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US kills two in Pacific ‘narco boat’ strike bringing total to 223

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US Southern Command strike

US Southern Command strike

The US has killed two people in a so-called ‘narco’ boat strike, bringing the total since September to 223. These strikes follow reports alleging that the CIA and/or its contractors attacked three vessels near the Galapagos in March and January 2026.

The US military’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) posted a section of a video showing the strike on X:

This was the first strike for some time. in response to these developments, New York Times reported that:

Southern Command did not explain the two-month lull in strikes since an attack on a boat in the Caribbean killed eight people on June 21. Military officials have attributed the pause at least in part to planes and other equipment being diverted to help victims of the recent earthquake in Venezuela.

On 3 January, after an intense military build up in the region, US Special Forces kidnapped Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. At-sea strikes began in September 2025 but continued after the Caracas raid and are ongoing.

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The Trump regime has made clear it wants to exert fuller control of the Americas, building close alliances with right-wing dictators in Latin America, threatening Cuba, Canada and Greenland.

US Homeland Empire

As the Canary has repeatedly reported, Trump has merged the War on Terror process, the War on Drugs, and far-right ideology:

The new right-wing narratives of illegal migration and drug trafficking have merged with the climate of militarism, ‘counter-terrorism’ and colonial policing forged during the War on Terror. Trump has been able to tie these together to wage a war against the exploited, the racialised and the desperate.

The US president has conflated:

immigrants, drugs and free trade as sources of weakness coming from outside, “poisoning the blood of our country”.

This is a return to:

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the archaic geopolitics of a settler empire to the modern legal frameworks devised by his liberal predecessors.

International legal NGO Just Security noted:

As shared on social media and accompanied by video, U.S. SOUTHCOM announced a strike, conducted by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, on a vessel with “active involvement in narco-trafficking” in the eastern Pacific, killing two. The strike was executed at the direction of SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan.

Adding:

This is the first publicly announced strike on a vessel under the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere.
Unlike most recent SOUTHCOM posts announcing strikes against vessels suspected of trafficking narcotics, this announcement did not state that the vessel was “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.”

The US is currently locked into a failed war with Iran. When that war ends Trump’s sights will return fully to the Americas. And the losers, as ever, will likely be the people of the region.

Featured image via the US Southern Command / Canary 

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By Joe Glenton

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Beau Greaves is back with a bang after absence

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Beau Greaves is back with a bang after absence

Beau Greaves is back with a bang after absence

Beau Greaves returned to the PDC Women’s Series on Sunday 22 August and immediately re‑established her dominance. Producing back‑to‑back title wins to move within touching distance of her 60th crown on the circuit. After missing Saturday’s action, the Doncaster star arrived at the Matiolli Arena, Leicester with trademark precision. Bringing control and scoring power, collecting her 58th and 59th Women’s Series titles in a single afternoon.

Greaves, now firmly established as the standout force in the women’s game, wasted no time in setting the tone. Her morning campaign began with three consecutive whitewash victories, sweeping aside Jane Hawtin, Sue Lowther and Vicky Pruim without dropping a leg. The early rounds showcased the same ruthless efficiency that has defined her rise, with her scoring consistency and finishing accuracy immediately separating her from the field.

Fightback sparks title charge

Her run towards the Event 19 title was almost halted in the last‑16, where Gemma Hayter pushed her to the brink. Beau Greaves trailed 3‑2 and faced elimination, but the 22‑year‑old responded with the composure that has become her trademark. She reeled off the final legs to turn the match around and book her place in the quarter‑finals, keeping her hopes of a 58th title alive.

From there, she accelerated. Greaves overpowered Aileen de Graaf 5‑1 in the quarter‑finals, producing an average north of 96 and controlling the match from the opening visit. She then dispatched Kirsty Hutchinson 5‑2 in the semi‑finals, maintaining a steady scoring rhythm and leaving little room for resistance.

