The three fastest 400m hurdlers in history renew their rivalry in Tokyo
World record-holder Karsten Warholm defends the title and starts as the world leader
Alison dos Santos seeks to regain the crown, while Rai Benjamin looks to win it for the first time
When Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin and Alison dos Santos take to the track, they know that at any time the world 400m hurdles record could be broken again. The World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 offers their next clash.
The three athletes have built a rivalry that has taken their event into a new era.
Norway’s Warholm is the world record-holder with 45.94 from the Tokyo Olympics, USA’s Benjamin was second in that Olympic final in 46.17 and claimed the Olympic crown in Paris, while Brazil’s Dos Santos ran a championship record of 46.29 when winning the 2022 world title in Oregon.
It has been like this for years. Now they return to Tokyo, four years on from that magnificent Olympic clash in an empty stadium due to the pandemic. They are ready to put on another show, this time with a crowd to watch.
Warholm arrives in Tokyo with the world-leading time. He clocked the third-fastest time in history – 46.28 – at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia, just weeks before the World Championships. It is a time that only he and Benjamin have ever beaten.
“Hungry for more,” Warholm wrote on social media, sharing a picture of him beside his result on the clock. After that he ran 46.70 to win his third Diamond League title in Zurich.
Benjamin’s best this season is 46.54, achieved when winning at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm ahead of Dos Santos and Warholm, while Dos Santos has a season’s best of 46.65, set when winning at the Diamond League event in Eugene ahead of Benjamin.
The trio four years ago presented the fastest final in 400m hurdles history, when all three of them went under 46.78 – the time by Kevin Young that had stood as the world record for almost 29 years until Warholm first broke it in Oslo.
Since the Warholm coronation in Tokyo, they have been changing positions over time.
Dos Santos got gold in 2022 at the World Championships in Oregon in 46.29, and the year after that Warholm won in Budapest with 46.89.
At the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, another change: Benjamin dethroned Warholm to win gold. He is the only one among the trio, however, who is yet to claim a world 400m hurdles title.
“Everyday breakin records, I guess things are just happening fast,” wrote Benjamin after winning the US title, his final race ahead of Tokyo, while Dos Santos shared photos from his final training sessions to the sounds of a Brazilian rapper named Djonga who sings: “I am not afraid, I am hungry.”
The entry list features a further four athletes who have dipped under 48 seconds this year. Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba, who claimed world bronze in 2019, clocked 47.09 at the Paris Diamond League meeting to finish second behind Benjamin. His personal best is the Asian record of 46.98 he ran in Paris in 2018.
Africa is also represented, as Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel ran a national record of 47.31 to finish between Warholm and Samba in Silesia, while Benjamin’s US teammates Caleb Dean and Chris Robinson have both run 47.76 this year.
Camila Correia for World Athletics Produced as part of the World Athletics Media Academy project
Defending World Endurance Champions Kévin Estre from France and Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium as well as Australian Matt Campbell delivered a flawless performance despite treacherous conditions. At the flag, the Porsche 963 crew held an advantage of 8.625 seconds. The sister car, carrying number 5, finished the ‟Lone Star Le Mans” in Austin, Texas in tenth place. The customer-entered Porsche 963 of Proton Competition crossed the line in P13. In the LMGT3 category, Manthey 1st Phorm successfully defended its lead in the championship.
The race
Sunshine on Friday, high temperatures and drizzle on Saturday, heavy rain on Sunday: the more than 66,000 fans in Austin witnessed a weekend full of drama. On race day, rain showers began in the morning with just 24 degrees Celsius. By the scheduled 1:00 pm local start, the Circuit of The Americas was so wet that race control ordered a start behind the Safety Car. For around an hour the Hypercars and GT3 machines circulated behind the pace car before a red flag stoppage was called.
100 minutes after the official start of the sixth round did the Porsche 963 and the rest of the field get green-flag racing – but not for long. The slippery track surface caused repeated incidents. Numerous spins and minor accidents brought the Safety Car out several times. The two factory-run Porsche Penske Motorsport hybrid prototypes managed to keep it clean despite the challenging conditions. After four and a half hours, Kévin Estre in the #6 Porsche took the lead and held it to the finish. The #5 car was running in podium contention at times but fell back late in the race and crossed the line tenth.
‟An incredible feeling,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. ‟The entire team, and especially our drivers, delivered a superb performance under very tough conditions. The first five hours were extremely wet, with plenty of offs. Our guys stayed out of trouble and really rose above themselves. The Porsche 963 was spot-on in these conditions. This win is absolutely deserved. It feels fantastic to celebrate our first victory of the year. Huge credit to everyone involved!”
