List of All Articles with Tag 'ira'

With eco protest group Just Stop Oil disrupting a number of high-profile events including Wimbledon this summer, police and authorities are on high alert. They have already disrupted the Grand National, The Derby at Epsom, the Premiership Rugby final, and the Ashes Test match at Lord’s and in doing so have cemented their status as a pretty controversial bunch. With that in mind, one man became the victim of a brilliant prank when, on his stag do, his friend made him wear a Just Stop Oil T-shirt without explaining its significance. As a result, he was regularly stopped and questioned by police who presumably and understandably thought he was a real member of the group. A picture of one police interaction went viral and people thought it was absolutely brilliant. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Just Stop Oil themselves reacted to the picture and hinted they are already planning to disrupt next year’s British Grand Prix. They tweeted: “Now taking applications for Silverstone F1 2024.” Pretty hilarious prank to play on your friends if you ask us. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The stepson of one of the OceanGate passengers is being slammed online for reportedly complaining he can't "get laid". Brian Szasz, the stepson of British billionaire Hamish Harding who died in the Titanic expedition disaster, took to Twitter to urge people to stop asking him for money. Instead, he came up with a bizarre alternative, writing: "Quit asking me for money unless you’re a beautiful woman, trans women too! An OF model. Or a black dude trying to go to college!" Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter He went on to respond to followers asking how much money he inherited. "More than you’ll make in a lifetime," he hit back at one person. In a separate since-deleted tweet, he reportedly wrote: "With millions to spare, I still can’t get laid." One person called his tweets "cringe," while another couldn't believe his posts were real and were, in fact, "fake or ChatGPT-generated." Szasz already caused backlash online after attending a Blink-182 concert and messaging OnlyFans models while his stepfather was missing. His activities even struck a chord with Cardi B, who took to social media with a video, saying: "Ay so one of the billionaires that's missing underwater, on the submarine s***... One of the billionaires, their stepson is at a concert, right, a Blink-182 concert. "People was like, 'Uh what is he supposed to do, be sad at the house? Is he supposed to go look for him himself?' Yes. You supposed to be at the house sad. You supposed to be crying for me, you supposed to be right next to the phone waiting to hear any updates about me. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

A Taylor Swift fan was shocked to find “creepy” electronic music when she played her new Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) vinyl of the new album. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was released on July 7, 2023 and quickly broke the Spotify record for the most single-day streams for any album in 2023 so far. It is also the most streamed country album in Spotify history. As well as impressive streaming feats, many fans have also opted for physical copies of the album, with over 225,000 vinyl sales, less than a week into its release. Rachel Hunter, a British fan of Swift, couldn’t wait to listen to her copy of Swift’s latest re-recording after returning from vacation. But, as she found out, it seems not every vinyl was pressed correctly. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “This voice started, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, do I have, like, a secret message from Taylor on my album?’” Hunter said Speaking to NBC News. “And I was like, that’s not Taylor Swift.” In her confusion, Hunter posted a now viral TikTok over the mysterious album, asking “does anyone else’s Speak Now vinyl not have Taylor Swift on it?” @mischief_marauder send help I got speak now (not Taylors version) this is so funny #speaknowtaylorsversion @Taylor Swift @Taylor Nation #erastour #speaknoworchid Hunter proceeds to play the album, instead of hearing Swift’s voice, she instead hears the song “Happy Land,” an electronic song by the group Ultramarine. On the B-Side of the album is the song “Soul Vine (70 billion People)” by Cabaret Voltaire. After posting the vinyl to TikTok fans quickly discovered that the songs appear on the album “Happy Land: A Compendium of Electronic Music from the British Isles 1992-1996 Volume 1.” “Happy Land” is distributed by the record label Above Board Distribution, whilst Swift’s album is distributed by Universal Musical Group. “Due to a pressing blunder, some Taylor Swift fans received a misprinted copy of ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),’ which we have learned features audio of ‘Happy Land (A Compendium of Music from the British Isles 1992-1996),’” said Dan Hill, the founder and managing director of Above Board, in a statement to NBC News. “While this error was beyond our control, we sincerely hope anyone who received what is Not Taylor’s Version of the vinyl enjoys the beats. It might very well end up being a collector’s item!” Hunter said she’s decided to keep the mistresses vinyl, unless someone wants to offer her VIP tickets for Swift’s tour, she joked. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The internet's obsession with McDonald's Grimace shake continues – and now an executive has spoken out about the TikTok trend. For those who still don't understand what's going on but have seen the phrase everywhere, McDonald's dropped a new limited-edition purple milkshake to celebrate the 52nd birthday of the famous character's birthday. TikTok users were immediately hooked on the drink before turning it into a bizarre trend. It sees people creating content showing them drinking the shake and pretending to be poisoned to death with a decorative crime scene around them. While the trend is bizarre, the hashtag #grimaceshake has racked up a staggering 142 million views on the platform and continues to grow. