SPACE

Retired Astronaut Admits Boeing's Starliner Has Trapped Crew in Space

Sharon Adarlo
Sat, July 27, 2024


Air Lock

With two NASA astronauts still stranded in space for weeks, officials at the space agency have insisted that the troubled Boeing Starliner, plagued with technical issues, can take the two explorers back to Earth.

So, why haven't they already?

An unnamed retired astronaut tells The Atlantic the obvious truth that NASA has been dancing around since the beginning of this space boondoggle: it's just too risky right now.


"Of course they don’t feel comfortable putting them in the vehicle," the retired astronaut told the magazine, referring to the Starliner, which transported the astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) back in June and is meant to return them back home. "Otherwise they would have put them in it already."
Expect Delays

No date has been set for a return trip, with the earliest date now pushed back to August. To explain away the delay, NASA officials have said repeatedly that they want to test and troubleshoot the Starliner capsule before committing to a return trip.

The trouble started when helium leaks were discovered on Starliner prior to takeoff. They opted to launch anyway, and on its journey toward the ISS, it started experiencing additional leaks and malfunctioning thrusters.

Boeing has gotten the brunt of the negative press, not least because the company's airplanes have been in the news for falling doors and other quality control issues, casting a pall over its space efforts as well.

But NASA shouldn't escape scrutiny, the Atlantic article argues, and the space agency has been less than forthcoming with issues surrounding the Starliner, which has been ill-fated from the start of its development with various technical issues and aborted launches.
Boys Club

For its part, NASA is eager to have a second option for ferrying astronauts into space beyond the more battle-tested Dragon capsule manufactured by SpaceX.

But even setting aside the Starliner, NASA 's relationship with SpaceX, headed by mercurial tech billionaire Elon Musk, has had its own fair share of headaches.

While SpaceX missions into space have been successful, the commercial space outfit has seen death and injuries to personnel, not to mention Musk's purported drug use and inappropriate relations with women staff.

One of those female staff members, a flight attendant, sued Musk for exposing his penis to her, resulting in a $250,000 payout to quiet down the scandal.

There's been no answer from NASA on these issues, but with American dollars being used for these missions, there's no question that the space agency needs to be more transparent.

More on Boeing Starliner: Boeing's Starliner Stuck at the ISS Until at Least August, NASA Admits

Still no return date for Starliner but final tests underway, NASA and Boeing say

NASA says astronauts stuck at space station until troubled Boeing capsule can be fixed

NEWS WIRES
Thu, July 25, 2024 



NASA has yet to fix a return date for its two astronauts at the International Space Station, who have now been stuck there for more than a month due to technical issues with the Boeing-manufactured Starliner capsule intended to bring them back to Earth. The new spacecraft experienced thruster failures and helium leaks upon docking at the ISS in early June. The US space agency says it is also reviewing backup return options including using SpaceX's Dragon capsule.

Already more than a month late getting back, two NASA astronauts will remain at the International Space Station until engineers finish working on problems plaguing their Boeing capsule, officials said Thursday.

Test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were supposed to visit the orbiting lab for about a week and return in mid-June, but thruster failures and helium leaks on Boeing's new Starliner capsule prompted NASA and Boeing to keep them up longer.

NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said mission managers are not ready to announce a return date. The goal is to bring Wilmore and Williams back aboard Starliner, he added.

“We'll come home when we're ready,” Stich said.

Stich acknowledged that backup options are under review. SpaceX's Dragon capsule is another means of getting NASA astronauts to and from the space station.

“NASA always has contingency options," he said.

(AP)


Boeing capsule astronauts remain at Space Station with no return date, NASA says

LEAH SARNOFF
Thu, July 25, 2024 

Boeing Starliner's first astronaut-crewed capsule, which launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5, remains docked at the station with no official return date, NASA said Thursday.

"We don't have a major announcement today relative to a return date," NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said during a joint press conference with Boeing officials.

PHOTO: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams walk at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, on the day of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 1, 2024. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

"We're making great progress, but we're just not quite ready to do that," Stich added.

MORE: Boeing's Starliner launches its 1st astronaut-crewed flight after several delays

What was initially planned to be an eight-day mission, has now spanned over 50 days, with veteran NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams' return to Earth delayed until at least August, according to officials.

Thruster failures that caused issues on the launch trip to ISS and helium leaks on the Starliner capsule have led to continued delays, according to Boeing.

PHOTO: Boeing Starliner spacecraft prepares to dock with the International Space Station for the first time on June 6, 2024. (NASA via AP)

The Aerospace giant has been testing the capsule's propulsion system in White Sands, New Mexico, to identify the cause of the issues, according to Stich, who said analysis of the findings will be done this weekend.

