Latest news with #twinning
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
BCP council 'fence-sitting' over Israeli town twinning
A local authority was "fence-sitting" over a motion to de-twin a Dorset town from its Israeli counterpart, a councillor has party councillors Joe and Kate Salmon brought the motion after more than 2,500 residents signed a petition calling for the 30-year relationship between Bournemouth and Netanya to end over Israel's actions in Gaza. In a full Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) meeting on 22 July, members instead voted for an amendment to the motion which said it would "take no view" of the twinning arrangement. Mr Salmon said the council "has a responsibility" to make a decision. He said the council meeting had been a "masterclass in fence-sitting by Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour councillors"."We will keep pressing until they stop ignoring residents on this difficult but important debate," he Martin, cabinet member for customer, communications and culture at BCP said: "The twinning arrangement between Bournemouth and Netanya has been in place for more than 30 years and continues to reflect a commitment to civic friendship and cultural exchange."The motion, which was first put forward last year, was delayed while the council sought legal advice on which constitution should make the sought to suspend all support for the twinning arrangement, remove road signs and cease civic support until circumstances could be reviewed following the war in Gaza. Bournemouth has been twinned with Netanya since 1995 but since the war in Gaza began, road signage of the twinning in Bournemouth has been taken down by unknown people on multiple occasions. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken least 59,029 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry. In response to Mr and Mrs Salmons' motion, the amendment that members voted in favour of stated: "It is not the role of the council to support nor condemn matters occurring in the region."Mr Martin said: "Following a full and respectful debate, BCP councillors have resolved to take no view on the appropriateness of the twinning arrangement and neither wish to promote twinning nor to criticise it."The amendment also said while the council would not remove existing signage it would not fund replacing signage that had been removed. Mr Salmon said it was an "open invitation for vandalism"."Both supporters and opponents of the twinning wanted the council to show decisive leadership," he said, adding: "BCP council failed to deliver."The council has a responsibility to make a decision - do we publicly align ourselves with a municipality in a state currently facing credible genocide allegations or do we withdraw our civic endorsements." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jason Momoa Twins With His Kids on the Red Carpet and They Look So Grown Up!
Jason Momoa Twins With His Kids on the Red Carpet and They Look So Grown Up! originally appeared on Parade. Hollywood A-lister Jason Momoa turned his Chief of War premiere into a family affair on Friday, July 18, 2025, when he rocked matching outfits with his kids on the red carpet in Ko Olina, Hawaii! The Aquaman star stepped out with his 16-year-old son Nakoa-Wolf and 17-year-old daughter Lola twinning in what appeared to be traditional tribal elements. Jason looked powerful in a fur cape carrying two bone daggers and a bone necklace, while his son rocked a tank top with a neckpiece made of teeth and a similar cape. Lola wore a brown dress with cutouts and a little matching capelet on top. Jason also brought his girlfriend, actress Adria Arjona, to the Apple TV+ miniseries premiere. She wore a burnt orange ruffled dress and proudly held Jason's hand on the carpet. The duo, who first stepped out together in Spring 2024, seeemed happier than ever more than a year into their relationship. They were also caught gazing into each other's eyes and beaming. The miniseries, created by Thomas Paʻa Sibbett and Jason, follows a warrior who embarks on a monumental mission to unite Hawai'i's four kingdoms beofre western colonization at the turn of the 19th century. Jason, who stars and is executive producer of the film, is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, so of course he wanted to bring his family along to celebrate their heritage and a project that's near and dear to his heart. 'This is playing my ancestors. This is, if I fail, I'm not coming home,' Jason told KHON. 'Home. You know, I can't come home. We could be embarrassed. And I mean, it's everything, it's my soul, it's my it's my DNA. I think today is going to be probably the most impactful and important moment in my life.' Jason welcomed his kids with his ex-wife Lisa Bonet in 2007 and 2008. Though they split in 2020 and formallty divorced in 2024, they still remain very close and supportive of each other. Jason travelled to New York City to support his stepdaughter, Zoë Kravitz, in person at her The Batman premiere in February 2022, showed love for Bonet on her birthday in November 2022, and delivered a Christmas tree to her house for the holidays the same year. When asked if the gestures meant they were reconciling, he told Access Hollywood,"We're not back together, we're family." Chief of War prmeieres on Appile TV+ on August 1. Jason Momoa Twins With His Kids on the Red Carpet and They Look So Grown Up! first appeared on Parade on Jul 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Councillor calls for Bristol to be twinned with Ukranian city