Thomas Laudenbach
‟I’m so proud of the drivers, the pit crew, the engineers, and our strategists,” added Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh. ‟We were at the top of our game in the most difficult circumstances. When conditions are like today, where perfect teamwork and extraordinary driving skills are decisive, that’s when we truly shine. I couldn’t be happier for the whole crew. Perfect in every way!”
Urs Kuratle
‟In races like this, raw pace on paper means very little,” explained Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. ‟Laurens Vanthoor and Julien Andlauer did a fantastic job keeping both cars in the leading pack early on. The #5 car had some misfortune, while everything clicked with the winning car. Matt Campbell and Kévin Estre executed flawlessly, and the team was outstanding. This victory is incredibly sweet. Now we’re looking forward to Fuji.”
Jonathan Diuguid
In the manufacturers’ championship, Porsche sits second with two rounds remaining. Estre/Vanthoor are currently placed fifth in the drivers’ standings, while teammates Andlauer/Christensen clame eighth position.
The customer-entered Porsche 963 of Proton Competition also showed strong pace for much of the race. Starting driver Nico Varrone, who had qualified the #99 car in P6 the previous day, ran as high as fifth in the fiercely competitive Hypercar category. However, a spin late in his long double stint dropped the team back. Chilean Nico Pino and Swiss driver Neel Jani ultimately brought the car home in P13.
LMGT3 class: Manthey 1st Phorm extends championship lead
In LMGT3, Manthey 1st Phorm took another step toward the title. After strong stints from American local hero Ryan Hardwick and Italian Riccardo Pera, factory driver Richard Lietz was fighting for class victory late in the race. But on worn tires, the Austrian could not hold off multiple challengers and brought the Porsche 911 GT3 R home in P8. The identical Porsche 911 GT3 R of the Iron Dames ran in the top group for much of the race but retired two laps from the finish due to a technical failure.
The seventh round of the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC will take place on September 28 at Fuji, Japan. On the former Formula 1 circuit, the Porsche 963 of reigning World Champions Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and André Lotterer claimed victory in 2024.
Driver quotes after the race
Kévin Estre (Porsche 963 #6): ‟Winning the ‘Lone Star Le Mans’ in Austin feels absolutely amazing. We were positively surprised, because on a dry track during practice we were never among the frontrunners. In qualifying we set a good foundation in tricky conditions. From third on the grid, we were able to deliver a spotless performance in the race. I’m proud to be part of this great team.”
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): ‟We really didn’t expect a result like this going into race day. I’m over the moon. The track conditions were extremely tricky at times. Still, we stayed clean over the distance. The whole team did a mega job. It’s simply fantastic to celebrate our first WEC win of the year.”
Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 963 #6): ‟This win came unexpectedly – which makes it feel even sweeter. The wet track conditions challenged us, but exactly under these circumstances we could play to our strengths as Porsche Penske Motorsport.”
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #5): ‟That was a thrilling race. As soon as the WEC comes to the U.S., you get Hollywood-style drama. It was a lot of fun. I’m really happy for our teammates in the sister car. After the difficult times in recent months, this feels very good. Our #5 Porsche was in podium contention at times, but then things went wrong – including having to replace the rear bodywork at a pit stop. We started P10, fought to the front, and in the end finished back in tenth. At least we put on a good show.”
Rahel Frey (Porsche 911 GT3 R #85): ‟Our Porsche was strong all weekend. Unfortunately, after a disappointing qualifying we had to start from far back. Under those circumstances, only bold decisions can get you forward, so we gambled on tire choice and pressures. Sadly, that didn’t work out. In the end we had to retire due to overheating caused by dirt blocking the cooling intakes – a real pity. Now we want to turn our clear potential into a good result at Fuji.”
Richard Lietz (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): ‟It was a good race until very late – unfortunately it ended badly. In the final laps, we had no grip left from the tires.”
An unbeaten 73 from Kamil Mishara led Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday to win their Twenty20 series 2-1.
Put in to bat after losing the toss, Zimbabwe made 191-8 but Sri Lanka cruised to the target with 14 balls to spare.
Mishara and Kusal Perera put on 117 runs in an unbeaten third-wicket stand as Sri Lanka completed a white-ball double, having won the preceding one-day international series against Zimbabwe 2-0.
Having scored just 35 runs in four previous T20I innings, 24-year-old Mishara made his mark with a match-winning knock, hitting three sixes and six fours from the 43 balls he faced.
