HRW says Israeli strike that killed journalist was war crime

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday as “a tragedy on so many levels” and urged people to reflect before reaching conclusions about the circumstances surrounding his death. Arday, 41, was found dead at a property in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon. His family said they were devastated by the loss of the academic, describing him as a loving father, partner, brother, uncle and son. In a statement released through his publisher, Simon & Schuster UK, the family said Arday had been struggling amid what they described as a campaign of misinformation. Burnham, speaking during a visit to Cornwall, said the situation required reflection rather than immediate judgement. Arday resigned from his position as Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge last week following allegations concerning plagiarism and questions about some claims surrounding his career. He rejected the allegations, although he acknowledged errors in some of his earlier academic work. Friends and colleagues have spoken about the pressure Arday faced in the weeks before his death. Eamonn McCrystal, a friend from St Mary’s University College London, said Arday had described feeling “destroyed” and expressed concern after his US travel visa was revoked. McCrystal remembered him as a kind and gentle person who had been involved with student radio during their university years. Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said the university community was deeply saddened by Arday’s death and extended sympathy to his family and friends. Education Secretary Lucy Powell also expressed shock and urged the public to remember the human impact of intense public scrutiny. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Arday had faced sustained media attention and described the treatment he received as an unacceptable campaign of public abuse. He called the death a wake-up call. The University and College Union also called for scrutiny of the harassment Arday experienced, including allegations of racism. Other prominent figures in British public life similarly raised concerns about the treatment of Black academics and the pressures faced by people from underrepresented backgrounds. Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, director of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, said he had spoken to Arday on the morning of his death. He described him as a caring and gentle person and said Arday had felt unable to leave his home. Professor Kehinde Andrews, a friend of Arday, said the academic had been deeply distressed after leaving Cambridge and had withdrawn from public life. The controversy surrounding Arday began after questions were raised about sections of his academic work. He denied plagiarism and said some errors were linked to the way he processed information as an autistic academic. Further questions were also raised about claims related to aspects of his personal history, including a long-distance charity run and fundraising achievements. Arday later clarified details surrounding both claims. His appointment at Cambridge in 2023 had been celebrated as a significant milestone, making him the university’s youngest Black professor at the time. When announcing his resignation, Arday said the personal cost of the controversy had become too great. He maintained that his decision to leave Cambridge should not be interpreted as an acceptance of the allegations made against him. Cambridge has announced an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his appointment. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday his PhD in 2015, previously concluded that he had not committed plagiarism.

Oscar-winning Irish singer, songwriter and actor Glen Hansard has died following a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He was 56. Police said the single vehicle accident happened in the early hours of Wednesday on Lower Road in Lucan, west of the Irish capital, and have appealed for witnesses as investigations continue. Hansard rose to international fame as the lead singer of the rock band The Frames and later gained worldwide recognition through the independent film Once. He also appeared in the 1991 film The Commitments, where he played guitarist Outspan Foster. Before achieving success, he spent years performing as a street musician in Dublin, building a reputation for his powerful voice and heartfelt songwriting. His greatest international achievement came in 2008 when he and Czech musician Markéta Irglová won the Academy Awards for Best Original Song with Falling Slowly, written for the low budget film Once. The film, which tells the story of two musicians who form a creative partnership in Dublin, became a global success after winning the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Its Broadway adaptation later earned eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Hansard also performed as one half of the musical duo The Swell Season and released several solo albums during his career. His 2015 album Didn’t He Ramble received a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album, further establishing him as one of Ireland’s most respected contemporary musicians. Away from the stage, Hansard was widely admired for his charitable work. In 2010, he launched Dublin’s annual Christmas Eve charity busk to raise funds for the Dublin Simon Community. The event became a yearly tradition, attracting well known artists including Bono, Sinéad O’Connor, Imelda May and Shane MacGowan while raising awareness and support for people experiencing homelessness. The charity paid tribute to Hansard following news of his death, describing him as a generous supporter whose compassion extended far beyond his music. It praised his dedication to social justice and said his work had made a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable people across Ireland. Hansard is survived by his wife and their three year old son. In a BBC interview in 2023, he spoke about how becoming a father had transformed his life, describing the experience as something that changed his outlook completely and brought him immense happiness. His management company confirmed his death in a statement, saying his family was devastated by the tragic loss and requested privacy during this difficult time. Friends and fellow artists also shared heartfelt tributes. Actor Chris O’Dowd remembered Hansard as a musician whose songs deeply moved listeners, while fellow The Commitments actor Andrew Strong described his death as a heartbreaking and senseless loss. Waterboys frontman Mike Scott and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin also honored Hansard’s contribution to Irish culture, praising his remarkable talent and expressing sympathy to his family, friends and fans. Hansard’s career spanned more than three decades, during which he became one of Ireland’s most recognizable musical voices. Through his songwriting, performances and charitable work, he left a lasting legacy that reached audiences far beyond his home country.