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Olivia Rodrigo, Silk Sonic, and Jon Batiste have all received Grammy nominations

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At the 64th Grammy Awards, Olivia Rodrigo, Silk Sonic, and jazz musician Jon Batiste shared the top prize.

We Are, by Batiste, was named album of the year, while Rodrigo was named best new artist and best pop album. Silk Leave The Door Open, Sonic’s soul throwback anthem, won both the record and song of the year awards. A tribute to Foo Fighters frontman Taylor Hawkins was paid during the ceremony, as was a video plea from Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

He urged musicians to “fill the silence” left by Russian bombs “with your music” in a pre-recorded message. “Please tell our story. Tell the truth about the war on social media and on television. However, there will be no silence.”
Following his speech, John Legend performed with Ukrainian musicians Siuzanna Iglidan and Mika Newton, as well as poet Lyuba Yakimchuk. Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and BTS all gave energetic performances at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and folk icon Joni Mitchell made a rare on-stage appearance to introduce Brandi Carlile.

The “big four” categories were expanded to include ten nominees each, making this year’s Grammys one of the most open in years. However, the Recording Academy prefers artists who acknowledge their musical roots, which helped Silk Sonic and Jon Batiste win their respective categories.

We Are, Batiste’s album, is steeped in black music tradition, from the New Orleans jazz he grew up with to Al Green’s classic soul to modern R&B.

In 2020, the title track was written in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the album’s themes of positivity and intergenerational wisdom made it a favourite with voters, who gave Batiste 11 Grammy nominations. Bruno Mars and rapper/drummer Anderson collaborated on Silk Sonic.

Plough a similar furrow, Paak. Leave The Door Open, their sumptuous ballad, is steeped in the 70s soul sounds of acts like The Chi-Lites and Earth, Wind & Fire, delivered with a knowing wink to modern sensibilities.

The duo were clearly ecstatic with their song of the year and record of the year victories.

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Ukraine War: A family’s attempt to flee the Ukraine war ends in tragedy

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The drone footage shows three cars speeding along an empty main road just outside Kyiv, Ukraine, before turning around and racing back – all but one.

This white car makes a U-turn, but then comes to a complete stop. A man takes a step forward and raises his hands. His body then collapses to the ground. Russian soldiers appear a short time later. A soldier walks an elderly woman and her child away from the car. Maksim Iovenko was the man on the ground. Russian forces stationed along the roadside shot and killed the 31-year-old. His wife, Ksenia, was also killed in the vehicle.

Their six-year-old son and an elderly family friend who was with them managed to flee, though she was injured and remains hospitalised. On March 7, Maksim and his family were part of a convoy of about ten cars of civilians attempting to reach Kyiv from the city’s western outskirts, which had become a conflict zone.

It was filmed and widely shared by a Ukrainian territorial defence group conducting aerial reconnaissance. Sergiy says he knew something was wrong when a friend of Maksim’s who was in the convoy called him to tell him the news. When he picked up the phone, there was silence, until the friend finally said, “Stay strong, your son and daughter-in-law are gone.” Maksim worked for a travel agency in Kyiv, and it was there that he met Ksenia. Sergiy describes his son as a loving family man who enjoys singing karaoke. But, he claims, his most important hobby was spending time with his family. “He adored his son, and this was his life’s work.”

Sergiy and his family, like many other Ukrainians, did not believe Russian President Vladimir Putin would invade. Maksim assumed that once Putin did, Kyiv would be one of the first cities to be shelled.

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Orban faces toughest election challenge in Hungary as a result of Russia’s war

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The headline in the tabloid Metropol, distributed to morning commuters flocking through Budapest’s Western Station, screams, “Peace or War.” In the box next to the “peace” option, there’s a nice blue cross.

