Slovenia imposes arms embargo on Israel
The measure was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob after a government session. Golob said that Slovenia was the first European country to make such a move, STA reported.
Slovenia recognised a Palestinian state in June last year and has since repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and increased aid deliveries to the enclave.
Israel has denounced declarations last week by France, Britain and Canada that they may recognise a Palestinian state, saying that it would reward Hamas for its October 7, 2023 assault on Israeli territory.
Earlier on Thursday U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bid to salvage Gaza truce talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis.
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The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘I have never been an activist': Meet the pensioners risking prison to support Palestine Action
In an interrogation room just after 1am, 68-year-old grandmother-of-seven Marji Mansfield was sat across from counter terrorism officers after being arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in central London. She had suffered days of poor sleep in anticipation of this eventuality. Now, an 'aggressive' man was asking her repeatedly if she sympathised with a terrorist organisation, leading her through an extensive list of questions about her politics and who she knew in Gaza. A few hours earlier, on the afternoon of 5 July, half a dozen officers had handcuffed the pensioner and hauled her off the ground and into a police van, alongside her 73-year-old husband. The couple who once described themselves as small 'c' Conservatives had travelled to the capital up from near Chichester for the protest, declining to tell their children what they were about to do. It was only a day later that their son realised what had happened after he saw her in the news, suspended and flanked by the large group of officers. She had been following the conflict in the Middle East since the Israeli invasion of Gaza in 2014, but only became an active protester after former home secretary Suella Braverman branded peaceful protesters as 'hate marchers' in November 2023. 'I have never been political or an activist. I was just an ordinary, middle-England person,' she says. 'But then I became outraged.' She said she was 'shocked' by the events of 7 October, when Hamas militants broke into Israel and killed around 1,200 people, taking 251 more hostage. 'But the actions that subsequently followed, where entire families are being wiped out, I had to join those urging for a ceasefire now,' she adds. More than 60,000 Palestinians are believed to have been killed since Israel launched its retaliatory aerial and ground offensive in Gaza. Humanitarian organisations have warned that, with not nearly enough aid entering the enclave, the 2.3 million residents of Gaza are now being effectively starved. Sir Keir Starmer this week warned that Britain would recognise the Palestinian state if Israel did not end its 'appalling' war in Gaza. He urged Israel to work towards a ceasefire and a two-state solution. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Sir Keir of 'rewarding Hamas's monstrous terrorism'. Ms Mansfield dismissed Sir Keir's move as 'performative rather than substantial'. Fighting her own battle for Gaza, the pensioner was arrested under Section 12 and 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for holding up a placard that said: 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action'. The charges carry a possible maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. The protest group Palestine Action had just been proscribed as a terrorist organisation, after they claimed responsibility for activists spraying red paint on fighter jets at RAF Brize Norton, making it illegal to support them. It put the group in the same legal ranks as Isis, Al-Qaeda and Hamas, leading critics to accuse the government of heavy-handedness. Ms Mansfield had known it was a possibility she would get arrested, but had no idea how the police would actually react when she and dozens of others held up placards in support of Palestine Action outside the Houses of Parliament. It was the first of what would be weekly protests, all of which resulted in arrests. As the police interview with an exhausted Ms Mansfield drew to a close around 2am, after more than 60 questions had been asked, the counter terrorism officer made one final remark. 'Look, even if you get hundreds of people, thousands of people, we're 30,000 strong,' Ms Mansfield recounts him saying. 'We'll put all our resources, and not just police forces, into arresting and interrogating you.' Then he let the 'traumatised' pensioner go free, hundreds of miles from home. She was not charged with a crime. A total of 385 MPs voted in favour of the unprecedented move to criminalise Palestine Action. Only 26 dissented. Announcing the vote, home secretary Yvette Cooper said that while the right to protest and to free speech form 'the cornerstone of our democracy', Palestine Action was guilty of 'violence and serious criminal damage' that does not constitute 'legitimate protest'. As a result, Palestine Action was proscribed alongside a white supremacist, neo-Nazi organisation called Maniacs Murder Cult and a pro-Kremlin ethno-nationalist organisation which seeks to create a new Russian Imperial State. Critics and human rights activists quickly accused the government of infringing upon people's right to protest after the proscription. In a letter to Ms Cooper, the Network for Police Monitoring said: 'Misusing terrorism legislation in this way against a protest group sets a dangerous precedent, threatens our democratic freedoms, and would be a terrifying blow to our civil liberties.' Several United Nations human rights experts, meanwhile, said criminal damage that does not endanger life was not 'sufficiently serious to qualify as terrorism'. On Wednesday, a judge ruled that Palestine Action would be allowed to challenge the Home Office in court over its proscription, but it could be months until a result. The outrage over the move has increased as more protesters are arrested. Private Eye editor Ian Hislop branded the arrest in Leeds on 19 July of 67-year-old Jon Farley, for holding up a printout of the magazine's front page that questioned the proscription, as 'mind-boggling'. Mr Farley has not been charged. The case was cited by Mr Justice Chamberlain