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Published by BANG Showbiz English Shelley Duvall is returning to acting after 20 years. The 73-year-old ‘The Shining’ star has landed a starring role in Scott Goldberg’s upcoming indie horror, ‘The Forest Hills’, alongside Edward Furlong, Chiko Mendez and Dee Wallace. It follows “a disturbed man who is tormented by nightmarish visions, after enduring head trauma while camping in the Catskill Mountains.” Duvall will play the mother of Chiko’s mentally ill character Rico. Goldberg told Deadline: “We are huge fans of ‘The Shining’ and it’s honestly one of my favourite horror movies of all time, up there with John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ and George A. Romero’s ‘Day of the Dead’ with the dark tones they delivered in their movies, along with perfect scores and elements that make them my personal favorites. “Shelley contributed to ‘The Shining’ being an absolute masterpiece by giving her all, and performing in a way that really showcased the fear and horror of a mother in isolation.” Duvall’s last movie was the 2002 comedy ‘Manna from Heaven’, in which she played Detective Dubrinski. The Hollywood star retreated from the spotlight in the 1990s. She’d later appear on a controversial episode of ‘Dr. Phil’ in 2016, where she opened up on her mental health issues. Last year, she opened up about her hard time filming ‘The Shining’ and claimed director Stanley Kubrick had a cruel “streak”. Although she insisted the filmmaker was always “very warm and friendly” to her and co-star Jack Nicholson, she also understood why he could be difficult. Asked if she thought Kubrick had been unusually cruel or abusive towards her to drive her performance, she told The Hollywood Reporter: “He’s got that streak in him. He definitely has that. But I think mostly because people have been that way to him at some time in the past. “His first two films were ‘Killer’s Kiss’ and ‘The Killing’… “He was very warm and friendly to me. He spent a lot of time with Jack and me. He just wanted to sit down and talk for hours while the crew waited. And the crew would say, ‘Stanley, we have about 60 people waiting.’ But it was very important work.” Duvall admitted making the 1980 horror classic was hard because the director insisted on multiple takes every time, and she eventually reached a point where she broke down in tears just at the thought of the day ahead. She said: “[Kubrick] doesn’t print anything until at least the 35th take. Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard. And full performance from the first rehearsal. That’s difficult.. “[Before a take I would] listen to sad songs. Or you just think about something very sad in your life or how much you miss your family or friends. “But after a while, your body rebels. It says: ‘Stop doing this to me. I don’t want to cry every day.’ And sometimes just that thought alone would make me cry. “To wake up on a Monday morning, so early, and realise that you had to cry all day because it was scheduled — I would just start crying. I’d be like, ‘Oh no, I can’t, I can’t.’ And yet I did it. I don’t know how I did it. Jack said that to me, too. He said, ‘I don’t know how you do it.’ “ View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English James Corden quit ‘The Late Late Show’ in order to spend more time with his kids. The 44-year-old TV star has Max, 11, Carey, eight, and Charlotte, four, with his wife Julia Carey, and James admits that his kids were one of the big factors behind his decision to return to the UK. He told The Times newspaper: “We had to cancel last year’s summer holiday [because of work clashes] and when I told Max, he looked so sad, and I had this sudden revelation of the maths: we’ve only got six more summers with the kids, before they start wanting to go off with their mates, six if we’re lucky. “I knew I just couldn’t do that again. So that’s why I quit.” James announced his decision to walk away from the show earlier this year. The TV star – who will leave the programme in 2023 – explained the decision during a monologue on ‘The Late Late Show’. He said at the time: “When I started this journey, it was always going to be just that. It was going to be a journey, an adventure. I never saw it as my final destination. “I never want this show to overstay its welcome in any way. I always want to love making it. And I really think in a year from now, that will be a good time to move on and see what else might be out there.” James also insisted that he wanted to “go out with a bang”. Meanwhile, George Cheeks, the president and CEO of CBS, hailed James’ time on the show. He said: “Seven years ago, James Corden came to the US and took television by storm, with huge creative and comedic swings that resonated in a big way with viewers on-air and online.