Author: News Polite

We’re Confident You’ll Want to See Justin & Hailey Bieber’s PDA Photo

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber are always down to keep each other company.

The “Baby” singer shared a sweet glimpse at a recent night out with his wife of five years on social media—including a rare PDA moment. 

In the snaps posted on Instagram Jan. 31, Hailey, 27, poses with her head on her husband’s shoulder as the couple stands on a grand staircase. And in the final pic of the carousel, the pair shared a sweet smooch for the camera. 

Although this duo is known to mismatch their vibe when it comes to their wardrobe choices, they made their fashion intentions very clear this time around.

Justin, 29, wore a blue button down shirt, paired with a backwards baseball cap, a green leather jacket, black pants, and sneakers. Meanwhile, Hailey donned a long black trench coat, jeans, a gray T-shirt and bright red loafers. And the Rhode Skin founder was more than impressed with her and Justin’s coordination, as she commented, “We’re cute.”



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

TikTok Lost Universal’s Huge Music Catalog. What Happened?

Universal’s concerns are real, and reflect some of the most urgent challenges in the music business today: artists’ need to make a decent living, the parameters of modern licensing contracts, the role of artificial intelligence. And in recent years music companies have begun to adjust to the reality that music fans’ attention is not solely focused on jukebox-type streaming outlets like Spotify or Apple Music, but also on an array of social platforms, like TikTok, where music may be just one attraction.

For TikTok, as with any social media company, the issue may involve how much leverage it is willing to relinquish to any single content partner. As important as music is on TikTok — in the past the company has said “music is at the heart of the TikTok experience” — it does not represent the entirety of the experience on the app; as any TikTok user knows, a song could simply be the audio wallpaper for a makeup tutorial or a plumbing how-to guide.

This is a key consideration for Universal, which says it is pursuing a better deal for its acts. At the same time, the longer the dispute drags on, the more it may hurt artists, at least in the short term. TikTok is a vital promotional outlet, and a generation of young fans now rely on the app to discover music, old and new.

Some of the most vital moments in music in recent years happened on TikTok, from the explosion of Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” to the revival of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” For many artists today, being absent from TikTok would be like Madonna having a video disappear from MTV in the 1980s.

At the same time, though, artists are keenly aware of the need to secure better deals for their music, and of the low rates they face across the streaming landscape. Talk to an artist for two minutes about the business, and they will tell you they should make more money from streaming. They just do not want to sacrifice promotion, or their connection to fans, in the process.

We wait to see who blinks.

Universal’s roster of stars gives it leverage, and losing access to a library of thousands of the world’s music popular songs is not good for TikTok. Apps with a music component rely on their licensing arrangements with entertainment companies, and users expect to have a broad selection.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

French farmers unions call to end protests as PM unveils new measures | News

Gabriel Attal pledged a ‘future’ for France’s agriculture sector and promised solutions to combat bans and fraud.

France’s leading farming unions have called to end nationwide roadblocks over pay, tax and regulation after securing promises of government assistance.

French farmers have blocked roads around the country for two weeks in protests that spread across Europe last week.

The farmers were protesting against low earnings, regulation and what they call unfair competition from abroad.

Arnaud Rousseau, chief of the biggest rural union FNSEA, and Young Farmers (JA) President Arnaud Gaillot held a news conference to announce the suspension of the action on Thursday.

The announcement followed promises of cash, eased regulations and protection against unfair competition by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, the government’s second wave of concessions in a week.

Gabriel Attal’s speech came as convoys with hundreds of farmers created chaos outside the European Union’s headquarters, demanding leaders at an EU summit provide relief from rising prices and bureaucracy.

“The question is currently being asked throughout Europe: Is there a future for our agriculture? Of course, the answer is yes,” Attal said.

A farmer stands atop a tractor to take a picture during a protest called by local branches of major farmer unions [Frederick Florin/AFP]

Attal announced that France was banning, starting immediately, imports of fruits and vegetables coming from outside the EU that have been treated with Thiaclopride – an insecticide currently banned in the bloc.

He also said no pesticides would be banned in France that are authorised elsewhere in the EU. The statement was in response to a demand by French farmers who have denounced stricter regulations in France on pesticide products than in neighbouring countries.

‘Tangible progress’

France will propose the creation of a “European control force” to combat fraud, he said, particularly regarding health regulations, and fight against the import of food products that do follow European and French health standards.