“It is a privilege to win a game for my country, I just feel very good,” said Mishara.
“There was pressure, of course, but the coaching staff just told me to play my normal game. I just wanted to get into my rhythm and then played my normal game.”
Mishara and veteran Perera came together with Sri Lanka 76-2 after 7.1 overs and took control as Sri Lanka put a nightmare 80 all out in the second match on Saturday behind them.
Perera scored as briskly as Mishara, with his unbeaten 46 coming off 26 deliveries. His innings included two sixes and four fours.
Wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani top scored for Zimbabwe with 51 off 44 balls before being stumped by Mendis off a googly from leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha.
Hemantha (3-38) also took the wickets of Sean Williams (23) and home captain Sikandar Raza (28).
Brief scores
Zimbabwe 191-8 in 20 overs (T. Marumani 51; D. Hemantha 3-38) v Sri Lanka 193-2 in 17.4 overs (K. Mishara 73 not out, K. Perera 46 not out)
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a new-look backline for the second Test against the All Blacks in Wellington, where Ethan Hooker will earn his first start in the green and gold jumper.
The fourth-round Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter at Sky Stadium will decide which team claims the Freedom Cup.
Erasmus made seven personnel changes to his starting XV, with 16 players in the match-23 retained from the side that went down 24-17 against the All Blacks in Auckland last week.
The Bok coach tinkered with his backline, with Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pairing up at halfback, Damian Willemse and Canan Moodie in the midfield, Hooker and Cheslin Kolbe on the wings, and Aphelele Fassi at fullback, in a team that will be led by regular captain Siya Kolisi.
Up front, Kolisi returns to flanker along with Pieter-Steph du Toit, while No 8 Jasper Wiese will return to the field for the first time since facing Italy in the Castle Lager Incoming Series after serving his four-match suspension.
The only change in the pack was at lock, where Lood de Jager will pack down next to Ruan Nortje, while Erasmus stuck with the same front row of props Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit, and hooker Malcolm Marx.
Erasmus again opted for a split of five forwards and three backs on the replacements’ bench, where Marnus van der Merwe (hooker), Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Wilco Louw (props), RG Snyman (lock) and Kwagga Smith (loose forward) will provide further forward cover. The backs on the bench are halfbacks Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, and centre Andre Esterhuizen.
“This is an exciting team, which we believe will provide us with the forward power we require, and spark in the backline against a quality All Blacks side,” said Erasmus.
“We’ve maintained consistency in selection to a large degree in the last few matches, but apart from what we feel some of the players selected can add to our attack, we’d like to see what some of the players can do against the top-ranked team in the world.
“This is a vital match for our Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign, and we feel some fresh legs and energy are what we need to come away with the desired result.”
Erasmus added: “Every player in this squad knows we believe in them and back them, and this will serve as a great occasion for them to show us what they are capable of against a team such as the All Blacks.
“They have all done the job for us against some of the top teams in the world earlier this year, and others over the last few years, and we know they’ll relish this opportunity to face New Zealand in their backyard.”
The Bok coach said they are expecting another epic encounter against their arch rivals: “Both teams will be up for the challenge this week after having to cope with heavy rain at times in Auckland, and after the disappointing performance we delivered in the opening stages of that match, we know we need to be much more effective in all departments this week and produce a performance both us and our supporters can be proud of.
“We need a top-class performance to ensure that we are in contention to win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
“We know where we went wrong last week and what we must fix, and we’ll leave no stone unturned to fix those errors. There’s no doubt that we have to deliver a proper 80-minute performance to do well, and we will give everything to achieve that.”
Springbok team to face the All Blacks in Wellington:
Should the Springboks win the match, they will retain the Freedom Cup against New Zealand, which they won for the first time last year since 2009.
The last time the teams met at the Sky Stadium was in 2019, where they played to a 16-16 draw, with the Boks winning the previous encounter between the sides 36-34 at the stadium.
Springbok flanker Siya Kolisi will play his 96th Test match, leaving him only four matches short of becoming the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game. He will lead South Africa for the 64th time.
Jasper Wiese will return to the Springbok team for the first time since the team’s 45-0 victory against Italy in Gqeberha after serving a four-match suspension.
The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 626. There are 173 caps in the backline, with 453 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 193 caps.
The average caps per player in the backline is 25, the forwards 57, while the players on the bench average 24.
Pakistan’s Punjab continues floods evacuations as rivers swell, death toll rises to 60
ISLAMABAD: The death toll from floods in Pakistan’s Punjab has increased to 60, provincial information minister Azma Bokhari announced on Monday, as authorities continue to evacuate citizens from high-risk areas.
