Latest news with #BellaCiao
Middle East Eye
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Last two volunteers on Freedom Flotilla vessel released from Israeli detention
An American man and a Tunisian man detained by Israel while on board a Freedom Flotilla vessel heading to Gaza were released from prison on Thursday. Christian Smalls and Hatem Aouini were aboard the Handala when it was stormed by Israeli forces in international waters on 26 July. Both were put in Givon prison in Israel. Both went on hunger strike for five days to protest against mistreatment. Aouini was received by the Tunisian embassy at the border with Jordan. US consulate and US Embassy officials did not meet with Smalls despite repeated requests for assistance and being notified in advance of his arrival details, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a press release. All 21 volunteers aboard the Handala have now been released from Israeli captivity. The raid of the Handala was broadcast live by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, showing soldiers confronting unarmed passengers as they sat on deck with their hands raised, singing the anti-fascist anthem "Bella Ciao." The Handala, carrying 19 activists, including European MPs and two Al Jazeera journalists, was intercepted roughly 100 kilometres west of Gaza, and around 50km off Egypt's coast. More than 10,300 Palestinian political prisoners remain captive in Israeli occupation prisons, with at least 320 of them children in violation of international law.
The Sun
27-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Israeli forces intercept Gaza-bound activist ship in Mediterranean
JERUSALEM: Israeli forces intercepted a boat operated by the pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla as it attempted to break the naval blockade of Gaza on Saturday. The incident was livestreamed by activists before being abruptly cut off. 'The Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza,' Israel's foreign ministry stated on X. The ship was redirected to an Israeli port, with officials confirming all passengers were unharmed. Footage from the activists showed them singing the Italian protest song 'Bella Ciao' while raising their hands as soldiers boarded. Three live feeds documenting the confrontation went offline minutes later. The vessel, named 'Handala,' carried 19 activists, including European politicians and two Al Jazeera journalists. Among those detained were French lawmakers Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala. Their party leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon, condemned the interception, calling it an 'illegal kidnapping.' Gaza remains under a strict Israeli blockade, with humanitarian groups warning of severe food shortages. The activists had aimed to deliver a small quantity of aid. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of violating international law, stating the boarding occurred outside Gaza's territorial waters. An online tracker showed the ship was roughly 100 kilometres west of Gaza when seized. This marks the second such interception in recent months. In June, Israel detained another Flotilla vessel carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. - AFP
The Star
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Feature: Young voices in harmony: Italian and Chinese choirs unite in Bologna
ROME, July 19 (Xinhua) -- At the Antoniano Institute in Bologna, music never stops. Home to Italy's most renowned children's choir - the Little Choir of Antoniano, this institute is a year-round haven for young voices. But this week, its familiar harmonies carried a new accent as melodies from China's Hydrangea Children's Choir blended with the Italian repertoire, marking a joyful celebration of cultural exchange. On Friday, the institute's studio hosted a special joint performance featuring 18 children from the two choirs. The young singers skipped inside hand-in-hand. With practiced ease, they lined up neatly on the stage and burst into a medley of Italian favorites. Classics like Il Coccodrillo Come Fa?, modern hits such as Discopizza DJ, and even a stirring rendition of Bella Ciao rang out, each met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. The performance was one highlights of Antoniano Summer Camp 2025, a ten-day cultural and musical exchange co-organized by the Little Choir of Antoniano and the Hydrangea Children's Choir. Guided by Antoniano's teachers, 22 children from China and their Italian peers rehearsed, played music games and gradually found a shared language through music. "Our teachers help us get the pronunciation right, word by word," said 11-year-old Mai Yijin, now in her second year at the camp. "They explain each song's meaning, helping us understand the emotions. During each rehearsal, an Italian choir member sits next to me, and their pronunciation is so beautiful. I try hard to match their tone." Luca Cesari, a 12-year-old, is a six-year veteran of the Little Choir of Antoniano. He said he enjoys rehearsing with the Chinese kids. "I've been learning Chinese for four years, and I've traveled to China with the choir. I love Chinese food, and I hope to study in China someday," he added. This summer camp is the latest chapter in a growing relationship between the two choirs. According to Liang Xiaoxia, art director of the Hydrangea Children's Choir, the Little Choir of Antoniano first visited China about 10 years ago for a New Year's concert. That was their debut performance in China. "Since that first trip, the choir has returned to China almost every year," Liang said. "Last year, they played five consecutive shows in Shanghai." Liang said the choir's appeal in China extends beyond their charming voices and stage presence. "It's not just the choir's free-spirited and expressive singing style, but the themes of their songs," she said. She added that the Little Choir of Antoniano makes an effort to sing in Chinese. "Every year, they learn one or two Chinese songs. Now they can sing more than a dozen, including The Brightest Star in the Sky, Mo Li Hua and Warrior of the Darkness." Giampaolo Cavalli, director of the Little Choir of Antoniano, said the camp fosters more than musical skills. "The children from Italy and China live together, break through language and cultural barriers, foster friendships, and enjoy the shared joy of music," he said.