That is Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party’s campaign slogan as it seeks a record fourth consecutive term in office in Sunday’s elections. After 12 years in power, they are facing their first serious challenge from a coalition of six opposition parties led by Peter Marki-Zay. The race has been accelerated by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Hungary shares a border with Ukraine and has so far taken in more than 500,000 refugees. Mr. Orban insists that the only way to keep Hungary out of the war is for him to help the people while refusing to supply weapons to Ukraine. Although his party’s slogan of “peace or war” is simplistic, it is effective. And it’s broadcast, printed, and illuminated in large letters everywhere in Hungary.

It disrupts any music you’re listening to on YouTube, as well as videos featuring international coverage of the Ukraine conflict. According to a group of critical monitoring organisations, the government has spent eight times more on its campaign than all of the opposition parties combined.

The fact that the ruling party enjoys the support of a largely compliant media also helps. On the other hand, the opposition’s catchphrase is “Orban or Europe.”
Their candidate, Peter Marki-Zay, proposes that Hungary join Poland, the United Kingdom, and others in providing arms to Ukraine. Should consider sending troops if called upon, but only within a Nato framework.

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Oscar Producer: Police Were Ready to Arrest the Star During the Oscars

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Will Smith was ready to be arrested at the Oscars after the actor slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage, according to the ceremony’s producer.

Will Packer said officers asked Rock if he wanted them to take action in his first interview since the incident on Sunday. Packer told ABC TV that the star was “very dismissive” of the offer. Smith has apologised for punching Rock over a joke about his wife Jada, and the Oscars’ organisers and Packer have been chastised for their responses.

The producer described the conversation between Rock and Los Angeles police officers in the aftermath of the incident in an interview clip published by ABC’s Good Morning America.

“They were saying something along the lines of, you know, this is – battery was the word they used at the time. ‘We’ll go get him,’ they said. We have everything we need. Right now, we’re ready to go get him. You have the option of filing charges. We have the authority to detain him.’

“They were outlining the possibilities. And while they were conversing, Chris was dismissive of those possibilities. ‘No, I’m fine,’ he said. ‘No, no, no,’ he exclaimed. I went so far as to say, ‘Rock, let them finish.’

“‘Would you like us to take any action?’ the other LAPD officers asked after they had finished explaining his options. ‘No,’ he replied. ‘No,’ he replied.”

Packer, who produced the 2015 Oscar-nominated film Straight Outta Compton and the 2017 film Girls Trip, will be interviewed in depth later on Friday. There have been conflicting reports on the producer’s role in Smith’s decision to stay in the Dolby Theatre to accept his best actor award shortly after the now-famous slap.

Packer entered the auditorium and spoke with Smith, according to Variety, but reports differ on whether Packer asked Smith to stay or not. The organisation has begun disciplinary proceedings against Smith, and its board of directors will meet on April 18 to decide how to proceed.

It could result in “suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct,” according to the statement.

Rock said on Wednesday that he is “still processing what happened” as he hosted the final leg of his US tour in Boston.

Rock, who received a standing ovation from the audience, also denied reports in the American media that he had spoken to Smith since the incident.

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Tom Parker: The Wanted Singer Dies Aged 33

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Tom Parker, a member of the British boy band The Wanted, died at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

In October 2020, the singer revealed to his fans that he had an inoperable tumour. “Our hearts are broken,” his wife Kelsey Hardwick wrote on Instagram. The couple had two young children together.
“Tom was the centre of our world; we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence,” she wrote.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped him throughout his illness; he fought to the very end. I’ll always be proud of you.” The couple had a daughter, Aurelia Rose, and a son, Bodhi, after marrying in 2018. Parker’s death “devastated” the band, who said they were with him and his family at his bedside when he died.

Parker, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes, and Jay McGuiness formed The Wanted in 2009. Glad You Came and All Time Low were their two UK number one singles, and they also had eight other top ten hits, including Chasing The Sun, Heart Vacancy, and Lightning.

Last September, Parker organised a Stand Up To Cancer concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and The Wanted reunited. It also raised money for the National Brain Appeal.

In November, the band released a greatest hits album. Parker told fans shortly before the album’s release that his brain tumour was “stable” and “under control.”