The provincial government has had its hands full with rescue and relief activities since late August, when heavy monsoon showers and releases from Indian dams caused water levels in Punjab’s rivers to rise. The resulting floods have affected over 4,335 areas, killed 60 while the provincial government has shifted 2.147 million people and 1.549 million animals to safer locations, Bokhari said.
“Unfortunately, the total deaths are 60 and there are eight injured,” the minister told reporters at a news conference, adding that around 1,543 livestock have been killed.
She said fields of sugarcane, rice, cotton and vegetables have been affected by the floods, adding that 1.841 million acres of fields have been adversely impacted by the floods.
Bokhari urged people to take the flood crisis seriously and heed warnings by government officials to shift to safer locations from their homes.
“Our people maybe aren’t taking the flood seriously,” she said. “This is a very serious matter. I have requested before, flood is not something to watch and have fun with.”
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said in a separate post on social media platform X on Sunday night that Jalalpur Pirwala city in Multan district is at risk of flooding as water levels have risen.
“The situation and ongoing operations are being minutely monitored through thermal imaging drones to ensure rapid response and prevent any loss of precious life,” she wrote.
In a separate statement, Punjab Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad said during the past 24 hours, 2,343 people have been rescued from Multan’s flood-affected areas, taking the total number of people rescued to 10,810 in the district.
“The district management of Multan has already carried out advance evacuation of 350,000 people and over 300,000 animals,” Ahmad said in a statement.
The Rescue 1122 spokesperson urged the people of Muzaffargarh and Alipur Jatoi areas to cooperate with authorities and evacuate from high-risk areas.
WATER LEVELS
Meanwhile, the PDMA issued an update of the water levels in Punjab’s Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers. It said the water level at Head Muhammad Wala in Chenab was rising at 417.50 feet while the water level at Marala Headworks was at a steady level at 84,753 cusecs. The water level in river Chenab at Khanki Headworks was recorded at a steady level of 147,294 cusecs while the water level at Qadirabad Headworks was recorded at 147,039 cusecs at a steady level, it said. At Trimmu Headworks, the water level was recorded at 543,579 cusecs at a steady level.
Meanwhile, the river Ravi’s water level at Jassar was recorded at 45,720 cusecs at a steady level while at Ravi Syphon and Shahdara, it was noted that the water level was falling at 88,380 cusecs and 87,640 cusecs, respectively. At Balloki, the water level was recorded at a steady level of 139,030 cusecs and at Sidhani, at a steady level of 123,168 cusecs.
The water levels of river Sutlej were recorded at 319,295 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala village at a steady level while at Sulemanki Headworks, it was recorded at 135,832 cusecs at a steady level. The water level at Panjnad Headworks was recorded at 564,604 cusecs at a steady level, while the PDMA said it was rising at Mailsi Syphon at 112,014 cusecs.
Meanwhile, heavy rains and floods have caused power outages in several districts of Punjab. The Power Division shared an update of the restoration work, saying that 515 feeders had been affected out of which 269 have been fully restored and 242 have been temporarily restored.
“Thus, out of a total of 1,659,716 affected consumers, electricity has been restored for 1,404,486,” the division wrote. “For the remaining 255,230 affected consumers, restoration remains a top priority.”
FLOODING RISKS, MONSOON SHOWERS
Pakistan has been bracing for more rains and floods, as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday warned of urban and coastal flooding in several parts of Pakistan from Sept. 7 till Sept. 10, as monsoon currents continue to penetrate southern parts of the country.
The nationwide death toll from monsoon rains and deluges across the country since Jun. 26 has risen to 910, according to the latest situation reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Floods in Punjab are expected to flow downstream into the southern Sindh province now. Sindh said it was anticipating for floods to reach their peak level this week. Authorities say the floodwaters are likely to affect more than 320,000 people in the province, with nearly 128,000 already evacuated from riverine areas.
President Asif Ali Zardari, whose Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) rules the Sindh province, urged all institutions to make preparations for the possible floods on Sunday.
“Provincial, district and local government institutions should be on alert to deal with possible flood situation,” he said in a statement issued from his office.
‘Leave now,’ Netanyahu tells Gaza City residents as he says Israeli forces readying for ground ‘manoeuvre’
Benjamin Netanyahu warned residents of Gaza City to leave now, hours after Israel said it would ramp up airstrikes on the enclave.
Reuters reports the Israeli PM as saying: “I say to the residents of Gaza, I take this opportunity and listen to me carefully: you have been warned — leave now!”
