Month: April 2023

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Pop Daypop

Suga of BTS documentary ‘Suga: Road to D-Day’ headed to Disney+ on April 21

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BTS’s Suga shared the release date for his new Disney+ documentary Suga: Road to D-Day, set to debut on April 21st.  Suga’s album D-Day (which will be released under his name Agust D) will also debut on April 21 in conjunction with the documentary; and he has already released the first single, “People Pt. 2.”

Suga will chronicle his life on the road as he pursues a solo career while the South Korean band is on hiatus. The documentary will cover his work with Coldplay, The Chainsmokers, Halsey and Steve Aoki. In the documentary, the 30-year-old will talk about how his writer’s block impacted him and the life experiences he poured into his music.

Suga was also announced as an NBA ambassador last week, posting a video showing him with NBA stars Steph Curry, Luka Dončić and Klay Thompson. Per an NBA press release, Suga will be a visible presence for the game throughout the world, attending games and using the power of his social media channels to amplify the league. The NBA will partner with Suga on his album release and on his upcoming tour. Said Suga: “Music and basketball have been shared passions of mine since my youth, and it’s a dream to be named an NBA Ambassador. I’m excited to formalize my relationship with the NBA, and I can’t wait to share some exciting collaborations I have planned with the league over the coming months.”

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Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn split after 6 years together

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Multiple outlets reported over the weekend that Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have split after six years together. Entertainment Tonight was first to report the news, which comes as Swift is traveling the country for her sold-out Eras tour.

Swift, 33, and Alwyn, 32, were first linked in 2016, and have kept their relationship private over the years. Sources previously said that Swift “is very happy” in their relationship: “He is her rock. Their relationship is mature and wonderful.” 

The pair collaborated on music together over the pandemic, with Swift’s 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore.  Each album included collaborations with Alwyn, who wrote several songs under the pseudonym William Bowery. Alwyn is credited as a co-writer on “Betty” and “Exile” from Folklore and on “Champagne Problems,” “Coney Island,” and “Evermore” on Evermore. Folklore won the Grammy Award in 2021 for “Album of the Year,’ and during her acceptance speech, Swift gave a shout-out to the actor: “Joe is the first person that I play every single song that I write, and I had the best time writing songs with you in quarantine.”

Prior to her relationship with Alwyn, Swift dated Joe Jonas, John Mayer, Harry Styles, Calvin Harris and Tom Hiddleston.

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Supreme Court rejects West Virginia attempt to bar transgender female athlete

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On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected an attempt by West Virginia to prevent a transgender student from participating in girls’ sports.  In doing so, a law enacted in 2021 called the ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ cannot be enforced against a 12-year-old transgender girl, Becky Pepper-Jackson, while litigation continues in the case.

In barring transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports at the middle school, high school and college levels, the law says gender is “based solely on the individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” As such, it says, a female is a person “whose biological sex determined at birth as female.” The law was challenged by Pepper-Jackson, then 11 years old, who wanted to try out for the cross country and track teams in her middle school in Harrison County. Pepper-Jackson’s lawyers said in a joint statement: “We are grateful that the Supreme Court today acknowledged that there was no emergency and that Becky should be allowed to continue to participate with her teammates on her middle school track team,”  and called the state’s attempt to enforce the law “a baseless and cruel effort.” During litigation, Pepper-Jackson has participated on her school’s cross country and track teams, where she has been welcomed by teammates and coaches, her lawyers said. She is undergoing puberty-delaying treatment and hormone therapy.

A federal judge initially ruled in Pepper-Jackson’s favor but concluded in January that the law was most likely legal and allowed it to be enforced against her. Pepper-Jackson appealed, and last month the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Richmond, Virginia again blocked the state from applying it. West Virginia’s lawyers said in court papers that if the law is not applied to Pepper-Jackson, “sex-separated sports as they are traditionally understood will be functionally illegal in West Virginia public schools and universities.”

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House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenas former NY prosecutor in Trump case

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On Thursday, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenaed a former assistant district attorney in New York who resigned after leading an investigation into the finances of former President Donald Trump. Mark Pomerantz was one of two prosecutors who resigned in February 2022 after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg took office and indicated he had doubts about proceeding with the probe.

Jordan wants Pomerantz, a former federal prosecutor, to appear for a deposition as the committee “is conducting oversight” of Bragg’s conduct, saying in a statement that “Pomerantz’s public statements about the investigation strongly suggest that Bragg’s prosecution of President Trump is politically motivated.”  The subpoena’s cover letter read in part: “Based on your unique role as a special assistant district attorney leading the investigation into President Trump’s finances, you are uniquely situated to provide information that is relevant and necessary to inform the committee’s oversight and potential legislative reforms.”

Bragg’s responded in a statement: “The House GOP continues to attempt to undermine an active investigation and ongoing New York criminal case with an unprecedented campaign of harassment and intimidation. Repeated efforts to weaken state and local law enforcement actions are an abuse of power and will not deter us from our duty to uphold the law.”

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BTS’ Jimin becomes first Korean soloist to hit No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

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BTS’ Jimin has become the first Korean soloist to hit No.1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with his track “Like Crazy,” taken from Jimin’s debut solo album FACE. ‘Like Crazy’ has racked up 254,000 downloads and CD single sales, and has been streamed over 10 million times. It received 64,000 radio airplay audience impressions in its first week of release. In addition to the original Korean and English versions of “Like Crazy,” two remixes reimagining the track were also released, alongside an instrumental version. The only other Korean act to score a No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is BTS themselves, with their hit song “Dynamite.”

The achievement makes Jimin the first member of BTS to score a No.1 single in the U.S.; he had also scored the highest-charting solo single with his pre-release track “Set Me Free Pt.2,” which charted at No.30 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Other BTS members, Jungkook and Suga, have both also entered the Top 30 — but with collaborations (Jungkook teamed up with Charlie Puth for “Left And Right” which charted at No.22, and Suga appeared on Juice WRLD’s “Girl Of My Dreams,” which peaked at No.29).

“Like Crazy” has also claimed the top spot on the Digital Song Sales chart and landed at No.35 on the Streaming Songs chart. The album FACE entered the Billboard 200 at No.2.

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Take a listen to Ellie Goulding’s latest single ‘By the End of the Night’

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Ellie Goulding has shared her new single “By the End of the Night” off her fifth studio album Higher Than Heaven, due for release April 7. ‘By the End of the Night’ follows Ellie’s recent release of “Miracle” with Calvin Harris.

Ellie says of the new song: “I feel like we’ve all been through such a lot over the last few years, we’re still processing everything. I don’t know if it’s just me but I feel like we need music that uplifts us and makes us feel good and that’s exactly how I feel about “By The End Of The Night.” It gives me a sense of euphoric, sensual escape, like being on a dancefloor on another planet…something that was definitely appealing back in the late 80’s… where this track could have easily come from!”

Speaking about her forthcoming album Higher Than Heaven, Ellie says: “There was definitely a darkness about [the past two years] that was palpable in the studio, with everyone having gone through it differently. I think for that reason, nobody wanted to sit and agonize over some relationship or some drama. So that’s how this album came together. [Higher Than Heaven is] about being passionately in love. But it’s a hyper form of love, almost like a drug induced feeling. It feels almost artificial and there’s the potential for a crash.”

Take a listen to “By the End of the Night”– here.
Pre-order the album Higher Than Heaven – here.

Ellie Goulding releases ‘By the End of the Night’

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Cash App founder Bob Lee killed in stabbing in San Francisco

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Bob Lee, a technology executive who founded the mobile payment company Cash App, died Tuesday after he was stabbed near downtown San Francisco. The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded to a report of a stabbing around 2:35 a.m. Tuesday on the 300 block of Main Street in the Rincon Hill neighborhood, where they found a 43-year-old man (Lee) with apparent stab wounds. Lee was taken to a San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.

The killing is being investigated by the department’s homicide unit. San Francisco district attorney Brooke Jenkins tweeted: “I want to extend my sincerest condolences to Mr. Lee’s family members & loved ones for his loss. We do not tolerate these horrific acts of violence in San Francisco. At this time no arrests have been made. Anyone w/ information is asked to call @SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444.”  Police declined to release more information about the crime because the homicide is an active investigation, referring questions about the victim’s identity to the city medical examiner, who said it had “no information to disclose or further comment at this time.”

