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Published by AFP US Attorney General Merrick Garland accuses Beijing of trying to Washington (AFP) – Top US justice officials accused the Chinese government Monday of an unrelenting campaign by intelligence operatives to subvert the American justice system and steal commercial secrets. Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray detailed three separate cases in which Beijing’s spies allegedly harassed dissidents inside the United States, tried to interfere in the prosecution of a Chinese telecoms giant understood to be Huawei, and pressured US academics to work for them. Thirteen Chinese nationals who allegedly worked for Beijing’s spy agencies have been indicted in the cases and two of them have been arrested. The cases showed that China “sought to interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States and to undermine our judicial system that protects those rights,” said Garland. “The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the rule of law upon which our democracy is based,” the top US law enforcement officer said. Garland, Wray, and other top justice officials spoke about the cases in a press conference in Washington one day after Xi Jinping secured a historic third term as China’s leader. US officials have tied Xi to what they see is a growing effort by Chinese intelligence agencies over the past decade to steal US intellectual property and to crack down on Chinese political dissidents in the United States. Asked whether the announcements Monday were timed to Xi’s confirmation as the Chinese Communist Party’s all-powerful general secretary on Sunday, Wray avoided any specific link. “We bring cases when they’re ready. And that’s probably the simplest answer and most straightforward answer to that, as far as what signal they send,” the FBI chief said. “If the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, continues to violate our laws, they are going to keep encountering the FBI,” he said. Huawei case interference In a case cited Monday but unveiled last week, seven Chinese nationals allegedly tried to force a US resident to go back to China. Two people were arrested, but five others — all allegedly employees of Chinese intelligence agencies — remain at large, likely in China. In the second case, two Chinese intelligence officials working from China tried to recruit a US government employee to provide them inside information on the Justice Department’s prosecution of Huawei. In 2019 Huawei was charged with a systematic campaign to steal US trade secrets, sanctions evasion and other counts. The two agents believed they had recruited a US government official to work for them and paid the person $61,000 worth of bitcoin to supply internal documents related to the case against Huawei. But the informant was in fact a double agent who worked with the FBI on the case. The third case involved Chinese intelligence operatives who worked for the Ministry of State Security posing as academics to recruit operatives in the United States. From 2008 to at least 2018, they targeted professors, former security officials and others with access to sensitive information and technology for recruitment. “In all three of these cases, and frankly, in thousands of others, we found the Chinese government threatening established democratic norms and the rule of law as they work to undermine US economic security and fundamental human rights,” said Wray. The US Justice Department has announced at least a half-dozen similar cases against alleged Chinese intelligence officers so far this year. Wray said the threat is constant, and that the FBI opens a Chinese counterintelligence investigation “about every 12 hours.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kim Kardashian has publicly condemned Kanye West’s anti-Semitic comments. The 42-year-old star has taken to social media to voice her support for the Jewish community after Kanye recently posted anti-Semitic messages online. Kim – who has North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three, with the rap star – said on Twitter: “Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.” Despite this, Kim didn’t actually mention her ex-husband by name. Her comments also came days after singer Boy George questioned why Kim hadn’t condemned Kanye’s controversial remarks. The chart-topping pop star said at the time: “I’m appalled that Kim Kardashian hasn’t come out and added her voice to this debate because this woman has children with Kanye, so she must understand as a mother what it feels like for little Jewish children to hear these f****** comments, how demoralising and terrifying it must be.” Meanwhile, the talent agency CAA has cut ties with Kanye following his recent comments. The ‘Stronger’ hitmaker has been a client of CAA since 2016 – but the agency decided to end its relationship with Kanye in light of the controversy. Elsewhere, MRC – the production company that was set to distribute Kanye’s documentary – has also confirmed that it will no longer work with the rap star. The company said in a statement: “We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform. “The silence from leaders and corporations when it comes to Kanye or anti-Semitism in general is dismaying but not surprising. What is new and sad, is the fear Jews have about speaking out in their own defence.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Henry Cavill is set to return as Superman. The 39-year-old actor has taken to social media to confirm that he’ll return soon as the iconic superhero. Henry – who appears as Superman in an un-credited cameo in ‘Black Adam’ – said in an Instagram video: “Hey everyone, I wanted to wait until the weekend was over before posting this, because I wanted to give you call the chance to watch ‘Black Adam’. But now that plenty of you have, I wanted to make it official – I am back as Superman and the image you see in this post and what you saw in ‘Black Adam’ are a very small taste of what’s to come.” Henry also thanked fans for their patience, promising them they will be “rewarded” when he returns as Superman. He said in the video: “I wanted to thank you guys for your support and for your patience. I promise it will be rewarded.” Henry captioned the Instagram post: “A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends. The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded. #Superman (sic)” Meanwhile, ‘Black Adam’ producer Hiram Garcia recently insisted that Superman will form an important part of the franchise moving forwards. Hiram suggested that Henry will continue to star alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in future movies. The producer explained: “It’s never been about a one-off or just about a fight. “We really want to craft a long-form of storytelling and show that these two characters exist in the same universe and are going to have to deal with each other often, either on the same or opposite sides. Hopefully they’re going to clash at some point, but it’s not just about a ‘one fight’ situation.