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CBC
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
The most memorable moments from the Weeknd's larger-than-life Toronto show
The Weeknd was in impeccable form on the second night of four sold-out tour stops at Toronto's Rogers Centre. Buoyed by the adoration of the 40,000-person crowd, Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. the Weeknd, was beaming while he ran through a medley of songs from his extensive discography. Chants of "Abel, Abel, Abel!" rippled through the crowd at every song break, and the star stood smiling, basking in the love. Between Starboy and Heartless, the Weeknd took time to thank the audience for their fervent cheering: "That may have been a warmer welcome than yesterday…. We did the show last night and last night was loud but I got a big feeling about tonight, man." He continued, getting sentimental: "I just want to take in this moment right now. This has been a dream for a very long time, I used to come watch Blue Jays games here, it's crazy. Who knew a kid from Scarborough could do this, man, thank you guys so much." The Weeknd's After Hours 'til Dawn tour began in 2022, touching down in Toronto for two nights that year. The 2025 iteration includes the addition of new set pieces and new songs from his January album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, plus two extra nights of performances on Aug. 7 and 8. Hip-hop super producer Mike Dean kicked off the July 28 concert with a quick opening set, and came back to play keyboards and synthesizers during the Weeknd's marathon performance later in the night. Montreal DJ and producer Kaytranada played a mix of songs from across his three albums — 99.9%, Bubba and Timeless — plus his crowd-pleasing remixes of Janet Jackson's If and Chance the Rapper's All Night, before asking the crowd if they were "ready to see Abel." The Weeknd opened his set with The Abyss, a song featuring Lana Del Rey from his latest album. His voice filled the stadium as he emerged from behind veiled dancers, singing, "I tried to be something that I'll never be/ why waste another precious hour?/ Why waste another precious ounce?/ I'd rather leave somewhat of a legacy." The following two-hour-and-20-minute concert proved that he has no need to worry about what legacy he'll leave behind. Hometown highlights Toronto played a starring role in the show as the Weeknd performed directly below the looming CN Tower, which he referred to as one of the "centrepieces" of his elaborate set. The funky bassline of Sacrifice rang out as he sang, "I was born in a city/ where the winter nights don't ever sleep," and followed the lyric by yelling joyously, "You know what city that is!" He shouted out Toronto at every opportunity, and switched lyrics in a number of songs to turn the city itself into his love interest: "I can't lose you Toronto" on Lost in the Fire and "Every time I try to leave you Toronto/ you keep pulling me back" on Given Up on Me were just a couple of those moments. The Weeknd even used his captive audience to launch a petition to change the Rogers Centre back to its original name: "Is there any way to call this place the SkyDome again? We gotta call Mr. Rogers or whoever owns this place … do you agree with me, Toronto, or what?" The crowd cheered loudly in agreement and he replied, "All right, those are all official petition signatures. That's 40,000 signatures right there." Hits on hits After almost 15 years releasing music, the Weeknd has so many hits that any of them could've been the peak moment of his set. Early on in the show he performed Take My Breath, off 2022's Dawn FM, and as Mike Dean's synths and the bass reverberated through the crowd, the light-up bracelets that all attendees received upon entry were activated. Red-and-white lights raced along the catwalk as the Weeknd whipped himself into a frenzy. The audience was truly blinded by the lights during his performance of the record-breaking hit Blinding Lights, as the bracelets created a twinkling universe that swept across the stadium. Two of the Weeknd's oldest songs, throwbacks to his 2011 debut mixtape, came at the tail end of the set: High for This was a major sing-along moment, and the already revved-up crowd was rapturous at the first hint that House of Balloons was about to begin — the telltale "Ohs" and slinking bassline a beacon for the "OG XO fans." A feast for the eyes and ears The Weeknd's known for sounding exactly like the record during his live performances, and his vocal chops did not disappoint — but they're not the only impressive part of the show. World-building is just as important to him, which makes sense for an artist who pulls so much influence from film, and the set pieces and visuals were a feast for the eyes. The veiled dancers were decked out in a striking shade of red and wore gold masks, providing visual drama with their