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The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
It's time for the UK to recognise Palestine
Time and again, the UK's actions in relation to the Israel-Palestine conflict have come too little, too late. Keir Starmer has an opportunity to act now. Britain must follow France and recognise a state of Palestine while there is still a Palestine to recognise. The position of the United Kingdom has long been that the only acceptable settlement is the two-state solution. Yet we only recognise one of those states. The recognition of Palestine has been Labour policy since I was shadow foreign secretary. It was in the manifesto on which we were elected last year. And immediate recognition is supported by the majority of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which I chair, and which publishes a report into the Israel-Palestine conflict today. When I ask the government when it will happen, they tell me they will recognise at the moment of maximum impact. But we cannot wait forever for a perfect moment that may never come. I can think of many opportunities when recognition might have had a significant effect, had we taken that step. We cannot let another opportunity pass us by. On Monday, the long-awaited French-Saudi conference on the two-state solution will take place in New York. Ahead of it, President Macron has announced that he will recognise a Palestinian state in September. It is no secret that Macron has been pushing the UK government to recognise Palestine alongside the French. He told Parliament as much when he addressed us last week. He is right. A unified move by the signatories to the secret Sykes-Picot agreement which carved up the Middle East more than a century ago would demonstrate our sincere commitment to a two-state solution. The leaders' meeting at the UN in September offers that opportunity. Of course, the most urgent need is for an immediate ceasefire and for UN-administered aid to flood into Gaza. Recognition does not secure peace on its own. But it should be the start of a renewed commitment by Britain to engage with our allies, particularly Gulf and Arab states, to build a plan for a sustainable peace. It would signal that our engagement is sustained and sincere. And it would show the Israeli government that the UK is prepared to take the kind of decisive action promised in the Foreign Secretary's statement alongside 27 allies on Monday. That must include tough and direct action on violent extremist settlers and the companies who facilitate settlements. Their behaviour imperils the two-state solution by taking over the very land which should be Palestinian. My committee's report argues that the UK must extend sanctions against them and prevent the import of settlement goods. The natural reaction of the British public to the scenes of starvation and death in Gaza is to call on their politicians to do something. The challenge for politicians is to ensure that what they do makes a real difference. The recognition of Palestine as part of a renewed commitment by the UK to work with others to build a peace process would be just that. Britain has said it wants to work with France when it comes to the recognition of Palestine. Now that France has said it will recognise in September, is it not fair to expect the government to join them? I, my committee, and the British public will be watching with anticipation. Emily Thornberry is Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Incredible Collection of Pristine McLarens Is Going up for Grabs
Not all car collections are created equal. The late Mansour Ojjeh's personal collection of McLaren supercars is set to be sold by Tom Hartley Jnr. The assortment of 20 vehicles charts the evolution of the marque over the past four decades and includes examples of the finest models to leave Woking, almost all of which are in mint condition. More from Robb Report This $4.5 Million Mexican Abode Is Built Right Into a Cliff Overlooking the Pacific Ocean David Duchovny's Malibu Home and Train Caboose Guest Cottage Sell for $11 Million One of the World's Largest Spirits Companies Is Halting Whiskey Production at Its Irish Distillery How does one build up such a jaw-dropping collection of McLarens? It helps to have been integral to the marque's success, both on and off the track, for decades. The French-Saudi billionaire, who passed away in 2021, took an ownership stake in McLaren Racing in 1984. Shortly after this, Ojjeh, who was also the CEO of the TAG Group, financed the development of the TAG-Porsche engine that helped earn McLaren two Formula 1 constructor's championships and three driver's championships. But Ojjeh wasn't just interested in on-track success. Following the 1988 Italian Grand Prix, he got to talking to McLaren's then-CEO Ron Dennis and the legendary Gordon Murray about developing a road car. Anyone familiar with McLaren knows that this would lead to the creation of the F1, the vehicle that established the blueprint for the modern