FOREIGN

UK seeks to play down leaked Brexit economic study

Published

6 years ago

January 30, 2018

Prime Minister Theresa May’s government on Tuesday sought to play down its own leaked analysis suggesting Britain would be worse off whatever deal it strikes with the EU, warning it was made public to undermine Brexit.

May assured ministers at their weekly cabinet meeting that the report leaked Monday was only preliminary and did not take into account the government’s preferred option of a trade deal with the European Union.

In parliament, Brexit minister Steve Baker said the leaked report was a “selective interpretation of a preliminary analysis. It is an attempt to undermine our exit from the European Union”.

The economic impact assessment, dated last month and seen by BuzzFeed News, showed growth would be weaker under three of the most plausible Brexit scenarios.

It found that if Britain remained in the EU’s single market through membership of the European Economic Area, growth would be two percent lower over the next 15 years compared with current forecasts.

Under a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU, growth would be five percent lower than expected.

If Britain fails to strike any new trade deal and reverts to World Trade Organization rules, growth would be eight percent lower than forecast.

The report was leaked at a highly sensitive time, as May comes under pressure from eurosceptics in her Conservative party to change her strategy ahead of the start of formal trade talks with the EU in April.

Eurosceptics fear the government is moving towards retaining close ties with the EU, which might limit any economic damage but which they argue would be “Brexit in name only”.

Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith said the timing of the leaked report was “highly suspicious” and noted that long-term forecasts were often wrong.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of eurosceptic Conservative MPs, said the findings were “highly speculative”.

But pro-European opposition Labour MP Chris Leslie said it explained why ministers have refused to publish any detailed Brexit analysis so far.

“The government must now publish their analysis in full, so that MPs and the public can see for themselves the impact that Brexit will have and judge for themselves whether it is the right thing for our country,” he said.

But Baker said: “Ministers have a duty not to publish anything that could risk exposing our negotiating position.”

FOREIGN

Kendrick Lamar Beats Drake; Set New Spotify Record In The US

Published

1 week ago

May 8, 2024

Reporter

Kendrick Lamar Beats Drake; Set New Spotify Record | Fab.ng

The latest release by Kendrick Lamar, ‘Not Like Us‘, has made waves in the music industry by setting a remarkable record on Spotify. This track has secured its place as the most-streamed hip-hop song in a single day in the United States. This marked a significant achievement for Lamar and further fueled the ongoing rivalry between him and Drake.

The beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has been a topic of intense speculation and discussion among fans. This latest development adds to their competitive dynamic. Now, ‘Not Like Us’ outperformed Drake’s previous record holder, ‘Girls Want Girls’ featuring Lil Baby, which had held the top spot.

Released on May 5th, 2024, ‘Not Like Us’ quickly gained traction.

It amassed an impressive 6.593 million Spotify streams on its debut day alone. This surge in popularity underscores Lamar’s influence and relevance in the hip-hop genre. It also highlights the interest surrounding his ongoing feud with Drake.

.@kendricklamar‘s “Not Like Us” breaks the all-time record for biggest single day streams of a hip-hop song in US Spotify history, passing @Drake and @lilbaby4PF‘s “Girls Want Girls” (6.593 million). pic.twitter.com/YLN6KHSPcz

— chart data (@chartdata) May 7, 2024

The significance of this record-breaking feat extends beyond mere numbers. It is a symbolic victory in the ongoing battle for dominance between the two rap heavyweights. Some listeners may interpret Lamar’s achievement as a bold statement of superiority, amplifying the tension and rivalry between the artists.

A series of diss tracks and public exchanges have characterised the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Each of these escalates the conflict to new heights. The origins of their feud can be traced back to Kendrick’s controversial verse on ‘Control’. In the song, he called out several fellow rappers, including Drake, igniting a rivalry that has captivated the hip-hop community.

