R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe has contributed a track to a new Earth Day compilation, currently available on Bandcamp.
The EarthPercent x Earth Day ’23 Compilation Album features over 60 tunes that are either new, exclusive or previously unreleased. They can be downloaded individually or as a whole album from April 20 to May 6, with Stipe contributing the song “Give Me A Hand,” featuring folk singer Gaeylynn Lee.
Other artists on the compilation include Coldplay and H.E.R., CHVRCHES with The Cure‘s Robert Smith, Brian Eno and more.
A portion of the proceeds from each track sold will go to EarthPercent’s grant making program, which supports organizations working to tackle the climate emergency.
(LONDON) — At least 78 people are dead and dozens more were injured after a stampede at a school in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Wednesday evening, according to local officials. The tragedy occurred on one of the last days of Ramadan, as people were reportedly gathering to receive a handout of about $9 per person that was being distributed by merchants.
Witnesses told officials the stampede was caused by someone trying to control the crowd by shooting into the air. The shooting reportedly hit an electrical wire which fell on the ground and caused electroshocks, which triggered more panic in the crowd, witnesses said.
The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said the stampede happened at a “random distribution of sums of money by some merchants,” blaming the merchants for the lack of organization and not coordinating with ministry officials.
Motaher al-Marouni, a senior health official in Sanaa, said at least 13 people were seriously injured, according to the Al-Masirah satellite TV channel.
The aid distributors quickly sealed off the school where the event was planned and barred people and journalists from approaching.
The two merchants in charge of the matter were arrested, the Interior Ministry said.
Sanaa has been under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2014. An ongoing civil war between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government directly claimed the lives of at least 150,000 people by the end of 2021, according to a United Nations report.
The number of casualties in the civil war could be 377,000 when including those killed through “both direct and indirect impacts,” the UN said.
Even before the recent conflict, according to the UN, Yemen was already the poorest nation in the Arab region, suffering from weak development as a result of local conflicts, chronic food insecurity and uncertain political transition.
About 20.7 million people out of the total population of 30.5 million in Yemen are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, UNICEF said, with 14.3 million people in acute need. The agency says around £10 ($12.45) provides life-saving therapeutic food for a child in Yemen for a week.
On Thursday, April 20, Paramount+ revealed the cast of the eighth season of the Emmy-winning RuPaul‘s Drag Race All Stars.
As always, returning competitors from RuPaul’s Drag Race will take to the catwalk, vying for a chance to compete for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame, along with a cash prize of $200,000.
The new season begins streaming on Paramount+ on Friday, May 12, with two all-new episodes. Additionally, new episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked will offer behind-the-scenes drama on the streaming service, to (high-heeled) boot.
All Stars season 8’s competitors are: Alexis Michelle (RPDR season 9), Darienne Lake (season 6), Heidi N Closet (season 12), Jaymes Mansfield (season 9), Jessica Wild (season 2), Jimbo (Canada’s Drag Race season 1, UK vs. the World season 1), Kahanna Montrese (RPDR season 11), Kandy Muse (season 13), LaLa Ri (season 13), Monica Beverly Hillz (season 5), Mrs. Kasha Davis (season 7) and Naysha Lopez (season 8).
(ATLANTA) — About one-third of American households used the free at-home COVID-19 test site launched by the Biden administration, new federal data shows.
COVIDTests.gov was first launched in January 2022, when President Joe Biden pledged to give out 1 billion free rapid tests to combat the omicron surge at the time.
The site was temporarily shut down in fall 2022 but relaunched in December as part of the White House’s winter preparedness plan.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published its report Thursday, said more than 70 million test kits were shipped across the United States. The CDC report details how many kits were used and which groups used them.
The agency conducted a survey of 3,400 Americans aged 18 and older between April 14, 2022, and May 13, 2022, who were tested for COVID-19 in the previous six months.
