GETTING ENERGIZED: Sens. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Murkowski, Manchin introduce major energy legislation The Hill’s Morning Report – Sanders takes incoming during intense SC debate MORE (R-Alaska) and Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Murkowski, Manchin introduce major energy legislation The Hill’s Morning Report – Sanders takes incoming during intense SC debate MORE (D-W.Va.) on Thursday introduced a long-awaited energy package that’s shaping up to be the best chance this year for passing legislation to expand the use of cleaner forms of energy.

The American Energy Innovation Act would touch nearly every aspect of the energy industry, incorporating more than 50 bills advanced by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Lawmakers race to pass emergency coronavirus funding Trump upends controversial surveillance fight MORE (R-Ky.) took steps Thursday to bring the more than 550-page bill to the floor as early as next week.

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“This bill is our best chance to modernize our nation’s energy policies in more than 12 years,” Murkowski said in a statement. “By working together to pass it into law, we can promote a range of emerging technologies that will help keep energy affordable even as it becomes cleaner and cleaner.”

The package would promote research in up-and-coming renewables like geothermal and wave technology while shoring up supplies of minerals needed for the batteries to support long-term use of wind and solar.

It also includes efforts to bolster the capture of carbon pollution, including from the coal and natural gas sector, as well as research to expand nuclear energy.

Climate questions: However, some portions of the bill, like those dealing with mining, as well as fossil fuels, may prove too controversial for some Democrats. And it’s already being criticized by environmental groups for doing too little to address climate change. 

The package does not set any specific carbon reduction targets, though committee staff said it is expected to reduce emissions.

The legislation’s research and development portions, as well as its energy efficiency measures, have some overlap with bills still being drafted in the House that would commit the U.S. to carbon neutrality by 2050.

A committee aide told reporters the bill is an energy bill, with provisions that are very important for dealing with climate change.

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The aide acknowledged the bill was not sufficient to address climate change, but called it a downpayment on climate legislation that is mainly focused on energy innovation.

The legislation contains elements of bills sponsored or co-sponsored by 60 senators from across the political spectrum, as well as some House legislation that has already been sent to the Senate.

Senate aides expressed optimism that the House would be willing to work together on the legislation. Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOvernight Health Care — Presented by American Health Care Association — California monitoring 8,400 people for coronavirus | Pence taps career official to coordinate response | Dems insist on guardrails for funding Overnight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Hillicon Valley — Presented by Facebook — Federal court rules tech giants can censor content | Trump upends surveillance fight | Senate passes bill barring federal funds for Huawei equipment MORE‘s (D-Calif.) office declined to comment on the legislation.

The bill includes a number of energy efficiency measures, extending a program to weatherize homes, offering grants to retrofit buildings, and requiring the government to extend its own energy reduction targets while adding new reductions for water use.

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But the bulk of the bill centers on boosting new and developing technologies, including ways to make cars and trucks more fuel efficient, as well as methods to make manufacturing processes greener.

It also includes a number of cybersecurity and grid modernization efforts to prevent electric grids from being hacked by adversaries.

The obstacles: But some portions of the bill may make it tough to get Democratic support, particularly those dealing with mining for minerals needed to make batteries.

“We still give mining companies – many foreign owned —  a sweetheart deal, but leave taxpayers on the hook for cleaning up the toxic messes at thousands of abandoned mines across the West,” Sen. Tom UdallThomas (Tom) Stewart UdallOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Murkowski, Manchin introduce major energy legislation Overnight Defense: Lawmakers tear into Pentagon over .8B for border wall | Dems offer bill to reverse Trump on wall funding | Senators urge UN to restore Iran sanctions MORE (D-N.M.) said in a statement to The Hill.

“I have serious concerns with the energy bill provision that gives the mining industry a new break on their permitting process for massive mining projects, which could have grave consequences for public health and the environment.”

That may raise red flags after the Trump administration has pushed to designate uranium as a critical mineral, opening the possibility of mining the substance near the Grand Canyon, despite objections from Democrats that the mineral is already widely supplied by U.S. allies. 

The legislation spurred mostly negative reactions from major environmental groups. 

“At a time when we need to rapidly transition away from dirty fossil fuels to 100 percent clean energy, this bill points us in the wrong direction,” Sierra Club legislative director Melinda Pierce said in a statement. 

