Philippines: Ex-senator to face verdict on plunder case

Manila, Philippines – Movie star-turned-politician Ramon Revilla Jr will face a court verdict on Friday that will decide whether he is a hero or villain in the biggest corruption scandal to hit the Philippines in the last decade.

The anti-corruption Sandiganbayan court will announce whether it finds the former senator guilty of embezzling public funds amounting to more than $4m from 2004 to 2013, part of a larger “pork barrel” scam involving another two former senators and several other congressmen who allegedly pocketed a total $189m.

They face allegations of funnelling their legislators’ discretionary funds into bogus organisations set up by businessperson Janet Lim-Napoles, who split the money with them.

The “pork barrel” refers to the practice of appropriating public money for local projects through Congress. A legacy of the late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the practice has remained untouched and has become a source of massive corruption.

Revilla’s plunder case will be the first to reach a resolution, and the verdict may foreshadow the way the court will decide on the rest of the “pork barrel” scam cases. That is, whether any high-ranking politician will be punished for corruption.

When Revilla and senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada were charged and arrested for plunder in 2014, the highly publicised “pork barrel” scam investigation hit its climax, capping off then-President Benigno Aquino’s hallmark campaign against corruption.

But as expected, the cases outlasted Aquino’s presidency, and now the political climate has changed dramatically under his successor, Rodrigo Duterte, who has been in office since 2016.

‘Grave misconduct’

Revilla, Enrile and Estrada were in the opposition during Aquino’s term. Aquino, in fact, drew criticism for only going after political opponents. Only one Aquino ally was tagged in the scandal, and the charge was a less serious “grave misconduct”.

Now, the three politicians are on the side of the ruling power, and are running again for the Senate in May’s midterm polls under parties directly or indirectly allied with Duterte.

Sara Duterte-Carpio, the president’s influential daughter, is endorsing Revilla’s candidacy.

Duterte has shown a propensity for doing political favours for his allies while dealing tough blows on his opponents.

For instance, he set his cabinet and his allies in Congress against Senator Leila De Lima, who investigated and strongly criticised his war on drugs. In February 2017, after a humiliating public probe into her personal affairs, she was arrested on illegal drug charges based on testimonies from convicted drug traffickers.

Meanwhile, in November 2016, he permitted a hero’s burial for Marcos, who siphoned off at least $5bn in public funds and saw to the killings of more than 3,000 activists and dissidents during his 21-year rule.

A month earlier, Duterte let slip in a public address that Marcos’s daughter, Imee, donated money to his presidential campaign. Imee Marcos denied it. She is now running for senator, too, under Duterte-Carpio’s political coalition.

If Revilla is convicted of plunder, he could appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court, where the new chief justice appointed recently by Duterte, Lucas Bersamin, has a record of deciding favourably towards the president and his allies.

As the high court’s associate justice, Bersamin affirmed the hero’s burial for Marcos, and De Lima’s arrest. In August, when Estrada sought the dismissal of his plunder case, Bersamin cast a minority vote to grant it.

Revilla is now the only ex-senator in jail for the “pork barrel” scam. Although Philippine law prevents plunder suspects from posting bail, the 94-year-old Enrile got a concession for “humanitarian reasons”. Estrada, too, got a reprieve after the anti-graft court decided the evidence against him was not very strong.

“God is good,” Revilla told reporters on the last day of his trial that ran four years.

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2RFXf6P
via IFTTT

How to make your Instagram ‘Top Nine’ for 2018

Disclosure

Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work.

Time to find out your top nine Instagram posts of 2018.

2016%2f09%2f16%2f8f%2fhttpsd2mhye01h4nj2n.cloudfront.netmediazgkymde1lza3.c1888

By Karissa Bell2018-12-06 23:39:33 UTC

The holidays are upon us and, for Instagram users, that can only mean one thing: it’s time to make your “top nine” collage.

For those not familiar, these are the posts that inundate Instagram feeds and Stories at the end of each year, with users showing off their nine most-liked Instagram posts of the year in a single collage.

The Top Nine tool, which is created by app developer Beta Labs, is available now and has been updated for 2018. You can download the app in the App Store or Google Play Store, or make your collage on the the Top Nine website. You’ll need to use the app if you have a private Instagram account.