In order to get the go-ahead for a return mission, NASA must review Boeing's engineering, which may not happen until the first week of August, Stich said.

MORE: Boeing's Starliner has 5 'small' helium leaks as astronauts' ISS mission is extended: NASA

On June 11, Boeing officials said the capsule was experiencing five "small" helium leaks as its first astronaut-crewed flight test continued.

PHOTO: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams wait for liftoff inside the Boeing Starliner capsule at Space Launch Complex 41, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (NASA via AP)

Helium is used to pressurize the spacecraft's reaction control system (RCS) maneuvering thrusters, allowing them to fire, according to Boeing.

"Our focus today is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner," Stich said of the astronauts. "I think we're starting to close in on those final pieces of the flight rationale to make sure we can come home safely and that's our primary focus right now."

Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the commercial crew program at Boeing, was asked if there were any regrets about the mission.

"I think the only thing we'd do differently, is we would not have been so empathic about an eight-day mission," Nappi said of the repeated delays. "We kept saying 'eight-day minimum mission,' I think we all knew it was going to go longer than that, it's my regret that we didn't just say 'we're gonna stay up there until we get everything done we want to go do.'"

ABC News' Gina Sunseri contributed to this report.

Boeing capsule astronauts remain at Space Station with no return date, NASA says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

HALF OF FIVE EYES

Australia, NZ, Canada call for ICJ response from Israel, Gaza ceasefire

Lewis Jackson
Fri, July 26, 2024 

Israeli military troops prepare near the Israel-Gaza border


By Lewis Jackson

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia, New Zealand and Canada on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and asked Israel to respond to a United Nations court which last week ruled its occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there were illegal.

"Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community," the leader's statement said.

"The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end."

The leaders also said Israel needed to hold extremist settlers accountable for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians, reverse its settlement program in the West Bank and work towards a two-state solution.

Israel's embassy in Australia on Thursday said it condemned acts of violence against Palestinian communities.

Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its settlements there are illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible, its strongest findings to date on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The leader's statement called on Israel to "respond substantively" to the ICJ.

Israel's foreign ministry last week rejected the ICJ opinion as "fundamentally wrong" and one-sided, and repeated its stance that a political settlement in the region can only be reached by negotiations.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem - areas of historic Palestine which the Palestinians want for a state - in the 1967 Middle East war and has since built settlements in the West Bank and steadily expanded them.

Israeli leaders argue the territories are not occupied in legal terms because they are on disputed lands, but the United Nations and most of the international community regard them as occupied territory.

The joint statement, the second since February, expressed concern about escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah and said the risk of a wider regional war made a ceasefire in Gaza all the more urgent.

The statement came hours after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson in SydneyEditing by Alasdair Pal and Sharon Singleton)



Australia, Canada and New Zealand leaders urge ceasefire in Gaza to end ‘catastrophic’ situation

Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent
Fri, July 26, 2024 

Anthony Albanese has joined with his Canadian and New Zealand counterparts to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP


The prime ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand have declared that a ceasefire in Gaza is “needed desperately” and urged Israel to “listen to the concerns of the international community”.

In a strongly worded joint statement issued on Friday, the three leaders said they were “gravely concerned about the prospect of further escalation across the region”, including between Hezbollah and Israel.

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, joined with Justin Trudeau of Canada and Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to warn that further hostilities would “put tens of thousands of civilians in Lebanon and Israel at risk”.

Related: Labor seeks to avoid controversy over Palestine at NSW conference amid grassroots pressure

They said an escalation of conflict across Israel’s northern border with Lebanon would have “disastrous consequences” for both countries, and that “only makes a ceasefire in Gaza more urgent”.

Friday’s statement urged “all involved actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate”.

It also included some strong language directed at Israel in the wake of last week’s international court of justice ruling that the continued occupation of territory Israel seized in 1967, including the West Bank, was illegal under international law.

“We call on Israel to respond substantively to the ICJ’s advisory opinion, and ensure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record expansion of settlements in the West Bank which are illegal under international law, and work towards a two-state solution,” the three prime ministers said.

To date, the Israeli government has labelled the ICJ ruling as “not legally binding” and “blatantly one-sided”.

Friday’s statement reflects shared concerns among Australia, Canada and New Zealand regarding the toll of the war in Gaza and the risk of escalation across the Middle East.

These countries are all members of the Five Eyes western intelligence alliance, along with the US and the UK.

Related: The bombshell legal ruling that made it impossible for Australia to delay sanctions against Israeli settlers

It was the third time the prime ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand have issued a joint statement about developments in the Middle East.

In December, the same leaders pressed for “a sustainable ceasefire”. In February, they spoke out against the prospect of an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza.

