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Adam McKay warns 'radical' Wicked could be banned by politicians in '3 to 5 years' By TERRY ZELLER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:42 GMT, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 23:53 GMT, 24 December 2024 e-mail View comments Don’t Look Up director Adam McKay has expressed concern that films like Wicked could face censorship in the U.S. if current political trends persist. In a series of posts via X on Monday, McKay described Wicked as 'one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made' and criticized the increasingly right-wing atmosphere in the U.S. 'Part 1 is nakedly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda,' McKay wrote, adding that its release is particularly significant 'now, when America has never been more right-wing and propagandized.' The film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande , was recently pulled briefly from theaters in Kuwait , allegedly due to its LGBTQ cast. McKay acknowledged that Wicked: Part 2, slated for release on November 21, 2025, leans more mainstream but doubled down on his concerns. In response to another X user, he speculated that 'if America keeps going on the track it is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the movie banned in 3-5 years.' Don’t Look Up director Adam McKay has expressed concern that films like Wicked could face censorship in the U.S. if current political trends persist; (seen in 2020) In a series of posts via X on Monday, McKay described Wicked as 'one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made' and criticized the increasingly right-wing atmosphere in the U.S He followed up with 'It’s bizarre how many people think the possibility of movies, books, music being banned in the U.S. in the near future is a "crazy" idea. 'There’s a whole crowd that really has zero idea what’s going on big picture.' The filmmaker also compared Wicked to some of the most iconic films in history, including The Sound of Music, Citizen Kane, and Bridge on the River Kwai, as well as modern hits like The Hunger Games, which he called 'incredibly left-wing.' McKay’s statements come after the film has also secured Golden Globe nominations, including Best Musical/Comedy, as well as individual acting nods for Cynthia Erivo and Grande, solidifying its position as a major contender this awards season. Kuwait removed Wicked from its cinema listings just one day before the film’s scheduled release on Thursday, December 5, sparking speculation about the reasons behind the decision. While no official explanation has been provided, local reports suggest the removal may be linked to the film’s LGBTQ+ cast, according to Variety. This mirrors past actions by Kuwait, which banned Barbie last year, citing the protection of 'public ethics and social traditions .' Lebanon also prohibited Barbie, claiming it 'promoted homosexuality.' 'Part 1 is nakedly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda,' McKay wrote, adding that its release is particularly significant 'now, when America has never been more right-wing and propagandized' The film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande , was recently pulled briefly from theaters in Kuwait , allegedly due to its LGBTQ cast In response to another X user, he speculated that 'if America keeps going on the track it is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the movie banned in 3-5 years' While the reason is not officially known, it is speculated by local media that the film's removal from theaters is due to the LGBTQ + cast, per Variety If Wicked faced similar scrutiny, the decision might seem puzzling, as the film doesn’t include overtly LGBTQ+ storylines. However, Grande, who stars as Glinda, recently described her character as 'a little in the closet.' Additionally, fans have often interpreted the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba as carrying homoerotic undertones, though the characters are not explicitly queer. Several cast members, including Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, and Marissa Bode, openly identify as queer, potentially adding to the controversy in more conservative markets. Despite the ban in Kuwait, Wicked has been a massive success elsewhere. The musical fantasy, also starring Ethan Slater and Jeff Goldblum, premiered in the U.S. over Thanksgiving and shattered box office records. To date, the movie has now grossed over $571 million across the globe. Cynthia Erivo Share or comment on this article: Adam McKay warns 'radical' Wicked could be banned by politicians in '3 to 5 years' e-mail Add commentTowneBank (TOWN) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $0.25 on January 14th
