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Published by Reuters By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – A New York state appeals court rejected Fox News’ bid to dismiss a multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit accusing the network of falsely accusing an electronic voting systems company of helping rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election to favor Joe Biden over Donald Trump. In a 5-0 decision, the Appellate Division in Manhattan said Smartmatic USA alleged in “detailed fashion” how Fox News and some anchors and guests “effectively endorsed and participated in (defamation) with reckless disregard for, or serious doubts about” whether the company engaged in election fraud. Smartmatic had sought $2.7 billion in damages, saying Fox News knowingly lied about its technology and how it was used in order to boost ratings, and keep Trump supporters from defecting to the right-wing networks Newsmax and One America News. Fox News has long said its job was to inform the public, and that airing fraud claims was protected by the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. Tuesday’s decision lets Smartmatic continue its cases against Fox News, host Maria Bartiromo and former host Lou Dobbs. It also reinstated some previously dismissed claims against Rudolph Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who worked as a Trump lawyer, and Smartmatic’s case against host Jeanine Pirro. Fox News, whose lawyers also represented the hosts, said it expected to prevail in the lawsuit. “There is nothing more newsworthy than covering the president of the United States and his lawyers making allegations of voter fraud,” it said. “Freedom of the press is foundational to our democracy and must be protected, in addition to the damages claims being outrageous, unsupported, and not rooted in sound financial analysis.” Giuliani’s lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment. Smartmatic has said it provided election technology only to Los Angeles County, which Biden won. “We look forward to holding Fox News and the other defendants accountable in court,” its lawyer J. Erik Connolly said. Tuesday’s decision upheld much of a March 2022 ruling by state Supreme Court Justice David Cohen. Another voting technology company, Dominion Voting Systems, is pursuing a similar $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox News in Delaware. The case is Smartmatic USA Corp et al v Fox Corp et al, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Department, No. 2022-01291. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by AFP Pharrell Williams, shown here in February 2023 arriving for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, is the new head of menswear at Louis Vuitton New York (AFP) – Pharrell Williams is the superstar behind scores of music’s earworms, whose agelessness, sharp taste and forays into design have also made him a fixture on the fashion circuit for decades. The pop culture renaissance man will now head menswear design for Louis Vuitton, stepping into the shoes of Virgil Abloh and becoming, after his predecessor, the second Black man to take on the role. The trailblazing Abloh died of cancer in November 2021, and his spot at the European luxury house has remained vacant since. Williams, 49, was not among those most rumored as the successor, but his streetwise sensibility meshes well with the brand’s recent push to attract younger audiences. Louis Vuitton head Pietro Beccari praised Pharrell’s “creative vision beyond fashion,” saying it would lead the label “towards a new and very exciting chapter.” In addition to teaming with brands including Adidas, Diesel, Chanel and Moncler, the prolific songwriter, producer and performer already partnered with Louis Vuitton, including in 2008 on a jewelry and sunglasses line. He and his longtime partner, the fashion designer Helen Lasichanh, wed in 2013. In 2016 Williams was named co-owner of jeans brand G-Star Raw, and also co-founded the Japanese clothing maker Billionaire Boys Club. He was also a fan of Abloh’s: “Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful creative genius your work as a human and your work as a spiritual being will live forever,” he wrote upon the designer’s death. Music mogul Born April 5, 1973 in the coastal US city of Virginia Beach, Williams and his childhood band camp friend Chad Hugo rose to fame beginning in the 1990s as the duo The Neptunes, after they were discovered by New Jack Swing architect Teddy Riley. The polymaths shifted the sound of pop entirely, producing hit after hit, including Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” and Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Their shortlist of collaborations includes Gwen Stefani, Kelis, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Madonna and Snoop Dogg. Williams also worked with major acts including Maroon 5 and Shakira — and of course Daft Punk, including the songs “Get Lucky” and “Lose Yourself to Dance.” Williams also is a star performer in his own right, including with the globally viral hit “Happy,” as well as “Blurred Lines” which he performed with Robin Thicke and T.I. The Oscar nominee with 13 Grammy wins last year was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame as part of The Neptunes. That night, wearing a showstopping cherry red leather suit, the ever-luminous artist — whose porcelain, seemingly ageless skin has spawned myriad beauty articles as well as a skincare line — delivered a lengthy ode to songwriting. “When that sparkle hits you feel it in your bone, you feel it in your body,” he said. “You feel this sense of direction.” That urgent creative spirit is sure to be a boon at Louis Vuitton: Pharrell’s first collection is due to hit the runways next June during Men’s Fashion Week, the label said. View the full article