The new statement on Friday described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and said the human suffering was “unacceptable” and “cannot continue”.

The three prime ministers said they remained “unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas for the atrocities of October 7 and ongoing acts of terror”, urging the group to “lay down its arms and release all hostages”.

The prime ministers said Israel “must listen to the concerns of the international community”, noting that the protection of civilians was “paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law”.

“Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end,” the statement said.

The prime ministers said they stood fully behind “the comprehensive ceasefire deal” that was outlined by the US president, Joe Biden, in late May and subsequently endorsed by the UN security council.

They called on all parties “to agree to the deal” and warned that any delay in securing a ceasefire would “only see more lives lost”.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, heard a similar message from the US vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, in Washington on Thursday.

Albanese, Trudeau and Luxon reiterated that they were “committed to working towards an irreversible path to achieving a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders”.

“This is the only realistic option to achieve a just and enduring peace,” they said.

The president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, criticised the statement. He said any attempt to pressure Israel “to end the war unilaterally only serves to embolden Hamas and prolong the war”.

But the leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt, said the government must take action beyond issuing statements calling for a ceasefire deal.

Bandt called on the Australian government to impose sanctions on the Israeli government “as Netanyahu sees no consequences and the slaughter continues”.


Canada calls for Israeli response to ICJ advice on occupied Palestinian territory

Laura Osman
Fri, July 26, 2024



OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for Israel to "respond substantively" to the top United Nations court's recent advisory opinion that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and that it should end.

The International Court of Justice's non-binding opinion released last week was an unprecedented, sweeping condemnation of Israel's rule over the lands it captured 57 years ago.

Trudeau responded to the court's advice as part of a joint statement from Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Friday, calling for the reversal of settlements in the West Bank.

The statement, released by the Prime Minister's Office, calls on Israel to "ensure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record expansion of settlements in the West Bank which are illegal under international law, and work towards a two-state solution."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the non-binding opinion last week, and insisted the territories are part of the Jewish people’s historic homeland.

In written submissions, Israel said the questions put to the court fail to address Israeli security concerns. Israeli officials have said the court's intervention could undermine the peace process, which has been stagnant for more than a decade.

“The Jewish people are not conquerors in their own land — not in our eternal capital Jerusalem and not in the land of our ancestors in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office last week, using the biblical terms for the West Bank.

“No false decision in The Hague will distort this historical truth and likewise the legality of Israeli settlement in all the territories of our homeland cannot be contested.”

The court said Israel had no right to sovereignty in the territories, was violating international laws against acquiring territory by force and was impeding Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

It said other nations were obliged not to "render aid or assistance in maintaining" Israel’s presence in the territories.

The statement by Canada, Australia and New Zealand did not promise any particular action or changes to their own policies or relationships with Israel.

"Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community," the statement reads.

The court's advice was released as Israel faces increasing global criticism for the deaths and suffering of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end," the countries said in the statement.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, and said they stand behind a proposed deal outlined by United States President Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.

"We call on parties to the conflict to agree to the deal. Any delay will only see more lives lost," they said.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand say Hamas must lay down its arms and release all Israeli hostages, and that they see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza and an eventual two-state solution.

Israel's ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, said calling for a two-state solution at this time doesn't coincide with the reality in the region or offer practical help to Palestinians.

The end of the hostilities in Gaza is contingent on Hamas releasing more than 100 hostages, laying down arms and no longer using Palestinian civilian shields, he said in a statement Friday.

"Israel will continue to defend itself against hostile attacks on seven fronts, all directed by Iran through its proxies in the region," Moed said in the statement.

"We call upon Canada, as a nation that values international law and institutions that uphold it, to do all it can to prevent those who try to disrupt global order from achieving their goals."

The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched a terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7 that killed an estimated 1,200 people. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

In the joint statement, the three countries expressed concern about the prospect of the conflict escalating and expanding as a result of attacks on Israel by Iran and the Houthis, and the unstable and increasingly hostile situation at the Lebanese border between Israel and the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2024.

— With files from The Associated Press

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press

Up next

Canada calls for Israeli response to ICJ advice on occupied Palestinian territory

Laura Osman

Fri, July 26, 2024 at 2:41 p.m. MDT·4 min read

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for Israel to "respond substantively" to the top United Nations court's recent advisory opinion that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and that it should end.

The International Court of Justice's non-binding opinion released last week was an unprecedented, sweeping condemnation of Israel's rule over the lands it captured 57 years ago.

Trudeau responded to the court's advice as part of a joint statement from Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Friday, calling for the reversal of settlements in the West Bank.

The statement, released by the Prime Minister's Office, calls on Israel to "ensure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record expansion of settlements in the West Bank which are illegal under international law, and work towards a two-state solution."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the non-binding opinion last week, and insisted the territories are part of the Jewish people’s historic homeland.

