New York Mayor-elect confronts Trump over US funding of Gaza genocide
Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s incoming mayor, who drew global attention to his campaign because of his strong stance against Israel’s war on Gaza, directly accused the United States of funding genocide during a meeting with President Donald Trump.
Standing alongside Trump, Mamdani told reporters he had shared with the president “the concern that many New Yorkers have of wanting their tax dollars to go towards the benefit of New Yorkers”, noting the city is “in the ninth consecutive year of more than 100,000 schoolchildren being homeless”.
“I’ve spoken about the Israeli government committing genocide and I’ve spoken about our government funding it,” Mamdani said, adding that the Trump voters he met “were tired of seeing our tax dollars fund endless wars”.
When asked if he agreed Trump worked hard for Middle East peace, Mamdani replied: “I appreciate all efforts towards peace”, but emphasised that “we have to follow through on international human rights. And I know that still today those are being violated.”
Europe’s sole TNT supplier prioritises US-Israel exports over continental defence, Polish MP claims
Europe’s only TNT manufacturer is sending much of its production to the United States for use in Israeli bombs dropped on Gaza, undermining the continent’s ability to defend itself, a Polish politician has said.
Maciej Konieczny raised the issue in parliament, claiming Poland’s Nitro-Chem has contracted to supply half its output to the US until at least 2029.
The left-wing Razem party member told The Guardian newspaper that “Polish TNT is exported entirely abroad and the bombs produced from it fall on the heads of innocent civilians in Gaza and Yemen”.
Poland now lacks sufficient TNT reserves for its own defence, with current stocks lasting only “a month in the event of a war,” Konieczny said, adding there is not enough to supply Ukraine either.
The Polish explosive is allegedly used in 2,000-pound (907kg) MK-84 bombs deployed by Israel. The US has no domestic TNT production and signed a $310m contract in April for 18,000 tonnes from Nitro-Chem through 2029.
G20 leaders highlight Palestine among world’s major conflicts
Palestine has been named as one of four critical global conflicts requiring urgent attention in a declaration adopted by G20 leaders. The statement was approved at the summit in Johannesburg, with South African officials confirming agreement among member nations.
The document emphasises using UN Charter principles to resolve disputes peacefully, singling out Palestine along with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine as regions of significant concern.
