Friday, October 29, 2021

Zayn Malik denies assault of Gigi Hadid's mum Yolanda Hadid

Zayn Malik denies assault of Gigi Hadid's mum Yolanda Hadid

 
Image source, Getty Images

Zayn Malik has "adamantly" denied assault of Gigi Hadid's mum, Yolanda Hadid.

The singer told TMZ claims that he hit Yolanda Hadid are "false allegations".

Zayn Malik didn't directly address the allegations in a statement posted on Twitter, but he did ask for privacy and said he hoped for "healing for all involved".

Yolanda has not commented in public yet.

Gigi Hadid also asked for privacy for herself and their daughter in a separate statement given to E! News.

Zayn's statement to TMZ read: "I adamantly deny striking Yolanda Hadid and for the sake of my daughter I decline to give any further details and I hope that Yolanda will reconsider her false allegations and move towards healing these family issues in private."

In his post on Twitter, he wrote: "I had agreed not to contest claims arising from an argument I had with a family member of my partner's.

"Despite my efforts to restore us to a peaceful family environment that will allow for me to co-parent my daughter in a manner which she deserves, this has been 'leaked' to the press."

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Yolanda Hadid is known for starring in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Zayn and Gigi started dating in 2015, and had their child Khai in 2020. TMZ reports they are no longer together.

In Gigi's statement, her representative said she is "solely focused on the best for Khai".

Newsbeat contacted Zayn, Yolanda and Gigi for a comment, but they haven't yet responded.

 


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Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Maluma, Måneskin, And Kim Petras Will Perform At The 2021 MTV EMA

Maluma,

The 2021 MTV EMA show draws near, and with a loaded nominations list anchored by superstars like Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo, and The Kid Laroi, it promises to be a can't-miss event. But that's just the beginning.

In addition to the big awards and must-see fashion on the red carpet, this year's performances are taking things international. Colombian sensation Maluma, Italian glam-poppers Måneskin, and Los Angeles-based German future-pop star Kim Petras will all hit the stage at the 2021 EMA.

This is Maluma's second time performing at the show, after making his debut in 2020 with a medley of "Djadja" and "Hawái." He's also up for two awards: Best Latin and Best Lat Am-Central Act. Måneskin will make their EMA debut, in addition to being nominated in the Best Rock and Best Group categories. Petras, meanwhile, continues the momentum began with her dazzling 2021 VMAs pre-show rendition of "Future Starts Now" and takes that energy all the way to Hungary, where the show will take over the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna.

As announced last week, Bieber leads this year's crop of nominees with eight total nods, including in the Best Artist, Best Pop, and Best Song categories, though Doja Cat and Lil Nas X aren't far behind with six each. Sheeran, Rodrigo, and The Kid Laroi all follow with five.

The 2021 EMAs will touch down at the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna in Hungary on Sunday, November 14 at 9 p.m. CET and will also broadcast live on MTV channels in 180 countries. Find the full nominations list below, and head to ema.mtv.com for all your voting needs.

 


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Loudoun County parent on explosive school board meeting: 'This is an ideology war'

Parents are banding together in Loudoun County, Virginia, demanding resignations from Superintendent Scott Ziegler and the entire school board over accusations it covered up a sexual assault report, which took place in May. 

 
 

Loudoun County parents Dimis Christophy and Cheryl Onderchain joined "Fox & Friends First" on Wednesday to discuss the outrage after an explosive school board meeting Tuesday night, and a walkout dozens of students participated in earlier in the day over recent sexual assault reports. 

LOUDOUN COUNTY PARENTS DEMAND SUPERINTENDENT, SCHOOL BOARD RESIGN AFTER ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT EMAIL

 

"I've had kids in Loudoun County Public Schools for over 14 years," Onderchain explained. "I've never seen any display of anger and outrage and just disappointment as what was evidenced in all the comments that were made towards the board last night." 

 

"There were 120 folks signed up to speak in person," Onderchain said. 

 

An email surfaced last week indicating Ziegler was aware of the alleged sexual assault and alerted the school board a month before he claimed he did not have knowledge of the reported crime. 

October 26, 2021 

October 26, 2021

On May 28, Ziegler sent the email to the entire school board, and on June 22, Ziegler argued he did not have any knowledge of sexual assaults occurring in the school bathrooms. 

