Latest news with #U.K.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Israel says rockets fired from Syria for the first time since Bashar Assad's fall
DAMASCUS — The Israeli army said two rockets were fired from Syria into open areas in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights on Tuesday, marking the first time a strike has been launched toward Israel from Syrian territory since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December. Syrian state media reported that Israel shelled the western countryside of Syria's Daraa province after the rocket launch. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, also reported Israeli airstrikes that caused 'violent explosions' around the city of Quneitra and in the Daraa countryside. A group calling itself the Mohammed Deif Brigades — named after a Hamas military leader killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza last year — claimed the attack in a post on Telegram. The group first surfaced on social media a few days before. 'Until now, it's just a Telegram channel. It's not known if it is a real group,' said Ahmed Aba Zeid, a Syrian researcher who has studied armed factions in southern Syria. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Israel considers 'the Syrian president directly responsible for every threat and firing toward the State of Israel' and warned of a 'full response' to come 'as soon as possible.' Israel has been suspicious of the Islamist former insurgents who formed the new Syrian government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syria and seized a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone on Syrian territory since Assad's fall. Syria's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run TV channel that it has 'not yet verified the accuracy' of the reports of strikes launched from Syria toward Israel. 'We affirm that Syria has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region,' the statement said. It condemned the Israeli shelling, which it said had resulted in 'significant human and material losses.' The U.S., which has warmed to al-Sharaa's government and recently moved to lift some sanctions previously imposed on Syria, has pushed for Syria to normalize relations with Israel. In a recent interview with the Jewish Journal, al-Sharaa said he wants to see a return to a 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries but stopped short of proposing immediate normalization, saying that 'peace must be earned through mutual respect, not fear.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. to require asset divestitures for Keysight purchase of Spirent
(Reuters) -The U.S. government on Monday said it will require asset divestitures before allowing Keysight Technologies to complete its all-cash purchase of Spirent Communications. In court filings, the U.S. Department of Justice said the proposed merger of two of the largest global providers of high speed ethernet testing, network security testing and radio frequency channel emulators might otherwise substantially lessen competition and harm customers, violating antitrust law. Keysight, based in Santa Rosa, California, agreed in March 2024 to buy U.K.-based Spirent for 1.16 billion British pounds (now about $1.56 billion). Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
4 days ago
- Sport
On the day transgender women soccer players face a ban in England, they play on
LONDON -- For soccer-loving transgender women in England, it's been a tough day, as the ban on their participation in women's teams came into force. To show its solidarity with the community and against the decision by the governing body of English soccer (football), Goal Diggers Football Club, a London-based trans-inclusive women's team, held a tournament Sunday. The message was clear. Yes, it's a sad day, but no one will stop us playing the sport we love. Around 100 people — women, trans women, non-binary and gender non-conforming players —took part in the 'Let The Dolls Play Tournament' in Islington, north London. And everyone present appeared to find comfort in their solidarity despite the occasional foul, intentional or not. 'You know they're not going take away this community, my friends,' said Paula Griffin, a 60-year-old transgender woman. "And there's such a powerful message coming from that, that the people who care about women's sport are the people who play the women's sports. And these are the people that are my friends.' Griffin, like the others, are still dismayed by the decision last month by England's Football Association to ban transgender women from playing on women's soccer teams from June 1 following a U.K. Supreme Court ruling in April. The F.A. said it had decided to change its rules that had allowed transgender athletes to play in women's soccer teams if they had reduced testosterone levels. The decision came in the wake of the ruling from the U.K.'s Supreme Court that defined a woman for anti-discrimination purposes as someone born biologically female. The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said after the ruling that transgender women would be excluded from women's toilets, hospital wards and sports teams. While the ruling was cheered by some feminist groups, it was condemned by trans-rights groups who said it would have a broad and detrimental impact on daily life. 'It's really upset me,' said Billie Sky, a 28-year-old transgender woman. "I have to say, this has been a really hard week. I've struggled to get out of bed at times. I'm doing my best to get through work and come to things like this, but it's, it's really difficult.' The issue has been polarizing in the U.K. and beyond, particularly in the United States, where President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to prohibit participation of transgender athletes in sports and to use a rigid definition of the sexes, rather than gender, for federal government purposes. The orders are being challenged in court. For those present at the tournament in north London on Sunday morning, the fight will go on but for now, it's about keeping the sport they love close. 'I think that's the whole point of today, is we're trying to just reclaim the day and make it a really joyous time to spend together,' said Jahnavi Kalayil, a 26-year-old woman. "And I think it's definitely happened, everyone's had a really great time. Whether winning or losing the games, it's more about just coming together as a community and making sure we're standing up for our trans siblings.'