Read more about the legislation here. 

 

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HAPPY THURSDAY! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news. Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin. 

 

TALKING MONEY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget Overnight Energy: New Interior rule would limit scientific studies agency can consider | Panel battles over tree-planting bill | Trump to resume coal leases on public lands MORE appeared before lawmakers Thursday to defend a budget that would bring the agency to its lowest funding level in years.

As with previous Trump administration budgets, lawmakers are expected to ignore the proposed 26 percent cut to the agency, one of the steepest in the budget. 

“We are focused on the core mission of our agency so we can continue to protect the land, the air, the water, and we believe we can do that with the budget we requested,” Wheeler told lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

But Democrats made clear they planned to reject those cuts, while hitting the agency for what they described as a history of shortchanging important public health programs and sidelining scientists who contradict their policy goals.

“Some of the most significant proposed rollbacks on environmental protections are at odds with the scientific record,” said Rep. Paul TonkoPaul David TonkoOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget Democrat: Lawmakers need to approach opioid crisis as ‘a chronic situation’ MORE (D-N.Y.), highlighting critiques of EPA proposals from its independent Science Advisory Board.

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“It is critical that our public health protections are grounded in robust science, and sadly I believe the administration continues to dismiss science and expertise whenever they conflict with their regulatory agenda.”

The White House budget would cut more than 50 EPA programs aimed at helping fight pollution, radon and lead as well as those that give clean water grants to small and disadvantaged communities.

It would also cut research and development funding at the agency nearly in half, lowering funding from $500 million to $281 million.

The budget would cut the Superfund program, tasked with cleaning up hazardous waste sites, by 10 percent, despite data showing the agency has the largest backlog of toxic waste cleanups in 15 years.

“Why are you proposing a cut of more than $112 million when you seem to imply you could use more money?” asked Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), the chairman of the committee.

Wheeler said the agency would be able to recoup some costs from corporations but defended the agency’s record, saying it had been closing Superfund sites at a rapid pace.

Questions on fuel economy: Wheeler also advocated for the agency’s coming proposal on fuel efficiency, which has already ignited a legal battle with California, which is trying to pursue tougher standards. 

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“It’s still better to have one national standard,” he said. “I hope that when California sees our final regulation when it comes out they will agree that it’s the best approach for the entire country.”

The EPA proposal would roll back the fuel economy standards from the Obama-administration, while California has pushed to maintain nearly the same goals, pushing for automakers to reach an average fuel economy of more than 50 miles per gallon by 2026.

Read more about the hearing here.

 

Wheeler was not the only administration official to appear on Capitol Hill…

 

BROUILLETTE TAKES BIPARTISAN HEAT: Republican Rep. Dan NewhouseDaniel (Dan) Milton NewhouseOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain GOP lawmaker accuses administration of ‘playing politics’ with Yucca Mountain reversal We need to prevent food waste at school MORE (Wash.) accused the Trump administration of “playing politics” on Thursday with its reversal on funding for a nuclear waste repository in Nevada. 

“I can’t tell you how disappointed I was to see this administration playing politics with something as important as completing the permanent solution to our nation’s high-level nuclear waste,” Newhouse said during a hearing on the administration’s proposed Department of Energy (DOE) budget. 

“This budget is…a total waste of resources and a distraction from solving this very important issue,” he added. 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Memo: Biden seeks revival in South Carolina Congress eyes billion to billion to combat coronavirus Sanders makes the case against Biden ahead of SC primary MORE announced this month that he no longer supports funding the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site, reversing his position on a controversial matter in a key state in November’s elections. The change was reflected in his budget proposal for fiscal year 2021. 

Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said during the hearing that the administration would not proceed with either licensing for Yucca Mountain or an interim storage facility. 

“My understanding [is] under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act we are prohibited from starting construction on an interim facility, a federal facility,” Brouillette said. 

Democrats also criticized the administration over cuts included in the budget proposal. 