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That set up a repeat of the 2025 Women’s World Matchplay semi‑final, as Greaves faced Lisa Ashton in the Event 19 final. Greaves’ afternoon campaign began in identical fashion. She opened Event 20 with back‑to‑back 4‑0 wins over Leanne Halls and Felicia Bay, once again asserting her authority with clean finishing and relentless scoring. The Doncaster star dropped just three legs across the entire event, underlining the gulf between her and the chasing pack.

Her momentum continued with consecutive 4‑1 victories over Louise Pearson and Rhian O’Sullivan. Both matches in which she controlled the pace and punished every loose visit. She then swept past Angela Kirkwood 5‑0 in the quarter‑finals, producing another display of near‑flawless consistency to reach the final four.

Whitewash seals title number 59

The final brought a rematch with Aileen de Graaf, but the Dutch player struggled to find her rhythm. Beau Greaves capitalised instantly, controlling every leg and producing an average above 91 to complete a 5‑0 whitewash. The victory secured her 59th Women’s Series title and capped a flawless Sunday in which she reasserted her position as the circuit’s dominant force.

Greaves’ ability to maintain high averages across multiple matches, combined with her finishing accuracy and tactical control, continues to set her apart. Her Sunday double not only strengthened her position at the top of the Women’s Series rankings but also moved her within one title of the landmark 60‑title milestone.

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Beau Greaves remains firmly on top of the Women’s Series rankings, with Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock occupying second and third place respectively. Gemma Hayter sits just behind them in fourth, currently holding the final qualification spot for the 2026/27 World Darts Championship.

The top three players from the final PDC Women’s Series rankings will qualify for the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, with the top‑ranked player also earning a place at the 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts. Greaves’ Sunday surge has strengthened her grip on both positions, and her form suggests she is well on course to secure both berths.

Beau Greaves: closing in on history

With 59 Women’s Series titles now to her name, Beau Greaves stands on the brink of another milestone. Her return on Sunday was a reminder of her ability to dominate fields with a blend of scoring power, finishing precision and tactical control. The Doncaster star continues to set the standard in the women’s game, and her march towards title number 60 looks increasingly inevitable.

Greaves’ Sunday double was not just a return. It was a statement. After missing Saturday’s action, she re‑entered the circuit with complete authority, sweeping through both events and reaffirming her status as the standout force in women’s darts. With major tournaments approaching and her form showing no sign of slowing, Greaves’ pursuit of further silverware looks set to continue.

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By Faz Ali

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So THAT’s What The Colour Square On Toothpaste Tubes Is For

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Toothpaste tubes with coloured squares

Did you know that supermarkets often add a little-known “Julian date” to packs of fresh fruit and veg?

These usually tell suppliers and stores when the produce was packed and are different from consumer-facing “best before” and “use by” dates.

Some thought that a similar source of information might lie on the bottoms of our toothpaste packs, too.

In 2024, for instance, a viral podcast clip suggested that the little patch may reveal whether the ingredients in the tube are “natural” or “chemical” (though that distinction is impossible to make).

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That misinformed claim has since been thoroughly debunked. But it leaves another question – what are the markers actually for, then?

Toothpaste tubes with coloured squares
Toothpaste tubes with coloured squares

Why are there coloured squares on my toothpaste pack?

According to dental health company Colgate, they’re used in the manufacturing process.

When factories produce packs of toothpaste, they fill the tubes’ contents at speeds as fast as 200 containers a minute. Machines fill the opened cylinders with exact gram amounts of the product.

Then, they need to be closed (usually by heat sealing) to prevent the toothpaste from leaking and to stop bacteria and air from entering the tube.

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To do this efficiently, the machine that clamps the containers needs to be given a target.

Colgate explains that these tell “light sensors where the end of the tube is so that it can be cut and sealed properly”.

So… what about the ingredients in my toothpaste?

Again, these have nothing to do with the colour of your toothpaste tube (previous, disproven conspiracy theories suggested that green squares meant an “all-natural” product, while black supposedly revealed “pure chemical” options).

