Tag Archives: invited

World

White House confirms Trump not invited to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

Leave a comment

President Joe Biden will not be bringing his predecessor — or any other former president — to accompany him when he travels to London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the White House has said.

In response to a question on whether Mr Biden would invite Donald Trump or any of the three other living ex-presidents to join an official delegation to the late sovereign’s memorial service, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the official invitation from His Majesty’s Government was extended only to the incumbent president and his spouse, First Lady Jill Biden.

Ms Jean-Pierre said the invitation was transmitted on Saturday as a diplomatic note from the protocol directorate of the UK foreign and commonwealth office, with Mr Biden accepting it a day later.

“The invitation was extended to the US government for the President and the First Lady only,” she said.

Foreign heads of state and their partners have been asked to arrive in the UK on commercial flights and have been told there will be no use of helicopters allowed to move them around London.

They have also been told that they will not be allowed to use official cars to attend the funeral on Monday 19 September but will instead be bussed to Westminster Abbey from a site in west London, according to Politico.

The late Queen’s seven decades on the throne spanned the terms of 14 US presidents, from the 33th — Harry S Truman — to Mr Biden, the 46th. Of those 14, the only one she did not meet in person was the 36th, Lyndon Johnson.

Following the announcement of the Queen’s death, Mr Trump, who was invited for a state visit to the UK in 2019, took to Truth Social to praise her “generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor”, adding that she was a “beautiful lady”.

“Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief,” he wrote.

The former president continued: “Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was—there was nobody like her!”

The former president visited the UK on three occasions during his time in office. In July 2018 he met with the Queen and Prime Minister Theresa May, returning in June of the following year for an official state visit and the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

In December 2019 he returned for a Nato summit and again met with the Queen.

Read original article here

World

Russia says it has invited U.N., Red Cross experts to probe jail deaths

Leave a comment

July 31 (Reuters) – Russia has invited experts from the United Nations and the Red Cross to probe the deaths of dozens of Ukrainian prisoners in a jail held by Moscow-backed separatists, the defence ministry said on Sunday.

In a statement, the ministry said it was acting “in the interests of conducting an objective investigation” into what it called an attack on the jail earlier in the week.

The separatists put the death toll at 53 and accused Kyiv of hitting the prison with rockets. Ukraine’s armed forces denied responsibility, saying Russian artillery had targeted the prison to hide the mistreatment of those held there.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Register

Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Daniel Wallis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read original article here

Entertainment

Britney Spears says brother Bryan was ‘never invited’ to wedding

Leave a comment

Britney Spears claims her brother, Bryan Spears, was never invited to her wedding – despite reports stating otherwise. 

“You were never invited to my wedding so why even respond ??? Do you honestly think I want my brother there who told me no to a Jack and coke for 4 years … what ???” the pop star, 40, wrote in part in a Tuesday Instagram post. 

“If we were going to drink together at the wedding and play the classy roles for the children like you and [our] mom [Lynne Spears] do as you literally hid coffee and alcohol when I would come home,” she continued, adding, “you hurt me and you know it !!!”

Britney alleged that her estranged family — namely, Bryan — didn’t allow her to drink any alcohol throughout her four-year Las Vegas residency from 2013 to 2017, despite her being well over the age of 21. At the time, she was still under her legal conservatorship, which was terminated in November 2021.

Britney Spears explained why she didn’t invite brother Bryan Spears to her recent wedding in a heated Instagram post.
FilmMagic; bryanjamesspears/Inst

“And I might force myself to drink Jack tonight … look up at the moon and say ‘FUCK YOU !!!’” the Grammy winner added in her latest IG post. “I know you’re blood and yes blood runs deep but no family of mine would do what you guys did to me.”

Bryan did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment. 

During another section of her post, Britney acknowledged a previous Instagram Bryan shared in November 2021 after she was finally released from her nearly 14-year conservatorship. 

“Psss … I liked your post, brother !!! Happy Britdependence Day !!! Congratulations Brit Brit !!!” she wrote. “GO F—K YOURSELF Bryan – F—k you …”

The “Toxic” singer also acknowledged comments made by Bryan during a July 2020 podcast interview about her lengthy conservatorship battle. 

“I know what she wants but at the end of the day, what is the reality of that? What is the practicality of that? So are you going to call and make reservations for yourself today?” he told “As NOT Seen on TV” host Drew Plotkin at the time.

“Bryan when asked by that incredibly kind man ‘why doesn’t your family just let her be ???’ Your response was … ‘she can’t even make a dinner reservation …” Britney responded on Instagram. “None of you ever wanted it to end because you all loved telling me what to do and treating me like absolutely nothing !!!”

