Ukraine suffers ‘harsh, sleepless night' as Russian barrage kills 26 people
©Associated Press
Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight in the largest aerial assault since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago, officials said yesterday, amid a renewed Russian push to capture more of its neighbour's land.
Hours after the barrage that killed one person and wounded at least 26 others, including a child, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a 'very important and productive' phone call with US president Donald Trump.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
It's been three years of sleepless nights for Ukrainians
Growing up, many of us were instilled with the importance of getting a good night's sleep. Sleep, as we know, is essential for our overall health. Yet, on the continent of Europe today, a nation has gone without sleep for many years. But amid the restlessness, Ukrainians remain resilient and determined for change. When I unlock my phone, I am met by a home screen filled with apps. Apps for communicating, apps for news, apps for social media, and so on. But when I travelled to Ukraine in April, a new app was added to this cluster. An app for air raid alerts. A lot of our mornings begin with the sound of our wake-up alarms, but across Ukraine, a lot of nights are disturbed by the sounds of air raid alarms on their phones. We might not always adhere to them, but we set the time of our morning alarm. But in Ukraine, Putin's barbarism dictates when the air raid alarms will go off and when Ukrainians are forced to suddenly wake up, for fear of their lives. For years now, Ukrainian children, women and men have been denied a good night's sleep thanks to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified onslaught. I cannot pretend to understand the toll that it must have on any Ukrainian, or their family, but I remain awed by their determination to strive for a better future within the EU amid such toll. President Michael D Higgins with deputy prime minister of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna at Áras An Uachtaráin in 2022. Picture: Maxwell's During my visit to Kyiv in April, I met with the Ukrainian deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna. We met primarily to discuss the progression of Ukraine's path to EU membership. Only two nights before our meeting, the deputy prime minister had spent the night in an underground shelter with her children. There was no guarantee Olha or her children would find their home intact when they came up from the shelter the next morning. But her children nevertheless returned to school and Olha returned to work. Sandbags are stacked against the internal walls and against the windows of the government offices in Kyiv. At home, we use sandbags for flood defences, but in Ukraine, sandbags are used in defence against the Russian invaders. Nevertheless, in those government offices, work on Ukraine's accession to the EU continues apace amid extraordinary challenges. I walked by offices filled with people getting on with their jobs, likely on little sleep given the air raids. Their resilience is inspiring, and we must never fail to recognise it. I sometimes fear images of destruction, of flames emanating from built-up suburbs, of death itself, can become 'normal' viewing on our TV screens and phones. But we must always remember the humanity of these situations and at its most basic human level, Ukraine has now gone without adequate sleep since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. So, what can we do? I had travelled to Ukraine in April along with my counterpart, the deputy foreign minister of Lithuania. Our visit began in Odesa where we opened an underground school shelter co-funded by Ireland, Lithuania and the European Commission. Ireland has co-funded the construction of six such shelters across Ukraine. I am glad we are in a position to fund these shelters, because Ukraine's future is dependent on its young people realising their right to an education. It is shameful, however, that such shelters are a necessity. Ukrainian children should not be receiving their education in underground bomb shelter classrooms without windows. Ireland will continue to champion Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Against the backdrop of Putin's bombs and Putin's drones, along with other extraordinary challenges, Ukraine's government and parliament has persevered with EU-focused reforms. In co-ordination with like-minded EU colleagues, I am examining proposals focused on ensuring Ukraine's negotiations for EU membership are not hindered by needless roadblocks. This is not only the right thing to do, but it is also in our fundamental interest to progress the enlargement of our shared union. If Putin's imperialist ambitions are allowed to be realised in Ukraine, Ireland will not be immune from its consequences, and so we must work with our EU partners to ensure Ukraine's momentum towards EU membership is allowed to progress. When night descends on Ukraine, let us endeavour to give hope to our fellow Europeans, for a brighter dawn within our European family of member states. Thomas Byrne is minister of state for European Affairs and Defence and a Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East
Irish Daily Star
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Star
Elon Musk hints brand-new American Party will take part in 2026 midterm elections
Tech Billionaire Elon Musk has seemingly hinted that his newly formed American Party will take part in the 2026 midterm elections . The Tesla CEO made a nod toward a possible appearance while answering questions regarding the party on X Sunday night. "The way we're going to crack the uniparty system is by using a variant of how Epaminondas shattered the myth of Spartan invincibility at Leuctra," wrote Musk on the social media site. "Extremely concentrated force at a precise location on the battlefield." It was then that someone asked Musk whether the party would appear in 2028 or the midterms. "Next year," the tech mogul replied. Musk's announcement comes one day after the Tesla CEO doubled down on comments about forming a new political party. Read More Related Articles Pilot's final nine words as Air France plane plummeted into Atlantic killing 228 people Read More Related Articles Fresh Donald Trump health fear after huge bruise spotted on hand amid warning The Tesla CEO made a nod toward a possible appearance while answering questions regarding the party on X Sunday night. (Image: The Washington Post via Getty Images) Earlier this week, Musk announced that he planned to form the 'America party', which could result in a White House run at the next election . It comes amid his row with Donald Trump over the president's spending policy bill, which Musk has dubbed as "utterly insane" and "destructive." The tech billionaire has now asked his followers on X whether he should move forward with creating the party and also outlined how its creation could transform the American political system. "Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system," he wrote. Earlier this week, Musk announced that he planned to form the 'America party', which could result in a White House run at the next election. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) He added: 'Should we create the America Party?' Must later described how US politics could be overhauled to make way for the party, saying: "One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts.' "Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people," he added. "By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it," Musk said. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) While sharing the results, which tallied 65.4% in the positive and 34.5% in the negative, Musk announced the official creation of the party. "By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it," Musk said. "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy," he added. "Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom." It comes amid his row with Donald Trump over the president's spending policy bill, which Musk has dubbed as "utterly insane" and "destructive." (Image: AFP via Getty Images) The creation of the party had mixed reviews on the site. "Last time we had a legitimate third party it gave us Bill Clinton. President Trump had to go in and destroy the Reform Party in 2000 to prevent Al Gore from becoming president," one person said. "A third party is nice in theory, but it sets the United States up for failure," they added. "Elon, building a new party isn't the shortcut you think, it's a multi-decade slog," another said. The creation of the party had mixed reviews on the site (Image: AFP via Getty Images) "The Libertarian Party is already on the ballot in all 50 states + DC, something no new party can immediately claim," they added. "Getting ballot access isn't a handful of signatures. Each state has its own nightmare deadlines and signature thresholds, often 5% or more of statewide voter turnout. Georgia, Virginia, New York, Oklahoma, they all have prohibitive laws costing tens of thousands in legal fees and signature-gathering campaigns, but moreover, take multiple election cycles to fulfill."