From Magnus Eze , Enugu The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Callistus Onaga, has alleged that security was being politicised in some parts of the country. He called on Nigeria politicians and leaders at various levels to begin to make things easier for the people including bringing permanent solutions to insecurity. Onaga also appealed to Nigerians to stop adding suffering to fellow Nigerians with the outrageous price hikes on food and household items. In his 2024 Christmas press briefing in Enugu, Onaga lamented that prices of food stuff and other items were skyrocketing because of the manner Nigerians were fixing prices. He lamented that most Nigerians were suffering to the extent that a tuber of yam sold for far less than N1,000 now goes for over N5,000. “And what worsens it is that the same system that is making things difficult for fellow Nigerians made it even difficult for them to go to their farms – insecurity. Let us note that very clearly it becomes obvious for us Nigerians that the issue of insecurity is not only being politicised but even ethnicised. We are doing a little bit of ethnic cleansing in some areas and then we are blaming the foreigners. No, we are the one doing it. “Here in the South East, we started killing ourselves saying that we are killing those who are supposed to be killing us. We are destroying ourselves. We have done it for the past three years since 2021. We become cowards of our own actions here in the South East. “Let’s go over to the NorthEast and all other parts of the North, go down to Benue, you saw politics, you saw ethnic cleansing. Why will we sit down and plan our own destruction and few people will be profiting from that? “That is what the Israelite were suffering. Southern Judah was against Northern Judea. They were against one another and they were destroying themselves. Then foreigners will come – Assyrians and Babylonians – came in. So, the people were in trouble. I thank whatever government that thinks it is thinking right for us but let them think correctly. If you are trying to improve the economic situation of the country you don’t do everything at the same time. “We have kept quiet for some time now. You cannot be making it difficult for people to get money because you said you are doing the so-called cashless restructure that is not there and you gave the same money they are getting to go and buy again. What kind of economy are we copying? Where has it ever been done in the world?” He expressed hope that things would get better during this Christmas. Continuing, he said: “Can our politicians think otherwise and begin to make things easier? Will our politicians begin to really believe that we have some measure of intelligence? My dear fellow Nigerians, let us not add to the sufferings that are coming onto us by making things more difficult. At this Christmas, try to help everybody celebrate by bringing down your prices, bring down whatever you are doing. Yes, even in the church you should do something to bring down whatever levies so that people can really feel the impact of the celebration of love and celebration of joy at Christmas.”COPT Defense Properties Announces Quarterly Dividend of $0.30 (NYSE:CDP)The West Yellowstone Police Department has announced the death of one of its officers, adding that an investigation is underway. “The West Yellowstone Police Department, along with the town of West Yellowstone, is deeply saddened to announce the tragic passing of Officer Ashlee Stoneburner,” the department posted Dec. 25 on its Facebook page. “Officer Stoneburner was a dedicated member of our department and community, and her loss has left a profound impact on all who knew her.” The circumstances surrounding her death is still under investigation by the Madison County Sheriff's Office/Coroner's Office, officials said, adding “we are committed to providing further information as it becomes available.” Officials said updates will be posted on the West Yellowstone Police Department’s official social media at . West Yellowstone officials said they appreciate “the community’s support and understanding as we work through this ongoing process.” “We kindly ask that you keep Ashlee’s family, friends, and fellow officers in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” officials said in the post. They also asked for “privacy and respect for Officer Stoneburner’s loved ones as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.”