This year, the tool also requires users to give their email address before they can get their collage. Beta Labs founder Kevin Natanzon tells me that’s because demand has been so high in past years that the app isn’t always able to generate the collages as quickly as users request them.

Now, instead of waiting for it to load, the company will email users their collages as soon as they’re ready. You can then download the image or export it to your Instagram Story. And, if you use the app, you can also get images printed on physical items like phone cases.

Natanzon also tells me they’ll soon be re-releasing a video feature, which will let you create videos out of your posts.

But regardless of what you do with your collage, it’s a good way to find out what your most popular posts were — and to start planning for next year.

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2QdV4up
via IFTTT

Microsoft issues call for regulation of facial recognition tech

There’s no time like the present to slow the tide of a technology-enabled facilitation of discrimination aided by facial recognition.

So, somewhat surprisingly, argues one key developer of said facial recognition tech: Microsoft.

On Dec. 6, Microsoft president Brad Smith released an over 3,500-word blog post detailing his concerns with the aforementioned technology and calling for immediate government regulation. The post gets straight to the point, noting that as a society we can’t risk waiting any longer.

“The facial recognition genie, so to speak, is just emerging from the bottle,” reads the post in part. “Unless we act, we risk waking up five years from now to find that facial recognition services have spread in ways that exacerbate societal issues.”

When the president of what is, or at least for a moment in late November was, the world’s most valuable company publicly decries the potential future harms of a tech we should probably take note.

This rings true especially when that very same company has a $480 million contract with the U.S. military to help it “increase lethality.” Because if facial recognition tech spooks even Smith, then the rest of us should be feeling pretty nervous right about now.

Specifically, the blog post lays out three problems with facial recognition tech.

First, it “[increases] the risk of decisions and, more generally, outcomes that are biased and, in some cases, in violation of laws prohibiting discrimination.” This is a very real concern, as we know that in its current form the technology has a hard time correctly identifying people of color, women, and young people.

Next, “the widespread use of this technology can lead to new intrusions into people’s privacy.” We’ve seen what this looks like in China, with automated facial recognition tech being used to identify and publicly shame jaywalkers.

And, lastly, “the use of facial recognition technology by a government for mass surveillance can encroach on democratic freedoms.” This we know to be true, as the tech can identify individual protesters at, say, a march. Even, potentially, if they’re masked.

This is not the first time Microsoft has asked the government to regulate the sector. The company issued a similar call in June. However, this time around, Microsoft is also asking its competitors to not wait for the government to act. “We and other tech companies need to start creating safeguards to address facial recognition technology,” Smith writes.

Notably, Smith doesn’t think the technology is all bad. He writes that it has been used to find missing children, and even to help diagnose a rare disease. Still, according to Smith, it clearly needs some serious and immediate checks.

Perhaps Smith, in addition to this lengthy call for regulation, can do us all one more favor and send his blog post directly to Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. Maybe Bezos, whose company has its own controversial facial recognition program, will take the concerns of a fellow rich man more seriously than those of the organizations that have spoken up against it.

But no point in holding your breath — it’s unlikely the blue hue of your oxygen-starved face will pose any problems to the algorithm identifying you in the crowd.

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2RzztZY
via IFTTT

Tim Tebow ‘One Step Away’ from Making MLB Debut, Says Mets GM

Eastern Division's Tim Tebow stands in the dugout prior to the Eastern League All-Star minor league baseball game, Wednesday, July 11, 2018, in Trenton, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

It may not be too long before Tim Tebow is playing at an MLB stadium near you.

In a recent interview with WFAN radio (h/t USA Today’s Jesse Yomtov), new New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Tebow is just “one step away” from the big leagues as he will start the 2019 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.

“If Tim Tebow is the best offensive player in Triple-A at [the time of an injury to a Mets outfielder], he’s going to be in (manager Mickey Callaway’s) lineup,” Van Wagenen acknowledged to WFAN.

Those comments are exactly not ground-breaking by any measure. It was announced last month that Tebow would start next season at Triple-A, and because that is the top level of the minor leagues, there is nowhere else for him to be promoted to except the big leagues.

Of course, he will have to earn his way to the show.

The former Heisman Trophy winner has slowly been working his way up the ladder since signing with the Mets in 2016. He has participated in major-league spring training the past two years, going just 5-for-45 (.111 average) in 16 appearances.

His minor-league career did not get off to a much better start, either, as he hit just .226 between two levels of A-ball in 2017.

