French authorities investigate if Jewish passengers were removed from flight due to religion

French authorities investigate if Jewish passengers were removed from flight due to religion

PARIS (AP) — French authorities are trying to establish whether a group of young French citizens were removed from a plane bound for Paris from Spain this week because they are Jewish. The airline, Vueling, has denied the claims. Several dozen French passengers on Wednesday were kicked off a flight leaving the Spanish city ofValenciafor Paris, for what Spanish police and the airline described as unruly behavior. France's ministry for Europe and foreign affairs said in a statement on Saturday that the minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, contacted the CEO of Vueling, Carolina Martinoli, to express his deep concern "about the removal of a group of young French Jews from one of the company's flights." Barrot also requested more information to "determine whether these individuals had been discriminated against on the basis of their religion." A similar request has been made to the Spanish ambassador to France. "Ms. Martinoli assured Mr. Barrot that a thorough internal investigation was underway and that its findings would be shared with the French and Spanish authorities," the ministry said. Vueling previously denied reports that the incident, which involved the removal of 44 minors and eight adults from flight V8166, was related to the passengers' religion. Some Israeli news outlets reported that the students were Jewish and that their removal was religiously motivated, a claim that was repeated by an Israeli minister online. Spain's Civil Guard said the minors and adults were French nationals. A Civil Guard spokesperson said the agents involved were not aware of the group's religious affiliation. A Vueling spokesperson said the passengers were removed after the minors repeatedly tampered with the plane's emergency equipment and interrupted the crew's safety demonstration. A Civil Guard spokesperson said the captain of the plane ordered the removal of the minors from the plane at Valencia's Manises Airport after they repeatedly ignored the crew's instructions. On Thursday, the Federation for Jewish Communities of Spain expressed concern about the incident. The group said that Vueling needed to provide documentary evidence of what happened on the plane.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

July 26, 2025

French authorities investigate if Jewish passengers were removed from flight due to religion

French authorities investigate if Jewish passengers were removed from flight due to religion PARIS (AP) — French authorities are trying to e...

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A strong bomb explosion targets a Greek prison guard's home

A strong bomb explosion targets a Greek prison guard's home

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — A bomb explosion targeted the home of the president of the Greek association of prison guards early Saturday morning in the country's north. The guard, named Konstantinos Varsamis on the association's website, was left unharmed after about 3 kilograms (about 6.6 pounds) of explosives went off at 2:10 a.m. local time, police said. Two people suffered minor injuries from shattered glass. The explosives were placed outside his apartment building's front door in Sykies, a suburb in the northern city of Thessaloniki, where he lives on the first floor, according to authorities. The blast damaged three apartment buildings, shattering their windows and collapsing a shared wall, according to an Associated Press reporter on-site. "I woke up because of the very loud bang of the explosion," Tzetno Kelo, 52, who lives in an adjacent apartment building, said. "Shattered glass from a window fell on my bed and I was covered in blood." He was treated at a hospital before being discharged Police said a witness saw a man walking in the densely built street shortly before the explosion. Varsamis has worked for many years at Diavata prison, west of Thessaloniki, known for housing many criminal gang members as well as convicted terrorists. Two police officers said they are focusing their efforts on criminal gangs rather than terror groups. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not supposed to comment on an ongoing investigation. The police have already deposed Varsamis, they said. The police's Organized Crime Unit is leading the investigation.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

July 26, 2025

A strong bomb explosion targets a Greek prison guard's home

A strong bomb explosion targets a Greek prison guard's home THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — A bomb explosion targeted the home of the presid...

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Officials search for 'military-style' grenade after deadly explosion in California

Officials search for 'military-style' grenade after deadly explosion in California

California law enforcement say they took custody of two grenades on July 17 after a resident called the police. One exploded and killedthree detectives, and now the other one is missing. "The fact is, right now, there's a second grenade that we're not 100 percent sure where it's at," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in anevening briefingon July 25. Luna described the missing grenade as "military-style," one of two recovered after a resident in Santa Monica on July 17 reported the devices had been found inside a tenant storage unit in an apartment complex's underground garage. Arson explosives detail detectives investigated, including with X-rays, and thought the grenades were "inert," officials said. But when detectives took the grenades to the department's explosives detail facility, one grenade exploded, killing detectivesJoshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osbornthe morning of July 18. Officials believe the second grenade arrived to the facility, but they don't know where it is, Luna said. The sheriff's department has closed public access to roads around the facility,located in East Los Angeles, as they search for the missing grenade. Officials have searched vehicles, gyms, lockers, office spaces and surrounding areas of the facility, Luna said. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives has taken over the investigation to find the grenade. Kenny Cooper, ATF's special agent in charge for the Los Angeles field division, said officials have "meticulously examined" a radius of 400 feet from the blast site over several days. Officials have also conducted interviews and served multiple search warrants, Cooper said. If someone believes they have come across the grenade, officials say don't touch it and contact 911 or local law enforcement. Sheriff's homicide detectives are still investigating the detectives' deaths. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Military-style' grenade missing after deadly explosion: LA Sheriff