Published by DPA Karl Lauterbach, Germany's Minister of Health, speaks during a press conference on the recommendations of a commission for a reform of emergency rooms and rescue services. Philipp Znidar/dpa The International AIDS Conference will be held in Munich next year, with more than 15,000 participants expected to attend. It will be the world’s largest scientific meeting on HIV, and will take place from July 22 to 26, 2024, the city of Munich and the International Aids Society (IAS) announced on Tuesday. Scientists, physicians, health experts and activists from more than 175 countries will discuss ways to contain HIV and AIDS. Germany’s health minister, Karl Lauterbach, said his country was proud to host the event and to welcome the global HIV community in all its diversity to Munich. Experts are concerned about the sharp rise in the number of infections, especially in Eastern Europe. This is a clear reminder that the epidemic is far from over, Lauterbach said. Globally, too, the number of infections is rising. This is in part because access to care is lacking, but also because HIV and its modes of transmission are being criminalised, said Christoph Spinner, a virologist from the Technical University of Munich, who will chair the event. The conference was held for the first time in 1985. It last took place in Montreal, Canada, in 2022. In future, it will rotate between continents, with the 2026 meeting, for example, taking place in Latin America. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Actor Matthew McConaughey has been working overtime to make his dream of winning the White House come true, but sources revealed his ambition is a nightmare for his wife, Camila Alves, who fears it could cause tension within their marriage, RadarOnline.com has learned. Sources reveal the 53-year-old Oscar winner has already put together a team to handle finance and strategy for a planned 2028 run for the White House. mega While McConaughey eyed the governorship in his native Texas in 2021, he’s taken inspiration from Donald Trump and has now decided to aim for the top. In a speech last fall, McConaughey said his run for president “is inevitable,” adding “I didn’t choose it. It chose me.” mega But a source said that the Magic Mike hunk’s 41-year-old model isn’t on board with the move and sees danger lurking around every corner. “Camila got Matthew to pull away from acting so he could be a more present father,” said a source. McConaughey hasn’t starred in a movie since 2019 and has been concentrating on raising kids Levi, 14, Vida, 13, and Livingston, 10. @russellbrand/instagram “She fears Matthew’s bid for the presidency will consume him and has the potential to tear their family apart,” said a source. “But Matthew, when he gets a notion, he rides it like a bucking bull!” the insider spilled. Another source denied that the actor had plans to run in 2028 while pointing to his busy acting schedule. McConaughey has been married to Alves since 2012. The couple had been together for 6 years before walking down the aisle. McConaughey has been speaking on politics for years but recently became more involved. In 2020, he spoke about the need for both parties to come together to work on problems. He described the two parties as “two vehicles on either side of the political aisle are so far apart their f—— tires aren’t even on the pavement anymore.” mega The actor even criticized some colleagues in Hollywood. He took issue with certain “condescending” and “arrogant” attitudes toward those who voted for ex-Prez Trump. “There’s a lot on that illiberal left that absolutely condescend, patronize and are arrogant towards that other 50 percent,” he said during an interview with Russell Brand. “Many people were in our industry when Trump was voted in four years ago, they were in denial that it was real,” McConaughey said. View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The feud between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the College Board over Florida rejecting the AP African American studies course escalated Monday with DeSantis threatening to drop the organization’s Advanced Placement classes from Florida high schools. “So this College Board, nobody elected them to anything. They’re just kind of there and provide this service, and you can utilize those services or not,” DeSantis said when asked to comment on the College Board’s statement over the weekend that the Florida