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☆ New ‘The Office’ comedy series will center on reporters at a ‘dying’ newspaper
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Over a decade after viewers said goodbye to beloved NBC series “The Office,” a new comedy set in the same universe as everyone’s favorite paper company Dunder Mifflin is coming to Peacock. Daniels and Koman will also produce the series with original “Office” creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Many cast members became household names following the widespread and early success of the series, which won five Emmys throughout its run. Like its predecessor starring Gervais, the series followed a mockumentary-style format with cast members breaking the fourth wall as a crew followed staffers around an office, capturing tedious day-to-day tasks, office romances and at-times outlandish behavior. It is not yet known if any previous cast members will make cameos in the Peacock series, which is set to begin production in July.

Persons: “, Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Dunder, Greg Daniels, “ Nathan, Michael Koman, Daniels, Koman, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant ., Steve Carell, John Krasinksi, Jenna Fischer, Mindy Kaling, Rainn Wilson, BJ Novak, Gervais Organizations: CNN, NBC, Dunder Mifflin Locations: Scranton

☆ Why Prince Harry was mentioned in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sexual-assault lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Prince Harry was mentioned in a sexual assault lawsuit filed against Sean "Diddy" Combs last month. Prince Harry was used as an example of celebrities that are associated with Combs. AdvertisementPrince Harry was named in a sexual assault lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs, but the prince has not been accused of a crime. A representative for Prince Harry declined to give a comment to Business Insider. The Prince Harry reports were published a day after the Department of Homeland Security raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami.

Persons: Prince Harry, Sean, Diddy, Combs, —, Harry, Rodney Jones Jr, Lil Rod, It's, Prince Harry's, Jones, Ye, Diana, Getty Images Prince Harry, Prince William, Princess Diana, Elton John, Natasha Bedingfield, Gillian Anderson, David Beckham, Ricky Gervais, Lily Allen, William, Combs haven't, Graham Norton, Norton, Aaron Dyer, Casandra, Cassie, Ventura Organizations: Service, Combs, British Royal, Getty Images, Wembley, Kanye, Royal, Diddy Party, Department of Homeland Security, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, DHS Locations: Manhattan, British, London, Los Angeles, Miami

☆ Atheists are still reluctant to ‘come out’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Just like people of faith, not all atheists believe the same things. Because atheists are defined by what they don’t believe, it’s difficult to generalize what they do believe. What do atheists believe? Nearly a third of atheists believe humans have souls or spirits in addition to their physical body. It's hard to talk about atheists as a large group because they're defined by what they don't believe in.

Persons: CNN —, Ron DeSantis, it’s, “, Ricky Gervais, ‘, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Nick Fish, ” Fish, don’t, ”, Jason Lancaster, Diana Nyad, Oprah, Will Gervais, Maxine B, Najle, Gervais, ” It’s, —, I’m, Jocelyn Williamson, doesn’t, ” Williamson, “ There’s, Williamson, They’re, Fish Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Gallup, Merriam, American Atheists, Pew Research, Getty, Pew, Central, Central Florida Freethought, Central Florida Freethought Community, ” Atheists, Interfaith Council of Central, Christian, Habitat, Humanity Locations: Florida, Central Florida, Interfaith Council of Central Florida

CNN —That a crowd of thousands gathered for the funeral of Kelvin Kiptum was testament to the marathon world record holder’s staggering impact on his sport. “You ask yourself so many questions as to why, but sometimes it’s hard to get answers,” double Olympic gold medalist David Rudisha tells CNN about his compatriot’s untimely death. “The last few weeks have been a really sad moment for Kenyans,” says Rudisha, himself a world record holder over 800 meters. “Kelvin was very special, coming up and running just three marathons, all of them under two hours, two minutes. “Everybody feels good to watch a world record,” he says.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, “, ”, David Rudisha, Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Mustafa Yalcin, Rudisha, it’s, Kelvin, ” Rudisha, Quinn Rooney, Emmanuel Wanyonyi Organizations: CNN, Paris, Getty Locations: Kenya, Eldoret, Chicago, London, Anadolu, Rio

☆ Kelvin Kiptum’s funeral: Thousands in Kenya mourn marathon hero as family pays emotional tributes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —Kenyan politicians and leaders in sports gathered on Friday for a funeral service celebrating the life of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a road accident last Sunday. Kiptum, 24, and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died at the scene of the crash outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, police said. Kiptum’s widow, Asenath Cheruto, led the ceremony and paid tribute to her late husband with a moving speech. For Kelvin’s family, his fellow athletes, the legion of friends from within and beyond athletics … But I can speak on behalf of the entire world athletics family,” Coe said“Kelvin, you will be missed. The President of Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei announced that Golazo, a company specializing in athletes management, is launching the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation, which “will predominantly provide continued financial support for education and infrastructure.”

