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Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh and Steve Gorman (Reuters) -The leader of a foiled plot by members of right-wing militia groups to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Tuesday in a U.S. District Court, prosecutors said. Adam Fox, 39, was found guilty in August by a federal court jury in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on one count each of conspiring to abduct Whitmer, a Democrat, and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction in a scheme prosecutors said was intended to spark a “second American Revolution.” Co-defendant Barry Croft Jr., 47, like Fox a member of the Three Percenters militia group, was convicted of the same charges at the same trial and was scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday. Prosecutors described Fox as the mastermind behind a plot to break into Whitmer’s vacation home, kidnap her at gunpoint, and take her to stand “trial” on bogus treason charges and face execution. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jonker said he did not think a life sentence, as asked for by prosecutors, was appropriate, but that the crimes required a “significant sentence,” the Detroit News reported. Fox declined to speak during the sentencing and had no reaction to the sentence, the report added. The judge also imposed five years of supervised release beyond the sentence of 192 months in prison, prosecutors said. Fox’s attorney had said prosecutors overstated his role. The attorney added that Fox and Croft never used explosives and the group would never have been able to actually kidnap the governor. Prosecutors said the plot, precipitated by the group’s opposition to public health measures Whitmer imposed during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, was aimed at pushing the country into armed conflict as a contentious presidential race approached in November 2020. The weapon of mass destruction involved was a bomb that prosecutors said the conspirators planned to detonate to hinder law enforcement’s response to the abduction. Whitmer, co-chairman of Joe Biden’s White House campaign that year, had clashed publicly with then-President Donald Trump over her COVID-19 policies. She accused Trump of fomenting political extremism by repeatedly directing heated rhetoric on the issue, including a campaign rally in Michigan where his criticism of Whitmer drew chants of “Lock her up” from the crowd. Fox and Croft were among 13 men arrested in October 2020 in the kidnapping conspiracy. Two others put on trial with them in federal court were found not guilty in April 2022. The same jury failed to reach a verdict for Fox and Croft, resulting in a mistrial for them. Two other men who pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy charges testified for the prosecution at the first federal trial and during the retrial of Fox and Croft about four months later. The two cooperating witnesses, Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks, were sentenced to 2 1/2 years and four years in prison, respectively. Three other men tried together in state court and convicted in October 2022 of playing supporting roles in the plot as members of the Wolverine Watchmen militia were sentenced recently to minimum sentences of 10, 12 and 7 years in prison, respectively. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Kanishka Singh in Washington. Editing by Gerry Doyle and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Is a feud brewing between Ryan Seacrest and Andy Cohen? One year after Cohen, 54, got a little too drunk while hosting CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live alongside Anderson Cooper, Seacrest, 48, weighed in about the situation. “I don’t advocate drinking when one is on the air,” the American Idol alum, who hosts ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, said in a new interview. “I don’t know how that started as a tradition, but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN.” “There’s some pretty respectable people or at least one, right?” the Live With Kelly and Ryan star quipped. “I think there’s a serious journalist and then a friend of mine who has a lot of fun, but it’s probably a good idea.” mega As OK! previously reported, the Bravo star blasted former Mayor Bill de Blasio for doing the “crappiest job,” and he slammed ABC’s Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve, calling the performers a “group of losers.” Despite Cohen’s controversial comments, he declared he was just trying to have a good time. “I will not be shamed for having fun on New Year’s Eve. That’s why I’m there.” he explained in January. “It’s a four-and-a-half-hour show. The booze started kicking in around 11:30 … I kicked into high gear with 45 minutes left.” However, he did apologize to Seacrest. “The only thing that I regret saying, the only thing is that I slammed the ABC broadcast, and I really like Ryan Seacrest, and he’s a great guy,” he noted. “And I really regret saying that, and I was just stupid and drunk and feeling it.” He added, “I just kept talking, and I shouldn’t have, and I felt bad about that. So that is the only thing [I regret]. It’s the only thing.” VICKI GUNVALSON’S FORMER ‘RHOC’ CASTMATE & ANDY COHEN REACT TO HER EX STEVE LODGE GETTING ENGAGED TO NEW GIRLFRIEND mega Meanwhile, Seacrest believes if alcohol wasn’t in the equation, Cohen would have acted different. “[I don’t] think they would say what they said about our performers if they weren’t drinking,” he explained. Seacrest spoke with Entertainment Weekly. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Conservative Caitlyn Jenner has been sucking up to FOX News stars including Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity in a bid to fulfill her political ambitions, RadarOnline.com has learned. “Caitlyn loves her job as a contributor at FOX,” spilled a source. “It’s given her the platform to say her spiel and she’s hoping it leads to bigger, better things!” MEGA To get ahead, it pays for her to stroke the egos of the network’s stars, sources said. “It’s smart to curry favor with Sean and Tucker,” said the source. “She’s playing both sides, lavishing them with compliments, sending them gifts and planned special surprises for Christmas.” “Caitlyn really does look up to Sean and Tucker,” said the insider. “They’re not afraid to speak up and neither is she, which puts them in the same league, in her opinion.” Her ultimate goal still lies in politics, despite the former Olympian, 73, garnering a pathetic 1 percent of votes to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the California recall election last year.” “Call her crazy but Caitlyn hasn’t given up her dream,” said the source. “And she’s well aware that if anyone can boost her political career, it’s these guys.” MEGA In April 2021, Jenner announced her plans to run for governor of California. She said, “Californians want better and need better from their politicians. Taking on entrenched Sacramento politicians and the special interests that fund them requires a fighter who isn’t afraid to do what is right. I am a proven winner and the only outsider who can put an end to Gavin Newsom’s disastrous time as governor.” MEGA “Small businesses have been devastated because of the over-restrictive lockdown. An entire generation of children have lost a year of education and have been prevented from going back to school, participating in activities, or socializing with their friends,” she added. “I have been a compassionate disrupter throughout my life, from representing the United States and winning a gold medal at the Olympics to helping advance the movement for equality,” she added. Months later, in September, Jenner was shut out with a little over 75,000 votes. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Mega Siblings that ski together, stay together! Two of Michael Jackson’s three children Prince Jackson and Paris Jackson spent the holidays in style, hitting the slopes on skis and snowboards in Lake Tahoe, Calif. On Tuesday, December 27, Paris, 24, took to social media, sharing several sweet and silly snaps depicting her famous family getting festive, enjoying a day out in the NorCal locale. mega The model looked chic and stylish while on the mountain, sporting a black coat, maroon snowpants and a Burton snowboard, completing the look with a fur-trimmed brown hat and red gloves. Meanwhile, Prince opted for a more monochrome look than his younger sister, sporting a black coat, gloves, and helmet as he skied. FANS REJOICE OVER JANET JACKSON & NIECE PARIS JACKSON MENDING TIES AFTER ESTRANGEMENT: ‘BEEN WAITING FOR THIS’ The Jackson family’s day on the slopes comes weeks after Jackson’s eldest son got candid about his father’s legacy, revealing that he still looks to the “Man in the Mirror” artist as a role model — literally. Mega “I like to lead my life with love, which is what he taught me and I try to help at least one person a day and I feel like that is a way of continuing his legacy,” he continued, noting that he displays “artistic paintings of him” and “photos of him and the uncles” in his home. PRINCE JACKSON ON DAD MICHAEL JACKSON’S LEGACY: ‘I LIKE TO LEAD MY LIFE WITH LOVE, WHICH IS WHAT HE TAUGHT ME’ But it’s not just paintings. Beyond these visual representations of the King of Pop, Price said his dad’s beloved music, of course, helps him feel connected to his late, famous father. “I was given so many awesome nuggets of information when I had him with me as a father and he was also very personable in the way he wrote his music,” the 25-year-old explained. “If you listen to it, there’s a lot of him in that. It’s awesome to put it on and feel connected to him again in that way.” Hollywood Life previously reported on Paris and Prince’s day on the slopes. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Late actress Olivia Newton-John‘s daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, shared a heartfelt tribute to her late mother on the first Christmas since her death, RadarOnline.com has learned. The Grease star’s only child shared a series of photos of her with family taken on December 25. mega Lattanzi, 36, said it was difficult to celebrate after her mom passed in August at age 73. “Happy belated Christmas everyone,” the 36-year-old said. “I am of no religion but enjoy this day so much. It is a day to give to all those you love and treasure.” Lattanzi, who followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a singer and actress, thanked her husband for being her “greatest present” and wrote that Christmas was a day to focus on others. “This is A day that you don’t focus on you, you focus on the joy you can bring others,” the actress added. “It’s my first Christmas without my mama in physical form. But her spirit was everywhere.” mega While Newton-John was not physically present with her daughter and family for the festivities, Lattanzi said, “her spirit was everywhere.” “All the love all the joy all of it….. my mama,” Lattanzi added. “Merry Christmas to everyone.” Newton-John passed after a long and bravely fought battle with breast cancer. Over the course of her life, the legendary actress was hit with cancer three times and was dedicated to ending the disease through her foundation’s research contributions. Olivia, Chloe and Matt Lattanzi. mega Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. The Let’s Get Physical singer underwent treatment and was in remission for over a decade when a tumor was discovered on her shoulder in 2013. Never giving up her fight, the actress underwent more treatment and was in remission until the cancer returned again in 2017. After publicly battling cancer for decades, the actress formed the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, which Lattanzi has since become the face of to continue her mother’s fight for a cure. Lattanzi is the daughter of actor Matt Lattanzi, who Newton-John met and dated after they filmed Xanadu together. The couple married in 1984 but later split and Matt married their daughter’s former babysitter. View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA; Stefani Reynolds – CNP/Newscom/The Mega Agency Republican congressman-elect George Santos appeared on his first televised interview since his resume fibs were exposed, RadarOnline.com can confirm, being put in the hot seat by ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as she called out his “blatant lies.” Gabbard grilled Santos while guest hosting the Fox News show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Tuesday, December 27. MEGA “If I were one of those in New York’s 3rd District right now, now that the election is over, and I’m finding out all of these lies that you’ve told — not just one little lie or one little embellishment, these are blatant lies — my question is: Do you have no shame?” Gabbard asked. Gabbard, who served in congress for eight years, also inquired about what the word “integrity” means to him. Santos explained it means to carry himself in an “honorable way,” adding that he made a “mistake” and is accepting responsibility so he can be an effective member of congress. Gabbard, for her part, is a former Democrat and now registered as an Independent. She added that the word integrity also means telling the truth, prompting Santos to segue and address the “lies” which Democrats like President Biden have told. She fired back, “This isn’t about the Democratic Party.” Gabbard also pressed about labeling himself as a “proud American Jew.” Stefani Reynolds – CNP/Newscom/The Mega Agency “My heritage is Jewish. I’ve always identified as Jewish. I was raised as a practicing Catholic,” Santos replied. “I’ve always joked with friends and circles, even within the campaign, I’d say, ‘Guys, I’m Jew-ish.’ Remember, I was raised Catholic.” Santos said he understands voters and lawmakers “want to nitpick at me.” “I’m not a facade. I’m not a persona. I have an extensive career that I worked really hard to achieve. And I’m going to deliver from my experience because I remain committed in delivering results for the American people,” he doubled down. MEGA Santos previously owned up to some deceptions, telling the New York Post that he “embellished” his resume by stating he graduated from Baruch college in 2010. He also admitted to never working for CitiGroup and Goldman Sachs, even though his campaign website suggested that he did, explaining that “was stated poorly.” As the explosive television interview came to an end, Gabbard said he will have an uphill battle when it comes to regaining the trust he lost. She declared, “It’s hard to imagine how they could possibly trust your explanations when you’re not really even willing to admit the depth of your deception to them.