Department of Education had slandered it. “They provided these AP courses for a … Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet An Arkansas pharmacist who introduced herself as a “trans female” during a televised hearing on anti-transgender legislation was asked by a Republican state Senator about her genitals. “Do you have a penis?” Senator Matt McKee (photo) asked the woman as he began his questioning. The room erupted in anger and the woman, taken aback, paused before replying, “That’s horrible.” Sen. Mckee did not apologize, but rather blamed the pharmacist as he falsely said, “You’re the one that brought that into the discussion.” The legislation would allow people who had any form of gender-affirming medical care… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sam Smith’s look at the Brit Awards took ‘four days” to make, says its creator. The ‘Unholy’ hitmaker, 30, – who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns – donned a campy latex number with inflated arms and legs to attend the ceremony on Saturday night (11.02.23) at the O2 Arena and it took a lot of work to bring the viral look to life. Harri, the fashion designer who created Sam’s look, revealed the extent of the craft needed to take it from page to reality while appearing on ‘Good Morning Britain’ on Monday (13.02.23). Detailing how they got it into the car to the venue, he said: “They walked in it [inflated] all the way to the red carpet… I think they did a fantastic job.” After being asked if Sam relied on “talcum powder” to get into the garment, Harri explained it was custom made for the ‘Latch’ crooner. “They put it on like a tailored suit, it’s made for them.” Recently, Harri – whose real name is Harikrishnan Keezhathil Surendran Pillai – explained he was interested in collaborating with Sam after they received a barrage of “hate comments” including body shaming and homophobic abuse amid the release of his new music video and allegations it was “Satanic”. He said: “Sam was having a lot of hate comments recently after ‘Unholy’ about their body image. “This is my take on celebrating [their] natural form and the beauty of being one’s self. I wanted to create an image which people have never seen Sam in.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story A Florida religious college abruptly cancelled a concert after learning that one of the Grammy Award-winning troupe’s singers is gay. The British a cappella group The King’s Singers had been scheduled to perform Saturday night at Pensacola Christian College, but their appearance was called off with just two hours’ notice because officials said “one of the artists openly maintained a lifestyle that contradicts Scripture,” reported the Pensacola News Journal. “The school gave its reason for cancellation as ‘concerns’ expressed about the ‘lifestyle’ of members of our group,” the group said in a s… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP US Senator Dianne Feinstein, pictured on February 13, 2023, vowed to continue fighting for her home state of California Washington (AFP) – Veteran Democrat Dianne Feinstein, a titan of US political history who notched countless legislative achievements during a trailblazing three-decade career in the Senate, announced her retirement on Tuesday. Feinstein, the oldest senator at 89, is celebrated as a hugely effective legislator and tough check on administrations from both parties — but she has been facing calls to quit amid a number of missteps that have threatened her legacy. “I am announcing today I will not run for reelection in 2024 but intend to accomplish as much for California as I can through the end of next year when my term ends,” she said in a statement. The recently widowed Californian, who will be 91 when she steps down, survived an attempted bombing of her home and was also near the scene of an infamous double murder in San Francisco. Feinstein became the city’s first female mayor after the fatal shooting in 1978 of Harvey Milk, the country’s only openly gay politician, and mayor George Moscone by a disgruntled former colleague. In the US Senate she took the lead on hundreds of bills and rose to the chairmanship of the powerful intelligence committee — another first for a woman. “Even with a divided Congress, we can still pass bills that will improve lives. Each of us was sent here to solve problems,” she said. “That’s what I’ve done for the last 30 years, and that’s what I plan to do for the next two years.” Her achievements include writing the 1994 assault rifle ban and producing a 6,700-page report on the CIA torture program during the US “war on terror.” But there have been growing misgivings over her declining cognitive health, many raised by figures in her own party. Former staff have described episodes of apparent confusion, and she suffered an embarrassing lapse in front of the nation’s TV cameras in November 2020, when she asked tech guru Jack Dorsey the same question, word for word, twice in a row. Recently, the pandemic and her husband’s declining health curtailed Feinstein’s public appearances outside of Congress. “Senator Feinstein broke innumerable glass ceilings and her work has impacted the lives of millions of Americans — and especially Californians — forever,” said Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate’s Democratic majority. “Dianne Feinstein was, and will remain, a California and an American institution.