 

Despite his initial pushback, he did backpedal this claim earlier this month, citing a misinterpretation when the initial question was asked, and did acknowledge the procedures to address these incidents are not "adequate."

"This is an ideology war, this is this has nothing to do with curriculum anymore," Christophy explained. 

 

"We are fighting an ideological war with these people and these people are sick."

 
 

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Onderchain also emphasized parents in the district have no confidence in school officials, and explained replacing them would be the only avenue for the community to move on. 

"Yesterday it was clear virtually every single speaker was there to talk about the cover-up, the lies, we just don't have any confidence in the school board anymore," Onderchain stated. 

 
 

"And until we can get the school board replaced and get a new superintendent, we're not going to be able to heal and move forward as a community."


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Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, who taught others about opposing nuclear weapons, dies at 96

Sunao Tsuboi, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing who made opposing nuclear weapons the message of his life, including in a meeting with President Obama in 2016, has died. He was 96. 

 
 

Tsuboi died Oct. 24 in a hospital in Hiroshima in southwestern Japan. The cause of death was given as an irregular heartbeat caused by anemia, Nihon Hidankyo, the nationwide group of atomic bomb survivors he headed until his death, said Wednesday. 

When Obama made his historic visit to Hiroshima, Obama and Tsuboi held each other’s hand in a long handshake and shared a laugh. An interpreter stood by. Tsuboi, a gentle yet passionate man, recalled he tried to talk fast, to tell Obama he will be remembered for having listened to atomic bomb survivors, known in Japanese as "hibakusha." 

 
In this photo from May 2016, Sunao Tsuboi, right, a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing and chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organization, talks with President Obama, center, accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan.

In this photo from May 2016, Sunao Tsuboi, right, a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing and chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organization, talks with President Obama, center, accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

JAPAN’S PRINCESS MAKO MARRIES A COMMONER ADN LOSES HER ROYAL STATUS 

 

"I think he is such an earnest person or has the heart to feel for others," Tsuboi said of the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima. 

 

Tsuboi was 20 years old when he miraculously survived the U.S. atomic bombing of his hometown on Aug. 6, 1945, in the closing days of World War II. 

He suffered such serious burns a part of his ear was gone. When he emerged from unconsciousness 40 days after the bombing, the war was over. He was so weak and scarred he had to start by practicing crawling on the floor. 

 

"They wanted to kill us. No mistake about that," Tsuboi said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2013. 

U.S. President Obama (second from left) shakes hands with Sunao Tsuboi, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) looks on at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial park cenotaph in Hiroshima in May 2016.

U.S. President Obama (second from left) shakes hands with Sunao Tsuboi, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) looks on at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial park cenotaph in Hiroshima in May 2016. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

The world’s first atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima, killing 140,000 people instantly and within months. Three days later, the U.S. forces dropped a second nuclear bomb, on Nagasaki, killing another 70,000 people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15. 

 

Tsuboi made a point to stress what happened in Hiroshima was horrible. 

 
 

"Here it was about annihilation," he told the AP. 

Tsuboi worked as a junior high school teacher. He was so intent on educating youngsters about anti-nuclear proliferation his nickname became "pikadon sensei," combining the "flash-boom" onomatopoeia Japanese use to describe the bomb and the word for "teacher." 

"Never give up" was his trademark phrase, especially for his fight for a world without nuclear weapons. 

 
 

Akira Kawasaki of ICAN, or the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a coalition of non-government organizations, said the death of a man who had been the poster boy for anti-nuclear proliferation left him with a "big hole" in his heart. 

In this photo from August 2013, Sunao Tsuboi, then co-chairperson of Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, speaks during an interview at his office in Hiroshima, western Japan. 

In this photo from August 2013, Sunao Tsuboi, then co-chairperson of Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, speaks during an interview at his office in Hiroshima, western Japan. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

"We must not only mourn the death of a great leader for our cause, but we must also continue in his path, undeterred, and always remember his words," he told Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV. 

 

Tsuboi is survived by two daughters and a son. A wake and funeral services were held with immediate family Monday and Tuesday, in respect to Tsuboi’s wishes to keep ceremonies low key. His group is still undecided on a memorial service. 

