Rapper Cardi B revealed Friday that she refused to perform at this year’s Super Bowl over the NFL’s purported treatment of quarterback turned left-wing activist Colin Kaepernick.

“My husband, he loves football. His kids play football. It’s really hard for him,” Cardi B told AP News.

“He really wants to go to the Super Bowl, but he can’t go to the Super Bowl, because he’s got to stand for something,” the “Money” rapper said. “I got to sacrifice a lot of money to perform. But there’s a man who sacrificed his job for us, so we got to stand behind him.”

Indeed, Cardi B and her husband, rapper Offset, have been outspoken about politics and their opposition to President Trump lately.

“This shit is really fucking serious bro. This shit is crazy. Our country is in a hellhole right now. All for a fucking wall,” Cardi B said in a video in January during the government shutdown.

The 26-year-old also called Trump supporters “fucking racist rednecks.”

“You promised these fucking racist rednecks that you was gonna build the wall, but you know that was impossible,” she said.

“But they voted for you and you promised them this shit so now you have to do it.”

Following this obscene rant, the New York rapper, real name Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, was invited to a Democratic event in Iowa.

Her husband, Offset, real name, Kiari Kendrell Cephus also recently attacked the president. In an interview published late last month, the Migos rapper expressed outrage over the government shutdown and how government workers weren’t receiving paychecks.

“Seeing people talk about how they can’t pay their bills but they have to work. That’s some slave shit. I don’t really get into it politics because I’m usually on the other side of it,” he said.

“There’s black mothers with jobs, and now you take their jobs away. And then the president, I don’t really want to speak on him but he’s rich. Make a nigga respect you, because a nigga don’t respect you. He’s rich and has these folks struggling.”

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China goes to war with EU and US on trading status

Beijing’s legal challenge comes only a day after it argues it won market economy status.

Beijing has wasted no time in launching legal action against the EU and the U.S. for failing to recognize China as a market economy by a December 11 deadline.

The decision is likely to heighten the risks of a trade war, as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump ratchets up his rhetoric against China, which he has criticized for its military build-up in the South China Sea and for failing to pull its weight in reining in nuclear-armed North Korea.

Market economy status in the World Trade Organization has long been one of China’s most coveted political goals. Winning such a designation would not only represent a highly symbolic economic coming-of-age for the Communist nation, but would also make it far harder for other countries to slap anti-dumping tariffs on tides of ultra-cheap Chinese imports.

Beijing argues that it is automatically entitled to market economy status from December 11 according the terms of its accession agreement to the WTO. This would mean that other WTO members would have to switch to a new anti-dumping methodology that would make it far more difficult to pursue cases against bargain-rate consignments of Chinese steel, ceramics and textiles.

Only one day after the expiry of the deadline, the WTO confirmed on Monday that China had launched a dispute resolution case against the EU and the U.S. in an instant riposte to their failure to change their anti-dumping methodology in time.

“We regret that China is launching this dispute now despite the fact that the Commission has already made a proposal to amend the legislation in question,” a European Commission spokesperson said. “We will now study the request and accept, as usual, China’s request to enter into consultations,” he added.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV quoted Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng as saying: “China’s lawful rights and interests must be maintained and the country reserves the right to take further action. Several WTO members have failed to fulfil their obligations.”

Analog antics

Washington and Brussels both use a so-called analog country methodology to determine tariffs for dumped goods on the understanding that China is a “non-market economy.” This methodology makes it relatively easy to prove Chinese dumping as it allows the use of prices of a third country to determine what the price of Chinese goods would be if market conditions were in place. 

China insists this methodology must now be dropped.

Beijing’s legal challenge will have no immediate effect, but the move increases pressure on lawmakers in Brussels and Washington. The EU is divided over a proposal revamp of bloc’s trade arsenal that still needs approval from the European Council and European Parliament.

A dispute at the WTO must first pass through a consultation phase where representatives of China, the EU and the U.S. meet to discuss the case behind closed doors.

Following the consultations, China can request a panel to be set up. The EU and the U.S. have the right to refuse the request for such panel once, causing a delay. They are then obliged to accept a second request.

A timeline prepared by Van Bael & Bellis, a Brussels-based law firm dealing with trade disputes, puts 2020 or 2021 as likely dates for the end of the cases.

