Tag: #american

  • Bella Hadid’s red carpet support for Palestine

    Bella Hadid’s red carpet support for Palestine

    American supermodel Bella Hadid used her platform at the Cannes Film Festival to show solidarity with her ancestral land, Palestine. She wore a vintage dress with a red and white chequered pattern, similar to the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarf. The outfit was a powerful statement of support for the Palestinian people.

    A bold representation of resilience The keffiyeh, a traditional headscarf from the Middle East, has become a strong symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance. Its unique pattern has been seen on famous people, protesters, and even in political settings around the world, showing support for Palestine.

    In keeping with her heritage, Hadid whose father Mohamed Hadid is Palestinian, stepped out on the French Riviera donning an old Michael and Hushi outfit. Hadid has long been an advocate of the ‘Free Palestine’ cause.Hadid rocked a vintage dress made from traditional Palestinian keffiyeh fabric, complete with tassels, from the 2001 runway. She kept the look simple yet chic with red sandals, a hair scrunchie, tinted sunglasses, and gold hoops (earnings)Reposting a picture of the dress from the designer’s original post on her Instagram story, Hadid reaffirmed her support for Palestine with the caption “Free Palestine forever.”

  • Want to help Gaza? Stream Macklemore’s song as many times as you can

    Want to help Gaza? Stream Macklemore’s song as many times as you can

    With his most recent song Hind’s Hall, rapper, Macklemore has once again entered the political sphere, endorsing rallies by American college students in favour of Gaza. The Seattle native shared the explosive song on social media and pledged to donate all streaming service profits to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees.

    Previously, the song was not available on big platforms like YouTube and Spotify but is now streaming on all platforms, ironically, with a warning that it may be inappropriate for some users. However, the description highlights that all the proceeds will go to the UN agency for relief work in Gaza.

    The song’s title originates from Columbia University student protestors who changed Hamilton Hall’s name to Hind’s Hall in honour of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was cruelly slain by Israeli forces in Gaza. The song’s images combine video of police aggression against student demonstrators with tragic blasts in Gaza, a moving show of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

    He said, “When I was seven, I learned a lesson from Cube and Eazy-E. What was it again? Oh yeah, f**k the police.”

    The musician continues, criticising US diplomatic backing for Israel and President Joe Biden. He also states that he will not be voting for the incumbent in the next election.
    “Where do you draw the line for genocide? Destroying every college in Gaza and every mosque,” as well as “Forcing everyone into Rafah and dropping bombs.”
    He squarely blames Biden for the bloodshed, stating, “The blood is on your hands, Biden, we can see it all.”
    With over 2,000 students detained nationwide during a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including over 100 at Columbia University alone, the song’s release coincides with the protests. Last week, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over a Columbia University building, intensifying a conflict with authorities who have started penalising students for failing to take down tents erected on the New York campus.

    One protestor screamed from within, “This building is liberated in honor of Hind, a six-year-old Palestinian child murdered in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces funded by Columbia University,” and others outside repeated him.
    Minutes after the protesters gained access to the building, New York City police officers arrived outside the school gates in unmarked cars, the Columbia Spectator newspaper reported. It said police told the paper they would only enter school grounds if someone was injured.

  • Bella Hadid’s sweet birthday message for sister Gigi

    Bella Hadid’s sweet birthday message for sister Gigi

    Supermodel Bella Hadid has a strong presence on social media, where she shares glimpses of her glamorous life and personal interests.
    Earlier this week, on April 23, Bella Hadid took to Instagram to share birthday wishes for her sister Gigi Hadid on her 29th birthday, accompanied by childhood photos of the two together.

    “Happy birthday, princess of Genovia! I love you so much,” Bella wrote. “Life without you would be nothing; I would be nothing! You inspire me and make me feel strong. Watching you give birth and then raise the most perfect angel is the most magical gift a sister could ask for. I feel so lucky. You are the best & coolest mama, best sister, best daughter, and best friend.”

    She continued “Anyone who has the privilege to be in your orbit is lucky, indeed! I love you sissy, you make me feel proud to be your sister. I’m obsessed with you in every single way! @gigihadid my jelly, giggles, sissy pantelones for life,”
    In this collection of nostalgic snapshots from their childhood and teenage years, Bella lovingly describes Gigi as her ‘built-in best friend’.

  • Sanam Jung’s definition of romance is what all women want

    Sanam Jung’s definition of romance is what all women want

    Sanam Jung has moved to the USA with her husband Qassam Jafri, who works there, however the actress has been feeling homesick and missing her homeland a great deal.
    She appeared on Hum TV’s Eid show and explained her idea of romance, expressing that love can take many forms, and her view of love is unique when it comes to her husband Qassam.

    “When he’s cleaning or vacuuming, it brings me immense joy. These little things matter in a marriage, it’s not about saying ‘I love you,’ but rather taking care of each other.”

    We agree wholeheartedly. It’s easier to buy a box of chocolates than to spend time actually helping your wife or partner. More men should be like Qassam.