 
 

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Couple charged in 30-year-old missing baby case

A man and his wife have been arrested in the death of a missing baby whose remains were found in a trash can rack on the North Carolina coast more than 30 years ago, police said Monday.

The Nags Head Police Department said in a news release that Scott Gordon Poole, 54, and his wife, Robin Lynn Bynum, 51, were arrested on Thursday by the Alexander County Sheriff's Office. Both from Taylorsville, they're charged with concealing the birth of a child.

NEWS RELEASE ------------------------------------------------------------ Nags Head Police Use DNA Evidence to Arrest...

Posted by Nags Head Police Department on Monday, October 25, 2021

Poole and Byrum were booked into the custody of the Alexander County Sheriff's Office with bond set at $250,000 for both of them. They have since been transferred and are now at the Dare County Detention Center, officials said. It couldn't be determined on Monday if they have attorneys.

In April 1991, Nags Head police officers responding to a call found the remains of an infant who had been dead for some time, the sheriff's office said. A medical examiner determined the child died of blunt force trauma and asphyxiation, according to the news release.

Investigators began a new look into the case in 2019 and sent the baby's rib bone to a Texas lab for forensic analysis. The lab recovered human DNA, and another analysis led to a married couple living in Taylorsville and known to have been living on the Outer Banks around the time the infant was found.

"The tragedy of this child's death and the manner in which his body was disposed of is compounded by the fact that, until now, no one has been found responsible for this incredibly heartbreaking act," said Nags Head Police Chief Phil Webster.  "But, through the hard work of Nags Head Police investigators and our law enforcement partners in the case, those who did this will be held accountable for a death that has remained unsolved for three decades."

 

 


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2 officers indicted in death of man shot 76 times during 2016 raid

East Point, Georgia — A grand jury on Tuesday returned an eight-count indictment against two law enforcement officers in connection with the 2016 killing of a man shot 76 times during an attempted fugitive arrest in the Atlanta area.

Eric Heinze, an assistant chief inspector with the U.S. Marshal's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, and Kristopher Hutchens, a Clayton County police officer working with the task force, were formally charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary, making false statements and violation of oath by a public officer, news outlets reported.

A medical examiner's report said Jamarion Robinson, 26, was shot 76 times by police on Aug. 5, 2016, when officers tried to enter his girlfriend's apartment. Law enforcement believed Robinson was the man responsible for pointing a gun at Atlanta officers and fleeing, according to authorities.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that East Point police said Robinson fired a shot at officers, who shot back.

It wasn't immediately known if Heinze or Hutchinson had lawyers who could comment on their behalf.

jamarion-robinson.jpg
Jamarion Robsinson in undated family photo. WGCL-TV

Attorney Gerald Griggs, who is close with Robinson's family, said the family celebrated the decision, which they've been waiting on for five years.

A U.S. Marshals Service spokesman has said officers were attempting to serve warrants on Robinson issued by Atlanta police and Gwinnett County police in the Atlanta suburbs.

A private detective hired by Robinson's mother uncovered evidence of gunshots fired straight into the ground where her son's body was lying.

Robinson had been a college football player at Clark Atlanta University and Tuskegee University, and had no criminal convictions.

There is no body-camera video of the shooting. At the time, federal policies didn't allow U.S. Marshals or local police officers assisting them to wear body cameras. Cell phone video from outside the apartment where the shooting took place captured nearly three minutes of gunfire.

Robinson's family said their son, who suffered from mental illness, was at his girlfriend's apartment when 16 officers broke down the door.

"Over 90 rounds were fired at my son, flash-bang grenades were thrown at him, landed on him, burning him. Somebody walked up the stairs, stood over him, and shot down into his body two more times. After that he was handcuffed and drug down a flight of stairs," Monteria Robinson said at a news conference in June 2020.

The case had been delayed from being brought before a grand jury a couple of times, with the latest owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

A former Fulton County district attorney, Paul Howard, had said the investigation into the case was blocked by the officers' refusal to cooperate and the absence of body camera footage. But when Howard lost his position to Fani Willis, the new prosecutor promised swifter action.

