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Published by Al-Araby “We are human beings and have the same heart, the same feelings, and the same emotions that you have.” These are the words of Shahzadi Rai, who along with hundreds of transgender activists and supporters protested in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi to campaign for equal rights and raise awareness of discrimination against the community. The protest comes days after the local release of Joyland, a Pakistani movie about a married man’s affair with a transgender woman that has stirred up a lot of controversy in the country and was initially banned following complaints by Islamist groups. “The… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Over the years, many critics of Fox News and its sister channel Fox Business have mocked the right-wing cable media outlets for claiming that liberals and progressives are carrying out a “War On Christmas.” It’s a claim that’s difficult to back up, as Christmas music, Christmas celebrations and Christmas decorations become ubiquitous in a long list of major U.S. cities that are overwhelmingly Democratic — from Boston and Philadelphia to Seattle to Chicago. Nonetheless, many Fox News and Fox Business hosts have insisted, year after year, that there is a movement among liberals, progressives and… Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Holleran Former Penn swimmer Lia Thomas is once again the topic of debate on sports twitter. Monday night, U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker featured one of Thomas’ past opponents, Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, in a campaign ad. “I was forced to compete against a biological male,” Gaines, who competed against Thomas at the NCAA Championships, said. The new campaign commercial is going viral on social media. Many sports fans don’t seem to be taking Gaines’ side, though. “Riley Gaines came in 5th place in that competition. I don’t think transgender athletes are her problem,” one f… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English JoJo Siwa doesn’t think she’ll “ever” talk to Candace Cameron Bure again. The 19-year-old star recently slammed Candace for her comments about “traditional marriage” as she highlighted the fact Christian conservative network Great American Family (GAF) – where she is chief content officer – won’t be featuring same-sex couples in their festive movies. Now, JoJo has told PEOPLE magazine: “We have not [talked], and I don’t think we ever will again.” She noted she wants “everybody to do what they want to do”, and she was angry with Candace for trying to exclude LGBTQ+ couples. She added: “That’s what’s f***** up. You not liking gay marriage, do your thing girl. You being religious, do your thing girl. “Of course, I would want everybody to do what they want to do. But to purposely exclude someone because of who they love, that’s s*****.” The 46-year-old ‘Full House’ star sparked backlash after explaining she left the Hallmark Channel to work with GAM, noting the latter – which was founded by ex-Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott – wanted to keep traditional marriage at the core”. JoJo shared a screenshot of Candace’s comment and wrote on Instagram: “Honestly, I can’t believe after everything that went down just a few months ago, that she would not only create a movie with intention of excluding LGBTQIA+, but then also talk about it in the press. “This is rude and hurtful to a whole community of people.” JoJo – who came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community last year and is currently dating Avery Cyrus – received support from Candace’s ‘Fuller House’ co-star Jodie Sweetin. The actress commented on her friend’s post: “You know I love you [heart emojis] (sic)” During her interview with the Wall Street Journal, Candace was asked if the network would feature same-sex couples in its Christmas movies. She said: “I think that Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core.” CEO Bill added about focusing on same-sex couples: “It’s certainly the year 2022, so we’re aware of the trends. There’s no whiteboard that says, ‘Yes, this’ or ‘No, we’ll never go here.’ “ View the full article

Published by Raw Story A CNN guest on Tuesday slammed Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker for releasing an ad targeting teen transgender athletes hours after a gunman murdered five people at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs. After host Don Lemon played a clip of the Walker ad, he brought on Los Angeles Times columnist LZ Granderson to discuss its poor timing in the wake of a deadly attack on the LGBTQ community in Colorado. Granderson started out by noting that it was strange to see Walker spending time talking about transgender athletes when polls show voters are most concerned about issues such as the cost o… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Keith Coffman and Andrew Hay COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) -A decorated Iraq and Afghanistan veteran who had taken his family to support a drag show performer who was one of his daughter’s friends said his U.S. Army training took over when gunfire broke out at a Colorado LGBTQ club. “It’s the reflex,” Rich Fierro told reporters gathered on the snow-covered front yard of his suburban Colorado Springs home Monday evening. “Go. Go to the fire. