Sen. Warren slams Netanyahu on Gaza, urges end to US funding Israel’s war

'Starving Palestinian children and killing innocent people isn't enough for Netanyahu,' Elizabeth Warren says

Diyar Guldogan |09.08.2025 - TRT/AA



WASHINGTON

US Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday of prioritizing personal political power over peace as she demanded an end to US funding for Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

"Starving Palestinian children and killing innocent people isn't enough for Netanyahu. Now, he wants to control all of Gaza.

"He no longer even pretends that this is about bringing the hostages home. For Netanyahu, it's all about holding onto his power," Warren wrote on X.

Her remarks came after the Prime Minister’s Office said the army will prepare for "taking control" of Gaza City. Netanyahu said Israel's "goal is not to take over Gaza, but to free Gaza from Hamas and enable a peaceful government to be established there."

"The U.S. cannot send one penny more to Israel to fund this war," Warren stressed.

Israel has faced mounting outrage for its destructive war on Gaza, where more than 61,300 victims have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

US senator blasts Trump on Gaza policy

'Biden was wrong about his support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Trump is even worse,' says Bernie Sanders

Diyar Güldoğan | 09.08.2025 - TRT/AA



WASHINGTON

US Sen. Bernie Sanders denounced President Donald Trump's support on Friday for Israel's war in the Gaza Strip and vowed to oppose further funding.

"Biden was wrong about his support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Trump is even worse," Sanders wrote in a scathing rebuke on X of former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.

The American people, Democrats, Republicans and Independents, do not want to continue spending billions of taxpayer dollars to starve children, he said.

His remarks came after the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army will prepare for "taking control" of Gaza City.

Netanyahu said Israel's "goal is not to take over Gaza, but to free Gaza from Hamas and enable a peaceful government to be established there."

"Not another penny for Netanyahu's war machine," Sanders stressed.

The US Senate rejected two resolutions last week that were introduced by Sanders to block arms sales to Israel amid starvation in Gaza.

A record number of Senate Democrats, more than half of the caucus, voted in favor of the resolutions.

Israel has been facing mounting outrage for its destructive war on Gaza, where more than 61,300 victims have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

JD Vance questions Britain’s Palestinian statehood plan, rules out US recognition

CANADA GOT TARIFFED FOR DOING WHAT UK DID

Vance said Washington and London shared common goals in the Middle East but acknowledged 'some disagreements' on how to achieve them

Our Web Desk & Agencies 

Published 08.08.25

Vice President JD Vance, right, talks with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a meeting at Chevening House in Kent, England, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.AP/PTI

US Vice President JD Vance met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Friday at Chevening, the almost 400-year-old red-brick mansion set in 3,000 acres of gardens that serves as the British foreign secretary’s official country residence.


The two leaders discussed global economics, the Israel-Hamas war, and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Appearing before reporters ahead of their talks, Vance addressed Britain’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza.

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He questioned what such recognition would mean “given the lack of a functional government there” and reiterated that the United States had no plans to recognise a Palestinian state.

Vance said Washington and London shared common goals in the Middle East but acknowledged “some disagreements” on how to achieve them.

Britain, alongside France and Canada, has declared its intention to recognise Palestine to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Asked whether US President Donald Trump had been informed of Israel’s intent to occupy Gaza City, Vance declined to comment, adding, “If it was easy to bring peace to that region of the world, it would have been done already.”

The meeting came as the United States and the United Kingdom remain at odds over how to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

While Trump has focused on bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders have stressed that Ukraine must be involved in any peace negotiations.

Also Read
Global outcry as Israel moves to seize Gaza; leaders warn of catastrophic humanitarian fallout

On Thursday, Putin said he hoped to meet Trump next week, a day before Trump’s deadline for Moscow to show progress in ending the nearly three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine.

Trade was also on the agenda, with Britain seeking favourable terms for steel and aluminium exports to the US and both sides working out details of a broader trade deal announced in late June.

Earlier on Friday, Vance and Lammy went fishing in the lake behind Chevening House, appearing relaxed in blue button-down shirts and sharing a laugh.

Vance joked that “the one strain on the special relationship” was that all his children caught fish but the British foreign minister had not.

Lammy later posted on X that “before beginning our bilateral, the Vice President gave me fishing tips, Kentucky style.”



About two dozen protesters gathered near the entrance to Chevening, some waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyeh scarves. One held a sign with a meme mocking Vance.


Despite coming from opposite political traditions — Lammy from the left-leaning Labour Party and Vance a conservative Republican aligned with Trump’s “America First” agenda — the two men have formed a personal connection over their hardscrabble childhoods and Christian faith.

Lammy told The Guardian that he considers Vance a friend, recalling a Catholic Mass at the Vance home in Washington earlier this year and a meeting in Rome during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in May.

After two nights at Chevening, Vance and his family will travel to the Cotswolds, a picturesque region covering about 800 square miles across five counties in western England.

Known for its quaint villages, stone cottages and rural scenery, the area has become a favourite among wealthy Americans.

British media report that the family has rented a house in Charlbury, 12 miles west of Oxford.

Socialite and journalist Plum Sykes described the village as “very fashionable” and said, “There’s been this mass exodus from America to the Cotswolds. Americans just cannot get over the charm. Then power and money attract power and money.”