Results showed that 59.9% of households — equivalent to about 77 million households — had ordered government kits. Only 38.3% — equivalent to about 49 million — reported using a test kit.
Of that group, 23.6% said they likely would not have tested without the COVIDTests.gov program.
There were no major differences when it came to who used the site by race and/or ethnicity.
About 42.1% of Black households placed at least one order as did 41.5% of Hispanic households, 34.8% of white households and 53.7% of households of other races.
As for other at-home tests — such as from a pharmacy, a doctor’s office or a drive-thru site — only about 11.8% of Black households used them compared to 45.8% of white households.
“Compared with White persons, Black persons were 72% less likely to use other home test kits,” the report read. “Provision of tests through this well-publicized program likely improved use of COVID-19 home testing and health equity in the United States, particularly among Black persons.”
Households made up of those aged 65 and older were the least likely to have used a test kit from the website, with only 26.8% doing so.
Meanwhile, households with individuals between ages 18 and 34 were the most likely to use a kit.
There were no major differences when it came to who used the program based on which region of the U.S. they lived in, education level or household income.
Additionally, participants were asked if they were aware of the COVIDTests.gov program and how the experience was.
The CDC found that 93.8% of households knew what the program was. Among those who used the test kits 95.5% rated the experience as “very acceptable” or “acceptable.”
“These data indicate that provision of free COVID-19 tests through the COVIDTests.gov program was not only widely used, but also provided a mechanism for millions of persons to receive COVID-19 testing who otherwise might not have,” the authors wrote.
“Moreover, this program likely led to improvement in equity of COVID-19 testing … these findings support the substantial health value of national programs that address critical health needs during a pandemic response,” they continued.
ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report.
As previously reported, Mötley Crüe is back in the studio and once again working with Dr. Feelgood producer Bob Rock. Now bassist Nikki Sixx is giving fans an update on how things are going, and he certainly sounds pumped.
“Bob Rock is pushing us hard and bringing out the best in us,” Sixx shared in a post on Facebook. “Tommy (Lee) is playing his a** off. Jesus these drums sound huge.”
He adds, “Probably lay down my final bass tracks in the next few days. John (5) is so fast I’m sure he will get all the songs done in just a few days. But then again Bob Rock loves those huge walls of guitars so it could take a moment.”
As for songwriting, Sixx offers, “I’m sure you all know how important lyrics are to me,” revealing that he’s already completed writing one tune and hopes to finish another one soon.
Of course, fans of the Crüe are probably wondering when they’ll finally get to hear all this new stuff. Sixx says they’re “not sure,” explaining, “we haven’t thought that far down the line. Just letting the music guide us.”
Original Three Days Grace singer Adam Gontier reunited with his former band during their concert in Hunstville, Alabama, on Wednesday.
The “Just Like You” rockers shared a photo of the surprise collaboration on their Instagram, alongside the caption, “Soooo we did a thing.”
According to Setlist.fm, Gontier joined TDG for renditions of the songs “Never Too Late” and “Riot,” both of which appear on the group’s 2006 sophomore album, One-X.
Gontier co-founded Three Days Grace alongside bassist Brad Walst and drummer Neil Sanderson in the ’90s, and left the group band in 2013. In an Instagram post last year, Gontier revealed that he’d met up with Sanderson for the first time since his departure. He, Walst and current TDG singer Matt Walst also reunited last summer to be honored by their old high school.
Matt Walst, Brad’s brother, has fronted Three Days Grace since Gontier left. With Matt on vocals, TDG has released three albums, including 2022’s Explosions.
Three Days Grace is currently on tour supporting Explosions while opening for Shinedown.
This year’s Tribeca Film Festival will feature documentaries about Alicia Keys, Tierra Whack and the late Biz Markie.
According to the festival website, All Up in the Biz, directed by Sacha Jenkins, highlights the mark Biz Markie made on hip-hop via a combination of rare clips, reenactments, playful animation and interviews with the likes of Nick Cannon, Fat Joe, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh, Dapper Dan and Darryl “DMC” McDaniel of Run-DMC. Sponsored by Indeed, the documentary, part of Expressions of Black Freedom programming, spans a total of 100 minutes.
