Month: February 2023

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News Daypop

President Biden departs Kyiv after surprise visit with Ukrainian President Zelensky

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President Biden departed Kyiv on Monday after spending several hours with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. White House officials said the trip was meticulously planned over the last several months, with Biden giving the final sign off on it on Friday from the Oval Office; it was Biden’s first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started nearly one year ago. Biden and Zelensky discussed future support for Ukraine during the war, walking around the central portion of the capital with Biden pledging additional support. Zelensky posted a photo of him and Biden shaking hands in Kyiv on Telegram, saying: “Joseph Biden, welcome to Kyiv! Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians.” 

On Monday, the Department of Defense authorized more support for Ukraine, with the U.S. pledging to send additional ammunition for the Lockheed Martin HIMARS, a long-range rocket launcher, as well as howitzers. Additionally, the Biden Administration approved a supply of Javelin missiles, anti-armor rockets, artillery rounds, mortar rounds, night vision devices, air surveillance radar systems and morel, valued at an estimated $460 million.  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday also authorized an additional $10 million to support ongoing emergency assistance to support the war-torn country’s energy infrastructure.

Biden’s surprise trip was only confirmed early on Monday in a White House statement: “When [Russian President Vladimir] Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.” White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said via teleconference that the trip sends the message of Biden’s commitment to the Ukrainian people: “He wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Zelensky and remind the world, as we approach the one-year anniversary of the invasion, that Kyiv still stands and the United States will not be deterred from standing with Ukraine.” 

Biden’s trip marks the first time in modern U.S. history that a president entered a war zone with no active U.S. military presence. Ukrainian authorities shut down much of central Kyiv to facilitate the visit.  The surprise visit ended late Monday with Biden traveling from Kyiv to Poland’s Rzeszw-Jasionka Airport, where he arrived at 10:04 p.m., local time, and boarded Air Force One for the roughly 50-minute flight to Warsaw, to begin his two-day visit in Poland.

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Sports Daypop

Chicago Bulls to sign Patrick Beverley for the remainder of the season

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The Chicago Bulls will sign veteran guard Patrick Beverley to a contract for the remainder of the season, as they try to get back into the race for the playoffs.  The Bulls will be Beverley’s fourth team in the last three seasons.

In 45 games with the Lakers this season as a starter, the 34-year-old Beverley averaged 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while shooting 34.8 percent from 3-point land. The Lakers traded Beverley and a second-round pick to the Orlando Magic at the deadline in exchange for Mo Bamba. The Magic the. quickly waived Beverley, allowing him to become a free agent. Now Beverley’s found a spot with his hometown team, the Bulls

Beverley is expected to help strengthen a Bulls team that has one of the best defenses in the league. Exiting the All-Star break, the Bulls are seventh in the league, with a 112.0 defensive rating. However, Chicago have lost their last six games prior to the All-Star break and are now in 11th place in the Eastern Conference at 26-33, putting them two games behind the 10th-place Toronto Raptors.

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Sports Daypop

Meyers Leonard returning to the NBA on 10-day contract with Milwaukee Bucks

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ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Milwaukee Bucks have signed center Meyers Leonard to a 10-day contract. It will be the first time the 30-year-old Leonard plays in the NBA since he used an antisemitic slur while live-streaming himself playing Call of Duty in 2021, where Leonard could be heard saying “F—— cowards, don’t f—— snipe at me you f—— k— b—-.”

The NBA initially fined Leonard $50,000 and suspended him from team activities for one week in March 2021, and was also required to participate in a cultural diversity program. Leonard was already set to miss the rest of the season following shoulder surgery.  During the suspension, the Heat traded Leonard along with a 2027 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Trevor Ariza, but the Thunder said that Leonard would not participate in team activities, releasing him before the end of the month. In the nearly two years he was a free agent, Leonard underwent surgery on his right ankle where it was discovered he had nerve damage in his leg.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap, Leonard apologized for his actions, but claimed he didn’t know what the slur meant Leonard told Schaap: “There are absolutely no excuses for what happened that day. Ignorance is sadly a very real thing, and that’s what I was. I’m not running from this, but I did not know that it happened.”

