1 day ago
Veteran actor, singer, and stage star Illy Gorlizki, a defining figure in Israeli culture for more than seven decades, has died at 91.
Israeli actor, singer and theater figure Illy Gorlizki, one of the most recognizable figures in Israeli culture across generations, died at the age of 91, his partner and leading cultural institutions said on Monday.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1935, Gorlizki spent more than seven decades working in theater, film, television and Israeli music, taking part in some of the formative moments of Israeli popular culture.
Gorlizki began his theater career as a teenager. At 17, he was accepted to the drama school affiliated with the Ohel Theater and simultaneously began appearing in small roles. During his military service, he joined the Central Command entertainment troupe, where he sang and performed alongside several young talents who would later become pillars of Israeli entertainment.
He secured his place in Israel's cultural pantheon in 1964, when he starred as Shlomo in the celebrated musical King Solomon and Shalmai the Shoemaker alongside Yona Atari. The musical, based on a play by Sami Gronemann, translated and adapted by Nathan Alterman with music by Sasha Argov, became a huge success and was performed about 1,000 times.
#israeli #theater #illy #decades
Israeli actor, singer and theater figure Illy Gorlizki, one of the most recognizable figures in Israeli culture across generations, died at the age of 91, his partner and leading cultural institutions said on Monday.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1935, Gorlizki spent more than seven decades working in theater, film, television and Israeli music, taking part in some of the formative moments of Israeli popular culture.
Gorlizki began his theater career as a teenager. At 17, he was accepted to the drama school affiliated with the Ohel Theater and simultaneously began appearing in small roles. During his military service, he joined the Central Command entertainment troupe, where he sang and performed alongside several young talents who would later become pillars of Israeli entertainment.
He secured his place in Israel's cultural pantheon in 1964, when he starred as Shlomo in the celebrated musical King Solomon and Shalmai the Shoemaker alongside Yona Atari. The musical, based on a play by Sami Gronemann, translated and adapted by Nathan Alterman with music by Sasha Argov, became a huge success and was performed about 1,000 times.
#israeli #theater #illy #decades
2 days ago
By Alexander Cornwell and Maayan Lubell
JERUSALEM, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The flydubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain in a suspected attempt to crash the plane has told UAE interrogators he planned the attack before he was hired by the Dubai state-owned airline, according to two Israeli officials with knowledge of the probe.
A third source briefed on the UAE probe said the co-pilot, an Omani national, had planned to crash last Wednesday's flight into Ben-Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. He had also operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier this year and intended to hijack and crash the plane then, but opted not to, the source added.
It was not immediately clear why the co-pilot changed his mind on that previous flight, although the co-pilot is thought to have known someone onboard, the source said.
All of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation. UAE and Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did flydubai.
#pilot #crash #flight #planned
JERUSALEM, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The flydubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain in a suspected attempt to crash the plane has told UAE interrogators he planned the attack before he was hired by the Dubai state-owned airline, according to two Israeli officials with knowledge of the probe.
A third source briefed on the UAE probe said the co-pilot, an Omani national, had planned to crash last Wednesday's flight into Ben-Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. He had also operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier this year and intended to hijack and crash the plane then, but opted not to, the source added.
It was not immediately clear why the co-pilot changed his mind on that previous flight, although the co-pilot is thought to have known someone onboard, the source said.
All of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation. UAE and Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did flydubai.
#pilot #crash #flight #planned
3 days ago
October 4, 2026 / 7:08 AM EDT / CBS News
The FlyDubai alleged attempted hijacking was likely a lone-wolf attack, an early investigation by Israel shows, according to people familiar with the matter.
The investigation is still in full swing and all avenues are still being explored, the people familiar told CBS News.
The flight Wednesday from Dubai to Tel Aviv was approaching Israel when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the flight captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passengers on board the plane and the flight captain have said.
The captain was able to fight off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the **** pit door. A group of Israeli passengers and FlyDubai staff then overpowered the co-pilot, and two off-duty pilots who were on the flight managed to gain control of the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
#Israel
The FlyDubai alleged attempted hijacking was likely a lone-wolf attack, an early investigation by Israel shows, according to people familiar with the matter.
The investigation is still in full swing and all avenues are still being explored, the people familiar told CBS News.
The flight Wednesday from Dubai to Tel Aviv was approaching Israel when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the flight captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passengers on board the plane and the flight captain have said.
The captain was able to fight off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the **** pit door. A group of Israeli passengers and FlyDubai staff then overpowered the co-pilot, and two off-duty pilots who were on the flight managed to gain control of the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
#Israel
4 days ago
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the US government will send a one-time $90 payment to more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, to help offset the cost of their monthly medical insurance premiums.
Trump said on social media late on Friday the payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he said was given $2 billion by Congress to improve the Medicare fee-for-service program.
The announcement is the latest in a series of financial promises the Republican leader has made to voters heading into the November midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
Trump's Republican Party currently has a narrow majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives but his approval rating has been low over his handling of the high cost of living for Americans during the US-Israeli war on Iran that has spiked oil and gas prices.
#americans #insurance #program #singh
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the US government will send a one-time $90 payment to more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, to help offset the cost of their monthly medical insurance premiums.
Trump said on social media late on Friday the payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he said was given $2 billion by Congress to improve the Medicare fee-for-service program.
The announcement is the latest in a series of financial promises the Republican leader has made to voters heading into the November midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
Trump's Republican Party currently has a narrow majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives but his approval rating has been low over his handling of the high cost of living for Americans during the US-Israeli war on Iran that has spiked oil and gas prices.
#americans #insurance #program #singh
4 days ago
Updated on: October 2, 2026 / 9:51 PM EDT / CBS News
Days after a FlyDubai co-pilot made a violent attempt to crash the passenger aircraft and was subdued by passengers and other crew members, questions about his motive continued to swirl.