The football star-turned-outfielder did, however, begin to silence some of his critics this past season. He hit .273 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 36 RBI in 84 games at Double-A in 2018, earning a spot on the Eastern League All-Star squad as a result.

Unfortunately for Tebow, he was unable to build on his success as he suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand in July, sidelining him for the rest of the year. But given the progress he had shown during the first half of the season, he had shown enough to warrant a bump up in the system.

“No question, the strides he made from when he first signed and the showcase that he had to how much better he’s gotten—at the level of competition he’s had to perform—has been remarkable,” Van Wagenen added, per Newsday’s Tom Healey.

New York has always shown plenty of faith in Tebow since he signed. Former general manager Sandy Alderson made headlines in February by declaring, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, “I think [Tebow] will play in the Major Leagues.”

Last month, Van Wagenen let it be known that he believed in Tebow, according to the Associated Press.

Tebow Watch will be in full force come spring 2019. New York recently cleared up its outfield logjam by trading three-time All-Star Jay Bruce to the Seattle Mariners. Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes is expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing heel surgery in July. That means the team’s outfield depth is not what it was this past season, so any future injuries could open the door for a Tebow call-up.

For now, though, Tebow will have to prove he himself is healthy and can handle better pitching at Triple-A.

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2Qf002a
via IFTTT

Angry protests on anniversary of Greek teen’s police shooting

Athens, Greece – Athens police have battled hundreds of protesters late into the night after demonstrations marking the tenth anniversary of the killing of a teenager by police, which has become a rallying cry for anti-authority movements and leftists in Greece and beyond.

A Greek and international medley of black-clad, hooded protesters on Thursday manned barricades made of materials dragged from corner parking lots and building sites in Exarchia, the central Athens neighbourhood where 15 year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos was killed in 2008.

Rolling gates, steel mesh rebar, scaffolding, shelving, insulation, concrete flower pots and rubbish dumpsters were piled up at intersections surrounding Exarchia Square. Fires smouldered on the asphalt, giving off a perversely meat-like smell.

Riot police fired teargas and stun grenades from a carefully-held distance of two blocks from each barricade. Occasionally, protesters made sorties towards them or stampeded in rapid retreats back onto the square, but the battle seemed to be a stalemate.

Protesters were momentarily concerned with a series of explosions loud enough to be felt as body blows, that came from a school just off the square.

“It’s OK, they’re not police, they’re ours,” came the reassuring reply from a protester who called out to people within the school compound. Flames flickered from inside.

Some protesters held bottled beers as they took a break from the fighting. Others held Molotov cocktails. Broken glass and concrete pavement slabs lay everywhere. At one blockade, a group of middle-aged women pleaded with Polish protesters not to set fire to the materials.

“We have babies sleeping upstairs,” they pleaded, pointing to their apartment block. Later, one woman murmured to the others, “We didn’t go to Krakow or Warsaw to do this mischief.” Other protesters spoke in Arabic or Albanian-accented Greek. Some spoke English.

By midnight, four cars had been burned and at least 30 protesters had been taken into custody.

Protesters shouting slogans during the rally marking the 2008 police shooting of Alexandros Grigoropoulos [Costas Baltas/Reuters]

Exarchia, which has long been a stronghold of anarchists and leftists who regularly battle with police, wraps around the downtown campus of the Athens Polytechnic, the site of a student uprising 45 years ago against the country’s then-military dictatorship.

In November 1973, police stormed the Polytechnic grounds, killing dozens of students barricaded inside. After the restoration of democracy the following year, Greece passed a law that grants tertiary education campuses asylum from police interventions. Protesters can ultimately retreat onto the Polytechnic grounds to escape arrest.

In this already restive neighbourhood, police shot Grigoropoulos in the heart during an altercation in 2008. In court, the accused officer claimed he shot in the air to intimidate Grigoropoulos, but the bullet ricocheted off an overhanging balcony.

The forensic analysis backed up this version, but many of Thursday’s protesters didn’t accept it.

“The officer’s gun was magic. When he fired into the air, the bullet found its mark,” chanted high school students during the march earlier in the day.

Some carried thick dowel rods, others brought Molotov cocktails, and a few came armed with hammers. They smashed traffic lights and shattered marble masonry on the sides of banks to throw at police. Several looked young enough to have been born around the time of the original shooting.

