FOREIGN

Hurricane-hit Puerto Rico launches new drive for US statehood

Published

7 years ago

January 11, 2018

Hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Wednesday launched a new drive to become the 51st US state, with the island’s governor demanding an end to “second-class” treatment of its citizens.Puerto Rico’s more than three million residents are US citizens, with no obstacles to living and working on the mainland.

Yet the US commonwealth in the Caribbean has just a non-voting delegation in the US Congress in Washington, and Puerto Rico residents cannot vote for US president.

“It is time to end Puerto Ricans’ second-class citizenship, and statehood is the only guarantee for that to happen,” Governor Ricardo Rossello told a press conference in Washington.

In June, Puerto Ricans voted overwhelmingly to embrace statehood in a non-binding referendum, but turnout was extremely low.

The island, which is grappling with public debt of $73 billion and a stuttering economy, was devastated by Hurricane Maria in mid-September.

Authorities are still struggling to restore power and clean drinking water to all citizens, and many homes and businesses need to be rebuilt.

US President Donald Trump’s government has faced criticism over its response to the deadly tragedy, with many insisting more federal help would have been forthcoming for a state in a similar situation.

Congress ultimately decides whether or not to grant statehood.

If the territory were a regular US state, it would have two senators plus at least five representatives in the US House of Representatives, according to mathematical formulas based on its population.

What is new in this effort is the form of the drive, which is copying how some former US mainland territories became regular US states, such as Tennessee.

Puerto Rico has chosen a shadow Congressional delegation of five representatives and two senators to demand recognition in Washington and lobby for statehood.

One of the shadow representatives is Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.

Guardian

Related Topics:Donald Trump Puerto Rico Ricardo Rosello

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Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Officially Finalise Divorce Settlement 2 Years After Marriage

Published

1 week ago

January 7, 2025

Reporter

Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Finalise Divorce Settlement | fab.ng

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck will finalise their divorce on February 20, 2025, following a mutual agreement confirmed in court documents obtained by E!

News on January 6. The couple reached an amicable settlement that allows each party to retain their individual earnings from their two-year marriage, with no spousal support requirements.

Lopez filed for divorce in Los Angeles on August 20, 2024, citing April 26, 2024, as their separation date. The filing date coincidentally aligned with the anniversary of their 2022 wedding ceremony in Georgia, which followed their initial Las Vegas elopement.

The settlement stipulates that Lopez will revert to her maiden name after previously changing it to Affleck during their marriage. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez agreed to the terms without dispute.

Their relationship history spans over two decades, beginning on the set of their film “Gigil” in 2002. At that time, Lopez was married to her second husband, Cris Judd. Following her divorce from Judd in 2003, Lopez and Affleck publicly announced their relationship.

Lopez’s marriage to Affleck marked her fourth union. Her previous marriages include a brief partnership with Ojani Noa (1997-1998). Marriage to Cris Judd (2001-2003) followed. Furthermore, a decade-long marriage to Marc Anthony (2004-2014) produced twins.

Between her marriages, Lopez maintained a high-profile relationship with former baseball player Alex Rodriguez from 2017 until their engagement ended in 2021.

The 55-year-old Lopez and 52-year-old Affleck’s divorce proceedings concluded a relationship that garnered significant public attention.

This is throughout its various phases, from their initial meeting in 2002 to their reunion and subsequent marriage in 2022.

Check out more updates here.

FOREIGN

Beyoncé Achieves Historic Milestone As Most Certified Female Artist

Published

4 weeks ago

December 19, 2024

Reporter

Beyoncé is most RIAA certified female artist of all time | fab.ng

Renowned singer Beyoncé has solidified her position as the most certified female artist of all time, a distinction bestowed upon her by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Her recent surge in song certifications has propelled her to an impressive total of 103 RIAA-certified titles, surpassing all other female artists in this category.

The RIAA celebrated this monumental achievement in a post on X on Tuesday.

“Crowning achievement! Congratulations to @Beyonce, who now holds the record for the most certified titles for a female artist in RIAA history, including her first two Diamond singles! @parkwood @columbiarecords,” RIAA announced in a post on X on Tuesday.

👑 Crowning achievement! Congratulations to @Beyonce, who now holds the record for the most certified titles for a female artist in RIAA history, including her first two Diamond singles! 💎🐝✨ @parkwood @columbiarecords pic.twitter.com/L86gwGkzQN

— RIAA (@RIAA) December 17, 2024

Among her numerous accolades are Diamond certifications for two iconic singles: “Halo” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” These certifications signify extraordinary sales and streaming figures.

Additionally, Beyoncé boasts a string of impressive certifications for her albums. “Renaissance” has achieved 2x Platinum status, “Lemonade” has attained 4x Platinum, and both “Sasha Fierce” and “Dangerously In Love” have earned 7x Platinum certifications.

This latest milestone further solidifies Beyoncé’s legacy as one of the most influential and successful artists of all time.

Her ability to consistently deliver groundbreaking music that resonates with audiences worldwide has undoubtedly contributed to her unparalleled success.

Check out more music updates here.

FOREIGN

“Gladiator II” Becomes Denzel Washington’s Most Successful Movie With $320 Million Worldwide Gross

Published

1 month ago

December 4, 2024

Reporter

Gladiator II is Denzel Washington's Most Successful Movie | fab.ng

Gladiator II has become the highest-grossing film of Ridley Scott’s career. The movie features the legendary actor Denzel Washington.

Known as one of Hollywood’s most respected figures, Washington has built an extraordinary career filled with iconic performances and critical acclaim.

His influence extends far beyond Hollywood, earning him global admiration. However, despite his illustrious career, Washington has not always been the first name associated with record-breaking box office success compared to some of his contemporaries.

His recent collaboration with Ridley Scott has now changed that narrative. Gladiator II has shattered expectations, becoming Washington’s highest-grossing film worldwide.

The movie has earned an impressive $320.2 million globally. This surpasses his previous record-holder, American Gangster, which grossed $267.9 million.

This milestone solidifies Gladiator II as Washington’s most financially successful film directed by Scott.

Domestically, American Gangster has maintained its position as Washington’s top-earning film for 17 years, with a domestic gross of $130.1 million.

However, this record may soon be eclipsed by Gladiator II, which has already reached $111.4 million domestically and continues to draw large audiences.

The success of Gladiator II marks a significant achievement in Washington’s career. It shows his enduring appeal and the powerful collaboration with Ridley Scott.

This box office triumph not only highlights Washington’s versatility and star power but also sets a new benchmark for future projects.

Fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely, anticipating how far this latest release will go in redefining the actor’s box office legacy.

READ ALSO: Gladiator II” Records ₦99.1 Million In Its Opening Weekend At The Nigerian Box Office

Throughout his decades-long film career, Washington has taken on a variety of action roles, many of which have been box-office successes.

The Equaliser franchise, for instance, has grossed approximately $190 million worldwide per installment.

Even some of his less critically acclaimed films, such as 2012’s Safe House, achieved significant commercial success, grossing $208.1 million against a budget of $85 million.