Bryan’s girlfriend, Amber Lynn Conklin, alleged this week that they were not at Britney’s star-studded nuptials to Sam Asghari because of his daughter’s graduation from elementary school. 

Britney, pictured here with her immediate family in 2003, is currently estranged from dad Jamie, mom Lynne, brother Bryan and sister Jamie Lynn Spears.
WireImage

“Watched our little munchkin & Vice President of 5th grade become a middle schooler yesterday! We love you Lexie baby and SO proud of you,” Conklin captioned a photo with Bryan and his 11-year-old daughter, Lexie, whom the producer shares with his ex-wife, Graciella Sanchez.

In the comments section of another post, Conklin noted that her beau “couldn’t help the timings” of his daughter’s graduation and his sister’s wedding, both of which took place in the Los Angeles area.

“Bryan felt terrible having to choose but he had to be there for his daughter and sent his love to Britney x1000000,” she wrote. “We are so sad to miss such an important moment but so so happy for Britney and Sam’s Marriage!”

A source previously told Page Six, “Both ceremonies were around the same time. Bryan couldn’t be in two places at once and didn’t want to disappoint Lexie by running off to a wedding immediately after her moving up ceremony, where she made a special speech. He wanted to be there to celebrate his little girl.”

Britney wed Sam Asghari in an intimate ceremony held at her home on Thursday.
Kevin Ostajewski/Shutterstock

Meanwhile, Britney has repeatedly criticized her immediate family — also including dad Jamie Spears and sister Jamie Lynn Spears — for being complicit in the conservatorship, even claiming they deserve to be in jail for their respective roles in the legal arrangement.

Britney once expressed a desire to sue her father, 69, for “conservatorship abuse.” He established it in 2008 to control his famous daughter’s personal, medical and financial affairs. 



Read original article here

Entertainment

Caitlyn Jenner wasn’t invited to Kourtney Kardashian wedding

Leave a comment

Caitlyn Jenner didn’t make the cut for Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s wedding in Italy.

Sources close to the couple told TMZ Wednesday that Kardashian’s former stepparent never received an invitation in the mail to the very intimate wedding weekend because they have a very limited relationship.

The outlet noted Kardashian and Jenner do not really see or speak to each other, so the Poosh founder did not feel it necessary to invite the former Olympian to her destination wedding Sunday.

Jenner, 72, did not sit at home bored while her family partied hard in Portofino, though. Instead, she made her way to Barcelona to watch her team, Jenner Racing, drive to victory.

Caitlyn Jenner didn’t make the cut for Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s wedding in Italy.
Getty Images; TheImageDirect

The former “I Am Cait” star was not the only one who might have been experiencing FOMO, as the bride’s brother, Rob Kardashian, also sat out of the high-profile affair despite receiving an invitation.

“Rob prefers to stay out of the spotlight, so he would’ve been uncomfortable going to such a high-profile party even though it was for his sister,” an insider told Page Six.

The Poosh founder reportedly doesn’t have much of a relationship with her former stepparent.
Kevin Mazur

A second source echoed that Rob, 35, is not big on public events or traveling but was looking forward to celebrating with the newlyweds when they arrived home in California. Currently, Kourtney, 43, and Barker, 46, are still vacationing in Italy, where they have been photographed packing on the PDA and jumping off of a super-yacht.

The pair reportedly are having yet another wedding once they return to LA, so it remains to be seen whether Jenner will be included in that event. It does not look like the newlyweds will be stressing too much about it, as they are busy enjoying their private European getaway now that their combined six kids have departed.

Read original article here

Technology

Apple sending notice to developers invited to WWDC 2022

Leave a comment

Apple last month announced WWDC 2022, another edition of its annual developer conference. This year, however, Apple let developers register for an in-person event at Apple Park. Now the company is sending the notice to developers who have been chosen to join the special event.

In-person Apple events had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, although WWDC 2022 will be pre-recorded and all online, Apple will open its campus to a limited number of developers who can watch the opening keynote along with the company’s engineers and designers.

Similar to registration for other WWDC events before the pandemic, developers interested in attending the event had to register via the Apple Developer website. Due to multiple restrictions, which include inviting fewer people to avoid COVID-19 spreading, registration for this special WWDC 2022 event was free.

Submissions to join the event were open from May 9 to May 11. Now Apple is notifying developers whether or not they were invited – which the company claims was a “random selection process.”

