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Iran is demanding financial compensation from Ukraine over a July strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, rejecting Kyiv’s assertion that the ship was hit accidentally and warning that Tehran will pursue reparations if Ukraine refuses to pay.

The dispute centers on a vessel struck last month that Iran insists was carrying civilian cargo. Ukrainian officials, however, have alleged that the ship was transporting Iranian weapons or military components to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine, while President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Tehran of providing Moscow with drone weaponry.

The incident occurred in the Caspian Sea on July 25, when Ukraine initially reported that drones had attacked two Russian vessels carrying “military cargo from Iran.”

Iran subsequently said that one of the vessels was Iranian and maintained that it was a civilian ship transporting iron from Russia to an Iranian port. According to Tehran, one crew member was killed and two others were wounded in the attack.

Iran reacted furiously, branding the strike a “hostile and criminal” act of “terrorism” and summoning Ukraine’s charge d’affaires in Tehran to deliver an official protest. Iranian officials also accused Kyiv of attempting to link the Russia-Ukraine war with the U.S.-Iran confrontation and draw European countries into that conflict.

Zelensky initially defended Ukraine’s actions while expanding his allegations about cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. He charged that Iran was supplying Russia with drone weapons while Russia, in return, was giving Tehran “active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and U.S. military facilities located there.”

“There is a clear correlation between Russia’s satellite imagery ⁠of these sites and Iranian strikes — both before the attacks, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted,” he said.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, also disputed Iran’s description of the vessel as an ordinary commercial ship, claiming it had been transporting drone and missile components from Iran to Russia rather than civilian goods.

Several days after the strike, the New York Times reported on July 28 that Tehran had considered retaliating by firing a ballistic missile at a Ukrainian seaport. The contemplated strike was reportedly designed to “make a symbolic point but cause relatively little damage.”

Diplomatic intervention reportedly persuaded Iran not to proceed with the proposed missile attack, with Tehran being warned that a Ukrainian response could prove considerably more serious than Iranian officials anticipated. Some analysts in Ukraine also cautioned that Kyiv could ill afford to become involved in another confrontation while continuing to battle Russia’s invasion.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later spoke by telephone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who told his Iranian counterpart that the attack on the cargo vessel had been “unintentional.” Sybiha had earlier rejected Araghchi’s allegations against Ukraine on social media, describing them as “Iranian lies.”

The dispute resurfaced on Aug. 10 when Tehran publicly rejected Kyiv’s explanation that the vessel had been struck by mistake and formally demanded compensation for the damage.

“We still believe that we have not been convinced by the Ukrainian side’s claim that this action was unintentional,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

“They must certainly compensate us. Naturally, if they do not compensate us, we will seek compensation ourselves,” he said.

Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, said Wednesday that Kyiv has still not provided compensation for what Tehran continues to describe as an “act of terrorism,” although he indicated that “negotiations” over the matter remain underway.

Jalali also argued that responsibility should extend beyond Ukraine to the Western countries supporting Kyiv.

“Ukraine’s European and American supporters must also accept their responsibility for Kyiv’s actions and hold them accountable,” he added.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband sharply escalated London’s criticism of Israel on Wednesday, demanding that the Israeli government immediately cancel a major housing tender in the E1 area and warning that Britain is preparing a broader package of measures targeting Israeli policies in Yehuda and Shomron.

Miliband’s condemnation came one day after Israel published a tender covering seven residential complexes with a combined 1,234 housing units in E1, located between Yerushalayim and Ma’ale Adumim. The project is part of a larger plan for roughly 3,400 homes in the area that received approval last August.

The British foreign secretary denounced the latest step and called on the Israeli government to rescind the tender and stop moving forward with the broader construction plans.

“This Israeli Government’s publication of a tender for the E1 settlement project is an unacceptable and destructive act. E1 would cut across the heart of Palestine and risks separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem, which would endanger the viability of a two-state solution,” Miliband said in a statement condemning the move.

Miliband maintained that Britain’s objections to construction in E1 have been repeatedly communicated to Israel, while reiterating London’s position that the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel remains necessary for achieving lasting peace.

“The UK has been clear privately and publicly in our opposition to E1 and our support for a two-state solution as the only way to ensure long-term security and peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. All settlements damage that prospect and are a flagrant breach of international law,” he claimed.

According to Miliband, he personally confronted Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar over the decision. Britain also summoned Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to formally protest the tender.

“Today, I made clear to the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that the Israeli Government must halt E1 plans immediately, retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion. In addition, the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires has been summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where we set out the UK’s profound objection to this move by the Netanyahu government and demanded an immediate reversal,” said Miliband.

Miliband went further, signaling that the dispute would not end with diplomatic protests and saying the British government intends to unveil additional steps against Israeli policies in the coming weeks.

“Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution. In the coming weeks we will set out a comprehensive set of measures to respond to Israeli government policies, protect the viability of the Palestinian state, target sanctions at those who participate in illegal settlement expansion and support a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” the UK Foreign Secretary declared.

The E1 project has long been a source of international pressure on Israel. After the broader construction plan was approved last year, approximately 20 countries joined together in a letter opposing development in the area.

David Lammy, who was serving as Britain’s foreign secretary at the time, similarly attacked the project, describing the construction as “a flagrant breach of international law.”

Miliband assumed the post of British foreign secretary last month as part of a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle carried out by newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

His latest criticism of Israeli building in Yehuda and Shomron is consistent with positions he has taken on Israel for more than a decade. As Labour Party leader in 2014, Miliband shifted the party away from its previous approach and adopted a more confrontational posture toward the Israeli government.