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Israel to send negotiators to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks
US-led ceasefire efforts in Gaza appeared to gain momentum after nearly 21 months of war, as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel on Sunday will send a negotiating team to talks in Qatar. The statement also asserted that Hamas was seeking 'unacceptable' changes to the proposal. US President Donald Trump has pushed for an agreement and will host Mr Netanyahu at the White House on Monday to discuss a deal. Inside Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 14 Palestinians and another 10 were killed while seeking food aid, hospital officials in the embattled enclave said. And two US aid workers with the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation were injured in an attack at a food distribution site, which the organisation blamed on Hamas, without providing evidence. Weary Palestinians expressed cautious hope after Hamas gave a 'positive' response late Friday to the latest US proposal for a 60-day truce but said further talks were needed on implementation. 'We are tired. Enough starvation, enough closure of crossing points. We want to sleep in calm where we don't hear warplanes or drones or shelling,' said Jamalat Wadi, one of Gaza's hundreds of thousands of displaced people, speaking in Deir al-Balah. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Stoyan Nenov/AP) She squinted in the sun during a summer heat wave of over 30C. Hamas has sought guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Previous negotiations have stalled over Hamas demands of guarantees that further negotiations would lead to the war's end, while Mr Netanyahu has insisted Israel would resume fighting to ensure the militant group's destruction. 'Send a delegation with a full mandate to bring a comprehensive agreement to end the war and bring everyone back. No one must be left behind,' Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, told the weekly rally by relatives and supporters in Tel Aviv. Israeli airstrikes struck tents in the crowded Muwasi area on Gaza's Mediterranean coast, killing seven people including a Palestinian doctor and his three children, according to Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. Four others were killed in the town of Bani Suheila in southern Gaza. Three people were killed in three strikes in Khan Younis. Israel's army did not immediately comment. Separately, eight Palestinians were killed near a GHF aid distribution site in the southern city of Rafah, the hospital said. One Palestinian was killed near another GHF point in Rafah. It was not clear how far the Palestinians were from the sites. GHF denied the killings happened near their sites. The organisation has said no one has been shot at its sites, which are guarded by private contractors and can be accessed only by passing Israeli military positions hundreds of metres away. The army had no immediate comment but has said it fires warning shots as a crowd-control measure and only aims at people when its troops are threatened. Another Palestinian was killed waiting in crowds for aid trucks in eastern Khan Younis, officials at Nasser Hospital said. The United Nations and other international organisations have been bringing in their own supplies of aid since the war began. The incident did not appear to be connected to GHF operations. Much of Gaza's population of over two million now relies on international aid after the war has largely devastated agriculture and other food sources and left many people near famine. Crowds of Palestinians often wait for lorries and unload or loot their contents before they reach their destinations. The lorries must pass through areas under Israeli military control. Israel's military did not immediately comment. The GHF said the two American aid workers were injured on Saturday morning when assailants threw grenades at a distribution site in Khan Younis. The foundation said the injuries were not life-threatening. Israel's military said it evacuated the workers for medical treatment. The GHF, a US- and Israeli-backed initiative meant to bypass the UN, distributes aid from four sites that are surrounded by Israeli troops. Three sites are in Gaza's far south. The UN and other humanitarian groups have rejected the GHF system, saying it allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and is not effective. Israel says Hamas has siphoned off aid delivered by the UN, a claim the UN denies. Hamas has urged Palestinians not to cooperate with the GHF. GHF, registered in Delaware, began distributing food in May to Palestinians, who say Israeli troops open fire almost every day toward crowds on roads heading to the distribution points. Several hundred people have been killed and hundreds more wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry and witnesses. The UN human rights office says it has recorded 613 Palestinians killed within a month in Gaza while trying to obtain aid, most of them while trying to reach GHF sites. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Israel responded with an offensive that has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which is led by medical professionals employed by the Hamas government. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but the UN and other international organisations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties.
