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Three hundred and eighty writers and organisations including Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan, Russell T Davies, Hanif Kureishi, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and George Monbiot have signed a letter stating that the Israeli government’s war in Gaza is genocidal and calling for an immediate ceasefire. “The use of the words ‘genocide’ or ‘acts of genocide’ to describe what is happening in Gaza is no longer debated by international legal experts or human rights organizations,” reads the letter, which was also signed by William Dalrymple, Jeanette Winterson, Brian Eno, Kate Mosse, Irvine Welsh and Elif Shafak. Organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations human rights council have “clearly identified” acts of genocide enacted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the letter says, while public statements by the Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir “openly express genocidal intentions”. Zadie Smith and Ian McEwan among 380 writers and groups to call Gaza war ‘genocide’

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) summoned the Israeli Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, to condemn in the strongest terms the deplorable and offensive violations against the Palestinian people that took place in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. The UAE stresses that the continued attacks by Israeli extremists and their incitement to hatred and violence constitute a systematic extremist campaign, that not only targets the Palestinian people but the entire international community, further escalating tensions at a time when efforts should be focused on ending the ongoing tragedy in the Gaza Strip. The UAE calls on the Israeli government to assume full responsibility, condemn these hostile acts, hold perpetrators accountable without exception to ministers and officials, and take urgent steps to prevent the exploitation of Jerusalem for agendas of violence, extremism and incitement. UAE summons Israeli ambassador over violations in Occupied Jerusalem

Ukraine triggered chaos and panic in Moscow as dozens of attack drones swarmed around the Russian capital. Strikes hit a key Putin microchip plant in Zelenograd district, with explosions igniting a drone-making plant, another defence plant in Dubna, as well as a key nuclear research base in Moscow region. There was major disruption at Moscow's major airports, which were forced to close amid the drone attacks, leading to huge flight delays. Ukraine swarms panicked Russia with drones after Putin threatens Trump with WW3

In a closed-door briefing before a South Korean parliamentary committee, a National Intelligence Service official told lawmakers that 4,700 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded, The Washington Post reported. The North Korean soldiers killed fighting in Kursk were reportedly cremated before their remains were returned home. Lee’s figures showed there has been a sharp increase in North Korean casualties since the last NIS update in January 2025. In January, the NIS believed only 2,700 North Korean soldiers had been injured fighting in Russia while 200 were thought to have been killed. If the intelligence agency’s figures are correct, North Korea has since seen a doubling of soldiers killed since January. Casualties among North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia revealed

Ukrainian border guards are delivering devastating blows to the Russian troops in the Kursk sector. They have destroyed key Russian positions and facilities, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Ukrainian border guard operators reportedly destroyed key Russian targets: a take-off position for Russian drones, a raft hiding place, seven militant hideouts, two artillery positions, a dugout, a firing point, a truck, and two telecommunication towers. Ukrainian military destroys 7 Russian positions and key targets in Kursk sector: Footage

In a preview of an interview with CBS Sunday Morning released late on Tuesday, the Tesla chief executive, who until recently led the Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, said he was “disappointed to see the massive spending bill, which increases the budget deficit . . . and undermines the work that the Doge team is doing”. While cutting some social spending, the bill has attracted strong criticism from deficit hawks, as it will ultimately increase the US national debt by more than $3.3tn over the next decade, according to non-partisan estimates. Musk, who has long claimed that the US would go “bankrupt” if the deficit was not reduced, appeared to echo that criticism in his comments to CBS, saying: “I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion.” Elon Musk criticises Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ tax bill

As inflation, integration, and influence dominate headlines across the EU, Bulgaria is preparing to take one of its biggest steps since joining the bloc: adopting the euro. If all goes to plan, the leva will be replaced by the euro on January 1, 2026, moving the country into the core of EU monetary policymaking. The country would become the 21st member of the eurozone, and the governor of Bulgaria’s central bank would gain a seat on the ECB’s Governing Council. Bulgaria Breaks from Russia’s Orbit with Eurozone Move by 2026

I agree 100%. Those Russians on the other hand...... Still, we digress from the topic at hand, have the Republicans got the gall to really shake Putin by the scruff of his neck?

If I remember rightly, the immigrants, legal or not, in Ohio were not actively fighting a bloody war, and indeed were not far from grocery stores where they could purchase food apart from hot dogs.

On May 20th, Donald Trump announced that plans for a new space-based missile defence system called the “Golden Dome”. Trump said during the announcement that Canada had contacted the Trump administration and indicated that the country “want to be a part of it”. “I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!” Trump to Canada: “It will cost you $61 billion, but zero if you become 51st state” Donald, you're such a teaser with words- separate but unequal (ouch!) ...then cherished (aw, you sweet thing). I expect the lumberjacks will tell him where to go.

Hindsight is easy but looking back it's a shame he didn't slow down, take it easy for a while and evaluate his life. He'd had a lot of success, he was only 61, in good health, the future could have been rosy. He might have met a woman his age, someone he could respect rather than ' fall in love'. Cut out the toxic social media obsession, try to live a more anonymous life. But sometimes impulse is stronger than reflection.

But isn't it how we react to cheating and the end of a relationship that is the deciding factor in our actions? Men and women are cheated on daily by those they love but it's how they respond to that which determines the outcome. Unfortunately Bourdain couldn't find the strength to go on which is a shame as he clearly had so much to give, at least to the public. However imo the decision to end his life has ultimately to be down to his own character rather than a woman with whom he was mainly in a long distance relationship with. His friends commented on how he had seemingly fallen head over heels in love with her, gushing on about her, but being 20 years older, surely he should have been aware of the possible transitory nature of romantic love?