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don’t let no one get hurt.” Fierro described grabbing the suspect by the armor the gunman was wearing, dragging him down and using the shooter’s pistol to beat him late Saturday after five people were killed and at least 17 wounded. The dead included the boyfriend of Fierro’s daughter, identified by Colorado Springs police as Raymond Green Vance. At an earlier news conference, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers had identified Fierro as one of “two heroes,” along with Thomas James, who “saved a lot of lives” at Club Q in Colorado Springs. Fierro said many others deserved credit, including a young man who had been dancing with his daughter and dragged her to safety when the shooting started, and a drag performer who kicked the gunman with her high heels as Fierro held him down. “I’m not a hero,” Fierro said. “I’m just some dude.” Officials did not elaborate on the men’s actions, and Fierro’s comments provided details investigators have not spoken about. Fierro said he was detained for about an hour by police who found him with a pistol in his hand in the confused aftermath of the shooting. He mourned his daughter’s boyfriend, who he said he had known since his daughter was in high school. “He’s a good kid. And I loved him,” Fierro said. The wounded included a couple, close friends of Fierro who have two young children. “I wish I could have saved everybody in there,” Fierro said. “I wish I could have done more.” Fierro and his wife Jess Fierro own a Colorado Springs brewery. Their Atrevida Beer Company was closed on Monday as family members gathered at their home in a quiet Colorado Springs suburb to mourn. Jess Fierro had said earlier that her husband’s hands, knees and an ankle were injured in the struggle with the gunman. Speaking from her doorstep, Jess Fierro told Reuters the violence sparked her husband’s post traumatic stress disorder. Rich Fierro served 14 years in the military and was awarded the Bronze Star twice as he served as a field artillery officer during three tours of Iraq and a tour of Afghanistan, U.S. Army records show. (Reporting by Keith Coffman in Colorado Springs and Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Donna Bryson, Stephen Coates and Simon Cameron-Moore) View the full article

Published by Raw Story The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed on Monday that the Club Q shooting suspect was a member of their church. The shooter killed five people and injured nearly two dozen more at the LGBTQ club, which was celebrating Transgender Day of Remembrance — a day devoted to those lost in the trans community to violence. Colorado Springs is a conservative community that is home to groups such as Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council, which have been labeled hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. They’ve all been part of a decades-long crusade against the LGBT… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Joseph Ax (Reuters) – The attack at a Colorado LGBTQ nightclub by a suspected gunman who was arrested last year in connection with a bomb threat has renewed questions about “red flag” laws that are used irregularly and in vastly different ways across the United States. The laws, which allow courts to issue “extreme risk protection orders” (ERPO) removing firearms from individuals considered at risk of harming themselves or others, have been touted by gun safety advocates as crucial tools to prevent mass shootings such as the weekend attack at Club Q in Colorado Springs. However, data shows a significant discrepancy in employment of red flag laws across the 19 states that have implemented them, with Colorado seeing fewer petitions than in many other states. It is not clear whether utilizing the state’s law would have altered Saturday’s shooting, which left five people dead and 17 with gunshot wounds in what may have been a hate crime. Police have not yet said when or how the suspected shooter, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, may have acquired the guns found at the scene. But court records indicate that Aldrich did not face prosecution after his mother reported in June 2021 that he was threatening her with a bomb, ammunition and other weapons. The report prompted a standoff with law enforcement negotiators and the evacuation of neighboring homes. Authorities do not appear to have filed a petition seeking to confiscate any weapons Aldrich may have had at the time under the state’s red flag law. The sheriff’s office, which responded to the call, and the local district attorney’s office both did not respond to requests for comment about the 2021 case. ERPOs typically require police to remove weapons from the individual in question and prohibit the person from purchasing new guns. In Colorado, a judge can issue a temporary ERPO for up to two weeks until a court hearing is held to determine whether to extend the order up to a year. The state has seen relatively few petitions for extreme risk protection orders since it passed its law in January 2020. One study found 109 filings in the first year. Chris Knoepke, a University of Colorado professor who has studied the issue, said data from 2021 and 2022 show a slight increase in usage. By contrast, more than 9,000 petitions have been filed in Florida since the state passed its law in 2018 after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that killed 17 people. “It’s heartbreaking when you hear one of these stories, and you worry that an opportunity was missed to potentially do something about it,” said Knoepke, who is working with state officials on developing training on ERPOs for Colorado law enforcement. RED FLAG OPPOSITION The disparity partly reflects deep opposition to red flag laws among some of Colorado’s conservative sheriffs and local political officials. More than half of the state’s 64 counties have declared themselves “2nd Amendment sanctuaries” in opposition