The move came after a new government-commissioned review found that three in five Jewish students reported experiencing antisemitism in English schools. The most common incidents were jokes, stereotypes and comments about Jewish people. About half of respondents who witnessed or experienced antisemitism said the incidents were not reported, most often because they did not think they would be taken seriously.

The government on Wednesday accepted 27 recommendations from the report, including dedicated antisemitism training for leaders and staff, improved recording of antisemitic incidents and moves to build a better understanding of Jewish life, identity and contemporary antisemitism.

The government commissioned the report following a spate of high-profile attacks on Jews in Britain, including an attack on a synagogue in Manchester last year that left two men dead.

The report’s author, Sir David Bell, the vice chancellor of the University of Sunderland and former chief inspector of schools in England, recommended addressing antisemitism distinctly from other forms of racism. He argued that antisemitism was a “uniquely complex” problem because of intertwined racial and religious dimensions, since Jewish identity can encompass both an ethnicity and a religion, along with expressions of prejudice that hold all Jews responsible for the actions of Israel.

The government will also encourage English schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The definition is supported by many mainstream Jewish organizations and has been adopted by 47 countries, including the U.K., but critics say that it conflates some forms of antisemitism with criticism of Israel.

British Education Secretary Lucy Powell called Bell’s review a “generational moment” and said that “implementation is now my priority.”

However, the National Education Union, the largest union representing teachers, lecturers, teaching assistants and support staff in the United Kingdom and Europe, raised concerns on Wednesday about recommending the IHRA definition for schools. NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said in a statement that the definition “risks deepening the problem rather than tackling it, and actively undermining efforts to confront antisemitism.”

“The IHRA’s contested framing risks blurring the line between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and the genocide in Gaza, leaving teachers with uncertainty when they need clarity,” said Kebede. He cited a risk that “children who cannot critically explore issues through classroom discussion will instead seek their answers in online and unsafe groups.”

Kebede also encouraged Britain’s Department for Education to strengthen guidance on all forms of racism, not only antisemitism, saying that 65% of teachers report they have not received any antiracism training in the past year.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, an umbrella organization for British Jewish communities, celebrated the antisemitism report and the government’s adoption of its proposed measures. The group specifically praised the report’s “clear recommendations that schools and local authorities follow government guidelines by adopting the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a tool to deepen understanding of contemporary antisemitism.”

“We remain concerned about undue external influence on schools driven by narrow political agendas, and tendentious materials seeping into schools and increasing disharmony, and we will continue to press for vigilance against this,” said the Board of Deputies.

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Police told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident as a possible antisemitic attack, and Manhattan Shomrim — the Jewish community watch group — has asked people to share footage as police search for the suspect. No arrests have been made.

The victim was identified by police as a 26-year-old man, and Orthodox Jewish outlet COLLive identified him as a resident of Crown Heights, the neighborhood that is home to the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement’s headquarters.

He was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Police said they were called at about 5:50 p.m. on Wednesday after the man was stabbed in the back with “an unknown sharp object” on 47th Street near Fifth Avenue. ABC7 reported that the victim told investigators he believed he was stabbed with a needle or syringe.

According to the Chabad website, which published an interview with the victim, he is a recently ordained Hasidic rabbi named Joseph, who commutes to Midtown each day to wrap tefillin with Jewish merchants. The attacker, Joseph told the website, was a woman who seemed to be following him prior to the stabbing.

The attack comes as Jewish New Yorkers have been targeted in more than half of the hate crimes committed in New York City this year, despite making up about 12% of the city’s population.

In July, an assailant stabbed two men on the Upper West Side, including one who was leaving a synagogue, while yelling “Allahu akbar,” and was charged with committing hate crimes.

Louis Keene contributed reporting.

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Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, has mandated the evacuation of its headquarters in Dhahran, following a dramatic surge in military confrontations with Yemen’s militant groups. Sources confirmed that the state energy giant instructed personnel to leave the facility and shift to remote operations as the conflict intensifies, reflecting a severe deterioration of regional security.

Escalating Conflict and Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

The security directive came after a recent barrage of assaults targeting both Saudi companies and major national airports. The fighting has been fueled by the continued aggression of the Houthi factions, who have advanced toward the vital Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane at the mouth of the Red Sea. Militant spokespersons claimed responsibility for recent strikes against Aramco facilities in Yanbu and the Saudi defense ministry in the capital city of Riyadh, though Saudi authorities have not verified these specific incidents. The Saudi-led coalition responded by intercepting drone flights over the capital and the holy city of Medina.