contemporary dance movements and formations. The Weeknd was also adorned in a gold mask of his own, this one with glowing silver eyes, and he wore a glittering black-and-gold cape that would put a wrestler to shame. Along with his dancers, he performed among the ruins of an imagined metropolis, the Empire State Building and the White House recognizable amid the wreckage. In the centre of the cross-shaped catwalk a golden statue rose to the heavens, her powerful stance evoking the goddesses Athena or Nike. The graphics on the screen behind him helped weave the narratives of his songs together, and included artwork resembling a Renaissance fresco, as well as a beheaded sculpture, a red-and-orange aurora — and the Weeknd falling into the abyss of a red sea. Taking a page from his former collaborators Daft Punk, the Weeknd created his own rave, leaning heavily on lasers that flooded the stadium and pulsated to the beat of the synths and drums. The pyrotechnics budget for the show had to be astronomical. The entire stadium was lit up in jumbo flames on no fewer than four occasions — it was like the Weeknd was bathed in a rain of fire — and fireworks burst from the Rogers Centre's open roof during Sacrifice and the final song, Moth to a Flame. The Weeknd closed the show by scream-singing a prolonged "Yes!" into his microphone, waving at the crowd as he walked off triumphantly. The final image the audience was left with was a projection of the CN Tower that faded to black, as the lights came back on.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Why Meta Offered Rs 10,400 Crore To This AI Genius And Still Got A 'No'
Last Updated: The tech firm founder rose to fame in 2023 after criticising Elon Musk, who then offered him a job. His latest revelation shows the sky-high offers top AI talent is receiving today Daniel Francis, an AI expert and founder of the US-based tech firm Abel, has sparked a social media frenzy after revealing he turned down a jaw-dropping Rs 10,400 crore job offer from Meta. The four-year offer from the tech giant has raised eyebrows across the industry, leaving many wondering what made Meta so keen, and why Francis walked away. The reason for Meta's interest in Daniel has now been revealed. On social media, he wrote, 'Friends! I was offered a salary of Rs 10,400 crore for four years. Even I have never seen this height before. What is going on?" In another post, he added, 'I want to tell you that I have turned down that job offer." Daniel's AI Tech Stands Apart Daniel possesses a unique AI technology, which Meta was keen to acquire to ensure it didn't fall into the hands of competitors. His technology includes algorithms that generate police reports from body cam footage and send call data automatically. Daniel first gained prominence in 2023 when he publicly voiced his displeasure towards Elon Musk, who surprisingly offered him a job in one of his companies. His recent revelation highlights the immense offers AI talent is now attracting. Meta is actively recruiting top technical staff, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stating last month that Meta plans to spend $100 million on hiring. Despite such large offers, no experts from other companies have joined Meta yet. Meta's goal is to acquire all innovations in the technical field and build a 'Superintelligence Lab', offering substantial packages to AI experts. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 17:02 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Geek Girl Authority
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
SDCC 2025: Prime Video Sets Premiere Date for HAZBIN HOTEL Season 2
Highlights We now have a premiere date for Prime Video's Hazbin Hotel Season 2, and it's sooner than you think. Hazbin Hotel In addition, we have five new voices joining the talented cast for Season 2. Helluva Boss is making its debut on Prime Video. Its first two seasons will soon be available to stream on the platform. Hazbin Hotel Get ready for plenty more happy days in Hell. The Hellaverse panel at SDCC 2025 delivered the goods, y'all. For starters, Prime Video set a release date for Hazbin Hotel Season 2. And guess what? It'll premiere on the streamer this fall. Secondly, the panel shared that five actors have boarded the expansive vocal cast. However, the mega-popular adult musical comedy wasn't the only series getting love at SDCC. Vivienne Medrano's other Hellaverse property, Helluva Boss , will finally make the jump to Prime Video after living solely on YouTube (you'll still be able to watch it there, though). Its first two seasons will debut on the platform later this summer. RELATED: SDCC 2025: Mighty Nein Gets Premiere Date; The Legend of Vox Machina Renewed for Season 5 The SDCC 2025 panel consisted of Medrano, Helluva Boss stars Brandon Rogers and Richard Horvitz, and Hazbin Hotel stars Erika Henningsen and Amir Talai. The panelists unveiled