Latest news with #Newsweek
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Bonnie Blue Says Andrew Tate and Her 'Have a Lot in Common'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. British sex worker Bonnie Blue told Newsweek that she and manosphere influencer Andrew Tate have a "lot in common," shortly after the two appeared on the Disruptors podcast together for a highly publicized and controversial interview. Newsweek reached out to a representative for Tate for comment on this article via email. The Context Tate is a 38-year-old British American influencer and former kickboxer. He is a self-described misogynist, and is charged with rape, human trafficking and forming an organized crime group to sexually exploit women in Romania. In the U.K., he faces additional charges involving multiple women which include rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for financial gain. Tate's brother Tristan faces similar charges. They deny all allegations against them. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva/Instagram Blue is 26-year-old British sex worker who has developed a high profile since launching her adult film career in 2023, courting scandal and controversy before reaching the height of virality in January of 2025 after sleeping with 1,057 men in 12 hours. What To Know In a video interview with Newsweek, Blue spoke about Tate and their appearance on the Disruptors podcast. The episode, titled "Confronting Andrew Tate & Bonnie Blue: World Exclusive: Have Men Lost Their Power & Has Feminism Ruined Society," aired on Friday June 20, and was hosted by Rob Moore. The Merriam Webster dictionary definition of feminism reads: "Belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests." In it, Tate, who has described himself as "absolutely a misogynist," as per the BBC, and stated his view that women shouldn't be able to vote on social media multiple times, said that Blue is the "End result of feminism." Asked what drew her to work with Tate, Blue told Newsweek "We have a lot in common." She continued, "I don't just mean some of our beliefs and thoughts, but in terms of we're both very hated by the public, the media paint us in the worst light possible." "Online, I'm this villain. Everyone hates me, they think I'm a predator, they think I'm disgusting," Blue said. "I'm not what the media make out," Blue told Newsweek. Addressing the allegations faced by Tate, Blue said "Yes, he has allegations against him." "But I also get told all the time I'm a predator, I'm a groomer. And there's no facts behind that. There's no evidence of that," she said, adding "The papers and the media still paint me in that light." Blue has faced accusations of predatory behavior, due to her having sex with what she has described as 'barely legal,' 18- and 19-year-olds, who she would meet at welcome weeks on college campuses in the U.K. and Australia. What People Are Saying Bonnie Blue told Newsweek: "What one person says about you online is very different to what is the truth." What's Next The brothers' trial in Britain has been fixed to start on June 22, 2026. The Tate brothers' Romanian case has been delayed after the court ordered prosecutors to reconsider certain aspects of it. The brothers may also be under federal criminal investigation in the United States, according to OCCRP. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673, or contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) helpline via their website
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Paints House, Not Prepared for Letter Neighbor Sends: 'I Cried'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When a Michigan couple decided to paint their house purple they didn't expect the decision to spark joy much further than their front yard. Maureen Clemons and her husband Mike Peck transformed their house into a lavender cottage, and in a post on TikTok with 2.2 million views, Clemons shared the unexpected impact it has had. "We wanted something to distract ourselves and make us happy," Clemons, 35, told Newsweek. "We picked purple because it felt bright and joyful, and we were going for a cute cottage vibe." The couple began painting during the COVID pandemic, where the price of a home in Michigan was $178,889 at the start of 2020, jumping to a current average of $260,040, according to Zillow. A picture of the purple house, left, and the note from the neighbor Chris, right. A picture of the purple house, left, and the note from the neighbor Chris, right. @moreangrim/TikTok Over the course of a week, as the couple painted, neighbors strolled past offering waves, smiles, and spontaneous encouragement. "A couple biking by started chanting 'Go purple! Go lavender!'" Clemons recalled. "Someone even stopped to tell us how happy the color made her—it brightened her day." But the most unforgettable reaction came in December this year when they received an unexpected note and gift from a neighbor. One day, a worn copy of a children's book titled Mr. Pine's Purple House by Leonard Kessler appeared through their letterbox, accompanied by a handwritten note: "It reminded me of one of my favorite books from childhood that celebrates individuality... I hope you enjoy the story, hopefully you won't mind that it's well read," it said. A picture of the purple house book, left, and the tattoo, right. A picture of the purple house book, left, and the tattoo, right. @moreangrim/TikTok The anonymous gift, signed simply "your neighbor, Chris," left Clemons and Peck deeply moved. "We were overwhelmed," Clemons said. "We never figured out who Chris was." The gift was so powerful that Clemons decided to carry it with her forever—literally. She got a tattoo of their purple house on her leg, a tribute inked by an artist in nearby Ferndale, who, by coincidence, had unknowingly snapped a photo of the home herself in the past. House