The Alicia documentary is directed by filmmaker Beth Aala, but it isn’t necessarily about the singer’s life. Per the site, Uncharted gives viewers a look into the music business, particularly through the lens of young Black and Brown women, through behind-the-scenes clips of Alicia’s She Is The Music songwriting camp.
Finally, Cypherdocuments the rise of Tierra Whack while capturing “the weird and sinister side of fame.” Chris Moukarbel directed the pseudo documentary, which will supposedly “have viewers questioning everything they see.”
The 2023 Tribeca Film Festival will kick off June 7 in New York City and will end on June 18. The aforementioned films are only three of 109 films premiering at this year’s event. Billboard reportsthere’s a diverse roster featuring “43 first-time directors with 41% of all feature films directed by women and, in a first, more than half of competition films directed by women (68%), as well as 36% of feature films directed by BIPOC filmmakers.”
Post Malone has set a new record for RIAA Diamond-certified singles: Thanks to three new certifications, he now has a total of eight, breaking the previous record set by Bruno Mars, who has six.
Diamond certification means a song has sold 10 million units. Posty’s songs that have reached that milestone are “White Iverson,” “Circles,” “Sunflower,” “Congratulations,” “I Fall Apart,” “Rockstar,” “Better Now” and “Psycho.”
Also of note, “Sunflower” holds the record for the highest Platinum-certified single of all time: It’s been certified 17-times Platinum.
To mark his achievement, on Friday Post will release The Diamond Collection, a compilation that includes all those singles, as well as his new track, “Chemical.” That’s the first release from his upcoming fifth album.
(NEW YORK) — On a late summer day in 2016, Viktoria Nasyrova traveled from Brooklyn to Queens so she could visit the Forest Hills home of Olga Tsvyk. She brought a special dessert with her.
The two women had a lot in common. They were both Russian speakers, both had dark hair, similar complexions and shared other physical traits.
The two women sat down to eat the cheesecake Nasyrova had brought and, soon after, Tsvyk felt sick and passed out. Her last memory was of seeing Nasyrova walking around her room, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
The following day, Tsvyk was discovered unconscious in her bed with pills scattered around her body as if she had attempted to kill herself, according to Katz. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.
When Tsvyk returned home, she realized that her passport and employment authorization card were missing, along with a gold ring and other valuables.
Prosecutors said Nasyrova poisoned Tsvyk with phenazepam, a highly potent sedative, concealed in the cheesecake. The residue was found on the dessert container.
The Drug Enforcement Administration tested the pills found on the floor near the victim and identified the same drug.
Nasyrova, 47, of Sheepshead Bay, was convicted in February of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree and petit larceny.
On Wednesday, she was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
“A ruthless and calculating con artist is going to prison for a long time for trying to murder her way to personal profit and gain. Thankfully, the victim survived the attack on her life and we were able to deliver justice to her,” Katz said in a statement.
London’s Wembley Stadium hosted The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness in memory of the late Queen frontman, who died in November 1991.
Performers at the concert included Metallica, Def Leppard,Guns ‘N Roses, David Bowie, Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant.
The three remaining members of Queen, John Deacon, Brian May and Roger Taylor, also performed along with guest singers and guitarists, including Elton John, George Michael, Seal, Annie Lennox, Liza Minnelli and more. U2 also took part via satellite, beaming in a performance of “Until the End of the World,” which they dedicated to Mercury.
Memorable performances included Queen and Michael’s “Somebody to Love,” Queen, Bowie and Lennox on “Under Pressure,” Queen and GNR’s Axl Rose on “We Will Rock You” and Queen and Minnelli’s pairing on “We Are the Champions.”
Money raised from the concert went to establish the AIDS charity the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