  • Indian BTS fans donate over three lacs rupees for Palestinians

    Indian BTS fans donate over three lacs rupees for Palestinians

    An Indian fan of the renowned pop band BTS has shown support for Palestinians enduring Israeli aggression.
    In honor of Jay Hope’s birthday, a member of the South Korean pop sensation, Indian fans defied norms by contributing over three lakh Indian rupees for medical assistance to Palestinians.
    Keep in mind that ‘BTS’ fans have actively pushed the band’s label HYBE since last month’s to fire American talent scout, Scooter Braun, who supports Israel. To achieve this goal, fans have also launched an online petition.

  • ‘American Idol’ star Paula Abdul sues producer for sexual assault

    ‘American Idol’ star Paula Abdul sues producer for sexual assault

    U.S. singer, dancer and ‘American Idol‘ star Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit accusing British television executive Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her when they worked together on two popular talent shows, according to court documents.

    Paula Abdul, who rose to fame as a chart-topping singer in the late 1980s, alleged in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday that Lythgoe sexually assaulted her in an elevator during the early seasons of TV singing competition series ‘American Idol.’

    Nigel Lythgoe, the producer of several hit television talent competitions, allegedly groped her, and got physical without consent in a hotel elevator after a day of auditions for ‘American Idol.’ Paula Abdul tried to push him away and ran as soon as the elevator doors opened, court documents said.

    Reuters was not immediately able to reach Paula Abdul or Nigel Lythgoe for comment.

    Nigel Lythogoe denied the allegations, according to TMZ.

    “For more than two decades, Paula [Abdul] and I have interacted as dear — and entirely platonic — friends and colleagues,” he told TMZ. “Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for.”

    According to court documents, Paula Abdul immediately reported the assault by Nigel Lythgoe, an ‘American Idol’ producer at the time, to her representatives but did not take action for fear of losing her job, the lawsuit said.

    Moreover, Paula Abdul’s contracts prohibited her from speaking out, the lawsuit said.

    Another alleged assault took place years later when Paula Abdul worked as a judge on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ according to court documents. The star, 61, enjoyed renewed popularity in the early 2000s starring as a judge on talent TV series.

    The lawsuit alleges Nigel Lythgoe, 74, assaulted her on the couch of his Los Angeles home after a work dinner. Paula Abdul again firmly rejected him and “immediately left [Nigel] Lythgoe’s home,” court documents said.

    In the lawsuit, Paula Abdul levels other allegations at the entertainment industry mogul, including that Nigel Lythgoe once called to taunt her and said it had been “seven years and the statute of limitations had run” on the alleged assaults.

    The lawsuit alleged that the star also witnessed Nigel Lythgoe assault one of her assistants on ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’

    The lawsuit was submitted days before the Dec. 31 filing deadline established under the California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act. The legislation allows individuals to bring certain sexual abuse lawsuits that would otherwise have fallen outside the statute of limitations.

  • It’s all about self-love: 77-year-old Ohio woman marries herself

    It’s all about self-love: 77-year-old Ohio woman marries herself

    Dorothy Fedeli, or Dottie, of Ohio, has married herself over the weekend.

    Fedeli is an American woman who was living alone since divorce after nine years of marriage and was living a single life since the past 44 years.

    Fideli is a resident at the O’Bannon Terrace Retirement Home. The mother of three and grandmother was married once in 1965 in a quick courthouse ceremony.
    Over the weekend, the 77-year-old walked down the aisle to marry the love of her life, herself.

    “Because this is something I’ve always wanted. I wanted to get married and have a happy life but things didn’t work out that way and now I have a second chance in doing something that’ll make me happy,” Dottie said.

    Fedeli’s friends and family were also invited, including her daughter who baked a cake for her mother.

    Fideli says she got the idea from neighbors who saw a woman do the same thing on a talk show.
    “Love, love is the most important thing in this world. If it’s not in the cards for them, then there’s something out there that will make them happy and find themselves in life and fulfill their soul,” said Fideli.

  • American kickboxer Andrew Tate converts to Islam, prayer video goes viral

    American kickboxer Andrew Tate converts to Islam, prayer video goes viral

    Former American kickboxer Andrew Tate has confirmed that he is Muslim after a video of him praying with a friend in a mosque in Dubai went viral.

    https://twitter.com/CobraTateKING/status/1584549763231322112

    Tate revealed his conversion to Islam last week after a video of him learning an Islamic prayer from Tam Khan went viral.

    According to a tweet uploaded from his account on the social media platform Gettr, controversial social media star Andrew Tate, who has been blocked from the majority of social media platforms, has mentioned that he is now a Muslim.

    After being questioned about his views on Islam earlier this year and calling it “the last authentic religion in the world,” Andrew made his announcement today.

    A video of Andrew and Tam Khan in a UAE mosque was shared earlier this week by British Muslim and former MMA fighter Tam Khan.

    Alhamdulillah, which means “praise be to God” in Arabic, was the description for the video, which showed Tam praying while Andrew imitated his actions.

    On social media, the video elicited a variety of responses, and many users believed Andrew had embraced Islam.

    Tam defended the controversial personality from the backlash and tweeted: “I personally know Andrew & mashAllah his love for Islam is genuine & it’s real. No PR stunts. He is one of us”.

