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‘Harry Potter’ actor Michael Gambon dies aged 82

Celebrated British-Irish actor Michael Gambon, renowned for portraying Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter” series, has passed away at 82. With a rich career spanning television, film, radio, and theatre, Gambon received numerous awards and accolades.

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12 months ago

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Celebrated British-Irish actor Michael Gambon, best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight “Harry Potter” films, has died in hospital aged 82, his family announced Thursday, prompting a flood of tributes.

Gambon won four television BAFTAs and Olivier awards during an acclaimed decades-spanning acting career across television, film, radio and theatre. It was capped by his beloved role as the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts in the Potter series.

“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” a statement issued on behalf of his family said.

“Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.”

Once described by fellow acting legend the late Ralph Richardson as “The Great Gambon”, he earned a reputation as one of British theatre’s leading lights while enjoying sustained success on the small and big screen.

Born in Ireland, he began his acting career on stage, making his first appearance in a production of “Othello” at the Gates Theatre in Dublin in 1962.

Reacting to the news of his passing, the country’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, called him simply “a great actor”.

“Whether performing in Beckett, Dennis Potter or Harry Potter, he gave his all to every performance,” the Irish PM said on X, formerly Twitter.

Memorable roles

Gambon became a household name in Britain for his 1986 role as Philip Marlow in screenwriter Dennis Potter’s “The Singing Detective” and in the 1990s played Georges Simenon’s famous French police detective in the ITV series “Maigret”.

By then, he was already an established theatre star, having appeared in Alan Ayckbourn’s “The Norman Conquests” and “The Life Of Galileo”, among other leading stage roles.

He was nominated for a Tony in 1997 for a part in dramatist David Hare’s “Skylight”.

He also won plaudits for Nicholas Hytner’s National Theatre productions of “Henry IV”. Gambon last appeared on stage in 2012 in a London production of Samuel Beckett’s play “All That Fall”.

Meanwhile, he put in a memorable screen performances in the BBC’s 2015 adaptation of JK Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy”, and period dramas such as “The King’s Speech”, portraying King George V, father of the stammering King George VI.

He earned Emmy award nominations for his role as Mr Woodhouse in the 2010 adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma”, and for playing President Lyndon B. Johnson in “Path to War” in 2002.

But it was his performances as Dumbledore in the popular “Harry Potter” films that won him global acclaim, after replacing Richard Harris as the Hogwarts headmaster following the latter’s death in 2002.

Gambon was knighted for his contribution to the entertainment industry in 1998.

‘Magnificent trickster’

Tributes poured in following the announcement of his death.

“With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun,” Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe said.

“Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job.

“He was silly, irreverent and hilarious. He loved his job, but never seemed defined by it.”

Radcliffe’s co-star Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the series, praised Gambon for “showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly”.

“You never took it too seriously, but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas,” she wrote on Instagram.

Fiona Shaw, who played Petunia Dursley in the Potter films, praised the variety of roles he undertook.

“He varied his career remarkably, and never judged what he was doing, he just played,” she told BBC Radio.

“With text, there was nothing like him. He could do anything,” she added, describing Gambon as “just a brilliant, magnificent trickster”.

Longstanding friend and actress Eileen Atkins lauded his ability to captivate stage audiences.

“He just had to walk on stage, and he commanded the whole audience immediately,” she also told BBC Radio.

And former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson recalled that Gambon had been such a “tremendous guest” he had a corner named after him on the BBC show’s racetrack.

“He was hugely amusing,” he said on social media.

— AFP

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International

UN agency for Palestine refugees reports six staff killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza school

An Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza has killed six UNRWA staff members. The Israeli military claimed the school was being used by Hamas for military purposes, while the UNRWA condemned the strike and called for the protection of civilian infrastructure.

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2 days ago

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13 September 2024

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(Photo: X/UNRWA)

Six employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in central Gaza, the agency has reported.

The al-Jaouni school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which shelters thousands of displaced Palestinians, was struck on Wednesday (12 Sept).

Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported a total of 18 deaths in the attack.

Among those killed were the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other team members who were assisting displaced people.

The UNRWA stated that this was the highest single-incident death toll among its staff since the conflict began and revealed that this was the fifth time the school had been hit since the start of the war.

The school is home to approximately 12,000 displaced individuals, mainly women and children.

Since the beginning of the assault on 7 October, at least 220 UNRWA staff members have been killed in Gaza.

In response to the attack, the UNRWA condemned the strike, stating, “No one is safe in Gaza. No one is spared.”

The agency emphasized the need to protect schools and other civilian infrastructure, declaring, “They are not a target,” and reiterated its call for all parties to refrain from using schools or their surroundings for military purposes.

Israel’s military acknowledged responsibility for the airstrike, claiming it was a “precise strike on terrorists” who were allegedly operating from the school.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the strike targeted a Hamas command and control center embedded within the school.

The IDF also claimed that steps had been taken to minimize civilian harm, including using precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence gathering.

The IDF accused Hamas of systematically using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, in violation of international law.

They alleged that nine of those killed were members of Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, including three who also worked for the UNRWA.

Israel called on the UNRWA to provide details of the workers killed in the strike, claiming no response had been given.

In response, UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma stated that the Israeli military had not requested a list of the staff who were killed.

She also noted that the names published by the Israeli military had not previously been flagged to the agency by Israeli authorities.

Touma reiterated that UNRWA regularly shares staff lists with host governments, including Israel as the occupying power in Gaza.

Touma further emphasized that UNRWA had consistently called for independent investigations into claims that civilian infrastructure was being used for military purposes.

She said the agency could not independently verify whether the school was being used by Hamas.

UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the airstrike, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law.

“What’s happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (12 Sept).

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected Guterres’ remarks, defending Israel’s actions as part of a “just war against terrorism.”

The escalation of violence follows Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on 7 October, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and led to the abduction of 251 Israelis who were taken to Gaza as hostages.

Since the conflict began, more than 41,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including nearly 16,500 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

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International

Singaporeans to require Electronic Travel Authorisation for UK travel from 8 January 2025

From 8 January 2025, Singaporeans must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. The digital permit costs £10 (S$17), is valid for two years, and allows multiple visits of up to six months.

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2 days ago

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13 September 2024

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From 8 January 2025, Singaporeans travelling to the United Kingdom will need to apply for and obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before their trip.

According to a UK government press release, tourists from Canada, the United States, and 47 other countries and territories will be required to obtain an ETA before entering the UK.

This new requirement is part of the UK’s border security measures aimed at enhancing security and deterring illegal immigration.

The ETA application costs £10 (S$17), and Singaporean travellers can submit their applications starting from 27 November 2024 via the official UK government website or mobile app.

Once approved, the ETA will be digitally linked to the applicant’s passport and will remain valid for two years, allowing multiple short stays of up to six months per visit.

Applications generally take about three days to process, and applicants will be notified by email if their request has been approved or rejected.

The ETA is mandatory for all modes of transport, including air, sea, and land, such as via the rail tunnel between Britain and France. It is also required for transit passengers who are changing planes at UK airports.

However, the UK ETA does not grant entry to the Republic of Ireland or other European nations.

By April 2025, this requirement will apply to all visitors who are currently able to travel to the UK without a visa, covering over 80 jurisdictions globally.

According to the UK ETA website, the introduction of this system aims to strengthen border security by preventing illegal immigration, combatting organised crime, and identifying potential threats to national security.

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