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Heather Timmons WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The frequent targeting of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by online extremists and political opponents likely contributed to the violent attack on her husband Paul, terrorism and extremism experts said. The intruder at the Pelosis’ home yelled “Where’s Nancy?” before assaulting Paul Pelosi with a hammer, according to a person briefed on the incident. An internet user with the same name as the man arrested at the scene, David Depape, expressed support for former President Donald Trump and embraced the cult-like conspiracy theory QAnon in online posts that referenced “satanic paedophilia.” Police have yet to comment on a motive in the attack. But terrorism and extremism experts believe it could be an example of the growing threat of so-called stochastic terrorism, in which sometimes unstable individuals are inspired to violence by hate speech and scenarios they see online and hear echoed by public figures. “This was clearly a targeted attack. The purpose was to locate and potentially harm the speaker of the house,” said John Cohen, a former counterterrorism coordinator and head of intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security, who is currently working with state and local law enforcement across the country on the issue. “This is a continuation of a trend that we have been experiencing over the past several years. It is a threat dynamic that has law enforcement extraordinarily concerned.” Pelosi has been demonized online and in public by both far right and far left-leaning political websites and figures. Graphics depicting her being beheaded, and a call to send immigrants to her home, with her address, circulated online this summer, according to Site Intelligence Group, which researches online extremism. Rita Katz, executive director of Site, said the Speaker was a hate figure for much of the political right, and is the “face of the Democratic establishment and, as such, at the center of many QAnon-adjacent conspiracy theories.” Those theories and people who espouse them are sometimes promoted by more mainstream public figures, amplifying the threats, experts say. “While the intent may be to mobilize one’s political base or generate ratings it also adds to the volatility of the threat environment,” said Cohen. Individual attackers, sometimes known as “lone wolves” frequently combine personal with political grievances and are reinforced and radicalized by things they read online, the DOJ’s research arm The National Institute of Justice reports. Attacks on political figures, places of worship and races or ethnicities have occurred in the United States for decades, but law enforcement professionals say the current environment is particularly dangerous. “Today’s radical extremism threat has this powerful digital component that can really accelerate recruitment and activate violence across a broader threat landscape,” Aisha Qureshi, a social science analyst at the National Institute, said in an agency podcast before the Pelosi attack. “Just the sheer volume and speed of misinformation spread through social media really exacerbates this problem,” she said. Threats against political leaders are rising in the United States. Cases related to “concerning statements and threats” against members of Congress jumped from 3,939 in 2017 to 9,625 in 2021, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. “Look at the FBI attack in Ohio,” said Todd Helmus, a senior behavioral scientist at security research firm Rand Corp., referring to an August incident when an armed man tried to break into the Cincinnati FBI headquarters. Helmus linked that incident to rhetoric surrounding the FBI’s removal of classified documents from Trump’s Florida estate. Site said the Pelosi attack was being celebrated online by far-right supporters. “We’re just waiting for more of these things to occur,” said Helmus. (Reporting by Heather Timmons; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Prince Jackson still thinks about his dad Michael “every day”. The pop icon died in June 2009, aged 50, and Prince admits that his dad is never far from his thoughts. Prince explained: “I think about him every day. “There are a lot of complexities in life that I feel parents teach their children [about], so without that, there’s some confusion there. And also, it’s a big legacy to uphold, you know? It would be great if I knew how he would like it to be upheld. So, in that way, I think about him every day.” Prince, 25, still loves listening to his dad’s music. And he thinks that Michael’s personality shines through in his tunes. Prince told PEOPLE: “So much of his personality, so much of him, is in his music. And what I miss probably the most about him, I was talking to somebody about it, are his hands. He had really strong, really big hands. Firm, but they were gentle. It’s tough to explain.” The Jackson family are celebrating 40 years since the release of Michael’s best-selling album, ‘Thriller’. And Prince still has fond memories of watching the iconic ‘Thriller’ video for the first time. He said: “The first time that I watched it, my dad told me it was real, and then he started to transform. So that was very traumatic, but afterward – when I was able to watch it and not be scared – he would walk me through it, and I got to see the making of ‘Thriller’ from his perspective, you know? And that’s just amazing.” Prince is now working towards catapulting ‘Thriller’ to the top of the charts. He explained: “The single, never made it to number one. So our goal, we’re trying to do the ‘Thriller’ challenge right now, which is between Oct. 28 and I believe November 1st or 2nd.” View the full article