“The Trump Administration again proposes to cut DOE’s budget — by 8 percent overall, and by an astounding 35 percent in non-defense programs. This will limit America’s future by drastically reducing or eliminating programs critical for meeting our future energy needs and assuring our security,” said Rep. Marcy KapturMarcia (Marcy) Carolyn KapturOvernight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain GOP lawmaker accuses administration of ‘playing politics’ with Yucca Mountain reversal Five things to watch in Trump’s budget proposal MORE (D-Ohio), chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee’s subpanel on Energy and Water Development, in her opening statement.  

“Your budget proposes deep and arbitrary cuts that threaten progress one one of our most pressing challenges and that is climate change. We can be a leader in exporting clean energy technologies, but not under your budget request,” Kaptur added later in the hearing. 

In response, Brouillette said, “Renewable technologies are becoming somewhat mature in the marketplace, so for us to focus again on these technologies that are now commercially widely  available seems to us to be inappropriate.”

Read more about the hearing here.

 

And at another hearing, NOAA asked Congress for more money to combat sexual harassment at the agency. The Hill’s Emily DiSalvo has the story…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is pressing Congress for more money to combat sexual harassment and assault at the agency, saying additional funding would allow it to hire more workplace violence specialists

Neil Jacobs, assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction at NOAA, told a House subcommittee Thursday that the agency is working “expeditiously” to hire more workplace violence specialists and improve the culture.

NOAA is also requesting $2.7 million in its fiscal year 2021 budget to help combat the pattern of sexual harassment and assault, a $1.7 million increase from the previous year and the largest percentage increase for any new program in the agency, according to Jacobs.

NOAA has only one full-time employee working in the workplace violence prevention program despite a pattern of sexual harassment and assault at the agency.

“We have had hiring challenges in the weather services and elsewhere,” Jacobs said. “It’s a slow process. I called enterprise services myself to try and expedite it. I wasn’t aware of how bad the problems were until recently.”

NOAA requested $2.7 million in the 2020 fiscal year’s budget to help combat the pattern of sexual harassment and assault, a $1.7 million increase from the previous year and the largest percentage increase for any new program in the agency, according to Jacobs.

In 2016, Congress passed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Act after several employees came forward about sexual harassment when traveling remote locations necessary for research at NOAA. The act required procedures for victims to report harassment as well as a requirement that NOAA publish an annual report documenting all of the reported incidents.

NOAA released its first report in 2017 which listed four instances of sexual assault and 21 instances of harassment. These numbers increased to 22 assaults and 52 instances of harassment in 2018.

While the number of incidents of sexual assault and harassment decreased in 2019 to two and 34 respectively, the agency acknowledged that there is still work to be done.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BILL: Democratic lawmakers on Thursday rolled out an environmental justice bill that aims to address inequities faced by marginalized communities. 

“For far too long, communities of color, low-income communities and tribal and indigenous communities have not been a meaningful voice in the decisionmaking process impacting their well-being. Not with this bill,” Rep. Donald McEachinAston (Donale) Donald McEachinOvernight Health Care — Presented by American Health Care Association — California monitoring 8,400 people for coronavirus | Pence taps career official to coordinate response | Dems insist on guardrails for funding Overnight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of ‘playing politics’ over Yucca Mountain Bill banning menthol in cigarettes divides Democrats, with some seeing racial bias MORE (D-Va.) said during a press conference. 

Advocates have long called for action to tackle unequal effects of environmental issues on these communities. There have been studies, for example, that show that low-income and nonwhite communities face greater impacts from pollution. 

The new bill would require that cumulative impacts be considered in Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting decisions.

It would also use revenue from new fees on fossil fuel industries to support communities as they transition away from greenhouse gas-dependent economies and authorize $75 million to support projects to address environmental and public health issues. 

Lawmakers were joined on Thursday by environmental justice advocates, who said they played a role in helping to shape the legislation. 

“I have to witness the health of my kids declining from the cumulative effects of pollution,” said Kim Gaddy, an environmental justice organizer for Clean Water Action of New Jersey. “We live in communities that are under attack.” 

Read more about the bill here.

 

MAILBAG: A group of 14 Democratic and independent senators wrote to the Trump administration opposing proposed changes to one of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws. 

The proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) would eliminate the requirement that the government consider climate change when evaluating projects and in some cases even allowing companies to assess the impacts of their own projects. 