The flight Wednesday from Dubai to Tel Aviv was approaching Israel when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the flight captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. The captain was able to fight off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the ***** pit door. Passengers then overpowered the co-pilot, and two off-duty pilots who were on the flight managed to gain control of the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
There were 174 people on board the plane. No passengers were seriously injured in the incident. The pilot sustained stab wounds in the attack. Saudi authorities said two crew members were hospitalized with unspecified injuries, and the co-pilot remained in custody on Thursday.
The co-pilot of the flight has not yet been publicly identified, although multiple sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News on Friday that his name is Hamam al Hamami.
#aircraft
Days after a FlyDubai co-pilot made a violent attempt to crash the passenger aircraft and was subdued by passengers and other crew members, questions about his motive continued to swirl.
The flight Wednesday from Dubai to Tel Aviv was approaching Israel when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the flight captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. The captain was able to fight off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the ***** pit door. Passengers then overpowered the co-pilot, and two off-duty pilots who were on the flight managed to gain control of the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
There were 174 people on board the plane. No passengers were seriously injured in the incident. The pilot sustained stab wounds in the attack. Saudi authorities said two crew members were hospitalized with unspecified injuries, and the co-pilot remained in custody on Thursday.
The co-pilot of the flight has not yet been publicly identified, although multiple sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News on Friday that his name is Hamam al Hamami.
#aircraft
5 days ago
JERUSALEM (AP) — A dentist and other passengers wrestled with a violent copilot. A plumber seized the controls as the plane plunged towards the desert. And the captain, despite being stabbed, managed to open the ***** pit door — helping save all 182 people aboard the Israel-bound flight.
"Hollywood isn't creative enough to come up with stories like this!" said Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Although major questions remained unanswered on Thursday about the attacker and his motive, the story of ordinary passengers saving the FlyDubai flight from disaster has quickly become the stuff of legend.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly embraced plumber Yaniv Hayoun shortly after the passengers arrived in Tel Aviv late on Wednesday. He later posted a five-star review of Hayoun's professional services, calling him "a hero who has saved many lives."
"He can help you too — I highly recommend him!" Netanyahu added on X.
#passengers #Israel #jerusalem
"Hollywood isn't creative enough to come up with stories like this!" said Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Although major questions remained unanswered on Thursday about the attacker and his motive, the story of ordinary passengers saving the FlyDubai flight from disaster has quickly become the stuff of legend.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly embraced plumber Yaniv Hayoun shortly after the passengers arrived in Tel Aviv late on Wednesday. He later posted a five-star review of Hayoun's professional services, calling him "a hero who has saved many lives."
"He can help you too — I highly recommend him!" Netanyahu added on X.
#passengers #Israel #jerusalem
18 days ago
The price of jet fuel averaged $4.53 USD per gallon for the week ending Sept. 18, according to the latest Airlines for America U.S. Jet Fuel Index.
Driven by the war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran at the end of February 2026, this price is a nearly 80% increase from the national average a year ago.
As a result, almost every major and regional airline has had to keep reworking its networks to maximize jet fuel use and ruthlessly cut any flights not bringing in the expected traffic.
Airline chief executives have also been sounding the alarm on what prolonged jet fuel prices could mean for the industry.
"If fuel prices remain as high as they are right now, I think that that's going to require some adjustments in terms of our capacity planning as we take a look into the future," American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at the annual Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference in California on Sept. 16, Airline Geeks reported.
#airlines #price #index
Driven by the war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran at the end of February 2026, this price is a nearly 80% increase from the national average a year ago.
As a result, almost every major and regional airline has had to keep reworking its networks to maximize jet fuel use and ruthlessly cut any flights not bringing in the expected traffic.
Airline chief executives have also been sounding the alarm on what prolonged jet fuel prices could mean for the industry.
"If fuel prices remain as high as they are right now, I think that that's going to require some adjustments in terms of our capacity planning as we take a look into the future," American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at the annual Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference in California on Sept. 16, Airline Geeks reported.
#airlines #price #index
18 days ago
Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) completed its acquisitions of GATE Technologies Ltd. and Bron Technologies on September 14, adding electronic safety and fuzing components used across precision weapons. GATE supplies the technology, while Bron provides manufacturing and certification capabilities in Poland.
Base consideration comprises $105 million in cash and $100 million in equity. The SEC filing specifies an additional $25 million working-capital adjustment. Of the stock consideration, approximately $22.5 million is scheduled for issuance within nine months, subject to conditions. Performance payments could add up to $185 million.
The investment question is whether owning qualified components can improve supply reliability and profitability enough to justify the purchase price and manufacturing investment.
GATE's technology is integrated into dozens of weapons systems. Qualification and integration requirements can make replacing a supplier difficult, supporting repeat demand as customer programs enter production. Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) can therefore participate in orders across multiple manufacturers alongside sales of its own systems.
Management says approximately 80% of GATE's revenue comes from outside the Middle East. The combination of Israeli engineering and Polish production provides an established international base. U.S.-produced finished products and integrated systems are targeted for the first half of 2027, potentially expanding access to programs with domestic sourcing requirements.
#ondas
Base consideration comprises $105 million in cash and $100 million in equity. The SEC filing specifies an additional $25 million working-capital adjustment. Of the stock consideration, approximately $22.5 million is scheduled for issuance within nine months, subject to conditions. Performance payments could add up to $185 million.
The investment question is whether owning qualified components can improve supply reliability and profitability enough to justify the purchase price and manufacturing investment.
GATE's technology is integrated into dozens of weapons systems. Qualification and integration requirements can make replacing a supplier difficult, supporting repeat demand as customer programs enter production. Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) can therefore participate in orders across multiple manufacturers alongside sales of its own systems.
Management says approximately 80% of GATE's revenue comes from outside the Middle East. The combination of Israeli engineering and Polish production provides an established international base. U.S.-produced finished products and integrated systems are targeted for the first half of 2027, potentially expanding access to programs with domestic sourcing requirements.
