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Éphémérides (anglais)

It happened on a… February 6

2023

Tens of thousands are dead after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6. The quake struck 23 kilometres (14.2 miles) east of Nurdagi, Turkey, the US Geological Survey said. It was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Turkey in more than 100 years.

2020

US astronaut Christina Koch completes the longest continuous spaceflight by a female astronaut after 328 days on the International Space Station, landing in Kazakhstan.

2019

Quadriga, Canada’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange is unable to get to $145 million of bitcoin assets after its CEO dies with its access passwords.

2018

SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy, world’s most powerful rocket.

2014

Jay Leno ends his time on “The Tonight Show”.

1990

Brett Hull becomes the first son of an NHL 50 goal scorer (Bobby) to score 50 goals himself.

1971

NASA Astronaut Alan B. Shepard used a six-iron that he had brought inside his spacecraft and swung at three golf balls on the surface of the moon.

1968

X Winter Olympic Games opens in Grenoble, France.

1958

George Harrison joined Liverpool group The Quarrymen. The group who were named after Lennon’s school featured John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Len Garry, Eric Griffiths and John Lowe.

Eight Manchester United F.C. players and 15 other passengers are killed in the Munich air disaster.

1952

Elizabeth II becomes queen regnant of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms upon the death of her father, George VI. At the exact moment of succession, she was in a treehouse at the Treetops Hotel in Kenya.

1936

IV Winter Olympic Games open in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

1922

Cardinal Achille Ratti elected Pope Pius XI.

1894

Bottle opener patented by William Painter.

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Gossip News News

Universal removes Taylor Swift, Drake and Rihanna from TikTok

A dispute between a music industry heavyweight and TikTok could lead to major changes in TikTok’s short music video offering.

Universal Music Group is refusing to renew licenses for its music on the platform, arguing that TikTok has not offered adequate compensation.

Major adjustments are therefore envisaged…

Universal Music Group, which represents an impressive number of stars including Taylor Swift, Drake, Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo and The Weeknd. has announced that it is withdrawing its entire catalog due to a major contractual dispute between the two companies.

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TikTok, in a reaction that underscores the escalating tensions, accused UMG of spinning a false rhetoric and narrative and of prioritizing greed over the interests of its artists and songwriters. TikTok also points out that the platform has over a billion users, which is a powerful promotional tool for UMG.

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UMG has stepped up its fight against TikTok, accusing it of using intimidation techniques. It claims that the app has removed music from certain emerging artists, but retained tracks from internationally recognized stars.

UMG claims that this strategy is designed to intimidate the label into accepting a deal that does not reflect TikTok’s rapid growth or its reliance on music as content.

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Entertainment Gossip News News

Meet MAGA’s new favorite target

Taylor Swift is the latest target of former President Donald Trump’s political allies, whose cultural influence seems proportional to her political impact.

Trump’s team has cast doubt on Taylor Swift and the possibility of her supporting Joe Biden in the 2024 election, which she has yet to confirm, in fact.

In response, the MAGA clan is promising a “holy war” against the most popular pop singer on the planet, the Rolling Stone reports.

While Swift has not publicly endorsed Joe Biden for a second term, Donald Trump supporters are bracing themselves for what they believe will be inevitable political action on Swift’s part.

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Trump’s team could be making a strategic error, however… indeed, the Swifties, the star’s fervent fans, are ready to mobilize in response to perceived attacks on their idol.

And it’s a tight, well-organized community!

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One thing’s for sure, Taylor Swift’s impact is really upsetting Donald Trump’s campaign, which is aiming for his re-election in the November 2024 presidential elections.

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Entertainment Gossip News News

Judge stops Elon Musk from collecting $55.8 billion from Tesla

In an unexpected turn of events that sent shockwaves through the business world, a Delaware judge has ruled against the $55.8 billion package awarded to Elon Musk by Tesla last year.

The judge described the maneuver as unfair to shareholders and ordered its cancellation.

This decision is a blow to Tesla’s CEO, who recently had a disagreement with the Board of Directors over his stake in the company.