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, William Ruto, Rigathi Gachagua, Musalia Mudavadi, Gervais Hakizimana, Kiptum’s, Asenath Cheruto, “, ” Cheruto, ”, Cheruto, Sebastian Coe, ” Coe, Kelvin, “ Kelvin, Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei Organizations: Kenya CNN — Kenyan, Athletics, Athletics Kenya, Kelvin, Kelvin Kiptum Foundation Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Eldoret

☆ Ewen MacIntosh, Comedian on British Sitcom ‘The Office,’ Dies at 50
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Isabella Kwai | More About Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ewen MacIntosh, a British actor and comedian known for his dry portrayal of Keith Bishop, a lackluster accountant in the acclaimed British sitcom, “The Office,” has died. He died on Monday, his management company, Just Right Management, said, but it did not give a cause of death. The company said in a social media post that Mr. MacIntosh received support from a care home before he died. Mr. MacIntosh had parts in several comedic series, including the British sitcom “Miranda” and the sketch series “Little Britain.” But it was “The Office” that would be his most famous role, as a socially inept accountant working at a boring branch of a paper company. It included two series and a Christmas special, and its comedic approach was praised by critics and audiences alike.

Persons: Ewen MacIntosh, Keith Bishop, ”, MacIntosh, “ Miranda ”, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant Locations: British, Britain

☆ Ewen MacIntosh, star of British comedy ‘The Office,’ dead at 50
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

London CNN —British actor Ewen MacIntosh, best known for his role in BBC comedy series “The Office,” has died at the age of 50, his representatives confirmed. “It is with a heavy heart I can confirm the very sad news of our client Ewen’s passing. Ewen was a wonderful actor and an even better human being. The very funny and very lovely Ewen Macintosh, known to many as ‘Big Keith’ from The Office, has passed away. RIP,” wrote Merchant in a post on X.

Persons: Ewen MacIntosh, ”, Ewen, Ian West, “ Ewen, MacIntosh, “ Big Keith, Ricky Gervais, “, Keith ’, Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Merchant Organizations: London CNN, Management, CNN, MacIntosh Locations: British

☆ Kelvin Kiptum, Marathon World Record-Holder, Is Dead at 24
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Victor Mather | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kelvin Kiptum, who shattered the world record in the men’s marathon last year, finishing tantalizingly close to the mythical and once unfathomable two-hour barrier, died in a car crash on Sunday in Kaptagat in western Kenya. His death was announced by Athletics Kenya, the governing body for track and field in that country. Kiptum, who was driving, veered off the road into a ditch and then hit a large tree, the authorities said. After some good performances in half marathons, Kiptum broke through in his first marathon in Valencia, Spain, in 2022, with a winning time of 2:01:53. At the London Marathon in 2023, he crushed the field to win in 2:01:25, the second-fastest time in history, 16 seconds short of the world record of 2:01:09 held by Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Hakizimana, Sharon Kosgei, Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge Organizations: Athletics Kenya, London Marathon Locations: Kaptagat, Kenya, Valencia, Spain

☆ Kelvin Kiptum was targeting even more marathon history before his death aged 24
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Before his life was cut short at the age of 24 in a road accident, Kelvin Kiptum had been intent on achieving even more history in his brief but extraordinary marathon running career. Of the seven fastest marathon times in history, Kiptum owns three of them. “I offer my deepest condolences to his young family.”Kiptum stands next to a timer displaying his marathon world record in Chicago. He raced his first marathon in Valencia two days after his 23rd birthday and within the space of a year had become the world record holder. “I will get close to the sub-two barrier, so why not aim to break it?” Kiptum had said in November.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Kiptum’s, ” Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Sebastian Coe, John Walton, Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge’s, Kipchoge, “, ” Kipchoge, Michael Reaves, Getty, Kiptum –, Hakizimana, ” Hakizimana, I’m Organizations: CNN, Rotterdam Marathon, Kiptum, London Marathon, World Athletics, AFP, Chicago Marathon, Toyota, Kenyan Locations: Valencia, London, Chicago, Kenya, Austrian, Vienna, Chepsamo, Chepkorio, Eldoret, West, Europe, Rwanda, Rotterdam

