Latest news with #PaulFarrell
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ireland moves to ban Israeli imports, as university severs ties with Israel
Ireland has made moves to become the first European Union country to ban trade with Israeli-occupied territories, while its prestigious university Trinity College has cut all ties with Israel. Its long-held continuing support for the Palestinian people has roots in the country's own history – and these latest measures have crystallised tensions with Israel. Ireland's prestigious Trinity College Dublin said on Wednesday, 4 June that it would cut all ties with Israel in protest at "ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law" – the first first Western university to make such a move. The university's board informed students by email that it had accepted the recommendations of a taskforce to sever "institutional links with the State of Israel, Israeli universities and companies headquartered in Israel". The recommendations would be "enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law," said the email, sent by the board's chairman Paul Farrell and seen by French news agency AFP. The taskforce was set up after part of the university's campus in central Dublin was blockaded by students for five days last year in protest at Israel's actions in Gaza. US slams sanctions by UK, allies on far-right Israeli ministers The university also said that it would "enter into no further mobility agreements with Israeli universities". Foreign Minister Simon Harris told reporters he hoped other EU countries would follow Ireland's lead. Read more on RFI English
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Investigation after fans 'jeer player' at rugby league youth game
Rugby league's governing body is investigating reports of fans heckling a young player as he attempted to take a kick during a junior player for Widnes-based West Bank Bears allegedly was jeered during an under-14 youth cup semi-final against Hull side Myton Farrell, the chairman of the Bears, described the heckling as "disgraceful", but praised the player for "keeping his cool".In a statement, a spokesperson for Myton Warriors said the club would not tolerate poor behaviour. The Rugby Football League (RFL) said it shared "the club's disgust and disappointment". A spokesperson for the RFL said: "We have prioritised touchline behaviour at all levels of the sport as it is so important to create a welcoming and inclusive environment."It is important to stress that this type of incident remains rare in the hundreds of junior and open-age fixtures that take place every weekend."A spokesperson for Myton Warriors said the club was committed to upholding the integrity of the game and ensuring that all participants conducted themselves in a manner consistent with the values of respect, discipline and sportsmanship."Where necessary, appropriate action will be taken against those whose conduct falls below these standards," they club said it would not be making any further comment while investigations were ongoing. Pitch invasion Some spectators are reported to have entered the field of play during the match at the Bears' ground in Widnes on Farrell said it had been "a cracking game" for the most part, but added that he was disappointed with the behaviour of some criticised those who took part in a pitch invasion after the Bears scored a try shortly before the end. "We've never had an incident like this before," he Farrell said the club was taking disciplinary action against those identified as being involved in the "melee" on the pitch, including banning them from the Bank Bears won the game 14-10 and will now play in the British Amateur Rugby League Association national youth cup final. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Roya News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Prestigious Irish university cuts ties with 'Israel' over Gaza war
Ireland's prestigious Trinity College Dublin announced that it will sever all institutional ties with 'Israel' in protest against what it described as 'ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law' during the war on Gaza. The move, announced Wednesday, comes a day after a Swiss university said it was ending partnerships with major 'Israeli' institutions over the same issue. Trinity's board informed students of the decision via email, following recommendations from a task force established in response to a five-day student-led protest last year on campus condemning the war on Gaza. In the letter, Board Chair Paul Farrell said Trinity will cut 'institutional relationships with the State of Israel, Israeli universities, and companies headquartered in Israel.' He added that the suspension will remain in place 'for as long as violations of international and humanitarian law continue.' Dublin had earlier joined South Africa's case against 'Israel' at the International Court of Justice, which accuses 'Israel' of committing genocide in Gaza; allegations which the latter denies. In May, Ireland officially recognized a 'sovereign and independent' Palestinian state. Trinity's decision came just one day after the University of Geneva announced it was ending its partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 'Israel's' most prominent academic institution, amid ongoing campus protests over the Gaza war. In a statement published Tuesday, the University of Geneva said it was discontinuing 'strategic partnerships that do not reflect, in their geography or content, the institution's strategic priorities.' University leadership also voiced concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged the 'Israeli' government 'in particular… to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.' University President Audrey Leuba told Swiss public broadcaster RTS on Tuesday evening that the decision was not political, noting the partnership had been 'inactive for years.' However, she said, 'given the current situation, the university chose to review its strategic partnerships.'