Global Market Reacts to Regional Instability

The heightened tension immediately sent shockwaves through global financial markets. Concerns over the potential disruption to crude oil supply from the Middle East caused oil prices to climb sharply, hitting their highest levels since May. Concurrently, the Saudi stock market index experienced a notable decline following the news regarding the energy company’s security measures. Analysts point to the escalating regional instability as the primary driver behind the volatile commodity prices.

Background to the Security Crisis

The current unrest marks a significant departure from the 2022 truce brokered by the United Nations, which had largely suppressed cross-border hostilities. The renewed violence has effectively opened a new front in the broader geopolitical contest involving Iran and its allies. Earlier this month, the Houthi groups had already inflicted extensive damage upon the Aramco headquarters. In response, Saudi Arabia has vowed to safeguard its territory, launching retaliatory strikes against missile launcher sites and reporting the interception of numerous ballistic projectiles fired by the faction.

The conflict has also impacted civilian safety; a recent Houthi assault on King Fahd International Airport near Dhahran resulted in multiple casualties. Despite the attacks, civil aviation authorities confirmed that airport operations have since resumed, and air traffic has returned to its normal schedule. The escalating situation underscores the deep volatility now present in one of the world’s most crucial energy regions.

In a significant diplomatic move aimed at reducing economic dependency on the United States, Canada and Turkey have officially elevated their bilateral relationship to a ‘strategic partnership.’ The agreement, formalized during a recent visit by the Canadian Prime Minister, signals a major pivot toward new global trade avenues and deepens cooperation across several critical sectors. This initiative is central to a broader international trade strategy designed to insulate Canada’s economy from escalating trade pressures in North America.

A Four-Pillar Economic and Security Pact

The newly established partnership focuses on four core pillars: commerce and investment, defense and security, energy development, and diplomatic ties. Ministers from both nations signed specific cooperation agreements covering air transport, defense technology, and energy projects. Officials stated that the agreement includes a three-year action plan designed to boost opportunities for businesses in both countries. Economically, the nations have set ambitious goals, aiming to increase their current trade volume, which was previously estimated at $3 billion, up to $10 billion in the future. Negotiators are scheduled to commence free trade discussions next month in Ankara.

Navigating Geopolitical Currents

The move marks a substantial thawing in relations, overcoming previous diplomatic chilliness stemming from Canadian concerns regarding human rights and past limitations on military exports to Turkey. Turkey, a key emerging market, is actively seeking greater collaboration in its expanding defense industry, nuclear power initiatives, and mining sectors. Turkish leadership praised the Canadian Prime Minister, noting that the alliance alleviates a long-standing disconnect between the two nations. Analysts suggest this trip is driven by a ‘geopolitical necessity’ to signal to major Western powers that Canada is actively diversifying its economic partnerships, moving away from singular reliance on the US market.

The Balancing Act of Commerce and Rights

While the economic benefits are clear, the partnership presents a complex diplomatic challenge. Although the current trade volume with Turkey represents a small fraction of Canada’s total merchandise trade, the bilateral exchange has shown considerable growth over the past five years. Experts have noted that the Canadian administration is prioritizing economic advancement, leading to a decreased emphasis on human rights monitoring in the relationship. This shift comes as Turkey has faced international criticism regarding its handling of political opposition and civil liberties. Political scientists caution that the Prime Minister must carefully manage the delicate balance between opening new commercial doors for Canada and upholding Canada’s international commitment to equality and human rights.

Furthermore, the partnership has been bolstered by recent changes, including Canada lifting certain weapons-export restrictions on Turkey in 2024. This commitment to strategic depth, spanning from critical minerals and liquefied natural gas to defense cooperation, underscores a deliberate effort by Canada to secure its global standing in an increasingly fragmented world order.

New data reveals that Israel is currently subject to a rapidly expanding network of international trade restrictions and punitive measures across numerous nations, raising serious alarms about the country’s long-term economic viability. According to recent findings from the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), a total of 139 sanctions and diplomatic restrictions have been documented across 64 different countries and entities. Of these, 94 non-academic measures are currently active, signaling a dramatic escalation in global pressure.

The Scope of the Economic Pressure

The measures tracked by the research organization are highly varied, ranging from targeted financial penalties against specific organizations to outright trade prohibitions and arms export restrictions. Analysts caution that this growing international backlash could severely jeopardize the nation’s global trade relationships and foreign investment portfolio. Dr. Shuki Friedman, the Director General of JPPI, warned that the accumulating sanctions pose an existential threat, emphasizing that as a geographically isolated state, Israel relies heavily on global cooperation for both its security and its daily functioning.

