List of All Articles with Tag 'ties'

President Joe Biden is in Vietnam for a visit intended to deepen economic ties between Washington and Hanoi as part of efforts to reduce America's reliance on China.

You know him as the man who sang "White Christmas" and co-starred in a slew of movies with Bob Hope. But here are some facts about Bing Crosby that might surprise you.

The rapper's 1988 song, "Nightmare on My Street," made reference to a killer named Fred who was "burnt like a weenie." New Line Cinema didn't find it funny, but it has just been rediscovered online.

The sculpture would resemble the one painted across Bowie's face on the cover of 1973's 'Aladdin Sane.'

Elon Musk has baffled fans of the popular game Warhammer 40,000 by seemingly borrowing from the title as the inspiration for his newest child's name: Techno Mechanicus. A new biography on Musk written by Walter Isaacson revealed the existence of the previously unannounced addition to the billionaire's family which he reportedly had with former partner the Canadian musician Claire Boucher aka Grimes. It has not been disclosed exactly when Musk and Grimes had the child but it is the third the former couple have had together, despite their relationship ending in 2021. This now brings the number of children that Musk has brought into the world to 11 but the new baby's name has raised the eyebrows amongst many, mostly because it sounds like something from Warhammer. Mechanicus is indeed a word from the game most commonly associated with the Adeptus Mechanicus faction, a group of cyborg warrior priests which does sound like something that would appeal to Musk. With this in mind, Warhammer players and those in the know have taken to Musk own platform X/Twitter to point out the similarities. The new child's unusual name, who is said to be called 'Tau' for short, follows a tradition between the pair who have named their previous two children X Æ A-Xii, or X, and Exa Dark Sideræl, or Y, respectively. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Kamille has established herself as one of the most successful women in the music industry. As an Ivor Novello, BRIT and Grammy Award winner, she is behind some of the biggest hits of the last decade, working with the likes of Little Mix, Dua Lipa, Stormzy, RAYE and Kylie Minogue and in 2017, released her own debut EP – ‘1. my head’s a mess’. But now 2023 has been a year of metamorphosis for the 35-year-old - otherwise known as Camille Angelina Purcell – who is spreading her wings as a solo artist with her new mini album ‘K1,’ a personal process especially since she was pregnant with her first child while working on the project. “I'm still juggling right now between making music and being a mom and everything but it's just a beautiful, crazy time. I'm loving it,” she told Indy100 about her simultaneous solo music and motherhood journey. Upon chatting to Kamille on the phone last month, it was clear to hear her excitement about the approaching September 8 release – an eight-track mini album that includes notable features from Chic legend Nile Rogers and R&B belles Tamera and Bellah. When she asked for my thoughts on the album (which is a bop), I mentioned the second track and second single “Options ft. Tamera and Bellah” as one of my favourites. The empowering R&B tune is the ultimate girl's anthem, created entirely by women to empower those currently in a relationship who are being treated like an ‘option’ – a predicament that’s “probably happened to all of us in some contexts.” “I'm happy with my husband. I'm happy in my friendships, but I think I've learned to walk through life like I am the main option. I'm the lead character in my life and so should everyone else be and that's what this song is all about,” Kamille said. “[It’s] Just a reminder, like don't let anyone treat you like an option. Never ever, ever. You're always the first choice to have a first pick.” The R&B influences, synth-pop production, and catchy chorus all contribute to the song’s memorability, as Kamille discussed the sound she created. “Oh my gosh, I don't feel like I found it [the sound], I think it found me,” she said, with a laugh. “I've loved 80’s music all my life. It's what I've grown up on and been inspired by and I don't know it just made me feel so throwback when I was playing around with some of those sounds,” with the song reflecting the Motown Classics and funk hits she listened to with her parents growing up as her artistic influences such as ABBA and Pharrell. “It was giving me like Gloria Estefan when I was playing synths that are on ‘Options,’ and added it gave her the “nostalgia that [she] wanted across the whole album. The musician also described how a lot of the songs she made for the album, “felt quite collaborative,” and