5 h. ago Irish broadcaster requests discussion over Israel’s Eurovision participation

RTÉ asks European Broadcasting Union to discuss matter after 72 former contestants call for Israel’s exclusionIreland’s public broadcaster has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for a discussion about Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision song contest, as 72 former contestants called for the Israeli broadcaster Kan to be banned from next week’s event in the Swiss city of Basel.The director general of Ireland’s RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst, said in a statement on Wednesday that he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Israel’s participation in Eurovision is ‘very complicated’, says RTE boss

Mr Bakhurst said RTE would not pull the Irish entry out of the song contest in May.

Politics

24 h. ago RTE asks for ‘discussion’ over Israel’s participation in Eurovision

RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst said he was ‘appalled’ by ongoing events in the Middle East.

Politics

1 week ago Mob of Orthodox Jewish men chases woman after protest at Brooklyn synagogue

Woman, who requested anonymity, says ‘a group of 100 men’ followed her, shouting threats and kicking herA Brooklyn woman said she feared for her life as she was chased, kicked, spit at and pelted with objects by a mob of Orthodox Jewish men who mistook her as a participant in a protest against Israel’s far-right security minister.The assault, recorded by a bystander, unfolded Thursday near the global headquarters of the Chabad Lubavitch movement in Crown Heights, where an appearance by Itamar Ben-Gvir set off clashes between pro-Palestinian activists and members of the neighborhood’s large Orthodox Jewish community. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Mob chased Brooklyn woman after mistaking her for protester at speech by Israeli security minister

A New York City woman says she feared for her life as she was chased, kicked and pelted with objects by a mob of men who mistook her as a participant in a protest against Israel’s far-right security minister

Politics

2 w. ago What is a ‘criminal’ immigrant? The word is an American rhetorical trap | Jonathan Ben

Allegations of criminality have always been deployed to justify state violence but even ‘imperfect’ victims deserve basic rightsUS politics live – latest updatesLast month, the Trump administration flew 238 Venezuelan immigrants to a brutal prison in El Salvador. Federal officials alleged that the detainees were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, calling them “heinous monsters” ,“criminal aliens”, “the worst of the worst”. The federal government has also revoked visas for a thousand international students over their alleged participation in protests against Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Some were abducted, like Mahmoud Khalil, who has spent more than a month incarcerated in one of the worst jails in the US. Officials alleged that Mahmoud “sided with terrorists who have killed innocent men, women, and children”.Media reports quickly revealed that the Trump administration is lying about “innocent” people to justify abducting them. But this raises a more important question: if Trump...

Events

3 w. ago Eurovision organisers address call for debate around Israel’s participation

The participation of Israeli entrant Eden Golan was a frayed point of debate last year.

Politics

3 w. ago Immigration judge rules Mahmoud Khalil can be deported: a timeline of events

An immigration judge has ruled that a Palestinian Columbia University graduate student who participated in protests against Israel can be deported

Events

3 w. ago What to know about activist Mahmoud Khalil and his attorneys' plan to appeal his deportation ruling

An immigration judge has ruled that a Palestinian Columbia University graduate student who participated in protests against Israel can be deported

Politics