Why Varys will definitely betray Daenerys on ‘Game of Thrones’

Now that Game of Thrones is back to politics as usual, the key players and betrayers who defined the game are back in a big way. And Episode 4 of Season 8 setup a double cross from one of the best: Varys.

But you don’t even need to take the spider at his word when he told Tyrion a whopping two times in the last episode that he’d betray Daenerys. The precedent for Varys committing treason against his Queen is not only established in his character, but also predicted in an old prophecy many have forgotten about.

Daenerys already received plenty of warnings about betrayal.

Daenerys already received plenty of warnings about betrayal.

Image: PAUL SCHIRALDI/HBO

Back in Season 2 when Daenerys was in Qarth, this weird lady kept following Ser Jorah around to deliver cryptic warnings about Daenerys being in danger. While her role was severely minimized in the show, book readers know this powerful shadowbinder as Quaithe. She’s a mysterious, looming presence throughout Dany’s journey, giving her prophecies that have almost all come true in some capacity.

The prophecy that’s most relevant to the upcoming episodes of Season 8 describe the major trials and betrayals she will face:

Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun’s son and the mummer’s dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal.

While some of these are book-only characters and events, the most recent episode seems to confirm that the oft-debated identity of the last figure is Varys. And, based on context clues from the book’s plot, even indicates that the lion who will also betray her is Tyrion.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to remember from ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2

The perfumed seneschal is almost for sure Varys because: 1) Seneschal is another word for advisor, and 2) heavy perfume smells are often used to describe Varys in the books.

The less certain reference is the lion and griffin. In the book, Tyrion is wrapped up in a plot cut from the show involving the Golden Company (yes, the same one Cersei hired), which supports the claim of a “secret Targaryen” named Griff. But because of show changes, the lion could easily implicate other Lannisters instead, like Cersei or maybe even Jaime.

But prophecy aside, Varys betrayal was laid out clearly all the way in episode 2 of Season 7.

A spider's gonna spider

A spider’s gonna spider

Image: hbo

In the heated exchange last season, Daenerys (understandably) questions Varys’ loyalty. She lays out how his loyalties have flipped on a dime in the past, with him changing support from her father Mad King Aerys, to Robert Baratheon, to her brother Viserys Targaryen, then finally to her. 

“If he dislikes one monarch, he conspires to crown the next one,” she says, describing Varys very accurately.

Varys doesn’t deny it either. But after establishing that his loyalty ultimately lies in serving the people and whichever monarch helps them most, Daenerys softens slightly. “Swear this to me Varys: If you ever think I’m failing the people, you won’t conspire behind my back. You’ll look me in the eye as you have done today and you’ll tell me how I’m failing them,” she says.

Varys even references this Season 7 conversation in the latest episode of Season 8, when Daenerys and her counselors are deciding how to respond to Euron’s surprise attack on Dragonstone. 

“Your Grace, I promised you I’d look you in the eye and speak directly if I ever thought you were making a mistake. This is a mistake,” he says of her plan to Dracarys King’s Landing. “Do not destroy the city you came to save. Do not become what you have struggled to defeat.”

Daenerys doesn’t listen to him, and as the final shot of the episode implies, intends to go full steam ahead with the plan to Light King’s Landing The Eff Up. And if you analyze what Varys swore to her, it’s clear he feels as though he’s fulfilled the duty he promised to her in Season 7. He told Daenerys to her face how her actions would fail the people — and now he’ll go forward with conspiring behind her back in to fulfill his larger duty to the people of the realm instead of her.

What the hell is up with Tyrion?

What the hell is up with Tyrion?

Image: HbO

It’s uncertain exactly how Varys will betray Daenerys. But we can make a few educated guesses.

In the books, he’s also wrapped up in the Golden Company plotline, which is headed to King’s Landing with the intention to contest Daenerys’ claim to the throne with an alleged male Targaryen heir instead. In the show, that other Targaryen is Jon Snow (a.k.a. Aegon Targaryen).

So one potential surprise twist is that the Golden Company — which has a long history of being Targaryen supporters — will ultimately betray Cersei with the help of Varys’ scheming. But they’ll betray her for the preferred male Targaryen heir of Jon rather than Daenerys. 