explained the creative process for this particular track. “I'd written a chorus verse which was ‘Options’ but I was very early on in the stages and I was like, I feel like this is giving me like girl anthem, like girl empowerment but and I was like, I need to reach out to R&B Queens for this because only they can make it right.” All it took was a slide in the DM’s for both Tamera and Bellah to be on board. “And then next thing you know, we were all in the studio and it happened really fast. Just finished it off together and it is what it is; it's just become this crazy thing.” Since ‘Options’ was released back in June, it became BBC Radio 1’s Track of the Week which Kamille called “incredible,” as well as the “lovely feeling” to receive messages from fans saying they’ve heard the song on the radio. “I have a Telegram account specifically just to speak to [fans], I can go in and we talk every day we're like besties.” Another highlight from the album is ‘The Sun,’ a touching tribute from the singer to her son whom she was pregnant with when making the album last year she described both experiences as a “labour of love.” “‘The Sun’ is actually about my son, which is really cute. I love that he's got a place on the album because he definitely inspired the whole thing for sure,” Kamille said. “For me, it’s a standout song just because I remember writing it or thinking about him and I didn't even know I was having a boy at that time I wrote the song about feeling like shining like the sun but now it's tending to like the sun so and in my mind. She added: “It's so weird how that worked out. But yeah, hopefully this is back and remembers how much I loved him in that process even though he was giving me all kinds of help.” If you’re wondering whether there are any similarities between recording an album and having a baby, Kamille would say so. She explained how making music is “very similar to when you have a baby - you don't remember the pain.” “You remember the fact you now have a baby - it's a weird thing, music and babies are very similar.” Becoming a mother has also reinforced the artist’s passion and “hunger” for success in her music career. “It definitely kind of switches things up a gear for you as a human being you want to provide for your child and I think in any aspect you'll just want to work even harder for them so I definitely noticed that when I'm in the studio.” Going into her solo mini album, Kamille had quite the C.V. working with Little Mix – described as their unofficial ‘fifth member’ – as well as Dua Lipa, Stormzy, RAYE, and Kylie Minogue and more, all artists she has been “inspired by” and that contributed to discovering her own sound. “Being that close to [those artists] has only been a benefit to me because we set the bar so high,” she said describing this influence. “I think it's just made me feel even more that I can achieve it for myself. So yeah, it's been a beautiful thing to be so close to such successful artists as those and only just want to try and get there myself as well.” When it came to her own album, Kamille had a hands-on approach, using her experience to write and produce the album herself and working with “prolific” mixing and mastering engineer Manon Grandjean who is “mixing probably every pop record you can think of at the moment.” The collaboration on K1 was a “full circle moment” for them after meeting years back when they worked on Stormzy’s music and then continued to work together with other artists. “It's been beautiful having just women across the production side of my projects,” Kamille said and she hopes to “inspire other women as well.” There is no denying the disproportionate gap when it comes to women’s representation in music. Only 18 per cent of headliners at the UK's biggest festivals this year are women a Sky News study found, while behind the scenes, less than 5 per cent of audio engineers are women too. Kamille believes there is “so much more that can be done,” to address this issue. “I make it so people know that I've produced my music. I love that when people, for example, go on Spotify, and look at the credits. They just see my name there,” and she hopes it can “point to other girls that you can do it as well.” Last year, she alongside producer, singer and DJ Fred Again– otherwise known as Fred Gibson – ran a workshop called ‘Next Up,” from the nonprofit organisation She Is The Music where only female producers for a whole year went to their music studio every month, attended workshops, and got their songs heard by the two musicians. “Me and Fred love doing that so much because we've seen how much they developed just from having that help and advice from us and it was incredible,” she said and is keen to do another program with Fred this year. All