Netanyahu said forces are now organising and assembling into Gaza City for a ground “manoeuvre”.
Key events
Afternoon summary
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar said six people were killed in the Jerusalem attack (not five as Israel’s ambulance service had said) after Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a crowded bus stop in the northern outskirts of the city.
The Spanish government has confirmed that a Spanish citizen was among the six people murdered in the east Jerusalem attack. “The government wishes to express its solidarity and extend its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, especially those of the murdered Spanish citizen, and to express its hope that the injured recover as quickly as possible,” the Spanish foreign ministry said in a statement.
Spain’s foreign ministry said on Monday it summoned its ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultations, hours after Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar accused the Spanish government of “antisemitic” following its new measures against Israel-bound ships and aircraft over the war in Gaza.
Israel launched airstrikes Monday on the outskirts of northeastern Lebanon, killing five people, including four Hezbollah members, according to officials. This comes as global pressure mounts to disarm the Lebanese militant group.Since Hezbollah and Israel’s war ended in a US-brokered ceasefire in November, Israel has struck southern Lebanon almost daily in what they say are attacks to target the Lebanese militant group, AP reported.
Israel struck and destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City on Monday after warning residents to evacuate, part of an offensive aimed at taking over the largest Palestinian city.The military said it was targeting Hamas observation posts and bombs placed around the 12-story office building.
Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich blamed the deadly attack by two Palestinian gunmen on the outskirts of Jerusalem this morning on the Palestinian Authority, which he claimed “raises and educates its children to murder Jews”.
At least 40 Palestinian people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, the majority of whom in the northern part of the territory, Al Jazeera has been told by medical sources.
At least 64,522 Palestinian people have been killed and 163,096 others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The United Nations human rights chief condemned Israel on Monday for the “mass killing” of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and “hindering of sufficient lifesaving aid”, saying the country had a case to answer before the International Court of Justice. Volker Turk, who heads the Office of the United Nations high commissioner for human rights (OHCHR), stopped short of describing the Gaza war as an unfolding genocide, as hundreds of UN staff had urged him to do, Reuters reported.
Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, has called for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to leave office immediately, calling him a danger to the country.
Israel’s supreme court has ruled that the state is failing to provide adequate food to Palestinian prisoners, and ordered authorities to increase the amount and improve the quality of food served to deprived Palestinian inmates.
Donald Trump on Sunday issued what he called his “last warning” to Hamas, urging the Palestinian militant group to accept a deal to release hostages from Gaza. “The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”
Israel struck and destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City on Monday after warning residents to evacuate, part of an offensive aimed at taking over the largest Palestinian city.
The military said it was targeting Hamas observation posts and bombs placed around the 12-story office building.
Over the past several days, Israel has destroyed multiple high-rise buildings in Gaza City, accusing Hamas of putting surveillance infrastructure in them.
It has ordered people to flee ahead of its ground offensive into the city of some 1 million residents, which experts say is experiencing famine.
Israel airstrikes kill five in north-eastern Lebanon today
Israel launched airstrikes Monday on the outskirts of northeastern Lebanon, killing five people, including four Hezbollah members, according to officials. This comes as global pressure mounts to disarm the Lebanese militant group.
Since Hezbollah and Israel’s war ended in a US-brokered ceasefire in November, Israel has struck southern Lebanon almost daily in what they say are attacks to target the Lebanese militant group, AP reported.
The strikes in north-eastern Lebanon, near Syria, far from the country’s border with Israel, are rare.
Monday’s strikes hit the fringes of the provinces of Hermel and Bekaa, according to the Lebanese health ministry, wounding five people.
A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press, confirmed four of the five killed were group members.
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has stepped up his scathing criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Sánchez accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of “exterminating a defenceless people” by bombing hospitals and “killing innocent boys and girls with hunger”.
Spanish PM steps up scathing criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza – video
Spain’s foreign ministry said on Monday it summoned its ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultations, hours after Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar accused the Spanish government of “antisemitic” following its new measures against Israel-bound ships and aircraft over the war in Gaza.
In his statement, Saar also said the government used the measures to divert public attention from corruption scandals.
Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich blamed the deadly attack by two Palestinian gunmen on the outskirts of Jerusalem this morning on the Palestinian Authority, which he claimed “raises and educates its children to murder Jews”.
“The Palestinian Authority must disappear from the map, and the villages from which the attackers came should be reduced to the status of Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” he wrote in a post on X, referring to cities in Gaza that have been devastated by relentless Israeli airstrikes.