The recent actions by key Western powers highlight the shift in policy. The United Kingdom, for instance, introduced a comprehensive package of economic sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This move marked a sharp deviation from previous British diplomatic stances. The new UK policy prohibits the importation of goods from these communities and places restrictions on any companies or individuals involved in facilitating settlement expansion, including those providing real estate or construction services.

A Continent-Wide Boycott Effort

The trend of economic isolation is not limited to London. France and Canada have joined the UK in implementing import bans on goods originating from Israeli communities in the West Bank, contributing to a growing boycott movement. Several other European nations, including Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, have pledged support for these restrictive policies. Furthermore, at the European Union level, significant pressure has been building to suspend the Association Agreement, a pact that governs the political and financial ties between the bloc and Israel. Such a suspension would disrupt not only commerce but also vital academic exchanges and joint research initiatives.

The Netherlands has taken a particularly stringent step, enacting a law that bans imports not only from West Bank communities outside the Green Line but also from the Golan Heights. This increasing legislative action across Europe demonstrates a coordinated effort to economically isolate the Jewish state. While the Bank of Israel has recently forecast robust economic growth for the coming years, the accumulation of these international restrictions—driven by disputes over West Bank settlements and the military campaign in Gaza—threatens to undermine the very resilience the economy has demonstrated in recent years. The consensus among experts is that this mounting pressure is fundamentally challenging Israel’s ability to maintain its status as a globally integrated economic power.

The recent wave of unrest sweeping across France has unexpectedly ignited a significant political debate within Iran, prompting many citizens to revisit the historical dynamics of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. For critics of the current Iranian regime, the European turmoil serves as a powerful contemporary lens through which to examine Western geopolitical double standards and the enduring influence of religious political movements in the region.

Historical Resentment and Western Hypocrisy

A central focus of the Iranian commentary relates to France’s historical involvement with the movement that led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Specifically, the nation’s decision to host Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in the critical months preceding the revolution has become a major point of contention. Critics argue that this support gave Khomeini’s movement international visibility, fundamentally altering the regional political landscape. Several individuals expressed deep dissatisfaction with the language utilized by European leadership when discussing Iranian demonstrators, arguing that these descriptions dismiss the fundamental demands for political freedom.

Commentators from Iran suggested that the nation was experiencing consequences stemming from its immigration policies, arguing that the government was reaping what it had sown. Another viewpoint framed France’s situation as a form of ‘karma,’ suggesting that the country must be held accountable for its role in the events that precipitated the revolution. This sentiment reflects a broader, persistent Iranian belief that Western powers severely underestimated the revolutionary ambitions of Khomeini before the pivotal transformation in the Middle East.

Democracy, Extremism, and Global Judgment

The discussion extends beyond historical grievances to encompass contemporary debates about governance and religious extremism. Iranian citizens have publicly challenged the notion that their society is unprepared for democratic systems. One nurse noted that Iranians had been providing warnings to European nations for decades regarding the potential destructive impact of Islamist movements, using France as a case study of societal decay caused by extremism. This perspective also drew attention to the complicated political alliances of the 1979 period, where various leftist groups who initially collaborated with Islamist factions to overthrow the Shah were later targeted and suppressed by the resulting Islamic government.

The interplay between French domestic issues and Iranian political discourse underscores a wider global conversation regarding the definition of freedom and the nature of political repression. For many Iranians, the current events in Europe offer an opportunity to challenge international judgments about Iran, while simultaneously advocating for the rights of protesters facing severe repression within their own country. The overall reaction illustrates how regional instability can be leveraged to critique international political narratives and historical assessments.

An extensive new investigation from George Washington University’s Program on Extremism has brought intense public attention to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), detailing the organization’s extensive efforts to shape how public schools across the United States address Israel, terrorism, and antisemitism. The research, titled ‘The Long Game: CAIR’s Campaign to Influence K-12 Education,’ documents how the advocacy group utilizes curriculum resources, policy proposals, and legal action to embed its viewpoint into American educational systems.

Mechanisms of Policy Influence

The report, authored by researchers Asher Stern and David Collins, examines CAIR’s activities in several states, including Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Washington. The findings indicate that while the impact varies regionally, CAIR has successfully established powerful channels for participating in educational policy discussions. A notable example cited is Washington State, where the CAIR chapter reportedly spent months negotiating proposed revisions with the state’s education agency before new guidance on contentious issues was officially adopted.