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter @kale1ay Bro pls domt get the grimace shake #viral #meme #grimaceshake #grimaceshakemeal #grimaceshakememe #grimacememe #mcdonadlsmeme #skit Now, McDonald's marketing director Guillaume Huin has stepped into the chat, crediting the original TikTok creator Austin Frazier for his upload. In a Linkedin post, Huin said the company were initially not going to speak about the trend, but after "hours of watching, reading the comments, trying to learn and genuinely understand helped us see what this was about," he saw the "brilliant creativity, unfiltered fun, peak absurdist gen z humor, just the way a new generation of creators and consumers play with brands." He said that some of the content had even left him "smile silently in admiration and wonder." Huin then shared how behind the scenes, the team "discussed what was the right thing to do about the trend." He continued, "saying nothing felt disconnected, encouraging it felt self-serving, so we just decided to show our fans that we see them and their creativity in a sweet, candid and genuine way, as grimace would." The Grimace shake will be available to buy in the US until 29 July. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The wife of newsreader Huw Edwards has said he is “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is receiving “in-patient hospital care” as she named him as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images. After intense speculation as to the identity of the BBC presenter at the centre of the allegations, Vicky Flind said in a statement that she was speaking out on her husband’s behalf after “what have been five extremely difficult days for our family”. Following the name reveal, the BBC and The Sun have both faced criticism for the handling of the events of the last few days, with colleagues and high-profile media personalities speaking out in support of Edwards on Wednesday night. The Metropolitan Police said no criminal offence had been committed by the presenter, adding: “There is no further police action. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation.” The statement added: “We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual. “No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.” Now that the speculation about who the previously unnamed presenter was you would hope that the public and social media especially would allow Edwards himself and his family to deal with what is sure to be a distressing situation privately. Sadly though we cannot say that this is the case. Much like the OceanGate submarine tragedy the internet has managed to find a dark sense of humour in another wise serious situation involving real people. Yet you've only got to spend a few moments on Twitter, which continues its downward trajectory under Elon Musk, to be confronted with jokes about Huw Edwards, which were even prevalent on the platform prior to him being named as the presenter in question. Given that Edwards is now receiving hospital care because of the serious mental fatigue the story has placed upon him you'd hope that some people could afford to show a slight bit of dignity and not make any jokes that may further impact his condition or the other people involved in this story. Also there are better things to make jokes about at this time so maybe rather than add to the stress instead take some time to read the many statements of support offered to Edwards from his colleagues and peers. It's very easy to engage with big topics like this on social media but at the end of the day numerous real people, some only by association, are involved in this and likely still processing what happend. Allow them to deal with this in peace and for the right course of action to be taken, instead of creating cheap puns just for a few likes. Additional reporting by PA. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Democrats unsuccessfully sought an immediate US House inquiry into whether Republican lawmakers leveling accusations of corruption against presidential

Americans are having 'sleep divorces' to save their relationships, with over 2,000 people altering their sleep routine to help accommodate their other half. A recent study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that more than a third of participants opted for separate beds to ensure they have a good night's rest. More people used eye masks, ear plugs and even opted for an earlier or later bedtime to avoid sleep disruption. Dr Seema Khosla, a pulmonologist and spokesperson for the AASM, said: "We know that poor sleep can worsen your mood, and those who are sleep deprived are more likely to argue with their partners," "Getting a good night’s sleep is important for both health and happiness, so it’s no surprise that some couples choose to sleep apart for their overall well-being." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter 'Sleep divorce' has even found its place on TikTok, with almost half a million views under the emerging trend. Urologist Rena (@renamalikmd) took to the platform to explore the concept, saying more and more people are moving towards it. "That doesn't mean that they're not having sexual relations," she disclaimed. "It's just that they either choose to sleep in separate beds in different rooms or different beds in the same room." Unsurprisingly, many viewers were on board with it, with several sharing how they do it themselves. "I've been doing that since I got married 29 years ago," one person wrote, while another added: "I sleep in different beds. Best sleep ever." "Nothing wrong with that," a third commented. "Especially if you don't want to be in a zombie state every day." "As humans, we should be sleeping separately to have good quality sleep," another user added. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Mark Zuckerberg is seemingly in beast mode ahead of his rumoured fight with fellow tech mogul Elon Musk after he was spotted training with UFC champions. On Wednesday (12 July), fighters Israel Adesanya and Alex Volkanovski shared a topless snap with the Meta boss. "No fugazi with Mark," Adesanya wrote. "This is Serious Business‼️" The post was also shared on Instagram, where Zuckerberg commented: "It’s an honor to train with you guys!" Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter It comes after Lex Fridman shared a glimpse into his "impromptu training session" with Musk. The computer scientist and artificial intelligence researcher complimented Musk's "strength, power and skill, on the feet and on the ground." He added: "It's really inspiring to see Elon and Mark doing martial arts, but I think the world is served far better if they train martial arts but not fight in the cage. That said, as Elon says, the most entertaining outcome is the most likely... I'm there for them, no matter what." Of course, the back-and-forth has been prompted by the pair seemingly agreeing to a fight, after Musk said he was "up for a cage match" ahead of Zuckerberg's Twitter-rival app, Threads. Zuckerberg responded with a screenshot of Musk’s tweet with the caption "send me location". Things have since heated up, with Musk calling Zuck a "cuck". Musk responded to a screenshot of a Threads post saying: "Hey @zuck, you should go to space just to make him really mad lol." Zuckerberg replied with a crying laughing emoji, which prompted Musk to write on Twitter: "Zuck is a cuck." He also went on to reply to a Twitter parody account that called Zuckerberg "lizard boy". The real question on everyone's mind, is who would win? Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Colleen Ballinger’s legal team told Pop Crave that her apology song was not uploaded to iTunes and Apple Music by her or her team after social media continued to criticise the YouTube star. The video has now been removed from both iTunes and Apple Music. On Tuesday (July 11) Ethan Klein, host of the H3 Podcast, tweeted that Ballinger’s apology song had been uploaded to CD Baby under the name Toxic Gossip Train. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter CD Baby is a website that allows people to monetise their music by independently uploading their songs to platforms like YouTube. Klein shared that he had received a copyright claim due to using less than a minute of the song in his video. Shortly after, many realised that the song had also been uploaded to Ballinger’s official profile on iTunes and Apple Music. The 10-minute ukulele song was being sold for $10. The initial discovery sparked further outrage on Twitter. Adam McIntyre who alleges he was groomed and manipulated by Ballinger called her a “f***ing joke”. McIntyre also took the opportunity to point out the irony in the moment, in her song Ballinger had accused the public of ‘monetising’ her demise. Other users were shocked at the idea of Ballinger copyrighting those who featured the apology in videos talking about the subject, as well as charging $10 for the song on iTunes: After Pop Crave updated the story, Klein responded saying that “she still has our podcast claimed”. Ballinger herself has not made any public comment. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The FBI have jumped on the hype around Taylor Swift’s release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) to try and get people to send them tips on federal crimes. On Monday (July 10), the FBI Washington Field tweeted their own version of the Speak Now track list, which included ‘songs’ such as 'Terrorism (FBI’s Version)', 'Public Corruption (FBI’s Version),' and 'Weapons of Mass Destruction (FBI’s Version).' In the caption, they played on songs by Swift such as 'Better than Revenge' and 'Superman', writing: “Justice is better than revenge. You may not be Superman, but you can help the #FBI protect the country.” “If you have information about a federal crime, speak now. Call 1-800-225-5324 or visit http://tips.fbi.gov to submit a tip,” the post reads. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter For a fandom that is known for its commitment to uncovering easter eggs and secrets left for them by Swift, you can see why the FBI chose to use Swift’s music in an attempt to encourage people to get in touch. Twitter couldn’t believe that the FBI had referenced Taylor Swift, and many shared the tweet in disbelief and found it hilarious: Republican Congressman Mike Johnson responded to the tweet quoting lyrics from Swift’s ‘Should’ve Said No’, mocking the FBI’s decision to tweet. Johnson has previously accused the FBI of abusing its power. This isn’t the first time government officials and politicians have quoted Swift’s work. During a Judiciary Committee hearing on consolidation in the ticketing industry after the disaster surrounding Ticketmaster and the sale of Swift’s Eras Tour, many senators used Swift’s lyrics to make their points. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal had quoted the song 'Anti-Hero' during the hearing telling Live Nation that the company should look in the mirror and say: “I’m the problem, it’s me.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The "not real" plane passenger saga continues – and now opportunists have jumped on a very niche market by releasing merchandise. Let's recap for those living under a rock... Footage of an American Airlines passenger went viral online. It showed a woman pacing up the aisle and demanding to get off the flight. She claimed there was an imaginary passenger – or as some conspiracy theorists have described a "shapeshifter" – aboard the plane. "I’m telling you, I’m getting the f*** off, and there’s a reason why I’m getting the f*** off," she yelled as confused onlookers watched on. "And everyone can either believe it, or they can not believe it. I don’t give two f***s." "But I am telling you right now, that motherf***er back there is not real." The woman continued: "And you can sit on this plane, and you can f***ing die with them or not. I’m not going to." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The footage soon spiraled on social media, with many users speculating what actually happened. Some accused the woman of alcohol consumption, but she has not yet spoken out about the incident. Now, 'TMFINR' ("That motherf***** is not real") has become a thing. Not only has it became a viral audio on TikTok to poke fun at everyday scenarios, but it's also made its way onto a T-shirt. One Etsy seller took to Twitter to announce the release, writing: "Thank you everyone for all the memes @Kohleispresent & I collabed to make an Etsy store if you want to support us. Other people are selling it as their own merch & design (it's the internet, I expected this) but this is the original. Much love." American Airlines told Indy100: "American Airlines flight 1009, with service from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Orlando (MCO), returned to the gate due to a disruptive customer. "The flight was met at the gate by local law enforcement and the customer was removed from the flight. Safety and security are our top priorities, and we thank our customers for their understanding and our team members for their professionalism in managing a difficult situation." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

NAIROBI (Reuters) -Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi received a red carpet welcome from Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on Wednesday as he