“The proposal directs federal agencies to disregard indirect effects and cumulative impacts in the NEPA process, thereby eliminating the established legal requirement to consider climate change in the federal decision-making process,” the senators wrote. “This is a hallmark of the Trump Administration’s entrenched climate denial – and while that itself may come as no surprise – this rollback would also unlawfully overturn decades of well-established precedent, through Democratic and Republican Administrations alike.”

Supporters of the proposed changes are billing them as a modernization of the law, saying that many projects have been slowed down unnecessarily by environmental assessments. 

 

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:

Alaska feels the brunt as investors promise retreat on fossil fuels, NPR reports

Arctic drilling operators can’t accurately pinpoint polar bear dens — which means they can’t avoid destroying them, The Washington Post reports

Tesla battery power plant approved in California, KSBW reports

 

ICYMI: Stories from Thursday…

House Democrats unveil environmental justice bill

Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency’s budget

Murkowski, Manchin introduce major energy legislation

EPA official’s private response to Trump’s water pressure claims: ‘Sigh’

GOP lawmaker accuses administration of ‘playing politics’ with Yucca Mountain reversal

Climate activists celebrate court blocking plans to build third runway at Heathrow

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: More closures possible at US bases in Europe as coronavirus spreads | Pompeo says Afghan ‘reduction in violence is working’ | Man accused of trying to blow up vehicle at Pentagon Pompeo: Afghanistan ‘reduction of violence is working’ Pompeo accuses China and Iran of hiding coronavirus outbreak MORE on Tuesday criticized China and Iran for allegedly suppressing information about the spread of coronavirus and warned the countries’ efforts at censorship are harming a global response. 

The secretary’s remarks come as the U.S. considers a response to China’s expulsion of three Wall Street Journal reporters — a response that came in opposition to the Journal’s editorial published criticizing Beijing’s handling of the viral outbreak. 

Pompeo, during a briefing on Tuesday, accused China of suppressing information and exacerbating the outbreak. 

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“Had China permitted its own — and foreign journalists and medical personnel — to speak and investigate freely, Chinese officials and other nations would have been far better prepared to address the challenge,” he said to reporters. 

The vast majority of the more than 2,600 deaths from coronavirus have occurred in China since the outbreak first began in late December. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest situation report said there are more than 77,000 cases in China and more than 2,000 globally.

At least 23 people have died around the world, and cases have been identified in 29 countries, including parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the U.S.

Later in his remarks, the secretary said that Iran is also hiding information about the number of people who contracted the virus. The WHO estimates that eight people have died among a total of 43 confirmed cases.

However, reports out of Iran are contradictory to the organization’s tallies. An Iranian lawmaker claimed that 50 people have died in the city of Qom and the deputy health minister, who confirmed he tested positive for coronavirus Tuesday, said the number of deaths stands at 12. 

The Iranian deaths are the highest number of deaths outside of China.

“The United States is deeply concerned by information indicating that the Iranian regime may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak in that country,” Pompeo said.

“All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations,” he added. 

In a recent effort to combat the disease in the U.S., the Trump administration has asked Congress for $2.5 billion in additional funding. 

The Borussia Dortmund star says he hopes to be involved in the game for a long, long time

Jadon Sancho hopes he can play football every day until he turns 100 years old as the Borussia Dortmund star says the game will be his “first love forever”.

Sancho has been in fantastic form for Borussia Dortmund this season, as the English star has scored 13 goals while providing 14 assists in Bundesliga play.

In addition, Sancho, who was the first player across Europe’s top five leagues to reach 10 goals and 10 assists, has scored two goals in the Champions League.

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And, if it were up to him, the winger would be doing just that forever as he hopes to be involved in the game for a long time.

“I just love football. You can’t really take that out of me – I just love the game, and love the sport,” Sancho Bundesliga.com.

So yeah, if I had a choice I’d play every day until I’m 100 years old. But unfortunately, some time I’ll have to step down from football when my body gets old!

“Of course. football will be my first love forever.”

Sancho, who joined Borussia Dortmund in 2017, revealed that he feels a responsibility to perform whenever he takes the field.

Throughout his Dortmund career, he’s done just that scoring 30 goals across 87 total appearances for the German contenders.

“Before a game, probably listen to my music, and because I know everyone’s watching, especially for the fans, especially if it’s cold, I don’t want them to just come and support us,” he said. 