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday appeared to be unaware that for over a week, multiple nationwide and local news outlets have been reporting on Duval County pulling a book about baseball great Roberto Clemente from all its school shelves in response to the Florida Republican’s laws, which he claims are designed to protect parents and children. The far-right Florida governor lashed out in response to a reporter asking him about the Roberto Clemente book, first blaming “politics,” then “teachers’ unions,” then claiming the story itself was “a joke” and “manufactured” while never accepting the im… Read More View the full article

Published by Hong Kong Free Press On Sunday, athletes from around the world competed in the Hong Kong Marathon. By all accounts it was very successful, with both the weather and the virus cooperating to produce a brilliant event. Unfortunately, the marathon was marred by reports that an organisation, Out in HK, was forced to remove banners supporting gay runners and their friends after the police were called. Police said they received a report at 8:30 a.m. regarding two banners hung on a railing near the Central Ferry Piers where runners would pass by. Police determined that banners hung without permission violated the law – S… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden hugs Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, whom he appointed, before the State of the Union address on February 7, 2023 Washington (AFP) – The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed the 100th federal judge appointed by President Joe Biden, as he works to dilute the impact his predecessor Donald Trump had on the courts. Under the US Constitution, presidents appoint Supreme Court justices and federal judges for life, with Congress’ upper chamber confirming or rejecting the nominee. In theory, judges are politically impartial, but their previous legal decisions and the president who appointed them generally shed some light on their beliefs and leanings. Gina Mendez-Miro, a 49-year-old lawyer, became the latest judge confirmed to the US Federal Court for the District of Puerto Rico, after a 54-45 vote Tuesday in the Senate. Because Democrats have controlled the Senate throughout Biden’s presidency, he has been able to vet nominees like Mendez-Miro at an accelerated pace. In an effort to increase diversity in the judiciary, Biden has put forth candidates with traditionally underrepresented backgrounds: three quarters have been women and only one-third have been white, according to the American Constitution Society. He additionally nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court, marking the first time a Black woman was named to the bench. Mendez-Miro will be the first openly LGBTQ judge to serve on her court, Biden said in a statement. “I’m especially proud that the nominees I have put forward… represent the diversity that is one of our best assets as a nation,” the president said. Biden celebrated the milestone of 100 confirmed judges as a “profound moment” that highlights his administration’s productivity. Two more of his picks for judge were confirmed by the Senate later in the day. “We have made important progress in ensuring that the federal judiciary not only looks more like the nation as a whole, but also includes judges from professional backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented on the bench,” Biden said. White men The diversity push is a complete reversal from Trump’s four-year presidency: The Republican appointed more than 230 judges to the federal courts, three-quarters of whom were men and 85 percent of whom were white. And his criteria differed from Biden: To please his base, Trump promised to choose judges who opposed abortion, supported carrying firearms and defended religious freedoms. The 45th president left a lasting mark on the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, where he appointed three of its nine justices, steering the court clearly to the right. In June the reshaped Supreme Court overturned the national right to an abortion, expanded gun rights and limited the government’s ability to fight global warming. Determined to counter the US judiciary’s sudden tack to the right, Biden is moving quickly — with 50 more federal judge nominees awaiting confirmation. To help assure their replacements are appointed while a Democrat is president, several liberal-leaning judges have either retired or “taken senior status” — a process by which their seat is vacated and they have the option to handle a lighter caseload. ‘Judicial shopping’ Although Biden rivals Trump’s pace, his appointments will not have the same overall impact. Trump was able to largely replace judges appointed by Democratic presidents, changing the political tilt of the courts. Under Trump, three of the 13 influential federal courts of appeals were flipped to