In written submissions, Israel said the questions put to the court fail to address Israeli security concerns. Israeli officials have said the court's intervention could undermine the peace process, which has been stagnant for more than a decade.

“The Jewish people are not conquerors in their own land — not in our eternal capital Jerusalem and not in the land of our ancestors in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office last week, using the biblical terms for the West Bank.

“No false decision in The Hague will distort this historical truth and likewise the legality of Israeli settlement in all the territories of our homeland cannot be contested.”

The court said Israel had no right to sovereignty in the territories, was violating international laws against acquiring territory by force and was impeding Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

It said other nations were obliged not to "render aid or assistance in maintaining" Israel’s presence in the territories.

The statement by Canada, Australia and New Zealand did not promise any particular action or changes to their own policies or relationships with Israel.

"Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community," the statement reads.

The court's advice was released as Israel faces increasing global criticism for the deaths and suffering of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end," the countries said in the statement.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, and said they stand behind a proposed deal outlined by United States President Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.

"We call on parties to the conflict to agree to the deal. Any delay will only see more lives lost," they said.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand say Hamas must lay down its arms and release all Israeli hostages, and that they see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza and an eventual two-state solution.

Israel's ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, said calling for a two-state solution at this time doesn't coincide with the reality in the region or offer practical help to Palestinians.

The end of the hostilities in Gaza is contingent on Hamas releasing more than 100 hostages, laying down arms and no longer using Palestinian civilian shields, he said in a statement Friday.

"Israel will continue to defend itself against hostile attacks on seven fronts, all directed by Iran through its proxies in the region," Moed said in the statement.

"We call upon Canada, as a nation that values international law and institutions that uphold it, to do all it can to prevent those who try to disrupt global order from achieving their goals."

The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched a terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7 that killed an estimated 1,200 people. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

In the joint statement, the three countries expressed concern about the prospect of the conflict escalating and expanding as a result of attacks on Israel by Iran and the Houthis, and the unstable and increasingly hostile situation at the Lebanese border between Israel and the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2024.

— With files from The Associated Press

UK

Court allows university to clear Gaza protest camp

17 hours ago
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Victoria Scheer
BBC News Online

BBC/Thomas Macdougall
Sheffield University said it had requested protesters to leave on several occasions

A university has been given legal powers to evict a pro-Palestinian encampment from its campus.

Activists set up outside the University of Sheffield's students' union in May to protest against what it said was the university's "complicity" in the Israel-Gaza war due to its links with arms firms.

The university said it had requested protesters to leave on several occasions due to health and safety concerns and the disruption caused to staff and students.

On Friday, a possession order was granted by a judge at Sheffield County Court.

The hearing was told the group, called the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine (SCCP), did not have permission for the encampment and had been trespassing.

The university said it had allowed the camp to remain "in the interests of freedom of speech", but said requests concerning health and safety had "largely been ignored".

It added that there had also been disruption to university events and damage to buildings on the site, alongside "misleading AI-generated audio and footage".

The SCCP said their encampment, which was set up on 1 May, had been a "place of inspiration, growth, love and safety" for those "heartbroken" by the Israel-Gaza war which followed the Hamas attack on Israel in October.

That attack saw about 1,200 people killed and more than 250 kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza.

Israel subseqently launched air attacks and then a sustained ground offensive.

More than 39,170 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The SCCP said since the establishment of the camp on the University of Sheffield campus, it had been a central hub for activism and had hosted protests, sit-ins, workshops, religious observances and community dinners.

As part of their protest, the SCCP called on the university to sever its ties with arms manufacturers and to boycott Israeli companies and institutions.

The SCCP accused the university of "prioritising its profits over basic morality" and said it had not acknowledged its demands or agreed to a meeting.

BBC/Lucy Ashton

The encampment as pictured outside the students' union building on the campus on 8 May

On Friday, Judge Mark Gargan gave the university the right to regain control of campus land, saying there were no less intrusive measures to clear the camp.

He added that there had been no evidence to show the university had been motivated by the protesters' religious beliefs.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, a spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The camp has been outside of our Students’ Union building since 1 May and is raising a number of health and safety concerns, as well as causing ongoing disruption to university activities and our community.

"As a result, we sought to obtain a possession order. This has been granted today (Friday) and requires the protesters to draw the camp to a close.”

This is not the first time a court has granted possession orders in relation to protest encampments.

Similar cases involved the University of Bristol and the University of Nottingham, as reported by the BBC earlier this month.

The SCCP said it was "disheartened" by the outcome of the hearing, but said members remained "steadfast in their commitment to raising awareness and advocating for Palestinian liberation".

