Greta Thunberg, once unpopular on Chinese social media, rises in esteem on Gaza

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist once widely criticised on Chinese social media, appears to be receiving a rare wave of support in the country, particularly after her bid to call attention to the Israel-Hamas conflict was stopped by Israeli forces who ended her attempt to sail to Gaza.
The 22-year-old activist, along with 11 others, set sail this month for Gaza hoping to 'break Israel's siege' of the Palestinian territory in a show of solidarity. The boat, carrying aid, was soon intercepted by Israeli forces and taken to Israel, where she was deported back to Europe.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

Malaysians evacuated from Iran land tonight at KLIA

PETALING JAYA: A group of Malaysian nationals evacuated from Iran is scheduled to land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) this evening on Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 at 10.50pm. The evacuees began their journey earlier today on Turkmenistan Airlines flight T5-647, traveling through Bangkok, Thailand, before their final destination in Malaysia. The evacuation operation was orchestrated by Malaysia's Embassy in Tehran, working in collaboration with Malaysian diplomatic missions in both Ashgabat and Bangkok to ensure safe passage for the citizens. Earlier this week on June 19 (Thursday), the Foreign Ministry outlined the evacuation route, which required overland travel from northeastern Tehran toward the border with Turkmenistan, followed by transit through Ashgabat, the Turkmen capital. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announced yesterday the temporary suspension of operations at Malaysia's embassy in Iran, with all diplomatic personnel ordered to return home without delay. Mohamad noted that numerous other nations have implemented similar measures, closing their diplomatic missions in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East related to the Israel-Iran conflict. The evacuation comes as the United States declared its involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict today, announcing military strikes against three Iranian nuclear installations, including the Fordow underground uranium enrichment complex. The conflict, now in its second week, was initiated by Israel through what it termed 'preemptive' air attacks targeting Iranian nuclear sites, missile installations, and military headquarters. Iran has since responded with retaliatory actions against Israel.

New Straits Times

an hour ago

• New Straits Times

Netanyahu congratulates Trump, says US 'unsurpassed' after attack on Iran

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Donald Trump on Sunday for the "bold" US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, calling the attack a historic moment that could lead the Middle East to peace. "Congratulations President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history," Netanyahu said in a video address after Trump announced the US bombing of three Iranian facilities. The attack demonstrated America was "truly unsurpassed," Netanyahu said, thanking Trump for creating a "pivot of history" that will "help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace". "President Trump and I often say, peace through strength. First comes strength, then comes peace," Netanyahu said. He added in a separate statement that the US attacks had been carried out in coordination with Israel and said the promise of destroying Iran's nuclear programme was fulfilled. Earlier, Trump announced on his social media platform that US warplanes had struck Iran's Fordo nuclear enrichment plant, as well as the Natanz and Isfahan facilities. The United States joins key ally Israel's bombing campaign after Trump spent days mulling possible involvement. Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since Israel launched attacks on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies having any such ambition. - AFP

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

Trump says US ‘obliterated' Iran nuclear sites, threatens more

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said US air strikes on Sunday had 'completely and totally obliterated' Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities, and warned of more attacks to come if Tehran does not seek peace. In a televised address to the nation from the White House after the United States joined Israel's air campaign against Tehran, Trump called the US attacks a 'spectacular military success.' Trump had earlier stunned the world by announcing on social media that US aircraft had struck Iran's Fordo nuclear enrichment plant, plus the Natanz and Isfahan facilities. But the fresh US military entanglement comes despite Trump's promises to avoid another 'forever war' in the Middle East -- Iran has vowed to retaliate against US forces in the region if Washington got involved. 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace,' said Trump. 'If they do not, future attacks will be far greater, and a lot easier,' added Trump, who was flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his address on Saturday evening for US audiences. Trump said earlier on his Truth Social site that a 'full payload of BOMBS' was dropped on the underground facility at Fordo, describing it as the 'primary site.' Trump added that 'all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.' 'Heads up' Earlier Saturday there were reports that US B-2 bombers -- which carry so-called 'bunker buster' bombs -- were headed out of the United States across the Pacific. Trump did not say what kind of US planes or munitions were involved. Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordo plant as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked. Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attacks, while the United States also gave key ally Israel a 'heads up' before the strikes, a senior White House official told AFP. Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the strikes, saying that 'America has been truly unsurpassed.' Trump had said on Thursday that he would decide 'within two weeks' whether to join Israel's campaign -- but the decision came far sooner. The US president had also stepped up his rhetoric against Iran in recent days, repeating his insistence that it could never have a nuclear weapon. Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since Israel launched its aerial campaign on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian had warned earlier Saturday of a 'more devastating' retaliation should Israel's nine-day bombing campaign continue, saying the Islamic republic would not halt its nuclear program 'under any circumstances.' On Saturday, Israel said it had attacked Isfahan for a second time, with the UN nuclear watchdog reporting that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop had been hit. Iran's Revolutionary Guard meanwhile announced early Sunday that 'suicide drones' had been launched against 'strategic targets' across Israel. Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb, and on Saturday Pezeshkian said its right to pursue a civilian nuclear program 'cannot be taken away... by threats or war.' Huthi threat Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Istanbul on Saturday for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the conflict. Top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany had met Araghchi in Geneva on Friday and urged him to resume nuclear talks with the United States that had been derailed by the war. Iran's Huthi allies in Yemen on Saturday threatened to resume their attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, despite a recent ceasefire agreement. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Friday that, based on its sources and media reports, at least 657 people had been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians. Iran's health ministry on Saturday gave a toll of more than 400 people killed in the Israeli strikes. Iran's retaliatory strikes have killed at least 25 people in Israel, according to official figures. Leading US Democrat Hakeem Jeffries said Trump risked US 'entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East,' while the Israeli army raised its alert level, permitting only essential activities until further notice.