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

July 26, 2025

Officials search for 'military-style' grenade after deadly explosion in California

Officials search for 'military-style' grenade after deadly explosion in California California law enforcement say they took custody ...

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As Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour draws to a close, Blue Ivy emerges as a star

As Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour draws to a close, Blue Ivy emerges as a star

"Who they came to see?"Beyoncéasks as she performs her 2023 single "My House" during the Cowboy Carter tour. For many, the answer has been Blue Ivy. Blue Ivy Carter, the Grammy-winning artist's 13-year-old daughter, is more present than ever on stage, and fans are impressed by the growth from her first performance years ago to now. Isabella Kerr, 15, has admired Beyoncé for years, but said she attended the Cowboy Carter tour specifically to experience Blue Ivy's moves in person. "People are saying, "Oh, she's a mini Beyoncé," but no, I think she's the first Blue. Everything about her when she's on stage is electrifying," said Kerr. The Cowboy Carter tour concludes Saturday in Las Vegas. The tour's 30 previous shows have had fans buzzing that Blue Ivy is well on her way to being a next generation powerhouse. Blue Ivy's stage presence grows on Cowboy Carter tour Blue first graced the stage at 11 years old during her mother's 2023 Renaissance tour, appearing during the legacy-celebrating anthems "My Power" and "Black Parade." Supporters anticipated her performance at each stop. She performed again during "Beyoncé Bowl," the NFL Christmas Day Halftime Show that was just nominated for four Emmy Awards. She danced alongside the icon as she performed songs from the"Cowboy Carter" albumfor the first time. "Even the difference between the Renaissance Tour and now, you can tell she's really grown in her confidence," said fan and artist Olivia Ellis. "You can tell she has a different vibe about her." On the Cowboy Carter tour, she can almost be mistaken for one of Beyoncé's professional dancers. She is on stage for nearly every song and has a solo recreating her mother's choreography from her 2006 "Déjà-vu" music video, a nod to the undeniable similarities between the two. An inherited professionalism Online videos of Blue display professionalism comparable to her mother's during the Cowboy Carter tour. During a rainy New Jersey stop, she brought out towels to dry her area of the stage before nailing her "America Has a Problem" choreography. In another unexpected moment during a Chicago show, her earring got caught on Beyoncé's hair. Blue remained calm, removed the jewelry and motioned to the singer that it was safe in her hand as they both seamlessly continued. "It's the family business," said Kinitra D. Brooks, an academic and author of "The Lemonade Reader," a collection that explores the nuances ofBeyoncé's 2016 visual album, "Lemonade.""She is literally studying under the best person doing it out there today. Why wouldn't she take advantage of that opportunity?" Blue Ivy's fans dub themselves as the 'Ivy League' In "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé," fans were given a behind-the-scenes look at the decision-making process the first time Blue was allowed to perform. Beyoncé expressed how nervous she was about her child being in front of thousands of people made her, revealing she initially said no. "I did not think it was an appropriate place for an 11-year-old on a stadium stage," she said in the documentary. "I made a deal with her, and I said, 'If you practice and you show your commitment, I'll let you do one show.'" Blue Ivy fulfilled her end of the deal, and a fan base was formed: the "Ivy League." Kerr says Blue's accomplishments inspire her to work harder to achieve her own dreams. "She worked to be on stage, and look at her now. If I work to what I want to be, I can be killing it like her." At last month's Cowboy Carter Paris stop, members of the Beyhive and Ivy League finally got what they had been asking for — Blue Ivy merchandise. Shirts with the teen's face and the phrase "Déjà Blue" plastered on the front were available for purchase. Prior to that, fans were creating their own custom pieces that highlighted Blue and Beyoncé's connection. At the MetLife Stadium show, Ellis wore a custom corset top she painted, showcasing Blue Ivy and her 8-year-old sister, Rumi Carter, on stage with Beyoncé during "Protector," a track from the "Cowboy Carter" album that Rumi is featured on. "I thought that would just be a really fun moment to highlight on a corset," she said. "It's just really cool to see her as a mom because we've all grown up with Beyoncé, and now it's like her show is kind of like a family affair." Mother-daughter duos resonate with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy's bond Blue Ivy's confidence and professionalism are not only a testament to her hard work, but Beyoncé's motherhood. Mother-daughter duos around the globe filled stadium seats, excited to watch Beyoncé and her daughter display their strong bond for the world to see. In many cases, the mothers have been Beyoncé fans for years and are excited for their daughters to grow up with Blue Ivy, a high-flyer for their generation. Tanazha Baylis took her now 11-year-old daughter, Aria Brown, to the Renaissance tour, where she did not miss a beat dancing along to Blue Ivy's "My Power" choreography. Brown was so determined to attend the Cowboy Carter Tour that she started selling popular toys, such as slime and Squishmallows, and saving her money. "She literally was like, 'Mom, I don't know what you're going to do, but I have to go to this concert,'" said Baylis. "I just had to make it happen after that." Brown became a Beyoncé fan after participating in a dance recital with a theme centered around the superstar's career throughout the years. Baylis, who says she has always been a big fan, is happy to share these experiences with her daughter. "It just showed her a cool mom and daughter, and it's just something that she can do as well. Beyoncé is a little older but, with seeing Blue there, it made it tangible for her." Although there is no solid answer for what the future holds for Blue Ivy, it is widely recognized that the possibilities are limitless. "We couldn't imagine that Beyoncé would do all of these things that she could do. All we saw were people trying to put limitations on her," said Brooks. "I think one of the things that Beyoncé wants us to do and what she wants for Blue is for us to not put those limitations on Blue."

