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Minaj announced plans for leg two of North America’s Pink Friday 2 World Tour on Wednesday (May 29), as the Queens rapper plots another roundtrip to Gag City this fall.

The Barbz will have their chance at pre-sale tickets starting on Thursday (May 30) on Ticketmaster with the code “social.” The rest of the tickets hit the general public market on Friday at 9 a.m. local show time.

“PRE-SALE STARTS TMRW & TICKETS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE THIS PINK FRIDAY,” she wrote on Instagram. “Added Miami, Los Angeles, St. Louis, & so many more to the 2nd North American Leg of the #PinkFriday2 #GAGCITY WORLD TOUR. GAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!”

Minaj will kick off leg two in Philadelphia on Sept. 4, with shows on deck for NYC’s Madison Square Garden, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Miami and wrapping up with a hometown show on Oct. 11 at Long Island’s UBS Arena, which borders Queens.

The 22-date run will bring the Pink Friday 2 World Tour total to more than 80 shows, as she’s currently trekking across Europe.

The Pink Friday 2 World Tour is a record-breaking run, with Minaj now holding the title of the highest grossing rap tour by a woman. The trek is also in the top 10 for highest grossing rap tours of all-time. According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore earlier in May, the Pink Friday 2 World Tour grossed $67 million and sold 439,000 tickets for the North American leg.

It’s been an eventful last week overseas for Nicki Minaj, who was arrested for allegedly carrying drugs in Amsterdam, which forced her to reschedule her Manchester concert for June.

She also made headlines while paying tribute to the late Princess Diana during her Birmingham, U.K., concert over the weekend, as she held a moment of silence for the Princess of Wales, who was killed in a 1997 car accident.

Find all of the dates to leg two of the Pink Friday 2 World Tour below.

 A First Nations lawmaker in Ontario has addressed the province’s legislature in Anishininiimowin, in a “historic” milestone that repudiates a centuries-long colonial “war” on Indigenous languages.

Sol Mamakwa, a New Democratic party member from the community of Kingfisher Lake First Nation, rose on Tuesday to give the province’s first-ever Indigenous language speech in Queen’s Park, telling colleagues the moment left him feeling “thankful and proud”.

Before speaking, Mamakwa asked for the unanimous consent of the house to speak at length in Anishininiimowin, also known as Oji-Cree, receiving applause from lawmakers in response.

“I am speaking for those who couldn’t use their language … and for every Indigenous person in Ontario,” he said. “The language was taken from us by the arrival of the settlers, colonization and residential school. This history removed the children from our ways of life.” He said that children had their mouths washed out with soap for speaking their mother tongue.

Decades of hostile government policies, including the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families and a system of residential schools, stripped many peoples of their culture and, by extension, their language.

The historic moment follows a decision by Ontario’s government house leader, Paul Calandra, to amend a standing order that previously required lawmakers to use either English or French. Members are now allowed to use an “Indigenous language spoken in Canada” when addressing the speaker or chamber. When Mamakwa spoke, simultaneous translation was available in English and French.

More than two dozen members of Kingfisher Lake First Nation travelled to Toronto to witness the event, standing alongside Indigenous political leaders from across the province.

Although nearly 2 million Canadians identify as Indigenous, only 260,000 can speak an Indigenous language, a government committee found. And of the 58 distinct Indigenous languages spoken throughout the country, a growing number are at risk of disappearing.

While Cree, Ojibwe and Inuktitut have a relatively large number of speakers, others are on the brink of extinction: the Sechelt language, historically spoken in what is now British Columbia, has just four native speakers. In the region of Haida Gwaii, the youngest native Haida speaker is in her 70s.

Mamakwa’s mother, Kezia, who does not speak English, was also in attendance on Tuesday. She was recognized with a standing ovation from lawmakers, and after Mamakwa noted she was celebrating her 79th birthday, the legislature broke into song.

“She used to take me out into the wilderness and on to the land, teaching me the language. That’s why I’m able to speak my First Nations language,” said Mamakwa.

He also acknowledged the influence of his late father, Jerry. “He’s hearing us today,” he said, holding up an eagle feather.

But Mamakwa, who represents the vast, Indigenous-majority electoral district of Kiiwetinoong, said a recent meeting with an elder revealed he is slowly losing his command of Anishininiimowin, hastening the need for more official use of the language.

 Source 

 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's clashes over finances have 'exacerbated' marital issues as the actor is 'worn down' by singer's lifestyle: 'The honeymoon phase has worn off'

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's martial woes have been 'exacerbated' by rows over their finances, according to a new report about their 'rocky' relationship.

The couple, who married less than two years ago, are apparently taking time apart to work out whether their marriage is 'right for both of them', an insider told Us Weekly.

Their marriage has been under the spotlight in recent weeks, as sources claim they have hit a turbulent patch over their differing lifestyles, with reports stating that Ben has moved out of the couple's $60 million Los Angeles mansion and into a rented $100,000-a-month property in Brentwood. 

Insisting the 'the honeymoon phase has worn off', the source said their differing approaches to both finances and parenting have taken a toll on their relationship.

Jennifer, 54, who is worth an estimated $400million, is said to have 'started ramping up her work commitments and prepping for her tour', and is 'very focused on her work and overextends herself'.