Not everyone was sympathetic to the protesters. “What they need is a good beating,” commented one elderly man as he watched a group smash marble slab.

At least 30 protesters have been taken into custody [Costas Baltas/Reuters]

Anti-riot police threw tear gas and prevented them from reaching Syntagma Square as they attempted to march on parliament.

Coming just after the financial crisis of 2008 that triggered Greece’s economic depression, Grigoropoulos’ death developed into a rallying cry for a disillusioned and angry youth. Even though unemployment has declined since the heart of the crisis in 2013, 37 percent of people between the ages of 15 and 24 remain without work.

According to some estimates, as many as 700,000 young people have left Greece to find work.

“Money to the banks and bullets to the young,” read a banner carried by one protest group, chanting anti-capitalist slogans.

Much of the daytime rally was organised by groups to the left of the ruling Syriza party, including the Front of the Greek Anticapitalist Left, formed in 2009, and the Socialist Workers’ Party, a Trotskyist group formed in the late 1960s.

Much of the daytime rally was organised by groups to the left of the ruling Syriza party [Costas Baltas/Reuters]

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2RGlVfa
via IFTTT

Bloomberg holds private meetings with top Iowa Democrats ahead of 2020 decision

Michael Bloomberg, who spent more than $100 million in 2018 to help Democratic campaigns, took clear steps to test the state’s political waters. | Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

2020 Election

It’s the latest sign the billionaire is taking a hard look at running for president.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg held a series of private meetings with top Iowa Democrats this week during a multi-city swing through the first presidential state, a sign that the New York billionaire is taking a hard look at a 2020 campaign.

The former New York City mayor met with Iowa’s Democratic Party chair Troy Price on Wednesday, Price confirmed to POLITICO. Bloomberg also met with former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack — a one-time presidential contender himself — earlier this week, as well as with longtime Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.

Story Continued Below

Miller, a consistent top vote-getter in the state, provided a key early endorsement to Barack Obama in 2007, helping him get traction in Iowa in his successful 2008 bid there against Hillary Clinton.

Bloomberg had billed the visit to Iowa as an opportunity to screen a new documentary on climate change, “Paris to Pittsburgh,” and held a roundtable discussion on the topic.

But Bloomberg, who spent more than $100 million in 2018 to help Democratic campaigns, also took clear steps to test the state’s political waters. In addition to sitting with top party officials, Bloomberg had discussions with Democratic stakeholders in different parts of the state, including in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, where he asked questions about the state’s political landscape and caucus dynamics.

Facilitating the meetings was top Iowa political operative Matt Paul, often seen as the go-to person in the state for potential presidential contenders.

“Mike met with a variety of Iowans both in the eastern part of the state and central Iowa, including some party leaders, legislators and small business owners,” Paul told POLITICO. “Mike has said he’s looking seriously at this and wanting to talk with Iowans of a number of different backgrounds and [having] brief conversations with them, is part of that.”

Paul said Bloomberg asked what factors to consider for a presidential run in the caucus state and sought to learn more about Iowa’s political dynamics.

“These are conversations that have happened or are happening” with a number of major potential presidential candidates, Paul said.

A spokesman for Bloomberg declined to comment for this story.

A visit to the first presidential state is the latest move Bloomberg has made as he considers a run for president. Earlier this year, Bloomberg registered as a Democrat, changing his party registration from Independent. Earlier this week, he said he would consider selling his company if he runs for president.

“I do think that after 12 years in City Hall, dealing with international problems and security problems and economic problems and creating jobs and the environment and guns and women’s rights and tobacco and these things, that I have a lot of experience which would be useful if I was president of the United States,” said Bloomberg Tuesday in interview with CNN. “It’s one thing to say something, it’s a different thing to have actually done it.”

Bloomberg has been a forceful critic of the president, and disparaged him during a speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2016, where he endorsed Hillary Clinton. “Trump says he wants to run the nation like he’s run his business? God help us. I’m a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one,” Bloomberg said.

President Donald Trump mocked Bloomberg’s presidential ambitions last week, dismissing the former mayor with a derisive nickname.

“I’d love to run against Little Michael,” Trump said. “I’d love to run against Michael. I don’t know if he’s going to run, but I’d love it.”