to the statute, based on the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of a right to bear arms. Those counties include El Paso, the home of Colorado Springs, where county commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in 2019 condemning the then-proposed legislation. While El Paso Sheriff Bill Elder has voiced skepticism about “sanctuary” declarations, he opposed the red flag law over due process concerns, according to local media reports in 2019. Following the bill’s passage, he issued a statement saying his office would follow the law if family members secured ERPOs but would not file its own petitions absent “exigent circumstances.” There were nearly 2,000 sanctuary counties across the United States as of late 2021, according to SanctuaryCounties.com, a pro-gun rights website. The National Rifle Association opposes red flag laws as unconstitutional infringements on law-abiding citizens. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION In the wake of May’s mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Congress passed a bipartisan gun bill that includes $750 million in federal funding that is partly aimed at encouraging states to implement and improve red flag laws. Colorado will receive $4.6 million in the first tranche of that money, which can be used to fund training for first responders, family members and court staff on ERPO laws as well as research on their effectiveness. On the state level, Colorado’s Democratic legislature last year created a new office of gun violence prevention to coordinate efforts to combat shootings, including by raising awareness about the red flag law and training law enforcement on its use. Studies on the effectiveness of red flag laws are limited but suggest they can make a real difference. Two studies have found that one suicide was prevented for every 10 removals. Another study published last month examining ERPO petitions in six states found more than 650 cases from 2013 to 2020 that involved a mass shooting threat, though it is impossible to determine how many of those cases would have resulted in actual violence. “These laws were put on the books exactly to address the dangerous behaviors that are often precursors to larger violent events,” said Shannon Frattaroli, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and one of the study’s main authors. “Threatening to blow up your mother or the neighborhood most reasonable people would agree is a signal that some intervention is needed.” (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Elizabeth Debicki felt a “responsibility” when re-creating Princess Diana’s revenge dress on ‘The Crown.’ The 32-year-old actress stars as the late royal – who famously wore a short black dress to a dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens following her husband King Charles’ admission of adultery – in the biographical Netflix series and described the event as a “powerful sartorial” moment in fashion history. She said: “We all felt the responsibility of the revenge dress because it’s something that everybody wanted to see. It’s an incredibly powerful sartorial moment in the history of fashion. That dress is so emblematic of so many things because it’s so brave and beautiful, but it’s also so tinged with our understanding of what was going on in this person’s life. So the duality of that is really powerful, I think, and we really felt that we had to do it properly.” The ‘Great Gatsby’ star went on to describe the Christina Stambolian dress worn by Diana – who was killed in a car crash in 1997 at the age of 36 just one year after divorcing from the then-Prince Charles – as “powerful” and will “never forget” the day on set. She told E! News: “It’s a powerful dress. It’s a totally unique dress too—the structure of it, the shape of it, the look of it—and so I certainly won’t ever forget that day on set. We shot it in the same location that it actually happened, so there was this slightly deep layering of things going on that day.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sheila Dang and Helen Coster (Reuters) -Donald Trump on Saturday said he had no interest in returning to Twitter even as a slim majority voted in favor of reinstating the former U.S. President, who was banned from the social media service for inciting violence, in a poll organized by new owner Elon Musk. Slightly over 15 million Twitter users voted in the poll with 51.8% voting in favor of reinstatement. “The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated,” Musk tweeted. Trump’s Twitter account, which had over 88 million followers before he was banned on Jan. 8, 2021, began accumulating followers and had nearly 100,000 followers by 10pm ET Saturday. Some users initially reported being unable to follow the reinstated account on Saturday evening. Trump had appeared less than keen earlier in the day. “I don’t see any reason for it,” the former president said via video when asked whether he planned to return to Twitter by a panel at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership meeting. He said he would stick with his new platform Truth Social, the app developed by his Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) startup, which he said had better user engagement than Twitter and was doing “phenomenally well”. Twitter did not respond to a request for comment. Trump, who on Tuesday launched a bid to regain the White House in 2024, praised Musk and said he had always liked him. But Trump also said Twitter suffered from bots, fake accounts and that the problems it faced were “incredible”. Musk first said in May he planned to reverse the ban on Trump, and the timing of any return by Trump was closely