Kuwait Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Irish, Swiss univs cut Zionist links, Norway, Germany keep ties
DUBLIN/OSLO/BERLIN: Ireland's prestigious Trinity College Dublin said on Wednesday that it would cut all links with the Zionist entity in protest at 'ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law'. The university's board informed students by email on Wednesday that it had accepted the recommendations of a taskforce to sever 'institutional links with (the Zionist entity), (Zionist) universities and companies headquartered in (the Zionist entity)'. The recommendations would be 'enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law', said the email sent by the board's chairman Paul Farrell, and seen by AFP. The taskforce was set up after part of the university's campus in central Dublin was blockaded by students for five days last year in protest at the Zionist entity's actions in Gaza. Among the taskforce's recommendations approved by the board were pledges to divest 'from all companies headquartered in (the Zionist entity)' and to 'enter into no future supply contracts with (Zionist) firms' and 'no new commercial relationships with (Zionist) entities'. The university also said that it would 'enter into no further mobility agreements with (Zionist) universities'. Trinity has two current Erasmus+ exchange agreements with Zionist universities: Bar Ilan University, an agreement that ends in July 2026, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which ends in July 2025, the university told AFP in an email. The board also said that the university 'should not submit for approval or agree to participate in any new institutional research agreements involving (Zionist) participation'. It 'should seek to align itself with like-minded universities and bodies in an effort to influence EU policy concerning (the Zionist entity's) participation in such collaborations,' it added. The University of Geneva also announced Wednesday that it has ended its partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem following student protests, saying it no longer reflected the institution's 'strategic priorities'. The Norwegian parliament on Wednesday rejected moves to toughen rules on its sovereign wealth fund investing in companies operating in the occupied West Bank. Lawmakers voted by 88 to 16 against a proposal to order the fund to withdraw from companies 'that contribute to (the Zionist entity's) war crimes and the illegal occupation' of the West Bank. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, fueled by vast revenue from the country's oil and gas exports, is the biggest the world and has nearly $1.65 trillion invested around the globe. The government though is under pressure to use its financial clout to influence Zionist policy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where its settlement policy has been deemed illegal under international law. In a letter signed by about 50 non-governmental organizations, Norway's main union LO called on the Labour government to ensure that the fund's investments were in line with the country's legal obligations. The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories on May 20 urged Oslo to 'fully and unconditionally divest from all entities linked to (the Zionist entity's) unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory'. Francesca Albanese said Norway's fund held $121.5 billion — or 6.9 percent of its total value — in companies 'involved in supporting or enabling egregious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories'. Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said the fund's investments 'do not violate Norway's obligations under international law'. The fund is regulated by a raft of ethical rules and has already divested from 11 companies because of their activities in the occupied West Bank. In May, it withdrew its investment in Paz Retail and Energy, which distributes fuel in Zionist settlements. Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister said on Wednesday that the country would continue arms deliveries to the Zionist entity despite earlier suggesting that these were under review. Johann Wadephul told a heated session in parliament that the Zionist entity, amid its military campaign in Gaza, was under threat from Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Lebanese Hezbollah and Iran, and that 'Germany will continue to support (the Zionist entity), including with weapons deliveries'. Last week, Wadephul said that Germany was assessing 'whether what is happening in Gaza is in line with international law' and that arms sales to the Zionist entity would be evaluated on this basis. This brought criticism from some within Wadephul's own CDU/CSU conservative alliance, who accused him of insufficient support for the Zionist entity. On Thursday, Wadephul will welcome his Zionist counterpart Gideon Saar to Berlin. Wednesday's parliamentary session was briefly disrupted by a protester shouting 'Free Palestine' and 'No to genocide', who was then escorted from the spectators' gallery. Earlier, an MP for the far-left Die Linke party, Cansin Kokturk, was ordered to leave the chamber for wearing a T-shirt with the word 'Palestine' on it.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ireland's top university cuts all ties with Israel after major student protest
Ireland's prestigious Trinity College Dublin said on Wednesday that it would cut all links with Israel in protest at 'ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law'. The university's board informed students by email that it had accepted the recommendations of a taskforce to sever 'institutional links with the State of Israel, Israeli universities and companies headquartered in Israel'. The recommendations would be 'enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law', said the email sent by the board's chairman Paul Farrell. The taskforce was set up after part of the university's campus in central Dublin was blockaded by students for five days last year in protest at Israel's actions in Gaza. Among the taskforce's recommendations approved by the board were pledges to divest 'from all companies headquartered in Israel' and to 'enter into no future supply contracts with Israeli firms' and 'no new commercial relationships with Israeli entities'. The university also said that it would 'enter into no further mobility agreements with Israeli universities'. Trinity has two current Erasmus+ exchange agreements with Israeli universities: Bar Ilan University, an agreement that ends in July 2026, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which ends in July 2025, the university told AFP in an email. The board also said that the university 'should not submit for approval or agree to participate in any new institutional research agreements involving Israeli participation'. It 'should seek to align itself with like-minded universities and bodies in an effort to influence EU policy concerning Israel's participation in such collaborations,' it added. Ireland has been among the most outspoken critics of Israel's response to the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel by Hamas militants that sparked the war in Gaza. Polls since the start of the war have shown overwhelming pro-Palestinian sympathy in Ireland. In May 2024, Dublin joined several other European countries in recognising Palestine as a 'sovereign and independent state'. It then joined South Africa in bringing a case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza - charges angrily denied by Israeli leaders. In December, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar ordered the closure of the country's embassy in Dublin, blaming Ireland's 'extreme anti-Israel policies'. The University of Geneva also announced Wednesday that it has ended its partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem following student protests, saying it no longer reflected the institution's 'strategic priorities'.