on Wednesday as a reason to allow Palestine Action to fight the proscription. He said it was evidence of the 'chilling effect' the proscription was having 'on those wishing to express legitimate political views'. In total, more than 200 people have been detained since the ban. Not a single person in England and Wales has been charged. The large majority are over 60, according to Tim Crosland, a former government lawyer who now campaigns for Defend Our Juries, an organisation supporting many of the detainees. He says some of the protesters are 'well into their 80s'. The police are aware of these optics. Ms Mansfield claims her male counter terrorism interrogator even asked her at one stage: 'Was this a conspiracy to make the police look bad?' The reality, she says, is simpler: the seriousness of terrorism charges is a significant disincentive to younger protesters at the start of their careers; for pensioners determined to take a stance, it is the perfect opportunity to step up. Robert Lee, 61, another protester arrested on 5 July but not charged, who later went to support demonstrators in Bristol, says he remembers one 83-year-old woman gleefully telling him that police were too afraid to arrest her 'because they are terrified I might die in custody'. But the crowds of pensioner protesters are nonetheless peppered with younger demonstrators, a reality they say nods to the broad spectrum of opposition to the proscription of Palestine Action. For Zara Ali, 18, among the youngest people to have been arrested, her involvement felt especially high stakes. She was already on bail for conspiracy to cause public nuisance after blocking a road in March. She has not been charged. 'I was told to prepare myself for prison,' she says, admitting that she was very 'anxious' when she arrived in Parliament Square for her 19 July protest. 'But at the end of the day, I had it in my mind that this is not about me but about Palestine, and about every single political prisoner who is being held.' The Independent spoke to half a dozen protesters for this piece, all of whom mentioned their 'disgust' with Israel's war on Gaza as the primary motivation for their involvement. Claims that the proscription pointed to a 'dystopian' future in Britain were also commonly cited as key motivation.
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Jinko Tiger solar panel review: best for high output in low light conditions
In this Jinko Tiger review, we take a closer look at one of the best-performing solar panels for UK homes, particularly when it comes to output in low-light conditions. The Jinko Tiger solar panel is a strong contender for anyone looking to cut their energy bills and boost their home's energy independence, especially in the UK's notoriously unpredictable weather. As solar power becomes more popular across the UK, homeowners are increasingly searching for the best solar panels that balance efficiency, cost, and durability. With so many unfamiliar brands and similar specs across the market, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why this review helps you decide if the Jinko Tiger solar panel is right for your home and whether solar panels are truly worth the investment. Many panels now offer similar specifications on paper — comparable power output, 25- to 30-year lifespans, and sleek all-black designs. But with installation often representing the largest part of the overall cost of solar panels, and British weather posing its own set of challenges, the stakes for getting the right system are high. The boom in commercial solar farms has helped push the technology forward. Installation is still the biggest cost, so it pays to invest in long-lasting panels. Fortunately, costs have fallen dramatically over the past two decades, especially as China has scaled up manufacturing and innovation. But fitting panels still involves scaffolding, labor, and additional equipment to connect to your home mains, so it's wise to factor in total system cost, not just the panel price, when choosing the best solar panel installers. Why choose the Jinko Tiger? Price, installed: £1250 per kW Efficiency: 22 per cent Wattage per panel: 440W Type: N-Type Made in: China and Malaysia, US and Vietnam Degradation: 87.40 per cent after 30 years Warranty: 25 years for the product itself, 30 years for the degradation figure Founded in 2006, Jinko Solar has grown into one of the world's largest solar panel manufacturers. It's a Tier-1 producer, meaning it's been established for more than five years, is financially stable, and uses advanced, automated manufacturing techniques. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, offering greater transparency than many of its competitors. It's also invested in solar infrastructure, including a 20% stake in one of the world's largest solar farms in the UAE. Jinko is a member of the Solar Module Super League, a group of seven firms responsible for around half of the world's panel production. This is a useful guide on a company's financial strength, but as a consumer rather than an investor, you may have other priorities. That's why our Jinko Tiger review highlights a few of the panel's standout features: For the Jinko Tiger solar panels themselves, the stats are fairly middle of the road compared to others we have reviewed, but all our featured solar panels have good warranties, power output, efficiency and useable lifespan. But while the Jinko Tiger solar panel doesn't offer the very highest wattage on the market, its balance of efficiency, degradation rate, and price make it a solid choice for UK homes. You can also take confidence in Jinko's scale and track record. If your preferred installer works exclusively with Jinko Tiger solar panels, rest assured you're still getting a dependable, cost-effective product. A bit like flat-screen TVs, intense competition in the solar panel market means prices have dropped while quality has risen. Jinko benefits from this trend, offering panels with great low-light performance, ideal for the UK's overcast climate as well as early morning and evening sunlight. The panels use N-type cells, which degrade more slowly than standard P-type cells, so they maintain output better over time. They're also resistant to salt mist, making them a good choice for coastal homes that need extra protection. The panels weigh in at 22kg, a shade lighter than most, and measure 1.76m by 1.13m. They are 3cm thick. Pros: Strong low-light performance Reliable, well-established manufacturer Solid