watched – and feared – by many of Twitter’s advertisers. The billionaire has since sought to reassure users and advertisers that such a decision would be made with consideration by a content moderation council composed of people with “widely diverse viewpoints” and no account reinstatements would happen before the council convened. He also said Twitter would not reinstate any banned users until there was a “clear process for doing so.” But this week, Musk reinstated comedian Kathy Griffin, who had been banned for changing her profile name to “Elon Musk” which violated his new rule against impersonation without indicating it was a parody account. There has been no new information about process or the moderation council. NO REASON TO RETURN A no-show by Trump could reduce concerns among major advertisers, who are already rattled by Musk’s drastic reshaping of Twitter. He has halved the workforce and severely cut the company’s trust and safety team, which is responsible for preventing the spread of misinformation and harmful content. These actions and Musk’s tweeting have pushed major companies to halt advertising on the site as they monitor how the platform handles hate speech. On Saturday, Bloomberg reported Twitter could fire more employees in its sales and partnership divisions, citing unnamed sources, just days after a mass resignation of engineers. If Trump returned to Twitter, the move would raise questions about his commitment to Truth Social, which launched on Apple’s App Store in February and Google’s Play Store in October. Trump has some 4.57 million followers on Truth Social. Truth Social has been Trump’s main source of direct communication with his followers since he began posting on the app regularly in May. He has used Truth Social to promote his allies, criticize opponents and defend his reputation amid legal scrutiny from state, congressional and federal investigators. His agreement with the company, however, opens the door for Trump to engage extensively on other platforms. Trump is obligated to give Truth Social a six-hour exclusive on any post – but is free to post “political messaging, political fundraising or get-out-the vote efforts” on any site, at any time, according to a May SEC filing. (Reporting by Sheila Dang and Helen Coster; Additional reporting by Jim Oliphant; Writing by Shankar Ramakrishnan; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Christopher Cushing) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are launching a new production company. The ‘Good Will Hunting’ stars, along with Gerry Cardinale, have unveiled plans for Artists Equity, which will seek to create “entrepreneurial partnerships” with filmmakers and aims to empower creative vision and “broaden access to profit participation”. RedBird Capital Partners are making “a significant financial commitment in launching the company” and will be “providing strategic capital and operational expertise to accelerate its development and production pipeline”, an announcement confirmed. The two actors will lead the company and its first project will feature Ben as director and Matt as the star in a movie exploring the creation of the Air Jordan brand, which will be released in 2023, one of three projects planned for next year. Ben, who will be Chief Executive Officer of Artists Equity, said: “Artists Equity was conceived from Matt’s and my longtime passion for the art of storytelling and our shared desire to help creators deliver on their vision, as we have been fortunate to do throughout our careers. “The entertainment industry is defined by great partnerships – writers, directors, producers, crew, actors – and throughout my career I have learned that collaboration is what drives success. Our goal with Artists Equity is to build a creator-focused studio that can optimise the production process with shared participation in the commercial success of projects. “We are thrilled to partner with Gerry Cardinale and the RedBird team, who have a long track record of building notable scaled platform businesses around unique IP. Matt and I are looking forward to working together to empower the current and future creative minds in the entertainment industry.” And Matt, who will be Chief Content Officer, added: “Historically, the success of a film was based on its box office performance. Now, with the rise of streaming, the business behind filmmaking has intrinsically changed. “However, Ben and I know that the power will continue to be in the hands of the creators, no matter which direction the industry evolves. “Artists Equity enables these visionaries to take ownership of their creative power, providing a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers to streamline the development of their content. Ben and I are lucky to have worked with some of the best in the business, and our partnership with Gerry Cardinale and the team at RedBird continues us on that trajectory as we look to innovate and empower through the Artists Equity platform.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A memorial service for Leslie Jordan has taken place in his hometown. The ‘Call Me Kat’ actor – who tragically died in a car accident in Los Angeles after seemingly suffering a medical emergency at the wheel last month – was remembered by hundreds of fans at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Sunday (20.11.22), with the event featuring music, singing, comedy and audience participation, as requested by Leslie’s family. Tickets for the memorial cost $20 each, with proceeds donated to one of the late star’s favourite causes, CEMPA Community Care. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly was among those who paid tribute to the ‘American Horror Story’ actor. He said: “If Leslie were here with us today, I would want to thank him for his contributions to our culture throughout his acting career, for getting us through the dark days of the pandemic with his wicked sense of humour, and for always inviting us into his heart and his world. “Leslie opened himself up to all of us and never stopped sharing the love and light he carried within.” Details of the memorial service had been posted on Leslie’s Instagram account alongside photos of him recently and as a child. The post was captioned: “We will never say goodbye. We will keep you alive in our memories and with your stories. Funeral and Memorial, 11/20/22 — Chattanooga, Tennessee.” Justin Long was among those to comment on the post, offering comfort to Leslie’s fans. He wrote: “If there is a way to access Instagram in the hereafter, I feel like Leslie is checking these messages and being ‘tickled’ by them. I remember once referring to people following him on here as “followers” and he corrected me, ‘I prefer to call them friends,’” he said. “When I got to hang out w him in Chattanooga, I witnessed him treating the fans who’d approach him with such kindness and humor – the way you would a friend. His mirth and joy of life will always remain with me – as will his one-of-a-kind voice when I say the words ‘well’ and ‘s***’ in order.(sic)” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kanye West has confirmed he’s planning to run for president again. The ‘Stronger’ hitmaker – who has legally changed his name to Ye – ran for office in 2020 but conceded his run after winning just 50,000 votes and failing to make the ballot in several states, but he’s now declared he’ll be throwing his hat into the ring for the 2024 elections and has enlisted the services of controversial far-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos to help with his campaign. In a video circulating on Twitter on Sunday (20.11.22), Kanye said: “This is Milo right here, working on the campaign.” He was then asked: “Is that an announcement?” Milo laughed and replied: “I guess it is. Thanks, I accept.” The cameraman then asked the 45-year-old rapper if he is “running” for president. Kanye confirmed: “Yes. It’s simple ’cause ain’t nobody can tell me, you know, ‘you should say this, you shouldn’t say that,’ you know? It’s just we’re moving towards the future.” The announcement comes after Kanye’s friend Akon recently speculated that his pal’s recent shocking antics – including a string of antisemitic remarks and the wearing of a ‘White Lives Matter’ t-shirt during Paris Fashion Week – were all part of a bid to win over voters that would otherwise back Donald Trump’s bid to return to office in 2024. Akon said: “I think Kanye is smarter than y’all think. This the brilliant side of him. What is his next plan? To run for office, right. I’m just sayin’! From our knowledge, his next plan is to run for office, right? Who was his main endorser? Trump. “In order for Kanye to have a shot, he needs to have a piece of that base. This is how he’s getting it. And he knows this!” The 49-year-old singer acknowledged Kanye has angered the Black community with his recent antics but thinks they are forgiving people and will ultimately support him. He added: “He knows he’s gonna make a lotta Black people angry. But, guess what? We’re forgiving people. We are. He knows that, too.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John’s husband “hopes” he continues to perform live. The ‘Tiny Dancer’ singer completed the US leg of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ concert series on Sunday (20.11.22) night at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium and while David Furnish – who is also his manager – stressed his spouse is definitely ploughing ahead with his plans to give up touring, he doesn’t think fans have seen the last of him. David told Billboard: “It’s really important to make a distinction between Elton retiring from touring but Elton not playing his very last public performance for the very last time. “Will Elton return as a live performer? I hope so! It’s in his blood… “I know for a fact he will not be touring in any capacity. What you’re going to see is the possibility of a special one-off or a small residency in one venue for a limited period of time.” But while many artists base themselves in Las Vegas if they stage a residency, David, 60, warned fans they’re unlikely to see Elton return to Sin City. He added: “I don’t think it will be Las Vegas. Elton feels he’s done the best he can in Las Vegas. He mounted two hugely successful residencies there. “When you’re an artist and something’s in your blood, you don’t want to shut the door completely.” And David insisted people shouldn’t take it for granted that the 75-year-old singer will return to the stage in some way as he also knows how important it is for his husband to spend more time with their sons Zachary, 11, and nine-year-old Elijah. He said: “Having said that, I know Elton, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t do any more live shows, either. He’s really looking forward to spending time with his family. That’s the number one priority in his life. “Any type of return to any type of touring is going to be a very well-considered situation, and definitely not a given, at all.” View the full article