Published by AFP A voter places a ballot in a drop box outside of the Maricopa County Elections Department on August 02, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona Washington (AFP) – The people spending nights staking out and filming ballot drop boxes in Arizona say their task is to save democracy from the “mules” that countless Americans believe rigged the 2020 election against Donald Trump. But to poll officials, voting rights advocates and many citizens in a state where early voting is common, the self-appointed ballot watchers are a physical representation of how a disinformation-laden documentary is making its mark on next month’s US midterm elections. Described by some as a vigilante parade, the watchers stand accused of intimidating voters at drop boxes — secure bins used in many states to submit a ballot. The film energizing them is far-right commentator Dinesh D’Souza’s “2000 Mules.” It advanced the conspiracy theory that ballot-trafficking “mules” smuggled fraudulent votes into the boxes to swing the presidency to Joe Biden. Reached by AFP, D’Souza defended his production and its sticking power — and said those surveilling ballot boxes are “patriots, who are worried about fraud this time around.” Legal challenges to organizations spearheading the ballot watching arose after Arizona’s secretary of state referred several voter intimidation complaints to law enforcement, including one from a voter claiming they were accused of “being a mule.” “The last two years have been a wild goose chase for those seeking to prove that elections are rigged,” said Jared Holt, senior research manager at the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue. “What has differentiated the mules claims from other conspiracy theories is that the solution activists have taken away from them is to take matters into their own hands.” Real-world impact “2000 Mules” followed debunked stories of fraud about everything from permanent marker pens allegedly used to spoil ballots to machines switching votes, and court rejections of dozens of lawsuits seeking to overturn the election. Experts panned the film for leaps in logic, circumstantial evidence and a flawed analysis of cell phone data. Trump’s own attorney general called it “indefensible.” One voter the film framed as a “mule” was found by investigators to have legally deposited ballots for his family — and is now suing D’Souza. Signature verification, voter registration lists and other checks prevent voter fraud, including in states where it is legal for others to return someone’s ballot. “Those measures are why we didn’t have any evidence from 2020 of fraud at ballot drop boxes, despite the effort to create the impression,” said Lorraine Minnite, a political scientist at Rutgers University. “You could make out a ballot for Mickey Mouse, but if Mickey Mouse isn’t registered to vote, they’re not going to count the ballot.” Still, “2000 Mules” ignited Trump’s base with its May release. Screenings took place across the country, including at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence. “Ballot mules” were mentioned more than 324,000 times on Twitter between the first reference to “2000 Mules” in January and October — and the movie over 2.3 million times — according to Zignal Labs, a media intelligence company. The discourse included plans for the stakeouts now under way. Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for governor in Arizona, tweeted in July: “Potential Mules beware: we are watching drop boxes throughout the state.” Days later, a Telegram post viewed 72,000 times called for “all night patriot tailgate parties for EVERY DROP BOX IN AMERICA.” Clean Elections USA, one group behind the Arizona efforts, says on its website its mission is to prevent the fraud imagined in D’Souza’s film. “Just your presence alone & the mule knowing they will be caught on ur multiple cameras is enough deterrent to make them shrink back into the darkness,” said founder Melody Jennings, who has embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory, in August on Truth Social, Trump’s platform. But photos and rumors spread about voters could inspire more misinformation, said Minnite, who authored a book on voter fraud. “People will be guided into seeing it as evidence of fraud if they already believe it’s happening,” she said. “It’s impossible to put that genie back in the bottle.” Jennings did not respond to AFP’s enquiries. Politicians noticing Some politicians have boosted the activity, including Republican Mark Finchem, who is running to control Arizona’s elections as secretary of state, and Trump. After Jennings posted on Truth Social that drop boxes were overrun with “mules getting there and doing their thing,” Trump amplified it to his 4.38 million followers. He later shared Jennings’ posts featuring photos of people using drop boxes. “Republicans from top to bottom bear responsibility,” said Democratic lawyer Marc Elias, whose organization is backing the lawsuits in Arizona. “It’s not just the Kari Lake… It is from top to bottom a party that has abandoned democracy.