#ondas
18 days ago
Sept 17 (Reuters) - JP Morgan said on Thursday that it does not have a clear baseline view for oil markets for the first time since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
"We simply don't know how to model the endgame," ***** ysts at the bank noted.
The note flagged that at the beginning of the conflict, JP Morgan had ***** umed there were some economic thresholds that the U.S. administration would not cross, but six months into the conflict, many of those lines have been crossed with no clear exit strategy in view.
The bank noted that oil prices have climbed above $100 a barrel with gasoline at $4.37 a gallon. It also noted that US diesel prices have hit an all-time high of $6.31 a gallon heading into winter, the period of peak seasonal demand, while inventories sit at all-time lows.
JP Morgan estimated Brent's fair value at around $90 a barrel for September, compared with current prices near $106, suggesting markets are pricing in the risk of further supply losses beyond the estimated 10 million barrels per day already disrupted.
#noted #markets
"We simply don't know how to model the endgame," ***** ysts at the bank noted.
The note flagged that at the beginning of the conflict, JP Morgan had ***** umed there were some economic thresholds that the U.S. administration would not cross, but six months into the conflict, many of those lines have been crossed with no clear exit strategy in view.
The bank noted that oil prices have climbed above $100 a barrel with gasoline at $4.37 a gallon. It also noted that US diesel prices have hit an all-time high of $6.31 a gallon heading into winter, the period of peak seasonal demand, while inventories sit at all-time lows.
JP Morgan estimated Brent's fair value at around $90 a barrel for September, compared with current prices near $106, suggesting markets are pricing in the risk of further supply losses beyond the estimated 10 million barrels per day already disrupted.
#noted #markets
18 days ago
The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has exercised a hold on a $2.8 billion weapons sale to Israel, The Hill has learned, allying with her counterpart in the House and underscoring deep mistrust with the Trump administration and Israeli government.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) has expressed frustration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done nothing to address concerns from, specifically, Democratic lawmakers over the high civilian death tolls in Gaza, Israel’s bombing in Syria and escalating violence against Palestinians by extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
The weapons package includes 40,000 one-ton bombs, munitions that the former Biden administration held back from sending to Israel for its indiscriminate destruction, contributing to the high death toll in the Gaza Strip.
An estimated 70,000 Palestinians were killed over the course of the three-year war between Israel and Hamas, according to Palestinian health officials, but that does not distinguish between militants and civilians.
Shaheen, as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations panel, has authority to hold back the Trump administration from moving ahead on weapons sales over a certain dollar amount. It’s generally an informal consultative process, where the State Department works to address a lawmaker’s concerns and get the green light before moving ahead on the arms sale.
#Israel #israeli #weapons #democrat
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) has expressed frustration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done nothing to address concerns from, specifically, Democratic lawmakers over the high civilian death tolls in Gaza, Israel’s bombing in Syria and escalating violence against Palestinians by extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
The weapons package includes 40,000 one-ton bombs, munitions that the former Biden administration held back from sending to Israel for its indiscriminate destruction, contributing to the high death toll in the Gaza Strip.
An estimated 70,000 Palestinians were killed over the course of the three-year war between Israel and Hamas, according to Palestinian health officials, but that does not distinguish between militants and civilians.
Shaheen, as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations panel, has authority to hold back the Trump administration from moving ahead on weapons sales over a certain dollar amount. It’s generally an informal consultative process, where the State Department works to address a lawmaker’s concerns and get the green light before moving ahead on the arms sale.
#Israel #israeli #weapons #democrat
19 days ago
With aviation often a prohibitively costly industry for individual players without major backing, several smaller and charter carriers did not survive the spike in jet fuel prices that came at the start of 2026 following the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran.
Major recent news in this ***** e includes the collapse of Spirit Airlines and the bankruptcy filing of Latvian flag carrier AirBaltic. Smaller carriers that shut down in 2026 include Mexican holiday airline Magnicharters, Finnish charter airline Jetflite, and most recently in September 2026, French charter carrier AirAiles.
And in Colorado, charter broker and indirect air carrier OneFlight International is reportedly pausing all flights for 30 days as a long string of financial problems catches up with it.
The company does not own any aircraft but functions as a broker, organizing chartered flights by private jet and jet card subscriptions.
A jet card is a membership in which customers book flight hours on a private plane at fixed rates. Along with fractional ownership, it is one of two main ways that passengers who fly private book their flights.
#carrier #card
Major recent news in this ***** e includes the collapse of Spirit Airlines and the bankruptcy filing of Latvian flag carrier AirBaltic. Smaller carriers that shut down in 2026 include Mexican holiday airline Magnicharters, Finnish charter airline Jetflite, and most recently in September 2026, French charter carrier AirAiles.
And in Colorado, charter broker and indirect air carrier OneFlight International is reportedly pausing all flights for 30 days as a long string of financial problems catches up with it.
The company does not own any aircraft but functions as a broker, organizing chartered flights by private jet and jet card subscriptions.
A jet card is a membership in which customers book flight hours on a private plane at fixed rates. Along with fractional ownership, it is one of two main ways that passengers who fly private book their flights.
#carrier #card
20 days ago
GENEVA (AP) — Human rights experts commissioned by the U.N.'s top human rights body say they have found "reasonable grounds" to believe the United States committed war crimes in two strikes in Iran, including on a school in the southern city of Minab.
The international fact-finding mission on Iran says the findings center on a pair of airstrikes that killed at least 178 civilians, including women and children.
At the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in February, at least one U.S. missile hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, according to an ****** ociated Press investigation. There has been no final accounting of what happened. Iranian state media have said 168 people were killed in the strike, most of them children.
"Following the United States and Israeli attacks on 28 February, the mission found reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in the loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects," the fact-finding team said in a statement.
The Trump administration has yet to directly accept the blame or release findings of a Pentagon investigation into the school bombing.
#school
The international fact-finding mission on Iran says the findings center on a pair of airstrikes that killed at least 178 civilians, including women and children.