Republican-leaning majorities. Biden is in the process of flipping only one such court. Trump was able to achieve maximum impact with the help of then Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who laid the groundwork for the effort in the last two years of Barack Obama’s presidency. After Republicans regained Senate control in 2014, McConnell blocked most judges appointed by the Democratic president, including a Supreme Court candidate. So 100 federal judiciary judgeships remained open when Trump entered the White House. Such political games have undermined the courts’ image of impartiality and reinforced “judicial shopping,” which refers to strategically filing a case in a specific court that a lawyer knows will be sympathetic to a given cause. Abortion opponents, for example, recently filed a suit against abortion pills in Amarillo, Texas where the only federal judge, a Trump appointee, is known for ultra-conservative views. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rebel Wilson is set to launch a dating app. The 42-year-old actress – who is in a relationship with Ramona Agruma – is launching a new dating app named Fluid and Rebel has explained how it relates to her own love life. The Hollywood star – who has a three-month-old baby called Royce, who was born via a surrogate – said: “This is the first dating app where you don’t have to actually define yourself or tick a box to say ‘I’m straight, I’m gay, I’m bisexual,’ and you don’t have to describe what you are looking for.” Rebel is one of the app’s founders and she’s proud of its inclusive approach. She told PEOPLE: “What’s really cool is, it’s open to everyone. “You might just be interested in checking out a wider dating pool like I was. It covers a lot of the LGBTQIA spectrum, but I think even if you’re straight you could use the app and have an amazing time.” Rebel actually wishes the app existed “five years ago”. The actress added: “Something like this would have really helped me and maybe I would have stumbled upon a female’s profile and been like, ‘OK, maybe I do want to message them.’ I totally would have joined up for Fluid because you don’t have to label yourself in any way. You just see who you connect with. “I know that, to me, it doesn’t matter about the gender, it just matters about the person.” Rebel also believes that Fluid is quite distinct from the better-known dating apps. She said: “I haven’t looked at every single one, but the big ones we looked at, you still had to categorise yourself, and I just think there was a real gap in the dating app market because I think the existing ones skew older maybe or don’t take into account this kind of movement of sexual fluidity.” View the full article

Published by uPolitics.com The Republican-controlled Senate in North Carolina passed a law sanctioning public school teachers from calling students by new names or pronouns without first telling the student’s parents. The proposal passed the Senate 29-18. It is heading for the South Carolina House, where Republicans remain one short of a supermajority. One Democrat would have to be swayed to the right to pass the bill. While the bill looks unlikely to pass, the passage of the bill adds another example of legislative marginalization of the LGBT community. Senators overlooked mental health professionals’ warnings claiming… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Czech Republic's Jakub Jankto in action during the soccer World Cup qualification group stage match between the Czech Republic and Germany in the Eden Arena in Prague. Jankto has publicly come out as gay, one of very few male professional footballers to have made the announcement. Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa Czech Republic international Jakub Jankto has publicly come out as gay, one of very few male professional footballers to have made the announcement. “I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself,” the Sparta Prague midfielder, on loan from Getafe, said on Twitter on Monday. “I have a job which I have been doing as best as I can for years with seriousness, with professionalism and passion. “Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence but with love.” The 27-year-old follows Blackpool’s Jake Daniels, who last year became the first professional player in the British men’s game to say he was gay while still playing for over three decades. Former Germany and Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger announced he was homosexual after his retirement. Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo came out as gay last October. Several top names in women’s football have long been in same-sex partnerships. The football community praised Jankto on social media, with world players’ union FIFPRO writing: “Live your life, Jakub. Proud.” UEFA wrote on Twitter: “Well done, Jakub. You’re a true inspiration and European football is with you.” The risk of verbal abuse from fans at stadiums has often been cited as the reason players have not come out as homosexual in the past. But Football Supporters Europe tweeted: Well said. We’ve got your back, Jakub.” View the full article