“I want them to go home smiling and be happy that they came out to the end and watched us win. I’m just trying to be a winner and have that winning mentality every game I go into.”

Dortmund currently sit third place in the Bundesliga, four points behind league-leaders Bayern Munich and three points behind second-place RB Leipzig. 

In order to catch their title rivals, Sancho says Dortmund need to showcase more defensive discipline and, if they can do that, a Bundesliga title remains a possibility.

“Personally, I think when we go in front, just to keep our focus, because our focus lacks in that area of the field,” he said.

“When we score, they score straight away, and they get back into the game – I feel like we need to be stronger in that, but other than that, I feel like we play very good football.

“We connect well, we get great opportunities to score. It’s about keeping that winning mentality to the last whistle.”

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CHICAGO (AP) — A cast member on the hit television show “Empire” alleged he was physically attacked by men in Chicago who shouted racial and homophobic slurs, police said Tuesday.

Police did not release the actor’s name but a statement from Fox, which airs “Empire,” identified him as Jussie Smollett, 36. Authorities said they are investigating the alleged attack as a hate crime. Smollett is black and openly gay.

According to a police statement, the actor was walking near the Chicago River downtown around 2 a.m. Tuesday when he was approached by two men who shouted at him, struck him in the face and poured an “unknown substance” on him before one of them wrapped a rope around his neck.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that when officers first came in contact with Smollett, he still had a rope around his neck. While being interviewed by detectives, Guglielmi said Smollett told them that the attackers yelled he was in “MAGA country,” an apparent reference to the Trump campaign’s “Make America Great Again” slogan that some critics of the president have decried as racist and discriminatory.

The police spokesman added that the two men were wearing masks. Investigators have not found any surveillance video or witnesses from which they can put together a description of the offenders, he said.

Smollett was able to take himself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He was last reported in good condition.

Guglielmi also said the FBI is investigating a threatening letter targeting Smollett that was sent to the Fox studio in Chicago last week.

The hourlong drama “Empire” follows an African-American family as they navigate the ups and downs of the record industry. Jamal Lyon, Smollett’s character, is the gay, middle son of Empire Entertainment founder Lucious and Cookie Lyon, played by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, respectively.

Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment released a statement Tuesday in support of Smollett. “The entire studio, network and production stands united in the face of any despicable act of violence,” the statement read.

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“Empire” co-creator Lee Daniels also voiced his support for Smollett in an Instagram video.

“You didn’t deserve, nor anybody deserves, to have a noose put around your neck,” Daniels said. “You are better than that, we are better than that, America is better than that.”

California Sen. Kamala Harris, a 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, knows Smollett personally and called the attack “outrageous” and “awful.”

“He is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I’ve ever met,” Harris said Tuesday, adding that she’s still learning more details about the incident.

Smollett has been active in LBGTQ issues and he released his debut album, “Sum of My Music,” last year.

“Empire” is shot in Chicago and a Fox spokeswoman said the program is currently in production.

Participant à deux reprises de Koh Lanta (2003 et 2009), Moundir est revenu pour Gala.fr sur le décès de Gérald Babin. Pour l’ancien aventurier, ce drame ne doit pas coïncider avec l’arrêt définitif du programme phare de TF1.

Quand Moundir a été informé du décès de Gérald Babin, il a d’abord cru à un fake. «Pour moi c’était juste impossible, assure l’ancien coach sportif de 39 ans. Je pensais que c’était une mauvaise blague. C’était juste incompréhensible. Gérald est mort dans une émission qu’il rêvait de faire, c’est juste horrible…»

Fort de deux participations à Koh Lanta, Moundir nous explique qu’il n’a jamais subi des castings aussi drastique que ceux du programme phare de TF1. «Mon casting a duré quatre mois, se remémore-t-il. Il y avait 40000 dossiers au départ. Sur 40000 dossiers, ils en sélectionnaient 2500. Ensuite il y avait un entretien téléphonique où ils n’en retenaient que 500. Ces derniers étaient reçus en casting live devant le directeur des programmes et la casteuse pour n’en garder que 50. Les 50 passent ensuite des tests médicaux. J’ai vécu l’électrocardiogramme, le checking complet de tous mes vaccins et une analyse de mes antécédents médicaux. Pour être précis, moi j’ai eu un grave accident à la jambe, je me suis fait renverser par une moto. J’avais une broche avec 18 vis et le médecin m’avait demandé une confirmation écrite ainsi qu’un rappel des radios pour savoir quel était l’état de ma jambe. Le médecin t’examine vraiment des cheveux jusqu’aux pieds. Il y a aussi une batterie de tests physiques. Nous c’était la natation, on devait faire des longueurs en rapidité et on devait enchaîner par une apnée pour voir comment réagissait le cœur.»