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA One of the individuals who were scammed out of money by Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah and her cohorts wrote an emotional letter to the judge demanding the Bravo star serve 14 years and pay her back the money she lost, RadarOnline.com has learned. RadarOnline.com has obtained an emotional letter submitted to the court by a 60-year-old woman who lost tens of thousands signing up for Shah’s scheme. MEGA As we previously reported, Prosecutors accused Shah of playing a key role in a telemarketing fraud scheme that preyed on the elderly. Shah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She agreed to forfeit $6.5 million. Shah faces up to 14 years in prison. She has argued for a 3-year sentence while prosecutors believe she should serve 10 years. As part of their argument, the prosecutors had victims write statements to the court. In the latest letter, the 60-year-old one described the “effect that the criminal actions of Jennifer Shah have had” on her. “Not only has her actions caused financial stress for me, I have suffered emotional and physical stress due to her actions as well. My overall health is forever changed,” she said. The victim explained Shah and her cohorts offered programs to help people launch their own websites to sell various products. The woman said she continued to pay money to Shah and others as they promised the business would make her money. BRAVO However, she said she racked up $35k in debt and had no profits to show. She said, “Sleeping at night became increasingly difficult because I was constantly worried about my finances. I only had a small pension. It was not enough to pay my mortgage, utilities, household expenses, monthly credit card payments across four different accounts. I grew dizzy at times, started sweating more than usual, and I became increasingly weaker. I worried all the time.” In 2018, the woman said she suffered a heart attack and had to be admitted to the hospital. Doctors told her it was brought on by extreme stress. After the heart attack, the victim said she had to start taking a variety of medicines. After being released, she tried once again to work on the business with Shah’s company. However, she said they completely locked her out of the website she created and all her work was gone. The victim said she tried to get her money back in July 2018 after realizing she was being scammed. However, she then had another heart attack on August 8 of that year. BRAVO “Just about every day, I live with an uneasy feeling that if I experience any other stressful situations I will have another heart attack,” she said. “I believe that I should receive full restitution from Jennifer Shah to cover the entire amount that I invested and lost as a result of her fraudulent activities, which was $35,290. Additionally, I should receive twice the above amount in restitution for my medical expenses and pain and suffering.” “Now only should Jennifer pay restitution, she should be given the maximum prison sentence allowed by law,” the woman said. Shah will be sentenced next month. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ana de Armas fans are suing Universal Studios for $5 million after it cut her role from ‘Yesterday’. Conor Woulfe and Peter Michael Rosza have accused the studio of fraud after they paid $3.99 to rent the 2019 Beatles-themed film on Amazon Prime in January to see Ana after she featured in the trailer for the movie, despite her part being ditched. The pair say Universal committed “false representation” as the 34-year-old actress appeared for 15 seconds in the 210-second trailer, but did not make the final cut of the movie – about a musician who is one of the few people in the world aware of The Beatles’ music after a mysterious power outage wipes the band’s presence from the Internet. Conor and Peter say the $5 million lawsuit is equal to the number of fans who will have been disappointed by Ana not making the final edit. Universal claimed trailers came under free speech protection in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, and should be considered “non-commercial”. But in a new ruling, US federal judge Stephen Wilson ruled the promos were subject to commercial speech regulations, including the California False Advertising Law and the state’s Unfair Competition Law. He said: “Universal is correct that trailers involve some creativity and editorial discretion, but this creativity does not outweigh the commercial nature of a trailer. “At its core, a trailer is an advertisement designed to sell a movie by providing consumers with a preview of the movie.” Universal said the ruling could burden them with future lawsuits and stressed how other films including ‘Jurassic Park’ had also featured footage not shown in the final cut of the movie. Ana was originally set to play a love interest in ‘Yesterday’, but writer Richard Curtis cut her role from the final film, saying fans would be upset her character would take away from the primary love interest Ellie, played by Lily James, 33. ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ screenwriter Richard, 66, told CinemaBlend: “That was a very traumatic cut because she was brilliant in it. “You know, it’s one of those things where it’s some of our favourite scenes from the film, but we had to cut them for the sake of the whole.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story On Wednesday, The Daily Beast reported that a man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting the neighbor of gay New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher during an anti-LGBTQ protest at his apartment building. “In a statement to The Daily Beast, the New York Police Department confirmed that officers had arrested David Nieves, of Brooklyn, on Tuesday morning in connection with an assault on Bottcher’s 52-year-old neighbor,” reported Tim Teeman. “Bottcher welcomed news of the arrest, telling The Daily Beast: ‘Violence, intimidation and vandalism are never acceptable. A message needs to be sent to … Read More View the full article