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If you’re curious about the contents of your toothpaste, though, there’s a simpler option: look at the ingredients list on the pack.

The NHS does say we should keep an eye out for this section, but not to check the hue of the machine-friendly block.

Instead, the health service advises we check the packaging to find a product that contains at least 1,350 parts per million (ppm) fluoride.

This helps to fight decay and can keep your teeth healthier for longer.

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Dolly Parton, Jolene And 9 To 5 Singer, Has Died Aged 80

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Dolly Parton, Jolene And 9 To 5 Singer, Has Died Aged 80

Music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80.

A pioneer in the world of country music, Dolly was best known for her cross-generational hits including I Will Always Love You, 9 To 5 and Jolene.

On Tuesday evening, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced the news of the Grammy winner’s death in a video message posted on social media, explaining that this was “something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality”.

“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now,” he shared.

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“Sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” he continued. “Dolly lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely.”

Her team later released a lengthier statement, celebrating the accolades she achieved in life.

“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee,” they said. “She was 80 years old.

“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” the statement continued.

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“Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.

“Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

For the past year, Dolly had privately undergoing what she described as “procedures” for a number of “health challenges”, the details of which she had chosen not to disclose publicly.

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‘Race realists’ freak out when told biological race doesn’t exist

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Race is a construct

Race is a construct

On 23 August, academic Priyamvada Gopal who specialises in postcolonial studies (including race and Empire), posted the below, earning the following community note:

Gopal has since disputed the validity of the community note. Self-described ‘race realists’, meanwhile, have freaked out over the initial comment. So what’s going on here?

Race

There are no doubt many who have no idea what Gopal is talking about nor what the community note is supposedly disputing. What it comes down to is the meaning of ‘race’.

The concept of ‘race’ is only applied to one species on this planet, and that’s human beings. The reason for this is that there’s no meaningful definition of ‘race’ (as opposed to terms like ‘species’ and ‘genus’). As the BBC reported in 2025:

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When scientists unveiled the first draft of the Human Genome Project 25 years ago, it seemed to deliver the final word on some antiquated myths about race. It provided definitive evidence that racial groupings have no biological basis. In fact, there is more genetic variation within racial groups than between them. Race, it showed, is a social construct.

To clarify further, when we think of someone belonging to a ‘race’, we’re making assumptions based on skin colour and facial features. The thing is, skin colour and facial features don’t tell us anything about people besides what they look like. White skin is no indicator of fitness; black skin is no indicator of intelligence, and an eye with epicanthal folds is no indication of empathy. In other words, the signifiers of race don’t tell us anything interesting about biology, which is why race is not used as a biological distinction.

History

So – why is any of this important?

It’s important because there are those who claim that races are biologically distinct, and there are all manner of assumptions you can make about people based on their skin colour. These ‘race realists’ or ‘race scientists’ generally want to convince you that certain races are inferior – usually intellectually – and that other races are superior.

Ironically, these racial supremacists often look like this:

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‘Race realist’ who launched Jason Arday hate campaign smears vigil

Explaining the origins of race science, the BBC note it was the Carl Linnaeus — the “father of modern biology” — who came up with the term. Linnaeus also created the terms ‘genus’ and ‘species’ which are still used today, and apply to all living beings. Linnaeus’s races included the following:

  • Asiaticus – people with “yellow skin”, and straight black hair.
  • Americanus – indigenous Americans, with “red skin” also with straight black hair.
  • Africanus – “black skinned” people with tight curls in their hair.
  • Europeaus – “white skinned” with blue eyes.

As the BBC added:

Even if this colour scheme were true, Linnaeus’ original descriptions only began with physical traits. What he included in later editions of Systemae Naturae, which became the basis for scientific racism, were portrayals of behaviours. Asiaticus were described as “haughty, greedy and ruled by opinions” while Americanus were labelled “stubborn, zealous, regulated by customs”. Africanus women were denoted as being “without shame” while both sexes were said to be “crafty, lazy, and governed by caprice”. He described Europaeus as “gentle, acute, inventive, governed by laws”.