Attal also reaffirmed that France would remain opposed to the EU signing a free-trade deal with the Mercosur trade group.

“There is no question of France accepting this treaty,” he said.

The government’s goals with the newly announced measures are “to give food its value back” and “to boost farmers’ income, to protect them against unfair competition and to simplify their daily life”, he said.

Attal also announced 150 million euros ($162m) in aid to livestock farmers and a decrease in taxes on farms being transferred from older generations to younger ones.

Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau, speaking after Attal, announced a two-billion-euro ($2.16bn) package to fund loans for those who are setting up as farmers.

The French government has said it will fine food industrial groups and supermarkets that do not comply with a 2018 law meant to pay a fair price to farmers. The fine can reach up to 2 percent of sales revenues to companies that do not comply.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Meet the Curator Behind The Local Gallery NYC, SLAM’s New Art Gallery

Last October, SLAM teamed up with The Local Gallery for a partnership like we’ve never seen before. The result: SLAM presents The Local Gallery New York, the first permanent art gallery in the world dedicated solely to basketball, where the art is always inspired by the game. We just launched “AND ONE,” our third group show which features 17 pieces of original art by 12 artists.
Check out the new catalogue, here.

Pepe Bratanov, also known by his artistic moniker Peppy Colours, is a Toronto-based visual artist and curator of The Local Gallery New York. His work has garnered numerous awards and recognition internationally. We recently sat down to discuss his love and passion for basketball-inspired art, how the partnership between The Local Gallery and SLAM came to be, investing in art, art gallery misconceptions and more. 

This interview has been slightly edited for conciseness and clarity. 

Curtis: The partnership between The Local Gallery and SLAM is very unique; can you speak to how it came about?

Pepe: Truly unique. It was born out of mutual love for the game. On a brand level, there was a total alignment, and on a human level even more so. Everyone involved is so passionate about hoops and art. On one hand, you have TLG with a very strong interest in hoop culture and is dedicated to growing and pushing the contemporary art scene. On the other hand, you have SLAM, a brand that needs no introduction, the most authentic voice in basketball storytelling for a very long time. This partnership just made so much sense on so many levels.

Together, we saw an opportunity to carve out a space that hasn’t been fully explored. We’ve seen small things done here and there that try to bring the art and basketball worlds together, but in most cases it’s one-offs, pop-ups, brief celebrations of the game, but nothing as committed and dedicated to basketball and hoop culture as what we’re building. And where we’re building it. We’ve entered New York City, the biggest art market in the world with 1,500 or so galleries. It’s saturated, so we couldn’t just be another gallery. We needed to find a niche. We needed to do something differently. And we did. We launched the first gallery in the commercial art world entirely dedicated to basketball and hoop culture all year round.

Curtis: What is it about basketball and its culture that makes it possible to have an entire art gallery solely dedicated to art inspired by the game?

Pepe: I think the key here, as you said, is in its culture. The sport itself is beautiful and extremely entertaining, but it’s the culture that makes it so special and sets it apart from other sports. There’s so much that surrounds the game–the sneakers, the fashion, the music, the video games, the entertainment, the diversity and inclusivity. There’s a lot of trend-setting. Hoop culture is pop culture. And pop culture has always played a big part in influencing the art scene. Art is about expression. It comes from the artist’s sad or happy place. It’s often a reflection of culture, popular or not, and the current state of our society. And when basketball and basketball culture touch so many aspects of our lives, it’s easy for it to make its way into art. You could even say it’s inevitable.

I think when we were starting this a lot of people expected that we’d be showing portraits of basketball players. And we do show some portraits occasionally when they’re done in a really interesting way, but it’s so much more than that and honestly, it’s all the other stuff we show at the gallery that gets people excited about what we do. Whether it’s an artist applying old Japanese pottery techniques to porcelain sneakers and basketballs, art made with sprinkles or textiles, or portraits made with vintage Jordans, the diversity and unexpected nature of the work is what draws people in. We’ve had people who are not even into basketball visit the gallery and fall in love with what we do.

And on top of it all, I think we’re experiencing a bit of a renaissance when it comes to the growth of basketball and everything that surrounds it. It just seemed like the right time. We had all the right ingredients to create something special.

Curtis: As a curator, and artist yourself, what draws you into basketball-inspired art?