A councillor who has just returned from a trip to the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa is calling for it to have closer ties with Goggin was in the city for six days in May and described residents as the "strongest people I have ever met". Bristol is currently twinned with seven cities: Bordeaux, Hanover, Porto, Tbilisi, Puerto Morazan, Beira and Guangzhou. Mr Goggin said the move would boost economic ties while also allowing for greater links between the two cities' universities. It is now just over three years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the country with Russian forces slowly expanding the amount of territory they control. Mr Goggin, who represents Hartcliffe and Withywood for Labour, recently visited Odesa to see first-hand the effect the war has had on those living in the port city. Speaking on BBC Radio Bristol, he compared the people he met to Londoners during World War Two and the blitz spirit that prevailed during that Goggin said: "People are going to work, doing jobs, but coming home and not knowing if their home is still going to be there or if today is the day when they get a call saying one of their loved ones has lost their life. "They're the strongest people I have ever met."During his trip he went to see a performance at the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre which was interrupted by an air raid. He said that while he was in the shelter "some of the performers came down and sang patriotic songs for us."It was truly moving and that was when I realised that Putin will never beat the Ukrainian spirit." Mr Goggin explained how he was keen to see Bristol being formerly connected with Odesa as "we haven't twinned with another city for a quarter of a century". To avoid the process putting extra pressure on Bristol City Council's finances he's now planning to raise the money to start the twinning process through independent sources, third parties and philanthropic organisations. He believes it would create lasting economic benefits for Bristol.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Fury over Labour-run London council's decision to twin with Palestinian city as residents say it won't solve peace in the Middle East but risks dividing community
A London council has been accused of 'sectarianism' for twinning with a Palestinian city. Brent, a Labour-run local authority in the north of the capital, voted in May to twin with Nablus in the West Bank to promote 'cultural, social, economic, and educational exchanges'. The campaign had been spearheaded by Councillor Ihtesham Afzal, who promoted the move in a speech by describing it as proof that 'the people' of Brent 'stand for Palestine '. But the decision has upset Jewish community leaders, who met council leader Muhammad Butt on Wednesday to share their concerns. Afterwards, Amanda Bowman - co-chair of the London Jewish Forum - described the meeting as 'more than disappointing'. 'That is not meaningful engagement – it's a box-ticking exercise,' she said. 'Jewish residents deserve better than symbolic gestures that ignore their concerns. We remain open to dialogue but real trust is built through action, not afterthought.' Phil Rosenberg, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, added: 'Brent council's long record of active support for community cohesion is now very much in question. 'The proposed twinning will do nothing for peace in the region but risks the good relations of diverse communities in Brent.' After the council vote, Councillor Butt claimed the decision to twin Brent to Nablus 'was not taken likely' and that it 'followed a period of public engagement, including a petition signed by more than 2,000 residents'. In an email to residents, he said he wanted to 'acknowledge the pain and trauma that continue to affect Jewish communities both here in Brent and around the world following the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas on Oct 7'. A petition against the twinning suggested the twinning would not further the cause of peace given seven out of fifteen of the people who sit on Nablus's own council are backed by Hamas. It said that the city was home to militant groups including the Lions' Den, which is sanctioned by the US, and - according to Israeli and Palestinian officials - is funded by Hamas. The petition was launched by Ian Collier, who is Jewish and a former candidate for Reform. He wrote: 'The proposal to twin has not given due regard to the effects of this decision to those residents with protected characteristics which include, along with the Muslim community, Jews, Christians, Jains, Sikhs, Hindus and the LGBTQ community. 'Brent's objectives should be to enhance community relations and cooperation, and this proposal will undermine this objective as it appears sectarian in its nature.' Brent previously released a 67-page document justifying the twinning, in which it spoke of the 'strong potential for collaboration between our two councils'. This is far from the first time the Israel-Palestine conflict has had a bearing on local councils in the UK. A slew of candidates motivated by the Gaza crisis were elected in council contests across England this May. It was an echo of last July's general election, which was marked by success for independents across traditional Labour strongholds. Last month, a Labour MP told how he was being threatened by a group of masked pro-Palestinian activists who had blocked his constituency offices. Luke Charters, the MP for York Outer, said the activists have 'charged' him with genocide and used 'intimidating methods' to pressure him over the war in Gaza. He said he has become a target in his home town and local constituents had become 'too scared to meet him'. A Brent council spokesman said: 'We want to thank representatives of Brent's Jewish community for meeting the leader of the council to share their concerns respectfully. We deeply value the long and storied contribution of our Jewish residents to civic life in Brent, and we remain committed to fostering good relations between all of Brent's diverse communities. 'The twinning with Nablus is about promoting peace, cultural exchange and mutual understanding. It does not endorse any ideological belief and builds on a tradition of towns and cities forming international civic links to foster understanding and build bridges. 'We acknowledge the anxieties raised and the council will continue to listen and engage as the proposals are developed. We have asked the Brent-Nablus Twinning Association to ensure that their activities reflect Brent's values and, as set out in our international partnering protocol, any twinning can be reviewed if it falls short of our expectations. 'Brent remains proud of its record as a place where communities live and thrive together in peace.'