in all, listeners can expect K1 to be a moment of fun with the tracks bringing “good vibes and positive energy,” something that an “empowered” Kamille is radiating at present. But the hard work doesn’t stop there as she admitted new music is always on the horizon. “There's so much more to come. I mean, I'm making music all the time,” she said. Kamille has also announced her first-ever headline show at London’s Omeara on Thursday, 12 October where you can hear K1 live. “It's been a really long journey and I think people are just now probably starting to find out more about me and my music and that it's so incredible for me, and I'm just very grateful for anyone who has been touched by anything I've written for others or for myself,” she concluded. “I just want to say thank you so much and there's so much more to come as well.” 'K1' TRACKLIST Muscle Memory featuring Nile Rodgers Options featuring Bellah and Tamera Don't Waste My Time The Sun Time To Kill Fancy Wine All My Love Manifesting - Part 1 Kamille’s debut mini album ‘K1’ is out now, get tickets to her headline London show here. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

When he’s not forgetting his flour on Great British Bake Off or chomping down hot wings for a challenge alongside best friend Chunkz, Yung Filly is surprisingly, acting exactly how he does on TV: Fun, playful, and full of laughter. The 28-year-old, born Andres Felipé Barrientos, moved to the UK from Colombia when he was two-years-old, relocating around south east London during his childhood. He’s known for his infectious comedy and high energy, and credits his upbringing alongside his mum and sister for his confidence. “I do get upset. I do get tired, lazy. But for the most part, what you see on the screen is actually me”, he admits. “My sister's full of energy, my mom's that way...I grew up in a loud household. In all fairness, I think that's why my career's gone so well. I think you can genuinely see that it’s all natural.” But he hails from humble beginnings. Although he vows he’d never move back to Columbia and always saw London as his home, it wasn’t easy, being racked up in debt and delving into his entrepreneurial roots from a young age (as the school’s Lucozade seller) just to get by. When asked what it was like growing up, he simply replies: “Struggle…ketchup and rice.” “I come from the bottom of the barrel…and that’s why I’m so grateful for the position I’m in now”, he adds. “My mum definitely shaped me with the lessons she taught me. “She’s a single mum with three kids, my dad was a s*** dad so she just had to make it happen. She did loads of cleaning jobs. My mum worked at Poundland at the time I had some mad BBC series…just getting my mum out of the position she was in was just the biggest motivation.” A fan of Jamal Edwards’ work, Filly started posting on YouTube at the age of 12, recording freestyles and music videos. “I was a go-getter, no one gave me my career, I was actively thinking of ways that I could become successful”, he says. “Without you realising, people in your life come into play and opportunities start appearing.” Over 1.4 million subscribers later, he’s built up a profile as one of the nation's most-loved internet personalities, and has been involved with the likes of The Sidemen, and Chicken Shop Date. “I'd say to my younger self, ‘focus and work harder’. I've definitely worked hard, but I definitely got misled at times in my life by influences and certain people. Even down to the first time I had a drink” he admits. “I always was that guy that was like ‘I'm never drinking it’s against my religion’..and I’m not blaming the people I was with as there’s natural influence.” “So I’d say work hard and keep your head down.” Most recently, he’s been going back to his roots and collaborating with Tango and The Prince’s Trust to inspire the next generation to pursue their passions in life - even if they haven’t figured out what they are yet. Along with the charity, he held a panel talk for 16-30-year-olds to help ‘find their fearless’ and get the tools they need to launch a career or start a business. @yfilly #AD This one hit the feels…😅 I met so many young people working towards a brighter future at the Find your Fearlessness Event with @Tango & @The Prince’s Trust I asked them who their fearless inspiration is and some of the answers got man feeling choked up! Every young individual deserves the chance to be fearless in progressing towards their personal goals. If you or someone you know is aged 16-30 and is out of education or unemployed, sign up to a course at The Prince’s Trust now! #FindYourFearlessness #GetTangod #DrinkTango ♬ original sound - yfilly “It was a bunch of kids that were in my position. I’m 28 now so the last time I experienced