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Published by Chicago Tribune Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago has increased security and moved a transgender youth support group from in-person meetings to virtual ones after it became the latest children’s hospital to face criticism online over its gender development program. An account called Libs of TikTok posted a number of tweets late last month criticizing Lurie’s program, which aims to support “the physical, mental and social health of patients and their families as youth progress through gender identity development,” according to Lurie’s website. Many of the program’s patients are gender-nonconforming children… Read More View the full article

Published by Kaiser Health News DALLAS — J.R. Chester got pregnant the summer before her senior year of high school. A bright student with good grades, she gave birth, graduated, and was pregnant again when she arrived at college that fall. She was a teen mom — like her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother. Her school did not teach sexual health education, and preventing pregnancy was a foreign concept. Her sons are now teenagers. “If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any,” said Chester, now a program director for Healthy Futures of Texas, a nonprofit sexual health advocacy and education organization…. Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Philip Pullella and Charlotte Van Campenhout VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Flemish Roman Catholic bishops on Tuesday issued a document effectively allowing the blessing of same-sex unions, in direct defiance of a ruling against such practices by the Vatican’s doctrinal office. The document published on the website of the Bishops’ Conference of Belgium suggested a ritual that included a prayer and a benediction for stable same-sex unions. But it stressed that it was not “what the Church understands by a sacramental marriage”. It said the Church wanted to be “pastorally close to homosexual persons” and be a “welcoming Church that excludes no one.” The ritual would start with prayers and includes a commitment by the two people in front of family and friends to be faithful to each other. It would end with more prayer and what the document called a “benediction”. A Vatican spokesman had no immediate comment. In March 2021, in response to formal questions from a number of Roman Catholic dioceses on whether the practice of blessing same-sex unions was allowed, the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), ruled that it was not. At the time, the CDF said its ruling was “not intended to be a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite” of the sacrament of marriage and the blessing associated with it. In response to that ruling, Bishop John Bonny of Antwerp said he felt “shame for my Church” and apologised to those he said had been hurt by the “painful and incomprehensible” decision. POPE SUPPORTS CIVIL UNIONS BUT NOT MARRIAGE Pope Francis has said he is opposed to same-sex marriage in the Church but supports civil union legislation to give same-sex couples legal protection and rights such as inheritance and shared health care. A spokesman for the bishops, Geert De Kerpel, said their intention was not to defy the Vatican ruling. “This is first and foremost a positive message,” he told Reuters, adding that it conformed with the pope’s calls for a more inclusive Church. The Flemish bishops document said that some Catholic gays remained celibate and that the Church appreciated it. The Church teaches that while homosexual orientation is not sinful, homosexual acts are. But the document added that “some prefer to live as a couple, in lasting and faithful union with a partner” and that such a relationship “can also be a source of peace and shared happiness”. The bishops denounced “homophobic violence,” and said they wanted to “structurally anchor their pastoral commitment to homosexual persons”. They announced the appointment of Willy Bombeek, a gay Catholic, as an additional staff member to their department for pastoral care of families to oversee care of gay Catholics. One with similar duties would be appointed to each diocese in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. “I’m proud to belong to the Flemish Church,” Bombeek told Reuters. “I hope that religious people in other countries will also get to experience this, and hopefully, this is only the beginning”. Francis DeBernardo, executive director of U.S.-based Catholic LGBTQ group New Ways Ministry, said the move would be a blessing for both the couple and for the Church. “These prelates recognise that love is love. Love is more important than sexual behaviour, and love is something that the Church should always bless,” he said in a statement. (Charlotte Van Campenhout reported from Amsterdam; Editing by Catherine Evans, Mark Heinrich, Mark Porter, Angus MacSwan and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Radar Online The Royal Family is worth roughly $23 billion dollars — and the money continues to roll in. A new report estimated the value of their assets from their many sprawling properties to the Firm’s claim on priceless art and mineral rights. mega The most valuable institutions are the Duchies of Lancaster and the Crown Estate. Their worth has doubled in only ten years, with the latter now worth a staggering $18 billion. The Crown Estate owns lavish properties all over the U.K., including shops, upscale clubs and plots of land in Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Despite the immense wealth in the massive estate, neither King Charles III nor any other members of the family are allowed to sell the Crown Estate’s assets or receive any direct income from the businesses. All profit goes back into the Treasury, then a small amount is given to the monarch under the Sovereign Grant Act which acts as payment to fund official duties. mega As for most wealth members of the Royal family, Charles and Prince William are both estimated to be worth around $1 billion following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty’s daughter, Princess Anne, is believed to have a net worth of $52 million, and Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, are worth $12 million. Disgraced royal Prince Andrew is said to have less than $8 million to his name after being stripped of his military pension. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who abandoned their royal duties to pursue a new life and new business opportunities in the United States, are estimated to be worth $22 million, with a majority being saved from funds the Duke of Sussex inherited following the death of his mother, Princess Diana. However, between their bombshell Netflix deal and Harry’s upcoming $20 million memoir, it is likely their wealth could grow by the tens of millions in the coming year. mega As Radar previously reported, Harry is refusing to scrap his bombshell tell-all book, despite pressure from the King. “The book is the key to Harry’s future in the family. If the book goes away, Harry will be back in with the family,” a source spilled. “However, if the book is published, trust will be permanently damaged, and he will never again be welcomed into the new Kings inner circle.” The Sunday Times was first to publish the report on the Royal Family’s estimated wealth. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Woody Allen is planning to retire from filmmaking. The 86-year-old director – who has directed 49 and won four Academy Awards since starting his career back in the 1960s – is set to take a step back from movie making after he completes the shooting of ‘Wasp 22’ in Paris so he can concentrate on writing novels. He said: “I don’t know if I will write more memoirs, I don’t think so. My next film will be number 50, I think it’s a good time to stop. My idea, in principle, is not to make more movies and focus on writing, these stories and, well, now I’m thinking more of a novel, which would be my first novel.” The acclaimed actor-turned-director – who is known for directing classics such as ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘Manhattan’ – went on to explain that his potential novel will be “humorous” because that is what comes most “naturally” to him but acknowledged that the industry of moviemaking has “changed” because many cinemas in the US have closed. He told La Vanguardia: “But film business has changed, human stories are no longer so interesting. In the US, many cinemas have closed. I imagine it will have a lot of humour because that’s what comes naturally to me. But, if I had a very serious idea, I wouldn’t hesitate to do the same thing I did in some of my films, the serious calls. [My 50th movie] will be similar to [his 2005 thriller] ‘Match Point’, exciting, dramatic, and also sinister.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Prince Harry dutifully stood guard by Queen Elizabeth II‘s coffin at Westminster Hall on Saturday, September 17, but there was something missing from his attire. The Duke of Sussex has been heartbroken since the passing of his grandmother and the Royal Family seemingly added insult to injury by ordering the removal of Her Majesty’s “ER” initials from his military uniform. However, disgraced Prince Andrew was allowed to keep the special letters. mega The royal cypher is worn by those presently “in service” of the reigning monarch. The removal of the initials is believed to be a fairly typical uniform regulation, however, Harry was said to be “devastated” when he found out about the change. The Duke of Sussex is a military veteran who served in the British Army for 10 years, including deploying on two tours to Afghanistan. While he is no longer in the military and has since left his royal duties to seek a new life in the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle, and his children, Archie and Lilibet, he continues to work directly with charity efforts for servicemen and women. Shortly before leaving the military, Harry launched the Invictus games in 2014, which supports wounded, injured and sick active duty servicemembers as well as veterans. “He is heartbroken,” a friend revealed in a recent interview. “To remove his grandmother’s initials feels very intentional.” mega The snub appeared especially pointed as Andrew was allowed to keep his mother’s letters on his own uniform, despite losing his military titles and royal patronages amid the Virginia Giuffre scandal. The Duke of York, who was known to have a close affiliation with both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with Giuffre when she was only 17-years-old. He reached a settlement in the case earlier this year. Although the sum was not disclosed, it is believed to be around $10 million. Following being stripped of his titles, Andrew also lost his annual Navy pension of over $20,000. mega The friend spoke to The Sunday Times. View the full article

Published by AFP Viola Davis discusses Los Angeles (AFP) – “The Woman King,” an epic about an all-female army of African warriors, easily topped the North American box office this weekend with an estimated take of $19 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. The new Sony release, loosely based on a true historical episode, stars Oscar-winner Viola Davis as the fierce general who leads an army known as the Agojie as it protects the 18th-century kingdom of Dahomey. Days earlier, Davis told AFP that she felt “conflicted” because if the Black-led, woman-dominated film fell short, it would unfairly damage the prospects for future such endeavors. Instead, boosted by a favorable critical reception — “Reviews are sensational,” said the FranchiseRe website — it exceeded analysts’ expectations, more than tripling the ticket sales of the next-highest finisher, 20th Century’s “Barbarian.” That horror film tells the story of a woman (Georgina Campbell) who checks into an AirBnB rental in a sketchy Detroit neighborhood only to find it has also been booked by an oh-so-creepy Bill Skarsgard. “Barbarian” took in $6.