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Conservative Swifties Say Taylor Swift’s Endorsement of Kamala Harris Won’t Impact Their Support for Her Music

Taylor Swift’s recent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris has stirred reactions among her conservative fan base, but many say it won’t affect their admiration for the pop star or their voting choices.

On September 10, 2024, Swift announced on Instagram that she supports Harris, praising her as a “warrior” for the causes she believes in. Despite this, some conservative fans, known as “Swifties for Trump,” maintain their support for former President Donald Trump, with several stating that Swift’s political views won’t change their love for her music.

Angel Sobolewski, a prominent Trump supporter and Swift fan, expressed that political endorsements from celebrities do not influence her voting decisions. “You can enjoy an artist’s work without agreeing with their politics,” said Sobolewski. “If we had to agree with their politics, we’d probably be left with, like, two people.”

Swift’s endorsement has disappointed some conservative fans, though many acknowledge it was not unexpected. Jenna Piwowarczyk, a conservative Swiftie, noted that while she was not thrilled by Swift’s choice, she respects the diversity of opinions. “We should keep our horizons open,”

Despite the backlash, fans on social media have indicated that Swift’s political stance will not deter them from listening to her music. Heath Johnson, a “Gen Z Swiftie,” remarked that Swift’s endorsement was predictable given her previous support for left-leaning candidates.

Swift’s announcement follows her previous endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020 and her vocal criticism of Trump. In her Instagram post, she cited Harris’s leadership qualities and commitment to social issues as reasons for her support.

The endorsement has sparked debate among fans, with some expressing disappointment over Swift’s choice but reaffirming their commitment to her music. “Her endorsement of Harris does not change my admiration for her,” said Jason Richardson, a Swift fan who is disappointed by the endorsement but remains a supporter.

The broader reaction among Swift’s fan base suggests that while political endorsements may spark discussions, they are unlikely to alter the strong connection many fans feel with her music.

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NewJeans Demands Restoration of Former CEO Min Hee Jin, Sets Two-Week Deadline for HYBE

On September 11, 2024, the K-pop group NewJeans took to a livestream on an independent YouTube channel to demand that their management company, HYBE, reinstate former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. The group has set a deadline of September 25, 2024, for this action to be taken. The original livestream has since been removed, but fans have re-uploaded the video across various social media platforms.

Potential Consequences if Demands Are Not Met

Speculation is rife that NewJeans' ultimatum could lead to a possible termination of their exclusive contracts if HYBE fails to comply. According to Allkpop, should HYBE not address the artists' concerns within the given two weeks, NewJeans could pursue legal actions such as filing for an injunction or a lawsuit for contract termination. An injunction would legally recognize the invalidity of their current contract.

There is also speculation that NewJeans' deadline may be a strategic move, possibly supported by a legal team hired by Min Hee Jin or her family.

Allegations of Mistreatment by HYBE

In the livestream, NewJeans members also spoke out about alleged mistreatment. Hanni recounted an incident where she was reportedly ignored by a manager after a previous friendly interaction. “I was waiting in the corridor and greeted a manager and his team warmly. Later, the same manager told his team to 'ignore her' when they encountered me again,” Hanni said. “It left me speechless.”

Minji, another member, clarified the group's stance, saying, “We want Min Hee Jin reinstated as CEO and ADOR returned to its original structure. This is essential for us to avoid conflicts with HYBE. We hope HYBE and Chairman Bang will make the right decision by the 25th.”

Hyein echoed these sentiments, stating, “We are asking for the reinstatement of CEO Min and a return to the original ADOR environment. We want to work in a familiar and respectful setting, separate from the current management practices.”

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Kylian Mbappé Rejects Mediation Offer in $60 Million Financial Dispute with PSG

Kylian Mbappé has declined the French football league's (LFP) offer to mediate in his ongoing financial dispute with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The conflict centers around a claim by Mbappé that PSG owes him 55 million euros ($60.6 million), which PSG asserts he had agreed to forgo in August 2023.

Mbappé, who recently transferred to Real Madrid, is seeking compensation for a signing bonus he anticipated receiving in February, along with three months of unpaid salary and an additional "ethical bonus" for the period in question.

On Wednesday, representatives for Mbappé and PSG met with the LFP's legal committee to discuss the matter. The LFP subsequently proposed mediation, but Mbappé's team rejected this option.