color has prompted discussion online in the past, too. In 2024 one woman amazed the internet with the results after she was warned not to paint her house white, only for the results to shock people who were against it at first. While another incident saw a mom backed for refusing to paint her bright pink house despite her 13-year-old son's embarrassment and demands that they change it to a "normal" color. As the video, posted earlier this week to @moreangrim, gained more attention online, people shared their reactions to the sweet note. Alongside photos of the house, book, note and tattoo, Clemons wrote in the on-screen text: I cried." "Human connection is the meaning of life," said Emmie666999. While viewer Beck_ham said: "Aww idk why but this made me cry." "This is the most wholesome content I've seen in a while. Thank you for sharing. But more importantly thank you for taking the time to appreciate the little things. May the sun always shine in your corner," said viewer GiggleBear. Clemons was delighted by the reaction on TikTok. "The reaction from TikTok was crazy," she said. "It made me feel emotional and re-appreciate the kindness of our neighbor and how cute it is that they shared the book."
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Parents Welcome Baby Boy, 3 Months Later Realize Something Is Wrong
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman has revisited the moment she began to suspect something wasn't right with her newborn son and the emotional journey that followed as she sought to find answers. Carli Cowie from Moray in Scotland, took to her TikTok account, Carlirose33, to share pictures of Noah from when he was born on November 3, 2018 and in the blissful days that followed. "The best day of my life," Cowie wrote alongside the images. "I couldn't stop staring at him. I couldn't believe this beautiful baby was ours. Our hearts were so full of love." By the time Noah's six-week check-up rolled around, everything seemed to be on track. "He was hitting milestones," Cowie said. But by 12 weeks, Cowie and her husband had started to notice "something wasn't right." Cowie told Newsweek: "He wasn't making eye contact with us, wasn't following toys and his eyes were wobbling." Carli first noticed an issue with Noah's eyes when he was just 12 weeks old. Carli first noticed an issue with Noah's eyes when he was just 12 weeks old. TikTok/carlirose33 They made an appointment for Noah to see their doctor, who then referred them on to an ophthalmologist. At this point, there were concerns Noah could have retinoblastoma, a rare type of cancer affecting the retina. Read more Woman remembers one thing dad "regretted"—30 years later she makes it right Woman remembers one thing dad "regretted"—30 years later she makes it right In order to find out if this was the case, doctors needed to dilate his pupils to check. All this time, Cowie and her husband were left facing an anxious wait for answers. "We were so worried and didn't know what the outcome was going to be," she said. She estimates it took three months from that initial doctor's appointment, for them to get an understanding of Noah's condition. Doctors suspected Noah had been born with optic nerve hypoplasia, meaning his optic nerves were under-developed. The "wobbling" movement his eyes made was also thought to be a result of nystagmus, an involuntary eye movement condition that further reduces or limits vision. A delayed MRI scan eventually confirmed the heartbreaking diagnosis: Noah was blind. His parents were left in shock at the news. "We were devastated and in disbelief that this was happening to our baby," Cowie said. "We initially thought it wouldn't be something as serious as what it was, we thought he'd maybe need glasses or something along those lines." Though Cowie was rocked by the news, she managed to stay strong, with the support of her husband and family, knowing it was important to maintain a happy household for Noah's sake. "I didn't want Noah to pick up if we were upset so I always tried to be in high spirits for him," she said. "Although he was blind I kept reminding myself that he was healthy and we were grateful for that." Noah underwent regular check-ups in the years that followed with doctors careful to monitor that his weight and height was within the normal range. "If the tests weren't in normal range he would have been put on growth hormone injections until he was 18," Cowie said. Thankfully, for Noah, that wasn't needed and by the time he turned 4, he was fully discharged and ready to his way as a blind child out in the world. He's not alone in that respect. In the U.S., the CDC estimates nearly 3 percent of children under the age of 18 have blindness or vision impairment. Noah Cowie is 6 and thriving now. Noah Cowie is 6 and thriving now. TikTok/carlirose33 It's a life that comes with its own unique challenges for his mom and dad. "One of the biggest I would say is his safety and making sure there is nothing in his way or lying out for him to trip over or bump into," Cowie said. But it is one that Noah, now 6, is thriving in, with a little help from mom, dad and his two-year-old sister Ocean. "He's doing really well. Noah is always keen to try new things and we are amazed with how well he gets on," Callie said. "He's a clever boy and enjoys learning. He's at the early stages of learning braille and learning to use his cane with support." Callie's TikTok video, chronicling their journey with Noah went viral, amassing over 640,000 views since being posted earlier this month. She's incredibly proud of her son and hopes this video and others like it help any families who may be going through similar situations with a young child. Noah's story isn't one of heartbreak, it's one of hope. "I wanted to show everyone how amazing he is," Callie said. "Being blind hasn't stopped him from doing anything."