The PA is a civilian ruling authority in areas of the West Bank, where about three million Palestinian people live – as well as around half a million Israelis occupying settlements considered illegal under international law.
Smotrich is a minister who also holds a position at Israel’s defence ministry with oversight of planning issues in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He was placed under sanctions along with fellow far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir by the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in June for “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities”.
Far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has said the Palestinian Authority must “disappear” from the map. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
Actors and directors pledge not to work with Israeli film groups ‘implicated in genocide’
Anna Betts
Anna Betts is a breaking news reporter for Guardian US
Hundreds of actors, directors and other film industry professionals have signed a new pledge vowing not to work with Israeli film institutions they say are “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people”.
“As film-makers, actors, film industry workers, and institutions, we recognise the power of cinema to shape perceptions” the pledge reads. “In this urgent moment of crisis, where many of our governments are enabling the carnage in Gaza, we must do everything we can to address complicity in that unrelenting horror.”
Signatories include film-makersYorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay,Asif Kapadia, Boots Riley and Joshua Oppenheimer; and actors Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Ayo Edebiri, Riz Ahmed, Josh O’Connor, Cynthia Nixon, Julie Christie, Ilana Glazer, Rebecca Hall, Aimee Lou Wood and Debra Winger. The pledge had 1,200 signers as of Sunday night.
The pledge, shared exclusively with the Guardian,claims to draw inspiration from the cultural boycott that contributed to the end of apartheid in South Africa.
It commits signatories not to screen films, appear at or otherwise work with what it considers complicit institutions – including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters and production companies. Examples of complicity include “whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them”.
You can read the full story here:
Reports of at least 40 Palestinians killed in Gaza today
At least 40 Palestinian people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, the majority of whom in the northern part of the territory, Al Jazeera has been told by medical sources.
Sam Jones
Spain’s Federation of Jewish Communities expressed its “profound sorrow” over the murder of the Spanish citizen, and declared a day of mourning on Monday.
In a statement, it added: “We extend our condolences to his family, to the Jewish community of Melilla of which he was a part, and we express our solidarity with Israeli society, which is marked by terrorism.”
It pointed out that two Spanish citizens – Iván Illarramendi and Maya Villalobo – were murdered in the 7 October attacks.
Spanish citizen killed in Jerusalem shooting
Sam Jones
The Spanish government has confirmed that a Spanish citizen was among the six people murdered in the east Jerusalem attack.
“The government wishes to express its solidarity and extend its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, especially those of the murdered Spanish citizen, and to express its hope that the injured recover as quickly as possible,” the Spanish foreign ministry said in a statement.
“Spain reiterates its commitment to peace in the Middle East and its firm condemnation of terrorism.”
The statement came as Spain and Israel are engaged in an escalating diplomatic row after Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, renewed his scathing criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of “exterminating a defenceless people” by bombing hospitals and “killing innocent boys and girls with hunger”.
Speaking on Monday morning to announce a raft of measures designed to increase the pressure on Netanyahu to stop the military campaign, Sánchez said that while the Spanish government would always support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself, it felt compelled to try to “stop a massacre”.
The Israel government responded by accusing Sánchez’s administration of deploying “wild and hateful rhetoric” and of using a “continuous anti-Israel and antisemitic attack” to distract from corruption allegations. It also announced that two Spanish ministers, including one of the country’s deputy prime ministers, would be banned from entering Israel because of their criticisms of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
The Spanish foreign ministry described the Israeli government’s words as “false and slanderous”, called the entry ban “unacceptable”, and said the country would not be “intimidated in its defence of peace, international law and human rights”.
The United Nations human rights chief condemned Israel on Monday for the “mass killing” of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and “hindering of sufficient lifesaving aid”, saying the country had a case to answer before the International Court of Justice.
Volker Turk, who heads the Office of the United Nations high commissioner for human rights (OHCHR), stopped short of describing the Gaza war as an unfolding genocide, as hundreds of UN staff had urged him to do, Reuters reported.
But in his opening address to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk expressed horror at what he called “the open use of genocidal rhetoric” and “disgraceful dehumanisation” of Palestinians by senior Israeli officials.
“Israel’s mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza; its infliction of indescribable suffering and wholesale destruction; its hindering of sufficient lifesaving aid and the ensuing starvation of civilians; its killing of journalists; and its commission of war crime upon war crime, are shocking the conscience of the world,” said Turk.
“Israel has a case to answer before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the evidence continues to mount,” Turk said, referring to the ICJ’s ruling in January that Israel had a legal obligation to prevent acts of genocide. Israel accused Turk of not bothering with “facts and complexities”.