At the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in February, at least one U.S. missile hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, according to an ****** ociated Press investigation. There has been no final accounting of what happened. Iranian state media have said 168 people were killed in the strike, most of them children.
"Following the United States and Israeli attacks on 28 February, the mission found reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in the loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects," the fact-finding team said in a statement.
The Trump administration has yet to directly accept the blame or release findings of a Pentagon investigation into the school bombing.
#school
20 days ago
By Siddharth Cavale
NEW YORK, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil prices settled $3 higher on Tuesday after shipping industry sources said crude loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export hub of Yanbu had been suspended and Riyadh had canceled some cargo deliveries to European customers, deepening concerns that disruptions to a critical oil-export route could persist for weeks.
Gains in U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures outpaced Brent on Tuesday, as fears that Saudi Arabia's supply troubles were widening sent investors rushing into U.S. crude as an alternative.
Brent finished up $3.07, or 2.9%, at $108.75 a barrel, while WTI closed up $4.44, or 4.38%, at $105.83 a barrel. Both contracts closed at their highest since May 19.
The port of Yanbu has taken on outsized importance for global supply since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran caused the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that was the conduit for one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
#brent
NEW YORK, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil prices settled $3 higher on Tuesday after shipping industry sources said crude loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export hub of Yanbu had been suspended and Riyadh had canceled some cargo deliveries to European customers, deepening concerns that disruptions to a critical oil-export route could persist for weeks.
Gains in U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures outpaced Brent on Tuesday, as fears that Saudi Arabia's supply troubles were widening sent investors rushing into U.S. crude as an alternative.
Brent finished up $3.07, or 2.9%, at $108.75 a barrel, while WTI closed up $4.44, or 4.38%, at $105.83 a barrel. Both contracts closed at their highest since May 19.
The port of Yanbu has taken on outsized importance for global supply since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran caused the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that was the conduit for one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
#brent
20 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wednesday that he's going to block a proposed sale of $2.8 billion in heavy weaponry to Israel over concerns that the powerful bombs may not be used in line with U.S. and international law.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York said he would withhold approval for the sale because of "grave, unresolved concerns" about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
"The Trump administration has not provided sufficient ****** urances that these weapons will be used by the Netanyahu government in accordance with U.S. law and with appropriate protections for civilians," Meeks said in a statement. "I therefore will not clear this sale at this time."
Meeks' objections, however, will not likely affect the sale, which was informally notified to lawmakers on Tuesday. Once it is formally notified to Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio can bypass the normal congressional review process by making an emergency determination that the transaction is an urgent national security interest.
Rubio has done so in the past, including bypassing a normal congressional review process to approve a nearly $3 billion sale to Israel last year. The administration then approved a new series of arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion in January.
#used
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York said he would withhold approval for the sale because of "grave, unresolved concerns" about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
"The Trump administration has not provided sufficient ****** urances that these weapons will be used by the Netanyahu government in accordance with U.S. law and with appropriate protections for civilians," Meeks said in a statement. "I therefore will not clear this sale at this time."
Meeks' objections, however, will not likely affect the sale, which was informally notified to lawmakers on Tuesday. Once it is formally notified to Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio can bypass the normal congressional review process by making an emergency determination that the transaction is an urgent national security interest.
Rubio has done so in the past, including bypassing a normal congressional review process to approve a nearly $3 billion sale to Israel last year. The administration then approved a new series of arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion in January.
#used
20 days ago
The fate of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour is suddenly uncertain after all of the British singer's remaining opening acts quit in solidarity with the rapper Macklemore, who was dropped from the remaining North American dates over pro-Palestinian comments.
Hours after Sheeran released a statement saying it was the promoter's decision to remove Macklemore from the tour and not his, the rest of his supporting acts — Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham and songwriter Finneas — as well as Sheeran's house band, Beoga, announced that they were pulling out in protest.
"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, wrote in a note posted to Instagram. "I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."
The Irish artists cited their country's history of oppression in their decisions to drop out.
"I don't take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this," Rowe wrote in his own Instagram post. "But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children."
#irish #Instagram
Hours after Sheeran released a statement saying it was the promoter's decision to remove Macklemore from the tour and not his, the rest of his supporting acts — Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham and songwriter Finneas — as well as Sheeran's house band, Beoga, announced that they were pulling out in protest.
"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, wrote in a note posted to Instagram. "I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."
The Irish artists cited their country's history of oppression in their decisions to drop out.
"I don't take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this," Rowe wrote in his own Instagram post. "But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children."
#irish #Instagram
21 days ago
Critics are slamming Norway over new legislation that they say singles out Jews. The proposed law could send individuals to prison for up to three years for knowingly conducting certain forms of business with Israeli communities in the West Bank.
The proposal, introduced by Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would prohibit the importation of goods originating in Israeli communities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the exportation of goods to those communities. It would also restrict certain real estate transactions, construction and engineering services and investments in businesses headquartered and operating there.
Intentional violations could result in fines, imprisonment for up to three years or both, while negligent violations could carry fines, imprisonment for up to six months or both, according to Section 7 of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official consultation document.
Israel's E1 Plan Explained: The Jerusalem-area Corridor Sparking International Backlash
(L-R) Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide addressed the media following the 9th Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution Meeting and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) Meeting, focusing on international aid for Palestinians and the revitalization of the peace process.
#west
The proposal, introduced by Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would prohibit the importation of goods originating in Israeli communities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the exportation of goods to those communities. It would also restrict certain real estate transactions, construction and engineering services and investments in businesses headquartered and operating there.
Intentional violations could result in fines, imprisonment for up to three years or both, while negligent violations could carry fines, imprisonment for up to six months or both, according to Section 7 of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official consultation document.
Israel's E1 Plan Explained: The Jerusalem-area Corridor Sparking International Backlash
(L-R) Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide addressed the media following the 9th Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution Meeting and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) Meeting, focusing on international aid for Palestinians and the revitalization of the peace process.