One member said: "The university’s decision to evict us does not erase the 87 days that we have spent in this space, organising together, eating together and learning from each other.

"It has made me proud to witness the dedication of the students, staying up night after night, tirelessly organising events on behalf of the SCCP and going out of their way to make the wider community feel welcomed and included."

The university had taken legal action against "persons unknown" as it had been unable to identify protesters.

The SCCP said the decision by members to not defend themselves in court was reached based on fears that named defendants would face high legal fees and "potentially severe disciplinary measures".

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Majority of Britons think Western politicians increase risk of WW3 - poll

44% of Brits though the actions of politicians were actively increasing the risk of a third world war, and only 6% thought they decreased the risk, found the survey.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

JULY 27, 2024 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community meeting(photo credit: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community)


The majority of the British blame Western politicians for global instability and the increasing risk of WW3, a YouGov poll found this week.

44% of Brits though the actions of politicians were actively increasing the risk of a third world war, and only 6% thought they decreased the risk, found the survey, which was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

The survey, which was carried out on 2,533 adults Britons across 17-18 July, also found women to be more concerned than men about the role of politicians in causing global conflict. Only 3% of women felt politicians were lowering the risk, as to 8% of men.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a messianic, anti-Jihad Islamic community. Ahmadi Muslims from more than 100 countries have gathered to hear their Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, in London, who has been warning of the risk of a new world war breaking out, according to the community.
Urgent calls to deescalate global tensions

The Caliph is set to deliver several talks over the course of three days to 40,000 Ahmadi Muslims who have gathered to watch at a 200 acre farm just outside of London.

(credit: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community)

“We must urge our leaders and politicians to step back from the precipice because there is no doubt that if a global war erupts, it will be unlike anything the world has ever seen," Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said previously.

“Many countries have acquired state-of-the-art weapons that have the deadly capacity to kill thousands upon thousands of people with just one strike. It will not just be us who endure the pain and who grieve, rather, our children and future generations will suffer for our sins and their lives will be destroyed through no fault of their own.”

'Olympics sabotaged' and 'La Farce!'

FM "ENVIRONMENTALISTS & ANARCHISTS NOT TERRORISTS"

BBC


On the front of the iWeekend huge plumes of blue, white and red smoke blow into the air over the River Seine as the Paris 2024 Olympics formally kicks off with its opening ceremony. "Let the Games begin," it headlines. The paper's main story focuses on the hunt for saboteurs who launched an attack on France's rail network affecting hundreds of thousands of travellers.

"La farce" headlines the Daily Mail which also focuses on the rail attacks and torrential rain putting a "damper" on the opening ceremony. It writes the first opening ceremony to be held outside a stadium "backfired spectacularly with 320,000 spectators, VIPs, celebrities and athletes getting drenched". A new biography of the Princess of Wales is also teased on its front page with a picture of Catherine beaming.


"Olympics sabotaged" says the Times as it warns French authorities are braced for further attacks as they try to identify who was responsible for the arson attacks on the high-speed rail network's fibre optic cables at strategic points in the countryside. Spy agencies are trying to find out if a foreign state such as Russia was behind it, it writes. Meanwhile, Team GB's flagbearers Tom Daley and Helen Glover pose for a picture.

The Daily Mirror writes "chaos at the Olympics" as the tabloid too focuses on the French railways being "crippled by a string of arson attacks". It pictures huge crowds at the capital's Gare du Nord railway station, but it says the chaos did not stop the ceremony wowing crowds in the rain with a flotilla of nations and Lady Gaga performing.


On the front of the Daily Telegraph, flagbearers Daley and Glover recreate the famous scene from the Titanic on Team GB's barge along the Seine. The broadsheet reports hard-left agitators are suspected of carrying out the attack, as well as suspicion falling on Russia. It writes that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was also affected - he flew to France instead of catching the Eurostar as planned because of the disruption. The paper's chief sport writer describes the opening ceremony as "miraculous" despite it ridding itself of a stadium and being staged on a river.

Lady Gaga is surrounded by pink feathers as she performs at the opening ceremony. But the FT Weekend's main story headlines "Reeves to stall hospital and road projects" as it reports on the chancellor seeking to fill an estimated £20bn fiscal hole she attributes to the previous Conservative government. The paper observes the delay to big capital projects will be "awkward" for Labour who promised a "building boom" but the chancellor has insisted all public spending must be paid for.


"The greatest show on earth" says the Daily Express as it too uses the image of red, white and blue smoke blowing into the air from a bridge. The tabloid's reports the chancellor's claims of a £20bn black hole in Britain finances being labelled a "con". It quotes shadow treasury minister Laura Trott saying: "This is nothing but a con designed to mask Labour's broken promises on tax rises."