Volker Turk looks on before the opening of the 60th session of the human rights council in Geneva, Switzerland. Photograph: Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPA
Here are some of the latest images that are being sent to us over the newswires from Gaza:
Relatives of Palestinian people killed by Israeli gunfire mourn as the bodies are brought to Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesRelatives of one-and-a-half-year-old Palestinian child Ayman Muhammad Abd al-Ghafur, who lost his life due to severe malnutrition, oxygen deprivation, and muscle wasting, mourn as the body is taken from Nasser hospital. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesRelatives of Palestinian people, who were reportedly killed by Israeli soldiers’ gunfire while waiting for American aid in Rafah, perform funeral prayers as the bodies are brought to Nasser hospital in southern Gaza. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza reaches 64,522, says health ministry
At least 64,522 Palestinian people have been killed and 163,096 others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Monday.
At least 65 Palestinian people were killed and 320 others injured in the last 24 hours alone, the ministry said.
Gaza’s health ministry said in a post on Telegram that over the past day it recorded six new deaths, including two children, caused by “famine and malnutrition”.
This brings the total number of Palestinian people who have died from famine and malnutrition to 393, including 140 children.
“Since the IPC declared famine in Gaza, 115 deaths have been recorded, including 25 children,” the ministry wrote on Telegram.
Israel has been widely accused of using food as a political weapon and was accused of flagrantly breaking international law by collectively punishing the civilian population of Gaza by its total 11 week blockade of aid (which began in March), which was only slightly eased in response to international pressure, particularly from US senators.
Aid organisations were bringing somewhere between 500 and 600 aid trucks a day into Gaza during the ceasefire earlier this year, but now ongoing Israeli restrictions mean much less aid is being allowed into the territory and distributed.
In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a globally recognised organisation that classifies the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition, said that an “entirely man-made” famine was taking place in Gaza’s largest city, Gaza City, and its surrounding area.
Palestinian children wait with empty pots as a charity distributes food in the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Six people killed in Jerusalem shooting attack, Israel’s foreign minister says
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar said six people were killed in the Jerusalem attack (not five as Israel’s ambulance service had said) after Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a crowded bus stop in the northern outskirts of the city.
Saar made the comments as he was speaking via a translator at a joint briefing with Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto in Budapest.
Saar described a “terrible terror attack”, adding: “We are in a war with radical Islamist terrorism. Europe and the international community, every country, must now make a clear choice. Are they on Israel’s side, or are they on the side of the jihadists?”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the scene after the attack at the Ramot junction on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
As my colleagues note in this story, hundreds of members of the security forces were deployed at the scene to search for additional attackers or explosives that could have been planted around the area.
The Israeli military said it was encircling Palestinian villages on the outskirts of the nearby West Bank city of Ramallah in response to the attack.
Hamas praised two Palestinian “resistance fighters” who it said had carried out the attack but stopped short of claiming responsibility. Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian militant group, also praised the shooting without claiming responsibility.
France and Germany have both condemned the deadly shooting attack in Jerusalem this morning in which at least five people were killed and seven seriously injured.
“France strongly condemns the terrorist attack that has just occurred in East Jerusalem”, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote in a post on X.
“The spiral of violence must come to an end. Only a political solution will bring back peace and stability for all in the region,” he added.
Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, meanwhile, said he was “deeply shocked” by the attack in East Jerusalem, describing it as a “cowardly terror attack”.
“My thoughts are with the victims’ families. I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery,” Wadephul wrote on X.
Just 24 hours after launch, Hollow Knight: Silksong has soared to the top of Steam’s charts, hitting over 550,000 concurrent players and receiving glowing reviews — but not in China.
The game is being heavily review-bombed by Chinese-speaking users due to dissatisfaction with the Simplified Chinese translation. Many feel it’s a major downgrade from the first game’s highly praised localization.
Matthew Griffin, head of publishing for Silksong, acknowledged the backlash in a post on X: “To our Chinese-speaking fans: We appreciate you letting us know about quality issues with the current Simplified Chinese translation. We’ll be working to improve the translation over the coming weeks. Thanks for your feedback and support.”
Despite the response, Griffin’s post has been flooded with criticism, with many questioning why better quality checks weren’t in place before launch.
Localization expert Loek van Kooten described the current translation as turning Silksong’s poetic writing into something resembling “a high-school drama club’s Elizabethan improv night.” Critics also pointed out that one of the credited translators, Hertzz Liu, had previously leaked details about the game and boasted about their involvement.
