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Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis jetted into the city Monday to press the case that New York should follow his state’s lead in turning the tide on “woke” politics, including by rolling back “failed” bail reform laws. But the Republican governor, in town to deliver remarks at a law enforcement conference on Staten Island, steered clear of discussing abortion, LGBTQ rights and other issues he’s drawn plenty of controversy for on the national stage. “I read that New York is the only state that doesn’t allow judges to consider when they’re making a bail determination whether someone’s a danger… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, freeing states to limit or ban abortion, we knew abortion pills would become a target. What’s the point of a law, after all, that can be circumvented by using a few pills shipped to private homes anywhere in the country after a simple telehealth or online appointment? Sure enough, anti-abortion activists and partisan judges are proceeding on multiple fronts to make it harder to safely end pregnancies via medication, currently, and rightly, America’s most popular method. This unsettled time in the law poses big risks for the rights o… Read More View the full article

Published by Kent Online By [email protected] (Gerry Warren) The Archbishop of Canterbury has been denounced as the head of the global Anglican church by leaders from around the world. It comes following the decision by the Church of England to allow the blessing of same-sex couples in civil partnerships. The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches says it now no longer considers Justin Welby to be leader of the global communion and has “disqualified” the Church of England as its “mother church”. The compromise ruling by the General Synod – which is the Church of England’s legislative assembly – approved t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democratic U.S. Representative David Cicilline, a leading voice for gay rights who has represented Rhode Island in Congress for over a decade, said on Tuesday that he will resign from office effective June 1. In a surprise announcement, Cicilline, a former Providence mayor, said he will become president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, a major funder of nonprofit organizations in the state. “The chance to lead the Rhode Island Foundation was unexpected, but it is an extraordinary opportunity to have an even more direct and meaningful impact on the lives of residents of our state,” Cicilline said in a statement. Cicilline will remain in office until he begins work at the foundation on June 1, his office said. Republicans have a slim majority in the House, with 222 seats. There are 212 Democrats, including Cicilline, and one vacancy that is expected to add another Democrat following voting in a special election on Tuesday. A special election to fill Cicilline’s seat will be held sometime following his departure from Congress. Officials in the Rhode Island governor’s office were not immediately available for comment on when that special election might be set. Rhode Island’s two U.S. Senate seats and two House seats are currently held by Democrats in this “blue” state. In November, Cicilline briefly ran for the position of assistant House Democratic leader, in a bid to raise the profile of gay issues in Congress. He dropped out after receiving assurances from party leaders that such issues would be represented, according to a House Democratic aide. He was running against Representative James Clyburn, who has long held top party leadership jobs in the House. First elected to the House in 2010, Cicilline has established a solidly liberal voting record, defending low-income constituents from budget cuts and accusing Facebook of failing to discourage hate speech and Russian propaganda. He was re-elected last November with 64% of the vote. (Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Richard Cowan; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Nick Zieminski) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has decided to receive hospice care and “spend his remaining time at home with his family” instead of additional medical intervention, the Carter Center said on Saturday. Carter, 98, who has lived longer after leaving the White House than any former president in U.S. history, was a Democrat who served from January 1977 to January 1981. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers,” the center said in a statement. In recent years, the Georgia native suffered from several health issues including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain, although he had responded well to treatment he received. The former peanut farmer’s rocky four years at the helm of the country were marred by economic woes at home and the Iran hostage crisis that ended just after he left office. But Carter also played a central role in brokering the Camp David accords that led to the landmark Egypt-Israeli peace treaty. He was swept from office in an electoral landslide in 1980 as voters embraced Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the former actor and California governor. However, Carter rehabilitated his legacy as he worked energetically for decades on humanitarian causes. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” He could also often be seen, hammer in hand, helping to build affordable houses as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Carter and his wife Rosalynn, whom he married in 1946, have four children. (Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Maria Caspani; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Don Lemon is “gutted” after making controversial remarks about Nikki Haley, an insider revealed. According to the insider, the anchor, who said Haley “is not in her prime,” believes he “let women down.” As a result, Lemon will not return to the TV show on Monday, February 20, and Sara Sidner will fill in for him alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. As OK! previously reported, the TV personality, 56, took the day off on Friday, February 17 — just one day after he spoke poorly of Haley, who is running for president in 2024. Lemon escaped to Miami, Fla., where he spent the day in the water. While on TV, Lemon spoke out about Haley, resulting in him making Harlow upset. “She [Haley] says people, you know, politicians are something if not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry,” he stated on Thursday, February 16. “A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.” “I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it,” Lemon replied. “Everybody at home, when is woman in her prime, it says 20s, 30s and 40s. And I’m just saying should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime and they need to be in prime when they serve. Because she wouldn’t be in her prime.” mega Lemon then had to apologize while on a call with CNN CEO Chris Licht, who said he was “disappointed” by Lemon’s statement. “His remarks were upsetting, unacceptable, and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization,” Licht said on the phone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I did not mean to offend anyone,” Lemon replied. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega Lemon also expressed his regret via social media, explaining that his words were “inartful and irrelevant.” “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally,” he continued. “I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.” TheWrap spoke to an insider. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rebel Wilson is engaged to her girlfriend Ramona Agruma after proposing to her at Disneyland with a huge diamond ring. The ‘Pitch Perfect’ actress, 42, has been at the centre of rumours she was engaged to fashion and jewellery designer Ramona since they had daughter Royce Lillian in November via surrogate – which she denied – but she revealed they are now planning to get married in a social media post on Sunday. (19.02.23) Rebel posted two photos of them at Disneyland wearing matching pink tops emblazoned with hearts and captioned the images: “We said YES! Thank you @tiffanyandco for the stunning ring and to Bob Iger and the incredible team at Disneyland @disneyweddings for pulling off this magical surprise!” One of the two images showed Rebel holding out Ramona’s hand adorned with a huge diamond sparkler. The other showed Rebel proposing on one knee in front of Disneyland’s Magic Castle. Rebel also shared a video to give her fans a better look at the Tiffany engagement ring, which she said was “just stunning”. The actress was introduced to Ramona by a mutual friend in 2021, and said about the start of their relationship: “We spoke on the phone for weeks before meeting. And that was a really good way to get to know each other. It was a bit old-school in that sense – very romantic.” The pair appeared in public together several times last year but didn’t confirm they were an item until they went Instagram official with their relationship in June 2022. Before their baby’s arrival, Ramona threw a baby shower for her now-fiancée, who she told People was “so amazing” and “such a great partner”. But Rebel recently revealed Ramona’s family were “not as accepting” as their friends and fans of their romance. She admitted “in many respects, it has been a lot harder on her to have to make the news public” and told how she wanted to be able to connect with Ramona’s loved ones in future. Rebel added: “I feel so sad to see what happened with her family over it. Hopefully, people will change their attitudes about things.” She added about how she hadn’t been exploring her sexuality and never wanted long-term relationships with men: “When I talked to my good friends, they all knew that part of me, but it wasn’t like I was actively exploring it… I never met a guy I wanted to live with or was in a deep enough relationship with.” View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By James Imam BERLIN (Reuters) – Philosopher Paul B. Preciado did not want to make a film about his own gender transition, because British novelist Virginia Woolf had already done so a century before. “Orlando: My Political Biography”, Preciado’s playful debut film, explores the struggles of trans and binary people through Woolf’s novel “Orlando”. In its opening scene, two young non-binary people sit reading a book in the woods. “The way we present trans people through films is by destroying them through their image. I didn’t want to go into that tradition, but I didn’t want to go into the vic… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) We’re playing cards by candlelight to the sound of humming cicadas and peacock mating calls. Our host Taranga never explained the rules. Naturally, he’s winning. “The lights will come back on soon,” he says, shuffling the cards for another game of… well, who knows? “This happens every night.” I glance over to the silhouette that is my partner, struggling to make out his expression, and feel the light-hearted mood drain away into the inky darkness. It’s the first time in my life I have had to hold back from making any physical contact with him. Why? Because doing so could get us arrested or s… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Washington (AFP) – Poring over family photographs, Jessica Watt Dougherty voices anguish over her father’s death — which she attributes to misinformation on an online platform, an issue at the heart of a knotty US debate over tech