Qatar opens the World Cup with a message of inclusion
It wasn't the biggest moment of Sunday's seven-act World Cup opening ceremony ahead of the match between host country Qatar and Ecuador. Qatar, home to 3 million people, most of them migrant workers, has spent more than $200 billion on preparation for the World Cup. They listened as BTS' Jung Kook, while Qatari singer and producer Fahad Al Kubaisi debuted the single "Dreamers," produced specifically for the World Cup. “Dear friends, welcome, welcome, to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” Infantino said in English. ___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comQatar opens Mideast's first World Cup before leaders, fans
AL KHOR, Qatar — (AP) — Qatar on Sunday opened the Middle East's first FIFA World Cup before global leaders and soccer fans who have poured into this energy-rich nation after it was battered by a regional boycott and international criticism. Qatar also faced criticism from the West as groups they funded initially in Syria's civil war became extremists. Qatar later would deny that it ever funded Islamic extremists, despite criticism from across the American political spectrum from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump. Yet the country allows alcohol to be served in hotel bars and at a FIFA Fan Zone in the country. Kuwait's crown prince also came, along with the director-general of the World Health Organization and Djibouti's president.
wftv.comMorgan Freeman, Rob Reiner included among nearly 1,000 Americans banned from Russia
Actors and filmmakers Morgan Freeman and Rob Reiner were included on a list of 963 Americans banned from entering Russia released by the country’s foreign ministry on Saturday. The list also includes President Biden, Vice President Harris and other members of the Biden administration, as well as all the members of the House and an…
news.yahoo.comFrom Cooper to Spielberg, stars turn out for AFI Awards
AFI Awards Luncheon Ariana DeBose, left, and Steven Spielberg arrive at the AFI Awards Luncheon on Friday, March 11, 2022, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) (Chris Pizzello)BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — (AP) — From Bradley Cooper to Steven Spielberg, some of Hollywood’s brightest stars came together to relax and sip wine in a fancy ballroom where everyone ended up walking away a winner at the American Film Institute Awards on Friday. “Squid Game,” “Belfast” and “Summer of Soul (...or: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’)” received special awards during the event. Laughs and hugs were shared before the event between “tick, tick… BOOM!” star Andrew Garfield and Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon from “Squid Game.” Cooper and “Licorice Pizza” actor Cooper Hoffman had a chat before both posed for photos. The game is: There is no game,” AFI President Bob Gazzale said as many in the audience chuckled. For us, it was Sidney Poitier.
wftv.comMississippi blues promoter and raconteur Bill Luckett dies
Obit Luckett FILE - Actor Morgan Freeman, right, and his business partner Bill Luckett are shown during an interview at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Miss., Oct. 11, 2009. — (AP) — Bill Luckett was an attorney, small-town mayor, candidate for governor, blues promoter, friend and business partner of Morgan Freeman and irrepressible teller of tales about the people and culture of his beloved Mississippi. "And we've been trying to bring it back around with this restaurant, with Ground Zero Blues Club." "But, here’s what made Bill Luckett stand out: For every ounce of intellect, there was two ounces of heart. Bill loved life.
wftv.comFonda says Hollywood needs more diversity after Globes honor
In this video grab issued Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, by NBC, Jane Fonda accepts the Cecil B. deMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards. (NBC via AP)LOS ANGELES – Just like in her career, Jane Fonda used the Golden Globes’ platform to speak on deeper issues calling for greater diversity in Hollywood while praising the “community of storytellers” as she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award. While wearing an all-white suit, Fonda raised the Globes’ highest honor above her head Sunday before commending storytellers for their vital role in troubled times. She is the daughter of Oscar winner Henry Fonda, who died in 1982, and sister of Peter Fonda, who died in 2019. She launched IndieCollect’s Jane Fonda Fund for Women Directors, an organization aimed to support the restoration of films helmed by women from around the world.
Jane Fonda to receive Golden Globes' Cecil B. DeMille Award
FILE - Actress Jane Fonda appears at the 71st international film festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 12, 2018. The Golden Globes will bestow the Cecil B. DeMille Award to Fonda during the 78th annual awards show next month. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Jane Fonda cemented herself into Hollywood allure as a chameleonlike actor and social activist, and now the Golden Globes will honor her illustrious career with its highest honor. Fonda will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 78th annual awards ceremony on Feb. 28, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Tuesday. She launched IndieCollect’s Jane Fonda Fund for Women Directors, an organization aimed to support the restoration of films helmed by women from around the world.
Principal Joe Clark, who inspired film ‘Lean on Me,’ dies
At crime- and drug-ridden Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, Clark expelled 300 students in a single day for fighting, vandalism, abusing teachers and drug possession. President Ronald Reagan offered Clark a White House policy adviser position after his success at the high school. Morgan Freeman starred as Clark in the 1989 film “Lean on Me” that was loosely based on Clark’s tenure at Eastside. He also wrote “Laying Down the Law: Joe Clark’s Strategy for Saving Our Schools,” detailing his methods for turning around Eastside High. ___This story has been corrected to show that the county of the school Clark taught at is in Passaic County, not Essex County.