Published by DPA Melika Zarr, not her real name, at home in Berlin, where she helps others and recalls her own desperation. Annette Riedl/dpa When Melika Zarr thinks of her native Iran, she is overcome by difficult emotions, not just because of the way nationwide protests are being brutally suppressed. “My family controlled me fiercely,” says Zarr, 30, in her apartment in Berlin. “My parents wanted me to dress in a more stereotypically feminine way. I wasn’t allowed to wear sneakers and had to go to school wearing high heels.” At the time, she was 13 years old and going to school in Iran. But her problems really began when she wrote a love letter to a female classmate – much to the disapproval of her teachers and parents. Today, Zarr (not her real name) is settled in the German capital, having left her homeland in 2018. She fled because her sexual orientation was unacceptable there and remains a taboo in many families and the traditional religious social class. According to Islamic legal opinion, same-sex relations are punishable by death in Iran. In desperation, some people choose gender reassignment surgery, which the state has advocated since it was legalized by former revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The country’s conservative and strictly religious circles still consider being gay, lesbian or transgender a “curable” mental illness. “I had a couple of doctor’s appointments for hormone reassignment when I was 16 because I thought I was transgender,” says Zarr. “But then I met Shadi.” Shadi Amin also came from Iran and founded 6Rang, a Berlin association run by Iranian women that campaigns for the rights of queer people, meaning those who are not heterosexual or whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. “Because of the laws in Iran, many people don’t even realise that you can be lesbian or gay,” says Amin. That was also the case for Melika. Homosexuality is taboo but Tehran legalized gender reassignment as a way to treat transsexuality. While this may seem like a degree of openness, many trans people face social exclusion and stigmatization, says Amin. Moreover, queer people in particular are suffering amid the current unrest in Iran. As the protests that began in September rage on, queer and homosexual people are also campaigning for more rights. The women-led uprising was triggered by the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for violating Islamic dress codes. At least four demonstrators have been executed for their involvement in the protests and more than 20 others have been sentenced to death. “The Iranian government has been condemning and executing people not just since September, but for decades,” Amin says. In January, for example, two men were hanged for having sexual relations. There must be protests and resistance against this, says Zarr. “People must not forget this in the current protests against the regime in Iran.” That is why Zarr also wanted to flee, having already tried living as a heterosexual woman for two years when she was 21, on a therapist’s advice. “I felt violated every time I was supposed to sleep with a man,” she says. Two years later, she met someone special and realised she could no longer live a lie. Secretly, she allied herself with like-minded people and tried to change something about the situation, until a family member threatened to report her to the authorities. “One night it got so bad that I had to run away with my girlfriend and sleep somewhere else. We were scared and realized we couldn’t stay in Iran,” Melika says. At 26, she fled to Germany with her partner and was quickly granted asylum as she was able to prove she had been in contact with 6Rang for a long time and was in danger in Iran. Some are less lucky. The Lesbian and Gay Association Berlin-Brandenburg (LSVD) reports that many of its Iranian clients are currently terrified they might have to return to Iran if their asylum applications are rejected. The problem is known to Sven Lehmann, the German government’s commissioner for the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity. He says it has been easier for queer refugees to be admitted to the country since autumn. That is encouraging, says Zarr, recalling her own desperation. “I hated everything in Iran at the time and had no hope that I could have a good life.” That has driven her activism over the past few years, and she has even managed to win over her own family. “I want to help queer young people so that they don’t have to go through what I went through,” she says. Shadi Amin, author and activist, is helping the Iranian LGBTQ community. Annette Riedl/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters By Joseph Ax (Reuters) – Portions of a Georgia special grand jury’s final report on Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election should be publicly released over the objection of prosecutors, a state judge ruled on Monday. The panel’s findings, which have remained sealed since the existence of the report was disclosed in January, could potentially serve as the basis for criminal charges against Trump or his associates who attempted to reverse Democratic President Joe Biden’s statewide victory. The decision on whether to file criminal charges ultimately lies with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. At a court hearing on Jan. 25, Willis told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney that charging decisions were “imminent” and urged him to keep the grand jury report under wraps for now to ensure future defendants cannot cry foul. Willis is expected to appeal the decision, which would likely delay any release of the report until the appeal is resolved. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Prince Harry could be “honoured” with a blue plaque at the field where he lost his virginity aged 17. The royal, now 38, romped with Sasha Walpole when she was 19 on land now owned by Dean Ellwood and his partner Anna Pitt-Stanley in Norton, Wiltshire, south-west England, and the couple have joked they may set up a tribute on the grounds to mark the pair’s romp. Dean, who lives with Anna at Splash Cottage next to the site where Harry had sex with Sasha, now 40, told The Sun on Sunday (12.02.23): “I suppose I could put a blue plaque up in the field, but I don’t think many people would be interested.” Anna added: “Everyone in the village is talking about it but I don’t think we will be setting up a gift shop selling memorabilia.” The field belonged to The Vine Tree Inn in 2001 when Harry lost his virginity there, and Dean said by the time he and Anna bought their cottage eight years ago the field’s ownership had transferred to their property. Harry’s ex-lover Sasha has said she is baffled at his decision to lift the lid on their romp in his memoir ‘Spare’, which was released in January, before she came forward earlier this month to reveal she was the woman unnamed in the book to whom he lost his virginity. The royal – who has children Archie, three, and 20-month-old Lilibet with his 41-year-old wife the Duchess of Sussex – said in the book he had lost his virginity to an older woman who treated him like a “stallion” and smacked his “rump” after a five-minute frolic in a field behind a pub. Sasha has since told her side of the story in a series of interviews and said she remains baffled by Harry’s decision to go into so much detail about his love life. During an appearance on ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’ on TalkTV on 9 February, Sasha said: “If you want to live a private life and you want to get out of the limelight and leave the royal family, or whether to live your life as you want to live it, to then sell a book and go on Netflix is kind of going against what you’re saying you want.” Digger driver Sasha previously admitted she never spoke to Harry again after their night together and told The Sun newspaper: “I don’t have any regrets about not texting him. I don’t think there was anything to be gained from that. Our lives have gone in different directions but I wish him all the best.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harry Styles has been ranked Lewis Capaldi’s “top” kisser after the pair shared a smooch at The BRIT Awards 2023. The former One Direction singer, 29, won in each of the four categories in which he was nominated at the ceremony on Saturday (11.02.23) night in London’s O2 Arena – and beat Lewis to the Song of the Year gong. He walked straight over to the Scottish singer after he won the Artist of the Year prize, with Lewis, 26, then grabbing Harry’s face and planted a kiss on his lips. Lewis, who was nominated for his ‘Forget Me’ ballad in the Song of the Year category, told the Daily Star at the BRITs official Universal afterparty the moment was “amazing”. He said: “Eh, it was alright… no, he was amazing, (it was) magical.” The newspaper added Lewis also rated Harry “my top one” in his kissing rankings. Harry opened this year’s BRITs with a performance of ‘As It was’ in a red matador-style jacket, while Lewis later performed ‘Forget Me’ after he was wrongly introduced by host Mo Gilligan, 34, as “Sam Capaldi” – in an apparent mix-up with Lewis’ and his fellow BRITs nominee Sam Smith’s names. Lewis made light of the blunder on Saturday night by tweeting a photoshopped image of his head on singer Sam’s bizarre BRITs outfit, which he captioned: “Sam Capaldi. x.” Sam, 30, stunned fans by turning up for the show in a huge balloon-style black latex costume that left guests and viewers wondering how he would be able to use the loo during the show. Viewers hit out at BRITs host Mo for his “Sam Capaldi” mix-up saying it could have put Lewis off his song. The stand-up later apologised, saying: “I do apologise I did call him Sam.” He also jokingly blaming the drinks being served at the awards, adding: “They’re (the drinks are) not playing around.” Harry told BRITs guests he was “aware of his privilege” as he picked up his Artist of the Year trophy, and dedicated the award to several female artists after the BRITs was slammed for the all-male nominees line-up in the category after it went gender neutral. He also took home awards for Album of the Year for ‘Harry’s House’ and Pop/R+B Act. View the full article