Published by AFP A passenger searches through hundreds of unclaimed suitcases near the Southwest Airlines baggage claim area at Nashville International Airport after the airline canceled thousands of flights Baltimore (AFP) – Thousands more flights were canceled across the United States on Wednesday, with no end in sight to days of travel misery as the country digs out from a deadly superstorm. Officials in Erie county in western New York — the area of the country hardest hit by the massive winter storm — lifted their death toll to 34, taking the national total to at least 56. Around-the-clock work to restore electricity continued in the county’s main city of Buffalo, with the number of outages down to 500 residents, Mayor Byron Brown tweeted early Wednesday. Another kind of crisis was playing out at US airports around the country, as Southwest Airlines was forced to cancel thousands more flights to try to recover from a spiraling logistics breakdown. The airline’s woes stranded thousands of customers as well as pilots and flight attendants. Donald Sneyder, whose Sunday flight from Baltimore to Indianapolis was canceled, returned to the airport Wednesday in hopes of reuniting with his suitcase. “I didn’t try to come earlier this week, it seems to have been such a mess,” Sneyder told AFP while waiting in line at the Southwest baggage area. The storm, which descended on the United States just before the busy Christmas holiday weekend, led to unusually cold weather in much of the country, including southern states like Texas and Florida. Temperatures were moderating nationwide Wednesday, including in Buffalo, even as the region remained in triage mode. The city, on the shores of Lake Erie near the Canadian border, has seen a majority of the storm-related fatalities. As temperatures plummeted Friday night, commuters and some residents fleeing their freezing homes became trapped on highways, with first responders unable to reach them. Of the confirmed deaths, three bodies were yet to be identified, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz told a news conference. The National Guard planned to conduct door-to-door wellness checks for every home in areas that lost power, Poloncarz said on Twitter, while reiterating that a driving ban was still in effect for Buffalo. “We know that some people are low on food,” he said. “We have rations available at area warming centers. Please work with neighbors and friends, walk to open stores if possible.” Southwest ‘optimistic’ Southwest Airlines was still days away from resolving its systemwide breakdown: the carrier canceled more than 2,500 flights on Wednesday, accounting for nearly 90 percent of all scrubbed US flights, according to tracking website FlightAware. In a series of media appearances, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recounted telling Southwest Chief Executive Bob Jordan that the government would “hold them accountable” in requiring the airline to compensate customers for the mounting costs of canceled flights and travel-related expenditures. Jordan said he was “truly sorry” and promised to “make things right for customers,” according to a video statement posted to Southwest’s website. “We’re optimistic to be back on track before next week,” he added. Jordan has acknowledged that the problems have underscored the need to upgrade outdated trip scheduling software that became overwhelmed in the storm. The problem has been highlighted by the flight attendants union, which has called on Southwest to invest more on employees. Several leading Southwest unions remain locked in contract negotiations after earlier pacts expired. Another union, the TWU Local 555, which represents ground workers, said the meltdown reflected Southwest’s failure to adapt its systems as its operations have evolved. “Although it can be complicated, especially during the holiday season, we need to consider better spacing of flights during extreme weather events in the bitter cold of winter — as well as the extreme heat of summer,” said Local 555 President Randy Barnes. In times of extreme weather, “we should consider slowing the entire schedule,” Barnes said. Some travelers took matters into their own hands. Recognizing that Southwest would not get them to Boston from Arizona in time for Monday’s NHL Winter Classic, Tim Maher rented a car for his six-member family and launched a cross-country drive. Maher told CNN the ride itself had been surprisingly fun, but the family did not have its luggage — a common problem for customers. “I’m thinking about people’s luggage, they’re not able to get their luggage for a week. I’m thinking this is crazy,” Maher told the network. “People have gifts or medication or electronics in those bags they just handed you, thinking they’d get it in a couple of hours.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News The man we know as George Santos, if that is indeed his name, is a work of fiction. The character may have been a run-of-the-mill inspiring rags-to-riches story in some low-budget TV drama, where it would have been a tad tedious but ultimately harmless; instead, it manifested in a much more nefarious fashion, having propped up the political campaign of the underlying man and carried him to victory in a congressional district straddling Queens and Nassau County. To say politicians lie is no earth-shattering statement, but that belies the sheer extent to which Santos manufactured everything. The… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Former pope Benedict, a hero to conservative Catholics and who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down, is “very sick”, his successor Pope Francis said on Wednesday, asking Church members to pray for him. Bishops from Europe, the United States and beyond, urged the faithful to keep Benedict in their thoughts, after the Vatican followed Francis’ announcement with a statement saying Benedict had suffered a sudden “worsening” of his health. “I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the Church,” Francis said in Wednesday’s surprise announcement made at the end of his weekly general audience. “Let us remember him. He is very sick, asking the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end,” Francis said, speaking in Italian. The Vatican statement said Benedict was receiving constant medical attention and his condition was under control. Francis, who visited the former pontiff after making the announcement, has often praised Benedict, saying it was like having a grandfather at home. But the presence of two men dressed in white in the Vatican has at times been troublesome. Conservatives have looked to the former pope as their standard bearer and some ultra-traditionalists even refused to acknowledge Francis as a legitimate pontiff. They have criticised Francis for his more welcoming approach to gays and to Catholics who divorced and remarried outside the Church, saying both were undermining traditional values. Catholic Church leaders from Germany, Britain, the United States and elsewhere urged the faithful on social media to join prayers for Benedict, who was pope for almost eight years before he retired. “This morning I received the news that there is great concern in Rome about the health of the Pope Emeritus. And so we especially want to include him in our prayers,” German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich, told churchgoers. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italy’s bishops conference, asked Italians to keep Benedict in their thoughts “in this moment of suffering and trial”. Until a few weeks ago, those who had seen Benedict said his body was very frail but his mind was still sharp. Italian news reports said he had been suffering from respiratory problems over the Christmas period. The Vatican did not give any details of his condition. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from Benedict’s private secretary. One of the latest known photographs of Benedict was taken on Dec. 1, when he met the winners of a prize for theologians named after him. He was seated and looked exceptionally weak. Since resigning Benedict has been living in a former convent inside the Vatican gardens, with his secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, and a few other aides and medical staff. Benedict announced his intention to resign on Feb. 11, 2013, shocking a meeting of cardinals. He said he no longer had the physical and mental strength to run the Church. He formally stepped down on Feb. 28 that year, moving temporarily to the papal summer residence south of Rome while cardinals from around the world came to Rome to choose his successor. Francis, the first pope from Latin America, was elected to succeed him on March 13, 2013. Benedict, the first German pope in 1,000 years, had been elected on April 19, 2005 to succeed the widely popular Pope John Paul II, who reigned for 27 years. Cardinals had chosen Benedict from among their number seeking continuity and what one called “a safe pair of hands”. For nearly 25 years, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he was the powerful head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, then known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Edmund Blair) View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) The director of a Moroccan film shortlisted for an Oscar says