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sarah Ferguson says the Queen’s corgis are the “presents that keep on giving.” The late monarch – who passed away at the age of 96 on September 8 after a record-breaking reign of 70 years – bred 10 generations of the dogs and the Duchess of York took to social media to share an image of herself with the pair she left behind, Sandy and Muick, after she and her ex-husband Prince Andrew were entrusted with their care. Sarah captioned the photo: “The presents that keep on giving.” The Duchess previously described the dogs as “national treasures” and described taking them on as a “big honour.” She said: “It’s a big honour. Sandy and Muick are national treasures and they have been taught well.” The ‘Most Intriguing Lady’ author now has a total of seven dogs living under her roof, but explained that her five terriers “balance out” with the corgis. She added: “They all balance out, the carpet moves as I move but I’ve got used to it now.” Former trainer Dr. Roger Mugford previously explained that the surviving pair will be aware of the Queen’s death as they go into the full-time care of her second son and his ex-wife because they are “very perceptive” of changes within their environment. He said: “Dogs are very perceptive of changes in their owners. I’m sure they knew that Her Majesty was in decline and they will have missed her. doubt there will be serious changes in the grief, because they were so used to being cared for by other members of the household and, of course, by Prince Andrew, who was present at the death and is taking over their care now.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Adele tickets are on sale for £38,000. The 34-year-old singer postponed her Las Vegas residency in January just 24 hours before the opening and claimed COVID-19 had rendered her show impossible to put on but is set to eventually take to the stage for the sold-out four-month run of ‘Weekends With Adele’ from November and the price of resale tickets on StubHub has reached almost £40,000 ($46,000), in what has been called the priciest residency to ever hit the Strip. Brodie Cooper, of US PR firm PRrppd, told The Sunday People: “Websites would not charge those fees if people were not willing to pay those sums. Without a doubt, Adele’s ticket prices are by far the highest ever in the history of the Las Vegas strip.” The price of the second-hand tickets marks a record for the ‘Someone Like You’ hitmaker, with the cost of them said to have eclipsed the likes of previous Las Vegas residencies headed up by the likes of fellow industry legends like Celine Dion and Britney Spears. The cheapest price for a seat at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace is £579 ($672), which was the most expensive ticket when the tickets first went on sale through the official channels, while the back row seats were priced at £79 ($91). The news comes just days after the GRAMMY Award-winning songstress was said to have “stripped back” the designs for her residency in an effort to better “connect” with the audience. A source explained: “Adele has revised her plan for the show, has stripped it back. The production will be very classy, the show is centred on her energy and vocals. The January shows had room for a significant orchestra and band along with a 60-piece choir. The feel was big, grand and immensely theatrical. Now she wants it to be more intimate and to connect to the audience by being in with them during the performance. Adele wants to make her mark with this show and be regarded as one of the greatest ever headliners in Sin City.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Cher loves high heels that feel like “stilts”. The ‘Believe’ hitmaker adores donning “big, big” heels because they make people – and their derrieres – “look so good”. The 76-year-old pop superstar told BAZAAR.com: “I like the big, big high heels and platforms. When I did Balmain the other night, I was on shoes that I couldn’t believe—I felt like it was on stilts. But you look so good. And your butt looks good.” Cher – whose career across showbiz spans more than six decades – believes nowadays people can “wear anything” and aren’t forced to confine themselves to arbitrary fashion rules. She said: “Now it seems that you can wear anything, and it doesn’t make any difference which look you decide to wear. Before, when I was younger, you know, back in the log cabin days, I remember that there were specific things that women could wear. And it was so boring. And everyone was, like, wearing the same things. I didn’t do this, but, like, women had to have their skirts one inch below their kneecap. And, you know, my best friend and I were wondering when we’re gonna have to cut our hair, when we would be too old to have long hair. Now there’s freedom, and you could do anything, and that’s what I like more than anything else. I just like the freedom.” The ‘Moonstruck’ star recalled loving YSL’s Opium – and buying it for all her pals – but being unable to get it in the US “because of the name”. Cher said: “I remember I walked into Yves Saint Laurent and said, “Oh, my God, what is that?” And the girl said, “Opium.” I went, “No, come on. What is it?” I started getting all the girls Opium and sneaking it in my suitcases, because you weren’t allowed to buy it in the United States because of the name.