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour council accused of sectarianism over twinning with Palestinian city
A Labour council has been accused of 'sectarianism' over its twinning with a Palestinian city. Brent council, in north-west London, voted to twin with Nablus in the West Bank to promote 'cultural, social, economic and educational exchanges' following a meeting in May. Muhammad Butt, the council leader, said at the time: 'This is all about making sure the diversity of Brent and its community is being recognised.' A delegation of Jewish community representatives met Mr Butt on Wednesday night to express concerns over the proposed twinning as they accused the council of sectarianism. They also warned it could undermine community cohesion and 'will do nothing for peace'. Speaking after the meeting, Amanda Bowman, co-chairman of the London Jewish Forum, said: 'The meeting was more than disappointing. While Brent council has asked the Brent-Nablus Association to continue consulting, it has chosen not to pause implementation or reconsider its position. 'That is not meaningful engagement – it's a box-ticking exercise. Jewish residents deserve better than symbolic gestures that ignore their concerns. We remain open to dialogue but real trust is built through action, not afterthought.' Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, added: 'Brent council's long record of active support for community cohesion is now very much in question. The proposed twinning will do nothing for peace in the region but risks the good relations of diverse communities in Brent. 'We want to see our council focused on addressing our significant shared local challenges without embarking on misplaced initiatives relating to international affairs. We urge the council to step back from sectarianism.' Vote 'not taken lightly' Following the council vote, Mr Butt said at the time that the decision to twin Brent with Nablus 'was not taken lightly' and that it 'followed a period of public engagement, including a petition signed by more than 2,000 residents'. In an email response to residents, he said he wanted to 'acknowledge the pain and trauma that continue to affect Jewish communities both here in Brent and around the world following the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas on Oct 7 '. He said the decision to twin did not represent 'support for any political group or administration in Nablus'. 'Rather, it reflects Brent's humanitarian values and a desire to connect with ordinary people in another part of the world who, like us, strive for peace, education, dignity, and progress for the next generation,' he added. After the result of the vote to twin Brent with Nablus was made public, a local online petition against the move was set up – attracting more than 2,300 signatures. The petition stated: 'The proposal to twin has not given due regard to the effects of this decision to those residents with protected characteristics which include, along with the Muslim community, Jews, Christians, Jains, Sikhs, Hindus and the LGBTQ community. Brent's objectives should be to enhance community relations and cooperation, and this proposal will undermine this objective as it appears sectarian in its nature.' The petition also cited a Carter Centre report which suggests seven out of 15 of Nablus's councils are Hamas-backed. It adds that Hamas is 'a proscribed group by the UK Government' and 'therefore consider that it is inconsistent with reasons for twinning'. Furthermore, regarding boosting tourism between Brent and Nablus, which is one of the aims of the twinning initiative, it said that it would not be possible for most people to travel to the Middle East, that 'Jewish, Christian and LGBTQ communities are unlikely to be made welcome' and that the current Foreign Office advice is against all but essential travel to the West Bank. The petition came after it emerged that the council's internal review into the proposed twinning found that the proposal 'may, at the very least, cause emotional harm to some groups in Brent'. It is thought that this referred to the area's 3,700-strong Jewish community, as the document said that the twinning 'may risk compounding anti-Semitism'. The internal report was part of the council's own equalities impact assessment, a mandatory exercise under the Equalities Act. It also found that amid the polarising context of the Israel-Hamas war and its impact on local communities, 'there may be some anxiety from some groups that the twinning may demonstrate greater support for one group over another'. According to the 2021 Census, Brent has the second highest Arab diaspora in England and Wales, after Birmingham, with Arabs making up 5.3 per cent of the population, equivalent to 17,924 people. The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) said that the UK has about 2,000 twinning partnerships. These act as legal or social agreements between two cities, towns or villages, in a bid to boost trade and tourism, and foster business, peace and cultural exchange. A Brent council spokesman said: 'We want to thank representatives of Brent's Jewish community for meeting the leader of the council to share their concerns respectfully. We deeply value the long and storied contribution of our Jewish residents to civic life in Brent, and we remain committed to fostering good relations between all of Brent's diverse communities. 'The twinning with Nablus is about promoting peace, cultural exchange and mutual understanding. It does not endorse any ideological belief and builds on a tradition of towns and cities forming international civic links to foster understanding and build bridges. 'We acknowledge the anxieties raised and the council will continue to listen and engage as the proposals are developed. We have asked the Brent-Nablus Twinning Association to ensure that their activities reflect Brent's values and, as set out in our international partnering protocol, any twinning can be reviewed if it falls short of our expectations. 'Brent remains proud of its record as a place where communities live and thrive together in peace.'