she hopes it will provoke “a healthy, much-needed debate” around LGBTQ+ rights in the North African country. The Blue Caftan (Le Bleu du caftan), directed by Maryam Touzani, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and shared the Jury Prize at the 2022 Marrakech Film Festival with Cristèle Alves Meira’s Alma Viva. It has been shortlisted in the International Feature Film category for next year’s Oscars, which take place on 12 March 2023. The movie tells the story of a married couple who sells tradi… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News If you want to get with Mel C, you better get with her friends. The Spice Girls singer, whose full name is Melanie Chisholm, took to Twitter Monday to pull out of a New Year’s Eve gig she had planned in Poland due to “some issues” believed to be in connection with the LGBTQ community — which she supports. “In light of some issues that have been brought to my attention, that do not align with the communities I support, I’m afraid I will no longer be able to perform in Poland as planned on New Year’s Eve,” she wrote. Noting she intends “to be back there very soon,” Mel C wished her followers “a … Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Chris Rosvoglou Earlier this December, the United States secured Brittney Griner’s release from Russia in a one-for-one prisoner exchange. In order to bring Griner back home, the United States agreed to send arms dealer Viktor Bout back to Russia. Unfortunately, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan wasn’t included in the deal. In an interview with People, Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, responded to the criticism surrounding the United States’ prisoner swap with Russia. Griner admit that she has seen some of the harsh comments being made about it. “You can’t ignore it,” Cherelle sai… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that psilocybin therapy may offer therapeutic benefits for patients with treatment-resistant depression. When administered alongside psychological support, a 25 mg psilocybin dose reduced depression scores among treatment-resistant patients. However, adverse effects were reported, and further clinical trials are needed. Clinical depression is typically treated with a combination of anti-depressant medication and psychotherapy. While most patients experience a reduction in symptoms with anti-depressants, a subset of people… Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Gould Tim Couch apparently doesn’t sit on the couch that much. Via KSR’s Matt Jones, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback posted a shirtless post-workout photo on his Instagram Stories page. The 46-year-old looks to be in excellent shape. Couch threw 73 passing touchdowns in two seasons as Kentucky’s starting quarterback. He finished fourth in the 1998 Heisman Trophy voting before the Browns made him their inaugural draft pick upon their NFL return. However, Couch completed just 59.8 percent of his passes with more interceptions (67) than passing touchdowns (64) over five underwhe… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost New research provides evidence that binge eating may play a role in the clinical presentation of muscle dysmorphia in both men and women. The findings have been published in the Journal of Eating Disorders. Muscle dysmorphia is a condition that causes people to have an excessive preoccupation or distress with their body shape and size. Often referred to as “Bigorexia” — especially among men — it is characterized by the belief that one is not sufficiently muscular, despite having a healthy weight and normal muscle mass for their body type. Millions of individuals suffer from this condition all … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Kari Lake and her attorneys have been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fees after failing to overturn the 2022 election for governor. In his Tuesday ruling, Maricopa County Judge Peter Thompson said he was rejecting sanctions because “Plaintiff’s claims presented in this litigation were not groundless and brought in bad faith.” Lake avoided paying attorney fees for the defense but was hit with other “taxable costs” instead. Thompson said the defense was entitled to expert witness fees totaling over $33,000. The order also confirmed “the election of Katie Hobbs as Arizona Governor-elect.”… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Brooke Shields says her ‘Blue Lagoon’ film would never be made today. The 57-year-old actress starred in the 1980 film alongside Christopher Atkins when they were aged 14 and 18 respectively. They played cousins who were stranded on a deserted island, before falling in love and having a child. Despite the film being making $58 million (£47 million) at the box office, Brooke said on her podcast ‘Now What?’: “Never again will a movie be made like that. It wouldn’t be allowed.” Her former co-star Christopher, who was a guest on the podcast, agreed: “Animals were hurt in the movie. We were spearing fish and all kinds of crazy things. Children are naked running down a beach. Couldn’t do that now.” Brooke added on the episode producers wanted them to get close for the sake of their chemistry in the film, adding: “I remember thinking, ‘Hey, let’s get to know each other first rather than trying to make us fall in love with each other and force the situation’. I did not react well to being forced into feeling anything. “I wanted to sort of be left on my own – I hadn’t really kissed anybody, really, at that age.” Brooke said about making the film in her 2014 autobiography ‘There Was A Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me’: “You sort of desensitise yourself to anything sexual. “In ‘Blue Lagoon’, I’m using a glue gun, taping my hair, anything I can so my body doesn’t show I have boobs. “And I didn’t realise I was doing it, because I was a kid.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA Katie Hobbs has asked a judge to sanction Kari Lake to the tune of $500k as part of the Trump-backed politician’s attempt to have the November election results thrown out, RadarOnline.com has learned. Arizona’s Democratic Gov.-elect Hobbs and reps for Maricopa County to order Lake to pay $500k for their legal fees. The move comes days after the judge decided Lake didn’t have a case in court. MEGA Lake’s lawsuit claimed voters were unable to cast a vote due to long lines and other issues. The failed politician also claimed hundreds of thousands of ballots were illegally cast but failed to provide any evidence to support her claim. Lake lost the election to Hobbs by more than 17,000 votes. She has yet to concede. “Enough really is enough,” a lawyer for Maricopa County wrote in court. “It is past time to end unfounded attacks on elections and unwarranted accusations against elections officials. This matter was brought without any legitimate justification, let alone a substantial one.” “Courts are established by Arizona’s Constitution and statutes to resolve actual disputes between parties,” the lawyer added. “They do not exist so that candidates for political office can attempt to make political statements and fundraise. And they should not be used to harass political opponents and sow completely unfounded doubts about the integrity of elections. All of those things happened in this matter.” MEGA Lake told her supporters before filing the suit, “‘Rest assured I have assembled the best and brightest legal team, and we are exploring every avenue to correct the many wrongs that have been done this past week.” “What happened to Arizonans on Election Day is unforgivable,” she said. MEGA As RadarOnline.com first reported, sources claim the former news gal Lake has been plotting a return to television after her loss. A source close to Lake said, “Kari isn’t going away anytime time soon. “She’s not going to waste her newfound fame by returning to local Arizona TV —she’s got bigger plans and is talking about doing her own nightly show. FOX doesn’t seem interested but Newsmax would be thrilled to work with her!” View the full article

Published by The Moscow Times The Russian government has granted its media regulator the authority to block websites containing “LGBT propaganda” without a court order, according to a decree published on Monday. “Information propagating non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences” now serves as grounds for blacklisting any website in Russia, alongside those containing child pornography, information about suicide methods, and illegal narcotic production. “Propaganda of pedophilia and sex change” is also listed in the government decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The expansion of state censorship co… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Don’t Be a Sitting Duck is in the business of teaching Floridians how to safely carry a concealed handgun. The Kissimmee firearms academy offers a four-hour training session required by state law to carry a loaded gun in public. For owner and firearms instructor Bryan Villella, that just makes sense. “It is our right to be able to protect ourselves,” Villella said. “To require a level of education surrounding that, I don’t see as a bad thing.” But what Villella considers a reasonable safeguard, gun rights advocate Luis Valdes sees as a government burden on the Second Amendmen… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Far-right Republican culture warriors have a long history of becoming deeply upset over things that, unlike health care, the economy or foreign policy, have absolutely no effect on voters’ lives. Fox News’ Sean Hannity, in 2009, was relentlessly mocked by his critics after throwing a temper tantrum because then-President Barack Obama put Dijon mustard on a hamburger. During the 2012 GOP presidential primary, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich insisted that now-Sen. Mitt Romney (who ultimately won the nomination) wasn’t a true conservative because he spoke French. In 2014, Fox News pundits were… Read More View the full article