A shareholder argued that a record compensation plan had been awarded inappropriately and called for its cancellation.

McCormick’s detailed 200-page ruling highlighted numerous problems with the compensation process, such as Musk’s power over the board and conflicts of interest.

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Mr. Musk’s enormous compensation package, the largest in U.S. corporate history, had not been properly negotiated, it seems.

Ms. McCormick also criticized the role of Todd Maron as Tesla’s General Counsel, a former Musk divorce lawyer. She was concerned about the interaction between Mr. Musk and those representing Tesla, as well as the potential for conflict of interest.

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Musk’s agreement was rejected by the judge, whose decision may be appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court. Tesla, Musk and the shareholders are now responsible for implementing the decision.

Tesla shares fell after the announcement. This reflects market concern about possible fallout.

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Musk reacted to the decision by taking to his social media platform, X, in a provocative tone, advising people against incorporating in Delaware. The state is renowned for its business-friendly legislation and low taxes. Musk expressed his preference for Nevada and Texas, where Tesla has its headquarters, claiming that they offer a shareholder-friendly atmosphere.

Business and legal circles will be keeping a close eye on the potential implications of this landmark case for corporate governance in the future.

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Entertainment Gossip News News

Judge dismisses charges against Greta Thunberg in London

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was on trial in London as part of the global protests against global warming.

Greta Thunberg has been involved in protests that have sometimes had legal consequences. Thunberg, who was arrested during a protest last October, is on trial at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court. Thunberg, along with four other campaigners, was accused of failing to comply with police orders at a demonstration outside the Energy Intelligence Forum at the InterContinental Hotel, Mayfair, London, attended by fossil fuel industry leaders.

Under the banner Oily Money Out, the protest was organized by Fossil Free London to draw attention to and disrupt the contributions of the fossil fuel industry and its financial backers to political lobbying and carbon emissions.

Their main aim was to block the entrance to the hotel, for which they were arrested.

Although released on bail, Ms. Thunberg returned to the demonstration the following day.

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Thunberg and her co-defendants were charged with breaching the Public Order Act for failing to comply with a police directive to move their protest. The Greenpeace and Fossil Free London activists pleaded not guilty.

However, the court decided to quash the charges against Greta Thunberg, and acquitted the young activist, The Guardian reports.

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A lack of evidence is said to be at the root of the motion, much to the delight of the activist camp in this case.

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This, however, is likely to add fuel to the fire among those who oppose Greta’s tactics!

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Entertainment Gossip News News

Even in prison, Alexei Navalny urges Russians to protest!

Alexei Navalny has called on Russians to show their disapproval of President Vladimir Putin… even though the notorious Russian opposition leader is currently in prison!

Putin’s expected victory, which will mark his fifth presidential term, has been widely anticipated due to his tight control over the country’s political scene. The risks of dissent are greatly reduced in a climate of political repression, where most opposition leaders are in prison or exile and independent media are largely suppressed. The integrity of the elections is also in doubt, as they will take place over three days, from March 15 to 17, and will include online voting.

This makes independent monitoring much more difficult.

Navalny, his team and others continue to be active in politics despite these obstacles, encouraging voters to choose someone other than Putin.

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Navalny says the protest is a good way to show disapproval of Putin, and that the authorities would find it hard to stop a well-organized mass action.

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Navalny’s transfer to Russia’s most secure prison above the Arctic Circle is a perfect example of the cost of Navalny’s opposition. Navalny is currently serving a 19-year sentence for charges he believes to be politically motivated.

He spent several months isolated in a penal colony in the Vladimir region.

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That’s not going to help him convince others to oppose Putin…

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Entertainment Gossip Hollywood PQ

Céline Dion made a surprise appearance and shook the world at the Grammys!

Just as the evening was getting underway at the Grammys yesterday (February 4), a surprise appearance by Céline Dion added drama to a ceremony that already had plenty of pace and was fulfilling its mandate well, unlike several previous editions.