The feud reached a tipping point when Kendrick delivered a scathing diss directed at Drake while featuring on Metro Booming & Future’s track ‘Like That’. Drake is never one to back down from a challenge. He responded with his own diss tracks, ‘Push Up’ and ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’. Expectedly, this sparked a back-and-forth exchange that has kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Other artists have been drawn into the fray amid this highly publicised feud.

J. Cole

J. Cole initially responded to Kendrick’s provocations on his surprise album ‘Might Delete Later’. He later extended an olive branch by publicly apologising to Kendrick during his 2024 Dreamville concert.

As the feud continues, it has become a focal point of conversation within the hip-hop community. Fans eagerly await each new development and diss track release. Despite the controversy and tension surrounding their rivalry, the ongoing battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has solidified their status as two of the most influential figures in contemporary hip-hop.

FOREIGN

BTS Singer V Ties Bandmates J-Hope, Jimin And Suga With New Hot 100 Hit

Published

2 months ago

March 27, 2024

FAB.NG

South Korea’s global superstars, BTS, are currently fulfilling their mandatory military service. But that hasn’t slowed them down. A dedicated fan base continues to propel V, one of the BTS members, to new heights on the American music scene.

While the group is focused on their national duty, this particular member’s solo work resonates with American audiences.

BTS’s influence remains strong, even with all seven members enlisted. This latest achievement proves that their music transcends borders and continues to captivate listeners around the world.

V, a member of the global phenomenon BTS, is making waves as a solo artist. His brand new single, “Fri(end)s,” hit the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart at a very impressive No. 65 in its first week.

This marks V’s fourth time landing a song on the Hot 100, and this time, it’s all him. BTS, as a group, has already achieved an incredible record with 27 hits on the chart. But V’s solo success ties him with three of his bandmates for another impressive feat.

With “Fri(end)s,” V joins J-Hope, Jimin, and Suga in the exclusive club of BTS members with four Hot 100 hits to their names.

However, the top soloist title goes to another BTS member. Jung Kook has a whopping six Hot 100 entries under his name. That’s just one slot ahead of K-pop legend Psy, who boasts five hits on the chart.

V’s solo journey on the Hot 100 began in 2022 with the release of “Christmas Tree.” The song gained significant traction during the holiday season, but its official chart debut came in the new year.

This strong debut for “Fri(end)s” is a great sign for V’s solo career. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how high the song can climb on the chart in the coming weeks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ariana Grande Surpasses Tie With Travis Scott, Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record

Published

2 months ago

March 27, 2024

FAB.NG

Ariana Grande is dominating the Billboard charts this week. Her brand new album, “Eternal Sunshine,” has skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the biggest album debut of 2024 so far. Ariana Grande’s new single, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” also rocketed to the top of the Streaming Songs chart in the US. This chart tracks the most-played songs each week, considering both audio and video streams across major platforms.

This chart success isn’t just a one-off win for her. This feat marks Ariana Grande’s sixth time leading on the Streaming Songs chart, officially breaking her tie with rapper Travis Scott. Previously, both artists were locked in a four-way tie for third place with five chart-topping hits each. Now, Grande takes the solo bronze medal position, pushing Scott down to fifth.

Ariana Grande Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record | Fab.ng

Ariana Grande now shares the number-two spot with pop superstar Justin Bieber. Both singers have snagged six No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. But Ariana Grande achieved her latest win much more recently than Justin Bieber.

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Drake continues to dominate the streaming song chart. He has 20 No. 1 hits, a record no other artist has even come close to matching.

Following Drake is Taylor Swift, who has secured an impressive eight No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. She’s poised to add to her tally soon with the upcoming release of her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Ariana Grande has been on a roll this year, scoring two new No. 1 hits already. Her latest track, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” debuted at the top spot, following the success of her previous chart-topper, “Yes, And?” These two new hits join her previous four leaders: “Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings,” “Positions,” and the collaboration with The Weeknd, “Die For You.”