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The Journal
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
More than 100 NGOs warn 'mass starvation' spreading across Gaza
MORE THAN 100 aid organisations have warned that 'mass starvation' was spreading in Gaza ahead of a visit by a senior US envoy to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and an aid corridor. Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, where more than two million people face severe shortages of food and other essentials after 21 months of conflict. The UN said that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid since the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations in late May – effectively sidelining the existing UN-led system. A statement with 111 signatories, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Save the Children and Oxfam, warned that 'our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away'. The groups called for an immediate negotiated ceasefire, the opening of all land crossings and the free flow of aid through UN-led mechanisms. It came a day after the United States said its envoy Steve Witkoff will head to Europe this week for talks on Gaza and may then visit the Middle East. Israeli activists in Tel Aviv protesting against the war in Gaza and their government's measures around food distribution and the forced displacement of Palestinians Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Witkoff comes with 'a strong hope that we will come forward with another ceasefire as well as a humanitarian corridor for aid to flow, that both sides have in fact agreed to,' State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. Even after Israel began easing a more than two-month aid blockade in late May, Gaza's population is still suffering extreme scarcities. Israel says humanitarian aid is being allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting aid. 'Hope and heartbreak' In their statement, the humanitarian organisations said that warehouses with tonnes of supplies were sitting untouched just outside the territory, and even inside, as they were blocked from accessing or delivering the goods. 'Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions,' the signatories said. Advertisement 'It is not just physical torment, but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage,' they added. 'The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access.' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the 'horror' facing Palestinians in Gaza under Israeli military attack was unprecedented in recent years. The head of Gaza's largest hospital said Tuesday 21 children had died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the past three days. Taoiseach: The death of innocent children is intolerable Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for the war in Gaza to end, describing the images of starving children as 'horrific'. Martin called for a surge in humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza. It comes after Tánaiste Simon Harris was one of 26 signatories to a joint statement on Monday, which calls for an end to the war in Gaza. 'I echo the call by foreign ministers of 28 countries for all hostages to be released, and for a surge in humanitarian aid,' Martin said. 'This war must end and it must end now.' The situation in Gaza is horrific. The suffering of civilians and the death of innocent children is intolerable. I echo the call by Foreign Ministers of 28 countries for all hostages to be released, and for a surge in humanitarian aid. This war must end and it must end now. — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 22, 2025 Israel and Hamas have been engaging in drawn-out negotiations in Doha since July 6 as mediators scramble to end nearly two years of war. But after more than two weeks of back and forth, efforts by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States are at a standstill. – © AFP2025 Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
National Geographic
7 days ago
- National Geographic
Looking for adventure? This untamed island is the Caribbean's best-kept secret
Located 28 miles from St. Maarten, the five-square-mile island of Saba isn't the first place that springs to mind when it comes to adventure travel. Draped in wild greenery from every angle, this volcanic island looks almost vacant from afar. With no traffic lights, no high-rises, no beaches, and no crowds, it remains relatively under the radar as one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Caribbean. However, that same remoteness is exactly what once made Saba both uninviting and intriguing. In 1493, the island caught the eye of Christopher Columbus, who chose not to stop there due to its craggy coast. Ironically, what deterred explorers later drew in outlaws: The island eventually became a favorite hiding place for pirates and smugglers, who found refuge in its steep cliffs and secluded coves. Climb Mount Scenery Seen from both the land and the sea, the dormant volcano of Mount Scenery is the pinnacle of Saba and the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Though there are several trails to follow, the most strenuous is the 1,064 stairs to the summit—certainly not for the faint of heart. Although much of the land remained unused until the 20th century, the gentler slopes were actively farmed up until the 1960s, when construction of the Mount Scenery Trail began. 