Latest news with #Björk
The Journal
9 hours ago
- General
- The Journal
'We did nothing wrong': Irish activist arrested by Israeli police in West Bank to fight deportation
AN IRISH PRO-PALESTINIAN activist is fighting deportation from Israel after she was arrested by police in the occupied West Bank because 'she did nothing wrong'. Máire Ní Mhurchú, a 71-year-old woman originally from Cork who goes by the name D Murphy, was detained by Israeli forces in the village of Khallet al-Dabaa in the Masafer Yatta region of southern West Bank on Saturday. Murphy was arrested alongside Swedish woman Suzanne Björk, who has since been deported from Israel to Athens. The two women were arrested shortly after Israeli forces declared the village a 'closed military zone'. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Björk said she and Murphy arrived in the village of Khallet al-Dabaa on Friday. 'There was no sign visible that this was a firing zone and there were many other people there,' said Björk. 'We had previously spoken to the police and the Israeli army, and they at no point said that we weren't supposed to be there or asked us to leave.' Both women appeared separately in court for deportation hearings on Sunday and had been held in a detention centre at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. But while Björk decided to leave Israel voluntarily and is now in Athens in Greece, Murphy decided to challenge the court's deportation order. 'I was told that my visa had been cancelled and that I was now in Israel illegally, and I was detained,' said Björk. 'I signed a paper to say I was willing to take the first flight out, and so yesterday morning, I was put on a plane to Athens. 'D, however, decided to fight this deportation because we have done nothing wrong.' Björk said the accusations by Israeli police are 'completely false' and that D has decided to remain in detention to challenge the order. Murphy has since been moved from detained in Ben Gurion Airport to Givon prison in Ramla, according to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). 'The lawyer is in touch with relevant authorities but we haven't managed to speak to her directly,' said an ISM spokesperson. 'We are awaiting to hear when she will be brought in front of a judge. 'Murphy and Björk were peacefully standing in solidarity with the community there when the arrest happened.' While Björk has been on previous visits to the West Bank, she said she had faced intimidation before but not arrest. Advertisement 'They're just trying to get rid of anyone who tries to document the reality of the occupation and the war crimes taking place,' said Björk. 'Soldiers bashing on the door' Björk said that when she and D arrived in the village of Khallet al-Dabaa, they witnessed 'some settler shepherds harassing the locals'. Björk said she filmed this incident and was then attacked and had her phone stolen. She then called the police and said she was told to make an official statement at the station the next morning. 'The next morning, we were woken up by soldiers bashing on the door, saying that we're in a place we're not supposed to be and we have 10 seconds to get out,' said Björk. She said the soldiers detained the two women and called the police. Björk said she explained to the soldiers that they had been planning on going to the police station to make a statement about the incident on Friday night and that the soldiers released them so that they could make their own way to the station. However, Björk said they were then stopped by a 'settler security guard'. 'He refused to identify himself and we waited for the police,' said Björk. 'The police ended up detaining us and taking us to the police station, where we were then arrested and charged.' Israeli police accused the two women of entering a restricted military area. Both women appeared separately in court for deportation hearings on Sunday. 'There was no sign visible that this was a firing zone and there were many other people there,' said Björk. 'We had previously spoken to the police and the Israeli army, and they at no point said that we weren't supposed to be there or asked us to leave.' Björk said the immigration officer also brought up charges alleging that the two women were 'threatening and humiliating soldiers and police'. 'D is a 71-year-old woman, I am a 48-year-old woman,' said Björk. 'We're not really threatening. We definitely wouldn't be threatening heavily armed men.' Murphy's son, Dale Ryan, yesterday said that his mother's only offence was 'observing crimes against Palestinian people.' -With additional reporting from Andrew Walsh Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Irish woman held in Israel did nothing 'to warrant detention'
A Swedish woman who was arrested by Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank along with Irish woman Deirdre "D" Murphy has said that they had not done anything to warrant detention and deportation. Suzanne Björk was detained by Israel with Ms Murphy and has since been deported to Athens in Greece after agreeing to get on the next available flight from Israel. Ms Murphy, who is 71 and originally from Co Cork, was volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), an activist group helping Palestinian residents in the occupied West Bank. ISM said Ms Murphy was arrested in the village of Khalet Al-Daba'a in Masafer Yatta in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. They were interrogated in a local police station accused of being in a military zone, as parts of Masafer Yatta have been designated by Israeli authorities a closed military zone since the 1980s. ISM said that 90% of the homes in Khalet Al-Daba'a have been demolished and residents are living in tents and caves. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Björk said that they were originally arrested for being in the wrong place. "They said we were in an area that we weren't supposed to be, in a firing zone. There was no sign visible that this was a firing zone. There were many other people there, including the settler shepherds and villagers, and other Israelis," she said. Ms Björk added: "There were many people there, there was no sign, and the night before we had spoken to the police and the Israeli army. They, at no point, said that we weren't supposed to be there, or asked us to leave." "We complied with all instruction. The charge in the end, they said we didn't leave when asked, we didn't show our ID, and this is completely false, because we did at every point." Ms Björk said that Ms Murphy was still being detained because she had decided to contest her charges, rather than agree to leave. "D is still detained. After we had done the immigration hearing, we had separate hearings, but I was told that my visa had been cancelled. I was now in Israel illegally and I was detained," she said. "Legally, there's a three-day turnaround for them to deport you, but I had signed a paper to say I was willing to take the first flight out. "I was put on a plane to Athens. D, however, decided to fight this deportation, because we had done nothing wrong. These are completely false accusations," Ms Björk said. "And so, she has remained in detention, waiting to see a judge, which I don't know when that may be," she added. Ms Björk denied claims that their behaviour while in detention was threatening. Ms Murphy was in a detention centre at Ben Gurion Airport. However, ISM said she will be transported to another facility to await a court hearing. "The immigration officer brought up charges, saying that we were threatening and humiliating soldiers and police," Ms Björk said. "D is a 71-year-old woman, I am a 48-year-old woman. We're not really threatening. We definitely wouldn't be threatening heavily armed men," she said. "They offered for us to leave voluntarily. We didn't think that seemed correct, because there would be no paperwork of this incident and we hadn't actually done anything wrong. We had just been in an area that we weren't supposed to be in, and that wasn't clear," Ms Björk added. Ms Murphy's son, Dale Ryan, who is also based in Swansea, told RTÉ News yesterday that his mother has been there for five weeks but has been volunteering in the West Bank for 20 years and considers many families in the area as friends. "She has been in good shape for her age, but I am worried about her health as conditions are difficult," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said yesterday it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Israeli police detain Cork activist, 70, in the West Bank
An Irish woman has been detained by Israel in the West Bank, according to an activist group. Máire ní Mhurchú, known as D Murphy, (aged 70) was detained by Israeli police on Saturday in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, according to the International Solidarity Movement, the Palestinian anti-occupation group which the Irish woman has been volunteering with since May. Originally from Douglas in Cork but living in Swansea, Wales, Murphy was arrested alongside Swedish activist, Susanne Björk (aged 48), in Khalet al-Daba'a, a small Palestinian village which was largely demolished by Israeli forces in early May. After Israeli soldiers ordered the activists to leave, the female activists were reportedly stopped while leaving the village by Israeli settlers serving as reservists with the military. The Israeli police were called and subsequently detained Murphy and Björk for being in a closed military zone. The 120-person community at Khalet al-Daba'a is one of a dozen Palestinian hamlets in Masafer Yatta located inside an area which the Israeli authorities designated as a military firing zone in the 1980s. After a long legal battle, Israel's Supreme Court approved the eviction of 1,000 residents from the villages in the occupied West Bank in 2022. Amnesty International says ongoing settler attacks and demolitions place communities in Masafer Yatta at risk of forcible transfer. International law prohibits both the expropriation of occupied land for purposes that do not benefit the people living there, and their forcible transfer. According to the International Solidarity Movement, Björk is now due to be deported while Murphy is fighting a deportation order while detained at Ben Gurion Airport and facing possible jail time. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been contacted for comment. Murphy is a founding member of Swansea Palestine Community Link and was previously detained in Israel in 2011 when she travelled to the Jewish state with the Welsh pro-Palestine group. Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance and, as per protocol, does not comment on the details of individual cases. Murphy's son, Dale Ryan, said: 'As far as I can see her only crime was observing crimes against Palestinian people. D has always had a strong sense of justice and I know she could not sit at home while she knew her friends in Masafer Yatta and all of Palestine were suffering unnecessarily. "I am very proud of my mother for sticking up for the basic human rights of her friends and trying to raise awareness of the injustices the Palestinian people are experiencing." In 2024, the far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben Gvir established a special task force within Israel's West Bank police unit to target left-wing activists in the West Bank including foreign nationals and supporters of the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment (BDS) movement. According to the Israeli outlet Haaretz, at least 16 foreign activists working with Palestinians in the West Bank have been detained and deported from Israel since October 2023. Activists often accompany Palestinian shepherds and farmers who are at risk of forced displacement, as well as violence from the IDF and local settlers while they work. In 2024, the UN recorded 4,250 Palestinians who were displaced, 1,760 structures which were destroyed, and about 1,400 violent incidents involving Israeli settlers across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Read More Climate activist Greta Thunberg joins aid ship sailing to Gaza
Tom's Guide
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I test headphones for a living — here are 5 more tracks that I use every time
As Tom's Guide's Audio Editor, I spend a lot of time testing headphones. However, because I spend so much time putting the latest and greatest audio gear through its paces, I can't use the same tracks over and over again — that would get boring. I've already told you about five tracks that I use the most to get an idea of how an audio device sounds, but I thought you might want to know other tracks that I like to use to test headphones. Without further ado, here are five more pieces of music that I like to use when I get Qobuz running to test the best headphones. Ghost's covers are well known for being an eclectic mix of old pop music, Abba, and little-known Swedish rock ballads. This cover is of Genesis' take down of commercial preachers — and it's wonderful. Playfully orchestral, joyfully silly, and immaculately produced, it oozes sardonic critique. It's a big, soaring track destined for the stage, but bound to your portable audio device by streaming services. It's a great way to test the low-end earbuds and headphones, with the pulsating bass and kick drum mixed to be as powerful as possible. I've found some devices struggle to keep up with Tobias Forges' operatic vocals, struggling with the really high notes in the chorus. Cymbals need to chirp, and the guitars need to be easily separated from the bass notes. When it sounds good, it sounds epic, but it's a track that can really trip up less impressive cans. I don't think the Icelandic queen of avant-garde pop music really needs any introduction, and I'd wager the album opener of her 1997 album Homogenic doesn't either. Equal parts strange and unsettling, "Hunter" was written about the pressure Björk felt to write new music. The result is haunting and multi-layered. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It's that layering that makes it such a good track to use to test headphones and speakers. I want to make sure that the device can pick out each element of the moving synth lines. I don't want them to bunch up with the synthesized drum beats or the strange, jumping bass. Bjork's Vocals need to be clear and concise. As the track builds and gets even more layered, I want to make sure I can hear every stroke of the violin, and the accordion needs to cut through the cacophony. At The Gates invented an entire sub-genre of metal with Slaughter Of The Soul, and mid-album heavy hitter "Suicide Nation" and its galloping distorted guitars and machine-gun drumming are a case in point. It's heavier than a neutron star, blisteringly fast, and timed to perfection. There's plenty for a pair of headphones or earbuds to get stuck into. I want to make sure that the bass drum and bass guitars don't blend into a single mass of noise, staying separate and discernible. The distorted guitars need to be chunky but sharp, and the hi-hats and cymbals of the drums need to have plenty of clarity. The screamed vocals need space to breathe, and everything needs to be separated enough that it doesn't become a wall of noise. Good headphones bring out the heavy and get me headbanging like little else, while bad options can make the track intolerably monotone. Jazz is an excellent litmus test for good headphones. Casiopea's instantly catchy Jazz Fusion is particularly fit for the task, with virtuosos taking it turns to come to the mic and get center stage with their instruments. There's a lot going on in "Midnight Rendezvous". I want the funky bass line to sing and bounce, the guitar riffing to be clear and concise. The orchestral swells that signify a new soloist joining the fray need to be smooth and dynamic, changing volume without issue. Some headphones struggle with the clarity of the mix, with floppy bass signatures struggling with the exacting bassline — either way, there's a lot of opportunity to show what a set of cans can do. Gunship is loads of fun – it's the eighties that I like to think existed, but never did. "Monster In Paradise" is the band at their most sleezy, all the way down to the cyberpunk music video, slick saxophone solo, and sickly sweet guitar solo. It's not the most difficult track to play well, but there are some key areas that I watch out for. The vocals need to be clear, standing out amongst the synths and drums. It's those synths that present the most challenge, though. The song is great to make sure that a pair of headphones is good for mid-range presentation. The synth lines need to be at the forefront of the track, not giving way to any other elements. But they also need to be well separated, leaving enough room for everything to work. It's a tough balancing act — and one that only the best headphones will know how to handle.