But it doesn’t need to even be that elaborate. With just a simple whisper about Jon’s true lineage to the right person, the Spider could sabotage Daenerys’ claim without revealing himself as the culprit. Remember that Daenerys doesn’t know yet that either Tyrion or Varys (or Arya or Sansa, for that matter) know the truth about Jon yet.

Tyrion remains a wild card in all of this. But one thing is for sure: Daenerys may be paranoid after losing so much — but who can blame her when she’s almost certainly right?

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Samsung to Fold buyers: Are you sure you want to keep your order?

It appears that Samsung wouldn't mind if everyone just canceled their order.
It appears that Samsung wouldn’t mind if everyone just canceled their order.

Image: Raymond Wong/Mashable

By Stan Schroeder

Well, this is odd.

According to Droid-Life, Samsung is now telling folks who had pre-ordered the delayed Galaxy Fold phone that it still cannot commit to a ship date (the phone was originally scheduled to ship in April). 

Additionally, Samsung is essentially canceling everyone’s order unless they explicitly confirm that they would like to keep their order. 

SEE ALSO: Samsung’s Galaxy Fold might ship in June, but nothing’s simple

“We are making progress in enhancing the Galaxy Fold to make sure it measures up to the high standards we know you expect from us,” Samsung told customers in an e-mail. “This means that we cannot confirm the anticipated ship date yet. We’ll update you with more specific shipping information in the coming weeks.”

That’s all fine and dandy, but the rest of the e-mail is where it gets unusual. 

“If you don’t want to wait,” the e-mail says, “you may cancel your order at Samsung.com at any time before it has shipped. If we do not hear from you and we have not shipped by May 31st your order will be cancelled automatically.”

Below, there’s a button customers need to click to confirm they’d like to keep their order. 

A phone maker that’s certain it will actually be able to ship a product fairly soon would probably do this notification the other way around — automatically keep everyone’s order with the option to cancel it. This way, it just sounds like Samsung wouldn’t mind very much if everyone just canceled their order. 

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a $1,980 phone with top-notch specs and a foldable screen. But for several early reviewers, the Galaxy Fold broke down, in some cases in less than a day of use, prompting Samsung to delay the phone’s launch to a later, unspecified date. 

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Katy Perry, former chandelier, changed into a hamburger at the Met Gala

Katy Perry had another trick up her sleeve.
Katy Perry had another trick up her sleeve.

Image: Kevin Mazur/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

By Johnny Lieu

At the Met Gala, Lady Gaga wasn’t the only person with more than one look.

On Monday night, pop star Katy Perry graced the pink carpet at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a chandelier on her frame. 

Designed by Moschino’s Jeremy Scott, it was already an impressive-looking if not highly impractical outfit. Yes, even the lights switched on.

SEE ALSO: Met Gala 2019: How celebrities did ‘Camp’ on the pink carpet

Well, turns out Perry had another trick up her sleeve, switching outfits mid-event. Perry’s second act was a hamburger costume, complete with a lettuce dress and a toothpick hat. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Katy Perry attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/

It’s only one of the most sought-after high fashion events in the world, but OK. Here’s a video of her changing into the outfit in what appears to be the Met bathrooms — and yes, that’s Jennifer Lopez wandering past.

You can’t say the outfit has exactly gone down well with everyone. But it’s the kind of thing you’d expect from Perry, to say the least — among the pop star’s most outrageous outfits, her colossal winged outfit from the 2018 Met Gala is a (somewhat less cartoonish) highlight.

did katy perry really come in a hamburger 😓

— 𝐤𝖔𝖇𝐲 ♥ (@kobychill) May 7, 2019

The Met Gala is one of the biggest nights in fashion and Katy Perry wants to dress as a cheeseburger I’m —

— waps (@sarahwaps) May 7, 2019

mom can you pick me up? katy perry is wearing a hamburger costume at the most coveted fashion event in the world

— emme (@emmeereed) May 7, 2019

What is even fashion anymore?

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Qatar to send $480m to West Bank, Gaza, after truce with Israel

Qatar has said it will send $480m to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip after a ceasefire deal ended the deadliest fighting between Israel and Palestinian factions since a 2014 Israeli assault on the enclave.