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega The United States House Select Committee voted to officially subpoena former President Donald Trump in relation to their investigation into the January 6 insurrection on the Capitol. Trump has until Friday, November 4, to provide the committee the necessary documents, and he is expected to sit for deposition 10 days later. However, Nancy Pelosi revealed she doesn’t believe that the embattled politician will agree to show up to testify unless it is a public hearing. mega “I don’t think he is man enough to show up,” the 82-year-old revealed on MSNBC’s The Sunday Show. “I don’t think that his lawyers will want him to show up, because he has to testify under oath. But I don’t think he is man enough, we will see if he is man enough to show up.” She also noted that if Trump refuses to comply with the subpoena, it will serve as a sign that he believes he is “above the law.” mega “Whatever they decide will also send a message about his respect,” the House Speaker explained. “It’s an oath we take to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That is a serious oath that we all take. Clearly, the rest of us had more respect for the office he held, then he had.” Although it is unclear whether or not Trump will show up to give his testimony, there have already been consequences for those who have refused. The controversial businessman’s former advisor Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison for “contempt of Congress” after he failed to comply with a subpoena. mega Rep. Bennie Thompson and Rep. Liz Cheney are set to question Trump under oath on Monday, November 14. “In short, you were at the center of the first and only effort by any U.S. president to overturn an election and obstruct the peaceful transition of power, ultimately culminating in a bloody attack on our own Capitol and on congress itself,” both representatives wrote in a letter. They continued, “The evidence demonstrates that you knew this activity was illegal and unconstitutional, and also knew that your assertions were fraud and false.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna says she “paved the way” for other female celebrities by being open about her sexuality. The 64-year-old pop icon has recalled how she was vilified for her hyper-sexual persona as she marked the 30th anniversary of the release of her ‘S.E.X.’ photo book, which sparked outrage for its explicit content, but claims that it inspired female stars such as Cardi B and Kim Kardashian to express their sexuality. In a message shared on her Instagram Story on Saturday (22.10.22), Madonna wrote: “30 years ago I published a book called S.E.X. in addition to photos of me naked there were photos of Men kissing Men, Woman kissing Woman and Me kissing everyone.” The Queen of Pop continued: “I also wrote about my sexual fantasies and shared my point of view about sexuality in an ironic way. “I spent the next few years being interviewed by narrow minded people who tried to shame me for empowering myself as a Woman. I was called a w****, a witch, a heretic and the devil.” Madonna then reflected on how attitudes have changed towards the issue in the three decades since. She wrote: “Now Cardi B can sing about her WAP. Kim Kardashian can grace the cover of any magazine with her naked a** and Miley Cyrus can come in like a wrecking ball. “You’re welcome b******.” Meanwhile, the ‘Like a Virgin’ hitmaker seemingly came out as gay recently after posting a cryptic video on TikTok. In the clip, Madonna – who has been married to Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie – threw some underwear at a bin along with the caption: “If I miss, I’m Gay!” The pop star failed to hit the target, and the camera then cut back to her as she shrugged and walked away. View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Nearly seven in 10 LGBTQ students reported feeling unsafe at school in 2021 because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, according to new data released this week. Researchers with GLSEN, a national organization that fights to end anti-LGBTQ discrimination in k-12 schools, found an increasingly more hostile environment for LGBTQ students in middle and high schools across the nation. For its 2021 National School Climate Survey, the group spoke with 22,300 students between the ages of 13 and 21 and found that they’ve experienced an alarming incidence of discrimination — including v… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at a press conference after the Fifa Congress at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC). Infantino has criticized what he called unacceptably low offers for 2023 women’s World Cup broadcast rights. Christian Charisius/dpa FIFA president Gianni Infantino has criticized what he called unacceptably low offers for 2023 women’s World Cup broadcast rights. “A hundred times less (than the men’s World Cup), even more than 100 times in some occasions, this is not acceptable,” the boss of the football governing body told a news conference ahead of Saturday’s group stage draw. Infantino didn’t name the media companies and broadcasters involved but said they know who they are. “We are not going to accept this,” Infantino said about the offers. “We know that the viewing figures for these broadcasters in some big footballing countries for the men’s World Cup or for the Women’s World Cup are actually very similar…meaning their commercial income is very similar for men and for women,” he added. The 2023 women’s World Cup will take place from July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand. Due to the time difference, many games will be played in nighttime hours in key markets such as Europe and the Americas. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jennifer Coolidge wants Meghan, Duchess of Sussex to star on The White Lotus. The 61-year-old actress has starred as Tanya McQuoid on the HBO series that follows a group of vacationers at the White Lotus resort chain since 2021 and would “absolutely” love the 41-year-old royal and reported “super-fan” – who was an actress known as Meghan Markle prior to marrying Prince Harry in 2018 – to join her for a guest spot. Asked if she would like to see the Duchess guest-star on the upcoming third season of the show, she said: “I would absolutely [love] to see her! Absolutely! Meghan Markle? Yes, yes come on down!” Meawhile, the ‘Legally Blonde’ actress won an Emmy for her portrayal of the eccentric socialite in ‘The White Lotus’ and admitted she was still “speechless” about her win and teased that her character will have “some more probelms” as the show moves from Hawaii to Italy for season two. She told ExtraTV: “I’m still speechless about [the win]. Tanya was overwhelmed with grief in the first one and couldn’t really handle sort of putting her mother to rest but now I’m in Sicily and I’m there with my new husband but now I have some more problems.” The ‘American Pie’ actress added that for the third season of the show, she would like to shoot it in somewhere like Asia and joked that it should take place where the number of women is outweighed by men. She said: “[For the third season] I think Asia would be incredible. I want to go somewehere where it lis like ten men to every one woman. Where is that?” View the full article