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Indian benchmark indices ended flat on the monthly expiry day today (Thursday, December 26) amid a range bound trade. The weakness was on account of corrections in FMCG and bank stocks though auto and pharma stocks salvaged some pride. While the S&P BSE Sensex settled at 78,472.48, down by 0.39 points, the broader Nifty closed at 23,750.20, higher by 22.55 points or 0.1%. Here's how analysts read the market pulse: Commenting on the day's action, Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said that Nifty's sideways movement was because investors have chosen to remain on the sidelines. "The index remained below the 200 DMA, reinforcing the prevailing weakness. The RSI indicator showed bearish momentum with a weak crossover, indicating sluggish movement. In the short term, the index may stay under pressure or struggle to rise to higher levels. Support is at 23,700/23,600, while resistance is seen at 23,850, De said. US markets Wall Street's major indexes edged lower on Thursday amid light trading volumes, as rising yields weighed on shares, while investors awaited a potential year-end boost from the "Santa Claus rally."Yields on government bonds climbed, with the 10-year benchmark yield reaching 4.64%, its highest since early May. Among megacap stocks, Amazon.com dropped 0.3%, and Meta Platforms declined 0.6%. Rate-sensitive real estate stocks led losses, slipping 0.4%, followed by a 0.5% dip in consumer discretionary stocks. 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Tech View Nifty has traded in a narrow range of 300 points this week and is not showing any clear direction, Chandan Taparia, Head, Equity Derivatives & Technicals, Wealth Management at MOFSL said, commenting on the current trends. "For the last three days index struggled near the 23,870 level on the upside while finding support around 23,600 on the downside. This tug of war between bulls and bears led to the formation of multiple Doji candles and inside bars on the daily chart indicating indecision. Nifty is hovering near its 200-day EMA and trading below its short-term moving averages as well. On the weekly chart, the index has formed a Doji candle indicating support-based buying, but with limited upside potential," he said. On option front, maximum CALL OI is at 24,000 followed by 25,000 strike while maximum PUT OI is at 23,800 then 23,000 strike, this analyst said, adding that CALL writing is seen at 23,800 followed by 24,000 strike while PUT writing at 23,800 then 23,000 strike. Option data suggests a broader trading range in between 23,200 to 24,200 zones while an immediate range between 23,500 to 23,900 levels, the MOFSL expert said. Most active stocks in terms of turnover One Mobikwik Systems (Rs 433.21 crore), Vishal Mega Mart (Rs 122.19 crore), International Gemmological Institute India (Rs 120.71 crore), Mazagon Dock (Rs 106.41 crore), Reliance Industries (RIL, Rs 68.05. crore), Infosys (56.14 crore) and Tata Motors (Rs 56.09 crore) were among the most active stocks on BSE in value terms. Higher activity in a counter in value terms can help identify the counters with highest trading turnovers in the day. Most active stocks in volume terms Srestha Finvest (Traded shares: 4.25 crore), Vodafone Idea (Traded shares: 3.71 crore), Mishtann Foods (Traded shares: 1.15 crore), Yes Bank (Traded shares: 74.74 crore), GTL Infra (Traded shares: 72.16 lakh), One Mobikwik (Traded shares: 66.02 lakh) and Sagility India (Traded shares: 42,91 lakh) were among the most actively traded stocks in volume terms on BSE. Stocks showing buying interest Shares of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), Intellect Design, Godfrey Phillips, Amber Enterprises, Kfin Technologies, PNC Infratech, Newgen Technologies and Bluedart were among the stocks that witnessed strong buying interest from market participants. 52 Week high Over 155 stocks hit their 52 week highs today while 80 stocks slipped to their 52-week lows. Among the ones which hit their 52 week highs included 360 One Wam, Amber Enterprises, CarTrade Tech, International Gemmological Institute, Inventurus Knowledge Solutions, One Mobikwik, Newgen, Piccadily Agro Industries and Sagility. Stocks seeing selling pressure Among the large cap names were Titan Company, Asian Paints and Tata Consumer Products. Other stocks which witnessed significant selling pressure were Hindustan Copper, Finolex Cables, Titagarh Rail Systems, Page Industries, Vardhman Textiles and Usha Martin. Sentiment meter favours bears Action in heavyweights like HDFC Bank , Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Titan dragged markets ensuring a flat ending. The market sentiments were bearish. Out of the 4,074 stocks that traded on the BSE on Thursday, 2,395 stocks witnessed declines, 1,593 saw advances while 86 stocks remained unchanged. Also Read: Nasdaq, Hang Seng beat Nifty by wide margin. Will it be India's turn in 2025? (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) India’s sports fraternity on Thursday joined the nation in mourning the demise of two-time former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, paying homage to his “calm leadership and wisdom” in stirring condolence messages. Singh, 92, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here after losing consciousness at his home owing to age-related ailments. “Sad news of the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. A visionary leader and a true statesman who worked tirelessly for India’s progress. His wisdom and humility will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones,” World Cup-winning former cricketer Yuvraj Singh posted on X. Similar sentiments were