Pepe: The diversity and fresh takes. It’s 2024; everything looks like something else. It’s hard to create something that’s truly original, if not impossible. But I continue to see things that are done in an interesting way, things I think people will connect with on an emotional level. And creativity–I always look for creativity in the work. Having talent is important, but nothing beats creativity and fresh thinking.

And to go full circle, of course, the culture. Basketball is so rich in culture and it’s what allows the creation of all this diverse work. Side note, I’m obsessed with soccer. I watch it and play it religiously. Growing up in Europe, soccer was all I knew. But when it comes to art, I was never able to find inspiration in it outside of the game I’m watching or playing.With basketball it’s a whole different thing. It’s got a special place in my heart even though I adopted it later in my life, not until the early 90s when the NBA and Jordan’s Bulls were introduced in Europe in a more prominent way.

Curtis: We’ve heard people like Rich Paul urge athletes to invest in art; what’s your take on art as an investment?

Pepe: When it comes to art, I think for me the most important thing is you need to connect with the piece you’re acquiring. Have that special connection with the art and the artist. You’re going to wake up next to this piece every day. It needs to mean something to you. It needs to trigger something in you. One look at it may turn a bad day into a good one.

So I’d say if you’re making the investment, make it an emotional one. If it happens that the artist is on the rise and the value of the work will double in a year or two, all the better. It’s a win-win. But the work must mean something to you. Leave the rest to us. We’re always on the lookout for emerging talent that we believe is on the rise in hopes to help make your emotional investment a financially sound one, too.

Curtis: There’s a huge misconception about the relationships between artists and galleries. Again, leaning on your experience as both a curator and artist, can you speak to the role of art galleries in 2024 and why they’re maybe more necessary in today’s climate, contrary to popular belief? Especially with people having more access than ever before with the advent of the internet and social media.

Pepe: For artists, the biggest thing is validation. It’s in our nature as human beings. We need it, we seek it. There’s a reason why the movie industry has the Oscars, athletes have the Olympics and so on. Pretty much every industry and sector has its own way of recognizing the cream of the crop. Love it or hate it. It’s in us.

There are millions of artists out there and only so many galleries. Getting into a gallery helps propel the artist’s career. If you love a certain artist and their work, I strongly encourage you to buy their work from the gallery they’re showing in. It gives them an immense sense of pride. Especially when the artists next to them may not be able to sell. When you from the artists directly, you’ll help them pay one of their bills for the month; buy their art from the gallery they’re showing in and you’ll be helping them build their career.

Curtis: Looking ahead, what do you envision The Local Gallery NYC adding to the grand scheme of the art community? 

Pepe: Freshness, creativity, diversity and inclusivity. We are new and unburdened by some of the old ways of the industry. I believe we have a fresh take on art. We’ll always look for and support creativity. And just like the sport itself, it’s our mission to have a space that is inclusive and supports diversity. Oftentimes, I see people passing by our doors and feeling uneasy, uncertain if they should come in. There’s this misconception attached to art galleries, that they’re not for everyone. And some are indeed not for everyone. This is not us. This is the place for you where you can discover exciting new work, get immersed in creativity and leave inspired by the sport, its culture and the art that meshes it all into one.

Pull up and check out the gallery at 43-42 12th St, Queens, NY 11101.

Photos by Marcus Stevens



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Defense Secretary Tries to Explain Why He Kept His Illness Secret

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III appeared at the lectern of the Pentagon briefing room on Thursday to take questions from reporters for the first time in more than a year, beginning what is expected to be a protracted period of explaining why he kept the public, and the president, in the dark for weeks about his prostate cancer and surgery.

“We did not handle this right; I did not handle this right,” Mr. Austin said. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility.”

Mr. Austin also said that he never told his staff not to inform the White House about his hospitalization.

The defense secretary, long known as an extreme introvert who loathes talking about himself in public, sought to explain why he kept quiet about an illness that he described as a “gut punch.”

Mr. Austin said his first instinct was not to say anything. He said doctors told him that he had a narrow window to get his surgery, and he decided to have it just before Christmas, thinking that was a time when he was expected to be away from work. Mr. Austin said that he thought President Biden had enough to worry about without having to be concerned about the personal problems of his defense secretary.

“When you’re president of the United States, you’ve got a lot of things on your plate,” he said. “I just didn’t feel that that was a thing that I should do at the time. But again, I recognize that that was a mistake.”