Mbappé's representatives stated, "The possibility of mediation was considered this morning but was rejected by the player's representative. A mediation would not be effective in resolving a payment issue that can be easily verified through a review of the player's payslip."

In response, PSG expressed approval of the LFP's suggestion, stating, "Paris Saint-Germain is very pleased with today’s two-hour hearing before the commission. The club reiterated that the player has made numerous public and private commitments that must be honored, given the exceptional benefits provided by the club over seven years in Paris. PSG has long sought mediation, as suggested by the commission."

The LFP is expected to announce its decision on the case by Friday.

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Lionel Messi Misses Inter Miami Training Due to Injury Setback: Report

Lionel Messi was absent from Inter Miami's training session on Wednesday following a setback in his injury recovery.

Messi, who has been sidelined since Argentina's Copa America 2024 final against Colombia in July, had recently resumed training with Inter Miami and was anticipated to return soon. However, the star forward missed Wednesday’s session ahead of their upcoming match against Philadelphia Union.

The ankle ligament injury Messi sustained during the Copa America final has not worsened, according to reports by Gaston Edul. Instead, Messi is currently dealing with flu symptoms. Despite this, he is still expected to play in Miami's match against Atlanta United on September 19.

Messi last played for Inter Miami in June, scoring in a 3-3 draw against St. Louis City. Since his absence, Inter Miami has performed well, winning eight out of nine matches.

In August, Miami head coach Tata Martino provided an update on Messi's recovery, stating, “He is progressing well, though it was expected that he would not be with Argentina as he wasn’t ready to play. We continue to monitor his development, and while we can’t provide a specific return date, we anticipate he will be back before the end of the regular season.”

Martino added, “We are carefully managing his recovery with both physical and mental aspects in mind. Messi has been training on the field for several days and is improving, though we can’t yet estimate a precise return timeline.”

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“I’m proud of you now, you old fart,” prompting the unusual moment.

The White House later explained that Biden’s gesture was meant to emphasize bipartisanship and unity. Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates clarified on X, “At the Shanksville Fire Station, @POTUS spoke about the need for bipartisan unity. In a spirit of that unity, he briefly wore a hat given by a Trump supporter.”

Reactions on social media were swift and varied. Many users expressed shock and amusement, with comments like “Omg Joe is MAGA now!!! Trump 2024 is the way!” and “I didn’t expect this, but at this point nothing is phasing me.” Some users even joked about the implications of Biden’s gesture.

During a past presidential debate, Donald Trump had suggested sending one of his signature red ‘Make America Great Again’ hats to Kamala Harris, claiming that she had shifted her views to align more with his own philosophy.

Biden has previously criticized Trump and MAGA Republicans as threats to democratic values, stating in September 2022, “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.”

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Police Rescue 402 Minors from Abuse in Malaysian Care Homes

Malaysian authorities have rescued 402 children and teenagers from 20 care homes amid allegations of severe physical and sexual abuse. The victims, ranging from one to 17 years old, reportedly endured various forms of mistreatment, with some allegedly coerced into performing sexual acts on their peers, according to Police Inspector-General Razarudin Husain.

Police have arrested 171 individuals, including religious teachers and caretakers, in connection with the abuse. The care homes involved are said to be affiliated with a prominent Islamic conglomerate, which has denied any involvement in the misconduct.

The raids on Wednesday in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan were initiated following earlier reports of child exploitation and abuse at another facility in Negeri Sembilan. Inspector Razarudin revealed that some suspects, aged 17 to 64, allegedly touched children under the guise of religious treatment and instructed them to perform sexual acts on others. Additionally, children were reportedly subjected to punishment with heated metal objects and were denied medical treatment until their conditions became critical.

The rescued children will be temporarily housed at a police center in Kuala Lumpur and will undergo health evaluations. Initial findings indicate that many children were placed in these homes by their parents for religious education, according to the state news agency Bernama.

The raids follow an investigation into the Islamic Global Ikhwan Group (GISB) for child exploitation. The police have confirmed that this case is linked to GISB, which is accused of using welfare homes to collect donations. GISB, which operates hundreds of businesses across 20 countries, has denied the allegations, asserting its commitment to legal and ethical standards.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called for stricter regulations and oversight for welfare homes. Suhakam’s children’s commissioner, Farah Nini Dusuki, emphasized the need for improved monitoring and community vigilance to prevent such abuses.