expressed by his former teammate and Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha member Harbhajan Singh, who described Singh as a thorough gentleman and visionary leader. “What truly set him apart was his calm and steady leadership in times of crisis, his ability to navigate complex political landscapes, and his unwavering belief in India’s potential,” he wrote. It was during Singh’s second tenure that India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the national capital. It was the first international multi-sport extravaganza to be held in the country after the 1982 Asian Games, also hosted by Delhi. Former wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who is now a Congress MLA in Haryana, called Singh a man of “extraordinary wisdom, simplicity and vision.” “Dr. Manmohan Singh was not just a Prime Minister, but he was a thinker, economist and a true patriot. His calm leadership style and economic vision gave the country a new direction, from the 1991 economic reforms to establishing India’s reputation on the global stage. “There was depth in his humility and wisdom in his every word. His services and contributions to the country will always be remembered. You will always live in our hearts, Sir,” she wrote in her emotional tribute on social media. Former cricketers Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman and ex-women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal were also among those who expressed their sadness at his death. Before serving as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Singh was finance minister in the P V Narasimha Rao-led government and was the brain behind the economic reforms of 1991 that marked the beginning of liberalisation in the country. Widely respected for his intellect and grace in public life, Singh had retired from active politics in April this year after over a three-decade run as a Rajya Saha MP. PTI PM PM PM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Baijiayun Announces Up To $15 Million Convertible Promissory Notes And $50 Million Standby Equity Purchase AgreementNEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use — and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96 Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more.
THE renowned Zimbabwean academic and political commentator Professor Jonathan Moyo has taken a swipe at South Africa’s handling of the political violence in Mozambique, labelling a statement issued by DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri as poorly conceived and diplomatically reckless. Phiri, a junior official in South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), issued the statement in response to the violence that erupted following Mozambique’s contested election results. He called for “urgent dialogue” to address the unrest, expressing South Africa’s readiness “to assist and work with SADC for a lasting solution.” In the statement, Phiri said, “Following the proclamation of final electoral results by the Constitutional Council of Mozambique, South Africa has noted with concern the ongoing violence and the subsequent disruptive protest in reaction to the announcement. South Africa calls on all parties to commit to an urgent dialogue that will heal the country and set it on a new political and developmental trajectory.” Prof. Moyo, however, criticized the statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighting its shortcomings and accusing South Africa of engaging in “poor diplomacy.” He argued that the use of a junior official to comment on a crisis of such magnitude was a misstep, reflecting a lack of seriousness. “The situation in Mozambique is serious and warrants, at the very least, a ministerial statement,” Moyo posted. The former Zimbabwean government minister also took issue with the content of the statement, accusing South Africa of failing to condemn the violence outright. Instead, the statement merely urged “all parties to commit to dialogue,” which Moyo interpreted as a failure to demand an immediate and unconditional end to the unrest. — POVO NO PODER 🇲🇿 (@JerThaPlug) “What does South Africa know that the rest of SADC does not know?” Moyo questioned in his post, further criticising the suggestion that Mozambique’s dialogue should aim to set the country “on a new political and developmental trajectory.” He described this as an attempt to impose a predetermined outcome on Mozambique’s internal affairs, suggesting it might be pushing for a coalition government or a political arrangement resembling South Africa’s. Moyo contrasted the stance with South Africa’s own experience of violent unrest in July 2021, which left over 350 people dead. “When South Africa had its violent political riots... no one in the region prescribed a dialogue with a predetermined outcome to resolve that staggering violence. South Africa will do well to act likewise with regards to the situation in Mozambique,” he wrote. The academic also pointed to SADC’s existing mechanisms, including the Organ Troika currently led by Tanzania, as the appropriate platform for addressing the Mozambican crisis. “Letting a junior official like Phiri speak in the manner he did is poor diplomacy and a dereliction of leadership by his minister. Using a junior official to jump the gun will not silence the guns in Mozambique,” Moyo concluded. The situation in Mozambique remains tense, with opposition parties and civil society groups disputing the election results amid escalating violence. Moyo’s critique underscores the delicate nature of regional diplomacy and the potential consequences of South Africa’s approach to its neighbour’s turmoil.
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