Posted on 25 April 2024.
Mary J. Blige, Dionne Warwick
The iconic singer, songwriter and actress Mary J. Blige has been listed for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. She announced the news on the evening of April 21 with a post that chronicled some of her past performances, and a caption expressing sincere gratitude for the honor.
“Beyond Grateful!!!!!!” the Grammy Award-winning singer wrote on Instagram. “This is incredible!!! God always has the final say!!!! Thank you to my fans all over the world!!!! Tears of Joy!!!!”
In addition to Blige, the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest are almost among the honorees for the upcoming induction ceremony. The Queens-based rap collective Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White, and the late Phife Dawg. Following the announcement, White posted a photo of ATCQ on social media and a quote that read: “Wow!!! @qtiptheabstract @alishaheed we did it!!!! Phifey we got you in the hall of fame!!!! Wish you were here. Well I know you’re watching so….. Fuck yeah!!! lol To all of the questers, from the bottom of our hearts thank you!!!! #jedibusiness.”
The full list of inductees were announced during Sunday night’s episode of American Idol. Kool & The Gang are set to be inducted as well, with Big Mama Thornton receiving the Musical Influence Award, and Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield will be honored with the Musical Excellence Award.
Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 25 April 2024.
Tiktok Ban
The U.S. is inching closer toward a nationwide ban on TikTok. Last Saturday (April 20), the House voted 360-58 in support of a pivotal Republican-backed bill regarding aid for Ukraine and Israel.
A measure addressing the forced sale of the video app from its China-based owner, ByteDance Ltd., was included in the modified proposal. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act mirrors similar concerns about the platform’s ownership that were presented to lawmakers in March.
If approved by the Senate, TikTok would have to acquire a new owner within a year, reported NPR. In the event that progress toward new ownership is observed as the deadline passes, the White House can extend it by 90 days, allowing for the deal to be finalized.
Prior to the vote, the media platform issued a statement about the ban being lumped into legislation regarding a foreign aid package. In an April 17 tweet, it said, “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.”
The widely popular app has been criticized as “China’s backdoor into Americans’ lives” by Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, whose bill to ban TikTok was blocked by the Senate last November. President Joe Biden has been a staunch supporter of proposed legislation that would require ByteDance Ltd. to divest from the social juggernaut. Last month, when asked about the recent bill, Biden told reporters, “If they pass it, I’ll sign it.”
Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 25 April 2024.
Thousands are protesting around the country over the unjust War in Gaza.
Protests over the war in Gaza have taken hold at a handful of elite US universities as officials scramble to defuse demonstrations.
Police moved to break up an encampment at New York University (NYU) on Monday night, making a number of arrests.
Dozens of students were arrested at Yale earlier in the day, while Columbia University cancelled in-person classes.
The White House has condemned antisemitic incidents that have marred some demonstrations.
Protests and heated debates about the Israel-Gaza war and free speech have rocked US campuses since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, which prompted Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
In the US, students on both sides say there has been a rise in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since then.
When asked about the rallies on Monday, President Joe Biden said he condemned both “the antisemitic protests” as well as “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians”.
The protest movement was thrust into the spotlight last week after New York City police were called out to Columbia’s campus and arrested more than 100 demonstrators.
Rallies have spread since then. In addition to NYU and Yale, encampments have been set up at the University of California at Berkeley, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Michigan, Emerson College and Tufts.
Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 14 April 2024.
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Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 14 April 2024.
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Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 14 April 2024.
President Joe Biden
President Biden on Monday announced a large-scale effort to help pay off federal student loans for tens of millions of American borrowers, seeking an election-year boost by returning to a 2020 campaign promise that was blocked by the Supreme Court last year.
Mr. Biden’s new plan would reduce the amount that 25 million borrowers still owe on their undergraduate and graduate loans. It would wipe away the entire amount for more than four million Americans. Altogether, White House officials said, 10 million borrowers would see debt relief of $5,000 or more.
“While a college degree still is a ticket to the middle class, that ticket is becoming much too expensive,” Mr. Biden said during a speech to a small but enthusiastic audience filled with supporters. “Today, too many Americans, especially young people, are saddled with too much debt.”
Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 06 April 2024.
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Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 06 April 2024.
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Posted in U.S. Government
Posted on 06 April 2024.
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Posted in U.S. Government