The trip, described by a source familiar with the planning as a working visit, will include official engagements, fundraising events, cultural visits, and meetings with US troops.

It follows heightened transatlantic tensions, domestic political shifts in both countries, and growing attention on Vance’s role in the Trump administration.

(With inputs from AP, Reuters)

Canada condemns Israel’s plan to expand military operations in Gaza

'Escalation will do nothing to end the humanitarian horror in Gaza or the deepening suffering of both the Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians,' says Mark Carney

Diyar Guldogan |09.08.2025 - TRT/AA



WASHINGTON

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that Canada condemns Israel’s decision to escalate the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

"This escalation will do nothing to end the humanitarian horror in Gaza or the deepening suffering of both the Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians. Nor will it advance long-term peace and security for the Israeli people," Carney said in a statement.

His remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his military would occupy Gaza City.

Calling for an immediate ceasefire, Carney urged Hamas to "immediately" release all hostages taken during an Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

"Hamas must disarm; and we must see a massive and sustained surge in humanitarian aid, at the necessary scale," he added.

Canada continues to work with its international partners on the path to a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel, he said.

"We reiterate that Hamas must play no role in the future governance of a demilitarized Palestinian state. Canada will continue to support the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to reform and to strong, democratic governance," he added.

Canada urges all parties to negotiate in "good faith toward a just, meaningful, and lasting peace" that respects the dignity, security and aspirations of all Palestinians and Israelis, said Carney.

Israel has faced mounting outrage for its genocide in Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,000 victims since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and led to deaths by hunger and starvation.

Israel plan to control Gaza City ‘wrong’ and will risk lives, Carney says

By Sean Boynton 

 Global News
Posted August 8, 2025 

WATCH: Israel's plan to take over Gaza City is 'wrong,' puts lives of hostages at 'greater risk': Carney

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that Israel’s stated plan to take control of Gaza City is “wrong” and will harm international efforts to solve the humanitarian crisis plaguing the Palestinian territory.

Carney once again called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and highlighted Canada’s role in delivering humanitarian aid to starving Palestinians, but would not say if Israel’s latest actions will lead to sanctions.

“We join others, many others, in viewing that this is wrong, that this action is not going to contribute to an improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground,” Carney told reporters when asked about the Gaza City plan. “It is going to put the lives of the hostages at greater risk, rather than lessening it.

“We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire. We reiterate our call for Hamas to immediately return all of the hostages and their remains. We reiterate that Hamas has no role going forward and will continue to work with our allies to contribute what we can to achieving those outcomes.”

Pressed on whether Canada plans to issue sanctions against Israel, Carney said he’s “not on the cusp of making another announcement at this point” but condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.

“What we see is the erosion of the possibility of a two-state solution because of facts on the ground, actions on the ground,” he said.

Carney later issued a statement that reaffirmed Canada’s condemnation of Israel’s decision to “further escalate the conflict in Gaza” by expanding its military operations.

“This escalation will do nothing to end the humanitarian horror in Gaza or the deepening suffering of both the Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians. Nor will it advance long-term peace and security for the Israeli people,” the statement said.

Before Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the plan to take over Gaza City earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had outlined more sweeping plans Thursday in an interview with Fox News, saying Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza. Israel already controls around three-quarters of the territory.

Germany announced shortly after Israel’s decision Friday that it will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza “until further notice.”

The move by Germany, which has previously stopped short of tougher lines against Israel’s government taken by some of its European Union allies, appeared likely to further isolate Israel in the wake of the controversial military takeover plan that has been decried by the United Nations and supporters of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.


The United Nations has called the move to take control of Gaza City a dangerous escalation, as it would likely require a large ground invasion and displacing tens of thousands of civilians.

Canada and other allies like France and Britain have stepped up their condemnation of Israel’s military actions in recent months, and have also stated they intend to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations.

The United States, by contrast, has refused to condemn Israel’s military strategy, although U.S. President Donald Trump last week contradicted Netanyahu’s denials that Palestinians are starving in Gaza.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters ahead of meeting U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London that he wasn’t sure what recognizing a Palestinian state would even mean, “given the lack of a functional government there.”

Asked whether Trump had been given a heads up on Israel’s announced intent to take over Gaza City, Vance said he wouldn’t go into such conversations.

“If it was easy to bring peace to that region of the world, it would have been done already,” he said.

In a statement Friday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Israel “has the right to defend itself against Hamas’ terror” and said that the release of Israeli hostages and purposeful negotiations toward a cease-fire in the 22-month conflict “are our top priority.”

He said Hamas must not have a role in the future of Gaza.

“The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli Cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult for the German government to see how these goals will be achieved,” he added. “Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice.”

The German government remains deeply concerned about the suffering of civilians in Gaza, he said, adding: “With the planned offensive, the Israeli government bears even greater responsibility than before for providing for their needs.”

He called on Israel to allow comprehensive access for aid deliveries — including for U.N. organizations and other NGOs — and said Israel “must continue to comprehensively and sustainably address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”

Germany also called on Israel’s government “not to take any further steps toward annexing the West Bank.”

It was not immediately clear which military equipment from Germany would be affected.