the aforementioned premiere date announcements along with new cast members for Hazbin Hotel Season 2. They are as follows: Patrick Stump (yes, the Fall Out Boy) as Abel, Kevin Del Aguila as Baxter, Alex Newell as Zeezi, Liz Callaway as The Speaker of God and Andrew Durand as Prick. We also have a casting announcement clip featuring Stump introducing himself as Abel. Said clip gives us a taste of his vocal performance. RELATED: Read our Hazbin Hotel recaps Helluva Boss In addition to the series getting a second streaming home at Prime Video, Helluva Boss has a special episode on the horizon. Titled 'Mission: Zero,' the outing finds our I.M.P. crew orchestrating their first assassination. You can stream the episode exclusively on Prime Video starting September 10 for 45 days before it becomes available to watch on YouTube. If all this wasn't enough, we learned that Atlantic Records is now the official music partner for the Hellaverse franchise, starting with Hazbin Hotel Season 2 and all seasons of Helluva Boss . The soundtracks for Helluva Boss Seasons 1 and 2 will drop on September 10. You can pre-order the Season 1 soundtrack on July 28 along with various physical offerings. To sweeten the whole shebang, Atlantic Records released Season 1 track 'You Will Be Okay,' which is now available to stream wherever you get your music. Hazbin Hotel Season 2 premieres on October 29, 2025, only on Prime Video. Helluva Boss Seasons 1 and 2 will also drop on the platform on September 10. Before you go, check out the Patrick Stump casting announcement clip below: GGA's Favorite HELLUVA BOSS Episodes (So Far) Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Hamilton Spectator
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto's August concert lineup includes The Weeknd, Neil Young, Oasis, Benson Boone, VELD Music Festival and more — See the full list of shows and how to get tickets
Toronto's concert lineup for the summer has already seen some of the biggest names in the music industry, and that's set to continue in August. From the highly-anticipated annual VELD Music Festival at Downsview Park, to Oasis' long-awaited return and Ontario's very own, The Weeknd, taking over the Rogers Centre, here are the big-name concerts to look forward to — and how much tickets are going for. A post shared by Veld Music Festival (@veldmusicfestival) Where: Downsview Park Tickets: $254 to $347 for general admission day passes, $433 for a festival pass on . A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) Where: Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets : Start at $134 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Abel (@theweeknd) Where: Rogers Centre at 7 p.m. Tickets: Start at $208 on Ticketmaster A post shared by LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) Where: Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Start at $304 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Electric Island (@electricislandto) Where: Woodbine Park and Fort York at 2:30 p.m. Tickets: Start at $94 on TicketWeb A post shared by Lil Wayne (@liltunechi) Where: Budweiser Stage at 8 p.m. Tickets: Start at $107 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Dreamville Fest (@dreamvillefest) Where: History at 7 p.m. Tickets: Start at $198 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Stevie Nicks (@stevienicks) Where: Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets: Start at $235 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Sheryl Crow (@sherylcrow) Where: Great Canadian Toronto at 8 p.m. Tickets: Start at $96 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Neil Young Archives (@neilyoungarchives) Where: Budweiser Stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets : Start at $73 on Ticketmaster A post shared by ᏦᏚᎻᎷᎡ (@kshmr) Where: Cabana Pool Bar at 1 p.m. Tickets : Start at $39 on TicketWeb A post shared by BROWN (@chrisbrownofficial) Where: Rogers Stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets: Start at $93 on Ticketmaster A post shared by TATE (@tatemcrae) Where: Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Start at $234 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Jonas Brothers (@jonasbrothers) Where: Rogers Centre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Start at $69 on Ticketmaster A post shared by My Chemical Romance (@mychemicalromance) Where: Rogers Centre at 6 p.m. Tickets: Start at $267 on Ticketmaster A post shared by Oasis (@oasis) Where: Rogers Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Start at $434 on StubHub A post shared by Benson Boone (@bensonboone) Where: Scotiabank Arena at 8 p.m. Tickets: Start at $310 on Ticketmaster A post shared by The Black Keys (@theblackkeys) Where: Budweiser Stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Start at $60 on Ticketmaster Ticket prices reflect the cost at the time of writing on July 22.
