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Miriam Margolyes says ‘you can’t cancel me’ amid calls for her to be stripped of OBE

By in Entertainment News, News

Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes has been vocal in calling out Israel’s actions in Gaza as she stands by her statements amid calls for her OBE to be taken from her

Miriam Margolyes has issued a direct response to backlash as she supports Gaza(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Miriam Margolyes has revealed she doesn’t fear getting cancelled after calling out Israel’s actions in Gaza. She says she has a responsibility to speak out and call for change and doesn’t worry about any consequences.

The actress, 84, called for fellow Jews around the world to “shout, beg, scream for a ceasefire” in Gaza last year. Miriam said she was “so ashamed of Israel” for defending its actions.

The Harry Potter star teamed up with the Jewish Council of Australia where she issued her video message. It comes after Bob Geldof issued a desperate plea on Sky News to save babies in Gaza.

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Miriam Margolyes
Miriam has faced calls for her OBE to be removed(Image: PA)

There have been calls for Miriam to be stripped of her OBE after comparing the Israeli government’s actions to the Nazis during the Holocaust. In an interview with the Big Issue, she said: “I cannot bear to think that my people are doing exactly the same thing to another nation.”

Miriam has stood by her statements and has no worries about it. She told The Guardian newspaper: “People say: ‘You’re just an actor, for f***’s sake, shut up.’ Well, that is a point of view. I don’t happen to share that.

“I think that if you have a chance to make an impact for good, to change things, then you should. I think it’s an absolute requirement, and people don’t, out of fear sometimes. They are afraid of being cancelled. You can’t cancel me!”

Miriam also had the same sentiments in her interview with the BBC as she said: “They talk about cancel, being cancelled, but nobody’s going to cancel me, I’m not having it.

“I don’t think people should use that expression. Everybody should be able to express their opinion. What Israel is doing to Palestine is wicked and it’s totally against our upbringing as Jews.”

In her video last year, Miriam said: “To me, it seems as if Hitler has won. He’s changed us Jews from being compassionate and caring and do unto others as you would have them do unto you into this vicious, genocidal nationalist nation, pursuing and killing women and children.”

She condemned the actions of Hamas and allies on October 7. Miriam said what is happening in Gaza is “shocking, embarrassing and wicked and I cannot understand why all Jewish people, particularly members of synagogues, do not want immediately to stop what is going on.”

The actress was awarded an OBE in 2002 for Services to drama, but she has now faced calls for her to be stripped of the honour. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) responded to her statements and called it “repugnant”.

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A statement from the CAA said: “The fact she was born Jewish does not give her license to use her immense platform to spread anti-Jewish venom.

“This has to be the end of the road. She must be shunned by the showbiz world that has fawned and bowed until now.” CAA added that it would write to the Honours Forfeiture Committee as well as BAFTA to ask them to remove Miriam of her titles.

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How Public Officers Make Fraudulent Anticipatory Declaration Of Assets — Olukoyede

By in News, Nigeria News

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, says that many public officers are now perfecting the antics of anticipatory declaration of assets to justify their intended stealing of public funds and other acts of corruption.

A statement by the Head, Media & Publicity of thr EFCC, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that the Chairman stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 while delivering a goodwill message at the launch of the Virtual Tool on the Code of Conduct for Public Officers organized by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB in collaboration with the Technical Unit on Good Governance and Anti-corruption Reforms (TUGAR).

Explaining how anticipatory asset declaration is done, he disclosed that, “There is an investigation we carried out and we discovered something not too strange that proves how criminally smart some of our politically exposed persons carry out some of the various activities we investigate them for. I asked my boys to get the CCB form because there is something we were not clear about and we discovered one of the very big properties valued at over N3billion that the person declared in the CCB form carried an address different from the address of the location of the property. I felt something was awry here, we decided to dig further and after more interrogation, we discovered that the person declared the property when the property was not in existence.”

READ ALSO: EFCC Warns ADC Against Politicising Corruption Cases

He urged the leadership of CCB to take note of such criminality and intensify investigation through innovative ways to curtail corruption.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi pointed out that the bedrock of public service is adherence to standards and ethics of service.

He applauded the virtual tool designed by the CCB as a significant milestone in the digitization and technological investigation of public conduct, stating that it will promote preventive compliance and awareness.

He enjoined public servants to embrace the new tool for enhanced conduct in public service.

The Head of Service, Didi Esther Walson- Jack, stressed that, “We must leverage on technology to solve problems. It is faster, smarter and more transparent.

“Without conduct and ethics no reform will last. Ethical governance is not optional. The benefit of this tool is that it is accessible, easy to use, cost effective and promotes transparency that enables tracking and compliance.”