#west
22 days ago
JERUSALEM, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a new documentary film which alleges that mass civilian deaths were routinely built into targeting decisions in Gaza was part of a wave of global incitement against Jews.
"NAZA", directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday and received a 25-minute standing ovation when it was screened on Thursday.
The film takes its **** le from an Israeli military term for expected "collateral casualties" and is built around anonymous interviews with intelligence officers and soldiers involved in the war.
"It's shocking. We are fighting global antisemitic incitement and when it comes from within us it is intolerable," Netanyahu said in a video posted on Telegram. "And now two Israeli directors portraying the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) as war criminals receive applause at the Venice festival."
Netanyahu's comments followed a statement from the Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, who said the film constituted an attack on the state of Israel.
#global
"NAZA", directed by Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday and received a 25-minute standing ovation when it was screened on Thursday.
The film takes its **** le from an Israeli military term for expected "collateral casualties" and is built around anonymous interviews with intelligence officers and soldiers involved in the war.
"It's shocking. We are fighting global antisemitic incitement and when it comes from within us it is intolerable," Netanyahu said in a video posted on Telegram. "And now two Israeli directors portraying the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) as war criminals receive applause at the Venice festival."
Netanyahu's comments followed a statement from the Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, who said the film constituted an attack on the state of Israel.
#global
24 days ago
A Palestinian fashion designer says she nearly closed down her fashion brand until Olivia Rodrigo stepped in.
In a new interview, designer Yasmeen Mjalli told Vogue Arabia that her brand Nöl Collective, founded in 2020, almost exclusively imported natural fibers to create their clothes. She recalled the numerous challenges and hardships of creating new pieces in the West Bank.
Mjalli told the magazine she once ordered a shipment of naturally dyed handwoven wool for the brand's autumn collection, only for it to have been held and ultimately destroyed by Israeli customs. She said she made an attempt to source replacement fabric in Jerusalem, but her efforts were thwarted due to the army closing down roads out of Ramallah.
"I was genuinely like, maybe we should stop, maybe this is our last effort. I was just so tired," Mjalli said.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
#down
In a new interview, designer Yasmeen Mjalli told Vogue Arabia that her brand Nöl Collective, founded in 2020, almost exclusively imported natural fibers to create their clothes. She recalled the numerous challenges and hardships of creating new pieces in the West Bank.
Mjalli told the magazine she once ordered a shipment of naturally dyed handwoven wool for the brand's autumn collection, only for it to have been held and ultimately destroyed by Israeli customs. She said she made an attempt to source replacement fabric in Jerusalem, but her efforts were thwarted due to the army closing down roads out of Ramallah.
"I was genuinely like, maybe we should stop, maybe this is our last effort. I was just so tired," Mjalli said.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
#down
25 days ago
Mexico's government is slashing financial ******* istance for the state energy major by as much as 70% despite Pemex's continued struggle to pay down debt and boost production. The decision rests on expectations that the company will benefit from the oil and gas price rally spurred by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.
Per a Bloomberg report from this week, the government of Mexico sees Pemex posting a rare cash surplus of some 95 billion pesos, or around $5.63 billion, as a result of the oil price rally. Based on those expectations, the Scheinbaum government stipulated financial help of just 81 billion pesos for the company in next year's budget, equivalent to some $4.8 billion. This was down by 70% from this year.
"We said that by 2027, support for Pemex would be very limited, and that's indeed the case," President Sheinbaum told media this week. "Pemex now receives very little support from the Mexican government, and its own finances will sustain its development."
Mexico's energy major is the most indebted company in the world, with a load of some $105 billion as of mid-2025, of which some $20 billion is in unpaid bills to suppliers. Since then, the company has managed to reduce the debt pile to some $79 billion as of the end of the first quarter of this year. The company said in a news release at the time that this was the lowest its debt has been since 2014.
Meanwhile, however, boosting refining output has turned out to be a challenge, and issues with crude quality—including high water content—have alienated key buyers over the past couple of years. The previous administration of Mexico focused on supporting the company by turning it back into a monopoly on the Mexican energy market. The Scheinbaum government, on the other hand, moved to open up the Mexican oil industry to other players as well, launching a new contract framework for joint ventures, the so-called mixed contracts. In mixed development allocations, Pemex can enter into an agreement with one or more private firms.
#PEMEX #government #scheinbaum #since
Per a Bloomberg report from this week, the government of Mexico sees Pemex posting a rare cash surplus of some 95 billion pesos, or around $5.63 billion, as a result of the oil price rally. Based on those expectations, the Scheinbaum government stipulated financial help of just 81 billion pesos for the company in next year's budget, equivalent to some $4.8 billion. This was down by 70% from this year.
"We said that by 2027, support for Pemex would be very limited, and that's indeed the case," President Sheinbaum told media this week. "Pemex now receives very little support from the Mexican government, and its own finances will sustain its development."
Mexico's energy major is the most indebted company in the world, with a load of some $105 billion as of mid-2025, of which some $20 billion is in unpaid bills to suppliers. Since then, the company has managed to reduce the debt pile to some $79 billion as of the end of the first quarter of this year. The company said in a news release at the time that this was the lowest its debt has been since 2014.
Meanwhile, however, boosting refining output has turned out to be a challenge, and issues with crude quality—including high water content—have alienated key buyers over the past couple of years. The previous administration of Mexico focused on supporting the company by turning it back into a monopoly on the Mexican energy market. The Scheinbaum government, on the other hand, moved to open up the Mexican oil industry to other players as well, launching a new contract framework for joint ventures, the so-called mixed contracts. In mixed development allocations, Pemex can enter into an agreement with one or more private firms.
#PEMEX #government #scheinbaum #since
26 days ago
Sept 10 (Reuters) - The Israeli military destroyed Hezbollah underground infrastructure at the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday, adding that the operation completed the consolidation of a security zone in the area.