A statement from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday morning said $300m would support health and education programmes of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA), which controls parts of the West Bank.

Meanwhile, $180m would go towards “urgent humanitarian relief” in United Nations programmes and towards electricity.

Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniya welcomed the move. In a statement, he thanked Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“I express my thanks and gratitude to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and to the government and people of Qatar for this honorable move reflecting the generosity of Qatar,” Haniya said.

Israel and Gaza reach ceasefire agreement amid tense calm

The decision, he said, is a “continuation” of Qatar’s unwavering support of the Palestinian people.

The recent three-day surge of violence in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel has led to the deaths of at least 25 Palestinians and four Israelis.

A ceasefire deal was reached early on Monday, and no Israeli air raids on the Palestinian territory have been reported since the deal came into effect.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Egyptian mediators, along with officials from Qatar and the UN, helped reach the ceasefire deal.

An Islamic Jihad official, on condition of anonymity, said the truce agreement was based on Israel easing its blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian siege since 2008.

Among the steps, the official said, were the easing of limits on the fishing zone to 12 nautical miles (about 22km) off the coast of Gaza and improvements in Gaza’s electricity and fuel situation.

Some two million Palestinians live in Gaza, the economy of which has suffered years of blockade as well as recent foreign aid cuts and sanctions by the PA – rival of Hamas, the group that governs the Strip.

Qatar has long been a major donor to the Palestinians. In January, post offices in Gaza distributed financial aid donated by the small, natural gas-rich country to 94,000 families.

Last month, Qatar opened a much needed artificial limb and rehab centre for residents of the enclave.

Qatar proposed the hospital in 2012 when then-Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became the first head of any state to visit Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory.

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Bahrain PM calls Qatar emir in rare contact amid Gulf dispute

Bahrain's Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, pictured, called Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to offer Ramadan wishes [File: Jon Gambrell/AP]
Bahrain’s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, pictured, called Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to offer Ramadan wishes [File: Jon Gambrell/AP]

Bahrain‘s long-serving prime minister has called Qatar’s emir to mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan in a rare contact between Doha and the countries boycotting it.

Bahrain’s state-run news agency acknowledged the call between Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a report early on Tuesday.

It described the call as “restricted” to Ramadan greetings, and according to Bahrain’s cabinet affairs minister, it “does not represent the official position of the Kingdom of Bahrain and will not affect its commitments with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt on the implementation of what Qatar has committed to in 2013 and 2014 and the just demands that had followed”.

Since June 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have imposed a diplomatic and commercial embargo on Qatar, accusing the latter of “supporting terrorism”.

Doha, for its part, strenuously denies the claim, describing the ongoing embargo as a violation of international law.

On Monday, the UAE released a Qatari naval vessel and four sailors it had seized nearly a week earlier.

In its statement on Monday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry expressed satisfaction over the vessel’s release.

“The ship was conducting a routine drill when it encountered a technical problem and was swept into Emirati waters, where it and its crew were seized by the Emirati authorities,” the statement read.

“Qatar has worked in recent days, through all available diplomatic channels and with mediation by friendly states, to secure the safe return of the vessel and crew,” it added.

SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies

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James Harden, Rockets Hold off Kevin Durant, Warriors to Even Series 2-2

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles as Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala defends during the second half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

The Houston Rockets tied their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors at two games apiece with a 112-108 victory in Monday’s Game 4 at Toyota Center.

It appeared as if the two-time defending champions would cruise to their fifth consecutive Western Conference Finals when they won the first two games of the series, but Houston bounced back with two straight victories at home and created a best-of-three scenario.

James Harden led the way with 38 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, but he missed a critical free throw while nursing a three-point lead with 11 seconds remaining. Golden State had the chance to force overtime, but Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each missed three-pointers on the ensuing possession.

Durant (34 points, seven rebounds and five assists) and Curry (30 points and eight assists) each put up impressive totals but will surely be thinking about those late misses after losing a second straight.

What’s Next?

The series returns to Oracle Arena for Wednesday’s Game 5.

This article will be updated to provide more information soon.

Get the best sports content from the web and social in the new B/R app. Get the app and get the game.

