All posts tagged: ban

Ireland imposes travel ban on Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Ireland imposes travel ban on Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Published by Sam Flores

Irish Taoiseach Martin says the far-right ministers have shown ‘a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine’. Published On 5 Jun 20265 Jun 2026 Ireland has barred Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, from visiting the country, citing their conduct towards pro-Palestinian activists and support for policies that would displace Palestinians from their homeland. Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin – known as the Taoiseach – confirmed the move on Friday, saying the two far-right ministers had advocated positions that amounted to “a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine”. Both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have repeatedly called for Israel to annex Palestinian territories and push Palestinians out of Gaza, provoking condemnation from rights groups and several foreign governments. Martin also referenced the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last month. Ben-Gvir provoked widespread condemnation when he shared video of himself mocking the detained activists as they knelt on the floor, blindfolded, with their hands bound. In a statement, Ireland’s justice ministry …

U.S. Senate passes billion ICE funding, fails to ban Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization’ fund

U.S. Senate passes $70 billion ICE funding, fails to ban Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization’ fund

Published by Sam Flores

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) talks to reporters outside his office at the beginning of the legislative week at the U.S. Capitol on June 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The U.S. Senate handed President Donald Trump a victory early Friday morning, passing a bill that would provide the Department of Homeland Security with an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement and sending it to the House of Representatives for final consideration. The Senate voted 52-47 to approve the legislation, with no support from Democrats and no provision to ban a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that could compensate Trump’s political allies for allegations that the government mistreated them. One Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski, voted against the bill. Senate Republican Leader John Thune said the fund was a “settled issue,” citing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s congressional testimony this week that the Department of Justice would not move forward with it, though Democrats have said his word was insufficient. Trump subsequently said he intended to nominate Blanche to lead the Justice Department — …

Alice and Steve writer says it would be “sad” to ban age-gap romances between adults

Alice and Steve writer says it would be “sad” to ban age-gap romances between adults

Published by Daniella Wilson

Alice and Steve imagines the fallout from a particularly controversial age-gap romance, but the show’s writer does not believe that such cases should always be taboo. Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement star as longtime best friends Alice and Steve, who are suddenly torn apart when the latter begins dating the former’s 20-something daughter, Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith). Although their coupling may be surprising at first, series creator Sophie Goodhart and director Tom Kingsley told Radio Times that it was “really important” for Izzy and Steve to feel like a “genuine romantic relationship”. Goodhart continued: “The chemistry they have, I think, is just really believable. You just love them as a couple. “And even though you, obviously, should not have sex with your friend’s [son or daughter], I don’t think you can say [as a] blanket statement that an older man cannot go out with a younger woman. I think that’s sad.” The screenwriter, also known for Rivals and Slow Horses, made clear that she was only referring to relationships between legal adults, and acknowledged that …

The TikTok Ban Was Never About TikTok

The TikTok Ban Was Never About TikTok

Published by skeptic

It’s strange to see your life playing out on the big screen, but that’s what it felt like when I got an advanced look at TikTok Never Dies, a new documentary chronicling the high-stakes legal drama around banning TikTok in the United States. I’m not actually in the film, but as a China tech reporter, I’ve closely followed every twist and turn of the saga it covers, from when President Donald Trump first threatened to block TikTok in August 2020 to when he ended up brokering a sale of the app’s US operations in January 2026. Directed by Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Hao Wu, the film is premiering on Thursday at the Tribeca Film Festival. It captures six years in 90 minutes through the eyes of the TikTok creators whose lives were deeply entangled with the fate of the video app. After former President Joe Biden signed a law in 2024 requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a US ban, the company sued the government. It also recruited eight TikTok creators to join a parallel …

Theatre director calls for phone ban after Rosamund Pike tells off fan: ‘It’s incredibly rude’

Theatre director calls for phone ban after Rosamund Pike tells off fan: ‘It’s incredibly rude’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Rosamund Pike sparked debate at the weekend after calling out an audience member for texting during her performance in Inter Alia in the West End – and now other leading industry figures have weighed in, with one top director calling for phones to be banned from theatres altogether. Inter Alia star Pike, who recently won an Olivier award for her performance, told off an audience member during the curtain call at Wyndham’s Theatre in London on Saturday, revealing she had seen someone texting during a pivotal scene. “You know who you are and I’m not going to single you out. Maybe it was very important, and maybe you’re a doctor, and you’re saving someone’s life, and I hope you are, but we do see these, we do feel them,” she said. “I feel I’ve got to hold you all, so when …

Deep disappointment as ‘smacking ban’ amendment excluded from NI Justice Bill – Humanists UK

Deep disappointment as ‘smacking ban’ amendment excluded from NI Justice Bill – Humanists UK

Published by Sam Flores

Northern Ireland Humanists has expressed deep disappointment after an amendment to remove the legal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ of children was excluded from the Consideration Stage of Northern Ireland’s Justice Bill. The amendment, tabled by Alliance MLA Michelle Guy, would have given children the same legal protection from physical assault as adults by removing the criminal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ from Northern Ireland law. The Equal Protection Working Group, a coalition of children’s rights organisations, health professional bodies, charities, and community and voluntary sector groups, said it was unclear why the amendment was not selected for debate and described the decision as a ‘major missed opportunity’. Northern Ireland Humanists had previously joined over 250 organisations and professionals calling on Stormont to support the amendment. It said reform would bring Northern Ireland into line with Scotland, Wales, Jersey, the Republic of Ireland, and around 70 countries worldwide, where children already have equal protection under assault laws. Commenting on the decision, Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator said: ‘We are deeply disappointed that this amendment has been …

Prince William and Kate Middleton ban 5 armed cops from royal residences after ‘inappropriate’ comments – report

Prince William and Kate Middleton ban 5 armed cops from royal residences after ‘inappropriate’ comments – report

Published by Daniella Wilson

Armed police have reportedly been banned from royal residences over a series of “inappropriate” comments. A female member of staff at Kensington Palace, where the Prince and Princess of Wales still have a residence, issued a complaint about a string of comments, according to The Sun.  The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into reports of “misogynistic” behaviour by its Royalty and Specialist Protection officers, though findings are not believed to be serious enough to reach the “misconduct” threshold.  The comments are said to have included remarks that the offices in the West London palace were “full of little Hitlers”.  Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: Prince William discusses Kate’s cancer on Heart FM Another cop allegedly tried to befriend the female member of staff on Facebook, which she found “inappropriate”.  The officers were cleared for duty after the investigation; however, action from the Royal Household meant they were relocated to other armed duties, the paper reported. The royal couple is said to have been informed of the incident.  A Met spokesperson told the paper: “The reported …