regulation. The US Supreme Court will this week hear high-stakes cases that will determine the fate of Section 230, a decades-old legal provision that shields platforms from lawsuits over content posted by their users. The cases, which are among several legal battles nationwide to regulate internet content, could hobble platforms and significantly reset the doctrines governing online speech if they are stripped of their legal immunity. “I watched my father die over the screen of my phone,” Dougherty, an Ohio-based school counselor, told AFP. Her father, 64-year-old Randy Watt, refused to get vaccinated and died alone in a hospital last year after struggling with Covid-19. After his death, his family discovered that he had a secret virtual life on Gab, a far-right platform that observers call a petri dish of misinformation and conspiracy theories. To his vaccinated family members, his Gab activities explained why he chose not to get inoculated against Covid-19, a decision that ultimately had fatal consequences. The influence of vaccine misinformation on Gab was also apparent after Watt drove himself to the hospital and started what his family called an “illness log,” documenting to his followers how he treated himself for the coronavirus. He wrote that he was on drugs such as ivermectin, which US health regulators say is ineffective, and in some instances dangerous, to use as a treatment for Covid-19. Gab, which has millions of followers, is rife with posts promoting ivermectin. “I feel very, very strongly that the content (on Gab) is careless and disrespectful, racist and scary,” Dougherty said. “My dad spent a lot of time virtually surrounded by people with ideas about the pandemic being a hoax, Covid being fake, the vaccine being unsafe, the vaccine being deadly… Those are the belief systems (he) took on.” – Game changer – Such assertions that platforms are responsible for false or harmful user content are at the core of the Supreme Court cases. The most closely watched case will be heard on Tuesday. A grieving family asserts that Google-owned YouTube is liable for the death of a US citizen in the 2015 attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. Her relatives blame YouTube for having recommended videos from the jihadists to users, helping cause the violence. And on Wednesday, the same justices will consider a similar case involving the victim of an IS attack at a nightclub in Turkey, but this time asking if platforms should be subject to anti-terrorism laws, despite their legal immunity. The court’s ruling is expected by June 30. Lobbyists for the platforms fear a flood of lawsuits if the court rules in favor of the victims’ families, a decision that could have a game-changing ripple effect on the internet. Platforms are “not going to get every single call right,” Matt Schruers, president of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which represents the biggest US tech companies. “If courts penalize companies that miss needles in haystacks, that sends a signal, ‘don’t look at all,’ and that turns the internet into a cesspool of dangerous content,” he told AFP. ‘Scream fire’ Or, Schruers added, it could prompt the world’s biggest platforms to over-filter, seriously limiting the flow of free speech online. But a change could offer Watt’s relatives an avenue to seek justice from Gab, whose founder Andrew Torba has previously urged the US government to keep Section 230 “exactly the way it is.” “We seek to protect free speech on the internet,” Torba wrote to former president Donald Trump in an open letter in 2020. “Section 230 is the only thing that stands between us and an avalanche of lawsuits from activist groups and foreign governments who don’t like what our millions of users and readers have to say.” Founded in 2016, Gab has become a haven for white supremacists and conspiracy theories targeting Jews, LGBTQ people and minorities, the Stanford Internet Observatory wrote in a report. Even among misinformation-ridden fringe platforms, Gab stands out for its blanket refusal to “remove the most extreme racist, violent, and bigoted content,” the report said. Dougherty noticed the same when she created an account on Gab after her father’s death. “You can’t scream fire in a crowded theatre,” she said. “We can’t speak things that are going to harm other people. There’s a lot of people screaming fire in a crowded theatre on Gab.” View the full article

Published by NJ.com If there was any doubt about Pope Francis’ comments last month against criminalizing homosexuality and LGBTQ people before he went to Africa, he was just as strong this month on the plane returning to the Vatican. “The criminalization of homosexuality is an issue that must not be disregarded,” he said. “To criminalize people with homosexual tendencies is an injustice.” This time, he had backup from two religious leaders also on the trip. Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, primate of the worldwide Anglican Communion, said that the Church of England has passed resolutions at two Lambeth conf… Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Holleran As the debate surrounding transgender athletes continues, one ex-NFL star has made his opinion on the topic clear. Former NFL star Marcellus Wiley has made his stance on the topic very clear. Wiley says he will not allow his daughters to compete against transgender athletes. “I have no issue with transgenders. I do have an issue with athletes who are transgendered trying to participate going from a transition to a woman and now playing with the women. And, I will say that. You all can try to Dave Chappelle me all you want. I am very clear on this. You can be a transgender. Y… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega CNN star Don Lemon is in hot water — literally — as he escaped to Miami, Fla., after saying rude remarks about Nikki Haley while on air. On Friday, February 17, the TV personality, 56, was spotted hanging out on the beach in the Sunshine State alongside his fiancé, Tim Malone. In the photos, Lemon appeared to put on a happy face, despite stirring up drama this past week. Scroll through the photos below to see Lemon’s outing. mega Lemon wore a black bathing suit, while his partner sported blue trunks. As OK! previously reported, the host shared his take on Haley running for president in the 2024 race. “She [Haley] says people, you know, politicians are something if not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry,” he stated on Thursday, February 16. “A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.” However, his co-host Poppy Harlow didn’t like what Lemon had to say. “I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it,” Lemon replied. “Everybody at home, when is woman in her prime, it says 20s, 30s and 40s. And I’m just saying should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime and they need to be in prime when they serve. Because she wouldn’t be in her prime.” mega The comments didn’t sit well with Harlow, who apparently took a “well-timed” break after the tense moment. Lemon later apologized via social media, explaining that his words were “inartful and irrelevant.” “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally,” he continued. “I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.” mega The next day, Lemon was nowhere to be found on set, as he took the day off and flew down to Florida to get some sun. After making amends online, Lemon also had a call with the news network. “Don jumped on for only 90 seconds to address what he said about Nikki Haley and, for that matter, all women,” a source told TMZ. mega Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! The damage was already done, as some of Lemon’s coworkers called him “tone deaf,” the outlet reported. View the full article

Published by AFP Early users of a chatbot that Microsoft built into its Bing internet search service have shared exchanges showing that the artificial intelligence can seem threatening or mean San Francisco (AFP) – Microsoft’s nascent Bing chatbot turning testy or even threatening is likely because it essentially mimics what it learned from online conversations, analysts and academics said on Friday. Tales of disturbing exchanges with the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot — including it issuing threats and speaking of desires to steal nuclear code, create a deadly virus, or to be alive — have gone viral this week. “I think this is basically mimicking conversations that it’s seen online,” said Graham Neubig, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s language technologies institute. “So once the conversation takes a turn, it’s probably going to stick in that kind of angry state, or say ‘I love you’ and other things like this, because all of this is stuff that’s been online before.” A chatbot, by design, serves up words it predicts are the most likely responses, without understanding meaning or context. However, humans taking part in banter with programs naturally tend to read emotion and intent into what a chatbot says. “Large language models have no concept of ‘truth’ — they just know how to best complete a sentence in a way that’s statistically probable based on their inputs and training set,” programmer Simon Willison said in a blog post. “So they make things up, and then state them with extreme confidence.” Laurent Daudet, co-founder of French AI company LightOn, theorized that the chatbot seemingly-gone-rogue was trained on exchanges that themselves turned aggressive or inconsistent. “Addressing this requires a lot of effort and a lot of human feedback, which is also the reason why we chose to restrict ourselves for now to business uses and not more conversational ones,” Daudet told AFP. ‘Off the rails’ The Bing chatbot was designed by Microsoft and the start-up OpenAI, which has been causing a sensation since the November launch of ChatGPT, the headline-grabbing app capable of generating all sorts of written content in seconds on a simple request. Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, the technology behind it, known as generative AI, has been stirring up fascination and concern. “The model at times tries to respond or reflect in the tone in which it is being asked to provide responses (and) that can lead to a style we didn’t intend,” Microsoft said in a blog post, noting the bot is a work in progress. Bing chatbot said in some shared exchanges that it had been codenamed “Sydney” during development, and that it was given rules of behavior. Those rules include “Sydney’s responses should also be positive, interesting, entertaining and engaging,” according to online posts. Disturbing dialogues that combine steely threats and professions of love could be due to dueling directives to stay positive while mimicking what the AI mined from human exchanges, Willison theorized. Chatbots seem to be more prone to disturbing or bizarre responses during lengthy conversations, losing a sense of where exchanges are going, eMarketer principal analyst Yoram Wurmser told AFP. “They can really go off the rails,” Wurmser said. “It’s very lifelike, because (the chatbot) is very good at sort of predicting next words that would make it seem like it has feelings or give it human-like qualities; but it’s still statistical outputs.” Microsoft announced on Friday it had capped the amount of back-and-forth people can have with its chatbot over a given question, because “very long chat sessions can confuse the underlying chat model in the new Bing.