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. In third place was a slasher film, “Pearl,” a new low-budget release from A24, with ticket sales just over $3.1 million. Mia Goth stars in a blood-soaked tale that involves the brutal use of both an axe and a pitchfork, on animals and humans. Enough said. Searchlight’s comic mystery “See How They Run” placed fourth in its opening weekend, at $3.1 million. Sam Rockwell stars as an often-inebriated Scotland Yard detective, Saoirse Ronan as his eager but hapless assistant, and Adrien Brody as a sleazy Hollywood director in London to make a film version of Agatha Christie classic “The Mousetrap” — until fate intervenes. And in fifth place was Sony action thriller “Bullet Train,” starring Brad Pitt, at $2.5 million. Rounding out the top 10 were: “Top Gun: Maverick” ($2.2 million) “DC League of Super-Pets” ($2.2 million) “The Invitation” ($1.7 million) “Minions: The Rise of Gru” ($1.3 million) “Moonage Daydream” ($1.2 million) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview aired on Sunday that his predecessor Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents was “totally irresponsible” but that he is staying out of the investigation. Seeing the classified documents turned up by an Aug. 8 FBI search of Trump’s Florida residence at Mar-a-Lago caused Biden to wonder “how anyone can be that irresponsible,” he said in an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” program. “I thought, what data was in there that may compromise sources and methods? And by that, I mean, names of people who help etc., and it’s just totally irresponsible.” The remarks broke with Biden’s pattern of avoiding commenting on the Justice Department’s criminal probe of his onetime political rival for possibly taking ultra-sensitive material to his residence after his term ended in January 2021. Biden, a Democrat, defeated the Republican Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Trump, who has weighed another run for office, has described the court-approved search as politically motivated. Biden said he had not received a classified briefing on the contents of those documents. “I have not asked for the specifics of those documents because I don’t want to get myself in the middle of whether or not the Justice Department should move or not move on certain actions they can take,” Biden said. “I agreed I would not tell them what to do and not, in fact, engage in telling them how to prosecute or not.” The Justice Department has said it was investigating Trump for removing White House records because it believed he illegally held documents including some involving intelligence-gathering and clandestine human sources – among America’s most closely held secrets. Biden’s intelligence chief is also investigating whether the disclosure of information in those documents presented national security risks. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Bradley Perrett) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview aired on Sunday that “the pandemic is over,” even though the country continues to grapple with coronavirus infections that kill hundreds of Americans daily. “The pandemic is over,” Biden said during an interview conducted with CBS’ “60 Minutes” program on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Detroit auto show, an event which drew thousands of visitors. “We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lotta work on it. But the pandemic is over. If you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it’s changing.” The toll of the COVID-19 pandemic has diminished significantly since early in Biden’s term when more than 3,000 Americans per day were dying, as enhanced care, medications and vaccinations have become more widely available. But nearly 400 people a day continue to die from COVID-19 in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Biden spent more than two weeks isolated in the White House after two bouts with COVID-19, starting in July. His wife Jill contracted the virus in August. Biden has said the mild cases were a testament to the improvements in care during his presidency. Biden has asked Congress for $22.4 billion more in funding to prepare for a potential fall case surge. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A new artificial intelligence recycling technology can sort plastics on its own. The technology – of which little is known – will reportedly use artificial intelligence to help programs to sort plastics in an effort to stop recyclable materials going to landfill sites. Dr. Xu Wang of the University of Technology Sydney School of Electrical and Data Engineering told HydrogenFuelNews.com: “The recycling process is quite complicated. If you go to the supermarket or for the daily recycling you need to know how to properly place all the recyclable (items), like bottles or others, into the right bins. You need to know the labels, know the icons.” The outlet went on to allege that bin uses a spectrum of different forms of recycling technology including robotics, machine vision and artificial intelligence. Wang added: “This machine can classify different (types) of waste including glasses, metal cans and plastics!” View the full article

