Latest news with #Palestine-Israel
IOL News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
What lessons can we learn from Superman about global crises and misinformation?
We delve into how Superman's cinematic returns reflects the pressing issues in the real world. Image: IOL Superman is better than all of your favourites combined. Okay, now that I have your attention. Superman has been in South African and worldwide cinemas for a few weeks, prompting fans of both James Gunn and Zack Snyder to come out in full force. Previous adaptations leaned into moral ambiguity, questions of existence, and had flashy fights in dim lighting as well as a storyline with a fight famously resolved by simply invoking the name "Martha." However, this Superman movie brings him back to his classic identity and concentrates on what makes us human, which is ironic, seeing as he is an alien. At its core, it's a message of hope - hope for the future, hope for mankind and hope for a better world. But then reality hits when you step out of the cinema: We don't live in Metropolis. We don't have Superman. And the world continues to grapple with war and misinformation. The past few years have been defined by global unrest, with headlines dominated by heartwrenching images of war and despair. War rages in Palestine and conflicts engulf African countries and other parts of the world. The Palestine-Israel war has resulted in thousands of deaths, humanitarian crises escalating, and reports of starvation. Additionally, media institutions struggle under the weight of political polarisation and misinformation in the age of AI. In light of this, Superman's dual identity as both a caped hero and journalist, Clark Kent, takes on an interesting and new relevance. When Superman is not saving the world, Clark Kent, a reporter for the fictional 'Daily Planet', is the embodiment of ethical journalism (okay, that ethics line gets blurred when he technically interviews himself, but we digress.) In today's media climate, where public trust in journalism dwindles thanks to AI and misinformation on social media, Kent's role serves as a reminder of what journalism could and should be. It's standing for what's right, even if there is a megalomaniac figure like Lex Luthor out to get you. And in the real world, there are definitely several Lex Luthors and Vasil Ghurkos. 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 This intersection of truth and heroism comes at a critical time. A recent Pew Research Center study found that only 26% of Americans say they trust national news organisations 'a lot.' According to a Statista report, Nigeria recorded the highest trust in news at 68%, followed closely by Scandinavian countries like Finland, Denmark, and Norway. In contrast, Hungary and Greece had the lowest trust levels at just 22%, partly due to concerns over media independence. If we take a look at local statistics, trust in South African media has seen a slight decline recently, with an overall trust score of 55%, a 6 percentage point drop from the previous year's 61%. Disinformation on social media continues to rise, while global conflicts are increasingly shaped by information warfare. 'Hope isn't naïve,' said Gunn in a press statement last year. 'It's essential. Especially when the world feels like it's burning.' The upcoming film reportedly leans into these ideals of hope, positioning Superman not as this detached godlike figure with amazing powers and laser eyes, but as someone who wrestles with how to help in a world that sometimes resists truth itself. Of course, we know that Superman's return doesn't offer solutions to our global crisis. He won't swoop in to stop the war in Gaza, he won't get his tech friends to tackle misinformation, and he cannot help feed starving people. But while fictional, his story (specifically this one) gives a real lesson: true justice doesn't come from power, it doesn't come from money. It comes from compassion and humanity. Or in South Africa, we would just say "Just be lekker." IOL
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — July 11, 2025
Bridge collapse There are incidents in India, of late, of bridges collapsing even as they are being built. But the collapse of a portion of a 40-year-old bridge in Vadodara needs closer inspection. The reason for the collapse is not far to seek. For several decades, trucks have had four wheels at the rear and two in front. Such trucks with a total of six wheels are now obsolete. The bridge was probably one of many constructed with these trucks in mind. But now a number of trucks have 10 wheels to carry double the cargo, thus exponentially increasing the weight of the trucks. When such countless and slow-moving loaded trucks cross such bridges, the durability of the bridges comes into focus. In future, it must be ensured that bridges are constructed keeping this factor in mind (Page 1, July 10). V. Lakshmanan, Tirupur, Tamil Nadu This is not an isolated incident but a growing symptom of a nationwide epidemic: ageing infrastructure, shoddy repair work, and officials asleep at the wheel. Bridges are not supposed to tremble under traffic. They are supposed to stand strong. Yet, time and again, weak design, poor oversight and sheer apathy turn them into traps. Our infrastructure is not the only thing crumbling. So is our governance. And people are paying for this with their lives. K. Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru End the wars As a peace-loving citizen, a nonagenarian and as one who has lived through both the First and Second World Wars, I find it distressing that the Russia-Ukraine war and the Palestine-Israel conflict are leaving a trail of suffering. It would be my earnest and humble plea to the United Nations to earnestly get these warring nations to sit together and make a sincere attempt to usher in peace. Mani Nataraajan, Chennai
Express Tribune
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Live from Glastonbury: the resistance will be televised
Glastonbury 2025 was always going to be charged, but few expected the seismic waves sent rippling through the global cultural sphere when Bob Vylan, mid-performance on the Left Field stage, roared out the chant "Death, death to the IDF" to a crowd erupting in cheers. The moment, aired uncut by the BBC, was joined hours later by Belfast rap group Kneecap voicing support for Palestine from the West Holts stage. Mo Chara, one of the trio's frontmen, wore a Palestinian keffiyeh as he led chants of 'Free Palestine' and 'F*ck Keir Starmer', calling out the UK prime minister for his support of Israel and demanding the release of Mo Chara from pending terrorism charges over a previous protest. The group's set also projected slogans declaring Israel guilty of genocide, and encouraged solidarity with Palestine Action. The crowd responded with a sea of Palestinian flags, and their performance quickly went viral on TikTok, where unofficial streams racked up over 1.8 million views. Within days, Glastonbury organisers quietly cancelled Kneecap's planned encore appearances, citing security and 'operational risk' after complaints flooded in. The move only inflamed supporters, who accused the festival of bowing to political pressure. In the hours after both performances, social media combusted. Outrage and solidarity, condemnation and defence flooded in equal measure. The BBC found itself in the crosshairs for platforming, however accidentally, what many called 'incendiary' messages, while others framed them as essential acts of resistance. This was an unwelcome addition to the BBC's already fraying relationship with audiences over coverage of the Palestine-Israel war. The broadcaster has been criticised repeatedly for a toothless coverage of the genocide in Gaza, under the pretext of maintaining a policy of both-sides reporting. The media corporation has failed to contextualise Israel's onslaught in Gaza as a humanitarian disaster. Only weeks ago, it quietly pulled from its schedule a harrowing documentary about Israel carrying out target killings of doctors in Gaza, prompting fierce accusations of self-censorship. That film is now being independently released, a damning testament to how far even a public broadcaster has retreated from its stated mission to inform without fear or partiality. Glastonbury, Britain's most hallowed musical gathering, has long occupied a space where counterculture and establishment jostle for attention. From Banksy installations to the rants of politically-minded performers, Glasto has provided a literal stage for dissent. This year, as the war in Gaza stretched into its most horrifying months, the festival became a universal platform for moral urgency. Bob Vylan's blunt invocation of 'Death to the IDF' — the Israel Defence Forces — was for many a cry of rage against a military juggernaut seen as responsible for tens of thousands of civilian deaths. For others, it crossed a line, interpreted as a violent incitement or an antisemitic attack. While cancelling Kneecap, for their chants and slogans for Palestine, was reminiscent of US campuses clamping down peaceful protests supporting freedom for Palestine. This is where art collides with politics in its rawest form. These artists did not arrive at their words casually, or in a vacuum. Bob Vylan and Kneecap belong to communities shaped by a history of state violence, their art will inevitably echo the strains of protest music. As punk rock and rap artists, their invective does not adopt the polite language of policymakers but the fury of the disenfranchised, the language of those who see no recourse in a world that ignores their pain. That is what protest music is meant to do: to jolt and provoke. It goes against being palatable by its very nature. But Glastonbury is also a vast commercial machine, broadcast to millions and now somewhat even a middle-class rite of passage. That friction between raw protest and the festival's curated, corporate-backed spectacle has come into sharp focus this year. Sure — here's a clearer rewording while keeping the same idea: The BBC, once again, finds itself at the centre of this tension. Some saw it