Published by AFP A school board campaign event in Vero Beach, Florida, gets under way inside a church. Vero Beach (United States) (AFP) – A conservative group known as “Moms for Liberty” is triggering a minor earthquake in Florida school board elections, hoping the tremors will ripple across the entire United States. The group demands that often-sleepy school boards wake up and yank “problematic” books from schools, and empower parents to have more say in public education. “I am on the right side of history,” said Jacqueline Rosario, who is seeking re-election to a school board in Indian River County on Florida’s east coast. Rosario warmly welcomed guests to a lounge in this charming seaside resort, speaking to them about a subject that distresses her: the “insane” education that young Americans get in public schools. “Moms for Liberty,” founded only last year in Florida but now claiming 100,000 members in 42 states, offers wholehearted endorsements of school board candidates like Rosario. That support has turned school boards, historically apolitical elected bodies, into real powder kegs dealing with subjects such as gender, sexuality and racism in schools. These days, hot-button culture and social issues ignite passions at the local level, not just the state and national levels. Some heavyweight Republicans, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible presidential candidate in 2024, have gotten involved in the humble school board battles. Moms for Liberty publicly endorsed DeSantis, and he in turn endorsed candidates like Jacqueline Rosario. ‘Pornographic’ Rosario has made a personal battle out of one of Moms for Liberty’s obsessions — “inappropriate” books. As she explained the reasons for her anger, Rosario interrupted the interview. “Can I read you a couple of excerpts?” she asked, warning that she might feel “weird” because some material “is so explicit.” The candidate recites a sex scene from Margaret Atwood’s famous novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which also became a hit television series. “That’s disgusting,” Rosario, a former English teacher, said of the work, her voice suddenly stern. She read an excerpt from another book, “Push”, which recounts in graphic detail the rape of a child by her father. “There is absolutely no literary, scientific, political or any other value to this kind of reading, not for children,” Rosario said, adding that she would like such “obscene… pornographic” books to be replaced by others of “higher quality,” including ones offering vocational training. “You’re opening up Pandora’s box for children who are supposed to preserve their innocence,” Rosario said. She stated that she does not want to “ban or burn” such books, but only to get them out of the classroom — a message hammered home by Moms for Liberty. Flags and popcorn Later in the afternoon, Rosario campaigned at a small church in Vero Beach. The audience seemed to be behind her. Between a tray of cheese and a bowl of popcorn, Terri Privett, a 53-year-old who loves former president Donald Trump’s rallies, worries that “the left is indoctrinating our children with things that are just not American.” During the reception, the song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood played on a loop — interrupted, however, when all attendees stood to pledge allegiance to the flag. Though he is not present, DeSantis’ influence is palpable. At the entrance, a lighted sign calls for people to vote for him to “save Florida.” “Our governor is a champion for parental rights,” said Jennifer Pippin, head of the Indian River County chapter of Moms for Liberty, convinced that he will win re-election. For this crowd, DeSantis’ military background and his image as a family man are strong reasons to like him. On a table festooned with small US flags is a list of candidates running in various local elections who espouse anti-abortion rights views. Flyers call on the citizenry to pull children from public schools. Organizers have also brought two piles of books — around 150 they deem problematic — that Jennifer Pippin said contain scenes of “rape, incest” or even “oral sex.” Colorful post-it notes indicate the pages of the books with the material deemed questionable. Love for DeSantis Moms for Liberty has had a meteoric rise, a sign of the simmering culture wars across the United States. “I think you’re going to see that American politics are going to be changing a lot because of this parent revolution,” said Tiffany Justice, one of the co-founders. She predicts a bright political future for politicians like DeSantis who join up with groups seeking to empower parents over educators. DeSantis won hearts at the first Moms for Liberty national conference, where he gave a speech. Moms for Liberty members “wished Ron DeSantis was their governor,” Justice said. “You could hear them say we can’t wait to vote for him for president of the United States.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ron Masak has died at the age of 86. The actor – who was known for starring as Cabot Cove Sheriff Mort Metzger alongside Dame Angela Lansbury on ‘Murder, She Wrote’ – passed away on Thursday (20.10.22) surrounded by his wife Kay Knebes and their six children. In a statement posted to Facebook, daughter Kathryn said: “This is Ron’s daughter and it is with a very heavy and broken heart that on October 20, 2022 our Father Ron Masak passed at the age of 86. He was surrounded by his wife and all six children. Ron was known for his expansive career in the entertainment industry. He was best known as ‘The King of Commercials,’ as well as for his role as Sheriff Mort Metzger on Murder, She Wrote. Ron also spent many years playing an integral role in various charity events for Wounded Warriors, Child Help, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Susan G. Komen Foundation, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, and many more. Most importantly, we will remember him as a husband, a Father, a Papa, a Father in Law, and a great friend. He has touched so many lives and will be greatly missed.” Ron – who passed just one week after his ‘Murder, She Wrote’ co-star Angela died at the age of 96 – was later confirmed to have died of “natural causes” and the family thanked fans for their condolences in a separate statement. The statement read: “Our family is incredibly appreciative of the outpouring of love and prayers for our Dad and for all of us. We are so grateful for all of the kindness and truly feel how special our Dad was to SO many. Because we have received an overwhelming amount of requests asking how people can be of help, we have set up an account to help cover expenses and support our Mom during this difficult time, as she grieves the loss of her loving soulmate. As our Dad always said and signed, “Be Happy Always, in ALL Ways!” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham asked the Supreme Court on Friday to halt a lower court’s order compelling him to testify to a special grand jury in Georgia investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies attempted to overturn 2020 election results in the state. Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, filed the emergency application after a federal appeals court on Thursday denied his request for protection from testifying. The application would be considered by Justice Clarence Thomas, who handles emergency motions from Georgia. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wants Graham to answer questions about phone calls he made to a senior Georgia election official in the weeks after the November 2020 election. Graham has argued that his position as a U.S. senator provides him immunity from having to appear before the grand jury. The appeals court on Thursday said Graham must testify before the grand jury, but he can choose to dispute individual questions. Testimony from Graham, an ally of Trump, could shed further light on Trump allies coordinating to reverse the results. Trump continues to appear at rallies repeating his false claims of fraud in his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; editing by Grant McCool) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nate Raymond (Reuters) – Liberal Justice Elena Kagan on Friday expressed hope that her colleagues on the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court could get back to finding “common ground,” saying it risked looking political by continuing to overturn legal precedents. Speaking at an event at the University of Pennsylvania, Kagan did not explicitly reference the Supreme Court’s decision in June to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. But Kagan, who dissented from that decision powered by the court’s conservative majority, argued that judges and justices should be “humble” and respect past precedents interpreting laws and rights that people build their lives around. “If you give people a right, and then you take the right away, well, in the meantime they’ve understood their lives in a different kind of way,” Kagan said during a discussion with UPenn President M. Elizabeth Magill. “So law should be stable.” The comments mirrored similar remarks Kagan, one of the court’s three liberals, has made in the months since the abortion decision, in which she has warned the court risked forfeiting its legitimacy in the view of the public. The Supreme Court gained its 6-3 conservative super-majority thanks to three justices named by former Republican President Donald Trump: Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 and Amy Coney Barrett in 2020. Cases on the court’s docket this term present opportunities for the court’s conservative justices to flex their muscles further by weakening the landmark Voting Rights Act and barring the consideration of race in college admissions. “If you have judges and they come onto a court and they say, we’re sort of overthrowing the apparatus, and we’re overthrowing legal rules, it just starts not to look like law anymore,” Kagan said. That could result in a “tit for tat” situation in the future when other new justices join the court, she said, fueling “jolts to the system” that will make it look “more like a political institution.” “Time will tell whether this is a court that can get back to finding common ground, to ratcheting down the level of decision making so we can reach compromises,” Kagan said. (This story has been refiled to correct typo in the word “muscles” in paragraph 7.) (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday vowed to use his veto power to protect women’s rights if Republicans win control of Congress in next month’s midterm elections and pass laws to outlaw abortion nationwide. Biden, asked in an interview with MSNBC what he would do to protect women’s rights should Republicans gain control of the legislature, said: “Veto anything they do.” The Democratic president this week sought to mobilize his left-leaning base by promising to sign a law to codify abortion rights in January if Democrats triumph in next month’s elections. Biden’s Democrats could lose control of the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate too, in the November vote. The president is trying to rally the party and its supporters around abortion rights, which were sharply curtailed by the Supreme Court’s decision nearly four months ago to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade ruling. If Democrats elect more senators and keep control of the House, Biden said he would sign a law in January to ensure women’s right to abortion across the country. Democrats, who largely support abortion rights, currently have a slim majority in the House and control the 50-50 Senate through Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to cast tie-breaking votes. Republicans largely oppose abortion rights. In order to outlaw abortion, Republicans would have to pass legislation, but it would not become the law of the land unless Biden signed it. “The president has to sign it. I’ll veto it,” he said. The Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade decision that recognized women’s constitutional right to abortion in June, drawing condemnation from Biden and spurring optimism among Democrats that outrage over the decision would drive voters to the polls in November. But high inflation has remained at the top of voters’ minds, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling, and just 8% of Americans cited the end of national abortion rights as the issue that will most influence how they vote in November, compared with 27% who cited inflation in a poll conducted Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. (Reporting by Andrea ShalalEditing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden says the economy is improving and Democrats will gain more support from voters in time for the midterm elections Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden on Friday predicted a final-hour shift in favor of the Democrats in the midterm elections, saying that the economy, seen as the party’s weakest issue, is steadily improving. “It’s been back and forth, with them ahead, us ahead, them ahead, back and forth,” Biden told reporters at the White House, three weeks before elections deciding control of Congress. “Polls have been all over the place. I think we’re going to see one more shift back to our side in the closing days,” Biden said. Recent polls show momentum rising on the Republican side, with voters increasingly anxious about high inflation and likely to punish the Democrats on November 8. Biden’s party currently has a razor-thin majority in Congress but Republican leaders say they will block his legislation if they take over the legislature. Biden, however, maintained an upbeat outlook, also telling MSNBC in an interview late Friday that he intends to seek a second term in 2024, despite already being the oldest person ever in his office. He turns 80 next month. “I have not made that formal decision but it’s my intention, my intention to run again, and we have time to make that decision,” Biden told MSNBC. Asked what the first lady, who is widely judged to be a powerful voice behind the scenes in the White House, thinks of him seeking a second term, Biden indicated she was in favor. “Dr Biden, my wife, thinks that we’re doing something very important and that I shouldn’t walk away from it,” he said. ‘Crash’ the economy In fiery remarks predicting that the Republicans would “crash the economy” if they are in charge of Congress, Biden said voters were starting to see “some good news in the economy” and would return to supporting Democrats in time for voting day. Biden listed gradually falling gasoline prices, low unemployment across most of the country, and Friday’s news of “the largest-ever decline in the federal deficit” as examples. The deficit reduction is “further proof that we’re rebuilding the economy in a responsible way,” he said. Republicans, he said, will eliminate the minimum tax rate for big corporations and “double down” on tax cuts for the most wealthy. Referring to former president Donald Trump’s far-right Make America Great Again or MAGA movement, Biden said the Republican economic plan was “mega-MAGA trickle-down” economics — “the kind of policies that have failed the country before