In August, however, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said Bloomberg would be his toughest challenger because of his name recognition and personal assets. “Mike Bloomberg created tens of thousands of jobs over the course of his lifetime,” Lewandowski said. “That is a story the American people like and he’s an outsider. I think it would be a very competitive race.”

The timing of Bloomberg’s visit stands out at a time when rumors are flying about who’s in and who’s out of what’s expected to be a sprawling Democratic field. This week alone, lawyer Michael Avenatti dropped out of the race Tuesday and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Thursday he would not run.

While a string of high-profile Democrats — from Sen. Bernie Sanders to former Vice President Joe Biden — wore out a path to Iowa before the midterms, few presidential prospects have visited the state since the November elections.

Among the exceptions are Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who last week spoke to the Iowa Farm Bureau, and Maryland Rep. John Delaney, who has had a steady presence in the state. Later this month, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, and Rep. Eric Swalwell of California will attend a holiday event held by Progress Iowa, a statewide progressive organization.

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2Qf02Hk
via IFTTT

A bizarre Instagram glitch is the reason your feed is messed up

A strange glitch is messing up Instagram feeds, but some people think it’s a cool new filter.

Image: lili sams / mashable

By Karissa Bell2018-12-06 21:56:17 UTC

If Instagram looks a little off to you right now, you’re not alone: the app is experiencing a strange glitch that is messing with users’ feeds.

The issue is causing bars to appear over images, making them look like they are the product of a scrambled VHS tape or some strange new filter. The source of the problem is unclear, but it appears to be fairly widespread, with confused and upset users taking to Twitter to complain.

The good news is that Instagram has confirmed it’s an issue on their end, which means there’s nothing wrong with your phone. The bad news is it’s not clear how long it will take for the company to come up with a fix.

Just got a new phone, genuinely thought it was broken with O2 going down today. I had to drive 2 miles back home, just to get my google maps working for my sat nav for work this morning and now this…..is anyone else getting this image glitch on Instagram? #instagram pic.twitter.com/RMYF5bZB3B

— Jamie Bibby (@Jamiebibby78) December 6, 2018

“We know this is frustrating and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible,” the company wrote on Twitter.

In the meantime, it looks like some users are actually enjoying Instagram’s odd new aesthetic (it’s like using the Glitché app, but for free).

that instagram glitch is lowkey the most aesthetically pleasing thing to ever happen to the app

— Nicole Tillotson (@nictillotson) December 6, 2018

Whatever this Instagram glitch is….. I fucking like it

— (@VvBee17) December 6, 2018

I REALLY THOT THIS INSTAGRAM GLITCH WAS A FILTER

— ❦ (@skztear) December 6, 2018

I thought everyone was using a new glitch filter on Instagram or something

— Dimitri (@dimitrisamuel) December 6, 2018

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2Un0Nwb
via IFTTT

PETA’s campaign to stop anti-animal language sparked a new meme

Image: sandra mu/Getty Images

By Morgan Sung2018-12-06 21:53:50 UTC

PETA’s ridiculed campaign inspired a glorious new meme.

The animal’s rights group was heavily criticized for comparing “anti-animal” idioms to racism, homophobia, and other discriminatory language. Along with their terrible opinion, PETA posted a list of very serious alternatives for “anti-animal language.”

Hilarious examples include “Take a flower by the thorns” instead of “Take the bull by the horns,” as if people could say that with a straight face.

Words matter, and as our understanding of social justice evolves, our language evolves along with it. Here’s how to remove speciesism from your daily conversations. pic.twitter.com/o67EbBA7H4

— PETA: Bringing Home the Bagels Since 1980 (@peta) December 4, 2018

And because the internet can’t take anything seriously, PETA’s attempt at comparing human suffering to using animals in poetic license is now a meme. From petitions to stop using “anti-Bird” language to quoting the Star Wars prequels, Twitter and Reddit users are trying to make our world a more inclusive place for all fandoms.

As an American minority I think it’s my duty to change the culture of my country to my liking. Please stop using Anti -Plant Language. Thanks pic.twitter.com/NHrZq9QsrZ

— Carl Ruiz (@carlruiz) December 6, 2018

PETA wants you to stop using anti-animal language this holiday season

Instead of “pound this pussy”, try saying “plow my fields”

— Slip Knaughty (@nerdybyptw) December 6, 2018

Despite being a meme, PETA is pushing forward with its anti-animal campaign. It recently changed its Twitter name to the bizarrely long “PETA: Bringing Home The Bagels Since 1980.”