struggle I was about 15 so to see them sitting there and looking at me in awe and as someone who is an inspiration to them was sick”, he describes. “I was in that room, hosting that panel, I'm looking around and most of these people look like me. They’re all from ethnic minorities or Black, and I can relate to that. “When I'm talking to them individually, most of them come from the same upbringing I come from, their families being on benefits.” Speaking of why it was so rewarding, he adds: “People would ask me the most basic questions but my response just lit up their eyes and I was like ‘wow’ I’ve got that effect on people, it’s mad. That’s the project that I’m most proud of that I’ve done.” Despite dabbling in a few different roles before being pulled back into media, Filly accepts that it’s not easy to find something you love in life. “The people who have passions, they’re the lucky ones because they know from the get-go what they want to do”, he admits, joking that he’d ‘love to be a footballer’. “But the average person probably goes through about five careers before they’re doing what they’re doing.” “The hardest thing in life is trying to figure out what to do with it.” However, for anyone more introverted, it’s no secret that it can be more difficult to put yourself out there or have the willpower to follow in Filly’s footsteps - but he’s trying to teach people that confidence can most definitely come over time. “I think loving yourself and accepting yourself for who you are, and what you look like is important. In a modern-day society with social media it's so easy to be influenced and almost become someone that you're not”, Filly says. “I think first and foremost, it’s what a lot of lazy people don’t want to hear but it starts with you…you’ve just got to want it bad enough.” Even he’s had his down days, recalling: “I used to do Snapchat and there’d be times that I couldn’t be bothered to film but I’d record like two hours worth of videos because my mum was the motivation…I’d go home and see the paint peeling off the walls, or the fact that I was 16 and all my mates had a double bed and I was still on a single…all those little things motivate you.” But for him, it’s all been worth it. He has an amazing home, incredible cars, and still remains as humble as he was from the start, which is why fans are so intent on sticking around. “There’ll be times that I’m in bed and I’m like ‘I can’t believe this is my house’, I’m just so grateful for everything that I’ve got”, he says of how far he’s come. @drinktango Tango × Prince’s Trust find your Fearlessness event yesterday was a HUGE success! Special thanks to @The Prince’s Trust @yfilly @90sbabyshow @Strawberriesandcreem Poet, all the amazing ambassadors and attendees. Stay tuned on our channels to see what we got up to 😉 #FindYourFearlessness #GetTangod #FYP #foryoupage #xyzbca #yungfilly ♬ original sound - Tango “Sometimes I think to myself what if it had been the other way? What if I had grown up with a silver spoon? I probably wouldn’t be as grateful…I love the fact that I struggled.” He concludes: “My biggest achievement is helping my mum retire. It’s my mum’s world and I’m just living in it. I paid off my mum’s debt, my mum had loads of debt and I paid it off in one go. That was a sick feeling.” “I also took all of my family on holiday, that was sick, but everything is family-orientated…all these materialistic things ain’t s***.” “You know, I think I've smashed it. I’ve got my family involved in every aspect of the business, down to my two sisters, my mum and my uncle. I'm just proud of myself. And I don't tell myself enough, I've smashed it. “I wouldn’t do anything differently.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Jimmy Fallon has issued an apology after an investigation exposed a string of toxic allegations against the American host. In a report by Rolling Stone, 16 allegations were uncovered from past and present employees of his Tonight Show, with one calling the dressing rooms "crying rooms." They described Fallon's behaviour as "erratic," before suggesting he had "angry" outbursts and they never knew whether they'd have a "good Jimmy day" or a "bad Jimmy day". The claims reportedly led Fallon to issue an apology to staff, saying: "It's embarrassing and I feel so bad. Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends." Now, one X/Twitter user has dug up a 2019 episode of The Tonight Show that featured Steve Martin and Martin Short, in which he says: "This is the greatest show on television because there is no host in late-night who pretends to care as much as you do." The viral post was soon flooded with comments, with one user writing: "At least some celebrities still stand up for what they believe in." Another said: "Jimmy said thank you with pride when Martin Short praised him being phony!! wow hahahaha." "He’s so brilliant," a third commented on Short. "He’s really mastered the art of well-received passive aggressiveness. He’s so diplomatic, but absolutely biting!" Some employees have since jumped to Fallon's defence, with one telling PEOPLE that Fallon is a "really, really positive guy". They continued: "He makes a point of commending you when you do a great job and when he's happy. I've never been belittled, yelled at, nothing like that." Another alleged staff member said they are "really happy to work there right now." In a statement, a spokesperson for NBC wrote: "We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority... As in any workplace, we have had employees raise issues; those have been investigated and action has been taken where appropriate." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Grimes appeared to take to X/Twitter where she begged Elon Musk to let her see her three-year-old son. The 35-year-old musician had responded to a tweet by Musk biographer Walter Isaacson, according to the screenshots. It comes following the release of his Time magazine article about the billionaire on Tuesday where photos featured of Musk alongside Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis and their twins. An image of Musk with X was also included in the story. In her response, Grimes tweeted: “Tell Shivon to unblock me and tell Elon to let me see my son or plz respond to my lawyer,” the tweet reads, according to the screenshot. “I have never even been allowed to see a photo of these children until this moment, despite the situation utterly ripping my family apart.” Grimes and Musk split in September 2021 and share two children together - three-year-old son X born in May 2020 and a one-year-old daughter Exa Dark Sideræl otherwise known as Y, born in December 2021, via surrogate. The twins Musk shares with Zilis were born a month before Y in November 2021. It's not the first time the Oblivion singer has taken to Twitter before deleting tweets, as she recently shared how she had experienced "the single most traumatic events of my life.” "A lot has been going on in my life for the last few years that I have mostly kept from the public,” she added. “I may still do that out of respect for others, but the last few days rly taught me that without fundamental change I’m gna die from stress and my kids won’t be ok.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Kanye 'Ye' West and rumoured wife Bianca Censori have turned heads with risqué outfit choices while roaming Italy. Censori, who previously worked for West's Yeezy brand, was spotted covering her ensemble with a hotel pillow after furious locals hit back at the "offensive" choices in recent weeks. The shots show Censori in a sheer, nude bra and leggings with a purple pillow covering her chest. West sported an all-black outfit with no shoes. The photos shared to X/Twitter were soon met with confusion from fellow users, with one writing: "How completely ridiculous these people are. Put on some clothes and then you won’t have to take a hotel room cushion out sightseeing with you - and you even get your arms free! Novel concept." Another asked: "Why is Bianca walking around naked with a pillow?" Meanwhile, a third added: "Kanye & Bianca Censori are unhinged. Someone ought to stage an intervention. Wearing a pillow? Him walking in socks?" The pair have not been shy of controversy while travelling Italy after photos captured the rapper exposing his bare bottom at the back of a boat in Venice. The images prompted the boat company to issue a ban for life, adding they were "completely unaware" West had dropped his pants, as they were focusing on water traffic. A source for the Venice Police told the Daily Mail : "There are standards of public decorum that have to be followed by tourists and locals alike and any breaches are severely punished. The images of West with his trousers down while in a taxi as he and his partner crossed the lagoon were seen all over the globe." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The iconoclastic director behind ‘Mulholland Drive,’ ‘Twin Peaks,’ and more cult classics once drew a comic strip about a furious dog and dislikes large furniture.

Nick Cannon has been poking fun at how many children he has over on TikTok with a new parody video. In the clip, the dad of 12 is sat at his desk when he gets 'reminder' on his phone from 'baby mama #12' to 'pay child support'. Instead of picking up the phone, however, he quickly dismisses the reminder and gets on with his day, snacking on crisps. Cannon is often the butt of the joke, and fans were delighted to see him get involved. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter