Month: April 2022

Categories
News Daypop

President Biden requests $33 billion in additional emergency aid from Congress for Ukraine

shutterstock_1936368724-4

In a speech on Thursday, President Joe Biden called on Congress to immediately pass a measure for $33 billion in additional emergency support to Ukraine to defend against Russian forces. The United States have already given billions to the Ukraine war effort.

In his remarks Thursday, the president stressed the importance of U.S. aid in repelling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.  Biden said: “We need this bill to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom. We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country, or we stand by as Russians continue their aggression and atrocities in Ukraine. We’re helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. As long as the assaults continue, we will continue to provide assistance.”

The White House said in a statement earlier Thursday: “President Biden will send a proposal for a comprehensive legislative package that will enhance the United States government’s authority to hold the Russian government and Russian oligarchs accountable for President Putin’s war.”

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine with more than $3 billion since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24. The new efforts announced Thursday include greater ability to seize Russian assets, transfer some of those assets to Ukraine, tightening sanctions and expanding prosecution powers.

Editorial credit: BiksuTong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Oklahoma House approves anti-abortion bill, banning abortions after 6 weeks

shutterstock_2057900243

On Thursday, the Oklahoma House passed a bill banning abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, sending it to Governor Kevin Stitt for his signature to become law. The S.B. 1503 bill (detailed in full here) is modeled after Texas’ six-week abortion ban law.

The bill states in part that the law is to be “enforced exclusively through a private civil action” empowering “any person” to bring civil action against doctors who perform abortions in violation of this bill. It also allows any person to sue someone who “aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion” if it is performed in violation of the bill. That includes anyone who pays for an abortion or reimburses the costs of an abortion.

Stitt signed into law another anti-abortion bill April 12, making it a felony for medical providers to perform nearly all abortions in the state. Medical workers could go to prison for up to 10 years and be fined up to $100,000 for performing abortions unless they are done to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency.

Editorial credit: Vic Hinterlang / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi out for season with ACL tear

shutterstock_1333746581

Kansas City Royals team president Dayton Moore announced that shortstop Adalberto Mondesi was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee and likely will miss the remainder of the season. Mondesi’s injury occurred in Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

Mondesi has had a slow start this season, with a .140 batting average and no extra-base hits over his first 15 games. In seven seasons, all with the Royals, he is a .244 hitter with 38 home runs and 157 RBIs over 358 games.

The Royals have optioned right-hander Brady Singer to Triple-A Omaha, and have recalled outfielder Kyle Isbel and infielder Emmanuel Rivera. Singer, 25, had a 6.35 ERA in three relief appearances with the Royals. Isbel, 25, was batting .250 in five games at Omaha with a home run and four RBIs. Rivera, 25, played 29 games with the Royals last season and was batting .290 at Omaha with three home runs in 17 games.

Editorial credit: Thomas Trompeter / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat each fined $15,000 by NBA for obscene gesture

shutterstock_396998854

The NBA announced on Thursday that they have fined Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during the team’s series-clinching win on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat were also fined $15,000 for turning a video of the gesture into a social media post. The social media post has since been deleted from the team’s account.

Butler did not play in Tuesday’s 97-94 victory due to knee soreness. As he watched the game from the bench, Butler made the gesture a few seconds after Max Strus connected on a second consecutive 3-pointer, part of a 17-0 run by the Heat that put them ahead in the game.

This is Butler’s third fine this season, for a total of $70,000. He was fined $30,000 for his involvement in an incident during a Denver-Miami game in November, and fined $25,000 for violating league rules governing media interview access at the All-Star Game in February.

Miami will next play on Monday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Jimmy Butler fined for pelvic thrusts, Heat fined for posting them

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Tim McGraw and Sam Hunt to headline inaugural GoldenSky Festival in Sacramento, CA

shutterstock_194633171

Tim McGraw and Sam Hunt will headline the inaugural GoldenSky Music Festival at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA. The first-time event will take place during the weekend of October 15-16.

Among the many country artists scheduled to perform at GoldenSky are Brothers Osborne, Midland, Carly Pearce, Parmalee, Michael Ray, Diamond Rio, Brian Kelley, Lindsay Ell, and BRELAND. There will also be a daily beer festival, free to ticket holders who buy passes before May 6, with over 100 local, regional and national craft beers, seltzers, and ciders. From that date onwards, admission to the beer festival can be added to an overall ticket for an extra $10. Day tickets begin at $59.99 plus fees, and full weekend general admission tickets at $89.99 plus fees, with VIP options also available.

For more information head to goldenskyfestival.com.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Brandi Carlile pulls out of Stagecoach Festival after testing positive for COVID-19

shutterstock_1422818306

Brandi Carlile has tested positive for COVID-19, and as a result will miss her performance at Stagecoach Festival this weekend.

The 40-year-old Carlile said in a video on Instagram that she tested positive for the virus, sharing: “It finally happened. I have the COVID, so I won’t be able to come to Stagecoach. It’s horrible.  I’m a few days in and I have a chest infection, but I think I turned a corner today and I’m starting to feel a little bit better. I just wanted to let everybody know that I’m devastated to be missing you and I hope that you have a wonderful time out there with all my friends.”

Carlile was scheduled to perform on Friday at Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif.  The lineup still includes Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Midland, Tanya Tucker and others.

Carlile will launch her Beyond These Silent Days tour in support of her seventh studio album, In These Silent Days on June 11 in George, Wash.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

The B-52’s announce their farewell tour

shutterstock_1635906214

The B-52’s have announced they will embark on a final ‘farewell’ tour this year.  The band will kick off a North American farewell tour on Aug. 22 in Seattle, before wrapping-up on Nov. 11 in Atlanta. The B-52’s will be joined by guests KC and the Sunshine Band and the Tubes at select stops of the tour.

B-52’s cofounder Kate Pierson said: “Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world. It’s been cosmic.”  Cofounder Fred Schneider added: “No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it’s time for one last blowout with our friends and family … our fans. And with KC and the Sunshine Band and the Tubes on board, it’s going to be one hell of a farewell party at these concerts.”

Tickets will go on sale on April 29 at the B-52’s website and via Ticketmaster.

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Sharon Osbourne reveals that husband Ozzy has tested positive for COVID-19

shutterstock_235151944

Ozzy Osbourne has tested positive for COVID-19, according to his wife, Sharon.  Sharon, who is in the U.K. filming a new show, confirmed the diagnosis in an interview with Talk TV.

An emotional Sharon said: “I spoke to him, and he’s OK. I am very worried about Ozzy right now. We’ve gone two years without him catching COVID, and it’s just Ozzy’s luck he would get it now.” Sharon added that she plans to fly back to Los Angeles to be with her husband and “hold him and kiss him with about three masks on. It will take a week to get my old man back on his feet again.”

Sharon has spoken publicly about her husband’s recent health issues. In September, it was revealed that Ozzy was scheduled to undergo surgery for spine and neck issues suffered from a 2019 fall.  Although she was emotional during the interview, Sharon was confident hat Ozzy will fully recover: “You’re going to see me back on air in a week because I know my husband… we’re going to get him back on his feet and we’re going to get a negative test by next week.”

Ozzy’s COVID-19 diagnosis arrived shortly after he confirmed that his new album has been completed, though a release date hasn’t been set yet. The record will feature contributions from Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Lady Gaga announces new song from upcoming film ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ titled ‘Hold My Hand’

shutterstock_1196414797-2

Lady Gaga has announced the new song from the upcoming Tom Cruise film Top Gun: Maverick titled ‘Hold My Hand.’ The song is written by Gaga and will be featured in the film, opening May 27. It will also be released on May 3 (you can pre-save the track – here).  Earlier this week, the singer teased lyrics from the song, writing, “Hold my hand everything will be ok I heard from the heavens that clouds have been grey.”  The following day she shared, “Pull me close wrap me in your aching arms I see that you’re hurtin’”

Tom Cruise returns as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in  Top Gun: Maverick.  According to a synopsis of the film, Maverick is ‘a courageous test pilot who dodges the advancement in rank that would ground him. He finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.’

Gaga’s ballad comes after Cruise was first spotted at her Las Vegas show, Enigma in December 2019. “Hold My Hand” was written for the motion picture and is featured throughout the film.

Editorial credit: Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Lady Gaga announces new song from upcoming film ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ titled ‘Hold My Hand’

shutterstock_1196414797

Lady Gaga has announced the new song from the upcoming Tom Cruise film Top Gun: Maverick titled ‘Hold My Hand.’ The song is written by Gaga and will be featured in the film, opening May 27. It will also be released on May 3 (you can pre-save the track – here).  Earlier this week, the singer teased lyrics from the song, writing, “Hold my hand everything will be ok I heard from the heavens that clouds have been grey.”  The following day she shared, “Pull me close wrap me in your aching arms I see that you’re hurtin’”

Tom Cruise returns as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in  Top Gun: Maverick.  According to a synopsis of the film, Maverick is ‘a courageous test pilot who dodges the advancement in rank that would ground him. He finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.’

Gaga’s ballad comes after Cruise was first spotted at her Las Vegas show, Enigma in December 2019. “Hold My Hand” was written for the motion picture and is featured throughout the film.

Editorial credit: Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com