Israeli forces would remain in the area to prevent the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militant group from re-establishing its presence and rebuilding its capabilities, the two officials said in a joint statement.
The Ali al-Taher ridge, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Israeli border, has become one of the most contested areas of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores there, according to Lebanese security sources who spoke to Reuters in July.
Lebanon's state news agency NNA said the Israeli military carried out a powerful blast at the ridge, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt across Nabatieh and surrounding areas.
The Israeli military said its forces had established "operational control" over the ridge, both above and below ground, before dismantling the infrastructure. The network extended for more than 2 km (1.24 miles) and contained dozens of rockets, missiles and drones, as well as anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices, it said.
#israeli #hezbollah #minister #infrastructure
Israeli forces would remain in the area to prevent the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militant group from re-establishing its presence and rebuilding its capabilities, the two officials said in a joint statement.
The Ali al-Taher ridge, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Israeli border, has become one of the most contested areas of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores there, according to Lebanese security sources who spoke to Reuters in July.
Lebanon's state news agency NNA said the Israeli military carried out a powerful blast at the ridge, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt across Nabatieh and surrounding areas.
The Israeli military said its forces had established "operational control" over the ridge, both above and below ground, before dismantling the infrastructure. The network extended for more than 2 km (1.24 miles) and contained dozens of rockets, missiles and drones, as well as anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices, it said.
#israeli #hezbollah #minister #infrastructure
26 days ago
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she hated the governments and policies of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but said she loved America and Israel during an interview Thursday.
"I have said repeatedly I love Israel and I hate Netanyahu's government and his policies. I love America, and I hate Trump's government and policies. I think it's bad, in the first case for Israel, what's happening, and I think it's really bad for the United States, what's happening," Clinton told MS NOW's "Morning Joe."
Clinton spoke to the MS NOW panel about Israel and achieving peace in the Middle East.
Hillary Clinton Breaks With Democratic Critics By Backing Trump's Gaza Plan As The 'Only Game In Town'
Hillary Clinton said she hated the governments of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview on "Morning Joe," Sept. 10, 2026.
#president #Trump #prime
"I have said repeatedly I love Israel and I hate Netanyahu's government and his policies. I love America, and I hate Trump's government and policies. I think it's bad, in the first case for Israel, what's happening, and I think it's really bad for the United States, what's happening," Clinton told MS NOW's "Morning Joe."
Clinton spoke to the MS NOW panel about Israel and achieving peace in the Middle East.
Hillary Clinton Breaks With Democratic Critics By Backing Trump's Gaza Plan As The 'Only Game In Town'
Hillary Clinton said she hated the governments of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview on "Morning Joe," Sept. 10, 2026.
#president #Trump #prime
26 days ago
By Alexander Cornwell and Rami Amichay
TEL AVIV/PSAGOT, West Bank, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Israel has given Britain 30 days to close its East Jerusalem consulate in response to sanctions on goods from settlements, a measure Britain's leader said on Wednesday was needed to "stand against injustice" in the occupied West Bank.
In the West Bank, where Israeli settlements have eaten into territory Palestinians seek for a state, settler business owners said the sanctions — announced on Tuesday by Britain, France and Canada — would dent their revenues and at least one said they could force him to close his date farm.
The sanctions are among the strongest collective actions taken by Western countries that Israel once counted as close allies, highlighting its growing isolation over the war in Gaza and expansion of settlements in occupied territory.
ISRAEL SETS DEADLINE FOR BRITAIN TO CLOSE CONSULATE
#britain #sanctions #settlements
TEL AVIV/PSAGOT, West Bank, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Israel has given Britain 30 days to close its East Jerusalem consulate in response to sanctions on goods from settlements, a measure Britain's leader said on Wednesday was needed to "stand against injustice" in the occupied West Bank.
In the West Bank, where Israeli settlements have eaten into territory Palestinians seek for a state, settler business owners said the sanctions — announced on Tuesday by Britain, France and Canada — would dent their revenues and at least one said they could force him to close his date farm.
The sanctions are among the strongest collective actions taken by Western countries that Israel once counted as close allies, highlighting its growing isolation over the war in Gaza and expansion of settlements in occupied territory.
ISRAEL SETS DEADLINE FOR BRITAIN TO CLOSE CONSULATE
#britain #sanctions #settlements
29 days ago
Olivia Rodrigo gave Palestinian designer Yasmeen Mjalli a reason to keep going. Mjalli said her fashion brand nearly shut down before Rodrigo's commission. The singer ordered a dress for her Daisy Chain Fields Festival. Mjalli described the opportunity as "divine intervention."
Mjalli founded Nöl Collective in 2020. The Palestinian brand works with women's cooperatives and individual embroiderers. Its designs preserve traditional Palestinian craftsmanship through contemporary clothing. However, operating from the West Bank has created major challenges.
Mjalli said a shipment of handwoven wool was held by Israeli customs. She said authorities eventually destroyed the materials. She then tried sourcing replacement fabric in Jerusalem. However, road closures prevented her from reaching the city.
"I was genuinely like, maybe we should stop, maybe this is our last effort," Mjalli told Vogue Arabia. She said she was "just so tired" after facing repeated obstacles. The situation nearly became the brand's breaking point.
Then Rodrigo commissioned Nöl Collective to create a dress. Mjalli described the commission as "divine intervention." The project gave her a reason to continue despite the challenges.
#reason
Mjalli founded Nöl Collective in 2020. The Palestinian brand works with women's cooperatives and individual embroiderers. Its designs preserve traditional Palestinian craftsmanship through contemporary clothing. However, operating from the West Bank has created major challenges.
Mjalli said a shipment of handwoven wool was held by Israeli customs. She said authorities eventually destroyed the materials. She then tried sourcing replacement fabric in Jerusalem. However, road closures prevented her from reaching the city.