supercar. Ojjeh was so impressed with the results that he set about selling off his collection of cars, which included a number of Ferraris, and began building a new one made up of McLarens. Of course, these aren't just any old McLaren supercars. Each of the vehicles, from a 1998 F1 to a 2023 Elva, is the last example from its production run. They are almost all finished in a dazzling metallic orange originally called 'Yquem,' after the dessert wine, but which would eventually be renamed to 'Mansour Orange.' The supercars are almost as close to brand new as you're going to find anywhere on the secondary market. All but two of the vehicles remain in 'factory-delivered condition' and have been maintained under direct instruction from McLaren. The two that have been driven include the collection's crown jewel, the F1, which has just over 1,100 miles on the odometer, and a P1 GTR that was used exclusively for McLaren-run track days. Are you already imagining a stunning orange McLaren sitting in your garage? Tom Hartley Jnr hasn't said when it'll begin selling Ojjeh's McLarens, but it figures to be soon. There has also been no word on pricing, but considering that the British classic car dealer recently sold Bernie Ecclestone's collection of grand prix cars for $646 million, those looking for a bargain should probably look of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Outrageous £50m supercar collection for sale after icon's death – including motor that was once fastest in the world
AN OUTRAGEOUS collection of McLaren supercars valued at an estimated £50 million are set to be sold following the death of their owner - a motorsport icon closely tied to the McLaren Formula One team. The fleet of cars, one of the largest McLaren collections in the world, belonged to Mansour Ojjeh, a French-Saudi entrepreneur who was the former owner of TAG Heuer and a major shareholder in the McLaren Group. 5 Mansour Ojjeh's iconic £50m McLaren car collection set to be sold after his passing Credit: 5 Ojjeh's pristine 20-car McLaren collection features the final chassis of each model Credit: 5 The crown jewel of the collection is the final McLaren F1, hailed as the greatest road car ever Credit: 5 McLaren honoured Ojjeh with a unique colour, 'Mansour Orange,' featured across his fleet Credit: 5 Ojjeh (left), shown here in 2006 alongside Ron Dennis, McLaren's former team principal, CEO, and co-owner, played a pivotal role in their success Credit: Getty The businessman spent four decades working in F1 and helped transform the British team into one of the sport's greatest ever in terms of success and standing. He also played a key role in launching their line of road cars, which started with the mythical McLaren F1 in 1992. But Ojjeh passed away at the age of 68 in June 2021, leaving behind his personal collection of 20 pristine McLarens - with all of them said to be the final chassis number of each model. They include iconic machines such as the Speedtail, P1, Senna and, naturally, the F1, considered the collection's 'jewel in the crown'. His family has now decided the time is right for his range of high-performance motors to be sold to a new home, with leading classic car dealer, Tom Hartley Jnr, appointed by the Ojjeh's family to facilitate the sale. While the F1 model has covered just 1,810km and the P1 GTR was used occasionally during McLaren track days, every other car remains unused in factory-delivered condition. They were also maintained under direct instruction by McLaren itself, which is a service no other collector has ever received. Parting with this very personal collection is not easy Kathy Ojjeh, widow of Mansour Ojjeh As reported by Kathy Ojjeh, widow of Mansour Ojjeh, said: 'McLaren meant so much to Mansour. "It was more than business, it was pure passion and it was in that vein that he curated this unique collection of McLaren road cars. 'The 'Last of Legends' car collection is a treasure for our family – a reminder of the hours we witnessed Mansour designing each car to his specifications. The McLaren 765LT - powerful, light and track focused "He had an unusual talent for detail that stuns and impresses, a talent driven by the very passion he nurtured for so many years with McLaren. 'Parting with this very personal collection is not easy, but it is time for it to go to its new custodian, one who truly 'gets it' and will cherish owning and caring for it the way Mansour did.' Hartley Jnr added: 'I'm truly humbled that the Ojjeh family has entrusted my business with the sale of their incredible collection. 'I had the privilege of meeting Mansour on a few occasions, and his attention to detail and appreciation for the finer things in life are clearly reflected in the collection that remains today. 