Published by AFP US Navy sailors recovering remants of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, on February 5, 2023 Washington (AFP) – The downing of a huge Chinese balloon off the US coast, followed by the shootdowns of two smaller objects over Alaska and Canada — and another over Lake Huron on Sunday — has raised concerns about North American security and further strained relations with China. Here is what we know so far: What were the four objects? The drama began in late January, when a giant Chinese balloon — dubbed a spy craft by US officials — drifted for days through US skies before being shot down February 4 by an F-22 jet off the South Carolina coast. China insisted the balloon was conducting weather research. The Pentagon said it had a gondola the size of three buses and weighing more than a ton; that it was equipped with multiple antennas, and had solar panels large enough to power several intelligence-gathering sensors. Then Friday, US fighter jets downed another object off northern Alaska, the military said, adding it was “within US sovereign airspace over US territorial water.” It lacked any system of propulsion or control, officials said. On Saturday, a US F-22 jet, acting on US and Canadian orders, downed a “high-altitude airborne object” over Canada’s central Yukon territory, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the US border, saying it posed a threat to civilian flight. Canada described it as cylindrical and smaller than the initial balloon. Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand would not speculate on whether it originated in China. On Sunday Biden ordered US warplanes to down an unidentified object over Lake Huron “out of an abundance of caution,” a senior administration official said. The object was described as an octagonal structure with strings hanging off it, and was not deemed to be a military threat to anything on the ground, but could have posed a hazard to civil aviation as it flew at about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) Michigan, the official said. US Senate majority leader Charles Schumer, who was briefed by the Biden administration following the incident over the Yukon, said Sunday — before the Lake Huron incident — that the previous two objects were likely balloons, “but much smaller than the first one,” both flying at around 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). Officials described the second and third objects as about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. Only the first object so far has been attributed to Beijing. What has been recovered? Military teams working from planes, boats and minisubs are scouring the shallow waters off South Carolina for the first object, and military images showed the recovery of a large piece of balloon. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is taking custody of the debris for analysis. Operations to recover the second object continue on sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska. “Arctic weather conditions, including wind chill, snow and limited daylight, are a factor,” the military said. Recovery teams — backed by a Canadian CP-140 patrol aircraft — are searching for debris from the third object in the Yukon, Anand said Saturday. The Pentagon said the FBI is working closely with Canadian police. No information was immediately available about recovery of the fourth object. What was the objects’ purpose? – US officials say images of the first balloon show it had surveillance equipment that could intercept telecommunications. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it was intended “to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.” A former chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen, suggested China, or some in its military leadership, intentionally wanted to subvert an impending visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The United States has said the balloons were part of a “fleet” that has spanned five continents. Some analysts say it may be the start of a major Chinese surveillance effort targeting foreign military capabilities ahead of possible acute tensions over Taiwan in coming years. Why so many objects now? Analysts said US and Canadian intelligence constantly receive huge amounts of raw data, and generally screened some out to focus on the threat of incoming missiles, not slow-moving objects like balloons. “Now, of course, we’re looking for them. So I think we’re probably finding more stuff,” Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told NBC. Officials have said three balloons are now known to have briefly overflown US territory during Donald Trump’s administration — undetected at the time — and one earlier in Joe Biden’s term. What’s the impact on US-China ties? The United States scrapped Blinken’s visit, intended to stabilize severely strained relations, and has sanctioned six Chinese entities believed to support military spy balloon programs. Beijing denounced the first balloon’s downing, saying it “seriously violated international practice.” It reserved the right “to use necessary means to deal with similar situations.” There has been no Chinese reaction to the latest downings. View the full article