The chancellor is also set to announce millions of public sector workers are likely to receive an above inflation pay rise, the Guardian says. It writes Ms Reeves is expected to accept the recommendations of public sector pay bodies for pay rises on Monday - in a move estimated to cost up to £10bn.



Many of Saturday's papers lead on the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. "La farce" declares the Daily Mail, which calls the arson attacks on the French rail network "humiliating". The paper says the decision to hold the event partly on the Seine "backfired spectacularly" because of torrential rain. "Wet the games begin" is the headline on the Sun, which says the downpour did not dampen French spirits. The Daily Telegraph praised the "kaleidoscopic boat procession" and said the display befitted Paris's billing as "the city of lights".

The front pages also focus on efforts to track down those who caused the rail disruption in France. The Times says "left-wing militants and Russia" are among the suspects. The iWeekend says Russian agents are being "closely monitored" by European intelligence agencies. The Daily Mirror says a malicious state is a likely culprit. The paper's defence editor, Chris Hughes, says the attacks are "straight out of the playbook" of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

The Eiffel Tower became a dazzling spectacle during a light show



Reports about the chancellor's forthcoming announcement about the state of the public finances also feature in many of the papers. The Financial Times says Rachel Reeves is set to delay a number of hospital and road projects. Officials tell the paper that she will use her speech on Monday to argue that she inherited "unfunded" projects. The Treasury has declined to comment on the article.

The Guardian says the chancellor will probably use the statement to confirm pay rises above inflation for millions of public sector workers. The Telegraph says it understands Ms Reeves will also point to the spiralling cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels. It expects the bill to be up to £10bn a year.

In its editorial, the Daily Mail accuses Labour of "taking us for fools". It says if the chancellor claims she is flabbergasted by the state of the public finances, she is either guilty of "extreme negligence or being dishonest". The paper says the bleak assessment is being used to pave the way for some "very painful tax increases".

The Olympic cauldron floats in sky in the shadow of the Louvre Pyramid



The Daily Express carries a similar warning from the former chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. He is quoted as saying Ms Reeves is "laying the groundwork for hiking up taxes". He is also sceptical that Labour is only now finding out about the government's finances. He says "the books have been open" since the Office for Budget Responsibility was set up 14 years ago. A Labour source says the Conservatives "spent taxpayers' money like no tomorrow because they knew someone else would have to pick up the bill".

The Guardian reports that a strategy for playing the Radio 4 panel show, Just a Minute, could help people with dementia. It highlights an academic study that suggests the best way to succeed at the game is to let go of your ambition to win. It says the show's rules - avoiding repetition, deviation and hesitation - cause "cognitive overload", which is also experienced by those with dementia. The paper quotes one of the most successful panellists, comedian Paul Merton, who says he avoids "brain fry" by focusing on keeping the show enjoyable, rather than trying to be victorious.

COLD WAR 2.0

A Russian Navy research vessel is suspected of violating Finnish territorial waters

The Finnish defense ministry says a Russian vessel is suspected of a territorial violation of Finland’s marine area in the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea

ByThe Associated Press
July 26, 2024, 

HELSINKI -- A Russian vessel is suspected of a territorial violation of Finland’s marine area in the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea, the Finnish defense ministry said on Friday.

The suspected violation, which the Finnish Border Guard is currently investigating, took place in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland Friday afternoon, a brief government statement said.

The ministry didn’t disclose further details of the incident but the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat said, citing information from border officials, that the suspected vessel is the Russian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship, the Mikhail Kazansky.

The Russian vessel, used among other things for underwater topography and repair work, entered into Finnish territorial waters south of the town of Hamina without authorization just after noon Friday, and the violation lasted about seven minutes, the newspaper said.

The previous confirmed territorial violation in the Nordic country took place June 10, when four Russian state-operated aircraft entered Finland’s airspace off the southern towns of Loviisa and Porvoo, the defense ministry said.

Finland, a NATO member, shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) land border with Russia and acts as the European Union’s external border in the north.

 SIMULACRA

Museum pulls wax figure of Sinead O'Connor after complaints it does not compare to the real thing

A Dublin museum has pulled a wax figure of Sinéad O’Connor from its collection after fans and family members complained that it did not compare to how the late singer looked

ByBRIAN MELLEY 

Associated Press
July 26, 2024


LONDON -- A wax figure of Sinéad O’Connor that did not compare to how the late singer looked caused a minor meltdown among fans and family members, leading a Dublin museum on Friday to pull it from its collection.

The National Wax Museum Plus apologized to O'Connor's family and said it would immediately begin creating a more accurate representation of the singer best known for her 1990 cover of Prince's ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

John O'Connor said it was a “hideous” representation of his sister that looked like a cross between something in a department store window display and a 1960s sci-fi TV show that used electronic puppets.