“The bottom line is that the only way to get definitive clarity about the correct legal interpretation of Section 15 [the relevant section of the accession protocol] post-December 11 is from a WTO dispute settlement,” said Laurent Ruessmann, a partner at Fieldfisher, who is representing Aegis, a lobby representing 30 European manufacturing industries that oppose market economy status for China.

“Since China is obviously not happy that other major trading partners do not simply adopt their view of the text, it makes sense that they bring it to the WTO for dispute settlement,” he added.

Having proved watertight at the back recently, Al Hain-Cole expects the Red Devils to ease to victory without conceding against Clement’s men

Manchester United will be looking to book their place in the Europa League last 16 when they welcome Club Brugge to Old Trafford on Thursday.

The Red Devils are in the driving seat going into the tie, having secured a 1-1 draw in the away leg at the Jan Breydelstadion.

Manchester United vs Club Brugge latest odds

Unbeaten in 12 home matches in this competition, they are 1/2 (1.50) favourites with bet365 to complete the job by coming out on top here.

More teams

However, Philippe Clement’s team has not lost any of the last 13 fixtures, and can be backed at 13/2 (7.50) to pull off a shock win.

Three of the guests’ last four away games have resulted in draws, and you can get odds of 3/1 (4.00) on them grinding out another stalemate in this one.

Manchester United vs Club Brugge team news

Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford are both ruled out through injury, while Axel Tuanzebe remains short of match fitness.

Krepin Diatta is the only injury concern for the hosts, as he struggles with the same muscle issue that kept him out of the first leg.

Manchester United vs Club Brugge preview

With an away goal already in the bag, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men should be feeling particularly confident of progression.

Having conceded just once in the last six fixtures, they will certainly back themselves to keep at bay an opposition attack that has struck only three times in their last five European ties and failed to score in their two most recent league games on the road.

What’s more, Club Brugge have failed to win in seven European matches, losing three of the most recent five.

Manchester United vs Club Brugge predictions

All in all, odds of 6/5 (2.20) seem generous on United easing into the next round by winning to nil for their fourth Europa League home game in four this season.

All odds correct at time of publish. Please gamble responsibly.

Manchester United to win to nil at 6/5 (2.20) for a 1pt stake with bet365

MIDDAY BRIEF, IN BRIEF

Today at Commission, who cares about David Davis?

The Commission says it has ‘no comment on or no interest in’ the make-up of national governments.

In a move that surprised absolutely no one, the Commission’s chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas refused to say if his boss, Jean-Claude Juncker, really does want U.K. Brexit Secretary David Davis to be sacked, as Davis claimed on Friday morning.

“We do not have much to say,” Schinas told the midday briefing. “We have no comment on or no interest in the composition of any government in a member state. This is not our job.”

Schinas added “the only thing we would like to see” is the British having “a negotiator as good as Michel Barnier so we that we can start the job.”

He declined to comment when asked if he thought Davis was a good negotiator.

The Commission also confirmed it sent a letter to U.S. authorities about an expected expansion of the Trump administration’s laptop ban to include flights from Europe.

A phone call took place between “several EU ministers” and U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security John Kelly on Friday.

Staying with the EU-U.S. relationship, Schinas said there could be a press conference following Donald Trump’s meeting with Juncker and Donald Tusk on My 25 — or perhaps just a press statement.

To watch next week

The full agenda of the European commissioners is here.

Schinas said Juncker will on Tuesday morning meet with Mariya Gabriel, Bulgaria’s pick to be its next European commissioner.

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Tony Cascarino says he’s always found Frank Lampard “a little bit spikey” while the former Chelsea forward is “not convinced” of his management.

Chelsea were given a “reality check” on Tuesday night when they suffered a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

And Cascarino thinks Lampard has used the “easy excuse” of his squad being young when things have gone against Chelsea this season.

OPINION: Chelsea offer evidence of Premier League weakness…

“It’s an awkward one with Frank, because we have had words before,” Cascarino told talkSPORT.

“Not bad, but I had a phone call and things were said.

“If I’m being brutally honest, I’ve always found Frank to be a little bit spikey with some of the things that you say, and you can be complimentary but Frank takes it slightly the wrong way.

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“I’m not convinced by his management at times this year, because I do think it’s an easy excuse just to go youngster, youngster – he’s changed that team a hell of a lot.

 

“I don’t like the Kepa issue. He deserved to get dropped, but keeping him out of the team – I’m not so sure that’s a good decision.