Germany, with its history with the Holocaust, has been among the strongest Western backers of Israel — no matter which government is in power. Merz’s government did not join announcements by President Emmanuel Macron of key German ally France and Britain’s Keir Starmer that they plan to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

—With files from the Associated Press

WHEN IN DOUBT START A WAR ON DRUGS

Trump signed secret order for military action against Latin American drug cartels: Report

Directive authorizes US military operations abroad against groups designated as terrorist organizations by Trump administration, says The New York Times

Asiye Latife Yılmaz |08.08.2025 - TRT/AA




ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump has reportedly signed a secret directive ordering the Pentagon to launch military operations against certain Latin American drug cartels, according to The New York Times, citing people familiar with the matter.

The secret order authorizes potential direct military action at sea and on foreign soil against Latin American drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.

US military officials have begun drafting plans to target the cartels. However, the move raises legal concerns, including whether using force outside an authorized conflict could be considered unlawful.

Upon returning to the presidency for a second term this January, Trump signed an order instructing the State Department to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, leading to the designation of groups like Tren de Aragua and MS-13.

The decision shows Trump’s strategy of using military forces in roles usually handled by law enforcement, as part of a broader effort to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.

Earlier this year Trump sent National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, citing what he called public unrest and riots. The California governor and city leaders blasted the move, calling it both unnecessary and dangerous.

Critics say Trump wants to use the military, which is directly under his command, as his own personal police force, doing his bidding regardless of the law or the US Constitution.

Trump rattles Latin America by eyeing military force against drug cartels

U.S. President Donald Trump walks from Marine One to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Aug. 1. | Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times

BLOOMBERG
Aug 9, 2025

The U.S. under President Donald Trump is crafting a confrontational approach toward Latin America that signals a willingness to use military force against drug cartels, discarding the previous administration’s preference for carrots over sticks to coax countries into alignment with U.S. interests.

The New York Times reported Friday that the president ordered the Defense Department to prepare options to take military action against Latin American drug cartels. A U.S. agreement with Mexico to expand security cooperation, expected to be signed in the coming weeks, would facilitate joint monitoring of criminal organizations by security forces and coordination on the border.

But the pending agreement won’t provide legal grounds for direct U.S. military action on Mexican territory, officials have said. Any such intervention would risk inflaming anti-U.S. sentiments already whipped up by the Trump administration’s wave of tariffs.

"This could call into question the security agreement that was drawn up, which is based on a great deal of trust,” said Victoria Dittmar, a researcher at Insight Crime who specializes in Mexico.

Trump, asked about the possibility of using military force Friday at the White House, said he would have "more to say about that soon.”

"Latin America has got a lot of cartels. They’ve got a lot of drugs flowing. So, you know, we want to protect our country,” Trump said.

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment.

The emerging plans to deal with cartels build on the Trump administration’s already more aggressive presence in a region that is deeply integrated into the U.S. economy, from cross-border gas pipelines to maritime logistics.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Central America on his first overseas trip, pushing for concessions on U.S. military use of the Panama Canal. The administration has engaged in a war of words with Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro and may be preparing to decertify that country’s efforts against narcotics. Officials have also stepped up allegations against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a drug lord, doubling a reward for information leading to his arrest to $50 million this week.

The hardening of U.S. policy toward Latin America has been met with varying responses in the region, from open arms to strident opposition. In Ecuador, the pro-U.S. government is preparing a referendum that would allow foreign military installations in national territory, a move seen as clearning the way for the U.S. to reactivate the use of a base in the violence-torn country.



Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum waves during an event in Tlajomulco de Zuiga, in Mexico's Jalisco state, on Friday. | AFP-JIJI



But in Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded defiantly to any suggestion that American soldiers would take a combat role in her country. Any agreement with the Trump administration must respect the nation’s sovereignty, she reiterated Friday at her daily news conference.

"The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military,” she said Friday. "We cooperate, we collaborate, but there will be no invasion. That is out of the question, absolutely out of the question. What has been stated in all the calls is that it is not permitted, nor is it part of any agreement, much less.”

The security deal in the works rests on the idea that the U.S. won’t intervene in Mexico, said Dittmar of Insight Crime.

"If that were to be broken, it would indeed break the relationship of trust and would require a rethinking of joint security strategies,” she said.

The Trump administration’s approach risks inviting a broader backlash in a region still scarred by decades of Cold War-era intervention from Guatemala to Chile.

"This will strengthen autocratic regimes like the ones in Venezuela or Nicaragua, and the anti-American sentiment in Mexico, Guatemala and even in Colombia,” said Jorge Restrepo, an economics professor who directs CERAC, a Bogota-based research institution that monitors the nation’s civil conflict.

"Just the announcement will have the unintended effect of strengthening governments which are not cooperating as much as they could with the United States,” Restrepo said.

U.S. interests in the region could become soft targets for criminal organizations, said James Bosworth, founder of political risk firm Hxagon, in a phone interview. The cartels have the ability to take the fight to U.S. territory in a way that al-Qaeda "could only dream of,” according to Bosworth.

While Venezuela, Colombia and Honduras are all potential targets, Mexico is the country that is most vulnerable, especially since Trump officials are much more worried about fentanyl then they are about cocaine, Bosworth said. Trump made a promise to fight trafficking of fentanyl, originating in China and responsible for tens of thousands of U.S. deaths, a key point of his 2024 campaign.

Despite stepped-up rhetoric from Washington, Venezuela could be shielded from intervention by U.S. oil interests and concerns about disrupting a steady flow of reverse migration, said Geoff Ramsey, who tracks Venezuela at the Atlantic Council.