'My task was carrying cement and water on my father's donkey. Four men and four donkeys. I started in 1969 and completed the steps to the very last in 1970,' recalls local and guide, James 'Crocodile' Johnson. Along the trail, wild flora and fauna hug the path on every side and Giant Taro, or 'elephant ears,' act as shelter from tropical downpours. Near the summit, two narrow paths lead hikers into the heart of the cloud forest, where a cool-mist is welcomed and the area is dense with mahogany trees. There are more than 30 protected diving sites around Saba. Photograph by / Alamy Stock Photo (Top) (Left) and Photograph by D. Holden Bailey / Alamy Stock Photo (Bottom) (Right) Visit the top dive sites The peak of an extinct volcano in the northern Lesser Antilles, Saba is surrounded by sea cliffs and bays which lead to spectacular dive sites. The island is particularly renowned for its pinnacles and seamounts (underwater volcanoes) that rise to within 85 feet of the surface. Here, there's more than 30 protected dive sites just minutes from the harbor and it's also home to the Atlantic Ocean's largest submerged atoll. (This tiny island is the best place to dive in the Caribbean) The ring-shaped reefs are formed by the eruption of seamounts that spill lava and create oceanic islands. Tiny corals then cling to these islands to create the exoskeleton of the reefs. With a thriving biodiversity of whales, sharks, dolphins, turtles, and fish, the Saba Bank National Park was named a national park in 2010. Located at the eastern end of a horseshoe-shaped seamount, the Third Encounter has a maximum depth of 110 feet and is a short excursion to the mysterious Eye of the Needle. Rising to 90 feet below the surface, the pinnacle is home to Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, manta rays, various schools of fish, and a friendly Nassau grouper named Charlie. Saba's famous hot sands and dramatic overhangs can be found at Babylon, where hawksbill turtles and nurse sharks glide gracefully alongside lava flows and sand chutes. A little farther south, the Hot Springs highlight the island's active volcanic origins with an array of marine life and coral-encrusted boulders. The Crispeen Trail takes hikers through Saba's secondary rainforest. Photograph by frans lemmens / Alamy Stock Photo Where to go hiking Solitude can be found across the island of Saba. Waking up to the gentle hum of hundreds of tree frogs daily. Untouched nature at every turn. With its winding streets and mass of greenery, strolling around Saba feels like a hike in and of itself, but there are also a slew of well-maintained hiking trails around the island. The view atop Mount Scenery is breathtaking, with wispy cloud coverage and glimpses of distant civilization, but there are also 20 other well-kept hiking trails for every level of hiker. Starting at the same location in Windwardside as the Mount Scenery hike, the Crispeen Trail passes through Saba's secondary rainforest. You'll spot numerous bird species, insects, and vibrant flora. (Why Puerto Rico should be your next food destination) Challenge your balance along the Ladder Trail—about 800 steps along the coast, this route once served as the main route for transporting goods. Carved into the rock, the steep climb offers sweeping views of the ocean and is a humbling experience. Tranquil pools and roaring waves, the Tidepools Trail is a circus for the senses. The easy trail takes around 25-minutes one way along the shoreline, and is a special way to observe old lava flows and vibrant ecosystems. Where to go snorkeling The untouched seas and volcanic remnants draw in an abundance of marine life to Saba's surrounding reefs. Primarily an island for divers, snorkelers are often ushered toward the shallower reefs (Torrens Point, Tent Reef, and Hole in the Corner) for safety. The Saba Marine Park contains more than 30 dive sites and a few snorkeling sites that are easy to reach. The shallow waters of Wells Bay are alive with a variety of juvenile species and interesting underwater structures. It's actually one of the only places on the island where you can snorkel directly from the shore thanks to its wandering beach that comes and goes, depending on the swell. Another popular snorkel site sits at the northern end of Wells Bay. The protected waters and clear visibility of Torrens Point make great conditions for a shallow dive or more experienced snorkel, with depths ranging from five-to-30 feet. A more common option for visitors is to take a boat tour out to some of the snorkeling sites, with the help of a guide. Sea Saba will ferry guests from the harbor to locations such as Well's Bay/Torrens Point, Cove Bay, and Ladder Bay. (Liquid sunshine: everything you should know about Caribbean rum) Hayley Domin is a British travel journalist and marketing manager in the hospitality industry. A solo travel advocate and founder of Hayley on Hiatus, she shares destination guides and travel tips to inspire independent exploration. Her work has been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Business Insider, AFAR, the New Zealand Herald, and more.