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ukraine Destroys Russian Fighter-Bombers in Precision Air Base Attack
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Four Russian fighter-bombers were targeted in a Ukrainian drone strike hundreds of miles away from the frontline, according to Ukraine's military. The drones destroyed two Su-34 fighter jets and damaged two others following the strike in Russia's Volgograd Oblast overnight Friday, according to Ukraine's General Staff. Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment. Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers fly over Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 7, 2017. Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers fly over Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 7, It Matters Over the course of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian drone technology has fast developed into a cost effective way of taking out expensive Russian military assets and Kyiv's report shows the latest stage of this campaign of hitting targets far from the frontline. What To Know The operation was carried out by the Special Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in cooperation with other military units, according to the General Staff. The statement said that two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers have been destroyed and two others damaged at the Marinovka airfield over 560 miles southeast of Moscow in an operation carried out by long-range drones. The attack also sparked a fire in the airport's technical maintenance area used to prepare aircraft ready for missions. Russian Su-34s are the main aircraft Russia uses to launch missile and bomb strikes on Ukrainian positions and settlements. As of Saturday, 37 Russian Su-34s and 158 aircraft in total had been destroyed or damaged since February 2022 according to Oryx, a website tracking war losses by using imagery as proof. The latest strikes come as Russia steps up aerial attacks on Ukraine which said Moscow's attacks had killed 10 people and injured at least 50 others on Friday. Ukraine's Air Force reported it had downed 21 out of the 23 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones and decoys. But a Russian drone attack on the city of Odesa hit a high-rise building, killing a married couple and injuring at least 14 other people, according to local authorities. Video on social media showed firefighters battling a blaze and residents trying to escape down the stairwell of the 21-story building. Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike on the city of Samar in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed five people and injured at least 25 others, according to the regional governor Serhii Lysak. What People Are Saying In a statement, Ukraine's General Staff said Ukrainian forces "carried out a joint special operation that resulted in the destruction of two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and damage to two others at the Marinovka airfield." What Happens Next As Russia continues with its strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, Kyiv will step up its drone production. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his video address on Friday that ramping up the financing and production of drones was a priority for Kyiv to defend the country following a meeting with his military chiefs.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Exclusive: Democrat on How Trump's Tariffs Could Reshape Key Iowa Race
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Christina Bohannan, an Iowa Democrat making her third go at the battleground congressional seat held by GOP Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, told Newsweek in an interview that tariffs have emerged as a major issue for voters in the district. Why It Matters Bohannan came close to flipping Iowa's 1st Congressional District last year—losing by only 799 votes despite President Donald Trump carrying the district by more than eight percentage points against then Vice President Kamala Harris. The Iowa Democrat also ran in 2022. Now, Bohannan is making her third go at the district in the 2026 midterms, when Democrats are hoping a 2018-style blue wave will carry them to victory in key races across the country. Democrats will need to win seats like this to retake control of the House of Representatives next November. Trump's tariffs are likely to loom over key races next year, but the issue could be particularly important in the Hawkeye State. Trump says tariffs are necessary to bring back jobs to the U.S. and close the trade deficit. But exports of agricultural goods are a lifeline for farmers in states like Iowa. On Thursday, the president said he signed a trade deal with China, but the full impact of how that deal may affect farmers remained unclear. Bohannan emphasized tariffs as a key challenge facing Iowa in an interview with Newsweek, in which she discussed her campaign. What to Know Bohannan said she views tariffs as a "significant issue" facing Iowa. "I've already talked to some farmers who