'Offering this collection for sale would be extraordinary in its own right, but the fact that it comes from the home of one of McLaren Automotive's founding figures, a man so instrumental in McLaren's Formula 1 success, makes it truly unrepeatable.' This isn't Hartley Jnr's first rodeo, as earlier this year he sold Bernie Ecclestone's collection of 69 historic Grand Prix and F1 cars for approximately £500m, making it one of the biggest car deals in history. The 41-year-old, who counts billionaires and royalty in his exclusive book of contacts, eventually flogged the cars to Mark Mateschitz, the billionaire co-owner of the Red Bull energy drink firm. He added: 'For me, the highlight of the collection is, of course, the F1. This is the most significant McLaren road car collection ever assembled Tom Hartley Jnr 'It's widely regarded as the greatest road car ever built, and this particular example is the very last one produced. 'It has only just over 1,800km from new and comes directly from Mansour Ojjeh, who, alongside Bruce McLaren and Ron Dennis, was instrumental in shaping the history of the marque. 'I have no doubt this will fetch a world record price for the model when it's sold. 'There are so many other remarkable cars in the collection, each one completely unique and the final example of its model ever built. 'One especially poignant example is the Elva, delivered after Mansour's passing. 'In an extraordinary gesture of respect, McLaren replaced the manufacturer's badges on the front and rear with Mansour's own emblem - a tribute to one of their founders. 'This is the most significant McLaren road car collection ever assembled, and I sincerely hope it is acquired by a single buyer, just as the Ecclestone Grand Prix collection was which we sold earlier this year.' Each car is also notably finished in 'Yquem' – a unique shade likened to orange or Papaya – which McLaren subsequently renamed 'Mansour Orange'. Reports suggest the collection could sell for more than $70m - which is roughly £50m. THE FUTURE'S ORANGE This comes as, back in April, it was revealed McLaren were setting plans to break 62 years of tradition by merging with a luxury EV brand - with an aim to expand its model range beyond supercars. It could see the iconic British marque begin to produce SUVs and other types of vehicles – much like rivals Porsche, Aston Martin and Lamborghini have done in recent years. McLaren Automotive, which is a separate entity from their famous F1 team, was sold to Abu Dhabi investment group CYVN Holdings back in December. But CYVN also backs a number of other brands, including British EV start-up Forseven and Chinese EV maker Nio. Reports suggest they now plan to merge McLaren with Forseven in a radical makeover, enabling McLaren to widen its model range beyond supercars, including the potential introduction of SUVs. McLaren has suffered financial losses in recent years and has engaged in talks with several other carmakers to form partnerships and to secure new funding. However, these talks failed to materialise and brought about negotiations with CYVN. British brands such as Bentley and Aston Martin, and their Italian rivals Ferrari and Lamborghini, have all built SUVs and launched SUV-sized models in recent years. These in turn have helped increase their sales and profits. Porsche, another luxury carmaker famed for its sports cars, infamously produced the Cayenne in 2002 to a mixed reception. However, the high-performance SUV has been a mighty success for the company and ensured their financial stability in the 2000s.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Outrageous £50m supercar collection for sale after icon's death – including motor that was once fastest in the world
AN OUTRAGEOUS collection of McLaren supercars valued at an estimated £50 million are set to be sold following the death of their owner - a motorsport icon closely tied to the McLaren Formula One team. The fleet of cars, one of the largest McLaren collections in the world, belonged to Mansour Ojjeh, a French-Saudi entrepreneur who was the former owner of TAG Heuer and a major shareholder in the McLaren Group. 5 Mansour Ojjeh's iconic £50m McLaren car collection set to be sold after his passing Credit: 5 Ojjeh's pristine 20-car McLaren collection features the final chassis of each model Credit: 5 The crown jewel of the collection is the final McLaren F1, hailed as the greatest road car ever Credit: 5 McLaren honoured Ojjeh with a unique colour, 'Mansour Orange,' featured across his fleet Credit: 5 Ojjeh (left), shown here in 2006 alongside Ron Dennis, McLaren's former team principal, CEO, and co-owner, played a pivotal role in their success Credit: Getty The businessman spent four decades working in F1 and helped transform the British team into one of the sport's greatest ever in terms of success and standing. He also played a key role in launching their line of road cars, which started with the mythical McLaren F1 in 1992. But Ojjeh passed away at the age of 68 in June 2021, leaving behind his personal collection of 20 pristine McLarens - with all of them said to be the final chassis number of each model. They include iconic machines such as the Speedtail, P1, Senna and, naturally, the F1, considered the collection's 'jewel in the crown'. Read more Motors News His