Aux antipodes des polémiques qui commencent à enfler sur Internet quant à la dangerosité du programme, Moundir assure qu’il se sentait en sécurité lors des deux Koh Lanta. «Aujourd’hui ils sont entre 40000 et 50000 à vouloir passer le casting, remarque le charismatique aventurier. Je peux vous assurer qu’ils ne pensent pas qu’ils mettent leur vie en danger. Effectivement, Koh Lanta est une émission qu’il ne faut pas prendre à la rigolade. C’est extrêmement dur. On perd du poids, on est affaiblis. Il y a des pleurs, des abandons, des rapatriements mais en aucun cas je ne me suis posé la question de risquer ma vie. C’est pas plus dangereux que là où j’habite! Pour moi, les émissions les plus dangereuses sont Secret Story et compagnie (..) Un jour, ils vont tomber sur un candidat complètement fêlé qui va réussir à le cacher lors de son casting. (…) Il va aller en cuisine, prendre un couteau et le planter dans le dos de quelqu’un… Ce type d’incidents n’est pas à exclure.»

Fidèle spectateur de Koh Lanta, Moundir espère que la mort de Gérald Babin ne coïncidera pas à la fin du programme. «Pourquoi arrêter Koh Lanta, s’interroge-t-il. Est-ce que ça fera revenir Gerald? Paix à son âme. Le prochain Koh Lanta devrait être dédié à la mémoire de ce jeune homme. La cagnotte pourrait être donnée aux parents par exemple.»

Adventure Line Production (la société productrice de Koh Lanta) et TF1 n’ont pour l’instant pas communiqué sur ce sujet. Les 17 autres candidats du jeu d’aventure, devraient rentrer à Paris aujourd’hui.

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Miley Cyrus en duo avec Snoop Lion, ex-Snoop Dogg, voilà une alliance surprenante, et pourtant, le dernier titre de la chanteuse, Ashtrays and Heartbreaks, est un véritable bijou ragga/dancehall. À écouter en boucle!

Miley Cyrus avait déjà annoncé son duo avec le rappeur Snoop Lion, aussi connu sous le nom de Snoop Dogg. Ce n’était donc pas une surprise. Mais en découvrant, hier, le tout nouveau titre de Miley, Asthrays and Heartbreaks, les fans de la chanteuse ont découvert une autre facette de leur idole.

Snoop Lion, qui a décidé de se tourner vers le ragga, a invité la starlette à enregistrer un titre pour son prochain album dont la sortie est prévue le 23 avril. Et c’est un défi relevé pour Miley Cyrus, qui n’a pas l’habitude de chanter dans ce registre reggae/dancehall. Son précédent duo avec Borgore, tinté de dubstep, était dans une veine très différente.

La jeune chanteuse a donc de quoi être fière, c’est sûr. Non seulement parce qu’elle s’offre une collaboration avec une pointure du rap (dans l’album de Snoop Lion, il y aura aussi Chris Brown, Rita Ora, ou encore Busta Rhymes), mais aussi parce que le titre est très réussi.

Comme Miley Cyrus, qui a posté une photo d’elle dansant sur ce morceau, les fans de la star apprécient le titre. Sur Twitter, les réactions sont, pour l’instant, très positives: «Miley, ta chanson est juste parfaite/J’y suis accro».

Dans une interview inattendue donnée au site de tendances Brain, K.Maro de son vrai nom Cyril Kamar, retrace son parcours de rappeur bling-bling à homme d’affaires reconnu.