By any definition in any age, these assertions are racist and entirely incorrect.

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Retrograde

Giving you an idea of how the concept of biological race doesn’t hold up, this is one of the replies to Gopal:

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If race was a consistent indicator of other biological traits, the 100 fastest 10,000m runners would be evenly spread across the entire African continent – not tied to one corner of it. There are also several reasons why successful 10,000m runners come from the same region of Kenya — chief among them that the area is 8,000 feet above sea level, and high altitude training is ideal for long distance runners.

No one is arguing that it’s impossible for biological differences to manifest in distinct populations over time. This is why certain physical differences exist between ethnic groups after all. What scientists are saying is that these physical differences are no indicator of intelligence, fitness, or personality. And the people who claim otherwise are — as Gopal says — are the very definition of racist.

Featured image via the Canary

By Willem Moore

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Gaza photographer dropped as French festival bows to Israel lobby

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Gaza football match

Gaza football match

The Deauville Sports Images Festival has removed the work of a Palestinian photographer from Gaza; succumbing to pressure from the Israel lobby. The silencing of the people of Gaza continues unabated, it seems.

The truth must “offend”

The image they removed captures a football match in Gaza against the backdrop of the city’s apocalyptic cratered urban environment. Crumpled buildings and a haze of dust and smoke set the scene, contrasted against an astroturfed green football pitch. The photo was replaced by one showing European cycling.

The organisers hid behind the excuse of wanting to avoid “controversy or offend[ing] anyone”. They wouldn’t name those behind the pressure campaign.

Israel’s destruction of Gaza and murder of its people are what is offensive, not showing an image of it.

Killing off Gaza

The image showed a February 2026 match between Gaza Sports Club and Egyptian team Al-Ahly. Israel has murdered around a thousand Palestinian sportspeople during the genocide since October 2023, including almost 600 footballers.

What is offensive is not showing the image and the reality behind it, particularly in a festival that boasts it offers different perspectives on sport.

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Featured image via Jehad Alshrafi

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Minister Insists Burnham Has Not Rowed Back On Key Housing Pledge

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Minister Insists Burnham Has Not Rowed Back On Key Housing Pledge

A minister has jumped to defend Andy Burnham over concerns he has already pulled back from a key housing pledge he made earlier this year.

The government has today unveiled a nearly £10 billion plan to boost the number of “genuinely affordable homes” in the UK.

It’s part of the prime minister’s pledge to carry out the largest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period, with 70,000 new homes across England – 60% of which would be allocated for social rent.

However, that promise still falls short of the expectations Burnham set while campaigning to be the next Makerfield MP.

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The then-Labour candidate said: “There’s £39bn allocated over a 10-year period … I’m saying that should be dedicated to council homes. Let’s not be coy any more. I’m saying council homes because control matters.”

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook rejected the suggestion that Burnham had rowed back on his pledge on Tuesday morning.

He told BBC Breakfast: “No I don’t. Andy Burnham said he wanted to see more money spent on house-building. That’s exactly what we’re doing.”

The Labour MP insisted the government was still putting a “greater emphasis on council housing”.

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He added: “We’ve taken a pragmatic approach. We want to get money out the door. There are housing associations and other providers who bid for grant funding who are ready to deliver homes.

“Through the revised programme, we are ensuring not only that councils are included in the long-term strategic partnership route but we are holding back funding – £60 billion of funding – outside of London we’re going to prioritise that for social rented homes and also council homes.”

More than £2 billion of the first funding allocations will be spent in mayoral areas outside of London.

More than £16 billion will be distributed outside of London while at least £6 billion will be available through the Greater London Authority.

Burnham said: “No child should be raised in a hostel room and no family should wait 10 years for a front door of their own.

“I have said from my first day in this job that everything starts with a good home.

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“Nearly £10 billion will go to councils and housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes, most of them for social rent, in the places where families are waiting longest.

“Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before.

“Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again.”

Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly called the announcement a “sleight of hand” and “another unfunded spending commitment”.

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He added: “The small print shows homes won’t have to be delivered until 2039.”

The Liberal Democrats’ housing spokesperson Gideon Amos said: “The move to allow councils to bid for funds for social housing is a good first step to helping secure adequate housing stock.

“However, until they address the care funding crisis in local government, very few authorities will be able to benefit from these changes.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Israeli airstrike destroys Gaza warehouse, burying food aid for malnourished children and pregnant women under rubble

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Ruined supplies in a destroyed warehouse in Gaza, belonging to MAP partner, Ard El Insan.

Ruined supplies in a destroyed warehouse in Gaza, belonging to MAP partner, Ard El Insan.

An Israeli military strike targeting a nearby building has destroyed a warehouse storing nutrition supplies intended for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Gaza.

The strike happened overnight (24-25 August) in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. The force of the explosion caused large sections of the building to collapse, including the roof and walls, completely burying supplies beneath the rubble.

The warehouse belongs to Ard El Insan (AEI), a local humanitarian organisation. It works in partnership with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) to provide nutritional support to women and children.

The warehouse contained nutritional supplements and supplies intended for malnourished children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers who are supported by around 60 medical points run by AEI and MAP.

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The medical points support up to 100 women and children each day. AEI’s team confirmed that the explosion damaged the entire stock, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption.

Sahar Salem, AEI’s project coordinator, said:

Losing these quantities in their entirety is a major blow to our work and will undoubtedly affect our ability to reach the children and women who need these services, particularly given the conditions they continue to face in the aftermath of starvation.

Since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, our work has never been easy. Two of our colleagues were killed and another was injured by Israeli military strikes. Every attack and interruption happens at a time when people are in desperate need of the services we provide.

Even with the ceasefire, conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging, and children and women still urgently need continued support. All we hope for is for conditions to become safer so that we can continue our work and reach those who need us. These children and women cannot wait.

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Rowida Al-Sabbah, MAP’s nutrition programme lead, said:

When we talk about a warehouse being destroyed, we are not simply talking about a building or quantities of supplies being lost. We are talking about a service being disrupted, about nutritional supplements that were supposed to reach a child, a pregnant woman or a breastfeeding mother who relies on that support.

This is happening at a time when rates of malnutrition remain high, including among children aged five to 10, a group for whom we have seen increasing needs in recent months.

Unfortunately, in Gaza, even the simplest things we need to provide nutrition services are now vulnerable to being lost or disrupted.

Despite all these challenges, we remain determined to do everything we can to continue supporting children and mothers in these areas and to ensure that they do not lose access to a service they urgently need, particularly those who are most at risk.

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Humanitarian workers, humanitarian facilities and the supplies that people depend on must be protected.

AEI’s team is currently assessing how to use supplies from other warehouses to ensure services can continue to serve those in need.

Malnutrition rampant in Gaza

The loss of these supplies comes at a time when nutritional needs in Gaza remain severe. A new UNICEF report this week has shown there are concerning rates of maternal and chronic malnutrition in Gaza and that humanitarian aid is vital to prevent further deterioration of people’s conditions.

More than 12% of children in Gaza have been assessed to be suffering from stunting and more than half of pregnant women suffer from severe anaemia driven by acute food insecurity and lack of basic nutrition.

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Despite the so-called “ceasefire” agreement, Israeli military attacks in Gaza and forced displacement orders continue to intensify. Israel has killed more than 1,296 Palestinians since October 2025, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

In June 2026, the Independent UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israeli forces and authorities have continued to commit genocide, particularly through the targeting of Palestinian children.

MAP is calling for urgent action to ensure the ceasefire endures and becomes permanent. And it wants civilians protected in line with international humanitarian law.

Governments, including the UK, must maintain meaningful pressure on Israel to bring a permanent end to Israel’s genocide. This should include halting arms transfers and ensuring accountability for violations of international law.

