In the United Kingdom, a music festival is canceled after Kanye West was denied entry
Organizers canceled this summer’s Wireless Festival after the British government announced on Tuesday that it had prohibited rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, from entering the country due to past antisemitic behavior.
The Home Office told the BBC that they denied the Electronic Travel Authorization made by Ye on Monday because they believe his presence would not serve a public good for the country.
Over the past few years, Ye has faced heavy criticism on social media over his comments. In 2022, he wrote on an online post that he would go “death con 3 on Jewish people.”
“I know words aren’t enough,” said Ye. “I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
The managing director of Festival Republic, Melvin Benn, who organizes Wireless said Jewish groups have refused to meet with them despite multiple attempts to reach out over the past few days since the performers were announced. In a social media post, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Ye should have never been invited.
The Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions has become involved in the matter after workers and citizens reached out over concerns of hosting Ye at the Hellwatt Festival scheduled for mid-July. Union representative Rosamaria Papaleo said the union does not aim to disrupt the festival since it is important for workers and fans.
“As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the United Kingdom,” Wireless Festival said in a statement.
In France, a piece of the Eiffel Tower is going up for auction
A historic staircase part of the Eiffel Tower is set to go up for auction hosted by Artcurial’s Art Deco department in Paris next month, expecting to cost between $140,000 and $175,000.
The original spiral staircase — composed of steel and riveted metal panels — linked the second and third floors of the tower during its opening in 1889. Measuring at 9 feet tall and 5.7 feet in diameter, the structure consists of 14 steps sitting on a cross-shaped base.
The auction house said that the seller has not been publicly identified but had held the staircase in the same private collection for over 40 years since it was first taken apart in 1983.
Associate director at Artcurial Sabrina Dolla told CNN that the structure had remained indoors and gone through a full restoration for the sale.
The staircase is “more than just a piece of history,” said Dolla. “It’s an immersive experience, a stationary journey through time and space.”
20 sections of the staircase were sold in 1983, with most pieces still remaining with their original buyers. Other sections can be found in two Parisian museums — the Musée d’Orsay and the Cité des Sciences. Additional pieces can be found at Disneyland, Yoishii Foundation gardens in Japan and near the Statue of Liberty in New York.
In Australia, a decorated soldier is charged over alleged war crimes
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living veteran, is facing five counts of war crime charges due to allegations of killing four noncombatants while serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
The 47-year-old Victoria Cross recipient is charged with one count of murder as a war crime, one count of jointly committing a murder and three counts of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a murder.
On Tuesday, Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport and spent the night in a cell before his bail hearing taking place Wednesday. He denies all wrongdoing and calls the charges “egregious” and “spiteful,” contending that all of the alleged killings took place legally during combat or never took place at all.
“It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused or shot by subordinate members of the Australian Defence Force in the presence of, and acting on the orders of, the accused,” Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
Roberts-Smith unsuccessfully contested the reports in what became Australia’s most costly defamation trial with a 2023 federal court judge ruling where newspaper outlets — including Nine Entertainment since 2018 — substantiated four of the six murder allegations they made. A final appeal was rejected by the high court in September 2025.
“The overwhelming majority of our ADF do our country proud,” Barret said. “Today’s charges are not reflective of the majority of members who serve under our Australian flag with honor, with distinction and with the values of a democratic nation.”
Contact Justin Yen at [email protected].