“When I saw it online yesterday I was shocked," he told Irish broadcaster RTE. “I thought it looked something between a mannequin and something out of the ‘Thunderbirds.’”

The museum had unveiled the figure Thursday in honor of the first anniversary of her death. O'Connor, 56, died in her London home of natural causes July 26, 2023.

O’Connor, who became a controversial figure after she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live in 1992, was considered a national treasure in Ireland, where she had started out performing on the streets of Dublin.

Fans filled the street of her former seaside hometown during a funeral procession in August following a private service attended by then-Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, President Michael Higgins and musical luminaries such as Bono of U2 and Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats.

Accurately capturing the likeness of celebrities has famously tripped up many an artist.

A Polish wax museum was ridiculed last year for what some called creepy depictions of Kate, the Princess of Wales, and her husband, Prince William. A sculptor mocked for his bronze of Portuguese soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo went back to his studio a do-over that was more warmly received.

Likewise, U.S. women's soccer star Brandi Chastain got a replacement for a panned plaque where she was compared to looking like actors Gary Busey and Mickey Rooney, and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.


Paddy Dunning, the Dublin museum’s director who called O'Connor a longtime friend, said she deserved a better tribute.

“In response to the public’s feedback regarding the wax figure, we acknowledge that the current representation did not meet our high standards or the expectations of Sinead’s devoted fans,” the museum said in a statement.

John O'Connor said he was upset by the timing of the unveiling and the fact that no one had contacted his family.

“As I said earlier, the world may have lost a star, and they did, but I lost my sister," he said. "It just should not have been put there even without checking with somebody: ‘Is this all right?’”

Wax museum removes Sinéad O'Connor figure

327 July 2024 

 

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A waxwork of the late Sinéad O'Connor in Dublin will be remade after the original came under criticism Photo: Facebook

The National Wax Museum in Dublin is "committed" to creating a new wax figure of Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor after significant public backlash.

It comes after the museum unveiled a waxwork of the late singer and activist to coincide with the first anniversary of her death.

O'Connor was found dead at the age of 56 in her south London home last July.

The figure was first unveiled on Thursday as a tribute to the singer, but the museum has now said it will be removed in order to create "a more accurate representation".

Among those who criticised the original figure was O'Connor's brother, John.

He said he was shocked when he first saw the waxwork online and said it was "inappropriate".

"It looked nothing like her and I thought it was hideous," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ's Liveline radio programme on Friday.

He added that the figure looked "between a mannequin and something out of the Thunderbirds".

Sinéad O'Connor. Photo: Jason Kempin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

The museum says it will remake the waxwork to create a more accurate representation

A statement from the museum said: "In response to the public's feedback regarding the wax figure, we acknowledge that the current representation did not meet our high standards or the expectations of Sinéad's devoted fans.

"We have listened closely to the reactions and agree that the figure does not fully capture Sinéad's unique presence and essence as we intended."

New figure to 'truly honour' singer

The museum said O'Connor's impact on music is "immeasurable" and its goal was to honour the late singer in the "most fitting and respectful manner".

"With this in mind, we are committed to creating a new wax figure that better reflect's Sinéad O'Connor's true spirit and iconic image," it added.

"Our team of skilled artists will begin this project immediately, ensuring that every detail is meticulously crafted to celebrate her legacy appropriately."

It said the museum looks forward to unveiling a new figure that "truly honours" O'Connor and her "extraordinary impact".

The Nothing Compares 2 U singer was found dead at her home last year Photo: Fred Tanneau / AFP

Who is Sinéad O'Connor?

Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor was born on 8 December 1966 in the affluent Glenageary suburb of Dublin.

Her debut album in 1987, The Lion and the Cobra, was a storming success, earning O'Connor a Grammy nomination for best female rock vocal performance.

But it was her 1990 Prince cover single 'Nothing Compares 2 U' which saw her catapult to worldwide fame.

O'Connor was outspoken on subjects including religion, women's rights and racism.

In 1992, she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II while performing on US television programme Saturday Night Live in protest against child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

In 2018, she converted to Islam, changing her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.

However she continued to perform under her birth name.

On 26 July 2023, the musician was found unresponsive at her home in Herne Hill, south London and was later pronounced dead.

A coroner ruled that she died of natural causes.

- BBC

Five UK energy companies have now racked up £240 BILLION in profits since 2020

"Obscene"

by The Canary
26 July 2024

Dubbed ‘Profiteers Week’, this week will see interim results from five energy companies who have already banked over £240 billion since the start of the energy crisis as campaigners call for a proper tax on all those in the sector making ‘obscene’ profits. Meanwhile, the latest reporting reflects that Up to 45% or 615,000 people in Wales are living in fuel poverty.