☆ Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and coach killed in road accident in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nairobi CNN —Current marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a road accident Sunday night outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, Kenyan police confirmed. The 24-year-old Kenyan athlete, who was driving a Toyota Premio, and his coach died at the scene of the crash, Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge told CNN. Kiptum’s world record marathon time of 2:00:35 set in the Chicago Marathon in October last year was ratified just days ago by World Athletics. He had only switched to running the marathon from shorter distance races a year before setting that record pace. He improved his personal best time by 50 seconds to beat the 2:01:09 record set by fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who is widely considered the greatest marathoner of all time.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Peter Mulinge, Mulinge, “, ” Mulinge, Kipchoge, Kiptum, Sebastian Coe, ”, ” Coe, Kelvin, Bob Verbeeck, ” Verbeeck Organizations: Nairobi CNN —, Kenyan, Toyota, Police, CNN, Chicago Marathon, World Athletics, Athletics, Management Locations: Nairobi, Eldoret, Marakwet, Rwanda, Chicago

☆ The No. 1 life regret of the dying: I see it 'all the time,' says psychologist—what he does before it's too late
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Michael Gervais | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

She was there to listen, and she catalogued those intimate reflections her book, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying." The most common answer, according to Ware, was: "I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me." Here are 11 little habits they practice every day Does the response to your social media post really matter? Does it matter that a friend group boxes you out of their social circle? What will you regret at the end of your life?

Persons: Bronnie Ware, Ware Locations: Ware

☆ Stop worrying about what people think of you, psychologist says: 'Make sure you're living your life on your terms'—here's how
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's natural to seek advice before making a big decision, but you should be careful that you're not excessively worrying about other people's opinions so much that you aren't making the right choices for yourself. "Some people's opinions do in fact matter, and they can have a significant impact on one's trajectory in life," says Michael Gervais, a psychologist with expertise on the link between the mind and human performance. But FOPO, fear of people's opinions, can constrict your potential and prevent you from doing what you feel called to do, says Gervais, who's also the author of "The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You." DON'T MISS: Here’s why rejection is actually good for your brain, according to a psychologist"FOPO is an effort to avoid rejection to be accepted, where we develop this exhaustive attempt to interpret what others are thinking to avoid negative evaluation by them," he adds.

Persons: Michael Gervais, Gervais, who's, FOPO

☆ Vingegaard marches towards Tour de France title as Pogacar explodes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 17 - Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc to Courchevel - France - July 19, 2023 AG2R Citroen Team's Felix Gall celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win stage 17 REUTERS/Stephane MaheCOURCHEVEL, France, July 19 (Reuters) - Jonas Vingegaard made a giant stride towards a second consecutive Tour de France title when crash-hit rival Tadej Pogacar cracked in the toughest stage of the race on Wednesday. What was a 10-second gap two days ago is now an unbridgeable 7:35 gap after Pogacar huffed and puffed over the line more than five minutes behind Jumbo-Visma leader Vingegaard. "I'm relieved to have more than seven minutes but we're not in Paris yet, there's some tricky stages left, still," said Vingegaard. Vingegaard slowed down and zig-zagged through to continue his demolition work until the line, which he crossed with a big smile on his face. Also why do they let cars pass us when the gap between the groups of riders is just 15 seconds?"

Persons: Gervais Mont, Team's Felix Gall, Stephane Mahe COURCHEVEL, Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar, Vingegaard, la, Felix Gall of Austria, Saint Gervais, I'm, Pogacar, Benoot, Marc Soler, Griescha Niermann, Jonas, Thibaut Pinot, Julien Pretot, David Goodman, Mike Harrison Organizations: de, de France, UAE Emirates, Thomson Locations: Gervais Mont Blanc, Courchevel, France, Saint, Paris

Want to watch a free Tour de France live stream for the final week of the 2023 event? Australia also has a free live stream. How to watch Tour de France in the USAThe best option for US viewers is Peacock, which will have every live stage of the Tour de France showing daily. Watch Tour de France live stream for free from anywhereTour de France live stream is showing free in multiple countries this year. Watch Tour de France for free.

Persons: Gervais, Vingegaard, Adam Yates, you'll, ExpressVPN, It's, Peacock, RTVE Organizations: de France, Tour de France, NBC, USA Network, France, France.TV, RAI Sport, SBS Locations: Saint, Blanc, Courchevel, Paris, Europe, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Australia, USA

☆ Tour de France: Huge crash on stage 15
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Crashes in the Tour de France are commonplace, but a pile-up during Sunday’s Stage 15 was particularly eye-catching as a number of riders fell after a fan apparently tried to take a picture. Eurosport commentary during live coverage of the race said a spectator had caused a rider to be put off balance. The Team Jumbo-Visma rider fell, causing others to follow on a narrow section of a road. You don’t need a phone to create mind-blowing memories.”Around 20 riders fell off their bikes. In 2021, a fan stepped in front of the racing pack holding a cardboard sign, causing dozens of cyclists to crash during the Tour.