as dangerous and a lapse of judgment that BBC cameras and live broadcast didn't censor Bob Vylan. Others see as these acts of protest as necessary. That is the challenge of public broadcasting: to reflect a divided society where one person's incitement is another person's cry for freedom. In the aftermath, politicians, pundits, and public figures lined up with their ritual condemnations. Some accused the performers of stoking hate, arguing that calls for the destruction of the IDF risked inflaming anti-Jewish sentiment at a time of rising antisemitism in Britain. Others pointed out that Gaza had become an open-air graveyard, with entire families obliterated by bombs. Where, they asked, was the outrage for them? It is a question echoing far beyond Glastonbury's rolling hills — one that cuts to the heart of how freedom of expression is measured, and whose pain is seen as legitimate. What this moment reveals, above all, is a generational chasm in how cultural resistance is framed. The younger festivalgoers, many of them radicalised by images of Gaza's devastation, heard in Bob Vylan a truth-telling. Of course — here's a rewrite that focuses on a more conservative view of free speech rather than historical trauma: Their elders, often holding more conservative views on the limits of free speech, heard the chants as crossing a dangerous line into hate speech. No festival as storied as Glastonbury can accommodate both these perspectives without deep fractures. And yet, these ruptures are essential. Political art is meant to disturb. It is meant to pick at scabs we might prefer to leave alone. From the Vietnam-era protest songs of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, to the anthems of Public Enemy railing against systemic racism, artists have always tested the boundaries of what the public is willing to hear. In the 2000s, even pop acts like the Pussycat Dolls ventured into protest, most notably with 'I Don't Need a Man' becoming an accidental feminist rallying cry at a time when women were pushing back against media sexism — a small but significant statement about agency. Major political movements have always found a soundtrack. The anti-apartheid struggle had the power of Miriam Makeba, while Rage Against the Machine raged against American imperialism with blistering verses that still echo on protest lines today. Beyoncé brought the imagery of Black Panther resistance to the Super Bowl, in front of millions, and paid the price of conservative outrage. After 9/11, artists from System of a Down to the Dixie Chicks challenged America's wars, at enormous personal and commercial cost. From 'Ohio' protesting the Kent State shootings to today's chants for Palestinian liberation, artists have given language to anger and solidarity in ways politicians cannot. Across the Muslim world, musicians like Tunisia's Emel Mathlouthi, Palestine's DAM, and Iran's Shahin Najafi have carried this same tradition forward, using song to challenge oppression and demand justice, often at great personal risk. The challenge, then, is for the rest of us — audiences, institutions, and broadcasters — to grapple honestly with that discomfort rather than try to erase it. Protest music and performance will continue to break through polite silence, because as long as injustice persists, someone will step on a stage and name it, whether we are ready to hear it or not. Placing a finger on the pulse of a world standing at the precipice of political fracture, Bob Vylan and Kneecap have cracked open the most vital question for all of us really: how many civilian deaths must a war rack up before outrage is no longer taboo? And who gets to decide whether that outrage is acceptable speech or criminal incitement? Upon having his US visa revoked, Bob Vylan reiterated his unwavering solidarity to the cause of Palestine. This is now perhaps the most audacious slap in the face of Israel's heinous despotism by one person who grabbed the chance to raise his voice against genocide. Glastonbury 2025 will be remembered not just for its music, but for sending message to the global society forced to look itself in the mirror. Amid the anthems and encore sets, that mirror reflected a nation divided by history, by fear, and delusions.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia, France reaffirm call for Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian aid