Mr. Austin was transported to the news conference room in a golf cart 45 minutes before the scheduled start of the conference and walked slowly, using a cane, to a green room to prepare with his aides. He did not have a cane when he walked to the lectern.

The defense secretary was widely criticized for failing to immediately disclose his illness and absence to the White House, a breach of protocol that baffled officials across the government, including at the Pentagon.

The House Armed Services Committee has asked Mr. Austin to testify this month about why he and his aides kept his illness secret. The committee’s chairman, Representative Mike D. Rogers, Republican of Alabama, said that “Congress must understand what happened and who made decisions to prevent the disclosure of the whereabouts of a cabinet secretary.”

Mr. Austin, 70, has long been known as an intensely private man who eschews the limelight and dislikes talking to the news media — qualities that Mr. Biden was fine with, his aides said, when he appointed the 40-year Army officer to be his defense secretary.

But in keeping his hospitalization secret, Mr. Austin attracted more attention to himself than at any point in his long career. He also drew criticism of Mr. Biden’s national security team during a period of multiple crises around the world, including wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Dearest Readers, You’ll Burn for Bridgerton’s Season 3 Teaser

Yet while season three will see a return of other fan-favorite characters—including Jonathan Bailey‘s Anthony Bridgerton and Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma, whose season two romance was the talk of the ton—it’s Penelope and Colin who will find themselves in the spotlight this time around.

And, as Nicola previously revealed, it couldn’t be a more pivotal season for her character—both romantically and emotionally. 

“This year is the year Penelope thought she was having last year, if that makes sense,” the Derry Girls alum told Shondaland in June. “Because I think she thought that she and Colin were a thing and it was happening, and then she got a really rude awakening at the end. I always say year one is ‘girl,’ year two is ‘not a girl, not yet a woman,’ and this year is ‘woman.'”

She added, “She’s really grown up in these three years. I often think about playing characters who are a lot younger than you, and one of the most important things is not to patronize them and to realize that everyone, regardless of age, is a human being. I’ve been on a bit of a journey with her this time around.”

But while you have to wait until May to see exactly where that journey goes, keep reading for more first look photos at Bridgerton season three. 

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Silent Hill 2 Remake Vs Original Scene Comparison

We got our first proper look at the Silent Hill 2 Remake during yesterday’s State of Play and, as someone who adored the original game, I immediately noticed a handful of familiar scenes. From James’ first steps into the Woodside apartments to his encounter with Pyramid Head, it’s possible to see that while many things have remained faithful in the Remake, others things have changed.

Silent Hill 2 Remake Vs Original Comparison

Take a look at the video or slideshow above to see the similarities and differences we spotted in the first trailer for Silent Hill 2 Remake. And if you haven’t already, check out the trailer itself below.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Usher Clarifies Whether He Was Beyoncé’s Nanny When They Were Younger

Usher is saying OMG to these rumors. 

Amid the speculation that he was, at one point, Beyoncé‘s nanny, the Super Bowl XVIII performer firmly set the record straight.

“First of all, how can I be a nanny? I’d be a manny,” Usher joked to Shannon Sharpe on the Jan. 31 episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast. “Nah, nah. I wasn’t Beyoncé’s nanny.”

After all, the “Yeah” singer, 45, is only a few years older than Beyoncé, 42. However, Usher admitted that he was responsible for looking after Queen Bey when they were both kids and working with producer Daryl Simmons out of his Atlanta home. 

“Daryl Simmons—he had a group by the name of The Dolls and they came to Atlanta for the first time—this was before Destiny’s Child became Destiny’s Child,” he explained. “I think I looked over them while they were doing something in the house, I had to watch them ‘cause I was the authority ‘cause I guess I was the teenager at the time.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Sir Jim Ratcliffe to have meeting with Mayor Burnham to discuss Old Trafford future – Man United News And Transfer News

7


After more than a year of a strategic review, Manchester United announced Sir Jim Ractliffe as the new minority stakeholder after he secured 25 percent of the club.

The deal also consists of INEOS taking control of sporting affairs pending the Premier League’s ratification process.

As part of his deal, the British billionaire is expected to provide an additional $300 million which is set to be used to upgrade infrastructure around the club.

The Peoples Person has relayed reports of the club seeking a new training venue but talks with a Cheshire golf club were reportedly off the mark.