Persons: Les, Soleil, Gervais, ”, Dan Lloyd, …, Carlton Kirby, Sepp Kuss, Nathan van Hooydonck, Benoit Tessier, Confidis Organizations: CNN, Tour de France, Sunday’s, Blanc, Eurosport, Jumbo, BBC, Team, INEOS Grenadiers Locations: Saint, cycling’s

☆ Tour leader Vingegaard welcomes scepticism about performances
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAINT GERVAIS, France, July 16 (Reuters) - Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar have made such a huge impression in the Tour de France that, in a sport that was marred by doping scandals, doubts about their performances have arisen but Denmark's defending champion welcomes the scepticism. On Sunday, Pogacar and Vingegaard clocked 18:27 on the final climb, beating four-time Tour winner Chris Froome's record by 42 seconds. "So yes, I fully understand the questions we're getting about it (our performances)," said Vingegaard. In 2006, Floyd Landis became the first Tour winner to fail a drugs test during the race after testing positive for the male sex hormone testosterone. The Kazakh’s Astana team left the Tour and sacked Vinokourov, who denied any wrongdoing, and Tour leader Michael Rasmussen was then fired by his Rabobank team during the race for lying about his whereabouts in training.

Persons: SAINT GERVAIS, Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej, France's Guillaume Martin, Dane, Carlos Rodriguez, Vingegaard, Chris Froome's, Marco Pantani, Joux, it's, Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich, Giro, Ivan Basso, Floyd Landis, Alexandre Vinokourov, Vinokourov, Michael Rasmussen, Julien Pretot, Ken Ferris Organizations: Tour de, Slovenian, Cycling, Kazakh’s Astana, Rabobank, Thomson Locations: France, Slovenian, Puerto

Want to watch a free Tour de France live stream this weekend? Australia also has a free live stream. How to watch Tour de France in the USAThe best option for US viewers is Peacock, which will have every live stage of the Tour de France showing daily. Watch Tour de France live stream for free from anywhereTour de France live stream is showing free in multiple countries this year. Watch Tour de France for free.

Persons: Les, Du Soleil, Gervais, There's, Vingegaard's, Pogacar . Hindley, you'll, ExpressVPN, It's, Peacock, RTVE Organizations: de France, Wimbledon, Tour de France, NBC, USA Network, France, France.TV, RAI Sport, SBS Locations: Annemasse, Saint, Blanc, Europe, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Australia, USA, Paris

☆ 2 authors say OpenAI 'ingested' their books to train ChatGPT. Now they're suing, and a 'wave' of similar court cases may follow.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Gabriel Rivera | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Two writers are suing OpenAI, accusing the company of ingesting their books to train ChatGPT. A law professor anticipates more lawsuits involving copyright law and generative AI in the future. Two award-winning authors recently sued OpenAI, accusing the generative-AI bastion of violating copyright law by using their published books to train ChatGPT without their consent. The suit is the latest example of tension between creatives and generative AI tools capable of producing text and images in seconds. Daniel Gervais, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, told Insider that the writers' lawsuit is one of a handful of copyright cases against generative AI tools nationwide.

Persons: OpenAI, Mona Awad, Paul Tremblay, Daniel Gervais, Gervais, Awad, Andres Guadamuz, Guadamuz, Tremblay Organizations: Morning, Vanderbilt University, University of Sussex, Guardian, Big Tech Locations: US, Northern California

☆ This is why comedian Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Comedian Sarah Silverman is one of three authors suing the company behind ChatGPT. Comedian Sarah Silverman is suing the company behind ChatGPT, alleging copyright infringement of her book. Silverman is one of three authors who are suing OpenAI, the company that created the AI chatbot, according to the court documents seen by Insider. Sarah Silverman brings case against AI company, ChatGPT. The other plaintiffs are writer Christopher Golden, whose copyrighted books include "Ararat," a supernatural thriller, and writer Richard Kadrey, whose copyrighted books include the dark, urban fantasy "Sandman Slim."