"This is an instance in which Trump is seeking to project strength but ultimately understands that any kind of military action in Venezuela would run completely contrary to U.S. interests,” said Ramsey. "Unfortunately, Maduro knows that this is a bluff. But the opposition doesn’t. And I think this is going to fuel a lot of counterproductive daydreaming from the opposition. And my fear is that this is only going to lead them down the path of magical thinking.”

The U.S. posturing also risks playing into Venezuela’s siege narrative. The country’s armed forces on Friday vowed "to confront, combat, and neutralize any action that threatens the stability and peace of our citizens, as well as the safeguarding of our national territory.”

And on state television, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez reiterated denials that Venezuela hosts organized crime groups. "There are no criminal gangs operating here, they have taken the story of the Tren de Aragua, they have been completely dismantled, they do not exist, nor do cartels or bosses exist,” Padrino said.

Ramsey said U.S. military action in Venezuela "would risk destabilizing the entire country, and potentially the region itself.”

Trump Signs Directive That Could Deploy US Military in Mexico: Report

Published Aug 08, 2025

President Donald Trump ordered the United States military to target drug cartels and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on Friday, prompting concerns over diplomacy and presidential overreach, the New York Times reported.

Citing sources close to the matter, the Times reported that Trump signed an order directing the Pentagon to begin using military force against overseas targets. It's not clear if the order includes language about obtaining Congress' consent.

The Department of Defense declined to comment to Newsweek, deferring to the White House. A White House spokesperson said Trump remains committed to "protecting the homeland".

Newsweek reached out to the Mexican embassy in the U.S. for comment via email Friday afternoon.

Why It Matters

The Trump administration declared multiple cartels and criminal gangs as FTOs earlier this year, saying the designation was necessary to counter their activities in the U.S., including fentanyl trafficking.

Using the military to target the groups would mark a significant escalation in enforcement—one that could significantly impact relations with two countries: Mexico and Venezuela.

President Donald Trump departs an event to honor recipients of the Purple Heart in the East Room of the White House on August 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

What To Know

The order signed by Trump reportedly provides an official basis for direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels, which would likely mean in the Gulf of Mexico and potentially within Mexico itself.

Making such moves without the approval of Congress opens up legal questions about whether the military could be seen as murdering suspected cartel members, rather than acting in the defense of the U.S., the Times noted.

"Previous efforts to escalate the war on drugs through partnered operations in Colombia and Mexico failed to eliminate drug trafficking organizations or stem the flow of illicit drugs into the United States," Brandan Buck, Cato Institute foreign policy research fellow, told Newsweek. "Unilateral action would assuredly fail to stem the flow of drugs into the United States while causing significant diplomatic fallout."

The justification for the shift would likely be ongoing efforts to cut off fentanyl smuggling, which continues to impact American communities, with the synthetic opioid linked to thousands of deaths.

When Secretary of State Marco Rubio first declared eight groups as terrorist organizations in February, he opened up the possibility of military action against the MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs, as well as dominant cartels including Sinaloa and Jalisco, for their roles in fentanyl trafficking, murders and other violent crimes across the U.S.

At the time, experts told Newsweek that the designation could prompt dangerous blowback from the cartels, putting the lives of Americans living and working in Mexico and Venezuela at risk.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also criticized the FTO designation, saying it could infringe on Mexican sovereignty. Trump's reported directive on Friday now opens the door to the possibility of American troops crossing the border into her country.

Trump's latest order comes after the administration designated the Venezuelan-based Cartel de los Soles as an FTO late last month, alleging that it's led by the country's president, Nicolás Maduro.

What People Are Saying

Henry Ziemer, associate fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Newsweek: "Certainly the most extreme possibility would be that the United States could use this directive to target members of the Venezuelan government and military up to and including President Nicolas Maduro, now linked to the "Cartel de los Soles" now designated by the Treasury as a global terrorist entity.

"For the time being, I do not believe this is a likely outcome given the Trump administration's aversion to entanglement in major overseas military operations. Nevertheless, these reports are undoubtedly causing sleepless nights for the regime."

Buck told Newsweek: "This move, if true, will likely reignite debates on Capitol Hill about the use of military force as it bypasses Congress's prerogative to declare war."

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement to Newsweek: "President Trump's top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations."

What's Next

As of Friday afternoon, the Trump administration has not made an official announcement regarding the directive, making it unclear if Congress would be consulted on the matter.

 

Italy Approves Plan to Build Bridge to Sicily

The bridge as seen from the Sicilian side (handout rendering courtesy Messina Strait Company)

Published Aug 7, 2025 3:51 PM by The Maritime Executive

In difficult news for Sicily's ferry operators, the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has approved a much-debated suspension bridge from Villa San Giovanni to Messina. If completed, the two-mile-long bridge would be the biggest of its kind in the world. 

The planned bridge would have two rail tracks in the center and three lanes of traffic in each direction (six total), ample space to absorb the car and walk-on passenger capacity of the cross-strait ferries that carry thousands of people per day. Longer-distance routes could also be affected if truck operators and tourists determined that a drive down the coast to the bridge is preferable to a long ferry ride from Naples or Salerno. 