In his Opening Speech, Chairman of Code of Conduct Bureau, Abdullahi Usman Bello, explained that the tool will make public officers to be accountable and easy to use.

Argentina’s Javier Milei launches group to boost Israel-Latin America ties

By in News, World News

President Javier Milei of Argentina has proposed a new $1m initiative to strengthen relations between Latin America and Israel, ahead of an anticipated visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Monday, the Genesis Prize Foundation — a group that offers an annual award to members of the Jewish community — announced that Milei, its most recent winner, would use his prize money to launch a new nonprofit, the American Friends of the Isaac Accords (AFOIA).

“AFOIA is a vehicle to promote Milei’s bold vision and encourage other Latin American leaders to stand with Israel, confront antisemitism, and reject the ideologies of terror that threaten our shared values and freedoms,” Genesis Prize co-founder Stan Polovets said in a news release.

The statement explained that the new nonprofit was inspired, in part, by efforts under United States President Donald Trump to normalise relations between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

During Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2021, countries like Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in a series of deals known as the Abraham Accords.

Milei’s efforts, meanwhile, come as Israel faces growing condemnation in Latin America over its war in Gaza, which United Nations experts have compared to a genocide.

Countries like Colombia and Bolivia have severed diplomatic ties with Israel since the start of the war in 2023, and Brazil recently became the latest nation to join a case against Israel brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice.

“The Isaac Accords aim to mirror the success of the Abraham Accords by fostering diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation between Israel and key Latin American nations,” the news release said.

President Javier Milei waves as he stands between Economy Minister Luis Caputo and General Secretary of the Presidency Karina Milei on July 26 [Matias Baglietto/Reuters]

Pushing against a regional trend

The nonprofit will initially focus its efforts on three Latin American countries: Uruguay, Panama and Costa Rica. The news release credits regional analysts as saying those countries are “primed for enhanced cooperation with Israel”.

“These nations stand to benefit significantly from Israeli expertise in water technology, agriculture, cyber defense, fintech, healthcare, and energy,” it said.

But the Isaac Accords nonprofit ultimately aims to expand its mission to Brazil, Colombia, Chile and potentially El Salvador by 2026.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, applauded the establishment of the nonprofit and praised Milei as “setting an example for his neighbors in the region”.

But he acknowledged that several high-profile Latin American leaders have spoken out against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

“Given the hostility toward the Jewish state from some nations in the region, support of Israel by Latin American countries which are now on the sidelines is very important,” Danon said in the release.

Top leaders like Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have forcefully denounced the human rights abuses unfolding in Gaza, where more than 61,500 Palestinians have been killed and many risk perishing from hunger.

The enclave is under an Israeli blockade that restricts the amount of food, water and essential supplies reaching residents. Last month, the UN warned of “mounting evidence of famine” and “catastrophic hunger” in Gaza.

“We cannot remain indifferent to the genocide carried out by Israel in Gaza, the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians and the use of hunger as a weapon of war,” Brazil’s President Lula told the BRICS economic alliance in July.

Milei embraces Israel

But while left-wing Latin American leaders like Lula take steps to distance themselves from Israel, Milei, a libertarian, has taken the opposite approach.

In June, for example, Milei confirmed his intention to move Argentina’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by 2026, despite conflicting Israeli and Palestinian claims on the city. Trump made a similar decision in 2018.

Milei has also praised Israel for its human rights record, including in a social media post this past May honouring the 77th anniversary of its establishment in 1948, which resulted in the mass displacement of Palestinians.

“I congratulate the State of Israel on its short but glorious 77 years of existence,” the Argentinian president wrote. “Like Argentina, Israel is a beacon of FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY.”

Milei, a Catholic, has even expressed interest in converting to Judaism, which would be a first for an Argentinian president.

His selection as the 2025 Genesis Prize winner is considered a first for a non-Jewish person, and it is tradition for winners to give the cash award to a cause they support.

But Milei’s pro-Israel stance has prompted public backlash in Argentina. On Saturday, thousands of protesters flooded the streets of the capital Buenos Aires to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza.

“We not only demand the opening of borders and the entry of humanitarian aid: We support the fight for a #FreePalestine. Zionism is not Judaism,” one group involved in the protests, JudiesXPalestina, posted on social media.

Protests denouncing Javier Milei and Benjamin Netanyahu take place under a cloud of pink smoke.
Protesters hold signs denouncing President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 9 [Francisco Loureiro/Reuters]

A test for the International Criminal Court

Many demonstrators also voiced opposition to reports that Netanyahu would visit Argentina in the coming weeks.

The Israeli prime minister’s arrival would test Argentina’s commitment to the International Criminal Court (ICC), of which it is a member.