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‘Erosion in commitment’: US officials blame China for tariff hike

US officials have said China backtracked on substantial commitments it made during trade talks with the United States, prompting President Donald Trump to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods slated to go into effect on Friday.

The swift deterioration in negotiations between the world’s two largest economies hit global financial markets as investors faced the prospect of an escalation rather than an end to a 10-month-old trade war.

On Sunday, Trump tweeted he would raise tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent by the end of the week, and would “soon” target the remaining Chinese imports with tariffs, sending stocks and oil prices lower on Monday.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who has been an advocate for tough structural changes in China, said Beijing reneged on commitments it had made previously that would have changed the agreement substantially.

“Over the course of the last week or so we have seen … an erosion in commitments by China,” Lighthizer told reporters. “That in our view is unacceptable.” 

“We’re not breaking off talks at this point. But for now … come Friday there will be tariffs in place.”

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, considered to be less hawkish toward China, said Beijing’s backtracking became clear with “new information” over the weekend. He declined to give specifics and said the US side had originally hoped to conclude a deal one way or the other this week.

“They were trying to go back on language that had been previously negotiated, very clear language, that had the potential of changing the deal dramatically,” said Mnuchin.

“The entire economic team … are completely unified and recommended to the president to move forward with tariffs if we are not able to conclude a deal by the end of the week.”

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is expected to be in Washington on Thursday and Friday of this week for further talks.

A spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to queries about the US assertions.

“We are also in the process of understanding the relevant situation. What I can tell you is that China’s team is preparing to go to the United States for the discussions,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in Beijing earlier.

“We still hope the United States can work hard with China to meet each other halfway, and strive to reach a mutually beneficial, win-win agreement on the basis of mutual respect.” 

China may give up Iran oil to protect relationship with US

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Met Gala 2019: How celebrities did ‘Camp’ on the pink carpet

Lady Gaga stole the show four times at the 2019 Met Gala in New York City.
Lady Gaga stole the show four times at the 2019 Met Gala in New York City.

Image: Theo Wargo/WireImage

By Johnny Lieu

Forget the pretenders: The Met Gala is the red carpet of all red carpets. Well, technically, pink carpets.

The fundraiser, held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, continued its reputation of hosting the most out-there, challenging looks on Monday night, with the likes of Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Jared Leto, and Zendaya just a few of the many highlights from the event.

This year’s Met Gala theme, Camp, was a perfect match for the event’s history of the wild and unapologetically garish. It’s based on a 1964 essay by Susan Sontag, who came to define Camp as a “love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.”

SEE ALSO: We are LIVING for Lady Gaga stripping through four Met Gala outfits

Look, we’re not entirely sure if everyone hit the mark when it came to the theme. As Sontag noted, the ultimate Camp statement is something that’s “good because it’s awful,” and it seems like some really nailed the brief, as you’ll see.

Katy Perry

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Katy Perry attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

Image: Getty Images for THR

Someone actually make a chandelier that looks like Katy Perry’s outfit, please.

Janelle Monae

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Janelle Monae attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Image: FilmMagic

Lady Gaga

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Brandon Maxwell and Lady Gaga attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

Image: WireImage

One of Gaga’s four outfits.

Ezra Miller

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Ezra Miller attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/

Ezra Miller is a little too early for Halloween with his nightmare-inducing face makeup.

Lupita Nyong’o

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Lupita Nyong'o attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

Image: WireImage

Cardi B

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Cardi B attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

Image: Getty Images for THR

Celine Dion

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Celine Dion attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

Image: WireImage

Hailee Steinfeld

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Hailee Steinfeld attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Image: FilmMagic

Zendaya

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Zendaya attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

Image: Getty Images for THR

Zendaya is basically a space-age Disney princess.

Jared Leto

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Jared Leto attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes On Fashion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage )

Image: WireImage

Kendall Jenner

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Kendall Jenner attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Image: FilmMagic

Carnival in Rio De Janeiro was back in February, but we can excuse Kendall Jenner for being a little late to the party with this orange, feather-laden number.