The impact on ferry runs is still far off, however. Bureaucratic procedures and courtroom debates will have to be completed before the first shovel goes in the ground, and success is far from guaranteed. Similar plans have been proposed many times since the 1970s, and have run into too many difficulties to get off the drawing board. In addition to the engineering challenge of building such a long span, it will have to be constructed to survive the region's seismic activity and high winds. The $15 billion price is also much higher than it was in the previous two attempts in 2006 and 2011, and unaffordable costs sank both of those earlier initiatives. 

Local communities are also opposed to the project, in particular for the land purchases and expropriations that it would require at each end - all of which could end up in court. Land seizures will begin in September and October, Italian transport minister Matteo Salvini said Wednesday, and project completion is slated for 2033. 

Mafia involvement in the construction sector is another known project-management risk in Sicily and Calabria. In 2015, Italian police seized $1.75 billion from construction company leaders with ties to organized crime in the town of Corleone, where the Cosa Nostra has deep roots. According to prosecutors, Cosa Nostra members provided local government officials with guidance and incentives for the selection of contractors, resulting in revenue for all parties involved in the arrangement (at the expense of competing contractors).  

 

Houthis Level a Threat at 64 Shipowners for Violating Israeli “Blockade”

Eternity C was the last ship sunk but the Houthis are now "warning" 64 shipowners of the consequences of continuing to trade with Israel (Houthi media)

Published Aug 7, 2025 1:37 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

The Houthi militants in Yemen are continuing their pressure campaign, reporting they have warned 64 shipowners of the consequences of continuing to call in Israeli ports. The group’s media officer sent a message to major news outlets reporting that they have served sanction notices on the shipping companies.

According to the notice, the sanction notices were sent to the shipowners in late July after the Houthis resumed their campaign against shipping. At the beginning of the month, the campaign began with two Greek-owned bulkers, targeted and sunk, with several seafarers killed. It largely dashed hopes in the shipping community that some resumption of sailing through the Red Sea would be possible.

The group says the companies that were notified of the sanctions were because their vessels “violated the naval blockade” imposed on Israel. “These vessels are hereby prohibited from transiting the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea, and will be subject to targeting when they fall within the reach,” the Houthis said.

The sanction notices, the group says, were warnings, and the “companies of the violating vessels shall bear the consequences.” They write that the notices were to help companies “avoid the risks” of violating the Houthis’ ban on Israel.

The Houthis, however, warn that the sanctions “may be expanded to include entities engaged in dealings with” the companies violating their sanctions.

They have issued these types of propaganda warnings before to the shipping companies, but 20 months after the first attack, the threat remains against shipping in the region. The EUNAVFOR operation Aspides remains active in the region and over the weekend highlighted that a French frigate had completed another protection mission with a photo of a large CMA CGM containership as well as a command visit photo aboard the Greek frigate supporting the efforts.

The Houthis’ military arm posted an online warning this week, highlighting that it was tracking ship movements between Egypt, Turkey, and Israel and citing by name nine ships it said were violators of the embargo. It included ships of Maersk, MSC, and Yang Ming among the list of vessels that it said had called at Israeli ports.

There have been no further reports of attacks after the sinking of the Magic Seas and the Eternity C in early July.

Reports: EU Sanctions Hit Russian-Owned Refiner Nayara's Tanker Charters

Nayara's loading dock at Vadinar (Nayara / CC BY)

Published Aug 7, 2025 10:43 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Russian-owned Indian refiner Nayara is having shipping difficulties after the ne EU sanctions on its operations, and not just internationally. It is dependent upon seagoing transport for domestic deliveries as well, and domestic shipowners no longer want to carry its cargoes on coastwise routes, according to PTI, Bloomberg and Times of India. 

"The firm typically requires three ships to maintain its fuel supply chain. But since the EU sanctions came into effect, it has managed to get only one [tanker]," a source familiar with the matter told PTI. 

Reuters has named two firms, Seven Islands Shipping and Great Eastern Shipping, as the owners of three vessels that call at Nayara on domestic routes. The companies have reportedly asked for the release of their vessels from charter parties because of sanctions risks. 

Part of the issue lies with marine insurance, Times of India reports. EU sanctions on Nayara mean that tankers serving the refinery cannot obtain insurance cover from EU insurers, nor from other Western firms that honor EU sanctions. The overwhelming majority of the marine insurance business happens in the UK and EU, so exclusion from these markets makes it difficult to obtain legitimate cover. 

To solve this problem, Nayara is seeking help from the Indian government to create a domestic marine insurance scheme for its tankers, supported by Indian insurance agencies, reports TOI. 

The impact of the sanctions has been significant. Nayara has reportedly reduced its run rate by a reported 20-30 percent because its refined-product storage is filling up. The senior members of its management team who have European ties have departed, including three board members, one senior VP, and the CEO, Alessandro Des Dorides.

Nayara is majority Russian-owned; Rosneft holds 49 percent of the firm, and Russia-based United Capital Partners (UCP) is a partner in the JV that owns another 49 percent. The refiner is among the largest Indian buyers of Russian crude oil, the source of underlying friction in trade talks between the U.S. and India. President Donald Trump has ordered an additional 25 percent tariff on all Indian goods starting August 27 if New Delhi does not cease buying Russian crude. 

Change blows over the Baltic Sea as Poland bets on offshore wind energy

Poland’s energy transition gains pace as renewables surpass coal and offshore wind becomes a priority.