“You have to show loyalty to players sometimes, even after a bad game.

“But it’s happening all over the pitch, everywhere has been changed, everybody has been changed around. It’s really hard to guess Chelsea’s XI and that tells you in some way that Frank is spinning plates around his team.

“We’re giving him the benefit of the doubt because he’s new to this role of a Premier League manager and Chelsea have been in a very difficult situation where there’s been a lot of change and no buying power.

“But what I see, just look at the games they’ve lost, the amount of games they’ve lost and the goals-against column – that tells you a big story, that they can’t defend very well.

“I can’t see [how that can improve] unless you buy new players, but you’ve also got to look at your system.”

 

Rio Ferdinand thinks Chelsea’s heavy defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League was “an absolute education”.

Bundesliga champions Bayern took a giant step towards the quarter-finals of the competition with Tuesday’s resounding 3-0 success at Stamford Bridge.

A second-half brace from Serge Gnabry, followed by Robert Lewandowski’s 39th goal of the season, did the damage as Chelsea were comprehensively outclassed in the first leg of the last-16 tie.

OPINION: Chelsea offer evidence of Premier League weakness…

“It was an absolute education. It was a clinic put on by this Bayern team. They never really got out of second gear,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

“Gnabry didn’t really feature in the first half, comes out second half and scores two exquisite goals. They just showed they had that quality at the top of the pitch.

“The two midfielders Kimmich and Thiago controlled the tempo of the game and when the ball got into the final third, these boys – Gnabry, Lewandowski, Davies, Muller – they were devastating when they got the opportunity. They were so clinical.”

 

Joe Cole thinks Chelsea‘s board are to blame for the heavy 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League after they failed to secure any signings in the January transfer window.

Chelsea have a mountain to climb to salvage the last-16 tie after rampant Bundesliga champions Bayern ran out deserved winners at Stamford Bridge.

Serge Gnabry’s second-half double, followed by Robert Lewandowski’s 39th goal of the season, did the damage, while a miserable evening for the hosts was compounded the late dismissal of Marcos Alonso.

OPINION: Chelsea offer evidence of Premier League weakness…

“I think knowing this game was on the horizon, Frank would have been desperate to get players through the door,” Cole told BT Sport.

“You’ve asked Giroud, who’s done brilliant for you at the weekend, he’s not been fit and a 32-year-old striker to come and lead the line against probably one of the best sides in Europe as the moment, it just looked like he ran out of steam towards the end.

“So not recruiting has definitely affected the performance and the team.

“Bayern Munich were sublime from start to finish. We talked about the patterns of play, the passing, they just really drilled Chelsea tonight and it’s a momentous task for them going to Germany.”

 

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Arsene Wenger thinks Chelsea broke “rule number one” after a brutal lesson from Bayern Munich pushed them to the brink of Champions League elimination.

Bundesliga champions Bayern took a giant step towards the quarter-finals of the competition with Tuesday’s resounding 3-0 success at Stamford Bridge.

A second-half brace from Serge Gnabry, followed by Robert Lewandowski’s 39th goal of the season, did the damage as Chelsea were comprehensively outclassed in the first leg of the last-16 tie.

OPINION: Chelsea offer evidence of Premier League weakness…

“What has he [Lampard] learned… but he knew already, because you don’t lose five home games if your team is superior to every other team,” Wenger told beIN Sports.

“But at that level, to give possession away you’re punished at some stage because they make you run too much, and you cannot survive for 90 minutes.

“In the Champions League, if you lost the midfield you’re in trouble, it’s rule number one.

“Because you play against good teams, if they can feed the strikers you, at some stage, will pay for it.

“And we’ve all gone through that but when the team is really superior that’s what happens.”

 

Passionné de politique et citoyen engagé, Patrick Bruel livre son analyse très personnelle sur la situation en France et espère un retour aux affaires de Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Au nom de la raison d’Etat, qu’il place bien au-dessus toutes les affaires de mœurs qui touchent le socialiste.

Quand Patrick Bruel affirme que Dominique Strauss-Kahn «pourra peut-être jouer un rôle», il ne parle pas de faire participer l’ancien patron du FMI à son prochain film (pour rappel, une histoire d’amour entre deux accros au sexe). Non, le chanteur évoque bien la possibilité d’un retour de DSK aux plus hautes fonctions de l’Etat. C’est en tout cas ce qu’il souhaite.