"I was genuinely like, maybe we should stop, maybe this is our last effort," Mjalli told Vogue Arabia. She said she was "just so tired" after facing repeated obstacles. The situation nearly became the brand's breaking point.
Then Rodrigo commissioned Nöl Collective to create a dress. Mjalli described the commission as "divine intervention." The project gave her a reason to continue despite the challenges.
#reason
29 days ago
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two members of the Iranian women's soccer team who claimed asylum in Australia have confirmed their pivotal refusal to sing the national anthem during the Women's Asian Cup in March was a protest against Tehran.
The first media interview with Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, since they abandoned their team to become refugees was broadcast Sunday on Australia's "60 Minutes" current affairs program.
"We just wanted to stand with our people. I was scared at times, but I just tried to do what was right and say that no one should be killed just for protesting," Ramezanisadeh told Nine Network through an interpreter.
The team was criticized in Iran and branded as traitors in the media there for remaining silent when the Iranian national anthem was played ahead of their opening loss against South Korea on March 2.
Some saw it as an act of resistance, while others interpreted it as a show of mourning following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on their homeland which began on Feb. 28. The team offered no public explanation.
#team #ramezanisadeh
The first media interview with Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, since they abandoned their team to become refugees was broadcast Sunday on Australia's "60 Minutes" current affairs program.
"We just wanted to stand with our people. I was scared at times, but I just tried to do what was right and say that no one should be killed just for protesting," Ramezanisadeh told Nine Network through an interpreter.
The team was criticized in Iran and branded as traitors in the media there for remaining silent when the Iranian national anthem was played ahead of their opening loss against South Korea on March 2.
Some saw it as an act of resistance, while others interpreted it as a show of mourning following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on their homeland which began on Feb. 28. The team offered no public explanation.
#team #ramezanisadeh
29 days ago
CAIRO (AP) — The new head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Sunday said Tehran plans to announce an "exclusion zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz aimed at vessels it believes are attempting to transit the waterway.
Mohsen Rezaei's comments to Iran's state broadcaster came with few details, a day after the U.S. struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to Tehran launching ballistic missiles at U.S. warships. Experts called the launches a dangerous escalation after Iran's previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping.
The new zone should be announced in the coming days and weeks and "will begin from the line of the U.S. naval blockade, extend toward the Strait of Hormuz, and from this side continue into the Persian Gulf," Rezaei said. "Any ship that enters this area with the intention of passing through the Strait of Hormuz and is identified will be placed on our sanctions list."
It is not clear where Iran defines the location of the weekslong U.S. blockade, which is aimed at Iranian ports and keeping Tehran from shipping out its oil. The U.S. military has said over 20 warships are supporting the blockade, which as of Sunday had redirected 92 commercial ships and disabled three.
The U.S. has been introducing new measures to increase the economic pain on Iran after negotiations collapsed and no end to the intermittent fighting appears in sight. Meanwhile, Iran continues to attack some ships trying to transit the strait, which has become an important source of leverage for Tehran in the war that began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes.
#strait
Mohsen Rezaei's comments to Iran's state broadcaster came with few details, a day after the U.S. struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to Tehran launching ballistic missiles at U.S. warships. Experts called the launches a dangerous escalation after Iran's previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping.
The new zone should be announced in the coming days and weeks and "will begin from the line of the U.S. naval blockade, extend toward the Strait of Hormuz, and from this side continue into the Persian Gulf," Rezaei said. "Any ship that enters this area with the intention of passing through the Strait of Hormuz and is identified will be placed on our sanctions list."
It is not clear where Iran defines the location of the weekslong U.S. blockade, which is aimed at Iranian ports and keeping Tehran from shipping out its oil. The U.S. military has said over 20 warships are supporting the blockade, which as of Sunday had redirected 92 commercial ships and disabled three.
The U.S. has been introducing new measures to increase the economic pain on Iran after negotiations collapsed and no end to the intermittent fighting appears in sight. Meanwhile, Iran continues to attack some ships trying to transit the strait, which has become an important source of leverage for Tehran in the war that began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes.
#strait
29 days ago
By Emma Farge
GENEVA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A U.N. expert said on Monday that Israeli clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy valuable evidence of "atrocity crimes" and prevent the recovery of human remains.
Israel's ****** ault on Gaza — started after the deadly raid into Israel by Hamas in October 2023 — has generated around 61 million tons of wreckage and debris that could take seven years to clear, according to the United Nations.
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. expert on the Palestinian territories, said evidence should be gathered and human remains identified before full clearance started.
She issued a statement headlined: "UN expert warns Israeli rubble-clearing could erase traces of atrocity crimes" and said Palestinians should be behind any plans to remove waste.
#Gaza #rubble #evidence
GENEVA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A U.N. expert said on Monday that Israeli clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy valuable evidence of "atrocity crimes" and prevent the recovery of human remains.
Israel's ****** ault on Gaza — started after the deadly raid into Israel by Hamas in October 2023 — has generated around 61 million tons of wreckage and debris that could take seven years to clear, according to the United Nations.
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. expert on the Palestinian territories, said evidence should be gathered and human remains identified before full clearance started.
She issued a statement headlined: "UN expert warns Israeli rubble-clearing could erase traces of atrocity crimes" and said Palestinians should be behind any plans to remove waste.
#Gaza #rubble #evidence
29 days ago
Pink faced backlash after reposting a statement from an advocacy group calling for an apology from Macklemore for advocating for Palestinians during his opening act for Ed Sheeran in New Jersey.
Pink reposted the message from the group StopAntisemitism on her Instagram stories. The message started with the word "Awful," suggesting that Jewish fans had purchased their tickets to see Sheeran but instead experienced what it referred to as anti-Israel propaganda. According to the group, the Seattle rapper had accused Israel of falsely committing a genocide, and concertgoers were owed an apology and a refund. Pink did not comment and has not yet given a reason for posting the message.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, performed for Ed Sheeran in MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5 as part of his Loop Tour. Dressed in a keffiyeh, the rapper told the crowd of more than 80,000 people that he wanted to stand in the stadium and say, "Free Palestine." He mentioned that he hoped people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank knew they had not been forgotten and that every human being deserved freedom.