The District Attorney's Office declined comment on the grand jury action, saying late Tuesday it was waiting for a copy of the indictment.

 

 


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Blackstone CEO predicts the energy crisis will worsen inflation and prompt social unrest

Blackstone

  • The energy shortage is severe enough that it could cause a lot of unhappiness and social unrest, said Blackstone CEO, Stephen Schwarzman.
  • Benchmark US oil futures are around $85 a barrel after surging about 75% year-to-date.
  • Oil could rise to $100 a barrel, said BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
 
 

The global energy crisis is severe enough that it could fuel social unrest, said the CEO of asset management company Blackstone on Monday. 

Stephen Schwarzman was speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia. 

Schwarzman, who is also co-founder of the investment firm, said: "We're going to end up with a real shortage of energy. And when you have a shortage, it's just going to cost more and it's probably going to cost a lot more," as reported by Bloomberg and CNN.

When that happens, "you're going to get very unhappy people around the world," particularly in the emerging markets, he continued. 

 
 

Oil prices have surged this year on the back of a demand recovery and energy supply crunch.

Benchmark US crude oil futures are up 75% year-to-date, around $85 a barrel – and they could gain more, pushing up energy prices and everything else downstream.

Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, also spoke at the conference. He told the audience there was a reasonable chance oil prices would reach $100 a barrel, Bloomberg reported.

"Inflation, we are in a new regime," he said. "There are many structural reasons for that. Short-term policy related to environmentalism, in terms of restricting the supply of hydrocarbons, has created energy inflation, and we are going to be living with that for some time."

 
 

"We're not focusing on long-term solutions. We're not trying to change the world on a granular basis," Fink continued. "We have these visions we could go from a brown world, and we could wake up tomorrow there'd be a green world, and that is not going to happen." 

 

 


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10 things before the opening bell

10

Welcome to 10 Things Before the Opening Bell.

 
 

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Plus, download Insider's app for news on the go – click here for iOS and here for Android.

Plus, join us for an exclusive Insider webinar on November 17: The future of crypto and its path to mass adoption. Sign up here.

Let's jump in. 


1. Day traders are losing interest in the SPAC linked to Trump's media company. Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp. fell as much as 41% over the past two days. That followed a more-than-1,000% surge on merger reports, largely driven by retail investors.

 
 

Retail attention has instead shifted to crypto exchange Bakkt Holdings and meme-stock stalwart Tesla, which is fresh off record highs and a $1 trillion market cap.

Short-seller Iceberg Research is among those with Digital World in its crosshairs. The firm recently said: "Based on Trump's track record, at current price, renegotiation is likely to keep more of the merged company for him." But one expert argues short sellers like Iceberg might have their work cut out for them.

Here's what else to know: 

  • Digital World closed 30% lower on Tuesday.
  • Data from Fidelity showed the number of retail sell orders for the SPAC outweighing the number of buys.
  • We spoke to Iceberg Research to learn more about their short case.

2. US futures are mostly steady. Optimism over tech earnings is meeting a rise in government bond yields head-on. Take a look at the latest action on the markets here.

 
 

3. Bank of America offers energy stock picks with strong green credentials. The firm says oil prices could exceed $100 a barrel amid cold winter and strong trade. BofA lists 15 companies poised to capitalize on the trend.

4. More big earnings: Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Spotify, and Boeing, all reporting.

5. Facebook's metaverse could drive its stock up as much as 22%, BofA said. New disclosures on the Facebook Reality lab led the bank to raise its price target, saying the investment in virtual spaces could spur long-term growth.

6. Former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan doesn't see high inflation going away soon. He warned that while prices should subside eventually, "there are other forces at play." Here's what he said will lead to a more inflationary environment.

 
 

7. Tesla's path to a $1.5 trillion market cap. Wedbush sees upside potential to around $1,500 a share. The key factor will be if supply can keep up with demand.

8. FTX, the crypto exchange led by 28-year-old billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, has bought a Super Bowl ad. The firm has been on a full-on publicity blitz, already enlisting the services of Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen. Read full details here.

9. The CEO of an NFT marketplace says investing in music royalties is similar to buying up real estate. Adam Cowherd laid out his process for doing so. He also shared the opportunities large investors are targeting in the space.