Principal Joe Clark, inspiration of ‘Lean on Me,’ dies
At crime- and drug-ridden Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, Clark expelled 300 students in a single day for fighting, vandalism, abusing teachers and drug possession. President Ronald Reagan offered Clark a White House policy adviser position after his success at the high school. Morgan Freeman starred as Clark in the 1989 film “Lean on Me” that was loosely based on Clark’s tenure at Eastside. He also wrote “Laying Down the Law: Joe Clark’s Strategy for Saving Our Schools,” detailing his methods for turning around Eastside High. ___This story has been corrected to show that the county of the school Clark taught at is in Passaic County, not Essex County.
Online fall Broadway play revivals attract starry casts
NEW YORK – Broadway theaters may be dark, but there will be plenty of new online productions of some of classic plays this fall with some starry self-isolating actors, including Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, Patti LuPone, Laura Linney and David Alan Grier. Producer Jeffrey Richards on Wednesday unveiled a weekly play run of livestreamed works to benefit The Actors Fund. They will stream on Broadway’s Best Shows and ticket buyers can access the events through TodayTix starting at $5. David Mamet’s ”Race" is up on Oct. 29, starring David Alan Grier and Ed O’Neill. Mamet’s “Boston Marriage” is slated for Nov. 12 with Patti LuPone and Rebecca Pidgeon.
A sweep for ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ ‘Succession’ tops Emmy Awards
(The Television Academy and ABC Entertainment via AP)LOS ANGELES – “Schitt's Creek,” the little Canadian show about a fish-out-of-water family, made history at Sunday's Emmy Awards with a comedy awards sweep, something even TV greats including “Frasier” and “Modern Family” failed to achieve. The awards for Pop TV's “Schitt's Creek” included best comedy series and trophies for its stars, including Catherine O'Hara and father-son Eugene and Daniel Levy. Moments later, his son won the award for comedy writing for “Schitt's Creek” episode, then shared a directing award and captured the supporting actor comedy trophy. As “Schitt’s Creek” gobbled up comedy awards, that left acclaimed “Insecure” and its creator Issa Rae empty-handed. But Black stories, Black performances and Black Lives Matter,” he said, urging Kimmel to shout with him.
Spicoli to the rescue with 'Fast Times' virtual benefit
LOS ANGELES Spicoli is making a virtual return to Ridgemont High to raise money for a pair of non-profit groups. Sean Penn, a cast member in 1982's Fast Times at Ridgmont High," will be joined by Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and other stars in a socially distanced reading of the film's script. Penn is handing the role of stoner Jeff Spicoli over to another actor, with details about who's playing what part to be unveiled at next week's event. None of those actors, nor Roberts or Aniston, appeared in the original film. It will be available on Facebook Live and TikTok via COREs Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CoreResponse.
Black soldiers monument faces scrutiny amid racial reckoning
Workers inspect the top cornice stone as it is lifted from the Shaw 54th Regiment memorial opposite the Statehouse, Friday, July 17, 2020, in Boston. Amid the national reckoning on racism, the memorial to the first Black regiment of the Union Army, the Civil War unit popularized in the movie "Glory, is facing scrutiny. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Black soldiers monument faces scrutiny amid racial reckoning
Amid the national reckoning on racism, the memorial to the first Black regiment of the Union Army, the Civil War unit popularized in the movie "Glory, is facing scrutiny. White commander out front; Black soldiers in the background. Its the first thing you see.Amid the national reckoning on racism, the Shaw memorial is the latest and, perhaps, one of the more curious to receive scrutiny. Unlike other felled monuments, the work by American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens isnt a paean to the Confederacy. Saint-Gaudens spent 14 years creating a richly detailed bas relief, using Black men of different ages as models for his realistic soldiers.
Why oil prices went negative and why they can go negative again
The investing world was gobsmacked and eyes glued to CNBC when oil futures went negative last week. Oil storage around the world is filling up, fast. With prices higher in coming months, for now it pays to sit on oil and hope to sell it for more money down the pipeline. But there's already an armada of oil tankers heading our way right now, ready to give us 40+ million more barrels of oil no one needs. If you have oil and nowhere to put it, it can have negative value.
cnbc.comMorgan Freeman on "Madam Secretary," directing and his voice
The Academy Award-winner is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, having played characters like a prisoner in "The Shawshank Redemption" to Nelson Mandela in "Invictus." He's even played god -- twice. Freeman joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss his experience directing and acting in Sunday night's premiere episode of “Madam Secretary.”
cbsnews.comMorgan Freeman's step-granddaughter killed
Police say Morgan Freeman's step-granddaughter was stabbed to death by her boyfriend outside her NYC apartment. Witnesses said it sounded like the suspect was trying to perform an exorcism. "48 Hours" Crimesider reporter Grahm Kates joins CBSN with detals.
cbsnews.com"Transcendence" stars hit the red carpet
"Transcendence" stars hit the red carpet Stars of the new film, "Transcendence," including Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman, turned out for the movie's premiere in Westwood, Calif. Depp plays a scientist who studies artificial intelligence in the sci-fi thriller. KCAL-TV's Suzanne Marques reports.
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