Kylie Jenner

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Kylie Jenner attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Image: FilmMagic

Charli XCX

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Charli XCX attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

Image: WireImage

Gigi Hadid 

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Gigi Hadid attends the 2019 Met Gala celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019 in New York City.  (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

Image: FilmMagic

In case you’re wondering, Gigi Hadid’s bodysuit is covered in sequins.

Emma Stone

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Emma Stone attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

Image: Getty Images for THR

Gwen Stefani

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Gwen Stefani attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

Image: WireImage

Good luck coming up with an outfit that screams Gwen Stefani as much as this one does.

Ciara

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Ciara attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Image: FilmMagic

Nicki Minaj

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Nicki Minaj attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

Image: Getty Images for THR

Lucy Boynton

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Lucy Boynton attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/

Cara Delevingne

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Cara Delevingne attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/

Lizzo

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Lizzo attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/

Remember 2018’s ‘Heavenly Bodies’ Met Gala theme? Revisit Rihanna’s Pope chic.

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Kyrie Irving on Shooting Struggles in Bucks vs. Celtics Game 4: ‘Who Cares?’

Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving looks for a foul call against the Milwaukee Bucks after attempting a shot during the second half of Game 3 of a second round NBA basketball playoff series in Boston, Friday, May 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving has continued to struggle from the field when his team needs him most in its second-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks, but that apparently won’t stop him from seeking his shot in Game 5.

“Who cares? I’m a basketball player,” Irving said after shooting just 7-of-22 from the field Monday, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com. “Prepare the right way … The expectations on me are going to be sky-high. … For me, the 22 shots? I should’ve shot 30.”

Milwaukee seized a 3-1 series lead with its 113-101 victory in Game 4. Since Boston won Game 1, Irving is an ugly 19-of-62 (30.6 percent) from the field.

Irving also left the court before the final buzzer, though he said “the game was over,” per Jay King of The Athletic.

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The point guard wanted to be the go-to option and emerge from LeBron James’ shadow when he asked the Cleveland Cavaliers to trade him in 2017. This situation with the Celtics is exactly what he was looking for, as he is the unquestioned featured player for what should be a title contender.

However, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s star has shone brighter in this series and did so again Monday, when he tallied 39 points, 16 rebounds and four assists. He put his team on his back on the road as no other Buck scored more than 15 points and Khris Middleton shot just 4-of-19 from the field.

Boston didn’t need Irving to be a one-man show like Antetokounmpo. Rather, even a solid shooting performance from the 27-year-old likely would have been enough to tie the series considering each of Boston’s other four starters scored 16 or more points. (Irving finished with 23.)

Irving’s comments indicate he understands how high the expectations are for him, especially since the Celtics reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals without him and Gordon Hayward a year ago.

If he doesn’t figure out a way to turn around his poor shooting and lead Boston to three straight wins, the season and his postseason efforts will be seen as a failure.

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Jailed Reuters journalists freed from prison in Myanmar

Two Reuters news agency journalists jailed in Myanmar after they were convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act have been freed after spending more than 500 days behind bars.

The two reporters, Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, were convicted in September and sentenced to seven years in jail, in a case that raised questions about Myanmar’s progress toward democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates.

Earlier on Tuesday, Myanmar said it will release 6,520 prisoners in an amnesty, according to a statement from the president’s office. 

President Win Myint pardoned thousands of prisoners in two mass amnesties last month. It is customary in Myanmar for authorities to free prisoners around the time of the traditional New Year, which began on April 17.

Reuters has said the two men did not commit any crime and had called for their release.

Before their arrest in December 2017, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State during an army crackdown that began in August 2017.

The operation sent more than 730,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, according to UN estimates.

The report the two men authored, featuring testimony from perpetrators, witnesses and families of the victims, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in May, adding to a number of accolades received by the pair for their journalism.

Myanmar’s Supreme Court rejected the journalists’ final appeal in April. They had petitioned the country’s top court, citing evidence of a police set-up and lack of proof of a crime, after the Yangon High Court dismissed an earlier appeal in January.

“The Rohingya story has been at the forefront of this country for many years now,” Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay, reporting from Bangkok, said.

“There was a lot of pressure on the effective leader of the country, Aung San Suu Kyi. This was someone who once championed democracy, freedom of speech and human rights in the country to really do something. But she failed to act on that story.”

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