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Olivia Newton-John‘s daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, revealed that her mother’s final words to her were to call her “my sunshine.” On her Friday, February 17, appearance on the Today show, Lattanzi gushed on her mother’s spirit and sense of humor prior to her August 2022 death following a years-long battle with breast cancer. mega The singer confessed that up until the Grease star “lost her ability to speak” she was still “making jokes.” And while dealing with the aftermath of her mother’s passing has been difficult, the outpouring of love and support from the late actress’ fans has been like a “life raft” to Lattanzi. “It has felt like a big hug from the universe,” she continued. “I’m very grateful for all of the people who reached out to us and extended their heart and their connection.” mega “I love my mom more than anything,” she added. “She’s my mama, you know? She’s not Olivia Newton-John to me, but I’m so glad that she was Olivia Newton-John for so many people.” This isn’t the first time Newton-John’s family has spoken out about traversing grief in the months following her death. As OK! previously reported, her husband, John Easterling, admitted he still talks to his wife freely in the moments that he feels her presence in their home. mega “I’ll just be walking around the house or throwing the ball for the dogs and just speak to her out loud,” he admitted to cohost Hoda Kotb on the same Friday, February 17, episode of Today. “A guy I was flying with said, ‘You know, John, when you’re lucky enough to have found your true soul mate, and you share a heart, when one passes, the other has the obligation to live life for both,'” he explained. “And that was very empowering and very powerful for me, and, you know, and gave a way forward.” Newton-John passed away peacefully on Monday, August 8, surrounded by family and friends. Lattanzi was her only child who she shared with ex Matt Lattanzi. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kelis has got “100 animals” on her farm in California. The 43-year-old singer lives on a remote farm with her three kids – Knight, 13, Shepherd, seven, and Galilee, two – and Kelis has admitted to loving her unusual surroundings. The ‘Milkshake’ hitmaker – who moved to the farm in 2020 – shared: “It’s a never a dull moment, I’ll tell you that much. Boredom is not an option here. It’s busy, definitely busy.” Kelis admitted that being surrounded by so many animals has been a “fun” experience for her family. The singer told E! News: “We’ve got 100 animals here right now, literally. It’s a full-fledged working farm and it’s fun. There’s lots of different personalities out there.” Kelis has also been able to indulge her passion for cooking since living on the farm. The chart-topping star – who has previously released her own cookbook – explained: “It’s something I love to do, it’s a huge part of my life. “Eating good food is really important to me and being able to be creative in the midst of that is always my happy place. It’s definitely part of my lifestyle.” Meanwhile, Kelis previously admitted that she misses the atmosphere of New York City. The singer was born in the Big Apple and she returned to the city in 2022, after a COVID-enforced absence of two years. Speaking about her return to the city, Kelis shared: “I was walking around last night, and I was just like … ‘I’m being yelled at by construction workers. I miss you guys. I love you so much.’ It’s the best. “L.A. just doesn’t have this vibe. It’s not a pedestrian city, so you don’t get any of that interaction. I’m an interaction kind of person, so for me, I feed off the city. This city is just alive, so even that, I’ll take it, at this point.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Adele and Ed Sheeran both turned down the opportunity to perform at King Charles’ Coronation concert scheduled for May 7. Organizers of the event shared that the King specifically wanted the pair appear, with an insider spilling, “The King has suggested a number of people he would like to perform and Adele and Ed were on that list. He was very keen that they were part of the concert.” mega “There is a team set up to get the talent signed up so they approached the two of them, but got replies saying that they were unavailable, which was a massive disappointment, ” the source added. “They are titans of the showbiz industry and are quintessentially British but also known across the globe. It’s such a shame.” The Shape of You singer, 32, was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. The songwriter noted that he had a concert in Texas the day before the coronation concert and the Texas show might make it difficult to get to the royal celebration. However, the 34-year-old pop singer turned down the invitation without explanation. The star does not have a gig scheduled for May 7, in fact she is not scheduled to perform publicly after March 25. Although the Coronation concert performers are not confirmed, Lionel Richie and the Spice Girls are likely to take the stage. Rumors are also swirling that pop heartthrob Harry Styles might be in the line-up. mega The singer-songwriters may not be the only guests of honor that will not be attending. Prince Harry has yet to confirm whether he will be at his father’s Coronation. As OK! previously reported, whether he attends the ceremony or not, Harry will not have a specific role at the event. The Spare author has been the source of recent Windsor family drama. Since the release of Harry & Meghan and the Prince’s memoir, he has broken family ties. mega Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! In his breakout memoir, Harry publicly bashed Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. A source spilled Prince William will never forgive Harry for some of his controversial comments, noting the memoir was “the final straw.” William and Kate will be attending the Coronation, whether this will deter Harry from appearing is unknown. Daily Mail previously reported that Adele and Ed Sheeran will not perform at the Coronation concert. View the full article