Selected developers “must follow Apple’s health and safety protocols.” Apple says that a negative COVID-19 test no older than three days before the event is required to enter Apple Park. However, wearing a mask is “currently” optional, as this can change at any time due to local laws.

In addition to the opening keynote, invited developers will have the chance to be the first to tour the new Developer Center at Apple Park. WWDC 2022 begins June 6, with online sessions through June 10. More details can be found on Apple’s website.

Read also:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Read original article here

Entertainment

JoJo Siwa Wasn’t Invited To Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards

Leave a comment

“My song made the cut, but not me.”

JoJo Siwa discussed why she wasn’t at the 2022 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in a new video on her Instagram page.


Amy Sussman / Getty Images

For context, JoJo has worked with Nickelodeon for a number of years. In particular, there’s her Nickelodeon-produced D.R.E.A.M. The Tour, which kicked off in 2019. It appears to have originally only been scheduled for a year, but ended up wrapping up last month — likely due to the pandemic.


Leon Bennett / Getty Images

However, in September 2021, JoJo called out Nickelodeon for not letting her perform any of her original songs from her new movie musical, The J Team, on her new tour dates — despite the movie being on Paramount+, which is part of the same media company as Nickelodeon. “Working for a company as a real human being treated as only a brand is fun until it’s not,” she tweeted.


Leon Bennett / Getty Images

That being said, it’s worth noting that JoJo was still nominated for a Kids’ Choice Award this year — Favorite Social Music Star, which she lost to Dixie D’Amelio.


Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images for GLAAD

On her Instagram, JoJo said, “A lot of you have been asking me why I’m not at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards tonight, and the answer is very simple — I wasn’t invited.”

“I’m not sure why, but I just didn’t get an invite,” she continued, adding in the caption, “I don’t want anyone to think it was my choice not to go.”

Some familiar faces hopped into the comments to voice their support for JoJo:

On her story, JoJo then followed up, “Somebody tagged me in something — they used my song ‘One Chance.’ My song made the cut, but not me.”

We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything from Nickelodeon!



Read original article here

Entertainment

JoJo Siwa says she ‘wasn’t invited’ to 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards

Leave a comment

The reason Jojo Siwa did not attend the 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards is simple: she wasn’t invited.

The “D.R.E.A.M.” singer, who has a complicated relationship with Nickelodeon, addressed her absence in an Instagram video Saturday night.

“I’m not sure why, but I just didn’t get an invite,” Siwa said. She later posted a follow-up video on her Instagram Story, saying someone tagged her in a clip of her song “One Chance” being played at the award show.

“So my song made it, but I didn’t,” Siwa laughed. 

Fans can think of a few possible reasons why the “Dancing With the Stars” alum didn’t get slimed. Siwa came out as gay last year, and recently confirmed she has new girlfriend.

Siwa also chopped off her signature ponytail on Thursday and is now sporting a spunky pixie cut. Perhaps the recent changes are too risky for Nickelodeon’s young audience.

JoJo Siwa partnered with Nickelodeon in 2017.
Instagram/itsjojosiwa

Siwa supported fan’s response to her ignored invitation on Twitter by retweeting two users’ theories.

“Being connected to a kids channel shouldn’t mean you have to stop being yourself,” one Twitter user wrote. 

Siwa called out Nickelodeon in September 2021, claiming the network would not let her perform the six original songs she recorded for the Paramount+ movie “The J Team” while on tour.

“These are MY songs, MY voice, MY writing. Does this seem fair???” she wrote in a series of since-deleted tweets, according to Billboard. “Working for a company as a real human being treated as only a brand is fun until it’s not.”



Read original article here

Entertainment

‘West Side Story’ Lead Rachel Zegler Wasn’t Invited to the Oscars

Leave a comment

UPDATE (3/22): West Side Story star Rachel Zegler has finally secured her 2022 Oscars invite. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has asked the actress to be a presenter during this year’s show.

**

Rachel Zegler, who plays the lead role of Maria in the Best Picture-nominated film West Side Story, says she wasn’t invited to the Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for Sunday, March 27. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not return Rolling Stone’s request for comment.

“I have tried it all but it doesn’t seem to be happening,” Zegler wrote on Instagram in response to a fan curious about her Oscars red carpet look. “I will root for West Side Story from my couch and be proud of the work we so tirelessly did three years ago.”

West Side Story is up for seven awards at the 2022 Academy Awards, appearing as a leader of this year’s Oscar nominees alongside the Power of the Dog and Dune. Its nominations include Best Director for Steven Spielberg, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Ariana DeBose.

