Latest news with #Gallipoli
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Coming up: The Governor General - One Year On - ABC Religion & Ethics
From the papal funeral to Gallipoli and everything in between: Geraldine Doogue speaks with the Governor-General, Sam Mostyn about the highs and lows of her first year in the role. Coming up 6:30pm Sunday 27th July on ABC TV and anytime on ABC iview. Posted 22m ago 22 minutes ago Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 12:19am
UAE Moments
7 days ago
- Politics
- UAE Moments
Everything to Know About the Handala Freedom Flotilla
The Handala, the latest vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set sail on July 13, 2025, from Syracuse, Italy. Its aim: to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza and bring much-needed humanitarian aid to its besieged population. What Is the Freedom Flotilla Coalition? Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a global activist network that was launched in 2010 to end Gaza's decades‑long blockade. The organization uses civilian-led sea missions carrying aid to spotlight the humanitarian crisis and challenge the blockade. Why 'Handala'? The ship is named after Handala, the iconic barefoot Palestinian cartoon character created by Naji al-Ali. He symbolizes defiance, resistance, and the ongoing Palestinian struggle for freedom and the right of return. Route & Timeline The ship departed on July 13 from Syracuse, Sicily and had a stopover in Gallipoli, southern Italy, on July 15. Who's On Board? Around 15 volunteers from diverse backgrounds, including medics, lawyers, journalists, community organizers, and activists, underscore the mission's grassroots and non-governmental nature. Mission Objectives Break the Naval Blockade: Sail directly into Gaza waters in defiance of restrictions since 2007. Deliver Humanitarian Aid: Carry food, medicine, and essential supplies to Gaza's civilians. Raise Global Awareness: Amplify Palestinian voices and reveal the human impact of the siege. Context & Momentum Handala follows June's intercept of the FFC's previous vessel, the Madleen, boarded in international waters while carrying activists, including Greta Thunberg and MEP Rima Hassan. Israeli forces seized the Madleen, citing security concerns, prompting international protests and symbolic activism. The Handala's voyage builds on this legacy of peaceful resistance and solidarity. What's at Stake? The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire: shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and electricity persist, with famine warnings looming . The Handala mission is both a direct challenge to the blockade and a humanitarian lifeline, shining a light on civilian suffering. Possible Outcomes Whether you support the idea of civilian aid missions or not, the Handala Freedom Flotilla is emblematic of non-state actors confronting geopolitical crises, underlining issues of humanitarian access, civilian rights, and international law.
Al Bawaba
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
"Handala" Humanitarian ship departs from Italy toward Gaza amid ongoing blockade
ALBAWABA - A new Freedom Flotilla ship called Handala sailed from the port of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy, on Sunday. It was bringing relief aid and pro-Palestinian activists who want to break Israel's ban on Gaza. The plan comes after more than 21 months of terrible war and a humanitarian crisis in the coastal region. Dozens of people holding Palestinian flags and shouting "Free Palestine" cheered as about 15 activists got on board. The international Freedom Flotilla Coalition organizes and funds the project with gifts from people all over the world. The French leader of the fleet, Claude Léostik, said the mission was a show of international unity with the people of Gaza and a way to bring attention to their pain because they are under lockdown. On July 18, Handala will stop in Gallipoli, which is in the southeast of Italy. There, Gabrielle Catala and Emma Fourreau, two French MPs from the communist "La France Insoumise" party, will join the mission. Catala stressed how important it was to end the blockade and send aid, especially to the children of Gaza. He also said that any attempt to stop the mission would be another breach of international law. Six weeks ago, in June, the Maddalena tried to make a similar trip but was stopped by Israeli troops about 185 km off the coast of Gaza. Twelve protestors were on that ship, including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a European MP who was arrested after the ship was sunk. Humanitarian groups say that since the fighting started on October 7, 2023, over 196,000 Palestinians have been killed or hurt in Gaza. More than 10,000 people are still missing, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes because of what Palestinian leaders call a U.S.-backed murder operation.