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Categories
Pop Daypop

Take a listen to Olivia Newton-John’s final recording, a ‘Jolene’ duet with Dolly Parton

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In her final recording and music video before her passing, Olivia Newton-John teamed up for a duet with Dolly Parton on her classic hit song, “Jolene.”  Newton-John passed away in August 2022 at age 73.

The collaboration came about a year before Newton-John’s death, and is part of a duet project Newton-John created including big-name artists such as Parton, Mariah Carey, Michael McDonald, John Travolta, Barry Gibb, Vanessa Amorossi, and Jon Secada. Newton-John will posthumously release Just the Two of Us, which features 17 tracks, on May 5.

Parton calls Newton-John “one of my favorites of all time” and in the video for the duet, Parton introduces the collab by saying: “Hey, this is Dolly, in case you didn’t recognize me. I am so excited to be working with Olivia Newton-John, one of my favorites of all time. We’ve always stayed close through the years. I am just so proud to be a part of this duet project that she’s doing. We’re singing one of my all-time favorites that I’ve written called ‘Jolene,’ and she says it’s one of her favorites, so why not just do a duet on our favorite?” Added Newton-John: “I’m excited. I’ve always wanted to sing with Dolly.”

Check out Parton and Newton-John’s version of “Jolene” – here.

Editorial credit: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Take a listen to Olivia Newton-John’s final recording, a ‘Jolene’ duet with Dolly Parton

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In her final recording and music video before her passing, Olivia Newton-John teamed up for a duet with Dolly Parton on her classic hit song, “Jolene.”  Newton-John passed away in August 2022 at age 73.

The collaboration came about a year before Newton-John’s death, and is part of a duet project Newton-John created including big-name artists such as Parton, Mariah Carey, Michael McDonald, John Travolta, Barry Gibb, Vanessa Amorossi, and Jon Secada. Newton-John will posthumously release Just the Two of Us, which features 17 tracks, on May 5.

Parton calls Newton-John “one of my favorites of all time” and in the video for the duet, Parton introduces the collab by saying: “Hey, this is Dolly, in case you didn’t recognize me. I am so excited to be working with Olivia Newton-John, one of my favorites of all time. We’ve always stayed close through the years. I am just so proud to be a part of this duet project that she’s doing. We’re singing one of my all-time favorites that I’ve written called ‘Jolene,’ and she says it’s one of her favorites, so why not just do a duet on our favorite?” Added Newton-John: “I’m excited. I’ve always wanted to sing with Dolly.”

Check out Parton and Newton-John’s version of “Jolene” – here.

Editorial credit: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Keith Urban releases video for ‘Brown Eyes Baby’

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Keith Urban is sharing the official music video for his latest single “Brown Eyes Baby,” which was released late last year. The video for “Brown Eyes Baby” was directed by Carter Smith, who also collaborated on Urban hits including “Never Coming Down” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

Urban launches a new Las Vegas residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino next month, currently scheduled to include 16 dates beginning on Friday, March 3rd.

Check out the video for ‘Brown Eyes Baby’ – here.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘Hill Street Blues’ star Barbara Bosson dies at age 83

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Emmy-nominated actor Barbara Bosson, best known for her role as Fay Furillo on “Hill Street Blues,” died Saturday in Los Angeles at the age of 83. Bosson’s death was confirmed by her son, Jesse Bochco who posted on Instagram: “More spirit and zest than you could shake a stick at. When she loved you, you felt it without a doubt. If she didn’t, you may well have also known that too. Forever in our hearts. I love you Mama. Barbara “Babs” Bosson Bochco 1939-2023 ❤”

Bosson was a main cast member on “Hill Street Blues” from 1981 to 1986, portraying Fay Furillo, the ex-wife to police captain Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti). Bosson received five Emmy nominations for best supporting actress in a drama series throughout her tenure on the series, and was nominated in the same category in 1995 for “Murder One,” which shows the life of prominent attorney Theodore Hoffman at a Los Angeles firm, in which Bosson played Miriam Grasso. Bosson’s other acting credits include “Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours,” “Richie Brockelman, Private Eye,” “Hooperman,” “Cop Rock” and “The Last Starfighter.”