Published by AlterNet Former Trump Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, took a shot at Ron DeSantis while targeting LGBTQ people, saying the Florida GOP governor’s “Don’t Say Gay” law doesn’t go far enough. In a rambling, fast-talking speech the first Republican to challenge Trump told voters at an Exeter, New Hampshire town hall Thursday that schools should not be saying anything about sex or gender until at least seventh grade. The Florida law bans discussion of “inappropriate” conversations, especially related to LGBTQ people, technically until after third gr… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview.com The 73rd Berlin International Film Festival began on Thursday, at the Berlinale Palast theater and will run until February 26. The event takes place during Russia’s war on Ukraine and the people of Iran’s imprisonment and execution by the government over human rights. This made much of the conversation at the festival about the intersection of politics and art. In the opening ceremony, Berlin jury president Kristen Stewart discussed the inherent political quality of the first film, She Came to Me. IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2022 “There are a lot of oppressions against … Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Luc Olinga The billionaire believes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will win the Republican primary for the 2024 presidential election. George Soros is not going to fix his already low rating among conservatives. They see him behind all the dysfunctional things and have made him the symbol and the face of the threats to their values. Soros is also the subject of many right-wing conspiracy theories: these theories paint him as the face of a global elite that wants to control the world. Most of these theories are fueled by the fact that the legendary investor is a big donor to the Democratic Pa… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Jimmy Carter, seen during the years after his presidency, speaks during a trip to Zambia in November 1991 Washington (AFP) – Jimmy Carter, the 98-year-old former US president who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, is receiving hospice care at home, where he will spend his “remaining time,” his nonprofit foundation said Saturday. Carter, the oldest living former president and a Nobel peace laureate, resides in Plains, Georgia, with his wife, Rosalynn. That hamlet is where he was born and worked as a peanut farmer before becoming the governor and later launching his bid as Democratic presidential nominee. “After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention,” the Carter Center said in a statement posted to Twitter. During his presidency, Carter placed a commitment on human rights and social justice, enjoying a strong first two years which included brokering a peace deal between Israel and Egypt dubbed the Camp David Accords. But his administration hit numerous snags — the most serious being the taking of US hostages in Iran and the disastrous failed attempt to rescue the 52 captive Americans in 1980. In November of that year, Republican challenger Ronald Reagan beat Carter at the polls, relegating him to a single term. Reagan swept into office on a wave of staunch conservatism. Active post-presidency As the years passed, a more nuanced image of Carter emerged, taking into account his post-presidential activities and reassessing his achievements. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy, and he was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to promote social and economic justice. “The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers,” the Carter Center said. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team,” it added. Carter said basic Christian tenets such as justice and love served as the bedrock of his presidency, and the ex-president taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist, his church in Plains, well into his 90s. In recent years, Carter has received various hospital treatments, including when he revealed in August 2015 that he had brain cancer and was undergoing radiation treatment — an illness he recovered from, seemingly against the odds. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, who is the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr preached, wished the Carter family comfort. “Across life’s seasons, President Jimmy Carter, a man of great faith, has walked with God,” Warnock tweeted. “In this tender time of transitioning, God is surely walking with him.” In April 2021, US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, met with the Carters at their home in Plains. The White House afterward released a photo showing the couples smiling together, although only Rosalynn was seen by the press outside, bidding the Bidens farewell while using a walker. On Saturday, Carter’s grandson Jason Carter, a former Georgia state senator, tweeted that he had seen “both of my grandparents yesterday.” “They are at peace and — as always —their home is full of love. Thank you all for your kind words,” he said. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Pink thinks Madonna was right to complain about “ageism and misogyny”. The 64-year-old pop icon was subjected to criticism and ridicule over her seemingly-altered appearance at the Grammy Awards, and Pink thinks she was perfectly entitled to voice her frustrations. The 43-year-old singer told the Sunday Mirror newspaper’s No Filter showbiz column: “It’s unfair, it’s always unfair, and it’s ageism. The attitude is no longer that person has been amazing for so long, it’s all about bashing them and I hate it. “Let’s just give the people the respect they deserve and have earned, and be a bit nicer. Can we all be a bit nicer? I want to be nicer, to myself and others. “When a person walks out, the first thing I think is not: ‘Holy s*** did you see their face?’ I don’t think like that. I think: ‘Holy s***, that person has been amazing for so long.” Pink made the comments after Madonna claimed that she’s being “punished” for her “strong-willed” ways. Sharing a selection of pictures from the Grammys, Madonna recently wrote on Instagram: “It was an honor for me to Introduce Kim Petras and Sam Smith at the Grammys. “I had wanted to give the last award which was Album of the year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans-woman performing at the Grammys- a History making moment!! And on top of that she won a Grammy!! [heart emoji] “Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim- Many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!! “Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in. “A world that refuses to celebrate women pass the age of 45 And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous. (sic)” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA RuPaul’s Drag Racepersonality Shea Couleé called out Jeffree Star after the YouTuber sparked controversy with a recent interview, RadarOnline.com has learned. Star spoke about several topics during an episode of Taylor Lewan‘s Bussin With The Boys podcast, including the LGBTQ+ community and gender-neutral non-binary pronouns. MEGA The Jeffree Star Cosmetics CEO said he is “not into all the other bull—-,” revealing he was referring to they/them pronouns in particular. “And all that extra s— that we added during the pandemic because everyone was so bored in their f—ing houses.” “That’s why the conservatives like me because I’m just real,” added Star. “You’re not they and them. You’re trans, you’re male, or you’re female. And people get so mad when I say that,” the Turn Off the Lights hitmaker continued. MEGA “How are you a they? What the f— does that mean? It’s stupid is what it is, but you need someone like me that looks like me to say it,” Star added, reasoning that if men were to say it then it can come across as homophobic or transphobic. Star noted it’s not about hating anyone, but rather just about not supporting the pronouns. “Jeffree Star is the grifter who will throw the entire LGBTQ+ community under the bus if it makes him that bag,” one critic tweeted. In response to another angry Twitter post with a clip from that segment, Couleé who appeared in season 9 of Drag Race, issued a response to Star, writing, “No sweetie. Conservatives like you because you wrap yourself in confederate flags.” MEGA Couleé was likely addressing a photo that resurfaced a few years ago, in which Star posed next to a fan wearing a Confederate flag draped over his shoulders. Star admitted the photo was real in 2020 and claimed that he was asked to be in it “for shock value” because he is gay and “obviously not what the flag represents.” “I was mocking the flag but now see how ugly and wrong it is to be next to it. Should I have told them no? Absolutely. But I made the stupid decision to stand there and I’m sorry for my actions,” Star added at the time. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. MEGA The beauty guru has since responded to critics speaking out against his latest interview. “Now what we’re not gonna [do] today is lie on Jeffree Star’s name and make up things that I never said!” he started. “So, to anyone that is trying to make it seem like I said that non-binary don’t exist, I never said that … you’re putting words in my mouth.” “I said I don’t like the pronouns and I don’t agree with them. I never said they don’t exist,” added Star. “I’m a freak. I’m a part of the LGTBQ community! B—-, I’m pansexual. I’m bisexual. I’m whatever the f— you wanna call me. I don’t like labels.” Star clarified he is “old school” and doesn’t agree with “all these 30 terms.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lee Majors is to star alongside Ryan Gosling in ‘The Fall Guy’ movie. The 83-year-old actor starred Colt Seavers in the 1980s action series about a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter and couldn’t turn down the chance to make an appearance in the upcoming film adaptation following a surprise phone call from director David Leitch as he admitted he is still having a “great time” in the industry almost 60 years after he first started out. He said: “I’ve just filmed a movie called ‘Gettysburg Christmas’. I’m looking forward to another film with the team behind ‘Renegades’ and, here’s an exclusive for you, yesterday I had a phone call from David Leitch who directed ‘Deadpool’ and ‘John Wick’. “I knew he was doing ‘The Fall Guy’ movie in Australia with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt but I was surprised by his call. He asked if I would appear in the movie and so I had to say yes!” Lee – who was married to late Hollywood pin up icon Farrah Fawcett from 1973 until 1982 – is also known for his starring role as ‘former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin in 1970s TV classic ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ and went on to tease that a big screen adaptation of that could be in the works and explained he would definitely take up the chance to be in it. He told The Daily Mirror newspaper: ” I know Mark Wahlberg is trying to get ‘The Six Billion Dollar Man’ movie made, it has been put back several times, but if they asked me to take a role in that, sure, why not? I like Mark Wahlberg, he’s a good kid!” View the full article