    American-British kickboxer Andrew was born in Luton but raised in Chicago. He is the son of chess player Emory Tate.

    The 35-year-old has participated in the heavyweight and cruiserweight weight classes, according to his website. In 2016, he briefly appeared in the British television series Big Brother.

    Due to his outspoken opinions, major streaming networks like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have banned Andrew’s profiles.

  • Serena Williams bids an emotional goodbye to 27-year career after US Open loss

    Serena Williams bids an emotional goodbye to 27-year career after US Open loss

    Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia has made history by defeating Serena Williams at the US Open for the last time after the 23-time major winner acknowledged her career to be concluded.

    Serena and the boisterous audience couldn’t stop Tomljanovic, who prevailed 7-5, 6-7,6-1.

    After suffering through two sets that couldn’t separate the two, the final began when Tomljanovic broke Serena early and rode that momentum to a 5-1 lead. Ajla Tomljanovic ran into a classic Serena Williams, though, who utilised all of her determination to avoid losing while serving for the match.

    The American, who benefited from the crowd’s support in the previous round when she pulled off an unlikely victory, managed to save five match points during Tomljanovic’s lengthy service game that lasted more than 14 minutes before she was finally defeated.

    Even during the on-court interview, Serena only made passing references to this being her final tournament.

    At the US Open, fifth-seeded Tunisian Ons Jabeur defeated hometown favourite Shelby Rogers 4-6 6-4 6-3 to go to the fourth round of the competition for the first time.

    The Wimbledon finalist got off to a slow start, missing breakpoint opportunities before finding her groove in the second set. In the decisive match, the Tunisian quickly built a 4-0 lead before the American battled back, only to make crucial mistakes once more to give Jabeur the victory.

    Additionally moving on to the following round were Caroline Garcia, Alison Riske, Coco Gauff, Karolna Plková, and Danielle Collins.

    The sound system bellowed Tina Turner’s hit single “Simply The Best” as she waved goodbye and made her signature spin.

    Williams responded when asked if she would think about coming out after her performances this week: “I’m literally playing my way into this and getting better. I should have started sooner this year. I don’t think so, but you never know.”

    When interviewed in the middle of the court, Williams was filled with emotion and thanked her family, team, the spectators, and her supporters all over the world for their continued support.

    Here are some Twitter reactions following Serena Williams’ last US Open defeat:

  • Will women ever be safe in Pakistan?

    Will women ever be safe in Pakistan?

    The World Economic Forum recently released the Global Gender Gap Report, 2022. Out of the 146 countries ranked on the index, Pakistan is at 145, doing slightly better than Afghanistan. The report gauges how immense the gender gap is in areas including education, economic participation, health, and political empowerment. Pakistan’s second-last position comes as no surprise, at least not for the women in the country.

    Earlier this week, a 21-year-old American woman, who is also a vlogger, was allegedly raped by her tour guide and his two accomplices in Dera Ghazi Khan. The woman revealed she knew the man [one of the culprits] for a long time and is hurt by the fact that he could do something like this. “I am deeply hurt by the fact that a friend I have known for such a long time was trying to portray a positive image of this beautiful country to foreign travellers, who seemed so trustworthy, could commit such a vile and horrific act,” she said. Then there was news of a van driver in Dera Ghazi Khan who raped a woman at Rajanpur wagon. Every day, someone somewhere in Pakistan gets raped, either by someone they know or a complete stranger. The women in Pakistan have said it over and over again about how unsafe they feel in this country, including in their homes, offices, and streets. You name it and you will come to know about a story of a woman being raped or sexually harassed. With all that is going on, when will this stop for the women living in the country? Will sanity ever prevail? Will they ever be safe? Will they ever get equality? Will justice and the right care be provided to them? What are our policymakers doing to make the lives of women in Pakistan better?

    A new committee against rape has been announced by the Law Ministry in an effort to combat the worrying increase in sexual violence cases across the nation. The special committee’s primary responsibility will be to aid sexual assault victims in getting legal representation, in addition to attempting to stop cases of rape against children. But the question remains: will this be enough? Women in Pakistan are yearning for the day when our society will learn to provide the strength where it is required and stand with the survivors of sexual assaults when no one will be frightened to talk about their horrific experiences and when no woman will be blamed for being a victim and survivor. But until that day arrives, we can all try to bridge the gap and make it better for the women in our country. The leaders and decision-makers can really try and make an effort to make Pakistan safe for women. It is time to stand up for the ones suffering. Home needs to be a safe place, workplaces need to be safe, our streets need to be safe, and our trains and other transportation means need to be safe for women.

    It has been a year since Noor Mukadam was brutally murdered by Zahir Jaffer in Islamabad. We hope that Noor finds justice. We hope that women who are killed in the name of so-called ‘honour’ find justice. We hope that men who commit crimes against women are caught and punished. We hope that our justice system does not betray are women constantly. We hope that women are allowed to study, work, marry of their own choice, stay unmarried if they wish to, and are able to live in a society that does not treat them like second-class citizens. Because enough is enough!