In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, on the basis that there are reasonable grounds to believe they had overseen war crimes in Gaza.

‘Glass half-full’ & ‘enthralled by details’ – Spurs’ new era under Frank

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent in Udine, Italy

What is it they say about London buses?

Tottenham waited 17 years for their first trophy. By the end of Wednesday night, they could have clinched their second in three months.

With last season’s Europa League triumph still fresh in the memory, opportunity beckons for new manager Thomas Frank to not only get his first season in charge off to a flying start, but to chalk off the first major milestone.

Of course, success against Champions League winners Paris St-Germain is likely to have little bearing on how the next nine months develop.

But victory against the European champions would certainly garner immediate buy-in from players, colleagues and supporters.

Not that Frank is having trouble in making a good first impression.

A few days after his appointment, Frank called a first-team meeting at the club’s Enfield training headquarters.

This is standard fare – an opportunity for ‘tracksuit staff’ to acquaint themselves with the new coaching team and for the manager to start laying down his philosophy.

But this was a gathering with a twist.

Frank invited everyone – from the technical and non-technical staff in the building who have contact with the first-team squad to the catering, administration and cleaning staff.

Frank’s ethos of inclusivity

This kind of inclusive effort is indicative of how Frank operates.

Those who worked with him at Brentford could recall similar anecdotes about Frank’s keenness to nurture a sense of inclusivity.

A source describes the Dane as a glass half-full type of manager. He is said to be an emotionally available individual – not necessarily a given in the unforgiving confines of professional football.

That is not to say his predecessor Ange Postecoglou wasn’t. The gushing appraisals and messages that followed his sacking were a clear indication of the strength of feeling towards him.

Thomas Frank speaks to his Tottenham players during a training sessionGetty Images

At the heart of his ethos is the notion that, regardless of position at the club, everyone should be treated the same. There should be no preferential treatment – every member of staff is part of the journey.

His decision to leave Yves Bissouma in London for persistent lateness before the PSG match is indicative of his straight approach. His culture is rooted in hard work and honesty, and that means being upfront with issues.

If someone has a problem, Frank expects that person to air it openly. He won’t accept backstabbing or whispers.

Frank is at the centre of each day’s training session. He will delegate elements of daily coaching to his staff, but he is said to be the protagonist in most sessions.

That is a clear step away from Postecoglou’s regime – where the Australian would observe most training days at the side of the pitch during the week, before taking the reins on the final session before a match.

Frank having significant say in transfers

Frank’s preparations, whether it be his team composition or bedding in his philosophy, have been hampered during pre-season.

He has been without Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie for much of the summer, while Dejan Kulusevski is yet to feature because of injury.

Frank has also lost James Maddison to an ACL injury, while captain Heung-min Son has left for Los Angeles FC.

While setting the tone for team spirit has been evident, Frank’s long-term vision of how he wants Tottenham to play is, arguably, less clear.

Sources have indicated that summer signing Mohammed Kudus is becoming a key player for Frank, with an emerging pattern of trying to get the ball into the Ghana international as often as possible.

The 51-year-old is also having a significant say in the club’s transfer business.

He is said to have been a driving force behind the deal for Kudus, while the club’s efforts to sign Savinho from Manchester City are described as having Frank’s seal of approval.

Nevertheless, the window hasn’t been without its difficulties.

The high-profile pursuit of Nottingham Forest attacker Morgan Gibbs-White – and its ultimate failure owing to legal issues related to the England international’s £60m release clause – was a blow.

Spurs would also like to sign Marc Guehi, but the Crystal Palace captain prefers Liverpool as a destination.

So far, only Kudus and Joao Palhinha – on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich – have arrived.

For some supporters, that isn’t enough.

Talks of fan protests at the perceived lack of squad investment has been an unwanted narrative that has followed the club this summer, since the move for Gibbs-White fell through.

There is money to spend, with owners Enic understood to have injected a level of cash into the club.

Landing Savinho and Palace attacker Eberechi Eze – who Tottenham have held talks over – would go some way to appeasing disgruntled supporters.

“This transfer window, we are definitely in the market and will do everything we can to make the best possible and strong squad,” Frank added.

Related topics

  • Premier League
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • Football

Inside the ‘cruel’ Beckham family feud – blacklisted brothers and desperate efforts to heal rift

By in Entertainment News, News

EXCLUSIVE: Associate Editor Tom Bryant on the inside story of the fall-out from Brooklyn Beckham and wife Nicola Peltz’s wedding vows renewal as the family feud deepens even further

When it came to the guest-list for Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz-Beckham’s lavish “second” wedding, few would have expected the groom’s parents David and Victoria to make the cut. As one Peltz-Beckham confidante bluntly put it: “In the current climate….hell would have had to freeze over before that happened.”

