Latest news with #Amir
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Amir's first rock and roll love song
AFTER keeping his private life under wraps, singer Amir Masdi has shared details about the woman who captured his heart through his new single 'Bakal Kekasih'. Amir, 29, whose real name is Amir Syazwan Masdi, says 'Bakal Kekasih' describes the feeling when you start to like someone. The song, co-written with composer Edry Abdul Halim, not only showcases a new side to Amir as a rock and roll singer but also conveys a universal and touching message. "I wrote this as a fun song about liking someone. But Cikgu Edry gave me an idea: why not make the story deeper? "So, from just liking someone, we changed it to someone you want as a life partner. I felt that was a brilliant idea and something everyone could relate to, whether they're single or married," he said. Interestingly, 'Bakal Kekasih' is the fourth single released from his album A.M P.M (Side A.M), following the success of 'Nur Cinta', 'Calar', and 'Langit Biru'. 'Bakal Kekasih' is Amir's debut in the rock and roll genre, injecting a fresh and vibrant feel into his music catalogue. "I feel 'Bakal Kekasih' is very different from the songs I've released before. "This is my first rock and roll song, and I wrote it a long time ago, just after the MCO (the Covid-19 Movement Control Order). But the song was left untouched on my phone for several years. "So, when I was producing this album, Cikgu Edry asked me what other songs I wanted for it, and I immediately remembered this rock and roll tune. "I told Cikgu that I wanted a rock and roll song. I shared this song, and he said, 'This is a good tune'. With his help, 'Bakal Kekasih' was completed," he added. Amir also hopes that 'Bakal Kekasih' can be a medium for people to express their feelings towards those they admire or love. "If anyone has a 'crush' but doesn't dare to express or share it, they can use this song. It's very direct and fun," he remarked. Adding to the excitement, the music video for 'Bakal Kekasih' was filmed at a retro restaurant in Manchester, United Kingdom, in February last year. "We went for a 'free and easy' and 'teenage vibe' concept, like High School Musical or Uptown Girl. I wanted to showcase energy and a cheerful atmosphere for everyone," Amir said. With classic elements rarely highlighted in today's music industry, 'Bakal Kekasih' is expected to satisfy fans yearning for rock and roll rhythms. "I hope this song can bring joy to rock and roll fans. This is something different from me, and I'm very excited and hope it brings something positive to my career too," he said. 'Bakal Kekasih' is available on all music streaming platforms, and its official music video can also be watched on the AR United Music YouTube channel.
Euronews
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Belgian music festival under pressure over Franco-Israeli billing
Les Francofolies de Spa, a staple of Belgium's summer music festival season since 1994, is at the heart of a growing controversy mere days before it starts. The four-day event, which aims to promote francophone artists, kicks off tomorrow and one planned set on Friday is fueling concern - that of Franco-Israeli singer Amir, a former contestant on The Voice and France's Eurovision representative in 2016. His presence on the billing has angered several other artists who are also due to perform at the festival, who have expressed their unease at Amir's perceived pro-Israel stance. Artists like Lovelace, Nicou, CHOSE and Mado have signed a statement denouncing the singer's presence: 'As artists scheduled to perform at the Francofolies de Spa, we strongly disagree with the decision to programme Amir.' As for Franco-Swiss singer Yoa, she has cancelled her participation (also originally set for Friday) altogether, citing her 'social, political and humanist" convictions which dictate that she should not 'share the stage with an artist who does not recognise the ongoing genocide in Palestine, and who has taken part in events organised in support of the Israeli army.' Indeed, Amir took part in an event in Hebron, an Israeli settlement that is illegal under international law, in 2014. Artists have also referred to his attendance at an evening in support of IDF soldiers, organised by Yoni Chetboun - an MP for the far-right Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home) party. In the wake of Yoa walking away from the festival, two other artists announced that they too were withdrawing from the Francofolies de Spa: Brussels DJ RaQL and activist DJ LibraRomea. Amir's label has denounced "an outpouring of anti-Semitic hatred" and posted its support for the singer on Instagram. As for the organisers of the Francofolies de Spa, interviewed by public service broadcaster for the French-speaking Community of Belgium RTBF, they said they had received "numerous messages calling for Amir to be deprogrammed." "In a dramatic context, it is understandable that citizens and artists should question us about the commitments of an artist on the bill", said the organisers. "We are outraged by the ongoing tragedy in Gaza and deeply shocked by the unacceptable suffering inflicted on the civilian population." However, the festival seems to be maintaining Amir's concert, as they are unable to 'morally assess the entirety of his personal trajectory or access the innermost depths of his convictions'. This comes at a time when tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are regularly overshadowing European music festivals. For instance, this year's Glastonbury festival in the UK courted controversy over sets by Kneecap and Bob Vylan. This led to the BBC (the festival's official broadcaster) facing pressure from the UK government – and ultimately leading to the BBC's director of music having to step down over the scandal. Les Francofolies de Spatakes place in Spa, Belgium, from 17 - 20 July 2025.