family has now decided the time is right for his range of high-performance motors to be sold to a new home, with leading classic car dealer, Tom Hartley Jnr, appointed by the Ojjeh's family to facilitate the sale. While the F1 model has covered just 1,810km and the P1 GTR was used occasionally during McLaren track days, every other car remains unused in factory-delivered condition. They were also maintained under direct instruction by McLaren itself, which is a service no other collector has ever received. Parting with this very personal collection is not easy Kathy Ojjeh, widow of Mansour Ojjeh As reported by Most read in Motors "It was more than business, it was pure passion and it was in that vein that he curated this unique collection of McLaren road cars. 'The 'Last of Legends' car collection is a treasure for our family – a reminder of the hours we witnessed Mansour designing each car to his specifications. The McLaren 765LT - powerful, light and track focused "He had an unusual talent for detail that stuns and impresses, a talent driven by the very passion he nurtured for so many years with McLaren. 'Parting with this very personal collection is not easy, but it is time for it to go to its new custodian, one who truly 'gets it' and will cherish owning and caring for it the way Mansour did.' Hartley Jnr added: 'I'm truly humbled that the Ojjeh family has entrusted my business with the sale of their incredible collection. 'I had the privilege of meeting Mansour on a few occasions, and his attention to detail and appreciation for the finer things in life are clearly reflected in the collection that remains today. 'Offering this collection for sale would be extraordinary in its own right, but the fact that it comes from the home of one of McLaren Automotive's founding figures, a man so instrumental in McLaren's Formula 1 success, makes it truly unrepeatable.' This isn't Hartley Jnr's first rodeo, as earlier this year he sold Bernie Ecclestone's collection of 69 historic Grand Prix and F1 cars for approximately £500m, making it one of the biggest car deals in history. The 41-year-old, who counts billionaires and royalty in his exclusive book of contacts, eventually flogged the cars to Mark Mateschitz, the billionaire co-owner of the Red Bull energy drink firm. He added: 'For me, the highlight of the collection is, of course, the F1. This is the most significant McLaren road car collection ever assembled Tom Hartley Jnr 'It's widely regarded as the greatest road car ever built, and this particular example is the very last one produced. 'It has only just over 1,800km from new and comes directly from Mansour Ojjeh, who, alongside Bruce McLaren and Ron Dennis, was instrumental in shaping the history of the marque. 'I have no doubt this will fetch a world record price for the model when it's sold. 'There are so many other remarkable cars in the collection, each one completely unique and the final example of its model ever built. 'One especially poignant example is the Elva, delivered after Mansour's passing. 'In an extraordinary gesture of respect, McLaren replaced the manufacturer's badges on the front and rear with Mansour's own emblem - a tribute to one of their founders. 'This is the most significant McLaren road car collection ever assembled, and I sincerely hope it is acquired by a single buyer, just as the Ecclestone Grand Prix collection was which we sold earlier this year.' Each car is also notably finished in 'Yquem' – a unique shade likened to orange or Papaya – which McLaren subsequently renamed 'Mansour Orange'. Reports suggest the collection could sell for more than $70m - which is roughly £50m. THE FUTURE'S ORANGE This comes as, back in April, It could see the iconic British marque begin to produce SUVs and other types of vehicles – much like rivals Porsche, Aston Martin and Lamborghini have done in recent years. McLaren Automotive, which is a separate entity from their famous F1 team, was sold to Abu Dhabi investment group CYVN Holdings back in December. But CYVN also backs a number of other brands, including British EV start-up Forseven and Chinese EV maker Nio. Reports suggest they now plan to merge McLaren with Forseven in a radical makeover, enabling McLaren to widen its model range beyond supercars, including the potential introduction of SUVs. McLaren has suffered financial losses in recent years and has engaged in talks with several other carmakers to form partnerships and to secure new funding. However, these talks failed to materialise and brought about negotiations with CYVN. British brands such as Bentley and Aston Martin, and their Italian rivals Ferrari and Lamborghini, have all built SUVs and launched SUV-sized models in recent years. These in turn have helped increase their sales and profits. Porsche, another luxury carmaker famed for its sports cars, infamously produced the Cayenne in 2002 to a mixed reception. However, the high-performance SUV has been a mighty success for the company and ensured their financial stability in the 2000s.