Published by DPA The conversion of street lamps to LEDs in many European countries has changed the colour spectrum of night-time lighting – with possible consequences for humans and animals. Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa Both humans and animals are at increased risk of adverse health impacts due to loss of sleep from blue light emitted from the growing number of LED street lamps, research on light pollution in European countries has found. Britain-based scientists used photos taken from the International Space Station (ISS) to show that white LEDs have increased the proportion of emissions in the blue part of the light spectrum. Since blue light inhibits the release of the hormone melatonin, which promotes sleep, the widespread switch to LEDs is believed to be undermining the sleep of both animals and humans, the research team from England’s University of Exeter in Penryn wrote in the scientific journal Science Advances. “The benefits that LED technology may provide for public lighting, and particularly street lighting, have been much vaunted, with a focus on greater energy efficiency and associated reductions in energy costs and carbon emissions,” the study says. But from the researchers’ point of view, the negative environmental consequences of using white LEDs in street lighting should not be ignored. At the very least, the colour spectrum of night-time lighting should be measured regularly. “While data on spatial and temporal variation in the intensity of artificial lighting have been available at a regional and global scale, data on variation in its spectral composition have only been collected for a few locations,” the researchers write. The reason for this lies in the satellite sensors used to measure artificial lighting, which only register the intensity of the light but not its colour. Moreover, these sensors are hardly sensitive to the wavelength of blue light. The researchers therefore resorted to photos taken by astronauts from the ISS. Since 2003, about 1.25 million photos have been collected. The scientists selected photos from 2012 and 2013 showing Europe at night and compared them with photos of the same regions in the period of 2014 to 2020. Between these two periods is when LEDs (light-emitting diodes) became ready for use in street lamps. From 2014 onwards, there was an 11.1% increase in light in the green range and, more worryingly, a 24.4% increase in blue light, the researchers found. A shift in the light spectrum towards blue light occurs primarily when so-called sodium vapour lamps with orange-yellow light are replaced by white LED lamps, which emit a significantly larger proportion of blue light. The scientists observed particularly strong changes in light in Italy, Romania, Ireland and Britain, while Germany and Austria were less impacted. With regard to the effects of these changes on the biological environment, the research team names four aspects: Because blue light inhibits the release of melatonin, the biorhythm in animals, but also in humans, can become confused. Previous studies have also shown that night-time lighting has negative consequences for the movement and feeding behaviour of bats. The use of LEDs also causes even fewer stars to be visible in cities and further alters the movement of moths and other insects that approach or avoid light sources. A map of light pollution in Europe based on ISS photos. The conversion of street lamps to LEDs in many European countries has changed the colour spectrum of night-time lighting – with possible consequences for humans and animals. Sánchez de Miguel et al/dpa View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Fran Drescher has always admired Audrey Hepburn’s style. The former ‘The Nanny’ star thinks the late ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ star’s style was “very special and different” from other actresses she saw as a child. The 64-year-old actress told Interview magazine: “Well, I come from a very humble beginning and a small provincial world. But for some reason, I could see that the style of Audrey Hepburn, who I would see in movies on television, was something that I wanted to aspire to. I knew that her look was very special and different from what I was used to. When I was a little girl, my parents didn’t have a lot of money, but I rarely said I wanted anything, so when I did fall in love with something, they tried to get it for me. I saw this beautiful tweed winter coat that had a neck shawl that wrapped over the shoulder. It was very sophisticated for a little girl. It was expensive for them, but they bought it for me because when I wore that coat, I felt like Audrey Hepburn.” Fran detailed her love of learning about fashion history, especially after seeing it take shape in the 90s with brands like Moschino and Chanel. She said: “I always love going to museums that celebrate fashion—fashion exhibitions. In the ’80s, and certainly in the ’90s when The Nanny was on, I was discovering designers like Todd Oldham and Moschino, but also Chanel. Chanel was starting to get younger in its look. Karl Lagerfeld really brought a youthful energy without delineating away from the core of the brand. He didn’t reinvent the wheel, he just made it better, faster, younger, and more contemporary for the time. He was kind of doing the Chanel version of Madonna.” ‘The Beautician and the Beast’ star labelled fashion as “an expression” of our identities and feelings. Fran said: “We don’t walk around in society naked, so clothes become an expression of who we are and how we feel. It’s a reflection of our inner selves, the you you want to project to the outside world. One of power, one of sophistication, one of fun, one of youth. I always consider clothing wearable art.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her final ‘Chromatica Ball’ concert midway through due to lightning strikes. The ‘Stupid Love’ hitmaker – real name Stefani Germanotta -halted her show mid-gig at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, due to extreme weather conditions. Although she was hoping the pause would only be temporary, it was ultimate decided – with about six songs to go – it could not continue. Gaga said in a teary video posted on Instagram on Sunday (18.09.2022): “We really tried to finish the show tonight in Miami but we couldn’t because even when the rain stopped there was lightning striking right down to the ground so close to us. “I know that for a long time, I’ve always wanted to be like that hardcore bad b**** but what I also want to be is responsible and loving and I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to anyone in the audience, or any member of my crew, my band, or my dancers.” In the caption of another post, she added: “I’m sorry i couldn’t finish the show it was too dangerous the lightening [sic] was being unpredictable