The Journal
27-06-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Padraig Harrington tied for the lead after US Senior Open first round in Colorado
The 42 PADRAIG HARRINGTON SHARES the lead after the first round of the US Senior Open after his opening 67 leaving him at the top alongside Australian Mark Hensby. Harrington, who won this tournament in 2022, finished three-under par at Broadmoor GC in Colorado Springs. Follow the latest US Senior Open leaderboard here A blistering front nine paved the way for Harrington's strong opening round, reaching the turn four-under. He picked up birdies on the par-four 2nd, the par-five 3rd, the par-four 6th, and the par-three 8th. Heading to the 15th, Harrington remained at four-under, but sent his tee shot into the woods on that hole and had to head back to the tee box again. He crucially managed to limit the damage as he drained a 20-foot putt for bogey. and closed out from there for a round of 67. 'You never feel good after you've lost a ball, so your head is a little scrambled,' said Harrington. 'You're just trying to get your head around what you're doing. In general, you're just keeping yourself in position, which I did nicely today.' Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Joint leader Hensby was six-under after the favourable front nine as he registered seven birdies but mixed five bogeys with two birdies on his back nine. Advertisement The leaders are a shot clear of seven players on two-under that include Thomas Bjorn, Stewart Cink, and Stephen Gallacher. Harrington tees off for his second round at 3.13pm today (Irish time) alongside Justin Leonard and Cink. ***** Aldrich Potgieter and Kevin Roy fired course-record 62s at Detroit Golf Club on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the US PGA Tour Rocket Classic. Roy, a 35-year-old American chasing a first PGA Tour title, followed his eagle at the 17th with his eighth birdie of the day to be the first in the clubhouse on 10-under. Less than 10 minutes later South Africa's Potgieter put the finishing touches on a round that also included an eagle and eight birdies. Potgieter and Roy both broke the previous course record of 63 — matched Thursday by Australian Min Woo Lee and Americans Max Greyserman and Mark Hubbard. Seamus Power endured a disappointing opening round of one-over 73, a double-bogey on the par-three 9th proving a real setback as he three-putted from 13 feet. Written by Fintan O'Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Journal
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Dublin will get a new Lord Mayor next week and it's set to be a Fine Gael councillor
DUBLIN COUNCILLORS WILL elect a new Lord Mayor at next week's Council meeting and a Fine Gael councillor is set to take on the role. The Lord Mayor is elected to the office annually by members of Dublin City Council. New Lord Mayors are appointed each June, though elections are sometimes needed at other points of the year. For example, outgoing Lord Mayor Emma Blain was elected on 18 December and succeeded former councillor James Geoghegan, who became a TD for Dublin Bay South in the 2024 General Election. Current Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain At Monday evening's Annual Council meeting, Fine Gael councillor Ray McAdam is set to be elected to succeed his party colleague Emma Blain. If elected, McAdam will become the 358 th Lord Mayor of Dublin. McAdam, who has acted as a Parliamentary Assistant to Paschal Donohoe, is a North Inner City councillor and was first elected in 2009. He has been re-elected at subsequent Local Elections in 2014, 2019 and again in 2024. In addition to the support of his Fine Gael party, McAdam can also rely on the backing of Fianna Fáil, Labour and the Greens. This is because Dublin City councillors from these parties entered into a political agreement last year, which is set to run until 2029. The position of Lord Mayor is set to be rotated among these parties as part of the agreement. Advertisement There are 63 councillors within Dublin City Council and 31 councillors belong to this pact. Fine Gael councillor Ray McAdam Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In a statement to The Journal , McAdam confirmed that he will be nominated by this grouping at Monday's Council meeting. Sinn Féin has nine councillors elected to Dublin City Council and will nominate Councillor Kourtney Kenny as their candidate. Sinn Féin is part of a newly-formed 'Progressive Alliance' which includes the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and independent councillors Pat Dunne, Cieran Perry, and John Lyons. This alliance contains 24 councillors and will support Kenny's bid. Kourtney Kenny Sinn Féin Sinn Féin Kenny has appealed to Green Party and Labour Party councillors to support her candidacy and added: 'Their ongoing support for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in Dublin City Council is both opportunistic and hypocritical. 'They cannot keep speaking out of both sides of their mouths, challenging the government in Leinster House and supporting them on Dublin City Council.' The Lord Mayor presides at meetings of the City Council, signs its records of proceedings and represents the city at public events. They also act as an ambassador for the city both locally and internationally and they usually live in the official residence on Dawson Street, the Mansion House, during their term. The position is a largely ceremonial role and they serve a term of just one year. This was not always the case however and Alfie Byrne was Lord Mayor of Dublin for nine consecutive years from 1931 to 1938. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The 42
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Trawlerman makes all the running to net Gold Cup at Ascot
TRAWLERMAN MADE EVERY yard of the running in the Gold Cup to go one better than last year for John and Thady Gosden in the Royal Ascot highlight. Trawlerman and William Buick on their way to victory. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Second to Kyprios 12 months ago, the Godolphin-owned seven-year-old took full advantage of the dual winner's retirement under an excellently-judged ride from William Buick. Illinois, who had stepped into Kyprios' shoes for Aidan O'Brien, was well placed if good enough, but inside the final furlong Trawlerman (85-40 favourite) began to pull away and ran out an impressive seven-length winner. Dubai Future was third for Saeed bin Suroor in the Godolphin colours. Advertisement More to follow . . .
