Latest news with #NewJersey-native
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hamas releases last living American hostage
After 583 days in captivity, Hamas released its last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, on Monday. New Jersey-native, 21-year-old Alexander enlisted in the Israeli Defense Force after graduating high school in 2022. He was stationed near the Gaza border when he was abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. On Sunday night, President Donald Trump announced his release on Truth Social. 'I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,' he wrote. The president thanked Qatar and Egypt for working as mediators to help release Alexander. Hamas abducted 251 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, and 59 still remain in Gaza. Of the 59, the Israel Defense Force believes that at least 35 are dead. The bodies of four remaining American hostages are still being held in Gaza. They include Omer Neutra, 21; Itay Chen, 19; Gadi Haggai, 73; and Judi Weinstein Haggai, 70. Alexander's mother, Yael, traveled to Israel to be with her son immediately after his release, special envoy for hostages taken by Hamas, Adam Boehler, wrote on X, Sunday night. 'Today, on Mother's Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable — news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza,' the family wrote in a statement, per The Washington Post. 'We express our deepest gratitude to President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the U.S. administration for their tireless work to make this happen.' They continued, 'We urge the Israeli government and the negotiating teams: please don't stop. We hope our son's release begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare for them and their families.' 'No hostage should be left behind,' they wrote. Hamas's lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said Hamas agreed to free Alexander after talks with the U.S., but he did not say what the group expected to receive in return, according to The New York Times. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Hamas would not be receiving anything for releasing Alexander. 'The expected release of IDF soldier Edan Alexander without anything in return will be possible due to the vigorous policy that we have led with the backing of President Trump,' the Israeli Prime Minister's office stated, per the Jerusalem Post. President Trump is set to head to the Middle East for a four-day trip on Monday, and The New York Times reported that the timely release of the last American hostage could be 'a possible effort to gain favor' with the president, in hopes that the U.S. will pressure Israel into a ceasefire. The war started by Hamas on Oct. 7, has led to tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza, as well as the deaths of more than a thousand Israelis. In Alexander's hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, crowds gathered in Huyler Park at 5 a.m. to celebrate the 21-year-old's release, per the Jewish Telegraphic Agency A message was sent out over text, email and WhatsApp on Sunday Night, encouraging people to gather. It said, 'Yes, it's early. And yes, it might be a little cold. But we are strong, united and our love will warm us all.' New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat who has launched a campaign for governor, joined the crowds, as did a founder of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Assi Berman Dayan.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
RIP Blondie's Clem Burke, Gang Of Four's Dave Allen
The music world lost two influential players over the past several days, as Blondie drummer Clem Burke passed away today (April 7) at the age of 70 after battling cancer. and Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen died Saturday of dementia complications at the age of 69. 'Clem was not just a drummer — he was the heartbeat of Blondie,' the band wrote of Burke on social media. 'His talent, energy and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.' More from Spin: Every Elton John Album, Ranked The Prodigy Is Finding Its Second Life The SPIN Interview: Youssou N'Dour New Jersey-native Burke, whose real name was Clement Bozewski, was drafted into Blondie in 1975 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. He performed on each of the band's studio releases between 1976 until 2017 and was inducted with his Blondie bandmates into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Burke also played drums for stints of varying lengths with Iggy Pop, the Ramones, the Go-Go's, Joan Jett and Eurythmics. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Gloucestershire for his Clem Burke Drumming Project. 'It was all just the greatest time,' Burke told SPIN in 2022 of his tenure with Blondie. 'Nowadays we keep it more civilized. With Iggy, it was always decadent rock 'n roll — it feels different to me now. I haven't done drugs for a long time, I am very health conscious. But the energy is still there, and we love being on stage. We are now avoiding the chaos as much as possible. These things don't happen nowadays.' With vocalist Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill and drummer Hugo Burnham, Allen powered Gang of Four to cult-classic status in the 1980s thanks to brainy, punk-tinged albums such as Entertainment! and Solid Gold. He left the band in 1981 but was present for the first four years of Gang of Four's reunion period, beginning in 2004. 'Dave had endured the early onset of mixed dementia for some years, which has been a heartbreaking time for his wife Paddy, his children and close friends,' Burhnam wrote on social media. 'Our love and thoughts are with them. Jon and I went to see him and spent a lovely afternoon with him and the family. We talked and laughed for hours, sharing rich and vivid memories of good times together — adventures, careers in music, raising families, our interwoven lives spanning half a century. We've been so very lucky to have had the Ace of Bass in our lives.' Following his original period in Gang of Four, Allen formed Shriekback with ex-XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews, played in groups such as Low Pop Suicide and Elastic Purejoy and ran the World Dominations Recordings label. He also worked in consumer digital audio at Intel and in artist relations for Apple Music. Referencing Gang of Four's upcoming farewell tour, which finds Gail Greenwood filling in for Allen and Ted Leo playing Gill's legendary guitar parts, Burnham wrote, 'we know that Dave would have wanted nothing more than to step onstage with us again in Portland on our farewell U.S. tour, but it's now a bridge too far. Goodbye, old friend.' To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
CBS News
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Bruce Springsteen releasing "Lost Albums" featuring dozens of songs never heard before
A new Bruce Springsteen album coming out this summer will include dozens of "never-before-heard" songs from previously-unreleased records. "Tracks II: The Lost Albums" features seven full-length albums that were never released from 1983-2018, a post Thursday on Springsteen's social media says. Springsteen's new album will feature 82 unreleased tracks, including 74 songs that have never been heard before, according to the New Jersey-native's website . "'The Lost Albums' were full records, some of them even to the point of being mixed and not released," Springsteen said. "I've played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I'm glad you'll get a chance to finally hear them. I hope you enjoy them." He also spoke about the album in a trailer on YouTube. "I often read about myself in the 90s as having some 'lost' period or something. And really, I was working the whole time," he said. "During the pandemic, what I did for that period of time was I finished everything I had in my vault." "Tracks II: The Lost Albums" will be released on June 27 via Sony Music, according to the announcement.