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Their marriage has been under the spotlight in recent months, as sources claim they have hit a turbulent patch over their differing lifestyles (Jennifer seen on May 20)

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The couple, who married less than two years ago, are apparently taking time apart to work out whether their marriage is 'right for both of them' (Ben seen on May 24) 

JLo is preparing to embark on her This Is Me... Live tour next month in support of her ninth studio album, both of which have faced criticism over disappointing sales. 

The source went on to state that Ben 'doesn't agree with Jennifer's lifestyle' and now feels 'worn down' by their marriage.

Ben is said to have 'checked out' of their relationship and the insider added that he and Jennifer are on 'two completely different pages most of the time.'

Another source close to Jennifer suggested the couple's work commitments have also caused a rift, saying, 'both have demanding careers that often require them to be in different cities.'

With the pair forced to spend time apart in recent months as a result of their careers, the insider said the absence 'highlighted the emotional and physical distance between them.'

They said: 'Over time, Jennifer and Ben found it increasingly difficult to communicate effectively, and small misunderstandings grew into significant arguments.

'They have fundamentally different approaches to conflict', the insider added, explaining that Jennifer prefers to confront issues head-on, while Ben isn't as quick to open up.

Jennifer — who, along with being a musician and actress has a line of successful deals with major brands — is worth a reported $400million while Ben is said to be worth $150million.

Jennifer recently stunned fans by self-financing a three-part project documenting hers and Ben's love story for a whopping $20million. 

Meanwhile Ben has acquired much of his wealth through multi-million dollar film and production deals, but he recently earned $10million to appear in Dunkin' Donuts' Super Bowl ad.

Source

 The woman who was with General Hospital star Johnny Wactor when he was tragically killed on Saturday night has recalled his heroic final moments in a heartbreaking series of Instagram posts. 

Anita Joy referred to Wactor, 37, as her friend of 'eight years' and described how he 'fought to stay alive' after being shot at close range as the pair were walking to their cars after finishing a bartending shift at Level 8 in downtown Los Angeles. 

When they approached their vehicles, they saw three men trying to steal Wactor's car's catalytic converter around 3am. 

'Everything happened in an instant. I've come to describe it as a glass of water that gets tipped over and you're scrambling to grab it and save it from spilling out completely but it just runs through your fingertips and is gone,' Joy wrote. 

'We cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace.'

Wactor portrayed Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera from 2020 to 2022. He also appeared in a variety of films and TV series, including 'Station 19,' 'NCIS,' 'Westworld' and the video game 'Call of Duty: Vanguard.' 

'Johnny was between me and the man who shot him — as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted, "Hunny, you ok?!"

'And he only responded, "Nope! Shot!" We toppled onto the street, where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me.'

Joy went on to say that a bouncer from the bar where they worked ran over and performed but the damage was done.

'It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it. But my God, he fought to stay.'

Joy added that she finds solace in the fact that she was with him and that Wactor did not die alone but added that remains 'heartbroken and so very angry.'

'My only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice.'

In her posts, Joy showed other pictures of Wactor with the staff of Level 8, calling him 'beautiful, goofy as hell, full of work ethic and values.'

'Johnny had this incredible ability that was truly just his genuine nature — to make anyone and everyone feel so special in his eyes. No matter how well you knew him, he treated everyone like he truly cared about you,' she continued. 

Joy said that the actor's nickname for her was 'Anita Bonita.' 

'I hope the stamp of his voice saying that every time I saw him never leaves my memory. Just one look into his big blue eyes, followed by a big goofy grin, Johnny made you love him instantly. Absolutely one of the best men I've ever known.'

The bartender went on to call on her employers to supplying parking spaces for their late night staff for safety purposes.

Earlier this week, Scarlett Wactor, the GH star's mother, told US Weekly that she had spoken with Joy. 

'[She] was very gracious in speaking with me so I could ask questions. She felt detectives were being very thorough and that made me feel comforted. I'm glad he was not alone,' the grieving mom added. 

 Scarlett went on to say that she's seeking justice for her son and that she does not want his death to become a 'cold case.'

There are still no arrests in the murder.  

Wactor's agent, David Shaul, said the actor was 'a real moral example to everyone who knew him.'

'In the highs and lows of a challenging profession he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be,' Shaul said in a statement Sunday. 

'Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever.' 

Wactor's murder comes just weeks after California was ranked among the top 10 most dangerous states in America.

Violent crime in Los Angeles has been on the rise, with the LAPD recording a 2.9 per cent increase at the end of March 2024, compared to the same time last year.

The LAPD reported Friday that, as of the end of April, the city's rise in the number of murders in 2024 continued to decline and, as of April 27, was only 4.2 per cent above the number of murders reported at this time in 2023, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The last time the force updated robbery statistics, at the end of March 2024, thefts were up 9.5 per cent, according to ABC 7.

Around 600,000 catalytic converters are stolen each year. Most cars are equipped with one converter but those with a dual exhaust system require two. Larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks may have more than two.

According to the New York Times, stolen catalytic converters are passed through 'middlemen, smelters and refineries in the United States and overseas.' They can be stolen in under a minute and cost around $1,000 to replace.

 SOURCE