are very worried about the effect of tariffs and the trade war with China," she said. "What we see is that China in the past has bought a lot of farm products from Iowa, and now China is seeking out other trading partners besides Iowa and besides the U.S., like Brazil for example." The U.S. has landed in a trade war with China, which faced the highest tariffs under Trump's plan. This has affected farmers in the state, as China is the largest importer of soybeans from the U.S., importing more than $12 billion worth of the agricultural product in 2024. China has sought new trading partners, a move that could create economic uncertainty and losses for soybean farmers in states like Iowa. Once the trade relationships with Iowa farmers have been "severed," they will be hard to restore, Bohannan warned. Many residents in the district are also "already struggling to get by" due to the high cost-of-living, she said. Legislation supported by Republicans, such as Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" will only make those challenges worse, Bohannan said. Miller-Meeks told KHQA, a news station based in Quincy, Illinois, that Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will address concerns, adding that tariffs are used as a "negotiating tactic," and that manufacturers and small business owners have for years raised concerns about China's "egregious trade practices." A poll that was published this week and released by the House Majority PAC showed Bohannan with an early lead over Miller-Meeks in the midterms, with 43 percent of voters supporting the Democrat and 39 percent backing the Republican. The poll surveyed 555 voters in the district from June 18-19, Politico reported. Christina Bohannan, a Democrat running for an Iowa House seat, speaks during a press conference in Iowa City, Iowa on July 29, 2024. Christina Bohannan, a Democrat running for an Iowa House seat, speaks during a press conference in Iowa City, Iowa on July 29, 2024. Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP, File Bohannan on How Democrats Can Win Back Rural Voters Bohannan outperformed Harris by eight points in Iowa's 1st District—which includes areas like Davenport and Des Moines suburbs, as well as large swaths of rural areas in southeast Iowa. The issue of winning back rural voters has been an existential question for the Democratic Party as they try to stop bleeding in Midwest and Great Lake states where their margins have diminished over the past decade. Iowa, which backed former President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but has also backed Trump, is emblematic of that challenge. Bohannan overperformed last year by cutting into GOP margins in some of the rural counties in the district. She told Newsweek that Democrats can win back rural voters by getting out and talk to them "where they are." "That sounds simple, but the fact is that a lot of times, candidates don't take the time to go out to rural areas and small communities to connect with voters," she said. "They go to the bigger cities and do big events, but they don't take the time to really go to these communities and talk to people and listen to people." She attributed those efforts to her performance in 2024. "I actually spent time in these areas. I met with people to talk about what was happening in their public schools. What was happening with childcare and with water quality, and elder care in their communities," she said. "People got to know me and got to trust me. They understand that I come from a very small rural community just like theirs. My family had to make very hard decisions about filling prescriptions after my dad got sick and lost his insurance or putting food on the table." What People Are Saying National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokeswoman Emily Tuttle, in a statement after Bohannan announced her campaign: "When will Christina learn? Iowans have rejected her twice already, and now she has to run to the left to beat radical Bob Kraus and Bernie-bro Travis Terrell in the primary. There's no doubt whoever comes out of this liberal rat race will be sent packing when Iowans re-elect America First fighter Mariannette Miller-Meeks next fall." Christina Bohannan told Newsweek: "One thing that's so interesting about Iowans is that we are fair minded, and we are willing to give people a chance regardless of political party if we believe that you're authentic, and you're willing to put Iowa first. So, in 2024, 33,000 people who voted for Donald Trump in this district also voted for me. I won two counties here that Trump won handily. What we see here is that Iowans really want somebody who is going to put Iowa first." What Happens Next The race is expected to be one of the most competitive of the 2026 midterms. Both the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball, two of the leading election forecasters, classify the race as a pure toss-up. Bohannan and Miller-Meeks are also set to face off against other candidates in primaries scheduled to be held on June 2, 2026. The general election is set for November 3, 2026.