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Pride is not just a parade — it's a fight for survival
Opinion This weekend, when you think of Pride, spare a moment to think about Kady Grass. Just two weeks ago, the 19-year-old was beaten severely by five men as she left the bathroom of a McDonald's restaurant in a suburb outside Chicago with her 13-year-old niece. Witnesses and closed-circuit video cameras confirmed that the attackers used homophobic taunts and insults right before the attack. Grass was beaten unconscious and suffered a broken nose. Two of the men who attacked her — one 19, one 16 — have been charged with a variety of offences including one count of perpetrating a hate crime. Mike Sudoma / Free Press files Violent hate crimes and the legal persecution of LGBTTQ+ people is a growing, global phenomenon. 'They attacked me because I like women,' Grass said in a social media post. 'All I did was exist that day. I went to go spend time with my family, and then, I was brutally attacked. There was nothing I did to deserve that.' The key statement is Grass' acknowledgement that she was attacked simply because she existed. That is something we all need to keep in mind as we enter the final weekend of Pride festivities here in Manitoba because, in case you hadn't heard, the very existence of LGBTTQ+ people here, across Canada, all over North America and across the world is under attack. In 2023, even as the incidence of overall violent crime was going down, Statistics Canada reported that hate crimes against LGBTTQ+ people had gone up 70 per cent. It's not just a blip; since 2016, hate crimes targeting sexual orientation have gone up by nearly 400 per cent. In the United States, the situation is similar in some ways, worse in others. The 2023 National Crime Victimization Survey found that LGBTTQ+ people were five times more likely to be a victim of violence than non-LGBTTQ+ people, and nine times more likely to be the victim of a hate crime. It's also not just a North American phenomenon. Violent hate crimes and the legal persecution of LGBTTQ+ people is a growing, global phenomenon. Just about every entity that tracks these incidents believes only half of all attacks are reported to authorities. Human Dignity Trust, a U.K.-based organization that advocates for legal protections for LGBTTQ+ all over the world, said 65 countries consider same-sex relationships to be illegal, 12 of those countries allow the death penalty as the maximum sentence. Of those that consider it illegal, 41 countries have criminalized 'private, consensual sexual activity between women.' Why the spike in hate and violence directed at LGBTTQ+ people? It's complicated but not impossible to discern. Compassion and empathy have been in short supply since the worst, early days of the pandemic. That, in turn, has helped ignite a global rise in far-right populism which holds, as one of its core principles, the desire to suppress, possibly erase, the existence of LGBTTQ+ people. It's not bleak everywhere in the world. In fact, while attacks on LGBTTQ+ people are escalating in Canada, this country can still claim a place on the forefront of this critical human rights issue. It's visible in gestures such as Manitoba's NDP government holding what very well could be the first Pride drag show inside a provincial legislative building. Two notable local drag queens performed in the rotunda outside the legislative chamber to a raucous crowd of Pride supporters. 'This is the people's building,' Premier Wab Kinew told those in attendance. 'I hope you always feel welcome here.' Tributes should also be extended to Canada's federal government. Love in a Dangerous Time, a poignant exhibit about the threats faced by Canada's LGBTTQ+ community that was created for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg was transported to Canada's breathtaking embassy in Washington, D.C. Taking this exhibit to Washington — ground zero in an aggressive anti-LGBTTQ+ campaign by the Trump administration — is a pretty courageous act by Ottawa. The exhibit will be in the embassy, which has a panoramic view of the U.S. Capitol buildings, until August 29. In a more perfect world, gestures such as this would not necessarily be required. But in this day and age, Pride celebrations are still essential largely because the world has become a harder and more dangerous place for LGBTTQ+ people. It would be easy to see Pride just as another cultural event, disconnected from any serious societal issues. In reality, the origins of 'Pride' can be found in violent attacks and persecution on the LGBTTQ+ community in the U.S. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Pride has always been framed as a celebration, and with good reason. But in its earliest days, it was a courageous act of defiance against the legal and political systems that endorsed unmitigated violence and persecution. So, this weekend, it would be a great gesture if we all paid tribute to the origins of Pride, while keeping in mind the reason it exists. Most non-LGBTTQ+ people, when they hear the term 'Pride,' will almost automatically think 'parade.' When you hear the word 'Pride' this year, think 'survival.' Dan LettColumnist Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan. Dan's columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press' editing team reviews Dan's columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
5 facts about Arabella Stanton, new Hermione Granger in Harry Potter series
HBO has finally found its Hermione Granger for the upcoming Harry Potter TV series! After auditioning thousands of young actors, 11-year-old Arabella Stanton was chosen to play the smart and brave young witch. The character was first played by Emma Watson in the Harry Potter movies. Arabella will bring her own version of Hermione to life on the small screen. While the heart of the character will stay the same, fans can expect a few new twists. The show's creators, Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, shared the exciting news in a statement. They said, 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen,' as per Hollywood Life report. Like many of the original Harry Potter stars, Arabella is British. She follows in the footsteps of a mostly U.K.-based cast. According to Forbes, Arabella is currently 11. That makes her a little older than Emma Watson was—Emma was just 9 when she was cast in the first movie. Arabella already has some big roles under her belt. She played the lead in Matilda: The Musical on the West End stage in London. She also performed as the narrator, Control, in Starlight Express at Wembley Park Theatre. That's pretty impressive for someone her age! Arabella's parents manage her Instagram account, which shares photos and updates about her acting and singing work. In one post, Arabella looked back on playing Matilda and shared that she was only 9 when she got the role. According to an unverified Instagram account that seems to be Arabella's, she's represented by Olivia Bell Management and Public Eye Communications.