Persons: Sarah Silverman, Silverman, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Christopher Golden, Richard Kadrey, Slim, Daniel Gervais Organizations: Morning, Vanderbilt University, Big Tech Locations: Ararat, US

☆ Allied to sell UDC portfolio to KDDI Corp for C$1.35 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 21 (Reuters) - Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (AP_u.TO) on Wednesday said it has entered into an agreement to sell its urban datacenter portfolio to Japanese telecommunications provider KDDI Corporation (9433.T) for C$1.35 billion ($1.02 billion). The portfolio comprises Toronto's 151 Front Street West and 905 King Street West, along with a leasehold interest in 250 Front Street West. Allied will use around C$1 billion of the sale proceeds to retire debt and the balance to fund its upgrade and development activity over the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, the company said. Scotiabank, CBRE and Aird & Berlis LLP are advisers to Allied for the transaction, while BofA Securities, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Nishimura & Asahi are acting as advisers to KDDI. ($1 = 1.3222 Canadian dollars)(This story has been corrected to change to Canadian dollar from U.S. dollar throughout and adds conversion)Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Berlis, Borden Ladner Gervais, Pratyush Thakur, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Pooja Desai Organizations: Real, Investment Trust, KDDI Corporation, King Street, West, Scotiabank, BofA Securities, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Nishimura, Asahi, Thomson Locations: CBRE, Bengaluru

☆ A blind man is suing 3 rail companies after he fell onto the tracks just before a train arrived
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A blind man is suing three rail companies after he fell onto the tracks at a station in England. A blind man is suing a railway company and two train operators after falling onto railway tracks in England. He said the lack of tactile paving at the train station meant he wasn't alerted to the platform edge. Charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People said last year that 40% of major rail stations in the UK lacked tactile paving. A jury found that the lack of tactile paving "more than minimally" contributed to his death, Metro reported.

Persons: Abdul Eneser, He's, Eneser, it's, Cleveland Gervais Organizations: Morning, Manchester Piccadilly, Network Rail, Northern Rail, Guardian, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Metro Locations: England, Avanti West Coast, Eden, London

☆ ‘The Office’ gets an Australian reboot with a female boss
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —More than 20 years after British comedian Ricky Gervais gave insufferable middle-manager David Brent global fame, an Australian version of the hit show “The Office” is being made, this time with a female lead. Since its debut in 2001, “The Office” has won multiple awards and inspired local versions in countries including Chile, Israel, India, and Poland. The Australian series is the 13th adaption and the first to cast a woman in the lead role. The Australian edition is co-produced by BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, Bunya Entertainment, and Amazon Studios. In a statement, Gervais, who co-created “The Office” with Stephen Merchant said he was excited about the Australian version.

Persons: Ricky Gervais, David Brent, Felicity Ward, Hannah Howard, Brent, Michael Scott, ”, Ward, she’d, Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Kylie Washington, it’s Organizations: CNN, BBC, Wakefield ”, BBC Studios, Bunya Entertainment, Amazon Studios, BBC Studios ANZ Locations: British, Chile, Israel, India, Poland, BBC Studios Australia, New Zealand, Sydney

☆ Salman Rushdie Makes Surprise Appearance at PEN America Gala
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jennifer Schuessler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“We see free speech threatened on all sides, from the left and the right,” Suzanne Nossel, who has been PEN America’s chief executive since 2013, said in an interview before the gala. But this is a really important time to shore it up as a cultural and constitutional value. That’s part of what the gala does.”The gala itself has been affected by the complexities of the current moment. “As a free speech organization, we must go to the utmost lengths to avoid sidelining speech or being seen to do so,” she said. “Nothing puts you at ease at an event like seeing Salman Rushdie,” he said to titters.

☆ Children cat-killing contest axed following backlash in New Zealand
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A contest planned for children in New Zealand to hunt and kill feral cats as part of a drive to protect native species has been axed following backlash from the public and animal rights groups. In neighboring Australia, authorities say feral cats threaten the survival of more than 100 native species. Feral cats are blamed for killing millions of birds, reptiles, frogs and mammals, every day, prompting authorities to arrange regular culls. The New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was “both pleased and relieved” that the cat-killing contest for children had been removed. Blackie, who has studied feral cats for two decades, said numbers had exploded in the last decade, and in some areas where pests were tracked by camera, feral cats outnumbered other species like possums.

☆ Comedian Jerrod Carmichael to host Golden Globes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Jerrod Carmichael arrives for world premiere of Transfomers, The Last Night, at a cinema in central London, Britain, June 18, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayDec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. comedian and actor Jerrod Carmichael will host the Golden Globes in January when the annual awards ceremony will be broadcast to audiences once again, organisers said on Thursday. read moreCarmichael, who in September won an Emmy Award for his show "Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel", follows in the footsteps of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Ricky Gervais, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon as host. “Jerrod is the special kind of talent this show calls for to kick off the awards season.”The Jan. 10 ceremony will be the 80th edition of the Globes. It admitted 103 new voters from 62 countries outside of the United States, bringing the total voters to 200.

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