“I hope some last-minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate our film in person but, hey, that’s how it goes sometimes, I guess,” Zegler continued. “Thanks for all the shock and outrage — I’m disappointed, too. But that’s OK. So proud of our movie.”

Less than two years ago, the Academy announced new diversity and inclusion standards for Oscars Best Picture eligibility. Part of the newly established criteria requires that films considered for the category must include two of four standards: onscreen representation, themes and narratives; creative leadership and project team; industry access and opportunities; and audience development.

The 2022 Oscars are the first ceremony to include these standards, although meeting the inclusion thresholds won’t be required until 2024. The on-screen representation, themes and narratives standard requires that at least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group; the general ensemble cast includes 30 percent of actors from at least two underrepresented groups; and/or the main storyline theme or narrative of the film is centered on underrepresented groups.

In West Side Story, Spielberg brings the 1957 stage musical of the same name to the big screen. While rival street gangs in Fifties Upper West Side New York City — the Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks — stir up trouble in their mutual disdain, star-crossed lovers Tony (Ansel Elgort) and María (Zegler) fall in love despite their respective affiliations.



Read original article here

Entertainment

‘West Side Story’ star Rachel Zegler not invited to Oscars

Leave a comment

Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” is nominated for seven Academy Awards, including best picture, director and supporting actress for Ariana DeBose. Yet the star of the movie musical will not be among those attending the ceremony on Sunday.

Rachel Zegler, the 20-year-old who plays Maria, posted Sunday that she tried to go but “it doesn’t seem to be happening” and that she will be rooting for “West Side Story” from her couch.

“I hope some last minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate our film in person but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes, I guess,” Zegler continued on Instagram. “Thanks for all the shock and outrage — I’m disappointed, too. But that’s OK. So proud of our movie.”

The post drew a lot of attention online as many couldn’t fathom why the lead of a best picture nominee wouldn’t have been invited to the ceremony or at least been asked to present an award.

Best picture nominees are allotted a certain number of tickets by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which the film’s studio then doles out as they see fit. Presenters and individual nominees get a pair of tickets. And other spots in the room go to the broadcaster, sponsors and academy members, who can enter a lottery.

Zegler is not nominated, but to only make things more vexing, her next big role is as Snow White, which she is currently filming in London. Some wondered why The Walt Disney Co., which owns Oscars broadcaster ABC, wouldn’t want their new Snow White there in some capacity, like presenting or performing. Others saw it as a missed opportunity to have a rising young Latina star represented at the show. Disney and Academy representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

Russ Tamblyn, who played Riff in the 1961 “West Side Story” and is a voting member of the Academy, tweeted that it was the Academy’s, “duty to find Rachel a seat at the Oscars…. When they say representation matters, this is what that means. Please do right by her.”

Alec Baldwin tweeted that he would buy Zegler two tickets to the show.

And “One Day at a Time” showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett tweeted at ABC and the Academy, “How about the rare time that Latine people have a movie nominated for an OSCAR you invite the lead. Latine people are 18.5% of this country. ENOUGH!”

Oscars tickets are always hot commodities and this year are even more limited than usual because of efforts to maintain more space between guests to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Most academy members have never gotten to attend.

And the outrage has only intensified as more and more presenters with limited connections to the nominated movies or the movie business at all are announced. On Monday, producers revealed that DJ Khaled, Tony Hawk, Kelly Slater and Shaun White would all be presenting awards at the show, which will be broadcast live on ABC on Sunday starting at 8pm ET.

Read original article here

Entertainment

Rachel Zegler, ‘West Side Story’ star, says she wasn’t invited to the Oscars

Leave a comment

The 20-year-old actress starred as Maria Vasquez in the musical drama “West Side Story,” which won her a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture comedy or musical.

On Sunday in an Instagram post on her verified account, one of her followers wrote in the comments: “Can’t wait to see what you’ll be wearing on Oscar night.”

Zegler responded, “i’m not invited so sweatpants and my boyfriend’s flannel.”

“Idk y’all i have tried it all but it doesn’t seem to be happening :’) I will root for west side story from my couch and be proud of the work we so tirelessly did 3 years ago,” she went on to say.

“I hope some last minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate our film in person but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes, I guess,” Zegler wrote. “Thanks for all the shock and outrage – I’m disappointed too. But That’s okay. So proud of our movie.”

Nominees (Zegler is not nominated) receive tickets, as do presenters, with additional tickets given to studios to distribute as they see fit.

CNN has reached out to reps for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for comment.

The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and televised live on ABC.



Read original article here