10. Five altcoins to buy, straight from a 25-year technical strategist. Mark Newton sees further upside in these coins, which are already near one-year highs. He also details why the 4th quarter will be a 'very positive time' for bitcoin.


 

 


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Google recruiters explain how to demonstrate 'past experience' on your resume - even if you've never had a job

Google

  • Applications for Google's 2022 internship programs are now open. 
  • Two recruiters gave resume tips at a workshop for graduates on October 19.
  • They said past experience is a "must have" — but it doesn't have to be formal work experience.
 
 

Getting a job at Google is not easy — but new advice from internal recruiters ahead of the tech giant's internships might help.

Applications for Google's 2022 internship cohort opened on October 19, and close on November 26.

Over the years, Insider has spoken to current and former Googlers about how to land a role. They say being a good collaborator and being curious are some of the traits the company values.

But you also need to make sure your resume stands out. Ahead of the deadline for the new internships, two recruiters from Google's university programs team — Katarzyna Kamińska, university programs specialist, and Emily Salkey, program manager for talent outreach — hosted a panel at the recent Black Tech Fest on October 19, which was run by the non-profit Colorintech.

 
 

They shared tips on how graduates should structure their resumes.

Past experience is a "must have" 

Keep in mind that recruiters are looking for specific information, most notably your past experience, Kamińska said.

 

But this doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have lots of internships or formal work experience.

"Experience can come in many forms and we are absolutely aware of that," she said. 

 
 

If you're applying for tech positions, for example, recruiters need to see your knowledge of programming languages. Relevant computer science projects, student activities, research you've participated in, hackathons, or class projects could all count, she said.  

You should also include your education, and date of graduation.

"If you're still studying and don't yet have a date, you can include the 'expected date' of graduation," she said.

There is no perfect format

A recruiter has around 30 to 40 seconds to look at your resume, so make sure that it is clear and concise, Kamińska said. She recommended a PDF of no more than two pages.

 
 

As for the exact format, "there is no one template that Google would encourage applicants to use," she said. Use whatever template you're comfortable with, as long as it can convey the key information quickly. 

Showcase your transferable skills

It's good to show what type of person you are, Kamińska said — so include volunteering experience, awards, or transferable skills you're particularly proud of. 

Transferable skills can be ones from past jobs, volunteering hobbies, or elsewhere, Kamińska said.

"As an example, if you are working in retail, you can basically think about what you have learned and how you can utilize this in your role at Google," she said.

 
 

Use the 'X-Y-Z formula' to highlight skills

Use the X-Y-Z formula pioneered by Google's former vice president of people operations, Laslo Bock, to highlight your skills on your resume, Salkey said. It stands for:

Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z].

"This is a really impactful way of demonstrating what you did in each experience, why you did that, and how it was impactful," Salkey said. 

Using numbers can also help to demonstrate impact, Salkey said.

As an example, you might write on your resume:

 
 

Participated in a city hackathon, working on a facial recognition project.

But this doesn't showcase technical skills, Salkey said. A better example would be:

Won second place out of 40 teams in the city hackathon, building facial recognition software that helps detect human emotions, using Python and Java.

It shows the recruiter exactly why it was important, and highlights specific coding skills.

There are also more general mistakes to avoid on a resume, according to careers experts. These include lying about your experience, using present tense for past jobs, and including the word "phone" in front of your number.

 

 


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‘Stop F*cking Talking’: Some House Democrats Oppose Radical Wealth Tax

‘Stop

A few House Democrats on Tuesday vocally opposed the recently proposed radical wealth tax applied to assets that have increased in value but have not yet been sold.

 

The tax, proposed by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) to reduce infighting among the far-left and the “moderate” Democrats, has likely fallen flat. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) told reporters the offer was more of a Hail Mary attempt to patch the dissension among the Democrat caucus. “It’s more of a stunt,” Kildee said.

 
 
 

House Budget Chair John Yarmuth (D-KY) said he opposes the measure due to its inability to tax Americans enough. “I don’t think it’s a reliable offset. So I have concerns about that,” Yarmuth said about the amount of tax increases wanted in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) told Politico Playbook the idea of a wealth tax infuriated him as a waste of time. “The Senate needs to start saying yes or no on issues and stop fucking talking,” Rep. Gomez stated.