and will fail again.” The Republicans quickly shot back, citing Biden’s “flailing dishonesty.” “Republican-led states continue to keep Americans working, children in schools, and small businesses operating, while Biden and Democrats created a recession, historic inflation and high gas prices. This election is about the economy,” Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. In a speech to mostly African American students at Delaware State University in his home state, also Friday, Biden highlighted two recent widely popular measures that the White House says show the president keeping his own election promises. A ruling to forgive $10,000 of university student loans — $20,000 for poorer students — will “make sure you have a shot,” Biden said. Referring to Republican opposition, Biden underlined his populist message, insisting “I will never apologize for helping working and middle class Americans.” The Democrat also touted his decision to pardon thousands of Americans convicted of marijuana possession — a longtime demand of Black rights activists who point out the disproportionate impact of criminalizing possession of cannabis on Black people. “I’m keeping my promise that no one, no one should be in jail for barely using or possessing marijuana,” he said. View the full article

Published by AFP American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, pictured in August 2022, has released her latest album 'Midnights' Los Angeles (AFP) – Taylor Swift’s 10th album “Midnights,” marking a gradual return to pop for the US singer-songwriter, sparked an online fan frenzy following its witching hour release on Friday — and crashed Spotify in the process. Swifties from the United States to France and Britain were forced to wait patiently for hours to get their first earful of Swift’s latest sound on the streaming platform — released at the stroke of midnight. Despite the technical problems, the hugely anticipated work set a record as the most-streamed album in a day, Spotify said. “And before the clock could even strike midnight on October 22nd, Taylor Swift broke the record for most-streamed album in a single day in Spotify history,” the platform said on Twitter. “How did I get this lucky, having you guys out here doing something this mind blowing?!,” the singer tweeted in response. The album’s 13 songs tell “the story of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life,” Swift explained on Twitter. Together, they form “a full picture of the intensities of that mystifying, mad hour.” Once all Spotify issues were resolved — mostly within the hour — enthusiasts discovered melodies set to an electro-pop beat, complete with synths, dubstep-inspired rhythms and a more androgynous side to Swift’s vocals. The 32-year-old, who began her career in country before shifting to pop and becoming a megastar, abandons her more recent indie-folk vein in the new album. The pop sound marks a departure from “Evermore” and “Folklore,” her two previous albums which were written during the pandemic, the latter of which won Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammys. In “Midnights,” which includes the smooth vocals of Lana Del Rey in the duet “Snow on the Beach,” Swift evokes a certain dreamy mystique, complete with nighttime ruminations — her reflections on growing older and the complications of love. For the most part, the midnight album has bewitched critics. It was warmly received by The Guardian which called it a “cool, collected and mature” compendium, “packed with fantastic songs.” One caveat, however, has been its lack of a catchy title song: “It’s hard to spot anything that sounds like a smash hit on Swift’s third muted collection in a row,” The Independent newspaper lamented. True to Swift form, the songstress had a surprise up her sleeves for her loyal fans. She released an extended 20-song version at 3:00 am on the East Coast titled “Midnights (3am Edition).” The seven extra ballads, she said, were “songs we wrote on our journey to find that magic 13.” View the full article

Published by AFP Several US election candidates had the same idea when they attempted to win cool points by capitalizing off the release of Taylor Swift's new album 'Midnights' Washington (AFP) – With fewer than three weeks left to go ahead of the US midterm elections, candidates are redoubling their efforts to reach voters — even relying on memes and sex tapes to make their cases, as evidenced by these offbeat stories from the campaign trail this week. Swifties run for Senate Several candidates had the same idea Friday when they attempted to win cool points by capitalizing off the release of Taylor Swift’s new album “Midnights.” Ohio Senate candidate Tim Ryan, Pennsylvania governor hopeful Josh Shapiro and New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman posted the album cover template on social media, subbing in their own pictures for the mega-star’s and inserting their policy platforms where the tracking listings appear on the original. And Senator Mark Warner asked Thursday on Twitter “I wonder if one of @taylorswift13’s tracks tonight will be about data privacy … that’s certainly an issue that keeps me up at midnight.” The singer, who has sometimes called herself “Miss Americana,” offered her own opinion on the state of US politics in a lyric from the “Midnights” song “Anti-Hero”: “Did you hear my covert narcissism lightly disguised as altruism like some kind of congressman?” Meme archive John Fetterman, the 6-foot-8-inch tall, tattooed, hoodie-wearing Senate candidate from Pennsylvania, recently created the Fettermemes — a site dedicated to memes intended to humorously ridicule his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz. The platform functions as a library of sorts, archiving videos of the TV star surgeon divided into categories such as “Bad Policies,” “Scam,” “Weird,” “Out of Touch” — and one simply called “LOL.” Under each section are stored a compilation of clips of Oz in television interviews, hosting his own show, speaking at events and even dancing and eating a piece of watermelon. Website visitors can download and use the videos — or photos also linked on the page — to create their own memes. Campaign sex tape Mike Itkis, an independent running for Congress in New York’s 12th district, generated buzz after posting a censored sex tape in an effort to show his “sex-positive approach.” His campaign platform includes a call to “Make sexual rights explicit -– do NOT rely on privacy or free speech rights.” The US army reserve officer stars alongside adult video star Nicole Sage in a 13-minute video called “Bucket List Bonanza,” published to a popular pornography site. Itkis’ website also proclaims he is “Not married. No kids. Not celibate. Atheist.” and lists his campaign platforms on sexuality in a less graphic manner, including the legalization of sex work and “to redefine abortion debate as a right to unplanned sex.” ‘Missy Elliott Day’ In Virginia, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin declared October 17 as a special state holiday dedicated to rapper Missy Elliott. The rapper, best known for her early-2000s songs such as “Work It” and “Get Ur Freak On,” is originally from the town of Portsmouth in the eastern US state. “As a native Virginian, she has inspired young women in the Commonwealth and beyond to pursue careers in the arts and music,” Youngkin said on Twitter. “She is the American dream!” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Britney Spears says she was ignored by her mother Lynne after flying for six hours to see her. The 40-year-old pop star – who regained control of her multi-million dollar fortune and various aspects of her life when a conservatorship governed by her family was terminated in 2021 after 13 years – alleged that she had once travelled for hours to see her mother, but claimed she was more interested in her mobile phone and judt told her to feed the then-infant daughter of her younger sister Jamie Lynn. Alongside of a photograph of late Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn holding a gun for the 1964 movie ‘When It Sizzles’, Britney tweeted: “So embarrassing… literally me for the rest of my life !!!! Let me tell you… it’s SO SEXY to be on guard and scared of people secretly!!! I wish I could be like my mom and just sit my a** on a chair while my daughter drives two hours to see me and takes a 6 hour flight!!!! She just STAYED SEATED with the phone in her hand and gave me the hold finger… and said “SORRY GIVE ME A MINUTE… GO GET IVY’S BOTTLE” (sic) The ‘…Baby One More Time’ hitmaker went on to compare herself to the ‘My Fair Lady’ actress, noting that she would emulate the behaviour seen in the publicity photo for the “rest of her life”, but assured her fans that – unlike Audrey in the picture – she had never actually held a gun. She added: “Must be nice to be SO comfortable with me…. in the meantime this is me for the rest of my life with confidence and a laid back attitude!!!! Psss I’ve never actually held a gun… all good friends!!!” Her comments come just weeks after the ‘Hold Me Closer’ songstress told her mother to “go f*** herself” in an Instagram post after she tried to apologise for her actions during the conservatorship. Britney ranted on Instagram: “For 13 years, I had to meet doctors weekly to bring up my past which made it worse !!! As for my whole family including my brother, sister, cousins, aunts, uncles, and well damn the whole audience… were either stoned or drunk of their a**** !!! “I was the mother f****** Saint who was scared to move or I knew my dad would put me somewhere if I didn’t cooperate … even in America, the land of the free!!!! Years go by and he still puts me in a psych ward !!!! Not one mother f****** person stood up for me !!! (sic)” Following her more general rant about her family, Britney then directed her ire to Lynne Spears, days after she used the comments section of her pop star daughter’s Instagram account to apologise for “anything and everything” that has hurt the ‘Toxic’ singer and urged her to get in touch. Britney wrote: “Mom take your apology and go f*** yourself !!! And to all the doctors for f****** with my mind … I pray you all burn in hell !!! Kiss my mother f****** a**!!!! (sic)” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc’s Google on Friday for allegedly sending its emails to users’ spam folders. The U.S. political committee accuses the tech giant of “discriminating” against it by “throttling its email messages because of the RNC’s political affiliation and views,” according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in California. “Google has relegated millions of RNC emails en masse to potential donors’ and supporters’ spam folders during pivotal points in election fundraising and community building,” the RNC said in the lawsuit. Google rejected the claims. “As we have repeatedly said, we simply don’t filter emails based on political affiliation. Gmail’s spam filters reflect users’ actions,” Google spokesperson José Castañeda said in a statement. “We provide training and guidelines to campaigns, we recently launched an FEC-approved pilot for political senders, and we continue to work to maximize email deliverability while minimizing unwanted spam,” he said, referring to the Federal Election Commission. Spam filters on email services typically weed out unsolicited “spam” messages and divert them to a separate folder. The RNC said that for most of the month, nearly all of its emails end up in users’ inboxes but at the end of the month, which is an important time for fund-raising, nearly all of their emails end up in spam folders. “Critically, and suspiciously, this end of the month period is historically when the RNC’s fundraising is most successful,” the lawsuit said, adding that it does not matter whether the email is about donating, voting or community outreach. The committee said the “discrimination” had been going on for about 10 months despite its best efforts to work with Google. It said the alleged routing of its emails to spam folders had eaten up revenue and that more money would be lost in coming weeks as midterm elections loom. Republicans have long accused big tech companies of discriminating against conservative views and suppressing free speech, an assertion tech companies strongly deny. (Reporting by Rhea Binoy in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by David Shepardson in Rehoboth Beach, Del.; Editing by Robert Birsel and Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett is “rooting” for Lindsay Lohan as she makes her return to acting. The 41-year-old actor starred as the love interest of Lindsay’s character Cady Heron in the 2004 cult classic ‘Mean Girls’ and hopes to be reunited with her following her return to screens in upcoming Netflix movie ‘Falling for Christmas.’ He said: “I’m going to be watching ‘Falling for Christmas’ I’m going to be rooting and I can’t wait to do a Christmas movie with her at Hallmark hopefully!” Meanwhile, the former ‘ Halloween Wars’ host – who tied the knot with actor Jaymes Vaughan earlier this year – is starring in fellow Christmas romcom ‘The Holiday Sitter’ opposite George Krissa and explained that the upcoming flick is “special” because it depicts two men falling in love during the festive season. He told EOnline: “What made this movie so special. Well, the short answer is everything, but the long answer is this one is so special because it’s the first time we see two men fall in love at Christmas on Hallmark Channel in a rom-com. You know, it’s the first time we see a gay-led, LGBTQ+ led rom com at Christmas and so it’s the first of its kind in so many ways. “It’s also just like all the other Christmas movies. This movie, ‘The Holiday Sitter’ isn’t an LGBTQ+ movie. It’s just a Christmas movie that’s for everyone, just like Hallmark Channel is for everyone. And Christmas is for everyone.” Meanwhile, Lindsay – who started her career as a child actress by playing the dual starring role of twins Hallie and Annie in ‘The Parent Trap’ and went on to star in other Disney comedies ‘Freaky Friday’ and ‘Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen’ – has not appeared in a leading role for almost a decade owing to personal reasons but recently explained that acting is like “riding a bicycle.” She said: “I tried to avoid letting distractions on set get in the way. I’m very much to myself before and after a scene. I like to get in my own headspace and prepare quietly on the side. But for me, my whole life, acting is like riding a bicycle.