The news first broke that Céline Dion was in the audience, sending shockwaves through the diva’s fans and viewers both in the Crypto.com Arena and via the magic of television.

The Quebec superstar then appeared on stage to present the award for Album of the Year!

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Céline looked fit and serene despite her recent health problems, diagnosed as we know with stiff person syndrome, a neurological disease.

A nice surprise on a Grammys night that turned out to be a great success!

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Entertainment Gossip News

Taylor Swift made a surprising announcement at the Grammys!

1989, Reputation, Lover and the list goes on: Taylor Swift never ceases to amaze us, both with her number of albums and Grammys!

At the Grammys ceremony yesterday (February 4), Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for the fourth time!

A record in the history of this prestigious gala.

If that wasn’t enough to make her thousands of fans jump for joy, Taylor Swift surprised everyone by announcing the release of her eleventh album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19.

Few details of its content were revealed by the artist during his acceptance speech, but an Instagram story gives us a little taste…

One thing’s for sure, Taylor knows how to grab the world’s attention and keep the suspense going…

All you have to do is wait until April 19!

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Entertainment Gossip News News

King Charles III diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace confirms

Buckingham Palace has revealed that King Charles III, 75, has cancer, reports the BBC.

The revelation comes following a medical examination, as reported in recent days.

The public and members of his family have shown their support.

Last month, the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate, a condition that affects thousands of men every year and very often turns out to be benign.

However, doctors discovered a new cause for concern after a three-day stay in a private London clinic following the corrective procedure. Further diagnostic tests revealed the presence of cancer.

The type and stage of the cancer were not made public.

Following this diagnosis, King Charles’ medical staff advised him to temporarily reduce his public duties.

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In response to the current state of his health, King Charles has expressed his gratitude for his recent surgery and is positive about his treatment. The King wishes to reduce speculation by openly sharing his cancer diagnosis. He also hopes it will raise awareness of the disease. The King’s openness has had an impact. For example, the UK’s National Health Service has reported a noticeable increase in online searches for prostate enlargement.

In a statement, the palace emphasized King Charles’ desire to return to office as soon as possible.

The King, who acceded to the throne in 2022, demonstrated his determination by attending church with Camilla this Sunday.

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Kate Middleton has also been the focus of the Royal Family’s attention, alongside the King’s concerns.

She underwent abdominal surgery on January 16. After a 13-day stay in hospital, Kate Middleton is recovering at her home in Windsor. Reports suggest that her return to royal duties may be delayed until Easter.

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Information on the progress of the King’s treatment is now eagerly awaited in the UK and around the world.

Categories
Éphémérides (anglais)

It happened on a… February 5

2019

Pope Francis admits for the first time that clerics have sexually abused nuns.

1989

Kareem Abdul-Jabar becomes 1st NBA player to score 38,000 points.

1988

1st prime-time wrestling match in 30 yrs, André the Giant defeats Hulk Hogan.

1983

Former Nazi Gestapo official Klaus Barbie brought to trial.

1980

Gordie Howe plays in his 23rd and final NHL all-star game at age 51; Howe, from Floral, Saskatchewan, will retire from the Hartford Whalers at the end of the season.

1977

Sugar Ray Leonard beats Luis Vega in 6 rounds in his 1st pro fight.

1971

Astronauts land on the moon in the Apollo 14 mission.

1953

The Walt Disney’s film “Peter Pan” opened at the Roxy Theatre in New York City.

1952

In New York City, four signs were installed at 44th Street and Broadway in Times Square that told pedestrians “don’t walk.”

1944

“Captain American” serial film premieres starring Dick Purcell, first appearance of a Marvel superhero outside a comic.

1936

“Modern Times”, silent film directed by, written by and starring Charlie Chaplin, is released.

1922

Reader’s Digest magazine 1st published.

1919

Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists.

1887

Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Otello” premieres at La Scala in Italy, Verdi’s first new opera for over 15 years.

1663

Charlevoix Earthquake in Quebec, felt strongly in New England.