Copyright Pawel Glogowski

By Pawel Glogowski
Published on 05/08/2025 

The energy transition is one of the most important challenges the European Union is facing. While the goal is clear – to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 – the road to get there is sometimes bumpy.

The struggles of the energy transition are particularly evident in the wind energy sector, which, despite its dynamic development, still faces numerous barriers.

Poland, being one of the largest CO₂ emitters in the EU, is an example of both the opportunities and the difficulties of this transition.
Coal is losing its dominance in Poland

For the first time in history, renewable energy sources (RES) in Poland trumped coal in the national energy mix. This is not a one-off incident, experts say, but a sign of a lasting shift in the country's energy landscape.

"Every day, during daylight hours, we have much more energy from RES than from coal," comments Piotr Czopek, vice president at the Polish Wind Energy Association, emphasising that the country is just entering a new chapter in its energy transition.

Renewable energy, as the cheapest source available today, can become the foundation for the future competitiveness of Polish industry in the European and global arena. Offshore wind energy plays a special role as a sector that is just coming to life.

More than 90% of new renewable energy capacity is now cheaper than fossil fuels, study shows

Europe bets on offshore wind and smart tech to cut energy costs

Poland has significant wind energy potential, especially in Pomerania and the central part of the country. According to the Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA), the installed capacity of wind farms in Poland exceeded 9 GW at the beginning of 2025.

However, the development of onshore wind turbines has been blocked for years by the '10H rule' - a regulation requiring wind turbines to be built no closer than ten times their height from the nearest buildings.

Although a 2023 amendment softened these restrictions and gave the sector a much-needed investment boost, experts warn that further reforms are still necessary to unlock the full potential of wind energy.
Wind from the Baltic is a stable source of energy

"Offshore wind energy? From the point of view of these renewables, it's the most stable source," says Czopek.

"Anyone who has been to the Baltic Sea knows that it always blows properly there."

"This makes this power industry very stable, it produces a lot of energy, on top of that, it is far away from human settlements, so no one is bothered by it. Secondly, the Baltic Sea is a relatively shallow sea, which facilitates investment," he adds.

Piotr Czopek, vice president of the Polish Wind Energy Association. Euronews/Pawel Glogowski

Although no offshore wind farm in Poland is yet fully operational, the first turbines are already standing in the Baltic Sea. Construction by the Baltic Power consortium (Orlen and Canada's Northland Power) aims to create a 1200 MW farm.

Further projects will start next year, and by 2030, Poland plans to reach 6,000 MW of energy from offshore wind farms.

As experts emphasise, this is not only an energy investment – it is also an opportunity for the industry.

"We are at the initial, ascending stage. Already today, many large factories are being built in Poland – in Szczecin, in Gdansk and in other cities," Czopek says. Baltic Towers in Gdansk is just one example of a growing manufacturing base.

Importantly, Poland is attracting not only domestic companies but also global players who are opening production facilities here.

"No one will invest hundreds of millions of euros in Poland if they don't see that they can make money from this business," he emphasises.

Offshore wind energy is also an export opportunity, as turbine components, infrastructure, or design services can go to markets all over the world.

Europe: A race against time and rising costs

At the European level, wind energy is also growing in strength. According to WindEurope, EU countries installed a total of 18 GW of new wind capacity in 2024, mainly in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

However, the EU faces rising component costs, inflation and global competition, above all from China, which dominates turbine production.

Brussels plans to counter these trends through the European Act on Carbon Neutral Industries and strategic raw material partnerships. The aim is to increase Europe's technological and energy independence, especially given the ongoing geopolitical crisis.

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Social challenges are also not insignificant. In many regions – both in Poland and Western Europe – residents are protesting against the construction of wind farms, concerned about noise, landscape aesthetics or the impact on local ecosystems. Social acceptance is playing an increasingly important role, which, as research shows, can be increased through the participation of local communities in investments and a fair distribution of profits.

Wind turbines have become a symbol of a green future and the fight against CO₂ emissions. However, questions are increasingly being asked about how much it really costs to build wind farms and whether their carbon footprint contradicts the idea of 'green energy'?

Millions of euros for clean energy

The construction of a wind farm – whether onshore or offshore – is a financially intensive undertaking. According to WindEurope, the cost of installing one wind turbine on land ranges from €1.2 to €1.6 million for each megawatt of energy-producing capacity.

For offshore or marine farms, the costs are even higher, as much as €3 to €5 million per megawatt.

The total cost includes manufacturing and transporting the turbines, the construction of the foundations, network connections (often tens of kilometres of cables), engineering and maintenance work.

Experts point out that, although wind energy is 'free', the infrastructure needed to generate it involves huge investment and technical costs.

A typical wind turbine requires around 200-300 litres of specialised oil every 1.5-2 years. For offshore farms, the logistics and labour costs can far exceed the price of the lubricant itself.

The industry is now looking for ways to reduce oil consumption or change lubrication technology altogether. Ideas are also emerging for the use of greener bio-liquids.
Poland is at a turning point

On 18-19 November, the largest offshore wind energy conference in Poland, and also the largest in Central and Eastern Europe, will be held in Warsaw.

As the organisers, the Polish Wind Energy Association, point out, the event is intended to bring together investors and supply chain companies.