Published by DPA Our bones, muscles and mental health are all at risk if we don't get enough sunlight to help product vitamin D. Christin Klose/dpa Five to 25 minutes in the sun, three times a week, with about a quarter of the body surface uncovered is what we should all be aiming for, health experts say. That’s because without vitamin D, we risk depression, poor sleep, fatigue and weaker bones and muscles. To stock up on it in less sunny months of the year, it helps to consciously head out into the sunlight and expose not just your face, but also arms and legs. Dermatologists say the general rule of thumb is that if your shade outside is shorter than you are tall, you’ll be producing enough vitamin D with the sun. If you have a lighter skin type with blonde or brown hair, about 12 minutes in the sun should be enough, dermatologists say. Darker skin types will need a few minutes longer. The body itself produces 80 to 90% of its vitamin D in the skin with the help of sunlight, and a deficiency of the nutrient is harmful to health. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is necessary for building and maintaining healthy bones. Researchers say it may also play a role in muscle function and the immune system. Vitamin D supplements are often readily prescribed for infants, who are born with low vitamin D stores and are dependent on breast milk, sunlight or supplements as sources of vitamin D in the first few months of life. Doctors regularly also recommend vitamin D tablets for pregnant women. However researchers say such pills are of no benefit to healthy, active adults, and excessive amounts can even cause headaches, nausea and kidney calcification. If you feel that you may need a supplement, it’s important to first have the vitamin D level in your blood checked so that a doctor can tell you how much should be taken. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John can’t socialise with his band. The 75-year-old singer began his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour – which will end in 2023 – in 2018 and the COVID-19 pandemic has made things “challenging” behind-the-scenes of the stage spectacular because everyone involved has to be in a “bubble” to minimise the risks of a wave of the virus sweeping through the production, meaning the ‘Candle in the Wind’ hitmaker can’t hang out the way he used to. Elton’s husband and manager, David Furnish, said: “COVID is still out in the world. It is still a risk to the health of our crew and to Elton and the band. “We put in place a very strict testing protocol. We went back out on the road last January with a regular cadence of testing, keeping everybody up to date on vaccines and boosters. We’ve kept all of that in place. “We have people in the tour in separate bubbles. Elton feels really badly, but he hasn’t been able to mix with his band. His band travels in one bubble. He and his assistants, the people who support him, his hairdresser and people in security — they’re in his bubble. “It’s been very challenging for Elton, because he always loves being with his band before he goes on stage. He always sits with them and chats and has a laugh with them. That’s not been possible.” And even when Elton – who has sons Zachary, 11, and nine-year-old Elijah with his spouse – has time off from the tour, he can’t go out and about freely because of the risks. David added to Billboard: “While he’s been home, between shows or in hotels, he has to isolate. Everybody that supports him at home is also tested regularly — all staff in the household.” The 60-year-old businessman thinks it is good for people to get out to see concerts again after so long in isolation due to the pandemic. He said: “Thankfully, COVID hospitalisations have massively decreased and there are more medical treatments than there were at the beginning, so people can make the decision as to what medical risk is appropriate for them and still come to see a show. “Lockdown was very hard for most people. It was very isolating, and nothing brings people and the world together like music. It’s emotionally and mentally and spiritually very healthy for people to get back out and see shows again. “We just had to go back on the road in the safest way possible, and that’s what we’re trying to do.” View the full article

Published by Reuters LISBON (Reuters) – The recreational use of nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”, is on the rise in Europe among young people, producing worrying numbers of poisonings, the European Union drugs monitoring agency EMCDDA said in a study. The growing popularity of the substance, which causes a feeling of euphoria, relaxation and dissociation from reality, stems from its wide over-the-counter availability, low price, ease of use and the false perception that it is safe, the Lisbon-based agency said. It has a legitimate wide range of medical, industrial and commercial uses, particularly as propellant in whipped cream dispensers or water siphons for which purpose it is sold in compact, inexpensive cartridges online or in supermarkets. In some European countries, particular concerns have been raised since 2017, when larger cylinders of the gas that deliberately target the recreational market appeared, often luring teenagers inexperienced with drug use. The cartridges are normally consumed by filling party balloons, from which the gas is then inhaled, but more recently users have been inhaling directly from dispensers or cartridges, which poses a high risk of severe cold burns and lung injury. It also affects several brain and spinal cord networks. In Denmark, cases of nitrous oxide poisoning have increased from 16 in 2015 to 73 last year, in France cases jumped to 134 in 2020 from 10 reported in 2017, and the Netherlands had 144 cases in 2020 and reported a sharp rise in car accidents caused by driving while intoxicated or trying to fill balloons. In the United Kingdom, nitrous oxide is the second most prevalent drug among young adults aged 16 to 24 years, after cannabis, the EMCDDA