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jennifer Coolidge would join the ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ to impress her gay friends. The 61-year-old actress is known for her roles in ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘American Pie’ but would join the likes of Lisa Rinna and Kathy Hilton on the Bravo reality series – which follows the lives of affluent women based in the Californian city – because she finds it “riveting.” She told EOnline: “Beverly Hills’ is riveting. It is riveting for many reasons. All the gays that I have are obsessed with it, so I would go on that one. Lisa Rinna is such a good villain. So I like that [franchise].” Each of the women on the series use a catchphrase to describe their character and Jennifer previously revealed she had decided on what her own would be if she were offered a place on the show. She said: “It would be ‘If any of you girls say anything c**** to me, I’m gonna beat the s****out of you!'” Meanwhile, Jennifer is reprising her role as Tanya McQuoid in ‘The White Lotus’, which follows a group of vacationers at a holiday resort in Hawaii and teased that the second season will see her character having “a lot of trouble” with a man. She said: “Lots of trouble with a guy—with the dude. I met this amazing dude in ‘White Lotus’ one. He had this terrible cough, and I was like, ‘When is this gonna go away so we can really have some fun?’ Then he gets rid of the cough, and then we get to Sicily, and he’s kinda cold and snotty. He’s really bumming me out.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By James Oliphant ROUND ROCK, Texas -At traffic-choked intersections in this Texas town, a blunt campaign slogan stands out from clusters of candidate signs: “Teach ABCs + 123s, Not CRTs & LGBTs.” Blood-sport politics have come to school board elections in Round Rock, a rapidly growing and diversifying suburb of Austin. Parents are forming political action committees, canvassing door-to-door and sparring on social media. National interest groups, political parties and unions are weighing in on what have historically been nonpartisan contests. The slogan belongs to Don Zimmerman, one of five conservative school board candidates who bill themselves as the “One Family” slate. The group rails against what it calls “political correctness” in schools, “leftist” teachers’ unions, “pornography” in school libraries and LGBTQ-friendly policies. Among their top targets is critical race theory (CRT), which argues that racism and prejudice are embedded within U.S. laws and institutions. Public schools across the nation have said they aren’t teaching the college-level theory, but it has become a catch-all term for critics of policies that promote equity and inclusion. Zimmerman is running against incumbent Tiffanie Harrison, a progressive and the first Black woman elected to the Round Rock school board. Harrison and her supporters call the challengers the “hate slate,” accusing them of fomenting division. In response, Zimmerman regularly labels his critics “bigots” and “trolls” on social media and says his slate is trying to elevate the district’s academic standards. The battle in Round Rock – which has echoes around the country – is an outgrowth of a surge of activism during the COVID-19 pandemic, when parents angry over mask and vaccine mandates disrupted school board meetings from Florida to Alaska. Now that discontent is being harnessed by conservatives nationally. Republicans such as Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida have put “parental rights” at the center of their November re-election bids. Grassroots groups such as Moms for Liberty have lobbied legislatures, and outside PACs such as the 1776 Project have raised money nationwide to back hand-picked school board candidates. The efforts show how Republicans, who have gained control of the majority of state legislatures and governors’ offices in the country – and appear on the verge of seizing at least one chamber of Congress in the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 8 – are now looking to consolidate power on the community level. Ryan Girdusky, who founded the 1776 Project, estimated about 70% of his school board candidates have won in elections held so far this year. Victories in Democratic-leaning enclaves such as Miami, he said, speak to how their concerns cross party lines. “People reorganize and reorient their entire lives around their children,” Girdusky said. “They don’t like their children being messed with.” SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS The Round Rock school district is ripe for political tension. Tech companies such as Apple and Dell have brought an influx of skilled workers, many of them Asians and other diverse groups. New residents have moved from nearby liberal Austin. Williamson County, home to much of the school district and traditionally Republican-leaning, narrowly voted for President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2020. The district sprawls across 110 square miles, with 56 campuses that house 48,000 pupils. White students make up about a third of the student population, down from 44% in 2012. Hispanic students make up nearly another third, while the percentage of Asian students has grown to 20% from 12%. Like school districts across the country, Round Rock was upended by the pandemic. While its lockdown phase was shorter than most, a decision by the board to reinstate a mask mandate last fall as the Omicron variant spread proved divisive. “We had to make tough choices,” Harrison said. “That’s when we really began to see the divide in our community.” Zimmerman, speaking for the conservative slate, said the current board’s COVID policies led to extensive learning loss. But it is Zimmerman’s rhetoric around race and gender that has Chuy Zarate, a local parent who is running for the school board, convinced the conservative slate is more concerned about the district’s changing demographics than the children. Under the auspices of combatting critical race theory, Zimmerman has pledged to abolish the district’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which works to improve student outcomes for nonwhite students. While the district insists it does not teach CRT, conservatives view programs that promote diversity as examples of its spread. Zarate fears the slate would also do away with texts aimed at Black and Hispanic students, and social and emotional teaching tools, which encourage children to develop empathy and healthy relationships. “These guys don’t want success for all kids,” he said. “They want success for their kids.” On Facebook, Zimmerman has mocked Zarate for painting his fingernails and said he is running to the extreme left to promote “rainbow” and “degenerate” LGBTQ values. Zimmerman has called Harrison “the queen” of Black Lives Matter and a “cultural marxist.” In one post, he included their pictures under the title “Child Porn Lovers Guide to Board Elections.” Zarate said he and his wife have considered leaving the state with their children, some of whom identify as LGBTQ, if the conservatives take control. “I’ve never seen it as terrifying as it is right now,” he said. FOLLOW THE MONEY In school board races where name recognition may be the largest factor, a few thousand dollars can make a difference. Earlier this year, the 1776 Project received a $900,000 contribution from another conservative group, Restoration, a PAC backed by billionaire Richard Uihlein of Illinois, whose website says its mission is to “defeat leftists and the woke agenda.” Girdusky said he’ll spend “thousands” in Round Rock to support the conservative One Family slate. To receive a 