‘We did nothing wrong’: Greta Thunberg accuses Israel of kidnapping yacht crew

Swedish activist says ‘12 peaceful volunteers’ did not break laws during attempt to bring symbolic aid shipment to Gaza

Hours after being deported from Israel, Greta Thunberg accused the country of kidnapping her and her fellow activists in international waters, adding that she had refused to sign a document stating that she had entered Israel illegally.

Speaking to reporters at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, the Swedish campaigner stressed that she and others on a Gaza-bound ship intercepted by Israel on Monday had simply been attempting to bring much-needed aid to the war-torn territory.

Continue reading...

Zelenskyy calls for ‘concrete actions’ as Russian strikes hit seven of Kyiv’s 10 districts

Ukraine president criticises lack of response from US and others after one of Moscow’s largest attacks of war on Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced his frustration with Donald Trump by calling for “concrete actions” rather than “silence” after Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Kyiv, with seven of the Ukrainian capital’s 10 districts hit overnight.

A total of 315 drones and seven missiles were launched at Ukrainian targets across the country in the early hours of Tuesday, including Odesa in the south-east. But it was the capital that was the focus of Russia’s ferocious barrage.

Continue reading...

EU calls for lower price cap on Russian oil in move to tighten sanctions

Other measures include greater restrictions on ‘shadow fleet’, banks and Nord Stream investment

The EU executive has called for lowering the price cap on Russian oil as it seeks to tighten energy and financial sanctions against the Kremlin’s ability to wage war.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed that western countries reduce the price at which Russian oil can be sold to $45 (£30) a barrel, down from the current $60.

Continue reading...

EU announces punishing sanctions targeting Russian energy and banks – politico.eu

  1. EU announces punishing sanctions targeting Russian energy and banks  politico.eu
  2. Europe heaps harsh sanctions on Russia, saying ‘strength is the only language’ Moscow understands  CNN
  3. EU Targets Russian Banks, Energy With New Sanctions  Bloomberg
  4. European Union Unveils Fresh Sanctions on Russia, Including a Nord Stream Ban  The New York Times
  5. EU seeks to lower a price cap on Russian oil and discourage Nord Stream pipeline investors  AP News
Posted in Uncategorized

Australian universities hesitate on antisemitism definition amid academic freedom concerns

Peak Jewish groups accuse ANU of making campus ‘unsafe’ after board declines to adopt definition endorsed by Universities Australia

Months after the release of a new definition of antisemitism, a string of Australian universities are yet to adopt it amid concerns it may contravene academic freedom.

The academic board at the Australian National University (ANU) has declined to adopt the definition, paving the way for the university to become the first to reject the policy, while at least 11 other institutions have not yet made a decision.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...