Latest news with #HugoPhilpott
UPI
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap from the country
The Hungarian government has banned Irish rap group Kneecap from the country for 'for antisemitism and glorifying terrorm,' on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo July 24 (UPI) -- The Hungarian government has banned Irish rap group Kneecap from the country "for anti-Semitism and glorifying terrorism," on Thursday. "This is what we call service by public notice. In plain English: if you won't read the letter, you'll see it on the poster," international spokesman Zoltan Kovacs posted on X. Kneecap members have accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza and supporting Iranian militant groups. Israel denied these claims. The group's lead singer Mo Chara has allegedly displayed a flag in support of Hezbollah and has been charged with a terror offense in the U.K. he has denied doing this. "This isn't just protest it's support for terror, celebration of extremist violence and a clear anti‑Semitic statement," Kovacs wrote on X. "Granting them a stage normalizes hate and terror, and puts democratic values on the line." The group was going to perform at the Sziget Festival in Budapest on Aug 11. "This is an unprecedented move which we believe is both unnecessary and regrettable," Sziget organizers said on social media.
UPI
01-07-2025
- Climate
- UPI
Heat wave sweeps across Europe as the Eiffel Tower closes
Severe heat waves in Europe closed the top of the Eiffel Tower to visitors as it swept across France and the rest of Europe. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo July 1 (UPI) -- Severe heat waves in Europe closed the top of the Eiffel Tower to visitors as it swept across France. "Due to the extreme temperatures expected in the afternoon and evening, the Eiffel Tower will be closed," said the statement on the attraction's website. It will be closed all day Tuesday and Thursday. The staff asked that visitors without pre-booked tickets postpone their visits until after Thursday. The weather has also impacted other European landmarks, such as the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium has reduced its hours. Europe is still sweltering under its intense heatwave, and both Portugal and Spain have recorded their hottest June ever. Portugal is forecasted to hit 109 degrees Fahrenheit as authorities have issued a red heat warning for seven out of 18 districts. In Mora, Portugal, a reading of 115 degrees Fahrenheit was registered. Officials are working to confirm whether that marked a new record. Spain recorded its hottest month in a hundred years, since 1914, as temperatures are expected to stay high until Thursday, according to the country's national weather service. In Greece, wildfires hit several towns near Athens, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. In France, the French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Tuesday, "16 departments were put under the highest red alert by the national Weather agency Meteo-France and 68 others under an orange alert." They experienced their hottest night and day on Monday with an expected peak by forecasters on Tuesday. The Ministry of Education has said 1,350 public schools will be partially or fully closed on Tuesday. Italy's 21 out of 27 major cities are experiencing a heatwave, according to the southern European country's Health Ministry. It has been advised not to go outside during the hottest periods of the day for people in regions of Lombardy and Emilia. Working outdoors has also been banned during the hottest parts of the day on building sites, roads, and farms until September, in Lombardy. In Germany, record-breaking temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit could take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hospital admissions rose by 20% in the Tuscany region in Italy, according to local reports. "Rising temperatures, rising seas, floods, droughts, and wildfires threaten our rights to life, to health, to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and much more," UN's human rights chief, Volker Turk warned on Monday.
UPI
26-06-2025
- UPI
European prosecutors raid networks importing illegal Chinese goods
The European Public Prosecutor's Office said it struck down a $800 million criminal scheme involving Chinese Imports coming through the port of Piraeus. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- European prosecutors on Thursday announced raids in multiple nations targeting criminal networks importing fraudulent Chinese goods. The European Public Prosecutor's Office said the 101 raids conducted in Bulgaria, Greece, France, and Spain on Wednesday as part of an investigation codenamed "Calypso" led to the arrests of 10 suspects and the seizure of $6 million in various currencies. The raids also seized 7,133 e-bikes and 3,696 e-scooters, 11 properties in Spain, 27 vehicles and luxury items such as bags, watches and jewelry. The EPPO said the scheme started with goods from China into the EU through the port of Piraeus, Greece in order to evade invoices using false documents to conceal the value of the merchandise. The goods are sold to companies in specific Member states, where they are supposed to be sold on the market. After the goods enter the EU, they are stored in a criminal organization-controlled warehouse. From there, they are transported, using false documents, to France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. The documents are destroyed when the goods are delivered and then sold on the black market. An additional 480 containers for further checks and verification in the Port of Piraeus were also seized. The EPPO alleged the scheme caused an estimated $800 million in damages.
UPI
20-06-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Pro-Palestinian group break into Britain's largest air force base
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, pictured outside No.10 Downing Street in London in 2024, called vandalism committed at Britain's RAF Brize Norton air force base "disgraceful." File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo June 20 (UPI) -- A pro-Palestinian group announced early Friday it managed to break into Britain's largest air force base and damage two planes in what it said was a protest against the country's support of Israel. Palestine Action posted video footage to its X account that allegedly shows members of its group, who they refer to as "actionists," on the grounds of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where they sprayed red paint on two Airbus Voyager air-to-air refueling tankers before successfully making an escape. Additionally, although not shown in the video, the group also damaged the planes with crowbars and left a Palestinian flag behind. In the post, Palestine Action purports that Britain sends planes daily to a base in Cyprus, from where it can "collect intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Friday on social media that "The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful." "Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day," he continued, "It is our responsibility to support those who defend us." The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 20, 2025 Palestine Action posted a photo later Friday morning of what it alleges to be an office that is used by the Allianz Group financial services providers company, located in the British city of Chelmsford. The image ostensibly shows a doorway and stairs spray painted red, with what appears to be a door or window broken and covered with a board. "By providing insurance to Elbit Systems, Allianz enables the production of Israeli weaponry on British soil," the group alleged, before threatening to continue with attacks "until Allianz ends all ties to Israel's biggest arms producer." Elbit Systems is an Israel-based military technology company and defense contractor.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon increases winning prize to Grand Slam record $4M
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and other tennis stars will compete in Wimbledon 2025 from June 30 to July 13 in London. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI June 12 (UPI) -- The men's and women's champions of Wimbledon 2025 will receive $4.07 million apiece, the most ever given to a winner of a Grand Slam, the All England Lawn Tennis Club announced Thursday. Wimbledon 2025 will be held from June 30 to July 13 in London. Advertisement All England Lawn Tennis Club chair Deborah Levans said at a news conference that the total prize will be $72.5 million, a 7% increase compared to last year. The $4.07 million first-place prize represents an 11.1% increase from last year. Players who participate in the main draw, but lose in the first round, will receive nearly $90,000, up 10% from 2024. "This year's round-by-round breakdown shows our focus on both the early and late rounds of the draw, rewarding the successes of our champions, but also continuing to support the lower-ranked players," Levans said. Officials also announced Thursday that no line judges will be involved at Wimbledon and will be replaced for the first time by electronic line calling. Advertisement They also said that the men's and women's singles finals will be held at 11 a.m. EDT, two hours later than their previous start times. "Adjusting the finals weekend schedule, with the doubles final starting at 1 p.m. and the singles final starting at 4 p.m. will provide a weekend of excitement where both days culminate with the singles champions being crowned in front of the largest possible worldwide audience," Wimbledon CEO Sally Bolton said.