OT upgradation

There have been talks of upgrading Old Trafford in the past with the stadium falling way behind their competitors with the Glazers allowing the magnificent structure to rot.

Fans have complained of falling rubble, leaking roofs, overflowing toilets, slow wi-fi, you name it!

The plans include either expanding it or possibly even building a new stadium in its place, and these plans was why the stadium missed out on hosting a Euro 2028 game.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has reportedly been in discussion with Ratcliffe over its future of the stadium and has promised to ‘stand behind the club’.

“To any United fans listening, I am not trying to steer it in any particular way — that’s not my job,” Burnham said during the BBC Radio Manchester ‘in the hot seat’ phone-in (via MEN).

“Your club needs to decide what it wants. All I am saying is, we are absolutely standing behind the club in saying whatever it is they want, we will facilitate. We will be there to make sure that the club is set up for the future.”

Talks to take place

The mayor also revealed that a meeting is due next week while also praising INEOS for bringing in new energy into the club.

“I think there is an exciting potential here, I am talking to the club. I may well be seeing them next week.

“Sir Jim has really brought a lot of energy to the situation, Sir Dave Brailsford is a brilliant person and is the architect of British cycling success over the last couple of decades and the velodrome in Manchester — he was very much involved in the building of the velodrome and he is bringing that expertise now to Manchester United.”

While the future of the stadium remains a contentious topic among fans, it is heartening to see that INEOS are eager to bring the club back to the top unlike the Greedy Americans.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

New cancer cases to soar 77 percent by 2050, WHO predicts | World Health Organization News

There were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases in 2022, with more than 35 million new cases predicted by 2050.

The number of new cancer cases globally will reach 35 million in 2050, 77 percent higher than the figure in 2022, according to predictions from the World Health Organization’s cancer agency.

A survey conducted by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) cited tobacco, alcohol, obesity and air pollution as key factors in the predicted rise.

“Over 35 million new cancer cases are predicted in 2050,” the IARC said in a statement, a 77 percent increase from the some 20 million cases diagnosed in 2022.

“Certainly the new estimates highlight the scale of cancer today and indeed the growing burden of cancer that is predicted over the next years and decades,” Freddie Bray, head of cancer surveillance at the IARC, told Al Jazeera on Thursday.

There were an estimated 9.7 million cancer deaths in 2022, the IARC said in the statement alongside its biannual report based on data from 185 countries and 36 cancers.

Around one in five people develop cancer in their lifetimes, with one in nine men and one in 12 women dying from the disease, it added.

“The rapidly-growing global cancer burden reflects both population ageing and growth, as well as changes to people’s exposure to risk factors, several of which are associated with socioeconomic development. Tobacco, alcohol and obesity are key factors behind the increasing incidence of cancer, with air pollution still a key driver of environmental risk factors,” the IARC said.

Lower-income burden

The IARC also highlighted that the threat of cancer varies depending on where a patient lives.

The most-developed countries are expected to record the greatest increases in case numbers, with an additional 4.8 million new cases predicted in 2050 compared with 2022 estimates, the agency said.

But in terms of percentages, countries on the low end of the Human Development Index (HDI) – used by the United Nations as a marker of societal and economic development – will see the greatest proportional increase, up 142 percent.

Meanwhile, countries in the medium range are predicted to record a 99-percent increase, it said.

“One of the biggest challenges we are seeing is the proportional increases in the cancer burden are going to be most striking in the lower income, lower human development countries,” Bray told Al Jazeera.

“They are going to see a projected increase of well over doubling of the burden by 2050.

“And these are very much the countries that currently are ill-equipped to really deal with the cancer problem. And it’s only going to get bigger and there are going to be more patients in cancer hospitals in the future.”

Bray said that although there are more than 100 different cancer types, the top five cancers account for about 50 percent of cases.

“Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide … particularly in men, whereas breast cancer is certainly the most common cancer in women,” he said.

The IARC also said different types of cancer were now increasingly affecting populations as lifestyles change. For example, colorectal cancer is now the third most common cancer and second in terms of deaths. Colorectal cancer is linked particularly to age as well as lifestyle factors like obesity, smoking and alcohol use.

“There should be a lot more investment in the early diagnosis and screening [of cancers]. There should be a lot more investment in preventing the disease,” as well as in palliative care for people who are suffering, Bray said.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version