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What Are Storm Shadow Missiles and Why Are They Crucial for Ukraine?

The U.S. and UK are reportedly on the brink of lifting their restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles against targets inside Russia. Ukraine has been urging for this change for weeks. Here's why the Storm Shadow missiles are central to this debate and what impact they might have on the ongoing conflict.

What is Storm Shadow?

Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French cruise missile with a range of approximately 250 km (155 miles), known as Scalp in France. It is launched from aircraft, flies close to the terrain at near-supersonic speeds, and delivers a high-explosive warhead upon impact. Its design makes it highly effective against fortified structures and ammunition depots, such as those used by Russia in Ukraine. Each missile costs nearly $1 million (£767,000), and they are often deployed in conjunction with cheaper drones to overwhelm and confuse enemy air defenses.

The UK and France have already supplied these missiles to Ukraine but restricted their use to targets within Ukrainian territory. Storm Shadow missiles have proven effective, notably hitting Russia’s Black Sea naval headquarters in Sevastopol and making Crimea perilous for the Russian navy.

Military analyst Justin Crump notes that Storm Shadow has been highly effective for Ukraine, enabling precise strikes against well-protected targets. Kyiv has been advocating for the use of these missiles inside Russia to target airbases launching glide bomb attacks that hinder Ukrainian efforts.

Why Is Ukraine Pushing for Their Use Now?

Ukraine faces daily attacks from Russian missiles and glide bombs, often launched from bases deep within Russia. Kyiv argues that being unable to strike these launch sites limits its defensive capabilities and feels akin to fighting with one hand tied behind its back. During a recent security forum in Prague, it was suggested that Russian airbases are better protected than Ukrainian civilians due to these restrictions.

Ukraine has developed its own long-range drone program, which occasionally strikes deep inside Russia. However, these drones have limited payloads and are frequently intercepted. Kyiv believes that to effectively counter Russian airstrikes, it needs long-range missiles like Storm Shadow and potentially American Atacms, which have an even greater range of 300 km.

Why Has the West Hesitated?

The primary concern for the West is escalation. There is apprehension that allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied missiles against targets inside Russia might provoke a severe retaliation from President Vladimir Putin. The White House fears that such retaliation could include attacks on missile transit points in allied countries like Poland, potentially invoking NATO’s Article 5 and escalating into a broader conflict with Russia.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the White House has aimed to support Kyiv without becoming directly involved in the conflict, to avoid the risk of a nuclear escalation.

What Impact Could Storm Shadow Have?

The potential impact of Storm Shadow missiles might be limited by the time it has taken for these restrictions to be reconsidered. Moscow has already taken measures to protect its critical infrastructure by relocating bombers and missile systems further from the Ukrainian border.

Justin Crump of Sibylline notes that while Russian air defenses have adapted to counter Storm Shadow within Ukraine, defending against such missiles over a larger Russian territory will be more challenging. This could complicate Russian military logistics and increase operational costs.

Matthew Savill from the Rusi think tank highlights two potential benefits if restrictions are lifted: it could unlock the use of Atacms and create a dilemma for Russia regarding air defense placements, possibly easing the path for Ukrainian drones.

Ultimately, while Storm Shadow missiles could offer tactical advantages, they are unlikely to be a game-changer in the conflict’s broader scope.

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Former CIA Officer Sentenced to 10 Years for Spying for China

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, a former CIA officer, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage on behalf of the Chinese government. Ma, 71, was apprehended in August 2020 after confessing to an undercover FBI agent that he had sold U.S. intelligence secrets to China.

A naturalized U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong, Ma served with the CIA from 1982 to 1989 and later worked with the FBI. His sentencing agreement stipulates that he must cooperate fully with prosecutors for the remainder of his life, including undergoing debriefings and polygraph tests by U.S. government agencies.

During his plea deal, Ma has been cooperative, participating in multiple interviews with government agents. Prosecutors revealed that Ma worked with a relative, also a CIA agent, to transmit classified information to the Shanghai State Security Bureau. Evidence includes a video from a Hong Kong meeting showing Ma counting $50,000 (£38,000) in cash for the exchanged secrets.

In 2004, while residing in Hawaii, Ma took a position at the FBI's Honolulu office as a contract linguist. The FBI, aware of his espionage, employed him as part of a scheme to monitor his activities and connections.