all-round efficiency and warranty Cons: Jinko Tiger panels deliver reliability and performance with robustness and high energy output in weak light conditions. They're a great choice for customers who want quality, affordability, and performance from one of the best solar manufacturers in the world Edward McKay at fitter Solar4Good How we compiled our guide To compile our list, we spoke to experts on the ground and have broken down the top-performing brands based on real-world value, not just technical specs. We've prioritised long-term performance, value for money, and the reputation of the best solar panel installers in the UK. And if you're wondering if solar panels are worth it for your home, this guide is designed to help you make a smart, informed decision that pays off over time, whether you're upgrading an old array or fitting solar panels for the first time. Most panels are guaranteed for 25 years and offer similar power output, size, efficiency and looks. So we've weighted our judgement towards cost and degradation, which describes how much power the cells will provide after a number of years. The higher the percentage, the better. Much of your decision will also depend on which installer you go with, as many have preferred brands they work with due to bulk purchasing. You'll also see a lot of unfamiliar Chinese names as you do your research, but many of these are Tier-1 manufacturers in clean energy with strong track records in quality and durability. Why trust us
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Hamas releases shocking video of Israeli hostage looking like a concentration camp victim after 664 days in captivity
Hamas has released a horrifying video of an emaciated Israeli hostage after 664 days in captivity - as his devastated family said he only has a few days left to live. Evyatar David's family approved the use of the terrorist organisation's video on Saturday, which shows him bare chested on a dirty mattress inside a tunnel in Gaza. He can be seen writing on a piece of paper on the wall and walking around in the tunnel which is just tall enough for him stand up. The video goes on to accuse Israel of starving not only Palestinians but Israeli hostages as well. The last proof of life from Evyatar, who was taken hostage from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attacks, was back in February. Then Hamas published a video of him and fellow hostage Guy Gilboa Dalal sitting inside a car as they watched other captives being released from Gaza. In a statement today, the David family said: 'We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother, Evyatar David, deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas's tunnels in Gaza - a living skeleton, buried alive. 'Our son has only a few days left to live in his current condition. Hamas is using our son as a live experiment in a vile hunger campaign. 'The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen. He is being starved purely to serve Hamas's propaganda. 'Israel and the international community must oppose Hamas's cruelty and ensure that our Evyatar immediately receives proper nutrition.' The Instagram account 'Bring Evyatar Home' also posted on social media 'The Holocaust must end' as they shared the latest images of him. Meanwhile on Thursday, Islamic Jihad released a hostage video, showing a starved Rom Braslavski crying and begging for his life. Families of Israeli hostages criticised the shocking images of the hostages in Gaza. Speaking at a demonstration against the Israeli government on Saturday, the mother of hostage Matan Angrest said her son was too going through a Holocaust. 'I am the image of failure for the prime minister. I avoided using the word Holocaust until now, because I am a daughter of a Holocaust survivor,' Anat Angrest said. 'My father is going through a second Holocaust through his grandson. We see videos of the Holocaust in colour. 'The 2025 Holocaust is continuing and extending thanks to the Israeli government,' she added. Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, said: 'In recent days, we saw the difficult videos of Rom and Evyatar from captivity. 'Our children are undergoing a Holocaust. Jews are becoming skin and bones because of political survival. 'If we don't free everyone now, they will not survive for much longer,' Zangauker said. She has repeatedly accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of prolonging the war for his own political survival. The Hostage Forum in Israel also released a scathing statement following the images of Evyatar, appealing directly to both the Israeli and American governments. 'Look our loved ones – and us – in the eyes. The danger to their lives is tangible and immediate,' it read. 'The risk of losing those deceased is growing. This is the time for a comprehensive deal and an end to the war. 'No more delays. No more leaving them behind. Stop this nightmare and bring them out of the tunnels and home,' the forum said. Vicky Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, posted the word: 'Holocaust 2025' on X after seeing the video of David. Former hostage, Eliya Cohen, said that seeing the video of Evyatar took him back to the day a terrorist came to him and said: 'There's no more food, no more water, no more anything. 'You'll eat whatever is left of our food, because your people are starving us — so we'll starve you.' 'Don't get me wrong,' Cohen continued: 'I don't have an ounce of compassion for those sons of b******. 'But while we're being shredded in the global media, the people we're trying to target are sitting underground, and 90 percent of the time they're in the kitchen, trading maqluba recipes, dipping hummus.' Opposition Leader Yair Lapid meanwhile asked ministers in Netanyahu's government to 'watch the video of Evyatar before going to bed and try to fall asleep while thinking about Evyatar trying to survive in a tunnel.' Israel's Foreign Ministry said that Evyatar is known for his 'kind soul and musical talent. He dreams of traveling to Asia and studying music production.' US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with families of hostages in Tel Aviv on Saturday, where he stressed that the current plan is to end the war and not expand it. 'A majority of Israelis want the hostages at home, and a majority of Gaza's public wants the return of hostages because they want the rehabilitation of the Strip, Witkoff said. 'There is no victory without bringing everyone home; all of you have become part of my family.'