"It's a space to discuss investments and to do business – because that's what it's all about, to be able to meet and talk about what we can do together," it says.

Poland is at a turning point today. Although only a few years ago coal dominated the domestic energy sector indivisibly, today it is wind, both literally and figuratively, that is blowing in the sails of the transformation.

Renewable energy is not only changing the way we produce electricity. It is also changing the way we think about the future – greener, more competitive and more independent.

 

German Tender for Offshore Wind Without Subsidy Attracts No Bids

Germany was offering two North Sea sites

Published Aug 6, 2025 5:51 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

The German agency that oversees the country’s offshore wind energy development confirmed that there were no bids in the most recent auction. It was Germany’s second auction of the year, but unlike the first, which TotalEngeries won the site, this one failed to receive interest from investors.

Germany was offering two North Sea sites, which combined would have a capacity of 2.5 GW. The country currently has 9.2 GW of offshore wind capacity operational in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, according to BNetzA, with ambitious goals to reach 30 GW by 2030, 40 GW by 2035, and 70 GW by 2045. It added just .7 GW in 2024.

“The auction result must be a wake-up call for the German government,” said Viktoriya Kerelska, Director of Advocacy & Messaging at the trade group WindEurope. “It’s time to amend the auction model so Germany can deliver on its offshore wind targets and industrial competitiveness.”

Analysts note that investors’ mood changed as they face rising costs and challenging supply chains. A few years ago, investors were driving down the level of subsidies, and countries such as Germany and the Netherlands celebrated the first subsidy-free agreements. Now, the major developers are citing the increased risks they face and costs, saying they must have protection. Even in some cases, such as the UK’s Hornsea 4 project, developer Ørsted said the economics had changed to the point that it would not proceed in the current form, even with its government contract.

WindEurope highlights that most countries in Europe have introduced two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfDs) as a revenue stabilization mechanism for offshore wind development. Countries that have not moved forward with this model experienced the same challenges. Denmark in December 2024 also received no bids, and even the UK, which offered CfDs, had an unsuccessful round in September 2023, with the companies saying the support was too low. The current UK government has moved to increase the CfD levels and improve the structure, and it has been receiving stronger interest.

Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katherina Reiche, admitted during a press conference that the results were sending a message. She said it would be “beneficial” for the regulator to look at adjusting the tender going forward.

The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) noted that it has repeatedly called for the introduction of the CfD approach. It says that Germany must also provide long-term power purchase agreements. 

“The result sends a clear message,” said BWO’s managing director, Stefan Thimm. “The German offshore wind market is currently not attractive to investors. The federal government is thus missing the opportunity for significant value creation and employment in Germany and Europe.” 

The authorities reported that under the terms of the tender, the two sites will be re-tendered with a new bid deadline of June 1, 2026. 

UK Opens First Step of Seventh Offshore Wind Solicitation

UK is launching its next round for offshore wind allocation (Orsted)

Published Aug 7, 2025 2:42 PM by The Maritime Executive

The window officially opened today, August 7, for the first phase of AR7, the UK’s next solicitation for renewable energy. This round is viewed as the most consequential in the UK’s energy goals, and the government has taken key steps to support the industry and to create strong interest.

Round 7 begins with a 20-day period for eligible developers to submit their initial applications, which will be assessed in September against the qualifications. The final timing for submitting bids may change based on the current consultation process and potential challenges, but the program anticipates bidding may conclude at the end of October or the latest, by early January 2026. Results will be announced approximately a month after the close of bidding.

The UK highlights that through its Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, it has already delivered more than 10 GW of capacity, which is in operation – the UK has a total of 14.7 GW of offshore wind capacity currently installed, making it the largest in Europe and second only to China. In July, the government highlighted that for the first time, more than 50 percent of the country’s electricity was coming from renewable energy. An additional 23 GW from offshore wind is contracted to become operational by 2030 as the UK moves toward a goal of 50 GW.

Analysts have warned that this round is critical in the UK’s efforts to meet its goals for renewable energy. The UK stumbled in 2023 when round 5 attracted no bidders, and the industry warned that the support mechanisms did not balance the risk. The government of Sir Keir Starmer responded in 2024 and again in 2025, taking steps to increase the support as part of its efforts to accelerate the transition.

The Government has committed a budget of over £544 million ($730 million) to the program to provide long-term support. Among the key steps is lengthening the span of the CfD contracts from 15 to 20 years. They said the longer contracts would provide greater financial certainty for developers. The strike price for both fixed-bottom and floating wind projects was also increased to reflect current market conditions.

“It’s good that the UK is adjusting its AR7 auction parameters to reflect current market conditions,” said Viktoriya Kerelska, Director of Advocacy and Messaging at the trade group WindEurope. “Fit-for-purpose auction design that allows for viable projects is what gets wind farms built. And this is for the benefit of national and European energy security, employment, and competitiveness.”

The results of this round will be closely watched by the industry, especially following yesterday’s news that a German solicitation received no bids. The UK has also faced setbacks despite its efforts to support the industry. Ørsted in May said it had decided to discontinue the Hornsea 4 project in its current form. The company reported that since the Contract for Difference (CfD) award in allocation round 6 (AR6) in September 2024, the 2,400 MW Hornsea 4 project has seen several adverse developments relating to continued increase of supply chain costs, higher interest rates, and an increase in the risk to construct and operate Hornsea 4 on the planned timeline for a project of its scale.