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Dolly Parton won’t be working “9 to 5″ on the road anymore. The 10-time Grammy-winning country music icon confirmed the end of her touring career in a new interview with Pollstar magazine. “I do not think I will ever tour again, but I do know I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then,” Parton said. “Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore.” Parton last hit the road for 60 shows throughout the U.S. and Canada in 2016 to support her “Pure & Simple” album. With a slew of other business pursuits, Pa… Read More View the full article

Published by Kaiser Health News When a case of monkeypox was reported in Nevada’s Humboldt County in August, it was the state’s first detected occurrence of the virus in a rural area. Soon, cases were found in other rural counties — Nye, Lyon, and Elko — posing another hurdle for public health systems that have been worn thin by the covid-19 pandemic. Experts say the response to the monkeypox virus in rural America may be affected by the patchy resources and bitter politics that are a legacy of the pandemic, challenges that some worry could allow sporadic infections to gain a foothold. “Your embers turn into a forest fire re… Read More View the full article

Published by City AM By Steve Dinneen It’s hard to imagine a better team to assemble a new musical. James Graham: the prolific young playwright behind works including Best of Enemies, Quiz and The Vote. Rupert Goold: the Almeida’s artistic director who’s been involved in some of the best plays of the last decade. Jake Shears: the singer and songwriter behind the Scissor Sisters. And Elton John: no explanation required. The more interesting story would be if they somehow managed to mess up this dramatisation of the life of American televangelist Tammy Faye. But they do not: it’s a brilliant, camp, glitter-ball of a… Read More View the full article

Published by The Boot Hank Williams Jr.‘s son, country singer Sam Williams, has come out as gay in the music video for his new song, “Tilted Crown,” and a subsequent interview. Williams’ new video loosely documents his growing up, and it shows him kissing his boyfriend on camera for the first time. As People reports, Williams spoke to Hunter Kelly on Apple Music’s Proud Radio With Hunter Kelly podcast, where he revealed that he had previously planned to address his sexuality in a video for another song that did not come to pass. The directors of his new video felt strongly that including the kiss would help tell th… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Luke Evans feels “vulnerable” when he sings. The 43-year-old star has revealed that recording his second studio album, ‘A Song for You’, was a totally different challenge to acting. Luke – who has starred in movies such as ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Fast and Furious 6’ – explained: “In a film I’m not playing myself, I’m always playing someone else’s story. “When I sing, there’s no mask to put on. It’s quite a raw, vulnerable place to be.” Luke – who came out as gay at the age of 22 – insists he isn’t worried about being too open and honest with his lyrics. He told The Independent: “You’re influenced by so many things when it comes to writing. People can interpret what they want to.” Luke also confessed to taking inspiration from Adele. He shared: “There are songs she’s written that helped me understand my own feelings and process past relationships. A true artist just opens up their heart, and she’s done that the loudest, digging into the journey she went on. It’s a brave thing.” Despite this, Luke insists that his personal life should remain a personal matter. The Hollywood star said: “I just don’t think it’s anyone’s real business to talk to me about my personal life. “They don’t do it to straight actors, so why should they to gay actors? It shouldn’t be a thing … I don’t talk about it because it’s nobody’s damn business!” Luke also insists that his sexuality hasn’t had a huge impact on his career. The actor – who has been tipped to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond – said: “[My sexuality] hasn’t had any impact on any of the roles I’ve played, my slate is so diverse, so varied in such a brilliant way. I’ve played everything and no one seems to have a problem with that.