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2AWLuBF
via IFTTT

Chinese Police Destroy $87.5 Million Worth of Fake Sneakers

FILE - In this March 27, 2001 file photo, Mike Costantino displays his pair of Converse

Grant Halverson/Associated Press

Chinese authorities reportedly destroyed $87.5 million worth of counterfeit shoes following a yearlong investigation.

Mike DeStefano of Sole Collector cited China.org.cn and noted police in the city of Bengbu were told in December 2015 that fake Converses were being produced and sold. Police discovered a factory within a month that had hundreds of people working on producing the counterfeit shoes. Authorities then launched an operation in December 2016.

The operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects, the destroying of nine production lines and the seizure of 500,000 pairs of Converse and Vans shoes, which officials then destroyed.

Additional ensuing raids in other areas led to the destruction of five more factories and the arrests of seven more suspects.

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2UmwBS7
via IFTTT

The 2018 Breakout Stars Yearbook: From Noah Centineo To Hayley Kiyoko

Getty Images

Gather around, class — it’s that time of year again! As the bell rings on 2018, we’re looking back at the breakout stars who commanded our screens and dominated the airwaves. It was the year we swooned over the faces of the rom-com resurgence, got bewitched by Sabrina, found catharsis in “Lucid Dreams,” and bopped along to “Boo’d Up.” In celebration of those memories and more, take a look at the “freshman class” of 2018, comprised of the scene-stealers and chart-toppers who made this year so fun.

Age: 22

Breakout role: As Peter Kavinsky, the scheming jock with a sensitive soul, in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before; as Jamey, another sweet jock with a crush, in Sierra Burgess Is a Loser

How he ruled 2018: The Florida native became the face of the rom-com resurgence this year with his back-to-back Netflix flicks. Wooing fans with his Mark Ruffalo-ness, he was promptly crowned the Internet’s Boyfriend, and racked up a whopping one million followers in just one day following To All the Boys‘s premiere (he’s now at a casual 16 million).

What’s next: Yet another rom-com, The Stand-In, with Riverdale‘s Camila Mendes; a “key role” in next year’s Charlie’s Angels reboot; more thirst traps for those millions of eager IG followers
Age: 27

Breakout song: The fast-talking dance-pop revenge tale “Curious”

How she ruled 2018: That’s “20GAYTEEN,” actually, according to Hayley. This year saw the release of her queer anthem-packed debut album, Expectations, which paved the way for a Coachella debut, a nationwide tour with Panic! At the Disco, and a guest performance at Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour. The icing on the cake was her first trip to the VMAs, where she performed “Curious” and earned a Moonperson for Push Artist of the Year. “This validates any queer woman of color that you can follow your dreams,” she said after her big win. Amen, Lesbian Jesus!

What’s next: A European tour in early 2019
Age: 25

Breakout role: As the whip-smart tech genius Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and Wakanda’s princess, in Black Panther

How she ruled 2018: In Hollywood’s first black superhero movie, Letitia was the scene stealer — no easy feat when you’re sharing the screen with a beefed-up, shirtless Michael B. Jordan. The Guyanese-British actress reprised her role in Avengers: Infinity War, and then scored an Emmy nomination for her appearance on Netflix’s Black Mirror. And then there are all those projects she has in the pipeline…

What’s next: The indie sci-fi romance Hold Back the Stars with John Boyega; the John Legend-produced U.S. remake of French comedy Le Brio; a rumored role in Rihanna and Donald Glover’s mysterious Guava Island; Avengers 4 and that inevitable Black Panther sequel
Age: 24

Breakout song: The silky smooth, triple-platinum “Boo’d Up”

How she ruled 2018: More than a year after its appearance on her 2017 EP Ready, “Boo’d Up” became a late-bloomer hit, turning Ella into a household name. The London-born singer set hearts aflutter again with the release of her self-titled debut album in October, which spawned the groovy follow-up single “Trip” and earned her a coveted performance slot on SNL.

What’s next: Her first headlining tour, which kicks off in her native U.K. in January and treks across Europe before arriving stateside in February; some much-earned Grammy buzz
Age: 19

Breakout role: As the titular half-witch, half-mortal in Netflix’s spellbinding The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

How she ruled 2018: In her first major role since her turn as sassy Sally Draper on Mad Men, Kiernan helps reinvent Sabrina for Gen Z via one hell of a wickedly fun occult romp. Since its premiere in October, CAOS has become a binge watcher’s dream — or, maybe more accurately, a delicious nightmare.

