Irish president says sister abducted by Israel on Gaza aid flotilla Ireland’s president has condemned the seizure of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla by Israeli forces, saying her sister was among those taken. Dr Margaret Connolly is one of six Irish citizens abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to organisers. Speaking in London, President Catherine Connolly said: “It’s quite upsetting, and I’m very worried about her, and I’m also very concerned about her colleagues on board.
Irish president says sister 'kidnapped' by Israel on Gaza aid flotilla Ireland’s president has condemned the seizure of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla by Israeli forces, saying her sister was among those taken. Dr Margaret Connolly is one of six Irish citizens abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to organisers. Speaking in London, President Catherine Connolly said: “It’s quite upsetting, and I’m very worried about her, and I’m also very concerned about her colleagues on board.
Washington DC [US], May 18 (ANI): Sharpening his rhetoric over the coverage of the war with Iran, US President Donald Trump on Monday once again lashed out at several US media outlets, particularly The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN over their coverage of the ongoing situation with Iran, accusing them of misrepresenting Tehran's military position amid the escalating situation.
Activists raise alarm over 'flood' of military supplies from India to Israel Submitted by Azad Essa on Wed, 05/13/2026 - 14:39 Activists say six shipments of suspected military-grade steel were making their way to Israel aboard a Swiss vessel MSC Valeria, a containership from the Mediterranean Shipping Company SA of Geneva, prepares to dock at the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone in Mundra, India, on 4 June 2013 (Sam Panthaky/AFP) Off Activists with the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement and No Harbour for Genocide (NHB) are raising the alarm over what they describe as a "flood" of military supplies from India to Israel, after six shipments of suspected military-grade steel were identified on multiple Swiss vessels en route to weapons factories in Israel. The shipments, activists said, amounted to around 806 tonnes of military-grade steel, and could produce up to 17,458 artillery (155mm) shells for the Israeli military. According to the movement, three of the shipments, carried by the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), are currently being held in Italy - two in Gioia Tauro, in the region of Calabria, and one in Cagliari, Sardinia - where authorities are being pressed to conduct an inspection.
New Delhi [India], May 18 (ANI): The US Department of Treasury on Monday said it has agreed to a USD 275 million settlement with Adani Enterprises over the company's potential liability for 32 alleged violations of US sanctions on Iran, Reuters reported. It had earlier been reported by US Media in 2025 that Adani Enterprises allegedly imported Iranian oil products into India despite US sanctions in place.
Tehran [Iran], May 18 (ANI): The United States on Monday reportedly agreed to a temporary waiver on sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports during ongoing negotiations with the Islamic Republic aimed at achieving a complete solution to the West Asia issue, according to Iranian state media outlet Tasnim News Agency.
Iran’s president on Monday defended negotiations with the United States as he acknowledged the economic pressure, fuel shortages and war damage facing the country, pushing back against hardliners who oppose further dialogue.
English Premier League clubs accused of sportswashing Israel's atrocities Four English Premier League clubs have treated pro- Palestinian staff and supporters “in ways that may breach the right to freedom of expression and/ or amount to discrimination”, War on Want said on Monday. In a new report investigating English clubs’ complicity in Israe l’s atrocities, the campaign group named Arsenal, Brighton, Burnley and Everton as clubs who had singled out staff or supporters in this way. Following an investigation into clubs’ corporate ties and sponsorship deals, War on Want said that at least nine out of the 20 clubs in the Premier League are “directly sponsored by companies complicit in Israel’s atrocities”.
Narendra Modi’s austerity appeals reveal how war, energy insecurity and dollar pressures expose the fragility of globalisation The Indian prime minister’s call for sacrifice last week marks a fundamental shift. He urged the country’s 1. 4 billion people to consume less fuel and fertiliser, buy less gold and curb foreign travel as global energy prices surge because of the war in Iran.
US issues 30-day sanction waiver for Russian oil The United States has extended a waiver allowing access to Russian oil , as it moves to ease pressure on global energy supplies following its on Iran and the resulting bloackade on the Strait of Hormouz. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington will issue a 30-day general licence to enable the temporary release of cargoes blocked during recent disruptions. The measure follows an earlier waiver introduced during the Strait of Hormuz blockade amid the US-Israel war on Iran, when supply fears drove up prices.
WASHINGTON -- The US Treasury Department has extended for another 30 days a sanctions waiver allowing at-risk countries to purchase Russian oil shipments at sea, as supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continue to roil global energy markets.
UAE and Israel established fund for joint defence acquisition, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 17:33 The emerging partnership between Israel and the UAE puts the Gulf state at odds with its neighbours A visitor looks through the scope of a sniper rifle during the International Defence Exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, on 20 February 2023 (Ryan Lim/AFP) Off The UAE and Israel have established a fund to jointly acquire and develop new weapons systems, in the latest sign that the war on Iran is bringing the countries closer together, one current and one former US official briefed on the matter told Middle East Eye. The current US official told MEE the two countries would pursue “joint acquisitions” of weapons systems as part of the new defence partnership. The UAE could also fund technological developments in Israeli air defence systems, the person added.
Trump rejects concessions, says 'I’m not open to anything' The US president has struck a harder line on Iran, warning that developments are imminent and dismissing Tehran’s latest response on ending the war. In remarks to The New York Post, Trump said Iran is aware that “what’s going to be happening soon”, signalling rising pressure as tensions continue. The comments follow earlier indications that Washington could consider a long-term pause to Iran’s nuclear programme.
Tehran is said to have made or reiterated some concessions but source in mediator Pakistan appears pessimistic Middle East crisis – live updates Iran has made a new proposal for a deal to definitively end the war in the Middle East, officials in the region said on Monday, though there was no sign of any immediate breakthrough in the stalled peace negotiations. A ceasefire has paused most violence after six weeks of US-Israeli airstrikes and Iranian retaliation, but there has been little progress since Donald Trump said the ceasefire was “on life support” , and reports in Israeli media suggest a resumption of hostilities is imminent. Continue reading...
A reprieve that was to run only until May 16 has reportedly been prolonged to cool soaring energy prices The US has once again extended a sanctions waiver that allows Russian crude and petroleum products already loaded onto tankers to be delivered and sold, Reuters has reported, citing a source familiar with the decision.
Israeli air strike kills child in southern Gaza An Israeli air strike has killed a child in eastern Khan Younis in southern Gaza, after he was wounded in an earlier attack. Doctors at Nasser Hospital confirmed the child died from his injuries after being brought in following the strike.
TEHRAN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran has handed over its newest 14-point proposed plan for ending the war with the United States to mediator Pakistan, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday. Pakistan will convey the plan to the United States, the report said, citing a source close to Iran's negotiating team.
Iran warns unauthorised Strait of Hormuz passage will be 'illegal' Iran has escalated control over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessel passing through the strategic waterway without approval will face consequences. The newly-formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established to oversee the strait, announced the move in a statement published on its official X account, signalling tighter enforcement in one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. The authority said all navigation must now align with directives issued by Iran’s armed forces and state institutions.
Responding to the Dominican Republic assuming the presidency of the 79th World Health Assembly, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said: “As it assumes the presidency of the world’s leading global health forum, President Luis Abinader’s government in the Dominican Republic has the responsibility to demonstrate that its international leadership translates into real guarantees […] The post Dominican Republic: Global leadership in health requires domestic consistency and an end to racial discrimination appeared first on Amnesty International .
