Author: Newyorki

Negotiations between TikTok and Universal Music Group have hit a snag, resulting in the removal of songs by artists like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and The Beatles from the platform. As of Thursday, all music licensed to Universal is absent from TikTok’s library, leading to the muting of videos featuring Universal-licensed music. The previous licensing agreement between UMG and TikTok expired on January 31st. Following the breakdown in negotiations, Universal Music Group accused TikTok on Tuesday of attempting to establish a music-centric business without adequately compensating for the music it uses. The talks included discussions on fair compensation for artists…

A judge in Delaware has invalidated the $56 billion compensation package awarded to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, supporting a shareholder’s claim that Musk was excessively compensated. The ruling in Delaware Chancery Court favored Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta, granting the annulment of Musk’s 2018 compensation agreement. Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled that Tornetta was “entitled to rescission.” The parties involved are now required to “confer” and submit a joint letter addressing various issues, including fees, to bring the matter to a conclusion. Tesla’s stock price experienced a more than three percent decline in after-hours trading following the 200-page ruling. Elon Musk, responding…

Chita Rivera, a luminous figure in the world of Broadway, captivating audiences with her exceptional talents as a singer, dancer, and actress, passed away on Tuesday, as confirmed by her publicist. Her illustrious career spanned over six decades, leaving an indelible mark on the stages of Broadway. Rivera’s contribution to the world of theater was particularly significant in iconic productions like “West Side Story” and “Chicago,” where she showcased her unparalleled skills and became one of the foremost entertainers of her generation. Throughout her long and distinguished career, Rivera’s performances were celebrated for their vibrancy, talent, and the joy she…

The Arab-American community’s discontent with Joe Biden’s Israel policy is emerging as a potential electoral challenge for the Democratic incumbent in the upcoming November presidential vote. This discontent is particularly palpable in key swing states, where the Arab-American community wields electoral influence. Over the weekend, Biden’s campaign manager faced a notable snub during a visit to Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest concentration of Arab-Americans in the United States. A group of officials, including the mayor of the Detroit suburb, declined to meet with Julie Chavez Rodriguez. The dissatisfaction stems from Biden’s request for billions in additional military aid to…

The TEXIT, or the Texas nationalist movement, is a name gradually surging on the American and global stage, gaining momentum in recent months as the US suffers more divisions and polarization than ever. It’s a long story—as old as the US civil war. But it appears things are heating up—and perhaps the climax is coming soon, with a key portion of the US planning—and assiduously working—to break from the world’s most powerful nation. Throughout the American history, the Lone Star State, Texas, weaves a complex narrative that includes its struggle for independence, the echoes of secession, and contemporary debates on…

A base in Jordan witnessed the loss of three American troops due to a drone attack, marking the first US military casualties in the region since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. President Joe Biden attributed the incident to Iran-backed militants. Contrarily, Iran refuted any involvement in the assault, rejecting accusations by both the US and Britain that it supported the militant factions responsible for the strike on the distant frontier base in Jordan’s northeastern region, adjacent to the borders of Iraq and Syria. In a statement, Biden asserted, “While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we…

Alabama carried out the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, using nitrogen gas on Thursday, making it the first time a new execution method has been employed in the United States since the introduction of lethal injection in 1982. The state asserted that the nitrogen gas method would be humane, but critics argued that it was cruel and experimental. Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. at an Alabama prison after breathing pure nitrogen gas through a face mask, causing oxygen deprivation. The execution reignited the debate over capital punishment in the U.S. The execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith using…

US actor Alec Baldwin, facing manslaughter charges for the fatal shooting on the set of his film, sought a “speedy trial” from a New Mexico judge on Wednesday. Charged again on Friday for his involvement in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the production of “Rust,” Baldwin, who was a producer and actor on the film, was holding a Colt .45 during rehearsals when it accidentally discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Despite repeatedly denying responsibility and asserting that he did not pull the trigger, Baldwin faces renewed charges in the ongoing attempt to hold someone…

President Joe Biden declared on Tuesday, following Donald Trump’s victory in another primary in New Hampshire, that they are poised for a showdown in the November presidential election. Biden emphasized the high stakes, asserting that the very foundations of U.S. democracy and individual freedoms, spanning from the right to choose to the right to vote, are on the line. Donald Trump’s victory in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, marking his second consecutive statewide win, has led President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign to assert that Trump is now all but certain to become the Republican Party’s nominee for the 2024…

On Tuesday, the United States and Britain acknowledged conducting strikes against Yemen’s Huthis. They stated that this second round of joint military action against the Iran-backed rebels was prompted by the ongoing attacks on shipping. The strikes targeted “eight Huthi targets in Yemen as a countermeasure to the Huthis’ persistent attacks on international and commercial shipping, along with naval vessels navigating the Red Sea.” This information was conveyed in a joint statement issued by Washington and London, along with the support of other nations participating in the military action. Earlier in the day, the Huthis’ official news agency reported the…