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President Donald Trump has announced plans to send tens of thousands of “criminal illegal aliens” to the Guantánamo Bay prison camp, further demonizing other immigrants.
President Donald Trump announced that his administration plans to deport criminal aliens to the Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba on Wednesday (Jan. 29) as he was signing the Laken Riley Act into law. “Some of them are so bad that we don’t even trust the countries to hold them because we don’t want them coming back, so we’re gonna send ’em out to Guantanamo,” he said to reporters gathered at the White House. “We have 30,000 beds in Guantánamo to detain the worst criminal aliens threatening the American people,” he added. The White House announced shortly afterward that Trump signed a presidential memorandum to that effect.
The Laken Riley Act is named after a nursing student from Georgia who was out for a run last February when she was attacked by a man named Jose Antonio Ibarra, who wound up killing her. Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, was found guilty in November of Riley’s murder and was sentenced to life in prison. The bill requires federal officials to detain any migrant charged with a crime such as assault or shoplifting. It also allows states’ attorney generals to sue the federal government for harm related to failures in immigration enforcement leading to the harm of people. The law received bipartisan support, with 46 Democrats in the House of Representatives and 12 in the Senate voting to pass the measure.
Newly-confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended President Trump’s move in an interview on Fox News, calling Guantánamo Bay a “perfect spot” for those detainees. “We don’t want illegal criminals in the United States, not a minute longer than they have to be,” he said on Jesse Watters Primetime. “Move them off to Guantánamo Bay, where they can be safely maintained until they are deported to their final location, their country of origin.” The United States has leased land from Cuba for over a century, but the Cuban government has rejected the nominal payments sent out to it. Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, called the new move “an act of brutality.”
Politicians and immigration advocates worldwide have also blasted Trump’s memorandum. “Trump’s order [sends] a clear message … Migrants and asylum seekers are being cast as the new terrorist threat, deserving to be discarded in an island prison, removed from legal and social services and supporters,” Vincent Warren, executive director for the Center for Constitutional Rights, said in a statement.
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Tony Buzbee’s character is now again in question. Jay-Z has blasted the lawyer for not meeting his client prior to filing the lawsuit against him.
As per TMZ, Jay-Z’s legal team is taking umbrage with how Tony Buzbee goes about his business. In documents obtained by the celebrity gossip site Hov’s counsel call out that the controversial lawyer never met Jane Doe before filing a sexual assault claim against the rapper and Diddy. The new filing says the Texas-based attorney blatantly missed several “factual inconsistencies” in her story and much more.
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“Initially, he deflected, saying Plaintiff’s ‘case was referred to [his] firm by another, who vetted it prior to sending it’ to him, and that his firm would ‘continue to vet her claims and collect corroborating data,” the documentation reads. “Now, he concedes that he did not even meet with Plaintiff before signing his name to the complaint, and fails to identify any evidence that corroborates anything his client alleged.”
Jay-Z’s lawyer also went on to question Buzbee’s business principles. “Mr. Carter seeks only to hold Mr. Buzbee to the ethical standards that constrain any responsible attorney who would solemnly sign his name to allegations in court.” TMZ contacted Tony about the suit against him to which he called “weak and desperate.” He also says that he not only interviewed Jane Doe prior to filing the rape lawsuit against Jay-Z and Diddy but four other lawyers did too.
Back in December an unidentified woman claimed that she was sexually assaulted by both moguls at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party back in 2000. During an interview with NBC News there were several inconsistencies in her responses related to the timing, her father picking her up and individuals she spoke to that day.
BLACKPINK‘s JENNIE is looking for love in all the wrong places on her moody single “Love Hangover.” The collaboration with Dominic Fike that dropped on Friday (Jan. 31) is the third single from the K-pop superstar’s upcoming Ruby (March 7) solo album and it finds the singer fighting an attraction to someone she hates to […]
Something Wicked this way comes on Jeff Goldblum‘s upcoming album, Still Blooming. The singer/actor’s latest jazzy LP with the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra is due out on April 25 and it will feature duets with both of his Wicked co-stars, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. The always-charming double-threat star previewed the collection on Thursday (Jan. 30) […]
Ahead of the monumental FireAid benefit concert on Thursday night (Jan. 30) across two venues – the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome – more than $60 million had already been raised from sponsorships and ticket sales. And just as the evening kicked off – with the Forum lineup starting promptly at 7 p.m. – another […]
As the final artist to take the stage at Thursday night’s (Jan. 30) FireAid benefit concert, Lady Gaga left her mark by debuting a brand-new song written with her fiancé, Michael Polansky, for the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. “Me and my friend Michael — my fiancé, my love — we wrote this song […]
Teddy Swims has officially taken over the ARIA Albums Chart, landing at No. 1 with I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2).