Macklemore then sang "Hind's Hall," a protest song he released in 2024, as images of Gaza played on the stadium screens. Moreover, the rapper spoke directly to the Jewish audience, saying that criticizing Israel was not criticizing them.
His performance led the Israeli American Council to file a petition asking Sheeran and his management to remove the rapper from other tour dates. The petition referred to his show as a concert and not a rally for activists and politics. It also claimed that Macklemore used his global platform to promote a one-sided political agenda. The petition asked whether the speech and visuals were approved before the event.
#macklemore #sheeran #petition
Pink reposted the message from the group StopAntisemitism on her Instagram stories. The message started with the word "Awful," suggesting that Jewish fans had purchased their tickets to see Sheeran but instead experienced what it referred to as anti-Israel propaganda. According to the group, the Seattle rapper had accused Israel of falsely committing a genocide, and concertgoers were owed an apology and a refund. Pink did not comment and has not yet given a reason for posting the message.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, performed for Ed Sheeran in MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5 as part of his Loop Tour. Dressed in a keffiyeh, the rapper told the crowd of more than 80,000 people that he wanted to stand in the stadium and say, "Free Palestine." He mentioned that he hoped people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank knew they had not been forgotten and that every human being deserved freedom.
Macklemore then sang "Hind's Hall," a protest song he released in 2024, as images of Gaza played on the stadium screens. Moreover, the rapper spoke directly to the Jewish audience, saying that criticizing Israel was not criticizing them.
His performance led the Israeli American Council to file a petition asking Sheeran and his management to remove the rapper from other tour dates. The petition referred to his show as a concert and not a rally for activists and politics. It also claimed that Macklemore used his global platform to promote a one-sided political agenda. The petition asked whether the speech and visuals were approved before the event.
#macklemore #sheeran #petition
1 month ago
TURMUS AYYA, West Bank, Sept 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday said there was no plan to force Palestinians to leave Gaza after two Israeli ministers this week floated proposals for the mass removal of Palestinians from the coastal territory.
• "I can tell you categorically there is no plan of the Israelis to displace people out of Gaza against their will," Huckabee told reporters in Turmus Ayya, a Palestinian town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
• "There is an open-mindedness (that) if people wish to leave that they should have the right to leave. To incarcerate them in a place they don't want to be should be an absolute, I think, just disgrace," Huckabee said.
• "Nobody is suggesting that there will be forced displacement. The Israelis are not. The Americans are certainly not. I know of no one who supports that."
• Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said there was "no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration."
#Israel
• "I can tell you categorically there is no plan of the Israelis to displace people out of Gaza against their will," Huckabee told reporters in Turmus Ayya, a Palestinian town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
• "There is an open-mindedness (that) if people wish to leave that they should have the right to leave. To incarcerate them in a place they don't want to be should be an absolute, I think, just disgrace," Huckabee said.
• "Nobody is suggesting that there will be forced displacement. The Israelis are not. The Americans are certainly not. I know of no one who supports that."
• Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said there was "no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration."
#Israel
1 month ago
Iran's regime maintains an iron grip on power but still can't ignore the impact of U.S. economic warfare, which is getting even tougher.
That extends even to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who hasn't been seen in public since the U.S.-Israeli strike on Feb. 28 that killed his father.
In a written statement issued late last month, he banned Iranian officials from "committing anything that harms social cohesion" and urged them to avoid any "discouraging statements that weaken national and public motivation," according to Reuters.
That's as economic hardship and long lines at gas stations have already stirred some fresh protests, though not at the massive scale that was seen in January.
Still, a currency collapse last year and high inflation triggered widespread unrest, and the regime slaughtered thousands in a brutal crackdown. Since then, the rial has plunged to new lows and economic conditions have worsened due to the U.S. war and naval blockade.
#economic #supreme
That extends even to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who hasn't been seen in public since the U.S.-Israeli strike on Feb. 28 that killed his father.
In a written statement issued late last month, he banned Iranian officials from "committing anything that harms social cohesion" and urged them to avoid any "discouraging statements that weaken national and public motivation," according to Reuters.
That's as economic hardship and long lines at gas stations have already stirred some fresh protests, though not at the massive scale that was seen in January.
Still, a currency collapse last year and high inflation triggered widespread unrest, and the regime slaughtered thousands in a brutal crackdown. Since then, the rial has plunged to new lows and economic conditions have worsened due to the U.S. war and naval blockade.
#economic #supreme
1 month ago
CAIRO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - An Israeli strike killed a man and his teenage daughter in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, health officials said.
Mohamed Abu Selmia, head of Al Shifa Hospital, the enclave's largest medical facility, said the airstrike hit a vehicle in western Gaza City, killing Youssef Akila and his daughter, Wafaa, and wounding six others.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.
An October 2025 U.S.-backed ceasefire halted major fighting in the territory, but it failed to end strikes by the Israeli military, which it said aimed to thwart attacks by Hamas and other Gaza militants.
Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and undermining efforts to implement U.S. President Donald Trump's broader plan to end the Gaza conflict, which also includes Israeli withdrawals and Hamas disarmament.
#israeli #hamas #sept #strip
Mohamed Abu Selmia, head of Al Shifa Hospital, the enclave's largest medical facility, said the airstrike hit a vehicle in western Gaza City, killing Youssef Akila and his daughter, Wafaa, and wounding six others.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.
An October 2025 U.S.-backed ceasefire halted major fighting in the territory, but it failed to end strikes by the Israeli military, which it said aimed to thwart attacks by Hamas and other Gaza militants.
Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and undermining efforts to implement U.S. President Donald Trump's broader plan to end the Gaza conflict, which also includes Israeli withdrawals and Hamas disarmament.
#israeli #hamas #sept #strip