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Hannah Einbinder Defends Mark Ruffalo After ‘Ludicrous’ Antisemitism Claim

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Mark Ruffalo at the premiere of Mickey 17 last year

Hannah Einbinder has thrown her support behind fellow actor Mark Ruffalo, after he was forced to deny allegations of antisemitism over his criticism of the alleged role that tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison’s Oracle played in the Israel-Gaza war.

Ruffalo has long been a vocal critic of the ongoing merger between the movie studios Warner Bros. and Paramount, and last week shared a clip to his Instagram account of former Oracle chief Safra Catz calling some of the company’s technology “profoundly scary” at the Israeli-American Council National Summit in 2024, specifically referencing the company’s tech in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Ruffalo also called the conflict a “genocide” that “was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle”, the co-founder of which’s son, David Ellison, owns Paramount.

When Paramount responded to call the Marvel performer’s comments “antisemitic” – an accusation which he swiftly refuted – Ruffalo subsequently received the backing of Einbinder in an Instagram post.

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“I’m so grateful that Mark Ruffalo drew a connection between the Ellisons providing military technology to Israel during a genocide and their unprecedented media takeover-and pointed out that this is a dangerous consolidation of power that could ultimately be used against us,” wrote Einbinder, who is Jewish, on Monday.

“The idea that he only said these things because the Ellisons are Jewish is ludicrous. Is it also antisemitic to point out that Safra Catz, the Oracle executive vice chair who boasted about the ‘profoundly scary technology’ provided to the IDF, also sits on Paramount’s board? Or that Larry Ellison has been buying favour with Trump by donating tens of millions to his political efforts for years? Or that he once offered Netanyahu a lucrative Oracle post?”

She continued: “This is criticism of RIGHT-WING technofeudalist oligarchs who are in the process of carrying out the largest media acquisition in history. Period end of story.

“People are not too stupid to see these obvious connections. If you want to make it about the Ellisons being Jewish, then you are the one being antisemitic.”

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The Emmy winner added: “I’ll say it till I’m blue in the face: every time Zionists equate criticism of Israel, its genocide, or anyone who supports it to antisemitism, they rob the word of all of its meaning. For those of us who ACTUALLY care about Jewish safety, we want that word to mean something so that when Jews are actually in danger it’s taken seriously.

“And, as Mark has been saying for months, opposing this merger is also about fighting for the working class of Hollywood: the crews and other workers that we artists claim to care so much about, who could lose thousands of jobs if it goes through.”

Einbinder concluded: “All of us artists could stand to be more like Mark, willing to speak out for oppressed people everywhere, even when powerful people try to bully us into silence.

“Visibility is a responsibility. Those of us with a platform need to use our voices before speaking out is outlawed altogether.”

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Mark Ruffalo at the premiere of Mickey 17 last year
Mark Ruffalo at the premiere of Mickey 17 last year

During an interview with HuffPost UK published over the weekend, Einbinder shared the importance of speaking out on issues close to her heart, including voicing her solidarity with Palestine in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“Unfortunately, I think we live in a culture that places a little too much – in fact, a lot too much – emphasis on celebrity,” she explained.

“And our voices are elevated – and people [pay more attention to] famous people than, frankly, people who deserve attention: academics and scientists and journalists and people who are screaming about the state of the world and not being heard.

“So, to me, it makes total and complete sense to try to work in messages that I think are important. I just think that there’s nothing more important than bringing awareness to the suffering in the world, and what we’re facing in America, and in the Middle East, and [globally] with the climate crisis.”

Einbinder added: “I really just hope that more people are vocal, because I see so many people with far more influence than I have, and I think of what they could do, and I think of the impact that it could have, and I just know that it would be so large and so appreciated by so many people.”

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Ruffalo wrote on X over the weekend: “The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticising the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticising Jewish people.

“This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect.”