“Such a cruel, cruel world… RIP Tom.. you will be missed but never forgotten,” Union J singer JJ Hamblett said. Parker’s openness about his illness and fundraising efforts were praised by non-profit Brain Tumour Research UK in a statement.

“Since his diagnosis, Tom has spoken openly and honestly about the impact of the disease, and in doing so, has helped to raise awareness of the devastation caused by brain tumours,” said Hugh Adams of the charity.

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European Union: Europe is planning a crackdown on fast fashion

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Fast fashion is being targeted in Europe, with proposals to make clothing made and worn there more durable, reusable, repairable, and recyclable.

The strategy for sustainable textiles, which will be unveiled on Wednesday, will focus on clothing at every stage of its life cycle, including design, repair, and recycling. The initiative aims to increase demand for garments that are made in a sustainable manner.

Manufacturers will have to ensure that their clothes are both environmentally friendly and durable. Furthermore, consumers will be provided with more information on how to reuse, repair, and recycle their clothing.

The European Commission’s rules, according to Iona Popescu of the Environmental Coalition on Standards, are designed to bring in longer-lasting products that can be worn multiple times rather than worn once and thrown away. “By introducing rules on textiles to be used in the European market, the Commission hopes to put a stop to fast fashion,” she said.

Under an initiative known as the Sustainable Products Initiative (SPI), similar rules will apply to electronics such as smartphones and furniture, she added. Only about 1% of all clothing is recycled globally, according to estimates.

According to the European Environment Agency, clothing has the fourth highest environmental and climate impact in Europe, trailing only food, housing, and transportation. Textile consumption requires 9 cubic metres of water, 400 square metres of land, 391 kilogrammes of raw materials, and a carbon footprint of about 270 kilogrammes per person in the EU. Politicians in the United Kingdom have urged the government to change the law to require fashion retailers to adhere to environmental regulations.

In 2019, the government rejected the majority of the Environmental Audit Committee’s recommendations, including making clothing manufacturers pay for better clothing collection and recycling, but it has prioritised textile waste.

According to Tamara Cincik of Fashion Roundtable, a think tank for the fashion industry, the textiles strategy could set the tone for future legislation outside of the EU. “If brand expectations in the UK differ from those in the EU, this should encourage stronger expectations of future UK legislation,” she said.

“This is why it is critical for both UK brands and the government to be aware of this strategy, as the EU remains our largest and, in many ways, closest trading partner in the textiles and fashion industries.”

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At a meeting, Roman Abramovich was allegedly poisoned

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According to sources close to Roman Abramovich, he experienced symptoms of suspected poisoning while attending peace talks on the Ukraine-Belarus border earlier this month.

The Chelsea FC owner reportedly suffered from sore eyes and peeling skin, but has since recovered. According to reports, two Ukrainian peace negotiators were also harmed.

According to one report, the alleged poisoning was planned by Russian hardliners who wanted to derail the talks.

Shortly after the allegations surfaced, Reuters quoted an unnamed US official as saying that intelligence indicated the men’s symptoms were caused by “environmental” factors rather than poisoning. Later, Ihor Zhovkva, a spokesman for Ukraine’s president, told the BBC that while he hadn’t spoken to Mr Abramovich, members of the Ukrainian delegation were “fine” and one had said the storey was “false.”

However, as BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner points out, it’s not surprising that the US would want to downplay claims that anyone – particularly Russia – used a chemical weapon in Ukraine, as this could lead to retaliatory action that the US is hesitant to take.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Abramovich’s and the Ukrainian negotiators’ conditions have improved since the March 3 incident, which included Ukrainian MP Rustem Umerov. According to a source close to Mr Abramovich, he has recovered and is continuing to negotiate to end the war in Ukraine. The incident sheds light on Mr. Abramovich’s alleged role as a middleman in Ukraine-Russia talks. His exact role is unknown, but a spokesman for the oligarch previously stated that his influence was “limited.”

Mr. Abramovich was sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom earlier this month for alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he denies.