During Israel’s 2014 war against Hamas in Gaza, Miliband called the Israeli military campaign “wrong and unjustifiable” and took then-Prime Minister David Cameron to task over Britain’s response to Palestinian civilian casualties.

Later in 2014, Miliband instructed Labour members of Parliament to back a nonbinding motion supporting unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. That decision generated friction between Labour and some Jewish donors and communal organizations.

Miliband also toured a Bedouin site during a visit to the region and criticized the expansion of Israeli communities, calling it “wrong and illegal.”

Despite his repeated criticism of Israeli government policies, Miliband has also taken positions supportive of Israel on several major issues. In the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas massacres, he resisted demands for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, instead supporting temporary humanitarian pauses.

Miliband has additionally identified Hamas as a terrorist organization, characterized rocket fire targeting Israeli communities as “totally unjustified and appalling,” and rejected the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, arguing that BDS undermines prospects for peace.

Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer as Britain’s prime minister, has likewise signaled that his government intends to pursue a tougher policy toward Israel. He apologized for Labour’s initial reaction to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and promised greater British pressure on the Israeli government.

Burnham has said his government would weigh further sanctions against Israeli individuals and organizations while also considering restrictions on trade involving products originating in areas he has characterized as “illegal settlements.”

The British prime minister has stopped short of labeling Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a genocide, saying that question should be determined by international courts rather than politicians. He has simultaneously pledged to continue combating antisemitism and has reiterated his condemnation of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

{Matzav.com}

Nike’s prolonged stock-market collapse has erased approximately $200 billion from the sportswear giant’s value since its 2021 peak, prompting Sen. Ted Cruz to revive his criticism of the company and declare that its politically charged decisions drove away customers like him.

Shares of Nike have sunk to levels not seen in nearly 12 years, extending a years-long decline as the company grapples with weakening sales through its direct-to-consumer business.

Cruz, a Texas Republican, pointed to the staggering drop as vindication of his longstanding criticism of Nike, particularly over controversies involving ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the company’s 2019 decision to cancel the release of a sneaker featuring the Betsy Ross flag.

“Sad & predictable,” Cruz wrote on X, saying Nike’s decision to scrap the shoe was how the company “lost me.”

Cruz said he had been an overwhelmingly loyal Nike customer for most of his life before becoming disillusioned with the brand.

“For my whole life, I wore nearly 100% Nike for athletic wear,” Cruz said. “Kaepernick pissed me off, but when they canceled the Betsy Ross shoe it showed that their marketing plan was ‘America-hate’.

“I went out & bought brand new shoes, shorts, and t-shirts.”

Cruz suggested that many other consumers reached a similar conclusion and abandoned the company as well.

“Turns out I wasn’t the only one,” Cruz continued. “#GoWokeGoBroke.”

Nike shares finished trading Monday, Aug. 17, at $39.09, representing a decline of approximately 78% from their November 2021 monthly closing peak of $169.15.

Market strategist Charlie Bilello has characterized the extraordinary fall as the deepest drawdown Nike has experienced since becoming a publicly traded company.

The company’s troubles have been compounded by weakness in the direct-to-consumer strategy that Nike had spent years positioning as a major source of future growth.

According to Nike’s latest earnings release, Nike Direct revenue declined 7% during the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, while its digital business recorded a steeper 12% drop.

Cruz was one of several prominent conservatives who advocated boycotting Nike in 2019 after the company withdrew its planned Betsy Ross-themed sneaker.

Kaepernick, who had already become a deeply polarizing figure after kneeling during the national anthem to protest what he viewed as police brutality, reportedly objected to the sneaker and encouraged Nike not to move forward with its release.

Critics have argued that Nike’s decision to abandon the shoe following Kaepernick’s objections marked part of a broader shift toward progressive political and social causes that alienated some conservative customers. Those critics now point to the company’s current difficulties as evidence that the strategy carried a significant cost, although Nike’s stock decline has also coincided with substantial business challenges, including its weakening direct-to-consumer operation.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is bracing for increasingly severe heat through the end of the week, with temperatures climbing and heavy to extreme heat stress expected across much of the country. The Israel Meteorological Service has issued a red warning for several areas, while only limited relief is forecast for Shabbos.

On Thursday, skies are expected to become mostly clear after the morning cloud cover dissipates. Temperatures will rise slightly and will be somewhat above seasonal averages, particularly in mountainous and inland regions, while heat stress will intensify across much of the country.

Beginning in the afternoon, northerly winds are forecast to strengthen along the coastal plain. Thursday night is expected to be partly cloudy.

The Israel Meteorological Service issued a red heat warning Thursday morning for the Beit She’an Valley, Kinneret Valley, Jordan Valley, northern and southern portions of the Judean Desert and Dead Sea region, and the northern Arava.

Conditions are expected to become even hotter on Friday. After morning clouds clear, temperatures will rise slightly again throughout much of the country, with unusually hot and dry weather in the mountains and inland areas and hot, humid conditions along the coastal plain.

Heat stress will intensify further on Friday, reaching heavy to extreme levels across most parts of Israel.

Some relief is expected on Shabbos, although conditions will remain very hot. Following the disappearance of morning cloud cover, skies will become mostly clear, with temperatures dipping slightly, primarily in the mountains and inland regions.

Despite the modest drop in temperatures, heavy to extreme heat stress is still expected throughout most of the country on Shabbos.

Forecast highs and lows for Thursday are as follows: Yerushalayim, 64–90°F (18–32°C); Tel Aviv, 75–88°F (24–31°C); Be’er Sheva, 72–93°F (22–34°C); Haifa, 73–88°F (23–31°C); Tiveriah, 72–100°F (22–38°C); Tzefas, 63–93°F (17–34°C); and Eilat, 82–104°F (28–40°C).