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has released a report with a series of recommendations to better serve the transgender, gender-nonconforming and nonbinary community in New York City and across the country. The report, described by the DA’s office as a “first-of-its-kind effort” is designed to enhance the work of prosecutors when dealing with community members who are trans or whose gender identity or expression might differ from the more traditional male/female gender roles. Released Friday, the report was the result of a collaboration between current DA staff membe… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — After five hours discussing proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care, members of a key state medical committee cut short a contentious public meeting in Orlando — exiting as many in the crowd chanted, “Their blood is on your hands!” A joint rules panel of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine met Friday at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport for a workshop on potential guidelines limiting gender-affirming care in Florida. Although the panel did not finalize its proposed rules, members signaled support for prohibiting puber… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Bob Brigham Controversial first-term GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert was the focus of a hard-hitting editorial board by The Denver Post. “We beg voters in western and southern Colorado not to give Rep. Lauren Boebert their vote,” the editorial board wrote. “Boebert has not represented the 3rd Congressional District well. Almost exclusively, she has spent her time and efforts contributing to the toxic political environment in this nation.” The newspaper contrasted the congresswoman with the people she represents. “The good people in this district are not angry and abrasive; they are not hateful and … Read More View the full article

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer PHILADELPHIA — With the neck-and-neck U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania entering its final days, a determined-sounding Democratic nominee John Fetterman took aim at Republican opponent Mehmet Oz at a campaign rally on the Temple University campus Saturday, and also acknowledged his stroke-related language difficulties. “You know the debate wasn’t easy,” said Fetterman, referring to auditory processing difficulties that affected his recent showdown with Oz. “But I was always committed to showing up,” he continued. “After that stroke, I got knocked down, but I got back up. The core value of our c… Read More View the full article

Published by The Pavlovic Today Kamala Harris took the stage at HRC Dinner wearing an all-white suit and pearl necklace. She was introduced by Human Rights Campaign incoming president, Kelley Robinson. The crowd, composed of close to 2700 guests, welcomed Harris with loud cheers from across the room. The Vice President began by addressing the “vicious attack” on Nancy Pelosi’s husband. “I spoke with Speaker Pelosi yesterday morning,” revealed Harris.”She intended to be here with all of us. Many of you know of her long-standing leadership and allyship, and support of HRC. She is a dear friend, she and Paul both, and so I told… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Ju-min Park, Hyonhee Shin and Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) – With “Hooker Hill” and snaking alleyways of bars with signs like “BADASS” around the local landmark Hamilton Hotel, Seoul’s Itaewon district was a symbol of freewheeling nightlife in the South Korean capital for decades, before tragedy struck. The crush of partygoers on Saturday night that killed 153 mostly young people could hamper the revival of an area that was just starting to thrive after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions, as trendy restaurants and shops replaced seedy establishments. Lee Sang-yoon, who runs a pub in the alley next to the Hamilton where the disaster took place, said it may prove a devastating blow for even those who adapted to change. “This happened right at the moment when we were about to rebound after being hammered by the pandemic,” said Lee, who has operated Itaewon businesses for three decades. “We could survive the pandemic because we owned this place, but most of our neighbours who had been paying rent here had closed their businesses and left.” A short walk from the Yongsan U.S. army garrison, Itaewon sprang up after the 1950-53 Korean War as a hangout for American soldiers, with bars, brothels and fashion shops lining both sides of the main stretch running through it. Itaewon went through decades of rises and falls. A mysterious killing called the “Itaewon Murder” and other crimes in the late 1990s painted a dark image of the area. But early in this century it became a gourmet spot and place to experience world cultures without a passport. The district has been a recurrent theme in popular culture, with a recent hit drama “Itaewon Class” and K-pop song “Itaewon Freedom”. Restrictions placed on U.S. troops after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States prompted a shift to a local clientele, a change accelerated by celebrities opening restaurants that became popular with young South