The collaborator, believed to be Ma’s brother, passed away before facing prosecution. On Wednesday, Ma was sentenced in a Hawaiian court to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

FBI Honolulu Special Agent-in-Charge Steven Merrill stated, "Let this serve as a warning to anyone contemplating similar actions. No matter how much time elapses, justice will be served."

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Hurricane Francine Hits Louisiana with Flooding and Power Outages

Hurricane Francine has caused significant disruption in Louisiana, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and triggering widespread flooding as it made landfall on the state’s coast before moving inland.

The storm struck Morgan City at 5:00 PM local time (11:00 PM GMT) on Wednesday as a Category 2 hurricane with winds reaching 100 mph (155 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Although downgraded to a tropical storm by late Wednesday, Francine continued to produce winds up to 70 mph as it advanced northwest of New Orleans.

A flash flood emergency was declared for New Orleans, where rainfall totals reached between six and eight inches (15-20 cm). The NHC has warned that Francine will continue to weaken as it progresses across Louisiana but will still bring 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) of rain, potential tornadoes, and damaging winds to central and eastern parts of the state.

Over 330,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana were without power as of Wednesday night, according to Poweroutages.us. A tornado watch has been issued for southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle until 6:00 AM local time on Thursday (12:00 BST).

In Jefferson Parish, part of the Greater New Orleans area, officials have urged residents to remain indoors due to severe street flooding. The Morgan City Police Department reported "unusual amounts of flooding" and advised against driving on inundated streets.

Residents in eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama, and western Florida have been warned about a life-threatening storm surge, with water levels potentially rising up to 10 feet (3 meters) above normal.

All flights at New Orleans airport were canceled for Wednesday, and several coastal parishes in Louisiana have issued voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders. Some schools and colleges have closed, and US oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico, including Exxon Mobil and Shell, have evacuated staff and paused operations.

Jefferson Parish officials have requested residents to conserve water to prevent sewer system backups. New Orleans reported issues with mobile phone service, with some customers unable to call 911. In emergencies, a backup police hotline is available.

The state, marking the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, has mobilized resources and water rescue teams in preparation for Francine and is ready to call on the National Guard if necessary.

Francine’s arrival follows a relatively quiet August and early September in the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically runs until November. Weather experts had predicted a busier season earlier this year, with Francine being the sixth named storm of 2024.

Sarah Keith-Lucas, a BBC weather presenter, noted that Francine emerged after an unusually calm period in the Atlantic basin. The previous named storm, Ernesto, occurred on August 12, with no named storms in the same period since 1968. Last year, nine named storms formed between August 13 and September 8.

Hurricanes are rated on a scale from one to five, with Category 5 being the most severe, featuring winds exceeding 157 mph (250 km/h). Last year’s hurricane season saw 19 named storms.

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Brazil's Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Elon Musk’s X in Unanimous Decision

In a decisive move, Brazil's Supreme Court has unanimously confirmed the ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. This ruling follows an earlier decision by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, issued last week, due to X's failure to meet a court-imposed deadline to appoint a legal representative in Brazil.

On Monday, the five justices reviewed the case and upheld the suspension. Justices Flavio Dino and Cristiano Zanin underscored that all companies operating within Brazil must comply with local laws, and failure to adhere to court orders threatens the rule of law. Joining them in agreement were Justices Carmen Lucia and Luiz Fux, making the decision unanimous.

The ruling has intensified tensions between Justice de Moraes and Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink, which has refused to comply with the court’s directive.

Before the ruling, Musk criticized the decision, accusing Justice de Moraes of constitutional violations and labeling him a "dictator." Musk also announced plans to use an X account to publish the sealed court decisions he claims demonstrate legal breaches by the justice.

The Supreme Court's decision mandates telecom providers to block access to X, with the suspension remaining in effect until the platform complies with court demands and settles fines exceeding USD 3 million. Justice de Moraes had previously criticized Musk as an "outlaw" who spreads disinformation and undermines democratic norms.

Since acquiring X (formerly Twitter) in 2022, Musk has faced criticism for changes to the platform, including reduced content moderation and controversial posts on his personal feed.

This decision has significant implications for X in Brazil, where the platform has about 40 million users in a country of 215 million. Violating the ban could result in daily fines of up to 50,000 reais (USD 9,000) for using the platform through encrypted connections.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has backed the Supreme Court's decision, emphasizing its role in upholding legal standards and reinforcing the importance of judicial authority.