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Post by Admin on Jan 18, 2020 1:47:42 GMT
One of Rupert Murdoch sons is blasting the billionaire for how some of his media properties are covering the role of climate change in Australia's deadly bushfires. James Murdoch and his wife, Kathryn, said in a statement to the Daily Beast this week that the couple is "disappointed with the ongoing denial" at Australian news outlets controlled by the elder Murdoch regarding the link between global warming and the country's massive wildfires. The blazes have killed at least 25 people, left more than 1,000 people homeless and scorched more than 20 million acres — a land mass larger than Maine or North Carolina. Scientists also estimate that more than a billion animals have died. "Kathryn and James' views on climate are well established and their frustration with some of the News Corp and Fox coverage of the topic is also well known," a spokesperson for the couple told the Daily Beast. James Murdoch is the latest critic to accuse the Australia-born media mogul of misinforming the public about man-made climate change. The youngest of Rupert's sons, at 47, James was CEO of 21st Century Fox until its sale last year to Disney. He still sits on the board of News Corp and is a director of electric car maker Tesla.
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Post by Admin on Feb 16, 2020 22:32:30 GMT
US singer Adam Lambert has joined Queen to reprise the band's legendary 1985 Live Aid set for 75,000 people at a huge benefit concert in Sydney. The 22-minute set was part of a 10-hour fundraising event organised to raise A$10m (£5.15m; $6.71m) for communities devastated by bushfires. "As Aussies we bear together... because it turns out the people at the top don't," the host Celeste Barber said. Recent fires have killed at least 33 people, destroying thousands of homes. In New South Wales, the worst-hit state, heavy rains have brought blazes under control. But in the last few months more than 11 million hectares of land - an area comparable to the size of England - has been affected across all of Australia's states and territories.
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Post by Admin on Feb 16, 2020 23:31:33 GMT
Lambert, a former American Idol contestant who has previously toured with Queen, said it was a "real honour" to perform the band's full Live Aid set for the victims of Australia's bushfires. The set at the 1985 fundraising concert at London's Wembley Stadium for famine relief is seen as one of the greatest performances by any rock band. It was recreated for the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody. Australia has always had a fire season, with naturally occurring blazes sparked during the dry summer, but this year's has been unprecedented in the scale and intensity of the fires. Dozens of local and international acts performed at the Fire Fight Australia bushfire benefit concert in Sydney on Sunday. More than 70,000 people attended the concert to hear from artists like Queen, Alice Cooper, Olivia Newton-John, John Farnham, Jessica Mauboy, Peter Murray, Conrad Sewell and Daryl Braithwaite. Australian comedian Celeste Barber hosted the event, with profits going towards rural firefighting services, communities affected by bushfires and animal welfare.
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Post by Admin on Feb 17, 2020 21:26:39 GMT
Professionally filmed video footage of Alice Cooper's February 16 performance at the Fire Fight Australia benefit concert in Sydney can be seen below.
The legendary rocker played a four-song set consisting of "Department of Youth", "I'm Eighteen", "Poison" and "School's Out" medleyed with PINK FLOYD's "Another Brick In The Wall".
For the last track, Cooper changed jackets to a white number with an Australian flag on his back.
Cooper recently added a number of shows to his previously announced tour with Lita Ford. Most of the newly announced dates will also feature TESLA, with BLUE ÖYSTER CULT joining the bill in Minnesota.
Alice spoke to the New Zealand radio station Bayrock about his all-new "Ol' Black Eyes Is Back" show, which is scheduled to hit Auckland's Trusts Arena on February 20 and Christchurch's Horncastle Arena on February 22.
"First of all, it's a full theatrical show," Alice said. "You know when you go to the carnival and there's that ride that's called 'The Nightmare Castle' and you get in it and you go through it. Well, that's what the stage looks like — it's 'The Nightmare Castle.' And so you can imagine what comes out of that. I can only say that there's a lot of surprises in the show, theatrically. And the music is gonna be A1+. It's the best band I've ever worked with."
Singling out guitarist Nita Strauss, Cooper said: "She's a force of nature — she really is — and one of the nicest ladies I've ever met in my life. [She] cannot wait to get on stage. Everybody in the band is like that, though; everybody in the band are best friends.
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Post by Admin on Feb 18, 2020 1:12:53 GMT
The Fire Fight Australia concert has been deemed a massive success, after raising a whopping $9.5 million for bushfire relief.
75,000 people gathered at ANZ Stadium in Sydney’s Olympic Park for the star-studded concert yesterday, enjoying over nine hours of stunning performances.
23 artists and bands took the stage, including John Farnham, Queen and Adam Lambert and Olivia Newton-John.
President of TEG Dainty, Paul Dainty, says it’s been an overwhelming response from all over the world.
“From the first conversation with Queen’s manager, Jim Beach, the band’s immediate response to support this amazing event was what set everything in motion.
“We want to give a special shout out to Celeste Barber for hosting this historic event, she has been one of the greatest supporters and we thank her.
“People can continue to donate and purchase the official Fire Fight Australia T-Shirt online with 100% of proceeds going to the fundraising efforts,” Mr Dainty said.
More donations are expected once the show is televised in the United States and the United Kingdom in the coming days.
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