Koreans. Before 9/11, “Itaewon was full of Americans,” reminisced a 40-year resident who sells flowers on the street. Streets were just getting packed again for the first time since the pandemic, said the woman, who asked not to be named. “Before COVID, more foreigners than locals, and now lots of local people come from rural areas,” she said. “I can’t believe this tragedy really happened. Holiday or, what’s it called, Halloween? Early in the coronavirus pandemic, some of Itaewon’s gay bars and transgender clubs become a lighting rod for controversies, with dozens of cases traced to people who were faulted for not disclosing to health authorities that they had spent time there. Park Geun-ho, owner of the Havana Lounge & Pub, worried the disaster may prove to be greater challenge than anything the area has seen. “After all this, would people come to Itaewon now? They won’t,” said Park, who has run businesses in the district for nearly 30 years. Before disaster struck, Halloween festivities had been the leading attraction for years, drawing local people and foreigners to the foothills of the Namsan mountain, just steps from luxury villas occupied by foreign diplomats and heads of chaebol business syndicates, including the late chairman of Samsung Group. But questions have grown in recent years about the safety of hosting an event that draws up to 100,000 to the cramped and hilly streets, especially without shutting down the main street to traffic to accommodate pop-up stores and kiosks. “This month should’ve been a good one with the Global Village Festival, Halloween and so forth, but then this accident happened,” said Kim Kyung-mo who works at a convenience store near the alley where the crush happened. “I bumped into my boss earlier today and chatted briefly, and he obviously didn’t look really good.” (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by William Mallard) View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Ju-min Park, Hyonhee Shin and Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) – With “Hooker Hill” and snaking alleyways of bars with signs like “BADASS” around the local landmark Hamilton Hotel, Seoul’s Itaewon district was a symbol of freewheeling nightlife in the South Korean capital for decades, before tragedy struck. The crush of partygoers on Saturday night that killed 153 mostly young people could hamper the revival of an area that was just starting to thrive after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions, as trendy restaurants and shops replaced seedy establishments. Lee Sang-yoon, who runs a pu… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA German Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance Luise Amtsberg speaks during a debate about a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Games in Beijing. Fabian Sommer/dpa The human rights commissioner of the German government, Luise Amtsberg, will not join Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on a trip to football World Cup hosts Qatar on Monday. Amtsberg said in a foreign ministry statement Sunday her decision came after Qatar sharply protested against critical remarks from Faeser and handed the German ambassador a note of protest on Friday. “The developments this weekend have made it clear to me how difficult it is in the current situation in the run-up to the football World Cup to hold the open and critical talks I planned about the human rights situation in Qatar with the Qatari government,” Amtsberg said. “Recognizing Qatar’s growing role as a regional and global player, international pressure and our efforts to protect human rights remain central after the World Cup,” she said, adding she planned a visit to Qatar at a later date. Qatar has been criticised over the treatment of migrant workers in the country, the criminalisation of homosexuality, and sustainability in the run-up to the November 20-December 18 World Cup. Qatar has said it has carried out labour law reforms and that everyone is welcome to attend the tournament. Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Than, hit out at the critics recently, speaking of an “unprecedented campaign” against a host nation, fabricated allegations and double standard. Faeser will visit Qatar together with German Football Federation chief Bernd Neuendorf Monday and Tuesday with talks to centre on human rights. Faeser angered Qatar when she told public broadcasters ARD that Qatar being elected World Cup hosts was “a totally difficult award” for the German government which believes that human rights and sustainability should be important awarding criteria. “There are criteria that have to be adhered to, and then it would be better that it (the tournament) wasn’t awarded to such states,” she added. Qatar said on Friday it was “disappointed” and “totally rejects” the minister’s remarks which were “against diplomatic norms and convention,” according to state news agency QNA. German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser begins an international conference on internal security and migration by commenting on the suspected arson attack on a refugee shelter in Gross Stroemkendorf near Wismar. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Some 3,000 people participated in South Africa’s LGBTQ Pride Parade on Saturday, the country’s first after celebrations were cancelled for two consecutive years due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, officials in the US had warned of a possible terror attack in Johannesburg’s Sandton district, an upmarket suburb in the capital. Despite the warning, the festivities went ahead under a large police presence while officials in South Africa advised attendees that it would be safe to march. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa criticised the US for causing unnecessary panic without providing sig… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted a conspiracy theory about the night US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul was attacked Washington (AFP) – New Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted an anti-LGBT conspiracy theory Sunday about what happened the night US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was attacked, underscoring concerns about the platform’s future after he vowed it would not become a “free-for-all hellscape.” Musk, a self-declared “free speech absolutist,” was responding to former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who had tweeted to draw a line between Republicans who promote baseless conspiracy theories and the violent attack on Paul Pelosi in San Francisco. “There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye,” Musk told Clinton, attaching a link to the story, which is no longer accessible, by the conservative Santa Monica Observer. The weekly outlet has published other conspiracy theories in the past, including that a body double for Clinton was sent to a debate with Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign, according to the Los Angeles Times. Musk’s tweet swiftly became a focal point for critics who have been nervous about the direction in which he intends to take Twitter, the leading platform for global discourse and diplomacy. Musk, whose outspoken and controversial tweets have courted trouble in the past, has vowed to dial back content moderation, relying more on computer algorithms than human monitors. Conservatives say past moderation has unfairly targeted their views. In a message meant to reassure jittery Twitter advertisers on his leadership, Musk said earlier this week that he realizes Twitter “cannot become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.” But detractors warn that without standards, the world’s “digital town square” is at risk of becoming flooded with misinformation, with possibly perilous consequences for democracy and public health. “Clinton: Conspiracy theories are getting people killed and we shouldn’t amplify them. Owner of Twitter: But have you considered this conspiracy theory?” wrote University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket after Musk’s Sunday tweet. Masket later tweeted a screenshot suggesting he had complained to Twitter about Musk’s tweet, adding: “Somehow I doubt much will come of this.” Troll campaign tests Musk Nancy Pelosi, who is second in line to the US presidency, has said her family is “heartbroken and traumatized” after the intruder broke into the couple’s San Francisco home early Friday and attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer, fracturing his skull. The 82-year-old is recovering in hospital. President Joe Biden has said it appears the assault was “intended for Nancy,” and called out increasingly polarizing political rhetoric. “The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories. It is shocking, but not surprising, that violence is the result,” Clinton said in her tweet. Musk’s response came just hours after Twitter said that the site was being targeted by a trolling campaign testing its moderation policies under the billionaire’s leadership. “Twitter’s policies haven’t changed… And we’re taking steps to put a stop to an organized effort to make people think we have,” tweeted the platform’s chief of safety and integrity, Yoel Roth. Roth said that a “small number of accounts” had posted “a ton” of hate content — including 50,000 tweets using a particular slur made by just 300 accounts. “Nearly all” of the accounts are inauthentic, he said. Roth also retweeted a Musk post in which the Tesla chief reiterated that “we have not yet made any changes to Twitter’s content moderation policies.” View the full article

Published by uInterview.com A Russian appeals court upheld Brittney Griner‘s nine-year drug smuggling sentence. President Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement, “the President has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home.” The White House has made little headway, however, since Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport for her alleged possession of vape cartridges containing hashish oil. In August, she was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison after being convicted of possession and smuggling of cannabis oil… Read More View the full article