Advocacy and Resource Materials

CAIR, which identifies itself as a major Muslim civil-rights organization, promotes educational materials that extend beyond merely protecting students from discrimination. The researchers argue that the group is actively influencing discussions around Zionism, the Palestinian national movement, and the nature of terrorism. Specifically, the organization’s upcoming back-to-school resource guide includes materials covering Gaza, Palestine advocacy, the September 11 attacks, and definitions of extremism, alongside resources on religious accommodation.

Historical Context and Scrutiny

The investigation places CAIR’s current educational outreach within a complex historical context. The report references evidence from federal cases involving the Holy Land Foundation, noting that CAIR co-founders were associated with a 1993 Muslim Brotherhood structure linked to Hamas. Furthermore, the group has faced federal scrutiny, including FBI restrictions in 2008, and was removed from a White House strategy list following controversial statements made by its leadership regarding the October 7, 2023, attacks. Critics contend that a comprehensive educational curriculum must also acknowledge the history of Jewish peoplehood, Israel’s security concerns, and the severe atrocities committed by Hamas that day.

The authors stress that while the group’s history is controversial, their findings do not assert that every CAIR initiative is inherently extremist. Nevertheless, the researchers conclude that the public requires transparency regarding the extent of the organization’s role in shaping public education, particularly when political claims are presented as established facts.

A landmark judicial decision has successfully protected a century-old burial ground, ensuring the continued existence of a crucial piece of Jewish heritage in India. The High Court of Madhya Pradesh recently dismissed a legal challenge that threatened the national heritage status of the Ranital Jewish Cemetery in Jabalpur. This victory provides immense relief to the local Bene Israel community and sets a significant precedent for the safeguarding of minority cultural sites across the subcontinent.

The Battle Against Development Interests

The cemetery, which dates back to the period of British colonial governance, was originally established to serve the needs of the Jewish population in Jabalpur. It currently holds the resting places of approximately a hundred individuals, including local community leaders and Jewish soldiers who participated in the British military forces. The court’s ruling definitively upheld the protection granted to the site, thwarting efforts by real estate developers who had allegedly attempted to seize the property by falsely asserting private ownership.

Investigators noted that the threat was severe; attempts to erase the site’s history included reports of damaged or destroyed historic gravestones. Despite the community’s shrinking size—with only three or four members of the local Jewish population remaining—the site garnered widespread support from local government officials, architectural preservationists, and ordinary citizens who recognized its irreplaceable cultural value.

A Struggle for Recognition and Survival

The preservation effort highlights the precarious position of India’s Jewish community. While unofficial estimates place the population between four and five thousand individuals, the community remains officially excluded from the country’s list of six recognized minority groups. This lack of formal recognition often places cultural assets, like the cemetery, at risk from encroachment and neglect.

Local Jewish leaders expressed hope that this judicial outcome would establish a powerful legal framework for protecting other Jewish sites facing similar threats throughout India. The community, supported by local authorities, is now taking immediate, concrete steps to secure the grounds. This includes plans to erect protective fencing, repair damaged markers, and restore the cemetery gates to prevent future deterioration.

International Support for Cultural Preservation

The restoration project is bolstered by international assistance. The Consul General of Israel in Mumbai has pledged full support for the revitalization effort. Furthermore, emissaries from Chabad working nationwide are expected to contribute by documenting and preserving the rich history of Jabalpur’s Jewish community. This confluence of legal protection, civic support, and international aid ensures that this historic testament to the community’s long presence in India will endure for future generations.

אינעם ווידעאָ זעט מען ווי קירשנבוים דאַוונט שחרית מיט די אָרטיקע ייִדן און באַזוכט אַ גוט אָפּגעהיטענעם בית־עולם, וווּ עס ליגן באַערדיקט גרויסע צדיקים ווי למשל הרבֿ חיים בן עתר (1696–1743), באַקאַנט ווי דער „אור החיים“. „מענטשן מיינען, אַז נאָר אין אייראָפּע זענען דאָ קבֿרים פֿון צדיקים!“ זאָגט קירשנבוים.

מיר זעען אַ גרויסע, שיינע שיל מיט אַ פֿײַנער אַרכיטעקטור אין קאַזאַבלאַנקאַ; דעם גרויסן אַראַבישן שוק, וווּ קירשנבוים קויפֿט זיך אײַן מלבושים פּונקט ווי די מאַראָקאַנער גייען אָנגעטאָן. ער באַוווּנדערט אויך די שיינע טיי־גלעזער און טשײַניקן, וואָס מע פֿאַרקויפֿט דאָרט, און באַקענט זיך מיט אַ ייִדישן סוחר וואָס האַנדלט מיט זילבער און גאָלד, פּונקט אַזוי ווי זײַן טאַטע און זיידע האָבן געטאָן פֿאַר דור־דורות.