Here's another from Newsweek, claiming the Russians ate a Yorkshire Terrier! Surely not much meat there. The SBU, Kyiv's security and intelligence agency, released a text message exchange purportedly between two Russian soldiers, in which a serviceman stationed in the occupied parts of the Kherson region, close to Crimea, told his friend that he and other troops had eaten a Yorkshire terrier. "It's all f*****. [Ukrainians] are f****** beating us like kids. We eat dogs, there's no food. Today we ate a Yorkie. A Yorkshire terrier," the soldier was quoted as saying by the SBU. 'There's No Food': Russian Soldiers Forced To Eat Dogs, Ukraine Claims - Newsweek

That's a link to The Daily Express, a paper right wing fans like yourself should find highly reputable. Here's another one from the more middle class Daily Telegraph Audio reveals Russian troops are eating dogs because they are 'sick' of ration packs

Russian soldiers have been reduced to eating dogs and flu medication to survive on the front lines in Ukraine, according to an intercepted phone call released by Kyiv. In a recording obtained by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR, a woman describes the dire conditions faced by acquaintances serving in the Russian army, who have been abandoned without food in a dugout for more than two weeks. The unnamed caller is heard saying: “They’ve been sitting in a dugout for two weeks, the food ran out. Starving Russian troops ‘eating dogs’ on front line as supply lines collapse | World | News | Express.co.uk

Residents of 13 regions of Russia experienced what Ukrainians have been enduring for more than three years overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. According to the Russian Defence Ministry's statement, "duty air defence measures destroyed and intercepted 296 Ukrainian drone aircraft over the territories of the Moscow region and the regions of: Bryansk, Belgorod, Vladimir, Voronezh, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tver, and Tula." As a result of the overnight air attacks, all airports in the Moscow air traffic hub: Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky temporarily suspended operations. Ukraine strikes back: Drone attacks paralyze Russian regions

Going back to the book I mentioned yesterday, by James Penner: ' Six Years On Wrestling with Anthony Bourdain's Suicide', he mentions 6 factors, the last one of which is very interesting. 1. A lot of Bourdain's relationship with Argento was long distance through the phone and social media. She said they had an 'open relationship' which must have tugged at the jealousy strings. 2. Bourdain had been drinking heavily the night of his suicide- clouded his judgement perhaps. 3. A workaholic, he was suffering from fatigue and frequently exhausted. Could have sapped his resolve to overcome his disappointment in love. 4. He often made jokes about killing himself, even before he met Argento. 5. Public humiliation scared him, the fact that millions of people would know about Argento’s betrayal haunted him. He loved social media. From Charles Leerhsen’s biography of Bourdain, he googled “Asia Argento” over 100 times on the night he committed suicide. 6. Bourdain's longstanding addiction to social media and his desire to spread his public image. Leerhsen reveals that Bourdain had a Google alert for “Anthony Bourdain” set to “as it happens” and “configured as a push notification on his Iphone.” Leehrsen quotes David Macmillan, a Canadian friend of Bourdain’s, remarking “that his phone would be going ping-ping-ping every time his name was being mentioned.” Bourdain also loved battles conducted over social media, indeed Leerhsen says when Bourdain's phone hadn't rung for some time, 'Tony would take to social media to say something that might get people talking about him again'. ''One favorite tactic was to criticise another TV chef [e.g., Rachael Ray or Emeril] for endorsing a shoddy line of cooking gear There was, he knew, nothing like a celebrity feud to get his iPhone pinging.” This addiction to social media would surely have amplified his pain at romantic rejection 100 fold. In times of deep personal disappointment, many people retreat inwards to friends and family, but living his life out on social media meant there was no sanctuary, haven, where he could lick his wounds. Perhaps addiction to fame and celebrity was the real cause of his suicide.

Always liked this one by Seal

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has condemned the Israeli attack on a school in the Gaza Strip, describing it as "repulsive". The attack resulted in 52 deaths, including 33 children. Israel must immediately restore the delivery of aid in accordance with humanitarian principles, with the participation of the UN and other international humanitarian partners, emphasised the head of the European Commission. EU leaders urge Israel to end blockade after school attack

In 2025-2026, Ukraine will receive $3 billion from the UK in excess profits from Russian assets, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reports. According to the Ministry, First Deputy Defence Minister Serhii Boiev, Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Davyd Aloian, and Director of the UK Ministry of Defence's Strategic Capabilities Engagement and Application Directorate Anna-Lee Reilly signed a project agreement to use the excess profits from frozen Russian assets as part of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative. According to the agreement, Ukraine will receive $3 billion in 2025-2026, which will be used for: ・procurement of foreign defense products ・repair and maintenance of military equipment ・implementation of joint projects with the participation of Ukrainian and international defense companies ・purchase of other critical materials, including Ukrainian-made products. UK to send Ukraine $3 billion from frozen Russian assets: How it’ll be spent

It's the thought that counts. Israel becoming a pariah state under Netanyahu.

(22) 'Putin came very close to being assassinated' as Ukraine targets his helicopters with drones - YouTube What a shame.

DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland's cabinet gave its formal backing on Tuesday to drafting legislation on restricting trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, but the bill is unlikely to be passed by parliament until later in the year. While Ireland does very little trade with the settlements, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said it was a "symbolic move" that follows its official recognition last year of a Palestinian state, alongside a small number of other European countries. The bill, which would ban the import of goods from the settlements but is unlikely to include services, will be considered by a parliamentary committee in the coming weeks, Foreign Minister Simon Harris said. Ireland to press ahead with trade ban on Israeli-occupied areas