In 1970, Bosson married writer-producer Steven Bochco (“Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “Murder One”), with whom she had two children. The two divorced in 1997, and Bochco died in 2018. Bosson is survived by her son, daughter, granddaughter and grandson.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Jansen Panettiere, brother of Hayden Panettiere, dies at age 28

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Actress Hayden Panettiere’s younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, has died at the age of 28. According to TMZ, which was the first to break the news, Jansen died over the weekend in New York. The outlet reports that law enforcement was called to a residence Sunday night around 5:30 PM and while no official cause of death has been released, there’s no foul play suspected in Jansen’s death.

Jansen, who is five years younger than Hayden, had several film and TV roles throughout the early 2000s, including credits on Even Stevens, The X’s, Tiger Cruise, Racing Stripes, The Martial Arts Kid, The Walking Dead, Perfect Game and How High 2. His most recent role was in the 2022 Christmas film, Love and Love Not.

While Jansen was best known for his acting career, he was also passionate about art with his Instagram page filled with colorful portraits and abstract pieces. His latest upload appeared to be a portrait of his partner, Catherine Michie, captioning a photo of Michie standing next to artwork with a blue heart emoji.

Jansen is survived by sister Hayden and their parents, Lesley Vogel and Skip Panettiere.

Hayden Panettiere’s Brother Jansen Dead at 28: Reports

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Categories
Pop Daypop

Usher extends Las Vegas residency with 15 new dates

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Usher has extended his Las Vegas residency into the fall with 15 new dates, writing on Instagram: “Yeah man…It’s that time again! VEGAS, I’m back! By popular demand, I’ve added 15 NEW shows to my Vegas Residency through October 2023! Tickets go on sale this Saturday 2/25 at 10am PT ✨ Get yours early in the fan presale starting Weds at 10am PT. Text (404) 737-1821 for the Presale password ✨”

The 15 new shows going on sale are scheduled for the following dates:
June 2023: 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 29
October 2023: 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, 28

Usher first announced his new residency at the Dolby Theater in February last year, with the shows featuring a repertoire of his smash hit songs and incorporates audience interactions. Usher, Live Nation Las Vegas and MGM Resorts pledge to donate $1 of every ticket purchased for dates in 2023 to Usher’s New Look, Inc., which helps support underserved youth.

Tickets for the new shows go on sale to the public on Saturday, Feb. 25; visit ticketmaster.com/ushervegas to learn more.

Usher Extends My Way Las Vegas Residency

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Categories
Rock Daypop

Linkin Park shares unreleased song, announces 20th Anniversary ‘Meteora’ Box Set

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Linkin Park is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their sophomore album, Meteora, with a deluxe anniversary reissue of the 2003 release, in a variety of physical editions.

A three-CD, a four-LP, and a “super deluxe” box set version will be available, the latter including four CDs, three DVDs, and five vinyl records. A 40-page book will accompany the set along with a poster, a lithograph by street artist Delta, a sheet of Linkin Park stickers, and a stencil of the band’s logo. The reissue will also feature a number of previously unreleased demos and live rarities.

The band also shared the previously unreleased track titled “Lost,” featuring the vocals of late frontman, Chester Bennington, who passed away in 2017.  Founding member Mike Shinoda said that finding the song “was like finding a favorite photo you had forgotten you’d taken like it was waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. For years, fans have been asking us to release something with Chester’s voice, and I’m thrilled we’ve been able to make that happen in such a special way … fans are going to be floored when they hear and see all the incredible unreleased songs and video footage.”

The 20th anniversary edition of Meteora will be available on April 7; to pre-order, head here.
To see the official music video for “Lost”, head to YouTube.

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