In contrast, the original Hollow Knight had six Chinese translators, including one with experience on titles like Stardew Valley.
Currently, Silksong holds just a 50% approval rating from over 10,000 Simplified Chinese reviews on Steam. However, Valve’s recent change to segment reviews by language has prevented the backlash from affecting the game’s global rating.
Chinese players now make up the largest demographic on Steam, and while poor localization won’t impact non-Chinese players, it can stall a game’s success in that market. That said, once Team Cherry addresses the translation issues, Silksong is still poised for lasting success.
ISLAMABAD — The Reko Diq copper and gold mine project — one of the largest copper mines if commissioned as planned — in Pakistan has now secured $6 billion in loan pledges, after a Saudi Arabian investor pulled out, pushing Barrick Mining, the Canadian mine developer, to seek financing from U.S. and other international lenders.
New solution delivers runtime protection for AI models in media, broadcast and post-production environments—launching at AES AI/ML London and IBC Amsterdam ’25.
AI powers media workflows but edge deployment leaves models exposed. Fusion AI secures intellectual property, protecting companies’ innovations and competitive advantage in any environment.”
— Andrew Kirk, CEO of PACE Anti-Piracy
SILICON VALLEY, CA, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — PACE Anti-Piracy, Inc., a pioneer in software security and licensing, today announced Fusion AI, a new solution purpose-built to protect deployed AI models from reverse engineering and IP theft—especially those used in audio engineering, broadcast workflows, and media post-production.
Unveiled ahead of IBC 2025 in Amsterdam and the 2025 AES International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Audio in London, Fusion AI enables companies to securely deploy AI-powered tools and models to off-premises systems—whether at the edge, in distributed production environments, or integrated into media plugins—without exposing the underlying algorithms or data.
AI models have become instrumental in modern media workflows: from real-time audio restoration and stem separation, to automated color grading and deep-learning-based asset tagging. Yet once these models are deployed to customer-controlled systems, they become vulnerable to inspection, replication, and theft. Fusion AI solves this by providing on-device, runtime protection for AI model data and logic.
“From automated dialogue replacement to generative content and smart editing, AI and large language models are transforming media workflows,” said Andrew Kirk, CEO of PACE Anti-Piracy. “But as more models are pushed to the edge—to plugins, render farms, and local processing nodes—they become highly exposed to reverse engineering. Fusion AI helps companies preserve their competitive edge by making AI IP secure, even in untrusted runtime environments.”
Fusion AI builds on PACE’s proven technologies—White-Box Works, Fusion, and iLok—to create a complete protection toolkit. This holistic approach secures AI models, algorithms, and IP across their lifecycle: at rest, in use, and in the market.
Secures Models and Keys with White-Box Encryption: Fusion AI encrypts model weights and protects decryption keys and logic using PACE White-Box Works, ensuring sensitive data is never exposed in memory or on disk.
Fuses Code and Runtime into a Secure Package: With PACE Fusion, model code, weights, and runtime are bound together into a single hardened binary that resists reverse engineering and lifting attacks.
Controls Usage and Monetization: Through PACE iLok Licensing, publishers can manage deployment, entitlement, and licensing to safeguard future revenue.
Every year, intellectual property theft drains more than $600 billion* from the U.S. economy alone. In an era where AI models are the product, Fusion AI protects against the growing risk of model theft and reverse engineering in media and entertainment.
*Source: Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property (also known as the IP Commission)
Use Cases in Focus:
• Audio plugin developers using ML for stem separation, audio enhancement, or mastering tools
• Broadcast solution providers deploying on-prem AI for real-time content tagging and asset classification
• Post-production teams relying on proprietary AI pipelines for VFX, restoration, or localization
• OEMs building intelligent media hardware that must resist model theft in the field
With over four decades of experience protecting digital assets, PACE Anti-Piracy continues to set the standard for software security. Fusion AI extends this legacy into the AI era, giving developers and media companies the confidence to innovate without fear of losing their intellectual property.
Fusion AI will be demonstrated at:
• AES International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Audio in London – September 2025
• IBC 2025 in Amsterdam – Future Tech Hall 14.B56, September 2025
Availability
Fusion AI is available for evaluation now. Full commercial availability is planned for Q4 2025, with licensing and integration details to be released at IBC.
To request a demo, schedule a technical briefing, or receive the Fusion AI white paper, visit www.paceap.com/fusion-ai or email sales@paceap.com.
Bobby Lombardi PACE Anti-Piracy press@paceap.com
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