logo
Kanye West blocked from entering Australia

Kanye West blocked from entering Australia

Express Tribune4 days ago
Australia has cancelled US rapper Kanye West's visa over his song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the government said on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old musician, who has legally changed his name to Ye, released Heil Hitler on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
West — whose wife Bianca Censori is Australian — has been coming to Australia for some time because he has family in the country, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
"He's made a lot of offensive comments. But my officials looked at it again once he released the '' song and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia."
Asked if it was sustainable to bar such a popular figure, the minister said: "I think what's not sustainable is to import hatred."
Australian citizens have freedom of speech, Burke added.
"But we have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry."
Kanye West's Heil Hitler song stirred public opposition last week in Slovakia when it was announced he would be playing a concert there in July.
More than 3,000 people signed a petition against West's performance in the Slovak capital.
The rapper - a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump — is "repeatedly and openly adhering to symbols and ideology connected with the darkest period of modern global history", two groups behind the petition said.
"Kanye West's concert in our city and our country is an insult to historic memory, a glorification of wartime violence and debasement of all victims of the Nazi regime," the petition read.
In the Heil Hitler clip, dozens of Black men — wearing animal pelts and masks, and standing in a block formation — chant the title of the song, as West raps about being misunderstood and about his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
The song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BRICS finance ministers make unified proposal for IMF reforms
BRICS finance ministers make unified proposal for IMF reforms

Business Recorder

time17 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

BRICS finance ministers make unified proposal for IMF reforms

RIO DE JANEIRO: Finance ministers from the BRICS group of developing nations called on Saturday for reform of the International Monetary Fund, including a new distribution of voting rights and an end to the tradition of European management at the helm. The joint statement by the group's finance ministers marks the first time the BRICS countries have agreed on a unified position on the proposed reforms. They agreed to back the shared proposal at an IMF review meeting coming up in December, which will discuss changes to a quota system that defines contributions and voting rights. 'Quota realignment should reflect members' relative positions in the global economy, while protecting the quota shares of the poorest members,' the ministers wrote in their statement after meetings in Rio de Janeiro, adding that the new formula should increase quotas for developing countries. Leaders of growing BRICS group gather for Rio summit The BRICS ministers called for a new formula weighted by economic output and purchasing power, considering the relative value of currencies, which should better represent low-income countries, said a Brazilian official who followed negotiations. The ministerial meetings came ahead of a leaders summit in Rio for the bloc that expanded last year beyond Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. That has added diplomatic clout to the group, which aims to speak for developing nations in the Global South, urging reforms of institutions long dominated by traditional Western powers. 'With full respect to a merit-based selection process, regional representation must be enhanced for the IMF management, overcoming the anachronistic post-World War II gentlemen's agreement that is unfit for the current world order,' the finance ministers wrote. Their statement also confirmed discussions to set up a new guarantee mechanism backed by the NDB, a multilateral bank funded by the BRICS, which aims to lower financing costs and boost investment in developing economies, as Reuters first reported on Thursday.

Combating climate chaos: call to action
Combating climate chaos: call to action

Business Recorder

timea day ago

  • Business Recorder

Combating climate chaos: call to action

EDITORIAL: Speaking at the opening of an aid conference in Seville city of Spain on Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that a two-thirds of the UN's sustainable development goals set for 2030 are off track, and over US$ 4 trillion in annual investment is needed to combat climate chaos and support the world's most vulnerable populations. His message basically highlights the fact that climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is already upon us and accelerating. From record-breaking heatwaves in Europe and North America to cycles of deadly floods and droughts in South Asia and Africa, climate-related disasters are exacting a rising toll on human lives, economies, and ecological systems. A key issue on the agenda in Seville was the urgent need to reform the international financial system to help poorer nations free themselves from mounting debt burdens that inhibit their respective capacity to achieve progress in healthcare, education and climate resilience. As per UN data, the total external debt of the least developed countries has more than tripled over the past 15 years. Many nations in the Global South, like Pakistan, have too small a carbon footprint, yet are most vulnerable to climate disasters brought on by global warming. Already facing the brunt of floods and droughts, they are forced to divert scarce resources away from economic development to debt servicing. The result is perpetuation of underdevelopment, vulnerability, and inequality. No surprise, then, that there is growing criticism from the Global South of the US-dominated global financial system, created in the aftermath of World War II, which they argue no longer reflects realities of today's interconnected world. Greater representation and equity are urgently needed. The UN chief has also highlighted a glaring imbalance: while some nations continue to subsidise fossil fuels, others are left struggling to fund clean energy transitions or recover from climate catastrophes. This is not only unfair; this is dangerously short-sighted. Since we are all in this together the response must reflect that reality. The industrialised wealthiest nations, responsible for the vast majority of historical greenhouse gas emissions, owe a climate debt to developing nations. The Seville conference offers a vital opportunity to reset the climate and development agenda. For far too long, the international financial architecture has served the interests of the rich and powerful nations. What is needed now is major reform of the international finance system, with a focus on increasing access to concessional finance, restructuring unsustainable debt, and introduction of innovative instruments such as climate-resilient debt clauses and green bonds. No less important, institutions like the IMF and the World Bank need to evolve from crisis lenders to proactive enables of sustainable development. The time for decisive, collective action is now. The longer the transition is delayed, the more costly and painful it will become. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Julian McMahon death: ‘Fantastic Four' and ‘Charmed' actor loses cancer battle
Julian McMahon death: ‘Fantastic Four' and ‘Charmed' actor loses cancer battle

Express Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Julian McMahon death: ‘Fantastic Four' and ‘Charmed' actor loses cancer battle

Julian McMahon, acclaimed for his roles in Nip/Tuck, Charmed, and Fantastic Four, has died at age 56 following a private battle with cancer. He passed away on July 2 in Clearwater, Florida. McMahon's wife, Kelly McMahon, confirmed the news in a statement shared with Deadline: 'Julian loved life, his family, his work, and his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.' She also requested privacy during the family's time of grief. Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1968, McMahon was the son of former Australian Prime Minister Billy McMahon. He began his career as a model before transitioning to acting with roles on Australian soaps such as The Power, the Passion and Home and Away. His U.S. breakthrough came with NBC's Another World and Profiler, but he gained widespread fame for his portrayal of Cole Turner in Charmed and Dr. Christian Troy in Nip/Tuck, earning a Golden Globe nomination. In film, he is best known for playing the villainous Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four (2005) and its 2007 sequel. McMahon later starred in FBI: Most Wanted on CBS and appeared in Hulu's Marvel's Runaways. His recent credits include The Surfer and The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat. His final role was portraying the Australian Prime Minister in Netflix's The Residence. Julian McMahon is survived by his wife, Kelly, and is remembered for his charisma, screen presence, and dedication to his craft.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store