Trump urges Musk to be more aggressive in bid to shrink US government

MOSCOW: Russian troops repelled three counter attacks by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s western Kursk region bordering Ukraine, the Russian defense ministry said on Saturday.
Reuters could not independently verify the report.
Russia has been fighting to eject Ukrainian forces from Kursk since August, when Kyiv’s troops staged a lightning incursion over the border and seized a chunk of Russian territory.

LONDON: UK rapper Stormzy has refuted claims that he compromised his beliefs for financial gain after pro-Palestine activists criticized his partnership with McDonald’s.

The 31-year-old partnered with the multinational last week to launch the “Stormzy meal,” which features a selection of his favorite items, The Guardian reported.

McDonald’s has faced a global backlash since Israel’s war in Gaza after the restaurant’s Israeli franchise owner Alonyal gave free meals to troops serving in the Palestinian enclave.

The multinational responded at the time by saying it was “not funding or supporting any governments involved in this conflict.”

The rapper’s campaign with McDonald’s features billboards and adverts promoting the meal.

In a post on Instagram highlighting the partnership, Stormzy was criticized in thousands of comments from pro-Palestine activists.

He had previously made public comments in support of Palestine. After the start of the Gaza war in 2023, he said on Instagram: “Free Palestine … if there is ever a clear injustice in the world, no matter how big or small, 100 times out of 100 I will be on the side of the oppressed.”

In January 2024, he performed at a benefit concert in support of Palestine and Sudan. But the rapper’s post from late 2023 is now hidden on Instagram.

Stormzy has denied removing the post because of the McDonald’s partnership. In a statement, he said: “I didn’t archive the post where I came out in support of Palestine for any reason outside of me archiving loads of posts last year.

“In that post, I spoke about #FreePalestine, oppression and injustice and my stance on this has not changed.”

He added: “The brands I work with can’t tell me what to do and don’t tell me what to do otherwise I wouldn’t work with them.

“I do my own research on all brands I work with, gather my own information, form my own opinion and come to my own conclusion before doing business.”