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

July 26, 2025

As Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour draws to a close, Blue Ivy emerges as a star

As Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour draws to a close, Blue Ivy emerges as a star "Who they came to see?"Beyoncéasks as she perform...

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‘Full House’ star Candace Cameron Bure says she was put on diet at 12 when she started filming hit show

'Full House' star Candace Cameron Bure says she was put on diet at 12 when she started filming hit show

Candace Cameron Burewas just 12 years old when she was faced with the intense pressures of Hollywood. Bure, now 49, candidly shared how she was placed on a diet at a young age while starring on "Full House." The actress said the decision was made out of fear. Candace Cameron Bure Warns About 'Scary' Hollywood Weight-loss Trend Making A Comeback "My parents were really afraid," she explained on"The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast." She recalled how the struggles of Tracey Gold, who co-starred with her brother Kirk Cameron in "Growing Pains," changed her parents' approach to her health – Gold hadbattled an eating disorderand stepped away from the show to receive treatment at the time. Read On The Fox News App Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News "I had cheeks and I had thicker arms and I was, like, a normal 12-year-old, you know?" she said. "I really was a normal 12-year-old, but I had a little bit more fat on me than other kids on TV. They were just fearful that I would develop an eating disorder, just because of all of the pressures." Bure continued to say that the focus at home quickly turned to food – although her parents framed it as a lesson in developing a healthy lifestyle. Candace Cameron Bure Aims To Be In 'Best Shape Of My Life' At 50 "Let's make sure we make good choices with food," she remembered. "Everyone in my house was alwayson a diet. My mom was always on a diet. My sisters were always on a diet. I was always put on a diet. But it wasn't like, 'Oh, you have to lose weight.'" Bure's parents told her at a young age, "We want to teach you how to be healthy and exercise." While her parents may have taken steps to help Bure maintain a healthier lifestyle at a young age, the child star admitted the mindset may have backfired. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter "That completely shaped my viewpoint that I had about myself and the feelings about my body," she said. "I'm on TV... and I don't want to be too fat compared to other actors. My parents never wanted a producer to come up to me and say, like, 'We need your child tolose weight,' so let's do everything preventative." Bure continued to open up about her insecurities at a young age. "That very thing just shaped the way I looked at my body, which was like, 'Oh, it's not good enough the way it is right now. That kind of started young," she said, "and continued through my teenage years." Bure rose to fame at the age of 11 when she landed the role of Donna Jo "D.J." Tanner on the family television series. She starred alongside the late Bob Saget, John Stamos, Dave Coulier, Jodie Sweetin, Lori Loughlin, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and more in"Full House." The popular television sitcom aired from 1987 until 1995. Original article source:'Full House' star Candace Cameron Bure says she was put on diet at 12 when she started filming hit show

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

July 26, 2025

‘Full House’ star Candace Cameron Bure says she was put on diet at 12 when she started filming hit show

'Full House' star Candace Cameron Bure says she was put on diet at 12 when she started filming hit show Candace Cameron Burewas just...

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