Straits Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
‘Please, something to eat': Cubans forced to beg in economic crisis
Find out what's new on ST website and app. There are no official numbers on poverty in Cuba, where the word 'poor' is not used in official communications. HAVANA - Mr William Abel peers inside a plastic bag he dug out of a trash can in Havana while scrounging for his next meal. It contains rice, vegetables, a meatless chicken bone and flies competing for the spoils. The 62-year-old has been sleeping on the streets since his house outside the capital collapsed two years ago – a frequent occurrence due to the dilapidation of many buildings, echoing an economy in ruins. 'Food is the hardest part. I've been rummaging through trash cans for two years to eat,' he tells AFP, his speech hindered by many missing teeth. Under a grimy T-shirt, Mr Abel's body is skeletal. He says he suffers from arthritis, hypertension, and a liver problem for which he has no medicine. He admits he used to drink 'quite a lot... You know, we're going through a tough time'. Mr Abel is one of a visibly growing number of beggars and homeless people in a country confronting its worst economic crisis in three decades. Earlier in July, Labour and Social Security Minister Marta Elena Feito resigned after causing an outcry with her statement that 'there are no beggars' in the communist state crippled by decades of US sanctions. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump was told he is in Epstein files, Wall Street Journal reports Opinion The US dollar is down, but it has a lot going for it Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Singapore Oceanarium will enhance tourism while supporting sustainability: Grace Fu Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Over 1.15 million Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 have claimed SG60 vouchers Opinion Cinemas struggle in a world that cannot sit still Asia Japan PM Ishiba refutes reports of imminent resignation after surprise US trade deal Analysts also point to structural weaknesses in Cuba's centralised economy and the Covid-19 pandemic's blow to the tourism industry. Long a champion of egalitarian socialism but critically short on foreign currency, the Cuban state has not had enough money these last four years to keep up with spending on social programmes such as free healthcare and subsidised food. At the same time, food prices have skyrocketed nearly 500 per cent, throwing Cubans into precarity. There are no official numbers on poverty in Cuba, where the word 'poor' is not used in official communications, but rather terms such as 'vulnerable people'. Government data shows that 189,000 families and 350,000 individuals benefit from social aid programs on the island of 9.7 million inhabitants. A real problem Mr Juan De La Cruz, 63, told AFP he had been a beggar for two weeks. He sat on the street in a busy neighbourhood of central Havana with a piece of cardboard on which he had scribbled: 'Please, something to eat.' 'What social security gives me is not enough,' said Mr De La Cruz, who lost a leg to diabetes four years ago and receives an amount equivalent to less than US$3 (S$3.80) a month at the informal exchange rate. It is not enough to buy a kilo of chicken, he said, and the soup kitchen is little comfort. 'The food is bad, rice without butter, without oil.' At least he has a place to sleep, said the retired stretcher bearer, 'a very small room,' but 'empty, empty, empty'. President Miguel Diaz-Canel was forced to enter the fray over his minister's remarks, lambasting her 'lack of sensitivity' and telling parliament that beggars are 'concrete expressions of social inequalities' in Cuba. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero also acknowledged the country was facing 'a real problem'. In the absence of official data, experts have to rely on estimates. Sociologist Mayra Espina Prieto recently calculated that 'between 40 and 45 per cent' of Cubans live 'in poverty'. Unicef, the UN's children's agency, said in 2024 that nearly one in ten Cuban children lived in 'severe child food poverty,' which means they survive one or two food groups a day, sometimes less. A small room Mr Arnaldo Victores sleeps in a motorcycle garage, on plastic bags, in a peripheral neighbourhood of Havana. As he has no fixed address, the 65-year-old former physiotherapist cannot access social benefits in spite of his visual impairment. Every day, he travels to the city centre and begs on a busy street. His dream? Just 'a small room with a bathroom,' Mr Victores told AFP. Across the street from where he is forced to beseech strangers for alms there stands a brand-new state-owned hotel with 42 floors – the tallest in the capital and a symbol of unforgivable waste for many Cubans struggling to make ends meet. AFP