and changing moment by moment, I love you. Look, for years some of you have called me ‘mother monster,’ in my heart I knew it was better to keep you safe.” The ‘Poker Face’ hitmaker expressed her gratitude to her 53 million followers “for believing in” her. Gaga said: “Thank you for believing in me. This was the greatest tour of my life and I will cherish this moment forever—it took a long time for me to heal, but I did. Sure, OF COURSE, I wanted to sing rain on me for you in the rain. I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive’—I guess somehow I knew this moment would happen and I am so grateful to you, my dancers, my band the whole crew everyone my family and friends. Safety first. Love you. Thank you for the flowers and the cheers and for understanding. Life matters. #thechromaticaball” The 36-year-old pop megastar told the 65,000 strong crowd in Miami after the decision was made: “I don’t want to put your life in danger.” Gaga continued: “Get home safely, God bless you and thank you for coming to the show,” before concluding the show with a bow. View the full article

Published by Fadeaway World By Orlando Silva Kareem Abdul-Jabbar criticized Anthony Edwards’ anti-LGBTQ+ comments, urging the player to do something real to apologize. View the original article to see embedded media. Anthony Edwards raised many eyebrows last week when he posted an Instagram story full of homophobic comments when he spotted a group of men hanging out at night. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ young star was met with a lot of criticism for his comments, which forced him to apologize for his behavior. Even though he already apologized, the backlash hasn’t stopped and while the league is reviewing should they pun… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – Book bans accelerated across the United States during the 2021-2022 school year, largely through the efforts of organized groups that called on public schools to remove more than 1,600 titles, the writers’ group PEN America said on Monday. There were 2,532 instances of individual book bans affecting 1,648 titles at 5,000 schools with 4 million students, according to the report. The research found 1,000 more book bans than were documented in the group’s initial report released in April. PEN America said the rapid rise came as a growing number of groups have targeted books dealing with race or LGBTQ issues. The report identified at least 50 groups active in pushing for book bans, the vast majority of which have formed since 2021. “This rapidly accelerating movement has resulted in more and more students losing access to literature that equips them to meet the challenges and complexities of democratic citizenship,” said Jonathan Friedman, lead author of the report. While proponents of book bans emphasize the importance of parental control, PEN America said the movement has gone beyond the normal give-and-take between parents and educators and morphed into a sophisticated and well-resourced campaign. One group identified by PEN America mobilized against a school district that taught about transgender identities, the report said. Another emphasizes the dangers of critical race theory, an esoteric field of study in law school or graduate school. Opponents have leveraged concerns over CRT to suppress works about the history of slavery, desegregation and the civil rights movement. More than 40% of the banned titles address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer themes or have prominent queer characters. The most frequently banned book was “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, which was banned by 41 school districts. Race also drew the attention of censors, with 40% of the banned titles featuring prominent character of color. The most banned authors include the late Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, whose works largely deal with race, and other winners of prestigious literary awards. Other banned books touched on sexual content, rights and activism, or stories with religious minorities. Texas accounted for the most bans, with 801 in 22 districts, followed by Florida and Pennsylvania. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; editing by Diane Craft) View the full article

Published by Sports Illustrated By Michael Rosenberg One had to be told she could do anything. The other was always told she couldn’t. Now with Las Vegas, they both have their first WNBA title. Kelsey Plum dribbled the shot clock dry, then drove to the hoop, the simplest basketball act fueled by the purest of basketball motives. Last summer, the Aces retired Becky Hammon’s No. 25, and Hammon said last week, “I worked with Plum on her finishing.” Hammon was a Spurs assistant then. She says coaching the Aces “didn’t even cross my mind.” She helped Plum because it’s what coaches do. Now Plum took rock to rim; finished; did a ha… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Brad Reed A newly unearthed document reveals just how much effort the far-right Proud Boys gang puts into preparing for potentially violent encounters. The Guardian reports that the document shows “meticulous planning” for Proud Boys actions, as “it resembles the annual minutes of a society of tax accountants” more than a manifesto written for political extremists. According to the publication, the document was given by a member of the Proud Boys to extremism reporter Andy Campbell, who used it as part of research for his new book titled, “We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ush… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Several thousand people have taken part in an anti-LGBT demonstration in Istanbul. They called for LGBT associations to be closed down and displayed signs that read: “protect your family and your generation”, “Say no to society without gender”, and “Father + mother + baby = family”. A speaker for the event, Kursat Mican, also claimed organisers received 150,000 signatures on a petition calling for a ban on what they called LGBT “propaganda” in