The Democrat House members’ opinions were supported on Tuesday by an article in the Wall Street Journal, which indicated the wealth tax “would almost certainly face a legal challenge, given the clear incentive for a taxpayer to spend millions in legal fees to save billions on taxes.”

 
KEARNY, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 25: U.S. President Joe Biden gives a speech on his Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and Build Back Better Agenda at the NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex on October 25, 2021 in Kearny, New Jersey. On Thursday during a CNN Town Hall, President Joe Biden announced that a deal to pass major infrastructure and social spending measures was close to being done. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also announced on Sunday that she expects Democrats to have an

U.S. President Joe Biden gives a speech on his Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and Build Back Better Agenda at the NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex on October 25, 2021, in Kearny, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The Journal continued:

The likely argument: Taxing capital gains that haven’t been realized yet falls outside the income taxes allowed by the 16th Amendment that don’t have to be apportioned based on state population. Under current law, individuals pay capital-gains taxes only when the gain is realized, typically when they sell an asset, such as a stock, closely held business or painting.

Meanwhile, Rep. James Clyburn, the Democrat House Whip, told Fox Business Network on Tuesday he supports taxing assets before they have been sold for a profit or a loss. “I am for a wealth tax,” he said when asked by Neil Cavuto. “I think there is a big difference in the so-called wealth tax and all of this thing about a billionaires tax.”

“You don’t get anywhere near the money we need to raise in order for everybody to participate in the build back better efforts. And so the wealth tax is something that I support,” Clyburn added.

With the House Democrats in the majority with about a five House vote margin, it is unknown if Democrats have the votes to support the wealth tax.

Follow Wendell Husebø on Twitter @WendellHusebø.

 


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Wild MLB Trade Ideas We'd Love to See in 2021-22 Offseason


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Hong Kong passes new film censorship law

Hong Kong passes new film censorship law

 
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Critics say the new law will affect Hong Kong's vibrant film industry

Hong Kong's legislature has passed a new law banning films deemed to violate China's national security interests, the latest blow to freedom of expression in the territory.

Punishment for violating the law includes up to three years imprisonment and $130,000 (£95,000) in fines.

Critics say the legislation will stifle the vibrant local film industry.

Last year, China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong that effectively outlawed dissent.

The legislation, which came after huge pro-democracy protests in 2019, criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Critics say it is aimed at crushing dissent but China says it is meant to maintain stability.

The film censorship law was approved in the opposition-free Legislative Council. It gives the chief secretary - the second-most powerful figure in the city's administration - the power to revoke a film's licence if it is found to "endorse, support, glorify, encourage and incite activities that might endanger national security".

Experts and content producers have raised worries about the impact of the legislation, which does not cover films posted online, on creativity and freedom of expression.

Filmmaker Kiwi Chow, whose documentary Revolution of Our Times about the 2019 protests was featured at the Cannes Film Festival this year, told Reuters news agency the law would "worsen self-censorship and fuel fear among filmmakers".

A speedy job

By Martin Yip, BBC News Chinese, Hong Kong

The bill was passed by a simple showing of hands, at the last meeting of the council's much extended current term. And despite the lack of opposition in the legislature, lawmakers still debate.

Councillor Luk Chung-hung claimed it was political films that hindered creativity, not the proposed censorship law. Another councillor, Priscilla Leung, who is also a law professor, insisted the bill was in full compliance with human rights laws, and she hoped to stop such films from "brainwashing" young people.

Filmmakers will certainly be concerned. Dr Kenny Ng of the Hong Kong Baptist University's Film Academy said the new law would see film distributors worrying if their already-approved films would be withdrawn, meaning more uncertainty in the industry.

As for the lawmakers, it is time to prepare for winning their job back as the election takes place in December - under completely new election laws.

The arts industry was already being targeted even before the new law. In June, a local theatre pulled the award-winning documentary Inside The Red Brick Wall, also about the 2019 protests, and its distributor lost government funding.

Book publishers have admitted to self-censoring and the largest pro-democracy paper, Apple Daily, closed earlier this year amid a national security investigation.

Meanwhile, many opposition figures are already in prison or in exile.



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2:01 PM | 0 comments