The Atlanta-born singer, whose mix of R&B, country, and soul has earned him a devoted fanbase, continues his upward trajectory following the success of I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) last year. Swims’ breakout hit “Lose Control” became a global phenomenon, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Melbourne band Slowly Slowly continues their steady rise, scoring their third Top 10 album as Forgiving Spree debuts at No. 8. It follows Race Car Blues (No. 7 in 2020) and Daisy Chain (No. 5 in 2022), showing their continued momentum in the Australian rock scene. They also made a splash on the Vinyl Albums Chart, landing at No. 2.
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UK rapper Central Cee makes a strong entrance at No. 2 with his debut studio album, Can’t Rush Greatness.
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It’s his highest-charting release in Australia, surpassing his 2022 mixtape 23, which peaked at No. 6. Central Cee has already had massive success on the ARIA Singles Chart, spending seven weeks at No. 1 in 2023 with “Sprinter,” his collaboration with Dave.
Luke Combs is proving his staying power as his Australian tour boosts This One’s For You to a new career peak at No. 6. The 2017 album had previously topped out at No. 7 in both 2019 and 2022, but with country music’s popularity growing, Combs’ influence in Australia only continues to expand. Kane Brown, who performed at the ARIA Awards last year, also makes his mark this week, debuting at No. 41 with The High Road.
On the ARIA Singles Chart, English singer Lola Young claims her first solo No. 1 with “Messy,” jumping up from No. 3 last week. The track, which has gained serious traction on TikTok, has also gone to No. 1 in the UK, marking a breakout moment for the rising star.
Tate McRae makes her presence felt with “Sports Car,” debuting at No. 10. The track, co-written with Julia Michaels and produced by Ryan Tedder, is the third single from her upcoming album So Close To What. This marks McRae’s ninth Top 50 single, with her biggest chart success to date being “Greedy,” which peaked at No. 2 in 2023.
For the full ARIA Charts, visit ARIA.com.au.
Freshly back onstage after postponing three dates for what he termed a “temporary throat infection” via an Instagram post, Sting sounded in full voice during his three-song set at the FireAid benefit concert on Thursday night (Jan. 30).
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Playing in his stripped-down Sting 3.0 trio formation with drummer Chris Maas and guitarist Dominic Miller, Sting — like many of the 27 artists on the bill — chose songs specifically designed to resonate with victims of the horrific fires that spread through Los Angeles County throughout January, destroying more than 22,000 homes.
He also let his music do the talking and chose not to address the audience, unlike many of the other performers. Sting opened with The Police’s early hit, 1979’s “Message in a Bottle,” and sustained a long note toward the end, leaving no doubt that he was restored to full health. He then segued into “Driven to Tears,” from The Police’s 1980 album’s Zenyatta Mondatta. Though initially written about political issues, the song’s themes of loss fit in perfectly with the evening.
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Sting then traded his bass for a guitar for his closing song, a lovely rendition of “Fragile,” from his second solo album, 1987’s Nothing Like the Sun. Between his gorgeous, delicate playing and his emotional delivery, the song felt like a reminder of both our fragility and strength.
Sting was one of more than two dozen performers, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, Lady Gaga, P!nk, Billie Eilish, John Mayer and No Doubt, who took over Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome and Kia Forum for the more than five-hour benefit, which is raising money for victims of the fires and for future fire prevention.
After joining Green Day for their FireAid-opening set at the Kia Forum earlier Thursday night (Jan. 30), Billie Eilish took the stage again at the neighboring Intuit Dome for the benefit concert, this time with her brother Finneas.