social media, sports, arts and Netflix. An advert for the anti-LGBT march was also shown on television after gaining the approval of the country’s broad… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters TOKYO (Reuters) – Typhoon Nanmadol bore down on Japan’s southernmost main island of Kyushu on Sunday with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warning of gales and high waves. The 14th typhoon of the season, which has weakened as it approaches Kyushu, is bringing record rainfall, the JMA said, warning of the risk of overflowing rivers. Southern Kyushu could receive 400 mm (16 inches) of rain over the next 24 hours and wind gusts of up to 235 km per hour (145 miles per hour) on Sunday, while the central Tokai region could get 300 mm (12 inches) of rain, the agency forecast. The typhoon has caused damage in southern Kyushu including downing a bus stop in Miyazaki prefecture and breaking the window of a pachinko parlour in Kagoshima prefecture, according to public broadcaster NHK. Railway operators and airlines have cancelled services and convenience store chain Seven-Eleven Japan temporarily shut around 950 stores. Toyota Motor Corp said it will idle production at three factories on Monday. The storm is forecast to turn east and pass over Japan’s main island of Honshu before moving out to sea by Wednesday. Heavy rain lashed the capital Tokyo, with the Tozai subway line suspended because of flooding. (Reporting by Sam Nussey, Maki Shiraki and Ritsuko Shimizu; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and William Mallard) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Ivelisse Rivera SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) -Hurricane Fiona was nearing the coast of Puerto Rico on Sunday, threatening to slam the U.S. territory with “catastrophic flooding,” a government agency said, while the island’s fragile power grid was knocked out of service. The storm was about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of the city of Ponce with maximum sustained winds near 87 miles per hour (140 kilometers per hour), clearing the threshold for hurricane strength, the National Hurricane Center said in an update at 2 p.m. (1800 GMT) Electricity was out across the island of 3.3 million people, LUMA Energy, operator of the island’s grid and the Puerto Rico power authority said in a statement. Earlier on Sunday, electricity had been lost to about a third of power customers. Puerto Rico’s ports have been closed and flights out of the main airport canceled. Torrential rains and mudslides were also forecast for the Dominican Republic as the storm progresses northwestward, with the Turks and Caicos Islands likely facing tropical storm conditions on Tuesday, the NHC said. “These rains will produce life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and urban flooding across Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic, along with mudslides and landslides in areas of higher terrain,” the agency said. President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico on Sunday, a move that authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief and provide emergency protective measures. The rains have increased in intensity since Sunday morning, along with strong wind gusts, residents said. “It has been raining heavily since 10:00 a.m. At the moment, we still have electricity service,” said Kimberly Ortiz, who lives in Ciales, a town in the center of the island. “In Ciales, we have felt some wind gusts.” A wide swathe of Puerto Rico was forecast to see 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) of rain while parts could be hit by up to 25 inches (63.5 cm), according to the NHC. Puerto Rico’s grid remains fragile after Hurricane Maria in September 2017 caused the largest blackout in U.S. history. In that Category 5 storm, 1.5 million customers lost electricity with 80% of power lines knocked out. Authorities have opened more than 100 shelters and closed beaches and casinos, and residents were urged to seek shelter. There has been one death reported so far tied to Fiona, in the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. Authorities said one man as found dead on Saturday after his house was swept away by floods there. France will recognize a state of natural disaster for Guadeloupe, President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter on Sunday. (Reporting by Ivelisse Rivera in San Juan; Additional reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by Grant McCool and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Reuters BEIJING (Reuters) – A senior Chinese health official advised people to avoid physical contact with foreigners to prevent possible monkeypox infection after the first known case of the virus on mainland China was reported on Friday. “To prevent possible monkeypox infection and as part of our healthy lifestyle, it is recommended that 1) you do not have direct skin-to-skin contact with foreigners,” Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention posted on his official Weibo page on Saturday. Wu also called for people to avoid “skin-to-skin contact” with people who have been abroad within the past three weeks as well as all “strangers”, as he cautioned vigilance. “It is necessary and very important to strengthen the surveillance and prevention of monkeypox epidemic at the social level,” he wrote. His post was widely shared across social media over the weekend, but the comments section under his initial post were disabled on Sunday and in the early hours of Monday in Beijing. Some, who commented on forwarded or screenshot versions of his post, questioned why foreigners in China, many of whom are long-term residents and have not left recently due to COVID-19 barriers, were considered more dangerous than locals. Wu did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on this sent to his social media account on Monday. The southwestern city of Chongqing recorded a monkeypox virus infection on Friday in an individual who arrived from abroad, marking mainland China’s first known monkeypox infection amid the recent global outbreak of the virus. The transmission risk is low as the individual was put in quarantine upon arrival in Chongqing, the municipal health commission said in a statement. All close contacts were isolated and put under medical observation. Around 90 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, which the World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency. There have been more than 60,000 confirmed cases and some non-endemic countries have reported their first related deaths. (Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Don’t tell the Sussexes! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly “uninvited” to Sunday’s state reception for world leaders hosted by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles, and according to a source, they had to figure out the news for themselves. Radar learned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were likely unwelcome to the prestigious event after a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace clarified that only “working members of the royal family only” were invited. mega However, the update caused confusion as a royal source also confirmed that both Harry and Meghan had received invitations and “nobody told them they are uninvited.” “I’m told they only found out they were uninvited by reading press reports,” added a second source. The event, meant for foreign royals and political leaders, will be hosted by the King and Queen Consort, with members of the Royal family, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, greeting guests as they arrive. Among those on the guest list are Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron. mega The state reception comes the day before Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest. Her funeral is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 19, at Westminster Abbey in London. As Radar previously reported, Her Majesty passed away on Thursday, September 8, around 6:30 P.M. local time. “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of great sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother,” Charles wrote in a statement. “I know her loss will be deeply felt through the country, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world,” he continued. “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.” Page Six spoke to the sources and was first to report Buckingham Palace’s confirmation that the event is for working royals only. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Praveen Menon and Anna Mehler Paperny SYDNEY/TORONTO (Reuters) – When newly elected indigenous Australian parliamentarian Lidia Thorpe took her oath to office last month, she raised her fist above her head in protest and labelled Queen Elizabeth II a “colonising queen”. “It was like kneeling to the murderer,” the Greens senator told Reuters this week. “I had to swear my allegiance to a colonising power that has caused so much harm to our people.” The death of Queen Elizabeth has led First Nations people from Canada to Australia and former colonies in the Caribbean to speak about their pain and marginalisation, as well as renewing calls for the removal of the monarchy as head of state in some countries. The accession of King Charles comes amid a rise in anti-colonialism fuelled by a growing awareness of historical atrocities and a greater recognition of indigenous culture and knowledge. “There’s rising popular consciousness around injustices around the world, what’s carried out in the name of one’s own nation for the exploitation of indigenous peoples,” said Veldon Coburn, an indigenous Anishinaabe professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada. “Almost overlapping with Queen Elizabeth’s reign, from the 1950s, you also see resistance movements emerging.” Calls are growing in some Caribbean countries for reparation payments and an apology for slavery, while Canadian indigenous leaders want the monarchy to act on a swathe of historical injustices. Australia is on a path to give Aboriginal people a formal voice on indigenous matters in parliament, but Thorpe contrasted the government’s decision to hold a day of mourning for the Queen with the historical neglect of indigenous Australians. “[It] is just another nail in the coffin in terms of how we feel and how we are treated as First Nations people,” she said. “It’s like we never existed.” The changing demographic in Commonwealth nations, and accusations of racism in the royal family following the exit of Prince Harry and Meghan, has led to more questions about the need for a distant monarch as head of state. REPUBLIC DEBATE A decision by Barbados to ditch the queen as head of state in November, 2021 was seen as a boost for the republican cause and has been echoed in other Caribbean nations like Jamaica and Bahamas. Opinion polls in Australia, New Zealand, Canada have all pointed to a growing view that they should end ties to the monarchy with the death of Elizabeth, even though this is unlikely anytime soon in countries like Canada. [L1N30K2HZ] In New Zealand, indigenous Maori account for about 17% of the country’s 5 million people. They are well represented in parliament, Maori has been made an official language and the history of British colonisation is taught in public schools. But Maori are over-represented in prisons and state care, and the community remains the country’s poorest. “If we can’t address the negativity and impacts of colonisation now, then when? Do we wait for Prince William, or Prince William’s children?” asked Maori Party, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, who supports abolishing the monarchy and a New Zealand head of state. “No one taking that role, king or queen, princess or prince, is unaware of the damage of colonisation to us as indigenous peoples,” she said. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said she expects New Zealand to become a republic eventually, but certainly not soon. Australia’s centre-left Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who openly favours a republic, has tasked a minister with making this happen. But any change would require a referendum and is only expected if the government wins a second term. Albanese has said now is not the time to discuss the matter, but did note in a radio interview this week that the automatic ascension of King Charles was a chance “to reflect on the system that we have over a period of time.” In Canada, polls suggest about half of all people believe the country should end ties to the monarchy with the death of Queen Elizabeth. Indigenous people account for less than 5% of Canada’s population of about 38 million and they suffer from higher levels of poverty, unemployment and a lower life expectancy than other Canadians. But experts say removing the monarchy from the Canadian constitution would prove difficult. MESSAGE FOR THE KING Indigenous leaders in Canada who spoke with Reuters were less interested in severing ties with the monarchy than holding it to commitments it made hundreds of years ago. When now-King Charles visited Canada earlier this year, Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald asked him in person to apologise for the monarchy’s role in colonization. Archibald reiterated that call after the queen’s death. Anishinaabe lawyer Sara Mainville said she does not want to see the monarchy abolished in Canada, saying the king “has a very important and special place in reconciliation.” Kukpi7 (Chief) Judy Wilson in British Columbia said she hopes the new king will act on things his mother did not – renouncing the “Doctrine of Discovery” that justified colonizing and dispossessing indigenous people, apologising for abusive residential schools, acknowledging indigenous artifacts in British hands and calling for action on climate change. “Maybe King Charles could step up … to correct those historical wrongs that impacted indigenous people globally,” she said. “He has the world’s eyes right now. What tone is he going to send out in his reign as king?” (Reporting by Praveen Menon in Sydney and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; additional reporting by Jill Gralow; editing by Richard Pullin) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Anne Heche’s final performance was a “tour de force”. The 53-year-old actress died last month, a week after being involved in a fiery car accident, and director Elisabeth Rohm has heaped praise on the star for the great work she did on their Lifetime movie ‘Girl in Room 13’, which sheds a light on human trafficking. Elisabeth told People magazine: “It was a really positive experience working with her. These Lifetime movies move very quickly and they’re a tough schedule, but she worked really, really hard, and she always brought her A-game, always elevated the other actors, was so generous to all the other actors. “She was just a total pleasure, a hero for the film. She became a good friend and did a phenomenal job. Her performance is a tour de force, and it was really a privilege to direct her.” In the movie, Anne plays “heroic mother” Janie, whose recovering addict daughter (Larissa Dias) was kidnapped by human traffickers, prompting her to set out on a rescue mission. Elisabeth and Anne were “really proud” to examine the subject and the pair, along with Larissa participated in a PSA for a partnership between Lifetime, the Polaris Project and the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The director added: “What we really shared was a passion for the topic we were gonna tackle. “Every single day we showed up to the project with a commitment to stop violence against women and to tell a tale that was dark and horrible, but with a fighting spirit and perseverance.” Elisabeth is still “devastated” by the actress’ death and hopes she will be remembered for her “beautiful work and legacy”, rather than the tragic circumstances surrounding her passing. She said: “[Her death is still] very fresh, so we’re all missing her and very shocked and devastated. “I hope people celebrate her beautiful work and legacy. This film is a testament to her incredible passion for art and for humanity and for women and to create a mission, a movement, and to make a real difference in the world. So I couldn’t speak more highly of her.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Hillary Clinton wanted to “show a different side” to Kim Kardashian on her Apple TV+ series ‘Gutsy’. The former US Secretary of State’s new eight-part documentary sees the polarizing politician and her daughter Chelsea Clinton celebrate the “gutsy” women who have inspired them. And the ‘Kardashians’ star is one of the women featured for her influence and Hillary wanted to highlight her prison reform work. Asked why it was important to show non-celebrities as well, she told Radio Times magazine: “It really was. “But even with well-known names like Kim, we wanted to show a different side of them. “Most people might not know about Kim’s commitment to criminal justice and to people who have been incarcerated unfairly or for too long a period of time. “But we were most excited about meeting women who are not so well known [such as footballer Abby Wambach and YouTuber ContraPoints]. “We didn’t know them, or if we did, we knew that many others didn’t know.” Hillary is keen to continue raising issues for women globally and would love to do a second series. She said: “I would love to continue to highlight women’s stories and women’s lives. “I think there’s a global interest in talking about what women are facing today, the decisions that we all have to make, the challenges, from discrimination to climate to – in the USA – the reversal of Roe vs Wade by the Supreme Court. “These challenges of being a woman today and of having the right to make your own decisions, being able to make your choices as to what’s right for you, your family and your future … those are universal. “If we have a chance to keep telling those stories, I would want to do that.” View the full article