said. In order to control the use of the gas, it proposes reducing the size of packages, banning sales to those under 18 or during night hours when party-goers tend to buy it. (Reporting by Patricia Vicente Rua; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Tomasz Janowski) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Kanye West is back and hardly better than ever. The disgraced rapper returned to social media with a Jewish phrase on Sunday, November 20, after Elon Musk unbanned him from Twitter. mega “Testing, testing… seeing if my Twitter is unblocked,” West wrote before following up with a tweet simply stating, “shalom :)” a few hours later. The Hebrew word translates to “peace” and is used by Jewish people to greet or depart from one another. KIM KARDASHIAN SHARES SHE ‘LET GO OF EVERYTHING’ WHILE FINALIZING HER DIVORCE FROM KANYE WEST The 45-year-old seemingly tweeted the phrase in spite of his original suspension from the app for his vulgar antisemitic remarks. mega Although the “Heartless” rapper caused an immense uproar of hate because of his actions over the past few months, Musk — who liked West’s “Shalom” tweet — decided to give the father-of-four his account back after he purchased Twitter for $44 million in April and gained control last month. KANYE WEST ANNOUNCES HE WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024: ‘WE’RE MOVING TOWARD THE FUTURE’ Musk, 51, replied to West’s first tweet back on the app stating, “don’t kill what ye hate, save what ye love.” Many social media users remained upset after the artist’s account was reinstated, with one individual replying, “I guess Elon Musk is supportive of people announcing they want to go ‘deathcon 3 on the Jews’ on the platform he just purchased. Seems kind of antisemitic to me…” and another adding, “shame on you.” “We as a group just want love, someone says Shalom or Boker Tov and we get ecstatic, but you’re still anti-Semitic, that didn’t change, and a pretty Hebrew word isn’t a real sorry,” an offended user wrote in response to West’s tweet, as another chimed in stating, “Just stop. At what point do you learn how harmful you are?” mega West originally sparked controversy when he arrived to his runway show at Paris Fashion Week in a promotional “White Lives Matter” T-shirt alongside controversial politician Candace Owens. Since the start of his cruel and spiraling episode, Balenciaga, Adidas and GAP all ended their longtime partnerships with the rapper, while celebrities — including ex-wife Kim Kardashian and her famous family — have spoken out in support of the Jewish community. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Actor James Winburn, who played Michael Myers in the original 1978 ‘Halloween’ film, has died aged 85. James – also a famed Hollywood stuntman – is believed to have passed over the weekend from an undisclosed health issue, but his passing only emerged on Monday. (21.11.22) Monopoly Events, which last month featured James in its ‘For the Love of Horror’ fan convention paid tribute to him on Twitter. The company said on Monday: “We are extremely sad to learn of the passing of James Winburn, who joined us for @ftlohorror last month. “James was an absolute pleasure to work and shared some amazing stories with everyone over the weekend. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and fans. #RIP.” Monster-Mania Con, which also runs horror conventions, paid a similar tribute after the actor reportedly missed its 2022 event due to ill health. The firm said on Facebook: “Sad to learn of the passing of James Winburn today. “James was an absolute pleasure to work with and we had hoped to see him again for our show in Oaks, PA but sadly a health issue prevented that. “James was always appreciative of the Halloween fans and truly enjoyed meeting everyone. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and fans.” James combined his acting and stunt skills in several scenes in John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ film, including the finale when he tumbled from a window after being shot before vanishing – starting one of the world’s biggest and longest-running horror film franchises. James returned as psychotic Michael Myers in 1981 sequel ‘Halloween II’, and was credited for stunts in acclaimed films including ‘Escape from New York’, ‘Colors’ and ‘Torn’. View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Holleran Charles Barkley is trending on Twitter on Monday afternoon. The former NBA star turned “Inside the NBA” analyst is often going viral for his takes about the league, but this time, it’s for something entirely different. Barkley’s comment on the Black community and gay people is going viral. “One thing that’s always disappointed me: Black people treat gay people, we are the worst when it comes to treating gay people,” Barkley said. “It’s always bothered me.” Barkley’s comment is now going viral on social media, with many people upset. Sports fans have taken to social media to … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story A Saturday night massacre at the transgender Club Q in Colorado Springs left five people dead and twenty-five injured — the six hundred and first mass shooting of 2022. Sunday was Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors the lives of transgender victims of hate crimes. Let’s take a look at some of the terrifying footage released over the weekend from Colorado. Outgoing U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) condemned violent right-wing rhetoric following Saturday night’s massacre at Club Q. “As our nation marks Transgender Day of Remembrance, the House Democratic Caucus mourns the countles… Read More View the full article