Otago Daily Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Unease over Israel/Iran conflict
Shortly after news broke of Israel's aerial attacks on Iran, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made the cautious understatement they were an "unwelcome development" for the Middle East. He also said the military action between the two countries could be potentially catastrophic for that area and a huge concern for New Zealand. Foreign minister Winston Peters said it was "critical that all actors prioritise de-escalation". He and Mr Luxon saw the best way to regional security as ongoing talks between the United States and Iran. So far, there seems little hope of that. Even at this distance, the ramping up of military action in this fraught area will be adding to everyone's unease about the state of the world, the behaviour of some of the big players involved to date, and fears about what they might do next. Since Friday, the conflict has intensified after retaliation from Iran to the original attacks which Israel had said were intended to target Iran's nuclear programme. There has been considerable speculation about the timing of Israel's action, particularly when there were United States-Iranian nuclear negotiations planned for last weekend. While it was no secret there was increasing tension between Israel and Iran, it had been reported US President Donald Trump was trying to dissuade Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from attacking Iran while the US was continuing these negotiations. The initial attacks were clearly well-planned, with Mr Netanyahu insisting Israel had to attack now because Iran was becoming so close to weaponising its enriched uranium, a "clear and present danger to Israel's very survival". However, there are questions about the reality of this portrayal of the situation and whether it is more likely a cynical ploy by Mr Netanyahu to avert the international community's gaze from the horror of Gaza and shore up his own support at home. As some commentators have pointed out, the war on Gaza has not ended but the international pressure over starvation and civilian deaths, and indeed the media spotlight on it, has been superseded by concern about the implications of the Israel-Iran conflict. Mere hours after the Israeli attack, it was reported food shipments and distribution in Gaza stopped and a French-Saudi summit looking at how to achieve wider recognition for a Palestinian state was postponed indefinitely. The possibility of Israel's action having the perverse effect of garnering domestic support for the unpopular Iran regime, particularly as civilian deaths mount, should not be discounted. The escalation of the conflict has not been a triumph for Mr Trump. On the campaign trail he boasted he would be a peacemaker, quickly solving international crises through his toughness, ability to make deals, and the respect with which he was held by foreign leaders. In his inauguration address he claimed his proudest legacy would be that of a peacemaker and unifier. It is difficult to see any evidence of that, domestically or internationally. The US response to the Israeli attacks was confused, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially describing them as a unilateral action but then Mr Trump later insisting that he knew about the operation in advance, and it somehow coincided with the end of a 60-day ultimatum he had given Iran to make a deal on the nuclear question. Iran regards the US as being complicit in Israel's attack, accusing the US of aiding and enabling it, and therefore sharing in the responsibility of the consequences. The best that can be said about the pronouncements from the players involved in the conflict is they illustrate the adage truth is the first casualty of war. While people living here might take some solace in being thousands of kilometres away from the conflict, we will not be immune to the effects of it. The price of oil has already risen internationally, but the Automobile Association says any effect here from that would not be seen for around a month. The hope will be that the market will stabilise quickly, but presumably that would require some de-escalation of the conflict. In the meantime, we can do little but hold our breath as we watch and wait for some cool and competent heads to prevail to stop the bloodshed.