Introduced by Sting, who named himself a “devotee” of the singer’s “exquisite voice,” Eilish and Finneas encouraged fans to sit down if they were tired — which they immediately refused — before delivering a three-song set of stripped-back, acoustic tracks from Hit Me Hard and Soft, including “Wildflower,” “The Greatest” and “Birds of a Feather.”
“Birds of a Feather” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is nominated for song of the year, record of the year and best pop solo performance at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.
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“L.A. is my favorite place in the world and my only home. My brother and I live here and grew up here. It’s my favorite place in the world, and it’s so devastating what’s going on,” Eilish told the crowd of her hometown. “To everyone who’s going through this, I love you and I got you. I will not forget about you and we will keep doing this for you.”
The duo’s fellow performers at Inglewood, California’s Intuit Dome included Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Tate McRae. Next door at the Kia Forum, the show kicked off with performances by Stevie Nicks, Anderson. Paak, Alanis Morissette, John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Stephen Stills and The Black Crowes, as well as a surprise reunion of the living members of Nirvana with a revolving door of female vocalists.
Those wanting to donate to Los Angeles wildfire relief funds are encouraged to visit fireaidla.org. For every donation pledge made during the concert, Connie and Steve Ballmer — owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the Intuit Dome — will match it.
The Weeknd doesn’t just perform—he curates experiences.
Hours before the release of Hurry Up Tomorrow, the Canadian artist made a striking appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, delivering a cinematic rendition of “Open Hearts” that blurred the line between live television and a full-scale production.
The performance opened in stark black and white, with Tesfaye cloaked in a shadowy robe, his glowing eyes creating an almost otherworldly presence. The stripped-back visuals felt deliberately unsettling, as if pulled from the surreal worlds of David Lynch, setting the tone for what was to come.
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As the song progressed, the atmosphere began to shift. The stage dissolved into an animated, stop-motion dreamscape, with jagged transitions and uncanny imagery. The performance balanced minimalism and surrealism, offering a glimpse into the darker, more introspective aesthetic underpinning Hurry Up Tomorrow.
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The surreal aesthetic has only heightened speculation that the upcoming Hurry Up Tomorrow film—arriving in theaters May 16—will explore similarly haunting and imaginative territory.
With Hurry Up Tomorrow now out via XO/Republic Records, the performance stands as a gateway into The Weeknd’s latest (and potentially final) chapter under his longtime moniker.
The album, which serves as the closing installment in his trilogy following After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022), carries a deeply introspective tone. While it boasts high-profile collaborations like Playboi Carti (“Timeless”) (which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100) and Anitta (“São Paulo”), the most talked-about moment is Lana Del Rey’s uncredited feature on “The Abyss.”
Meanwhile, “Dancing in the Flames,” which was previously teased, was left off the final tracklist entirely, leaving fans speculating about its fate.
Originally scheduled for release on Jan. 24, the album was delayed as The Weeknd pledged $1 million to LA wildfire relief efforts, canceling a planned Rose Bowl album release concert in the process. Proceeds from the track “Take Me Back to LA” will also be donated to the LA Regional Food Bank, providing further aid to those affected.
As The Weeknd pivots toward his feature film debut in Hurry Up Tomorrow, directed by Trey Edward Shults and starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, performances like his Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance suggest that his storytelling is only becoming more ambitious.
Whether or not this truly marks the end of The Weeknd, his ability to merge music and visual spectacle continues to evolve, making Hurry Up Tomorrow a fitting conclusion to this phase of his career.
In tandem with his live performance, The Weeknd has launched a series of events to further immerse fans in the world of Hurry Up Tomorrow.
In partnership with Spotify, the Hurry Up Tomorrow Pop-Up Experience will take place in New York City from Friday, Jan. 31, through Sunday, Feb. 2. This interactive art installation will transport fans into Tesfaye’s creative world, offering a glimpse into the final act of his acclaimed trilogy.
Meanwhile, specialty retailer Hot Topic is showcasing an expansive Hurry Up Tomorrow merchandise collection, including tees, hoodies, posters, and the highly anticipated The Weeknd x Frank Miller Hurry Up Tomorrow apparel capsule – available only in Las Vegas at the “takeover”.
From Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, the Downtown Summerlin Hot Topic store in Las Vegas will host a Hurry Up Tomorrow “takeover,” transforming the space into an exclusive retail experience.
Watch his performance on Jimmy Kimmel below.