Tatler Asia
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Boo first, applaud later: 12 Cannes cult classics that outlived the jeers
2. 'Dancer in the Dark' (2000) Lars von Trier has a long, messy relationship with Cannes, and Dancer in the Dark is his most operatic offence. This heartbreaking musical stars Björk as a blind factory worker saving up for her son's eye surgery. Between tearjerking tragedies and abrupt, dreamlike musical numbers, audiences were split—some moved to tears, others to the exits. The Palme d'Or win didn't silence the sceptics, but in time, its raw emotion, jagged beauty and Björk's once-in-a-lifetime performance cemented its status as one of the strangest, saddest musicals ever made. 3. 'Crash' (1996) Not to be confused with the Oscar-winning drama of the same name, this David Cronenberg film is about car crash fetishists. Based on the J.G. Ballard novel, Crash features James Spader and Holly Hunter in a world where mangled metal equals erotic thrill. When it screened at Cannes, audience members reportedly fled the theatre in disgust, and one jury member called it 'the most repulsive film' he'd ever seen. Naturally, it's now a cult classic—studied, fetishised and deeply respected as a bold examination of modern alienation and obsession. 4. 'The Neon Demon' (2016) Nicolas Winding Refn's blood-soaked, neon-lit descent into the fashion industry might as well have come with a 'Viewer Discretion Advised' warning. Elle Fanning stars as an aspiring model who becomes the target of envy, violence and possibly supernatural forces. At Cannes, the film's cannibalism, necrophilia and vacant stares drew audible gasps and widespread mockery. But over time, its high-gloss aesthetic and unflinching nihilism found its tribe. Now, it lives on in mood boards and horror-film retrospectives as goth couture gold. 5. 'The Tree of Life' (2011) Terrence Malick's metaphysical epic, featuring dinosaurs, galactic wombs and Jessica Chastain twirling in sunlight, was booed by audiences who just wanted a linear story, or at least a clear point. Instead, they got a meditation on grief, grace and the cosmos. Brad Pitt plays a strict 1950s father, while Sean Penn wanders through modern architecture looking confused. The film was either an existential masterpiece or a pretentious snoozefest, depending on who you asked. A decade later, it's lauded as one of the most ambitious films of the 21st century. This is definitely one of the most memorable Cannes cult classics. 6. 'Southland Tales' (2006) After the success of Donnie Darko , Richard Kelly went full apocalypse in this chaotic messiah satire starring Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott and Justin Timberlake lip-syncing to The Killers in a military uniform. Cannes audiences weren't impressed. It was long, incoherent and drowning in references to everything from Revelations to reality TV. The boos were deafening. But in hindsight, Southland Tales reads like a prophecy—one that predicted the era of influencer politics and media collapse. It's a misunderstood fever dream turned Cannes cult classic. 7. 'L'Avventura' (1960) Michelangelo Antonioni's L'Avventura might be the OG of Cannes boos. A woman disappears during a Mediterranean yachting trip, but no one really tries that hard to find her. Instead, the remaining characters drift into existential malaise and complicated affairs. Viewers in 1960 were outraged. Where's the plot? Where's the resolution? But that's the point. What was once called boring is now recognised as revolutionary. It broke the rules of narrative and gave mood as story. Today, it's a textbook staple for film students and arthouse lovers. 8. 'Inglourious Basterds' (2009) When Quentin Tarantino returned to Cannes with this revisionist WWII flick, not everyone was thrilled by the sight of Hitler getting shot in a burning movie theatre. Some critics were uneasy with its gleeful violence and alternate history. But others saw brilliance in Christoph Waltz's turn as a charmingly cruel Nazi and the film's operatic tension. Despite early grumbles, Inglourious Basterds became a critical and commercial hit—and another entry in Tarantino's long list of genre-bending cult masterpieces. 9. 'The House That Jack Built' (2018) Only Lars von Trier could turn serial killing into a philosophical monologue. In this deeply polarising horror film, Matt Dillon plays Jack, a murderer who sees his crimes as art. The audience? Not so sure. With graphic violence, disturbing imagery and a finale that literally ends in Hell, over 100 Cannes attendees walked out. Still, for those who stayed, the film offered a provocative and chilling examination of art, cruelty and the male ego. Uncomfortable? Absolutely. Unforgettable? Even more so. See more: 5 cult classic movies that are so bad, they're good 10. 'The Brown Bunny' (2003) The boos were biblical. Vincent Gallo's slow, minimal road film—with an infamous scene with Chloë Sevigny—was the scandal of Cannes. Critics pounced, with Roger Ebert calling it one of the worst films ever screened at the festival. Gallo, never one to shy away from drama, fired back. Years later, a re-edited version emerged, and some began to see it differently: a meditative, melancholy look at guilt and male fragility. Still divisive, but undeniably unforgettable. 11. 'Marie Antoinette' (2006) Sofia Coppola dared to punk-rock Versailles. Set to New Order and Bow Wow Wow, her pastel-soaked portrayal of France's most infamous teen royal (played with vacant charm by Kirsten Dunst) was met with chilly disdain at Cannes. Audiences wanted powdered wigs; Coppola gave them Converse sneakers and ennui. But years later, Marie Antoinette is beloved for exactly that, a cotton-candy rebellion that made historical fiction chic again. This film is well beyond a list of Cannes cult classics. 12. 'Only God Forgives' (2013) Nicolas Winding Refn reunited with Ryan Gosling post- Drive for this Thai neon fever dream, but the reception at Cannes was anything but romantic. The film, featuring Gosling as a near-mute boxer avenging his brother's death, was booed for being ultra-violent, glacially slow and proudly opaque. But style-wise? It's jaw-dropping. As time passed, its hypnotic visuals, synth soundtrack and Kristen Scott Thomas's terrifying mother-from-hell performance have earned it a strange, silent cult following.