Bob Lee was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency company MobileCoin. He previously served as chief technology officer of financial tech start-up Square (now known as Block), a digital payment company co-founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. He also worked at Google early in his career, where he was critical to developing Google’s Android operating system. Lee went on to create the money transfer service Cash App.

Joshua Goldbard, the CEO of MobileCoin, said a statement: “Bob was a dynamo, a force of nature. Bob was the genuine article. He was made for the world that is being born right now. Bob was a child of dreams, and whatever he imagined, no matter how crazy, he made real. Bob was made for the new world … Bob’s real resume is the hearts and minds he touched in his time on earth. Bob’s legacy is the feeling that you can make a difference if you try, and of course his amazing children.”

Lee is survived by his wife, Krista, and their two children.

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs bill repealing 1931 abortion ban

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On Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill repealing the state’s nearly century-old abortion ban, that made it a four-year felony to assist in an abortion. Last month, the state’s House and Senate passed HB 4006, a single-sentence bill, which revokes the 1931 law that criminalized abortion. Roe v. Wade had made the 1931 law null and void, until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark decision in June.

In signing the legislation, Gov. Whitmer called it “long overdue.” Specifically, the bill repealed Section 750.14, which makes it a felony — punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 — to administer drugs that induce a miscarriage unless the mother’s life is in danger. It also repealed Section 750.15, which makes it a misdemeanor to advertise, publish or sell “any pills, powder, drugs or combination of drugs” that can cause an abortion.

Whitmer said: “When Roe was overturned, a right afforded to Americans for nearly 50 years was stripped away. It horrified me to think that my daughters would have fewer rights than I did growing up. So, while other states were restricting access, we took steps to protect reproductive freedom.” 

Whitmer has openly expressed her support for abortion access in and out of Michigan and signed an executive order in July refusing to extradite women who come to Michigan from other states seeking abortion and refusing to extradite providers for offering the procedure.  In a statement, the Governor said: “In November, Michiganders sent a clear message: we deserve to make our own decisions about own bodies. Today, we are coming together to repeal our extreme 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest and criminalizing nurses and doctors for doing their jobs .. Standing up for people’s fundamental freedoms is the right thing to do and it’s also just good economics. By getting this done, we will help attract talent and business investment too.”

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Lizzo and Jack Black make cameo appearances on ‘The Mandalorian’

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Lizzo and Jack Black are among the latest guest stars on the Disney+ series ‘The Mandalorian’. The duo will appear in the sixth episode of season 3 of the series.

Black wrote on Instagram: “So fun working with @lizzobeeating on @themandalorian as the king and queen of Plazir-15!!!,” alongside two photos of himself and Lizzo. In the pics, Black sports an extravagant beard while Lizzo dons a headdress and elegant plaits.According to Entertainment Weekly, the duo plays Duchess and Captain Bombardier, rulers of Plazir-15, which operates partly as a democracy. Din Djarin and Bo-Katan can be seen exploring the planet Plazir-15, and immediately upon arrival are greeted by the planet’s leadership, Bombadier (played by Jack Black) and Lizzo’s Duchess character.

An official synopsis of the current season of The Mandalorian reads: “The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue,” with formerly lonely bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) reuniting with Grogu, a.k.a. Baby Yoda/The Child. Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. The Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together.

The Mandalorian is now streaming on Disney+. Check out the cameo from Lizzo and Jack Black – here.

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Jonas Brothers announce one-night-only Yankee Stadium concert

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Following their recent sold out Broadway limited engagement, Jonas Brothers will return to New York with a one-night-only show at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, August 12th. The band posted on social media: “Five albums. One Epic Night. Saturday, August 12 at Yankee Stadium. Fans who previously registered for the Broadway shows will have the opportunity for first access to tickets with a special Verified Fans on sale and additional info will be sent to eligible fans via email!”

Jonas Brothers will perform their five albums at the Yankee Stadium show – including their new album The Album, set for release on Friday, May 12.  The group’s new single “Waffle House” will drop this Friday, April 7th.

Fans who previously registered for the Jonas Brothers Broadway shows will have the opportunity for first access to tickets with a special Verified Fans on sale, with more info to be sent to eligible fans via email. Citi and Verizon will also have presales beginning on Wednesday, April 12th; and additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning on Friday, April 14th at 10 am ET via Ticketmaster.

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