1776 Project endorsement, a candidate had to be opposed to mask mandates, school closures and the teaching of critical race theory. Locally, the One Family slate is backed by a PAC of the same name that has helped stage events and purchase newspaper ads and road signs. The PAC reported raising about $40,000 as of Oct. 11 and still had $16,000 left to spend in the final weeks before the election, according to campaign finance records. Jeremy Story, a local pastor and a founder of the PAC, said the slate aims to assume full control of the seven-member board and craft policy that reflects their views. “We want to see change happen if we get elected. One person getting elected doesn’t make change,” Story said. Story said there were materials in the school libraries that cross the line into “outright pornography.” On Facebook, the slate has identified several books with the word “queer” in their titles as objectionable. But, Story added, “our opponents want to turn this into book bannings or not trusting librarians. This is not the case. We need safeguards.” The Texas Republican Party endorsed the conservative slate last month, saying in a resolution that it was concerned about “political indoctrination in the classroom.” A group of alarmed liberal-leaning parents in Round Rock have formed their own PAC, Access Education, which had raised almost $30,000 as of Oct. 11. The local teachers’ union has also endorsed a slate of more liberal candidates, as has the county Democratic Party. Meenal McNary, a member of Access Education, hosts meetings at her house every Sunday, bringing in about a dozen local women to discuss the school board race. “We have to talk to our neighbors,” McNary said. “This is about including everyone in our community, about lifting up every member of our community.” Harrison, the current board member, said she has been barraged during the campaign with threats online and over the phone. Earlier this year, she said, she and two supporters received packages containing bloody tampons in what she viewed as an attempt to intimidate her. She said losing to Zimmerman would be devastating. “School board elections are supposed to be nonpartisan,” Harrison said. “Children are not red or blue.” (Reporting by James OliphantEditing by Colleen Jenkins and Claudia Parsons) View the full article

Published by AFP Kanye West, known as Ye, has made a series of controversial statements in recent weeks Paris (AFP) – Paris-based fashion house Balenciaga has ended ties with rapper Kanye West following a recent run of controversial statements, including an outburst denounced as anti-Semitic, according to fashion news site WWD. “Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” Balenciaga’s parent company Kering told WWD. It follows weeks of particularly erratic behaviour from West — now known as Ye. He made a surprise appearance earlier this month for his brand Yeezy at Paris Fashion Week, sporting the controversial slogan “White Lives Matter”, widely considered a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement. The 45-year-old artist then lashed out on social media against former colleagues and friends and a leading fashion journalist who criticised the move, including Kering boss Bernard Arnault. West had already broken off his partnership with Gap last month, with both sides saying they were no longer pulling in the same direction. Adidas announced earlier this month that it was putting its own tie-up with Kanye “under review”. Balenciaga and Kering did not respond to requests for comment from AFP. Ye appeared as a model in Balenciaga’s most recent Paris show last month, wearing a military-style outfit in a mud pit. Images of him from the show were no longer visible on the Balenciaga website on Thursday. The rapper has a long-running relationship with Balenciaga’s creative director Demna, and they launched a tie-up line of clothing earlier this year. The rapper-turned-mogul has been open about having a bipolar disorder. A recent Netflix documentary, “Jeen-Yuhs”, laid bare his ongoing mental health problems. Ye’s recent comments, which included a rant about going “death con 3 on Jewish people”, led to his accounts on Twitter and Instagram being restricted. Earlier this week, he announced he was buying conservative social media platform Parler. “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” he said. View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) The UK has just launched a dedicated consortium, comprised of scientists, researchers and experts from leading institutes, to help tackle the monkeypox outbreak. While monkeypox diagnoses have dropped across the UK in recent months, the country is looking to stay on top of the virus on a global scale with its new research hub. Led by the Pirbright Institute and MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, the £2 million (nearly €2.3 million) project has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council, both part of UK Research and Innov… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Highly sensitive intelligence on Iran and China was in some of the documents recovered by the FBI during an August search of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s home in Florida, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. They included secret documents that described intelligence work regarding China and at least one of them described Iran’s missile program, the report said, adding that the documents were considered to be among the most sensitive in the materials seized by the FBI. The release of information in these documents would pose multiple risks, including endangering people helping U.S. intelligence efforts and compromising collection efforts, the newspaper cited experts as saying. The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Trump broke the law by taking government records, including about 100 classified documents, to his Florida estate after leaving office in January 2021. The department is also looking into whether Trump or his team obstructed justice when the FBI sent agents to search his home, and has warned that more classified documents may still be missing. Representatives for Trump did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the newspaper report. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for confirmation of the Post report. (Reporting By Paul Grant; Editing by Doina Chiacu and David Gregorio) View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump supporters said on Friday it had sent a subpoena to the former president demanding he provide documents and testimony under oath. The subpoena requires documents to be submitted to the Jan. 6 select committee by Nov. 4 and Trump to appear for deposition testimony beginning on or about Nov. 14. “As demonstrated in our hearings, we have assembled overwhelming evidence, including from dozens of your former appointees and staff, that you personally orchestrated and oversaw a multi-part effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election and to obstruct the peaceful transition of power,” the committee wrote in a letter to Trump on Friday. The House Select committee’s seven Democratic and two Republican members voted unanimously on Oct. 13 in favor of subpoenaing Trump, a move that could lead to criminal charges if he does not comply. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Alistair Bell) View the full article