What’s next: A Sabrina holiday special coming to Netflix on December 14; nine new episodes hitting the streaming service on April 5; more fashion-forward Instagram inspiration
Age: 29

Breakout role: As the fast-talking, card-flipping pickpocket Constance in Ocean’s 8; as the hilarious, swaggering BFF Goh Peik Lin in Crazy Rich Asians

How she ruled 2018: The Queens rapper — who became an underground sensation a few years ago with her viral YouTube hit “My Vag” — landed roles in two of the summer’s biggest flicks. Most notable was Crazy Rich Asians, a landmark rom-com that became Hollywood’s first major movie in 25 years with an all-Asian cast. Amid its dazzling ensemble, Awkwafina stole every scene.

What’s next: A half-hour scripted series she developed for Comedy Central that’s inspired by her own upbringing in Queens (maybe it’ll fill the Broad City-sized hole in your heart?); three movies bowing in 2019, including the fantasy/sci-fi film Paradise Hills with Emma Roberts; the already-in-the-works Crazy Rich Asians sequel
Age: 20

Breakout song: “Lucid Dreams,” the emo-descended heartbreak anthem of the year

How he ruled 2018: After dropping just one EP on SoundCloud last year, the Chicago rapper scored a reported $3 million deal with Interscope at the top of 2018, and made good on the hype with “Lucid Dreams.” The platinum hit has been hanging out in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 for months, peaking at No. 3 and earning Juice WRLD a performance slot at the VMAs in August. He gave fans more lush loner tunes with his debut album Goodbye & Good Riddance, teamed up with Future for a collaborative project, and then took his heartbreak on the road for the aptly titled The WRLD Domination Tour.

What’s next: The North American leg of his trek wraps up next week, and then he heads overseas for a handful of dates in Australia and New Zealand
Age: 35

Breakout role: The bisexual, alcoholic warrior Valkyrie in Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok

How she ruled 2018: The L.A. native’s scene-stealing Thor role won over the masses at the end of last year, but it was 2018 that cemented her status as a here-to-stay star. She played astrophysicist Josie in the female-led sci-fi flick Annihilation, rainbow-haired activist Detroit in cult fave Sorry to Bother You, and the calculated Charlotte Hale on HBO’s Westworld. Tessa also reprised her role as hearing-impaired singer Bianca in Creed II, and took her talents to the music world by co-starring in Janelle Monáe’s vagina-celebrating “Pynk” video. Got all that?

What’s next: A mysterious role in the untitled Men in Black spin-off; voicing Lady in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp
Age: 19

Breakout song: The Harry Styles-approved “1950,” a tender depiction of unrequited romance inspired by the way queer people historically had to hide their love

How she ruled 2018: The Brooklyn-born teen’s sparkling left-of-center pop made her the first signee to Mark Ronson’s Zelig Recordings, and after “1950” propelled her into stardom, she made her official introduction on the five-song EP Make My Bed, packed with polished, unabashedly gay earworms.

What’s next: A collaboration with Ronson on his upcoming album; a headlining North American tour beginning in January 2019
Age: 27

Breakout role: As 1950s housewife-turned-standup-comic Midge in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

How she ruled 2018: Yes, Mrs. Maisel premiered last year, but 2018 was when the series dominated awards season and established itself an instant classic. That’s thanks in large part to Brosnahan, who earned a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her hilarious, razor-sharp portrayal of Midge.

What’s next: Season 2 of Mrs. Maisel, which landed on Amazon Prime this week; the Cold War drama Ironbark, alongside Benedict Cumberbatch
Age: 24

Breakout song: Cardi B’s “I Like It,” which featured both Bad Bunny and J Balvin’s hot Latin flare

How he ruled 2018: The Puerto Rican rapper led the Latin trap explosion this year, scoring his first No. 1 with Cardi B’s song of the summer smash. That widened his reach to the English-speaking masses, as did his marquee features with some of rap and reggaeton’s biggest names: Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, Nicki Minaj, and Drake, who sang in Spanish on Bad Bunny’s single “Mia.” His stellar 2018 also included his first-ever U.S. tour and two wins at the Latin American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year.