Such is the rift between Posh and Becks and their daughter-in-law Nicola that the pair only found out about the wedding vow renewal by reading it online. But it would seem that they were not the only ones supposedly black-listed from the lavish bash, which was attended by up to 200 people.

Friends of Nicola and Brooklyn have told how Brooklyn’s siblings Romeo and Cruz were also persona non grata after what they claim are a series of online barbs from the duo.

“Brooklyn’s brothers have been fanning the flames..they’ve openly made fun of and trolled Brooklyn in comments on social media,” said the pal. One comment under the spotlight was when Cruz responded to a post from a user asking him he was “going to stick with this job or going to become a race car driver next or something?”

To which Cruz, seemingly referring to his brother Brooklyn’s many career paths, responded: “Wrong brother mate”.

Nicola on her “second” wedding day with her mum and dad (Image: nicolaannepeltzbeckham/Instagram)

READ MORE: Brooklyn Beckham snubs entire family from Nicola Peltz vow renewal in ‘upsetting’ move

Quite why such a pretty much harmless comment would antagonise Brooklyn so much is curious to say the least. There are some who feel Nicola is looking for “any reason” to drive Brooklyn further from his brothers. She’s previously been accused of “isolating” her husband from not only his family, but his friends too.

Peltz’s friend was responding to questions as to why it was necessary to ban the whole Beckham family from the wedding celebration on August 2. We told yesterday how there was disappointment that not only Victoria and David were not invited but also his three siblings Cruz, Harper and Romeo, as well as his grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.

As one insider told me: “Why punish the whole family for what is essentially a fall-out with just the mum and dad.” Nicola and Brooklyn’s pals claim it was hard not to invite sister Harper, who is close to Brooklyn, as well as his grandparents.

The pal said: “They are trying to make the best decisions for them in what are very unfortunate circumstances. Navigating family stuff is hard and it’s ugly.”

Astonishingly, they still claim to hope for a reconciliation. The pal said: “The door is open. No one wants to see this kind of pain exist. There is always hope. At the end of the day. Blood is thicker than water.”

Such comments will doubtless antagonise the Beckhams. Not least as they see things very differently. I can reveal how the whole family have been trying for “many months” to get in touch and heal the rift with Brooklyn and his wife but to no avail.

Nicola Peltz
Nicola Peltz at the after-party (Image: INSTAGRAM)

It’s not just David and Victoria who have been reaching out but also both sets of grandparents, and other family members. On Brooklyn’s recent trip to London, he didn’t see any family members, including his grandparents .

Meanwhile, the family were “totally poleaxed” by news of the wedding renewal which came with “zero warning.” They believe there is no excuse for not letting anyone know about it and just dropping a series of pictures on social media. Descriptions such as “cruel and heartless” have been used.

The fact that more pictures have been made public this time around rather than their first wedding in 2022 has undoubtedly made matters worse. In the snaps, Nicola wore her 70-year-old mother’s vintage 1985 bridal gown for the big day, while her father Nelson, 83, was given the key role of officiating. The choice of pictures, critics say, were “very pointed.”

Judging from the comments on Brooklyn and Nicola’s social media platforms, it would appear the public are firmly on the Beckhams’ side. One said: “Oh lets get married again so my in-laws aren’t in the pictures. Unbelievably cruel. Hope you never have a son.”

But Peltz’s friends are adamant they have done nothing wrong. They point to what they say are “massive double standards” at play in how both families are portrayed.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz
Brooklyn and Nicola have their vows renewed in a ceremony officiated by her dad Nelson(Image: nicolaannepeltzbeckham/Instagram)

One said: “Whenever Nicola and Brooklyn stand up for themselves – or share how in love they are – they are seen as the bad guys. Take a look at Victoria’s Instagram feed…it’s all lovey-dovey. When Nicola does this she is accused of being terrible.”

As for the claims Nicola is isolating Brooklyn, her friends laugh this off too. They claimed: “Brooklyn’s friends flew in early to spend the week with him, and he had them staying with him in the build up. The pictures reflected what the goal was ….it was all about love. There was no ulterior motive.”

As for what happens next, the feud is certainly not harming Nicola’s career prospects.

“Nicola just wrapped a film in North Carolina which she was shooting this summer, and she has other film and TV projects in the works,” said a pal. Brooklyn too is busy promoting his hot sauce and recently did a partnership with Airbnb. Quizzed if they would ever do a big sit-down chat about the feud, the pal says it’s not their style.

“They dont want the attention…they are about peace instead,” they said.

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