Pour un entretien qui aurait pu vite tourner au second degré, Brain s’en tire avec une interview-fleuve, très largement fournie. Il fallait y penser, interviewer K.Maro. L’interprète de l’inoubliable Femme like you sorti en 2004 ne s’est pas fait avoir par le ton parfois sarcastique du site mais livre ici une version juste et précise de ce qu’il est devenu.

Rangées, les grosses chaînes en or et les rimes à 2 euros, K.Maro a retrouvé son patronyme officiel pour devenir l’impresario de Shy’m, principalement. «Je dis bien impresario et pas manager», la distinction est importante pour lui. Pas question de courir derrière sa star en tournée, lui, a imaginé «toutes les étapes de la carrière de Shy’m, 5 ou 6 ans à l’avance». Un talent de devin qui a porté ses fruits quand on connaît le succès de la chanteuse aujourd’hui, mais qui a bien failli connaître ses limites aussi. K.Maro le producteur reconnaît dans Brain avoir bien failli refuser Danse avec les stars à sa protégée. Il ne savait pas «si c’était bien pour elle». L’histoire lui a finalement prouvé que le jeu en valait bien la chandelle.

Cyril Kamar et Shy’m, c’est un business qui roule. Le producteur connaît les forces et les faiblesses de son artiste. Il précise que Shy’m n’est «ni bête ni mielleuse» mais bien «timide» comme le laisse deviner son pseudo. Une force tranquille qui a poussé la jeune femme à porter comme si de rien n’était une robe bustier en plexiglas de Franck Sorbier sur le tapis rouge des NRJ Music Awards en 2011. K.Maro se souvient lui aussi de ce «gros délire» qu’il a par la suite «subi et assumé». Mais que Shy’m le sache, Cyril sera toujours la pour «exécuter ses désirs, la canaliser et la tempérer».

Pas facile justement de gérer un tempérament aussi fougueux qui semble toujours prêt à exploser. Et puisqu’on n’est jamais si bien servi que par soi-même, Cyril Kamar a composé lui-même les paroles de Et Alors? le dernier tube de Shy’m.

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Victoire. Jane Fonda rejoint le panthéon des acteurs immortels après une cérémonie qui s’est tenue samedi après-midi. A quelques pas des empreintes de son paternel, l’acteur Henry Fonda, les fans pourront à présent venir admirer ses petites menottes sur le parterre de béton du Chinese Theatre.

«Je suis vraiment très excitée. Je pensais que je mourrais et que ça ne serait jamais arrivé» avait lancé Jane Fonda à l’annonce de sa précieuse récompense. Hier après midi, sous le soleil chaud de Los Angeles, l’icône des années 60 a finalement reçu ce qui lui revient de droit. Elle a posé ses empreintes sur le béton du Chinese Theatre, sur Hollywood Boulevard.

Cet honneur s’est tenu en marge du Classic Film Festival organisé par la chaîne de télévision TCM. Pour l’accompagner à l’inauguration, Jane Fonda avait des invités de choix. D’abord sa famille, représentée par son frère Peter Fonda, son fils Troy Garity et sa petite fille Viva Vadim. En plus, ses amis Eva Longoria, Jim Carrey et Maria Shriver étaient venus l’applaudir chaleureusement.

Elle a fêté ses 75 ans en décembre dernier, belle comme au premier jour, cette papesse du fitness et porte-drapeau du féminisme a finalement atteint la plénitude. « Je suis tellement heureuse que je pleurerai probablement » avait-elle expliqué aux journalistes avant de fouler le tapis rouge. Et l’heure était justement à l’émotion samedi après-midi. Après avoir posé pieds et mains sur le plateau, l’interprète de Barbarella a prononcé un discours à la mémoire de son paternel. « Ce qui est particulièrement spécial pour moi c’est que je vais être juste à côté de papa ici » a reconnu l’actrice. Et d’ajouter « Je peux sentir sa présence en ce moment même, et il avait l’habitude de me dire : ‘Jane ne laisse pas cette ville te marcher dessus !’ Et bien papa, maintenant la ville peut nous marcher dessus à tous les deux ».

Avec deux Oscars en poche et plus de 50 ans de carrière, l’actrice a finalement rejoint le panthéon VIP de Hollywood Boulevard. Ses précieuses empruntes siègeront pour la postérité près de celles de son père l’acteur Henry Fonda, mais aussi celles de John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Gene Kelly ou encore Steve McQueen.

