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Thursday, July 31, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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https://nordictimes.com/world/israel-hezbollah-conflict-intensifies/

World

Israel-Hezbollah conflict intensifies

Published 26 August 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Images from Sunday's attacks.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) reports that it has launched what it describes as a “pre-emptive” strike against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon – while the Shiite militia group says it has fired more than 320 projectiles into Israel.

Hezbollah confirms it has attacked Israeli targets with hundreds of drones, missiles and rockets in what it says is an act of revenge and a response to the “brutal Zionist aggression” and the killing of senior Hezbollah official Fuad Shuk by Israel in early July.

The group says the “first phase” of the attack is over, but that “the military operation will take time to complete”.

On Sunday morning, Israel also bombed a large number of targets in Lebanon – targets allegedly linked to Shiite militia activity.

“The IDF discovered that the terrorist organization Hezbollah was preparing to fire rockets and missiles at Israel and in response to those threats, the IDF is striking terror in Lebanon”, it said in a statement.

State of emergency in Israel

Israel claims to have destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon, and that about a hundred fighter jets took part in the attacks.

“Most of these launchers were aimed at northern Israel and some at central Israel. More than 40 launching sites in Lebanon were hit during the attacks”, the IDF added.

Israel’s much-criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also called an emergency meeting of the security cabinet, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has declared a two-day state of emergency – a move that gives Israeli authorities greater powers and decision-making authority during the period

Fears of major war

The Israeli military is also urging the people in southern Lebanon to leave their homes: “You are in danger. We are attacking and eliminating threats from Hezbollah”, it says.

Many observers are concerned that the already tense situation is escalating, and many fear that a major regional war involving more actors may now be imminent.

Hezbollah and Israel have been carrying out attacks of varying magnitude against each other for many years, but when Israel invaded Gaza, the militia group decided to significantly increase its attacks in what was described as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/trump-no-trade-deal-if-canada-recognizes-palestine/

World

Trump: No trade deal if Canada recognizes Palestine

Donald Trump's USA

Published today 15:25
– By Editorial Staff
Is Donald Trump's loyalty to the state of Israel beginning to affect the US negotiations on the country's trade agreements with other nations? NOTE: The image is an archive photo.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

US President Donald Trump threatens to halt a trade deal with Canada if the country recognizes Palestine. The statement comes after Canada’s Prime Minister confirmed plans for recognition at the UN General Assembly this coming September.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that the country plans to recognize Palestine as an independent state when the UN General Assembly convenes in September.

Carney highlighted humanitarian arguments and argued that prospects for a two-state solution have disappeared, which other countries – including France and the United Kingdom – have also expressed during the summer.

However, the recognition is conditional and dependent on reforms within the Palestinian Authority as well as promised general elections in 2026 – elections in which Hamas would not be allowed to participate.

Donald Trump reacted immediately and wrote on his Truth Social platform that Canada’s intended recognition would have serious consequences for relations between the countries.

– That will make it very hard for us to make a trade deal with them, Trump declared shortly after Canada’s announcement.

Shaky relations between US and Canada

Trump has previously threatened to impose 35 percent tariffs on Canadian goods from August 1, something that has already caused concern in trade relations between the neighboring countries.

According to American sources, Trump’s move aims to increase pressure on Canada to refrain from recognizing Palestine. The goal is also to defend US trade policy and geopolitical interests at a time of increased tensions surrounding Israel and the war in Gaza.

Mark Carney, (LPC), Canada’s Prime Minister. Photo: World Economic Forum/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The trade relationship between the US and Canada is among the world’s largest and has historically been very close, but over the past year several major conflicts regarding tariffs, energy and climate regulations have strained cooperation.

Analysts believe that an American trade halt or high tariffs could have significant economic consequences for Canada’s export industry.

It remains unclear how far the Trump administration is prepared to go, or whether Canada will stick to its planned recognition ahead of the UN meeting in September.

The situation is expected to be closely watched by both other allied countries and international organizations in the coming weeks.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/democrats-push-trump-for-full-transparency-on-epstein-probe/

World

Democrats push Trump for full transparency on Epstein probe

The Epstein case

Published today 14:04
– By Editorial Staff
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) is now attempting to use the "rule of five" law to compel the US Department of Justice to release the Epstein investigation.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Democrats want to force the US Department of Justice to release the entire Epstein investigation. Through a rarely used law, they hope to obtain the material that Donald Trump previously promised to publish – but which he is now accused of withholding.

During Trump’s election campaign, he was clear that he wanted to release the convicted sex offender’s “black book” with names of clients who, among other things, flew on the scandal-ridden “Lolita Express” to a private island in the Caribbean – where there is testimony regarding sex trafficking of young women and girls.

Furthermore, Trump also said he wanted to release classified documents regarding the Epstein investigation that have not been published to the public.

In May this year, in connection with an internal investigation, the US Department of Justice announced that they would not release the documents, citing that the material contains child pornography and other sensitive information.

The investigation also claims that no black book with customers was found or that Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed clients.

Accused of cover-up

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Trump’s name allegedly appears multiple times, and the Department of Justice is said to have informed Trump about this. Trump subsequently supported the decision not to release the investigation, which led to sharp criticism from certain voters and political commentators.

American political commentator Nick Fuentes has also accused the Trump administration of covering up the Epstein investigation. Following the criticism, Trump chose to release certain documents regarding the investigation, but a large portion of the material remains classified.

