People
LONDON — ABBA's
Bjorn Ulvaeus grew up in at a time when his education was valued more than his sister's, and he wants it to be different for girls around the world.That's the approach he took with his daughters, drawing inspiration from the women in his life.“I've been surrounded by women, strong women for a long time,” Ulvaeus said, speaking about the need to empower female voices ahead of Sunday's International Day of the Girl Child.The day “it should be a cause for celebration, but the sad thing is that this girl child deserves so much more than the old men who rule the world are prepared to give her,” Ulvaeus wrote in a piece to support the day that he first shared with The Associated Press.The piece begins: “Take a look at the old men who rule the world. With few exceptions their powers rest on cultures, religions and ideologies that suppress women.”Ulvaeus said he was inspired to write about the need to support International Day of the Girl Child.In 2011, the United Nations declared Oct. 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to promote girls' rights and address the challenges girls face around the world.In his piece, Ulvaeus writes about how these powerful men are “afraid of the girl child” because “she represents a threat to their power Iike none other.”“You could see it with Greta Thunberg,” he told the AP, speaking about the teenage Swedish climate change activist. “They got so ridiculously mad and irritated and, you know. And it is because the girl child is such a strong symbol for equality, for a better world, but a world where they wouldn't exist.”———
LOS ANGELES — <b>Morgan Wallen</b> was dropped from performing on “Saturday Night Live” after breaking the show's COVID-19 protocols.The country singer posted a two-plus minute video on social media about the show's decision. He apologized after he was shown on TikTok socializing maskless at a crowded bar and house party this past weekend in Alabama.The 27-year-old Wallen said his actions were “short-sighted” and has affected his long-term goals and dreams.Wallen said he has not tested positive for the coronavirus.———
PROVO, Utah — <b>Paris Hilton</b> has been speaking out about abuse she said she suffered at a boarding school in Utah, and on Friday she took her push nearly to the school's front doors.Hilton organized a protest in a park near Provo Canyon School, along with several hundreds of others who share stories of abuse they say they suffered there or at similar schools for troubled youth. She is calling for the closure of the school.Hilton, a socialite who became a reality TV star, and many others wore black T-shirts with red letters on the back that said, “survivor” and on the front read, “breaking code silence,” a reference to Hilton's new campaign to compel others to shed light on what she believes is a corrupt industry that manipulates parents and traumatizes youth.