Depuis la naissance de son petit Milan, la bomba latina s’est faite très discrète dans les médias, se contentant juste d’alimenter son compte twitter de quelques photos. Ce week-end, elle est sortie de son silence lors de deux talk-shows très prisés outre-atlantique.

«Je ressemblais à un Shar-Pei (chien d’origine chinoise qui se caractérise par sa peau ample qui retombe en plis) après avoir accouché. Je me suis dit: « oh mon Dieu! ». Je me demandais si j’allais redevenir sexy un jour, si mon homme allait encore se sentir attiré par moi…». Sur le plateau du Ellen DeGeneres Show, Shakira est revenue pour la première fois, non sans humour, sur les jours qui ont précédé la naissance de son fils Milan.

«Accouché n’est pas aussi agréable que les gens le laissent entendre, a poursuivi la chanteuse colombienne. Ne vous attendez pas à un petit ange aux joues roses. Quand j’ai vu le mien, je me suis dit: ‘Il est violet et ridé! Qu’est-ce que c’est que ça?’».

Quelques heures plus tôt, Shakira, toujours pour les besoins de la promo de la 4e saison de The Voice dont elle est jurée, avait aussi livré quelques confidences à Jay Leno. Mention spéciale à son anecdote sur une de ses amies qui nous a permis de savoir à quel âge la compagne de Gerard Piqué avait perdu sa virginité. «Un jour Monica se trouvait dans un avion avec un des producteurs exécutifs de Sony, elle lui a parlé de moi. Elle lui a pris la tête pendant tout le vol en lui disant qu’il fallait absolument qu’il me rencontre. Que j’étais très talentueuse bla bla bla bla bla … et il était tellement saoulé qu’il a fini par lui dire «si jusqu’à l’atterrissage tu te tais, je la rencontrerais! Il a finalement accepté de me rencontrer et m’a fait venir à son hôtel. J’y suis évidemment allée avec mes parents, ne vous inquiétez pas. Je suis restée vierge jusqu’à mes dix-neuf ans.»

La bomba latina (née le 2 février 1977) aura donc attendu 17 ans pour donner naissance à son premier enfant.

Un film d’action avec la dose de violence habituelle chez Takashi Miike.

A trois jours de distance, le cinéma japonais nous a offert deux spectacles aux antipodes. Ce fut d’abord le si tendre Tel père, tel fils, de Kore-Eda, et hier, ce Bouclier de paille, titre littéral du nouveau polar de Takashi Miike, cinquante-deux ans, adapté d’un manga de Kazuhiro Kiuchi. Découvrir ce type de film à 8 h 30 du matin est une expérience sensorielle ; car le réalisateur de Détective Story (2007) – un des meilleurs longs-métrages de Miike –, manque rarement une occasion de secouer les esprits.

L’argument de départ est original, puisque un assassin d’enfant est contraint de se rendre pour demander protection à la police : le grand-père de la petite, archimillionnaire, offre une récompense de 1 million de yen (750 millions de dollars) à celui qui tuera l’assassin, devenu l’homme à abattre. Dès lors, tout un tas de justiciers spontanés viennent compliquer le travail de la police, obligée de passer un bout du film à ronger son frein pour ne pas faciliter une bavure et butter elle-même l’infâme.

C’est filmé à la pelleteuse, sans arriver jamais à la cheville des modèles coréens du genre. Les scènes de violence sont nombreuses mais pas aussi radicales que par le passé, si on se souvient que dans Ichi The Killer (2001) le cinéaste nous montrait comment couper un homme en deux dans le sens de la hauteur. On pourrait presque avancer que Takashi Miike s’est adouci (proportion gardée !), lui qui est du genre à ne rien épargner à ses spectateurs. Pour autant la violence morale du propos reste entière et son «méchant», un modèle d’ignominie.

Le meilleur du film? Son épilogue, que la plupart des festivaliers ont failli rater, puisque beaucoup avaient commencé à s’éclipser croyant l’histoire finie. Mais pour y arriver, quel supplice tout de même.
De Takashi Miike, avec Tatsuya Fujiwara, Nanako Matsushima, Takao Osawa, Tsutomu Yamakazi. 2 h. En compétition.