- A performer in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show was banned for life from all NFL stadiums after staging a protest. The individual held up Palestinian and Sudanese flags with the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” before being detained by security.
- Authorities in New Orleans are still determining whether the protester will face charges.
- In Gaza, a ceasefire deal has seen the release of some Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. In Sudan, an ongoing civil war has killed at least 28,000 people and displaced millions.
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A performer in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show has been banned for life from all NFL stadiums and events after staging a protest during the performance.
Protester detained by security
The protester, a member of the 400-person field cast, held up Palestinian and Sudanese flags bearing the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” while standing on top of a car prop. Security quickly detained the individual, who had concealed the flag and displayed it late in the show.
The NFL said that no one involved in the production was aware of the protest beforehand. Roc Nation, the company responsible for the halftime show, confirmed that the demonstration was not planned, rehearsed or approved.
Authorities in New Orleans are still determining whether the protester will face charges.
Ceasefire holds in Gaza amid uncertainty
A ceasefire that began on Jan. 19 remains in effect. Over the weekend, Hamas released three Israeli hostages, while Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners.
However, former President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the agreement on Sunday, saying the U.S. could “lose patience” after seeing the condition of released hostages, comparing their appearance to Holocaust survivors.
“They look like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl. “I don’t know how much longer we can take that… at some point we’re going to lose our patience.”
“I know we have a deal… they dribble in and keep dribbling in… but they are in really bad shape,” Trump said.
Trump told reporters he remains committed to the United States purchasing and taking control of Gaza after Palestinians are removed from the war-torn region. He added that multiple Middle Eastern countries could be involved in rebuilding efforts.
Sudan’s civil war and humanitarian crisis
Meanwhile, in Sudan, a civil war continues following the overthrow of its autocratic government in 2019. Since 2023, fighting between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed at least 28,000 people and displaced millions.
Reports indicate that some families have resorted to eating grass to survive as famine spreads across the country.
The United States is the largest single donor to Sudan, funding more than 80% of the World Food Program’s food aid in the country. The U.S. Embassy reports that since 2005, the U.S. has provided $5 billion in aid, reaching nearly 7 million people.