Energy companies: rolling in it

Interim results this week show the following profits:Iberdrola (owners of Scottish Power) pocketed £3.8 billion.
Equinor have made £5.8 billion.
Centrica (British Gas) who made £1 billion.
EDF who have banked £8 billion.
Drax who have made £463 million.

This brings the total profits made by just these five companies since 2020 to over £241,576,960,000.

Commissioned by campaign group, Warm This Winter, the energy profit tracker monitors the declared profits of firms ranging from energy producers (such as Equinor and Shell) through to the firms that control our energy grid (such as National Grid, UK Power Networks and Cadent) as well as suppliers (such as British Gas).
“It’s just obscene”

Climate Cymru Campaign Coordinator spokesperson David Kilner said:

Frankly it is just obscene. In fact it’s hard to grasp the mind boggling greed, plunging people in to poverty so that these corporations can make a billion pounds each week [2] under the last government since the energy crisis started three years ago.

That is why we have to bring back fairness and introduce a proper tax on all companies profiteering in the energy sector while six million people in the UK are living in fuel poverty, facing a stark choice between heating and eating.

The new Labour governments have inherited a broken energy system, they must act urgently to address it – we must see urgent action to support struggling households through the next winter.

In total, energy corporations have made nearly £427 billion in profits since the energy crisis according to the analysis of company reports to June this year.

Energy companies are making a killing – while killing the rest of us

End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator Simon Francis said:

These figures show that there is plenty of money in our broken energy system. But rather than this money being used to help people struggling in cold damp homes and with the record cost of energy, the cash is being used to line the pockets of energy firms.

As households struggle in energy debt and even turn to illegal money lenders, new ministers must step in. We need to ensure the most vulnerable households are protected with a more comprehensive warm homes discount, action to bring down energy debt and the Treasury must draw a line in the sand to stop this profiteering.

Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift added:

The UK’s high dependence on expensive gas is why millions are still struggling with unaffordable energy bills. Energy companies obviously want to lock us into oil and gas for years to come to keep the profits rolling in, but the only way to reduce bills is to insulate homes and switch to homegrown renewable energy. We need to see the government now deliver on its commitment to move us off oil and gas and onto a better, fairer energy system.

Warm This Winter will be updating the energy industry profit tracker at the end of July.

Featured image via the Canary

What We Think

Israel’s genocide exposes West’s lies

Activists must use international court rulings but hold no illusions of their intent

By Thomas Foster
Thursday 25 July 2024

SOCIALIST WOKER

Issue 2915

The International Court of Justice of the United Nations. The Hague, Holland.
(Picture: varfolomeev on Flickr)

The West presents itself as an upholder of international law, democracy and justice. Its support of Israel’s genocide exposes this as a lie.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled last week that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land is “illegal”, breaches laws of “apartheid” and international law.

But the United States and Europe haven’t stopped supporting—or arming—Israel’s genocide and apartheid regime, showing a deep hypocrisy.

Western countries often champion themselves as great bastion of freedom, battling on the global stage to uphold democracy.

For example, US president Joe Biden said at an international summit last year that he’s proud “to defend those fundamental values we all share—justice, the rule of law, assembly, freedom of press, freedom of religion”.

“And our core belief in the interest of human rights for every single individual in the world,” he went on. What about the rights of Palestinians? When Israel slaughters and starves Palestinians, where is this core belief?

Not only does the West continue to support Israel, but it enables it by sending huge amounts of weapons. Biden’s “core belief” is completely shallow.

All of the West’s talk about “defending democracy” is empty rhetoric used to justify its economic and military interests.

It’s because Israel defends and furthers those interests that Western imperialism will continue to support Israel regardless of the horrors it carries out.

In a global imperialist system of inter-state rivalry, the ruling classes in the West see holding onto power as far more important than the struggles of the Palestinians.

And the hypocrisy is on show when the US and Europe, while remaining silent about Israel’s apartheid regime, attack Russia for being dictatorial or China as being authoritarian.

The key difference is that these are imperialist states that oppose and threaten Western interests. When liberal democracies wage wars, it’s supposedly a selfless act of policing international law.

But wars waged by anyone opposing Western imperialism are criminal enterprises violating international law. This points to something more fundamental.

International law is largely a Western invention at the service of the US and its allies, acting as an instrument to justify their acts.

The ICJ ruling is an ideological defeat for Israel and its Western backers. It should make it harder for every university, company and state to dismiss opposition to Israel and its institutions.

We should use it in the fight to force the Labour government to stop all arms to Israel. And activists should use the ruling to expose the hypocrisy of the West and boost the struggle for Palestinian liberation.