding to the F-35B variants it already has. This means the country's Royal Air Force could join NATO's dual capable aircraft fleet, featuring jets certified to carry American tactical nuclear weapons as well as conventional bombs and missiles. The same month, Israel showed what the F-35 can do in combat when it began its campaign against Iran's nuclear sites and scientists. Israel's F-35s were vital in slicing away air defenses and clearing a path into Iranian territory for the rest of its aircraft—and, later, for U.S. forces—to target Tehran's most sensitive sites. But while panic has abated around U.S. trustworthiness as an ally to F-35 countries, the hard look at many nations' dependence on the U.S. shouldn't be cast away so soon, according to some. "The concept of a kill switch has been debunked, but there will always be concerns of over-reliance on a single supply source," retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, a former senior commander in the U.K.'s RAF, told Newsweek. The Qualms While experts and officials were quick to downplay concerns over a kill switch as they surfaced in early 2025, they conceded that the U.S. could have a very noticeable impact on how well these expensive aircraft operate, should it choose to influence software upgrades or halt access to intelligence and mission data. NATO has observed the U.S. cutting off its vital military aid deliveries to Ukraine several times and also choke Kyiv's access to American-derived intelligence in a bid to bend Ukraine to its will, namely to join ceasefire talks. Ukraine, U.S. allies could see, was backed into a corner by its dependence on the U.S. "If an F-35 user wanted to use the jets in a way that the United States was not happy with, then that would be a limited capability, because Lockheed Martin would be very soon able to turn off the support tap to the particular nation in question," Andrew Curtis, a retired RAF air commodore, told Newsweek. "So even though there might not necessarily be an actual 'kill switch,' the United States definitely has the capability to make things very difficult for F-35 users." A European official from one of the Baltic states, which stare down Russia directly, said in May there was growing concern that the U.S. could curtail sovereign decision-making for military operations should Russia invade and the eastern flank need to defend itself. The memory of how the U.S. treated Ukraine is still fresh, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Newsweek. The person was referring to all military supplies but indicated a broader worry about the rapprochement with Russia that Trump pursued from the start of his second term. More recently, the president has become more publicly frustrated with Russia as ceasefire negotiations made little headway. "If I were sitting in the Baltics at the moment, I would be thinking very seriously about the F-35 and the constraints that might be put on me" in the long term, Sir Christopher Coville, a retired U.K. air marshal, told Newsweek. A central European official involved with defense planning told Newsweek earlier this year that the countries operating F-35s in Europe had reassured one another their commitment to the fifth-generation stealth fighters was "ironclad." Dutch defense minister Ruben Brekelmans said in March it was in the "interest of all" for the F-35 to succeed. "I don't see any signs of the United States backtracking," Brekelmans added. Munitions are loaded on to an F-35A Lightning II during a 'hot' integrated combat turn on June 11, 2025, at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Munitions are loaded on to an F-35A Lightning II during a 'hot' integrated combat turn on June 11, 2025, at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Airman 1st Class Amanda Alvarez/U.S. Air Force The Pentagon had not signaled any intention that the U.S. would restrict use of partner nations' F-35s, the central European official said at the time. To do so would undermine U.S. defense exports across the world, they said, but added Europe's efforts to increase spending and production will gradually sideline all U.S. military imports. The Political Moves Adjusting to hostile messaging from the White House and a trade war at the start of the year, Canada put its planned procurement of 88 F-35 fighter jets under review. Portugal's outgoing government said in March that Lisbon needed to consider the new "geopolitical environment" when considering a recommendation to purchase F-35s, which cost roughly $100 million apiece. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in June the review would be wrapped up by the end of the summer, and that Ottawa had discussed fighter jet and submarine purchases with NATO allies. Trump has repeatedly called Canada the "51st state," a label slapped away by Ottawa. But the hint that the administration could annex Canada has lingered, albeit as an unlikely prospect. Retired Lieutenant General Yvan Blondin, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2012 until 2015, has advocated for a long, hard look at Canada's F-35 order. It is worth examining whether fourth-generation alternatives could work, he told Newsweek, but said "there's no better military option" than the U.S. stealth jet. Sixth-Generation Fighters Several different sixth-generation programs are in the works, piecing together manned fighter jets designed to be even harder to detect than their predecessors. Expected to come into service from the mid-2030s, they are also more automated and kitted out with more advanced avionics and weapons. The U.K., Italy and Japan have banded together on a sixth-generation fighter program called the Global Combat Air Programme—an industrial partnership underwritten by government treaties. On July 17, British defense giant BAE Systems unveiled the demonstrator aircraft for GCAP, expected to be able to fly within the next three years, and testing technologies that will go into the jet, called Tempest. France, Germany and Spain are working on a Future Combat Air System project, or FCAS, although it is currently expected to produce a sixth generation jet up to 10 years after GCAP. And there was tension last month after France told Germany it wanted a workshare of 80 percent in the project. The U.S. has two main programs, one for the Air Force, one for the Navy. Trump unveiled the Air Force's F-47 at a March briefing. "We're confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation," he said. The Pentagon hopes to prioritize F-47 development over the Navy's parallel program, F/A-XX. It believes pursuing two programs at once could slow down both, Bloomberg reported in June. But Trump, in the same briefing, said the version of the "most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built" sold to allies would be "toned down" by 10 percent. It is widely accepted that the U.S. has blunted its cutting-edge technology before it is shipped abroad, experts and officials said. It was the overt acknowledgment of something that had for decades been expressed in private that threw allies and prospective buyers, said the central European official. "This is not a great selling point for the F-47," said Blondin. An F-35 is assembled at Lockheed Martin Fort Worth Texas. An F-35 is assembled at Lockheed Martin Fort Worth Texas. MSgt USMC ret Randy A. Crites/Lockheed Martin Corporation There is a "bigger incentive" now for European NATO members to be involved in European-led sixth-generation programs, the central European official previously told Newsweek. They said they expected more countries to want to have a look-in at the development of these aircraft, and particularly to have their domestic industry contribute to sixth-generation programs. There will certainly be more interest in the jets' development on the continent now than before Trump was reelected, said Gabrielius Landsbergis, who served as Lithuania's foreign minister until November 2024. "There will be an increased pressure on pan-European projects, that is for sure," Landsbergis told Newsweek.