What’s next: His hotly anticipated debut album, rumored to be titled La Nueva Religión
Age: 21

Breakout role: As Lara Jean Covey, an introverted romance novel enthusiast and love letter writer, in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

How she ruled 2018: Like her dreamy co-star Noah Centineo, Lana skyrocketed to stardom with her all-too-relatable role in Netflix’s hit rom-com. The Vietnamese-American actress subsequently gained a cult following on Instagram and became one of the faces of the new wave of Asian media representation (looking at you, Crazy Rich Asians!). Like Lara Jean, you can’t help but root for Lana.

What’s next: Starring as a badass assassin in the Syfy series Deadly Class; the cyberpunk action flick Alita: Battle Angel; hopefully the eagerly awaited To All The Boys sequel
Age: 27

Breakout role: As Emma Stone’s regal love interest in The Favourite; as a lovestruck courtier in Mary Queen of Scots

How he ruled 2018: The Brit actor appeared to have his star-making turn with Ang Lee’s ambitious Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk in 2016, but that didn’t quite shake out. This year is a different story, thanks to his pivotal roles in three — count ’em, three! — awards contenders: the aforementioned The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots, plus the gay-conversion therapy drama Boy Erased. He also earned the Chopard Trophy for emerging talent at the Cannes Film Festival, became the face of Prada, and, yes, is dating one of the world’s biggest pop stars, Taylor Swift.

What’s next: A role in the upcoming Harriet Tubman biopic, alongside Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monáe
Age: 16

Breakout song: The bewitching, beyond-her-years “Ocean Eyes”

How she ruled 2018: A pop rebel through and through, Billie has been bubbling up for a couple years now, thanks to haunting tunes like “Ocean Eyes” and “Bellyache.” 2018 was her biggest year yet — she racked up more than a billion Spotify streams and booked sold-out shows on her own and with Florence + the Machine. On the new music front, she released a handful of buzz tracks, including “You Should See Me in a Crown” and the Khalid collaboration “Lovely,” which appeared in an episode of 13 Reasons Why.

What’s next: Her long-awaited full-length album
Age: 21

Breakout song: The haunting, heart-on-sleeve “Let Me Down,” featuring Stormzy

How she ruled 2018: With her debut single, 2016’s “Blue Lights,” the former Starbucks barista proved herself an R&B revelation, and the moves haven’t stopped since. After Drake recruited her for two tracks on his mixtape More Life, Kendrick Lamar tapped her for his Black Panther stomper “I Am” earlier this year. The English singer followed it up with her intimate, soulful debut album, Lost & Found, which she took on a sold-out tour that wraps later this month. Throw in a Coachella debut and a few song placements on HBO’s Insecure, and you’ve got one hell of a breakout year.

What’s next: A couple festivals in the books for 2019; hopefully more new music!
Queer Eye‘s Fab Five: Most School Spirit

Ages: 31 (Jonathan Van Ness), 35 (Tan France), 38 (Karamo Brown), 37 (Bobby Berk), 34 (Antoni Porowski)

Breakout roles: As their most charming selves on Queer Eye, Netflix’s reboot of the feel-good makeover show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

How they ruled 2018: The new and improved Fab Five became ubiquitous this year after tickling the whole goddamn nation with their tips on everything from emotional intimacy to moisturizer to guacamole. The show hit viewers right in the feels and sparked a million memes inspired by Tan’s fixation on French tucks, Antoni’s obsession with avocados, and pretty much every single thing Jonathan said and did and wore.

What’s next: Season 3 will move the party from Atlanta to Kansas City, Missouri — can you believe?!
Age: 21

Breakout song: Sing it with me now: “Havana, ooh na-na”

How she ruled 2018: How didn’t she?! Since releasing her debut album, Camila, in January, the former Fifth Harmony singer has been practically everywhere. Camila debuted atop the charts as “Havana” simultaneously became the No. 1 song in the country. She followed up those victories by opening on tour for Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift, somehow finding time for her own headlining trek, and becoming the most decorated winner at the VMAs, where she won Artist of the Year and Video of the Year. And Camilizers would never, ever, ever be the same…

What’s next: Album No. 2, which she recently teased as “the most special thing I’ve ever worked on”

from Daily Trends Hunter https://ift.tt/2AYga5C
via IFTTT