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 93 Palestinians, including several families
Hossam Azzam holds the body of his child, Amir, who was killed in an Israeli military airstrike on Gaza, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) By WAFAA SHURAFA Israeli strikes overnight and into Tuesday killed more than 90 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including dozens of women and children, health officials said. One strike in the northern Shati refugee camp killed a 68-year-old Hamas member of the Palestinian legislature, as well as a man and a woman and their six children who were sheltering in the same building, according to officials from Shifa Hospital, where the casualties were taken. One of the deadliest strikes hit a house in Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district on Monday evening and killed 19 members of the family living inside, according to Shifa Hospital. The dead included eight women and six children. A strike on a tent housing displaced people in the same district killed a man and a woman and their two children. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the strikes. Gaza's Health Ministry said in a daily report Tuesday afternoon that the bodies of 93 people killed by Israeli strikes had been brought to hospitals in Gaza over the past 24 hours, along with 278 wounded. It did not specify the total number of women and children among the dead. The Hamas politician killed in a strike early Tuesday, Mohammed Faraj al-Ghoul, was a member of the bloc of representatives from the group that won seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in the last election held among Palestinians, in 2006. Hamas won a majority in the vote, but relations with the main Fatah faction that had long led the Palestinian Authority unraveled and ended with Hamas taking over the Gaza Strip in 2007. The legislative council has not formally convened since. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas. But daily, it hits homes and shelters where people are living without warning or explanation of the target. The latest attacks came after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held two days of talks last week that ended with no sign of a breakthrough in negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release. Israel has killed more than 58,400 Palestinians and wounded more than 139,000 others in its retaliation campaign since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Just over half the dead are women and children, according to the ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its tally. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, is led by medical professionals. Its count, based on daily reports from hospitals, is considered by the United Nations and other experts to be the most reliable. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after its attack 20 month ago, in which militants stormed into southern Israel and killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They abducted 251 others, and the militants are still holding 50 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive. Israel's air and ground campaign has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and driven some 90% of the population from their homes. Aid groups say they have struggled to bring in food and other assistance because of Israeli military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order, and experts have warned of famine. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Introducing Studio CX: Accelerate CX AI from Idea to Impact in 90 Days
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dasteel Consulting, LLC announces the launch of Studio CX, a 90-day AI accelerator designed to help Customer Experience (CX) and Customer Success teams rapidly turn bold ideas into real, AI-powered solutions — cutting through bottlenecks and delivering business results, not just theoretical use cases. Addressing the AI Implementation Gap Despite AI's promise, most organizations face stalled initiatives, skill gaps, and endless planning. Studio CX addresses this challenge with a sprint-based model that focuses on speed, outcomes, and skill building. How Studio CX Works Rapid MVP in 14 Days: Teams tackle a real business challenge and receive a working AI prototype two weeks after identification of a use case, then iterate and prepare for deployment over 90 days. Outcomes-Driven Approach: Rather than starting with technology, Studio CX begins with business challenges, defines success measures, and tracks tangible outcomes throughout the process. Complete Technology Stack: The program utilizes a comprehensive stack of no-code tools, encompassing storytelling and BI platforms, design and prototyping tools, workflow integration systems, and access to leading large language models. Skill Development: Hands-on experience ensures lasting AI capability. Real Results Jeff Halonen, cofounder and CEO of Steelhead Technologies, shared: 'When Jeb and Amir started working with Steelhead, we had an extremely rudimentary definition of customer success. We had defined the finish line as 'implementation complete.' Jeb and Amir were instrumental in moving our paradigm to a continuous journey, where the finish line is 'customer advocacy!' They were also invaluable in defining systems, processes, and tools — and they delivered a robust AI-enabled prototype that continues to drive our customer success workflow today!' Who Should Apply Studio CX is for CX and Customer Success teams ready to deliver measurable results and drive ongoing innovation. Participants gain a deployable prototype, a scale-up roadmap, an executive-ready business story, and embedded AI skills. Now Accepting August 2025 Cohort Applications Teams can schedule a discussion to learn more about program structure, outcomes, and pricing. Only 15% of organizations say AI is transforming their CX operations — Studio CX offers a path to close that gap in just 90 days.
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 93 Palestinians, including several families, health officials say
Hossam Azzam holds the body of his child, Amir, who was killed in an Israeli military airstrike on Gaza, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) OB flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