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U.S., Canada Residents Decry New Tariffs

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U.S., Canada Residents Decry New Tariffs

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No, Bridget Phillipson, Britain is neither racist nor sexist

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No, Bridget Phillipson, Britain is neither racist nor sexist

Racism and sexism have become ‘normalised’ in Britain, asserted equalities minister Bridget Phillipson last week. Speaking on the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, to substantiate these claims, she cited the ‘cesspit’ of social media and supposedly ‘racist’ statements made by the Conservatives’ Nick Timothy and Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick. Where once such speech would be censured as unacceptable, she claimed, there are now no consequences.

While you might be inclined to yawn at this ham-fisted attempt to resurrect the heady days of #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, Phillipson’s desire to fan the charred embers of the Great Awokening deserves a more serious rebuke. As I noted on LBC, her claims are both illiterate and irresponsible.

First, the illiteracy. Successive waves of the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey and other longer-running studies show that Britain has never been less racist or sexist. For instance, when asked who should do the washing and ironing, 75 per cent of Brits in 1984 said the woman should, falling to only 16 per cent by 2023. Present British attitudes would be unrecognisable to earlier generations or many other societies.

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So too on race. In 1983, a 54 per cent majority said they would be displeased if a close relative married a black or Asian person. In 2023, fully 89 per cent said they would be happy for their child to marry someone from a different ethnic group. Also in that year, 93 per cent disagreed that ‘to be truly British you have to be white’. 

Racial attitudes are not perfect, but statements about a country’s characteristics are implicitly relative rather than based on a cosmic yardstick. We don’t say that Switzerland is poor because it could be richer, or that Usain Bolt is slow because another man might one day run faster. Likewise, the statement that Britain is racist or sexist must be based on comparing the country with its past or with other societies. On this score, it is one of the least racist or sexist countries that has ever existed.

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While the media establishment was transfixed by the folk devil of Tate, it overlooked a much more serious phenomenon: the surge of anti-male, politically bigoted feelings among young women. Thus, a 2026 New Statesman survey discovered that just seven per cent of young British men had a negative view of women, but 21 per cent of young women expressed a negative view of men. Among women under 25, 27 per cent have a negative view of men, and only 35 per cent a positive view. Three in four would terminate a relationship if someone failed to share their views on social justice. In addition, young white women are more likely to believe Britain is racist than young non-white women. Young women are only half as likely as young men to want children and they also feel less valued by society.

The attitudes of young, middle-class white women reflect the impact of years of ideological conditioning from the media, universities, schools and elite institutions. When responsible adults indulge in moral panics over racism and sexism, they encourage women and minorities to believe that these forces are arrayed against them. False resentments are unleashed and personal agency is diminished. The result is lower happiness or even failing mental health. We cannot blame woke avatars like Phillipson enough for impairing the flourishing of women and minorities while damaging relations between the sexes and races.

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In my LBC interview, Ben Kentish suggested that lived experience is what determines people’s perception of racism and sexism. However, research tells us that media-driven perceptions prime people to view the world through distorted lenses. People overstate the proportion of gays and Muslims, and the frequency of crime. The same process causes them to overestimate racism and sexism. For instance, Sikhs who voted Remain were far more apt than Leave-voting Sikhs to say they had personally experienced racial hate crime after the Brexit vote. In the United States in 2016, black respondents who were on social media were considerably more likely to say they personally experienced racism than those who were not. Blacks who voted for Trump in 2020 were much less prone to saying they personally experienced racism during Trump’s previous term than those who voted for Biden. The hysteria of the Great Awokening of 2015 to 2022 led concern over racism and white supremacy to soar, despite a longstanding decline in police shootings since the 1960s.

The recourse to citing social-media extremism is what social scientists term ‘selecting on the dependent variable’, aka cherry-picking. You identify a pocket of the most extreme opinion, then proceed to generalise from it to the wider population. That’s not how to draw sensible conclusions. Instead, you need evidence from surveys that are representative of the population you want to generalise about.

As with false penalties in football, excessive vigilance is not cost-free. Indeed, British society can only realise its true potential when it starts to more severely penalise false claims about racism and sexism.

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