WindEurope has called for the UK to set a long-term schedule for future auctions. It says this would help developers plan and allocate capital. They said it would also increase the confidence of the supply chain companies. Problems in the supply chain and increasing costs have been some of the biggest challenges to the industry’s development.

 

German Divers Begin Testing Retrieval System for Seabed Ordnance

Unexploded German ordnance on the bottom, Kolberger Heide dump site (BMUKN / GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

Published Aug 7, 2025 6:44 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

 

Sponsored by a German government environmental program, a Baltic Sea diving and salvage company has begun an extended trial of new techniques to clean up decaying ammunition from the seabed. Germany has a pressing need to solve the problem because the aging munitions in its coastal waters are beginning to leak into the environment, spreading undesirable toxins that could affect fisheries and enter the human food supply chain. 

The problem began during World War II, when Germany made explosive devices by the millions. All too many were used, but many more outlasted the German defeat. After the war, Germany was forced to disarm, and an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of its grenades, shells, bombs and rockets were dumped into the waters of the Baltic and the North Sea. This was a rapid and cost-effective disposal method, if lacking in environmental controls, and was widely used by other militaries at the time.  

These disposal sites lay dormant for decades, out of sight and out of mind, but are now coming back to haunt German regulators. In the Baltic, where seawater exchange with the open ocean happens only very slowly, concerns about chemical pollution are taken seriously - and these aging explosive devices are now leaking TNT into the water. TNT is considered a possible carcionogen, and animal studies suggest that high levels can cause damage to various organs. In water, it rapidly degrades to trinitrobenzene, an environmentally-persistent compound that can cause liver and nervous system damage in humans. The U.S. NIH classifies trinitrobenzene as "very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects."

To reduce the risk, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) is sponsoring research on cleanup methods in the most heavily-contaminated regions. Its "immediate program" has a federal funding budget of about $115 million, aimed at developing a floating munitions recovery and destruction unit that can do the whole process at sea. Waters of the Bay of Lübeck and Bay of Mecklenburg were picked for initial testing because of the high concentration and the variety of old munitions on the seabed in these dump sites. 

This week, the Baltic Diving and Recovery Company began a trial-scale project to remove 15 tonnes of aging ordnance from the bottom off the coast of Boltenhagen, about 30 nautical miles to the west of Rostock. Working from a dive support barge, dive teams will work round the clock sorting the munitions under water, loading them into transport crates, and getting them back up to the surface with purpose-built elevators for hoisting, according to local media. Some of the ordnance is highly corroded, and much of it is concentrated in piles on the bottom.

After loading on the barge, the ordnance will be taken back to shore and disposed of.  The Boltenhagen trial will cost about $5 million.

"[This trial] is the most ambitious munitions recovery project to date in German marine waters," said Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Environment Minister, Dr. Till Backhaus. "We are demonstrating that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is taking responsibility – technically, ecologically, and politically." 

It is one of several initiatives funded under the program. The German government has also selected Rostock as the home of a new national competence center for munitions recovery, and will be a hub for research on the subject. 

 

Senators Introduce Bill to Clear Barriers to Naval Shipyard Hiring

USS Hampton enters drydock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, March 2025 (USN)

Published Aug 7, 2025 8:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Four senators from New England have introduced a bill that would compel the administration to speed up hiring for production roles at the Navy's four public shipyards, which provide maintenance for the service's nuclear-powered subs and carriers. 

The Trump administration rolled out a comprehensive hiring freeze on its first day in office. Ever since, the public yards have had a hard time onboarding new welders and fitters - personnel whose skills are tough to find and critically needed. 

Blue-collar shipyard positions were supposed to be exempt from the freeze, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth - but that memo does not seem to have gotten through, the senators said in a letter accompanying the bill. One part of the bottleneck may be located at the administration's Office of Personnel Management (OPM), a non-defense HR agency for the federal government, which has reportedly held up new shipyard hires - even though these hirings are approved by the Secretary of the Navy and by Pentagon policy.  

According to the senators, the Navy has a hiring cap of 1,550 civilians per month for all of its operations worldwide, enough to cover 8 percent annualized workforce turnover. This is too little to fill vacant shipyard roles, the senators say: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard alone needs about 50 new people a month to meet maintenance demands. 

“Our shipyard workforce represents an essential component of our national defense and preparedness – they should have never been subjected to this administration’s ill-considered hiring freezes,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). “The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workforce is supposed to be exempt from the hiring freeze, but there continues to be issues with implementation."

The senator's new bill would require the Pentagon to exempt public shipyards from workforce reductions, and it removes hiring limits on shipyard positions. It would make it unlawful to shrink the shipyard payroll for fiscal purposes, banning "workforce reductions related to spending cuts, reprogramming of funds, or the probationary status of employees." The bill's success would require passage by Congress, a signature from the president, and the Pentagon's cooperation. The Navy, which desperately needs better performance out of its submarine maintenance yards, appears to agree with the bill's intent: Vice CNO Adm. Jim Kilby told a Senate committee in March that public shipyard employees were exempt from the hiring freeze. 

"Our bipartisan bill enshrines that [hiring] exemption in federal law and ensures that no public shipyard is subjected to such chaos and uncertainty in the future, allowing them to focus instead on the vital role they play in our national security," said Sen. Shaheen.