Mr Zelensky, on the other hand, is said to have asked the US to hold off on sanctioning Mr Abramovich because he could help negotiate a peace deal with Moscow.

Mr Abramovich played an early role in peace talks, according to the Kremlin, but the process is now in the hands of the two countries’ negotiating teams.

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On the Oscars stage, Will Smith smacks Chris Rock

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At the Oscars, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

“Jada, can’t wait for GI Jane 2,” he said, referring to her shaved hairstyle, which is the result of the hair loss condition alopecia. “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth,” Smith said as he walked on stage and struck Rock. He then returned to his seat and yelled. On stage, he later apologised.

“I’d like to express my regret to the Academy. I would like to apologise to all of my fellow nominees “he said as he accepted the award for best actor in a tearful acceptance speech.

The actor won his first Academy Award for his role as the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard. He said, “Art imitates life.” “Like Richard Williams, I have the appearance of a crazy father. Love, on the other hand, will drive you insane.”

Rock’s joke was a reference to Demi Moore’s performance as the title character in the 1997 film GI Jane, in which she wore a buzzcut. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the comedian appeared stunned, but told the audience, “That was the greatest night in the history of television.” Following the incident, the Los Angeles Police Department told Variety that Rock “declined to file a police report.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Oscars, issued a statement saying it “does not condone violence in any form.”

Following the incident, Rock presented the best documentary award, which was the reason he was on stage in the first place.

Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry “pulled aside and comforted” a tearful Smith shortly after the incident, according to Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter.

During an ad break, the trio could be seen talking just in front of the stage, with Washington and Perry placing their hands on his shoulders.

Sean will now present the next section “”Will and Chris, we’re going to solve that like family,” Combs said. We’re currently moving forward with love.”

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The Razzie Awards have named Netflix’s Diana the Musical as the worst film of the year

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The Razzie Awards have given a clean sweep to Netflix’s filmed version of Diana the Musical, a critically panned Broadway show about Princess Diana’s life story. These awards which are announced the day before the Oscars honour Hollywood’s best, name and shame the year’s worst films.

Five awards were given to Diana the Musical, including worst picture and worst actress for Jeanna de Waal, who played the late princess. Great basketball player For Space Jam: A New Legacy, LeBron James took home the award for worst actor. James and “any Warner cartoon character (or WarnerMedia product) he dribbles on” won the award for worst screen couple, while the film was also named worst remake, rip-off, or sequel.

The Guardian called Diana the Musical “a right royal debacle so bad you’ll hyperventilate,” Vanity Fair called it “a shellacked lump of product born solely of cold, money-minded cynicism,” and the Financial Times called it “a wildly crass patty of pure schlock” when it was released last year. The Broadway show only lasted 33 performances before it was shut down. Because its theatres were closed and the entertainment industry was dealing with coronavirus restrictions, Netflix streamed a film of the musical before it hit Broadway, without a live audience.

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Survivor of an Italian Shooting Has Been Ordained as a Bishop in South Sudan

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Thousands of people descended on a small town in central South Sudan to witness Christian Carlassare’s ordination as bishop of Rumbek, capping off a tumultuous year for the Italian cleric.

Since Pope Francis appointed him a year ago, he has overcome a shooting and subsequent operations. The 44-year-old cleric was shot four times in the leg by assailants who broke into his home in Rumbek just weeks after arriving in South Sudan last April. Six people are on trial in connection with the shooting, including a senior member of the Catholic clergy, in a case that prosecutors are pursuing despite the church’s request that it be dropped.

Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, the retired archbishop of Khartoum, presided over Friday’s mass in Rumbek, which was also attended by many other clergy and the new bishop’s parents. In South Sudan, the Italian is the first European to be ordained a bishop by an African cardinal. Cardinal Wako said in his sermon that the work of a bishop is frequently misunderstood.

He urged people to support Bishop Carlassare, saying, “They think when someone becomes a bishop, he becomes a rich man.” “Don’t take anything from him; instead, encourage him to keep going.”

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