Patrick Bruel est un proche du couple DSK/Anne Sinclair. La journaliste était d’ailleurs à son anniversaire la nuit où l’affaire du Sofitel a éclaté. Depuis, la journaliste et le socialiste sont séparés, mais Patrick Bruel est un ami fidèle. Quelles que soient les circonstances. Et cette semaine, il profite d’une interview à Paris Match pour témoigner son amitié à DSK: «Je suis un social démocrate, je suis un homme qui pense encore que Dominique Strauss-kahn aurait pu, et pourra peut-être, jouer un rôle».

Peu importe ce qui a pu se passer dans la chambre 2806 du Sofitel de New York, peu importe les autres affaires dans lesquelles le nom du socialiste circule. Patrick Bruel affirme: «La seule question à se poser est celle de la raison d’État. Pour l’économie française, européenne et mondiale, la présence de Dominique Strauss-Kahn est-elle souhaitable? A-t-il les capacités aujourd’hui pour donner un éclairage différent sur une situation dramatique?».

Le chanteur avait déjà eu l’occasion de défendre son ami. En novembre 2012, il avait déclaré dans Libération qu’il n’a jamais «pensé que Dominique puisse être un violeur. Il a été innocenté pénalement (…) Il avait une sexualité débridée, ok. Mais au final, qu’a t-il fait de mal? C’est troublant, cette curée. On a toujours besoin de trouver un coupable, même si on ne sait pas de quoi».

Bruel souhaite d’autant plus ardemment un retour de Dominique Strauss-Kahn aux plus hautes fonctions qu’il n’est pas convaincu par l’actuel président de la République François Hollande. Lui qui a toujours eu le cœur à gauche avait avoué au moment de la campagne qu’il pourrait bien voter blanc et aujourd’hui il analyse: «Je ne fais pas partie des déçus car j’avais de sérieux doutes quant aux promesses économiques totalement utopiques des socialistes».

DSK de son côté appréciera sans doute le soutien de son ami Patrick, mais comme il l’a rappelé récemment à la télévision russe, «la politique c’est du passé».

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Il avait travaillé avec Frank Zappa dans les années 1970, le claviériste George Duke est décédé le 5 août à l’âge de 67 ans, sans que nous ne connaissions pour l’instant les circonstances de sa mort. C’est son amie Scherrie Payne, ex-chanteuse des Supremes, qui a annoncé la nouvelle dans un communiqué.

George Duke était une légende du jazz, né en janvier 1946 en Californie, et connu depuis la fin des années 1960 pour avoir joué avec Sonny Rollins et Dexter Gordon, les musiciens vedettes de l’époque. Il est ensuite devenu lui-même une star côtoyant les plus grands noms du jazz. D’abord Frank Zappa et son groupe Mothers of Invention dont il fera partie dans les années 70, puis Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Tom Waits, ou encore le violoniste Jean-Luc Ponty. Sans oublier, Michael Jackson, le roi de la Pop en personne, avec qui il a travaillé sur l’album Off the Wall en 1979.

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Jazz fusion, r’n’b, funk, au clavier, Duke était un touche-à-tout. Mais son amie Scherrie Payne, ancienne membre des Supremes, vient d’annoncer dans un communiqué, son décès, le 5 août à l’âge de 67 ans: «Je viens juste d’apprendre la terrible nouvelle: le formidable musicien qu’est George Duke s’est éteint à l’hôpital St John de Los Angeles. Il n’y a guère plus d’un an, le 18 juillet, sa femme, mon amie, Corine, rejoignait elle aussi le Seigneur. Priez pour ses fils, Rasheed et John».

Le bassiste de Headhunters, Paul Jackson, un ami du claviériste a lui aussi témoigné son soutien à la famille de l’artiste: «Je viens de perdre un frère et un ami, George Duke. Repose en paix. Je sais que tu es déjà au paradis. Toute ma sympathie va aux amis et à la famille». De son vivant, les Daft Punk lui avaient déjà rendu hommage en s’inspirant d’un de ses titres, I love you more, pour leur tube Digital Love, sorti en 2001 sur l’album Discovery. George Duke avait plus de 30 albums studios solo à son actif, dont les succès A Brazilian Love Affair, Save The Country et Faces In Reflection.