PARIS: Malaysia and France on Friday reaffirmed their stand for a ceasefire in Gaza and for humanitarian aid to get through. The call was made by French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a press conference at the Elysee Palace here. Macron said both he and Anwar agreed that a permanent ceasefire must take place in Gaza, adding that the release of hostages must also be implemented. The French President said a two-state solution is the best way to resolve the issue of Palestine-Israel. 'We are working with several parties, among them Saudi (Arabia), towards this. For now, Israel must allow for aid to reach Gaza,' he said. During the press conference held before their bilateral meeting, Anwar praised the President for his passion to try and resolve the conflict in Gaza. 'Of course, we have condemned the continued bombings and atrocities inflicted upon civilians, women and children. And it's a shame that the international community is not able to resolve this,' said Anwar. 'So your initiative was supported by us. No question about peace, and if it takes two sides to secure peace, I agree with you. That's why we have also committed to the two-state solution,' said the premier. Anwar also said Malaysia also condemns the Israeli aggression on Iran and will continue to support France's efforts to bring peace in the Middle East. 'I don't think we can deny the issue of the use of nuclear for peaceful means. Nuclear non-proliferation, proliferation, or even power, cannot be seen to be selective,' he said. 'If you say no to Iran, (and) you say yes to Israel, we have a problem; try and resolve that. But I agree with you, we must impress upon Iran to use this for peaceful methods and peaceful means and allow for inspection, which they have given a commitment,' he added. Macron also said Iran must unequivocally reaffirm its support for the Non-Proliferation Treaty and withdraw its law limiting cooperation with the IAEA. He said Iran must also agree to a deal that will necessarily lead to the end of uranium enrichment in Iran, while allowing the country to benefit from the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. 'This has been the focus of my discussions with the Iranian President, as well as with Russian President Vladimir Putin and, just yesterday, with American President Donald Trump. I will continue talks in the coming days with other members of the Security Council. 'We also want an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. 'We condemn just as firmly the attacks on civilian populations. This war of aggression launched by Russia has consequences far beyond Europe — as we are now seeing with the deployment of North Korean soldiers on European soil,' he said.
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
PM Anwar's inaugural visit to France to strengthen bilateral ties
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has embarked on an inaugural official visit to France from July 3 to 4 at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. Malaysia's Ambassador to France Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim said the visit carries an official status and signifies France's strong commitment towards its diplomatic ties with Malaysia since Anwar assumed premiership in 2022. "This official visit status is also significant for the continued strengthening of our bilateral diplomatic ties," he said to the Malaysian media through an online conference from Paris on Wednesday. Eldeen Husaini said Anwar would be received by the French top leadership at the airport, followed by an inspection of a guard of honour and an engagement session with the Malaysian diaspora in France. Anwar is scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with Macron at the Élysée Palace, with key agenda items including trade, investment, renewable energy, semiconductors, defence, education, digital economy, and artificial intelligence (AI). "Malaysia expects this official visit will boost investor confidence in exploring new investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in the nuclear and clean energy sectors," he told the Malaysian media in an online briefing from Paris on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Malaysia also expresses support for France's effort to host a conference to work towards a solution for the Palestine-Israel conflict and discuss regional issues such as the South China Sea and the stability of Southeast Asia in Malaysia's capacity as the 2025 Asean Chair. Eldeen Husaini said a lecture by the prime minister titled Southeast Asia and Europe: Recalibrating the Terms of Engagement will be held at Sorbonne University, a world-renowned institution in the intellectual and cultural spheres. "He will also attend a session with 250 members of the Malaysian diaspora, deliver a lecture, and attend Friday prayer with Muslim community leaders at the Grand Mosque of Paris, one of the oldest mosques in France," he said. "This visit aims to open a new chapter in bilateral relations, drive national economic growth, and enhance Malaysia's competitiveness in the global supply chain," he added. Anwar is accompanied on this visit by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Also joining the delegation is Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. France remains one of Malaysia's top five trading partners within the European Union. In 2024, bilateral trade totalled RM15.95 billion (US$3.63 billion), with RM6.26 billion (US$1.49 billion) recorded between January and May this year. Following his visit to France, Anwar will head to Brazil to attend the BRICS Leaders Summit from July 5 to 7. Anwar is currently undertaking a visit to three countries - Italy, France, and Brazil - from July 1 to 7. - Bernama