IOL News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Batting guru Ashwell Prince more than just the 'vibes master' in Proteas dressing room
FILE - Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince has worked his magic with the team's batting unit. Image: AFP Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince dubbed himself 'the vibes master' as he stood at the forefront of the celebrations following their triumphant win over Australia in the World Test Championship final. For three and a half days Prince was sitting on that Lord's balcony looking relaxed behind his orange-tinted sunglasses. But, when Kyle Verreynne struck the winning runs off Mitchell Starc through the point region, he was the man to get the party started. And the celebrations looked epic, as Prince came up with a variety of songs, including one for captain Temba Bavuma to the tune of 'Bella Ciao', the Italian folk song that was made popular again by the hit Netflix 'Money Heist'. Many of the tunes come from the songs belted out by the Anfield faithful when Prince and Proteas coach Shukri Conrad's beloved Liverpool are playing. Hey Viwe His name's Temba Bavuma, He came to score, He came from Langa — Mr Lu (@sirluds) June 15, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Prince has certainly contributed a great deal to that Proteas Test dressing room in terms of the team's culture, which by all accounts looks like it's never been better. Not only because of celebrations videos we have seen, but also because of how the togetherness in the team has contributed to their results. During the Social Justice and Nation Building hearings, which were a series of proceedings held by Cricket South Africa to investigate allegations of racial discrimination within South African cricket, Prince said the Proteas dressing room was 'a lonely place'. He said there never was a unified South African team during his international career, despite the Proteas having some of their most historic success in that period. Prince played 66 Tests in an international career that spanned a decade, and was a pivotal figure in the batting order that saw the Proteas win a Test series in England. He also appeared in 49 ODIs for the Proteas and was part of the World Cup squad in 2007, which he said was amongst the most disjointed groups ever to represent the country at a World Cup. However, 18 years later, it looks like Conrad, with the help of people like Prince, has transformed the culture for the better. And the result? The Proteas won their first final and ICC silverware since 1998. Culture, aside, Prince's biggest contribution has been helping to transform this Test batting line-up into a unit who scores centuries.
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Read the Gaza poem by a Cork writer that featured on the Irish Examiner's front page
Award-winning Cork writer William Wall wrote a poem for the Irish Examiner, depicting how the city of Gaza has become like a cemetery. Eyeless in Gaza was featured on the front page of Wednesday's paper. It was accompanied by a picture of a dead Palestinian girl who was found in a search and rescue operation carried out by locals after an Israeli attack targeting a house belonging to the Abu Shamal family in the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza. Here is Wednesday's front page. You can read the poem in full below. Wednesday's Irish Examiner front page. Eyeless in Gaza by William Wall A city becomes a cemetery A hospital becomes a morgue Becomes a slaughterhouse Becomes an ossuary Dust in the eyes And dust in the mouth A gale of wind blows it all away There will be no stumble-stones For the hundreds of thousands No railway platform memorial From here departed No films of children playing Bella Ciao on a broken guitar No museum of the death camp That was their home Read More Dozens of Palestinians killed while waiting for food trucks in Gaza