Broken his promise

Now the Democrats want to force the US Department of Justice to release the documents regarding the investigation, reports CBS News. They plan to do this by using a law called the “rule of five”.

— The situation with the Epstein files is very simple – Donald Trump promised transparency and he has broken that promise, says minority leader Chuck Schumer at a press conference. As a candidate, Trump said on many occasions he would release the Epstein files if elected, and yet he has refused to do so.

In brief, the law makes it possible to force federal agencies to release documents if five members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs request it. The law, which was enacted in 1928, is used very rarely and therefore it is difficult to predict whether it will hold up in court.

Chuck Schumer said the request covers “all documents, files, evidence or other materials in the possession of the Department of Justice or the FBI related to the case of United States v. Jeffrey Epstein” but also that “the private information of any victims is protected”.

Despite Trump’s previous promises and the Democrats’ intensified demands, it remains unclear whether the entire investigation will ever become fully public, or whether legal and confidentiality barriers will set limits on what the public gets to know.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/reports-18500-children-have-been-killed-in-gaza/

World

Reports: 18,500 children have been killed in Gaza

The genocide in Gaza

Published today 11:46
– By Editorial Staff
A child who was injured in connection with Israel's warfare in Gaza.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

According to recent figures, a total of approximately 18,500 children have been killed in Gaza since the war began. The Washington Post has now published all their names.

Since the war began in October 2023, over 60,000 Palestinians have been reported dead and more than 145,000 injured. The figures include both civilians and combatants and are considered to be significantly underestimated, according to public health analysts and doctors.

According to them, Israel’s attacks on health and medical infrastructure have made reliable data collection nearly impossible.

Of these, 18,500 are children, according to a name list published by Gaza’s health department in mid-July. The Washington Post has now published the names of all the children who were killed.

“The ministry’s list of names is the only official record of the dead. Children fill page after page”, the newspaper writes.

Infants among the killed

The list includes children of all ages – over 900 of them did not live to see their first birthday. Among them Houriya Amran, Samir Tamraz and Anas Ashour.

Three-year-old Reem Badwan is also on the list, who was killed together with her five-year-old older brother Tariq in November 2023. Images of their grandfather holding her lifeless body, kissing her eyes and calling her “soul of my soul”, have spread around the world.

Cannot be justified

Gaza’s health department is controlled by Hamas and its figures are therefore regularly questioned. But medical personnel work within the department, and in previous conflicts their numbers have often been close to independent assessments.

Other and more independent data is not available – Israel does not allow international experts or foreign journalists to enter.

Israel states that it tries to avoid civilian casualties but that Hamas operations in civilian areas justify attacks on homes, schools, hospitals and refugee camps.

The UN, human rights organizations and several European governments argue, however, that Hamas presence cannot justify the extensive destruction and civilian casualties.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/powerful-earthquake-triggers-tsunami-warnings-across-four-continents/

World

Powerful earthquake triggers tsunami warnings across four continents

Published yesterday 9:48
– By Editorial Staff
The tsunami reaches several coastlines, including Severo-Kurilsk on Paramushir Island in Russia's Kuril Islands chain. The image on the right has been released by Russian authorities.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s eastern coast has led to tsunami warnings in over twenty countries. Waves exceeding four meters have already reached several coastal areas and millions of people have been ordered to evacuate beach areas.

The powerful earthquake occurred on July 30, 2025, off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s far east and is the strongest since the Tōhoku earthquake in 2011. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter was located 136 kilometers east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Tsunami warnings have been issued for the USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan and China. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned that “a tsunami with significant widespread inundation is expected”.

First waves reach Hawaii and Japan

The first tsunami waves have already reached Hawaii, where waves exceeding 1.5 meters have been reported at Kahului on the island of Maui. Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged residents to immediately evacuate coastal areas.

— It is, again, not just a 3-foot wave. It is a forceful wall of water, Green said during a press conference.

In Japan, the first waves measuring 30 centimeters in height have reached the northernmost island of Hokkaido. The country’s meteorological institute has warned of waves up to three meters along Japan’s eastern coast and urged over 1.9 million people to seek safer areas.

Extensive damage in Russia

In Russia, the earthquake has caused extensive damage in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, home to 181,000 people. According to Russian news media, many rushed out onto the streets without shoes and outerwear when the earthquake struck. A kindergarten collapsed and the power grid was damaged.

Tsunami waves measuring 3-4 meters in height have been recorded in the Yelizovo district on Kamchatka. The small port town of Severo-Kurilsk on the Kuril Islands was completely flooded and 2,000 residents were evacuated. Video footage shows water rushing between buildings, carrying boats and containers.

Warnings stretch across the Pacific

Tsunami warnings now cover large parts of the Pacific coast. In the USA, the highest warning level applies to Hawaii, parts of Alaska and northern California. Less severe advisories have been issued for the rest of the American west coast and parts of British Columbia in Canada.

Waves of 1-3 meters are expected to reach Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica. Mexico’s navy has warned of waves up to one meter along the Pacific coast and urged people to stay away from beaches.

The Philippines, where authorities have warned of tsunami waves smaller than one meter, and New Zealand have also issued warnings about “strong and unusual currents”.

Robert Weis, tsunami expert at Virginia Tech, stated that the event should be taken seriously: “It’s right to be concerned about this event”.

The earthquake, which USGS has classified with a rare red warning level, could become one of the strongest ever measured and is estimated to potentially cause billions of dollars in damage.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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