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These actors were once huge gets, and their names could convey legitimacy to a project. Nolte and Franco both have received Academy Award nominations. Lowe was a member of the Brat Pack, and was a regular on The West Wing.

Confession, written by Ben Shapiro and produced by the rightwing tabloid-esque news site The Daily Wire, is not the expected fare for actors with that kind of name recognition; Shapiro’s screenwriting aspirations have been the target of ridicule for years.

Nevertheless, this isn’t the only Daily Wire production getting big names; Danny Trejo signed onto a pro-ICE movie about Minneapolis in the aftermath of the Renee Good shooting, and Jonathan Majors led Run, Fight, Hide: Infidels earlier this year.

Each one of these actors has been, in some way, canceled or in career doldrums so may have been more open to working with The Daily Wire. And some have claimed that they did not know who Shapiro was, or what his politics were; Trejo’s son, Gilbert, said his 82-year-old father did not endorse ICE and was misled about the movie before he signed his contract.

Movie studios have struggled through the pandemic and the streaming era, both of which have tanked box office receipts, leaving the field open for movies from offbeat production studios. In addition to The Daily Wire, there has been a whole ream of Christian movies attempting to shift the stereotype of bible movies — that they’re preachy, low-budget straight-to-TV affairs with cardboard acting — to something more prestigious, or at least profitable.

The Christian company Angel Studios has been placing screenings of the half philo-semitic, half-antisemitic Jesus TV series The Chosen in movie theaters across the country, produced the right-wing hit The Sound of Freedom and is pumping out faith-based movies like the animated King of Kings Christmas story and David, a kiddie movie about the biblical king. Recently, Pinnacle Peak Pictures, another faith-based production company, premiered Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, another bible movie that was notable enough to merit a review in The New York Times. (Though admittedly it wasn’t a particularly positive one.)

For decades, Hollywood, and the media industry at large, has been associated with liberalism, progressive politics and diversity. (This is part of why conservative conspiracy theorists often insist that Jews control the media.) Even when conservatives are in power, satirical movies have poked fun at the ruling class — Team America: World Police spoofed George W. Bush’s foreign policy, while  M*A*S*H critiqued Richard Nixon. During the current Trump administration, we’ve seen One Battle After Another lambasting immigration policies and rising white nationalism, Eddington on misinformation and populism, and The Apprentice depicting Trump directly.

But a rising number of higher-budget, bigger releases from the right wing, whether The Daily Wire’s conservative political parables or the Christian fables, are  bringing a new kind of messaging — about the importance of God and country, about gender roles, about about the centrality of Jesus to the U.S. —  to the American movie-going public.

This is no accident. A group of powerful conservative Christians, many of whom worked on Project 2025, are proponents of the Seven Mountains Mandate, a blueprint for Christian nationalism that instructs Christians to gain influence and control over the “seven mountains” of society — which include media, entertainment and the arts. The Mandate is part of the New Apostolic Reformation, a decentralized evangelical movement embraced by millions of Americans.

Jeremy Boreing, the director of many Daily Wire movies — though he has since left the company — said on a podcast hosted by businessman Patrick Bet-David that “It had always been part of our strategy to move into making culture, not just criticizing culture” as a way of proving that “there is a future where conservatives aren’t losing. There’s a future where we have political power and cultural power.”

Cultural power, of course, requires more than just a lot of movies; they have to be well-done, or at least appear to be. Previous Daily Wire productions, as well as other right-wing, MAGA movie ventures, have been hacky. Lady Ballers, about an unsuccessful men’s basketball team pretending to be women so they can dominate the league, was an unsubtle, unfunny and ultimately unwatchable spoof of transgender athletes. And even plenty of higher-budget attempts, like Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, can still fall victim to wooden acting and writing.

But now, with the financial success of movies like The Sound of Freedom and biblical parables like The Chosen, bigger stars are being drawn to projects like the Daily Wire’s lineup of pro-ICE, anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ movies. With those bigger stars may come new audiences who might not have watched a Christian movie or Daily Wire project otherwise. And where there is money and viewers, mainstream Hollywood will go, too, no matter how progressive people expect the industry to be. We’ve already gotten a biblical epic from Amazon Prime, with The House of David, and there are likely to be many more to come.

After all, it wasn’t so long ago, after all, that Cecil DeMille’s The Ten Commandments was the biggest movie in town.

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