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Matt Williams: Owen Farrell could prove a clever pick for the Lions
Before Saturday's match in Adelaide, the only other occasion that Australian and New Zealand players have combined to form a team against the Lions was in 1989. Those players remember it as a spiteful occasion with lots of sledging, fighting, cheap shots and an obvious deep disdain between the groups. The Lions were also involved. The theory behind why there has never been another combined New Zealand/Australian XV in the following 36 years was that the players in the original team detested each other so much that the entire concept was abandoned. READ MORE That 1989 team was named The Anzacs. It is a word that is held sacred in both New Zealand and Australia as it was the acronym for the combined armies that the two nations sent to the first World War. The Anzacs suffered unimaginable losses in the carnage of Gallipoli and the western front. Yet the courage they displayed, which was beyond human imagination, continues to inspire the generations in both countries today. You will notice that this week's combined team of New Zealanders and Australians does not carry that sacred name. The Lions will face the Aunz Invitational XV. While the mob of 1989 produced an iconic encounter, with the Lions prevailing 19-15, it is fair to say that in the week leading up to the game the Anzac spirit was not on display. This match will be played in Adelaide, the City of Churches. The Aunz XV will need to get down on their knees and pray for divine intervention because this edition of the combined southern nations does not contain anywhere near the same talent as the 1989 team. It will also be the Lions' last opportunity to find a solution to their own self-inflicted problems. The original selection of four openside flankers in Josh van der Flier, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan and Henry Pollock has come back to haunt Andy Farrell . Since the opening day of this tour they have struggled to find a quality blindside flanker. Henry Pollock is unlikely to win many lineouts for the Lions. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images Leading into the Brumbies game, Pollock had not won a single lineout, and across all of this season's Champions Cup campaign with Northampton he secured just five lineout catches. Hardly the stats of a lineout guru. We only have to look back to England's opening game of this year's Six Nations in Dublin, when both Ben and Tom Curry, who are openside flankers, were selected. While they played with great skill and courage, the English lineout was negatively impacted. Ireland dominated the tail and launched attacking opportunities that powered an Irish victory. Tadhg Beirne and Ollie Chessum have both played the overwhelming majority of this season as second rows. The Lions have experimented with both at six. As blindside flankers, Beirne and Chessum have been two metres late to the breakdown. The Waratahs third XV won four turnovers at the tackle, compared with a solitary Lions steal. Against the Brumbies and the Waratahs, the Lions back row has not dominated the breakdown. It shows the selection of Pollock may have been politically correct but tactically wrong. I have the greatest respect for Owen Farrell . He is a warrior, a leader and has been an exceptional player for the Lions and England for more than a decade. Last Saturday at the Sydney Football Stadium, as a weak Waratahs team put in an inspiring defensive display, Farrell, in his new Lions tracksuit, was pictured on the stadium's big screen. There was a large section of the Lions contingent who loudly booed when he appeared. This is the same appalling, ignorant behaviour that English supporters inflicted on Farrell during the last World Cup in France. While this bullying is totally against every principle in our game, wrongly or rightly Owen's selection by his father has left both Farrells open to criticism. When a fullback gets injured and is replaced by an outhalf, who is the coach's son, the haters get their opportunity. However, there is a compelling argument as to why Andy Farrell has called Owen into the squad. The foundation of the Lions dominance on this tour has been their scrum. The horrible laws that punish technical scrum infringements with penalties has provided the Lions with a powerful platform. If the Lions select a 6-2 bench in the Test matches – which I believe they will, aiming to obliterate the Wallabies scrum as they did to the Waratahs and the Brumbies – then Owen Farrell becomes the perfect multi-position reserve back. Owen is a world-class goal kicker, outhalf, ball distributing inside centre and is capable of playing fullback. Unlike Marcus Smith, Farrell is a punishing defender who does not miss tackles. Perhaps all of this talk of flanker weakness and 6-2 benches is academic. After the Wallabies disturbingly poor performance against a very unlucky Fiji, they do not appear capable of exploiting any Lions faults. The series-ending injury to Noah Lolesio has exposed the giant problem in Australian rugby that I have been talking about for more than a decade. The lack of talented Australia outhalves is unimaginable. The players who are being considered to wear the Wallaby 10 jersey against the Lions would not get a start in any of the Irish provinces. The only bright spot in an otherwise gloomy few weeks for the Wallabies was that both the Waratahs and Brumbies proved what we already know. Defence wins big matches and both teams tackled their hearts out and pushed the Lions. Joe Schmidt may be forced to consider abandoning any thoughts of running rugby and select a 7-1 bench. Kick high. Chase hard. Smash anything wearing red. Take your penalty shots at goal or maul. Rinse and repeat. The Wallabies can select two complete packs to imitate Springboks rugby. It would be an abomination to the Australian rugby public, but it may be the only path for the Wallabies to have any chance of victory.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Story of Rotorua soldier Captain Roger Dansey brought to life in opera
Dame Gillian Whitehead 2019 Photo: © 2019 National Library Imaging Services, Department of Internal Affairs The true story of Rotorua soldier Captain Roger Dansey is being brought to life in Wellington Opera's performance Mate Ururoa. Written by acclaimed New Zealand composer Dame Gillian Whitehead, it tells the true story of Roger Ingram Te Kepa Dansey, engineer and Māori All Black, who enlisted when Britain declared war on Germany in 1914 and was one of the five hundred strong "Native Contingent". The Opera's title comes from a whakataukī, a proverb that was used by Roger Dansey and his family. 'Kaua e mate wheke me mate ururoa' 'Do not die like an Octopus, die like a Hammerhead shark.' Whitehead wrote the libretto in te reo Māori and English for US-based Māori baritone David Tahere, who plays Roger Dansey. Speaking to Nine to Noon , Whitehead said the opera is the story of an extraordinary man but it also conveyed the history of Māori in battle and how for a longtime there was no possibility of a Māori contingent serving in World War One. "They managed to get this together, [the] contingent goes away and then it all falls apart, because of Roger Dansey's prowess in battle and his ability to save his people by going against the commands. So, it's a possibility also to explore how Māori saw battle, it's the chiefs who led, they didn't lead from behind." David Tahere said the Opera covers Dansey's entire life, up to and beyond his heroism at Gallipoli where he disobeyed orders that would have meant certain death for the men under his command. "He was ordered by his commanding officers to take his contingent and serve as cannon fodder and he said no, and that's what got him court martialled. So. in the Opera there is a moment where his commanding officer asks him what he has to say for what he did and Dansey launches into this, not tirade but defence of why he made those choices and it moves between te reo Māori and English," Tahere said. "He says to his commanding officer 'you lead from behind, we lead from the front and it's a lot easier for you to order people to their deaths as opposed to go to yours. But I would take your men, I would lead them up that mountain, I'm not afraid, but I will not put my men in that position.'" Tahere said his whānau are closely tied to the Dansey whānau not by blood but through many bonds of friendship. "My great Uncle served in Company A, the Company that Dansey was [in command of], so that was what led me to research more of his life and then as I started researching who the current day whānau were, my Auntie knew them quite well, my Uncles worked with them down in Otago and so it was this kind of unpacking lots of familial connections." Whitehead said when bringing an opera to life you start with the text, which was then sent to the Dansey whānau for comment. "If you've got your own text it means you can make easy changes, you don't have to have a World War Three with a librettist." Whitehead said it's right to have the whānau support and many of the whānau will be there for the opening. Director Sara Brodie said the opera was originally supposed to premiere in 2021 at New York's Carnegie Hall - but this was cancelled due to the pandemic. Instead the world premiere will be in Wellington this weekend at Hannah Playhouse, where it will run for three performances from July 11th to 13th. "So many projects have been put aside, are not happening and it's just wonderful to finally bring this story to light and to the stage, and to come together this is the first time we've all been together in the flesh." Brodie said speaking with RNZ's Kathryn Ryan was the first time she, Whitehead and Tahere had all been together in the same room. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
