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Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s team may not have returned all the classified records removed from the White House at the end of his presidency even after an FBI search of his home, U.S. prosecutors warned on Thursday, calling it a potential national security risk that needs investigation. That revelation came in a Justice Department court filing asking U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to let it continue reviewing about 100 classified records seized by the FBI at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate while it investigates whether classified documents were illegally removed from the White House and improperly stored there. Trump is under investigation for retaining government records, some of which were marked as highly classified, at the resort in Palm Beach, Florida, his home after leaving office in January 2021. The 100 documents represent a fraction of the more than 11,000 records and photographs seized, most of which the government said Trump may review because they are not classified. “This motion is limited to … the seized classified records because those aspects of the order will cause the most immediate and serious harms to the government and the public,” the department said in its court filing. The prosecutors also asked the judge not to allow an independent arbiter, called a “special master,” to review classified materials seized from Trump’s property. Trump, in a posting on his Truth Social platform, described the request as a waste of money. The Justice Department on Thursday suggested there could be more classified records that were removed from the Trump White House that investigators have not yet located. This revelation comes about a week after the Justice Department released a detailed list of property seized from Trump’s home which showed the FBI located 48 empty folders labeled as classified and another 42 which indicated they should be returned to a staff secretary or military aide. Legal experts were perplexed as to why the folders were empty, and it was not clear whether records were missing. “Without a stay, the government and the public will also suffer irreparable harm from the undue delay to the criminal investigation,” prosecutors wrote. “The injunction against using classified records in the criminal investigation could impede efforts to identify the existence of any additional classified records that are not being properly stored – which itself presents the potential for ongoing risk to national security,” they added. READY TO APPEAL Prosecutors asked Cannon for a ruling by Sept. 15. If she denies their request, they intend to file an appeal to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where six of the 11 active judges are Trump appointees. In an order on Thursday evening, Cannon gave Trump’s lawyer’s until Monday morning to respond to the government’s request. Cannon, also a Trump appointee, on Monday ordered prosecutors to pause reviewing the more than 11,000 recovered records while a special master is appointed to review the material. The Justice Department said it will on Friday provide the court a list of possible special master candidates in a joint filing with Trump’s attorneys, as Cannon has requested. The Justice Department is also investigating possible obstruction of justice, after it uncovered evidence showing that records may have been removed or concealed from the FBI when it sent agents to Trump’s home in June to try to recover all classified documents through a grand jury subpoena. Cannon granted Trump’s request for a special master, despite prosecutors’ objections. The judge said the special master will review documents not just covered by attorney-client privilege, but any records possibly covered by executive privilege as well. Executive privilege is a legal doctrine that can shield some presidential records from disclosure. The Justice Department has challenged the logic of using executive privilege because Trump does not own the records and is no longer president. Cannon’s reasoning has also been criticized by Democratic and Republican legal experts. “No potential assertion of executive privilege could justify restricting the executive branch’s review and use of the classified records at issue here,” the Justice Department wrote in its Thursday filing. In Cannon’s Monday order, she allowed U.S. intelligence officials to review all of the seized materials as part of their ongoing national security damage assessment. But the Justice Department said there is no way to wall off the criminal investigation and the national security review. “The ongoing Intelligence Community classification review and assessment are closely interconnected with — and cannot be readily separated from—areas of inquiry of DOJ’s and the FBI’s ongoing criminal investigation,” the prosecutors said. Some legal experts on Thursday lauded the Justice Department’s approach to Cannon’s order, saying it carefully preserves its right to appeal broader concerns about a special master appointment, while at the same time asking Cannon for a much narrower solution for bigger concerns. “I think the government has embarked on a shrewd tactical strategy,” said David Laufman, an attorney who previously served as chief of the department’s counterintelligence section. He said the department’s legal strategy takes “a scalpel” to Cannon’s order by seeking immediate relief from its worst parts, while still preserving its right to appeal in the future. “They are focusing on what is most critical and most time-sensitive, both with respect to protecting the national security interests of the United States and with conducting follow-up investigative action,” he said. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; additional reporting by Jacqueline Thomsen; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell and Josie Kao) View the full article

Published by PsyPost Monkeypox’s effect on the skin – the disfiguring rashes – and the flu-like symptoms have been well described, but few have investigated the neurological and psychiatric problems the virus might cause. There are historic reports of neurological complications in people infected with the related smallpox virus and in people vaccinated against smallpox, which contains the related vaccinia virus. So my colleagues and I wanted to know whether monkeypox causes similar problems. We looked at all the evidence from before the current monkeypox pandemic of neurological or psychiatric problems in people w… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic taught Daniel Radcliffe how to play the accordion. The 33-year-old actor plays the musician in the biopic ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ and recalled how Yankovic taught him how to play the instrument in preparation for the part. Daniel told IndieWire at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Eric Appel’s film: “Honestly, the thing that we worked on the most together was the accordion. “He gave me some accordion lessons, which is something that I can take to my grave that I had that moment. I don’t need anything else.” Daniel does not expect audiences to take “a moral” from the film but hopes the spoof helps people delve into their own “weirdness”. The ‘Harry Potter’ star said: “This is not a movie that we expect you to sit down and take a moral from the story. “But if there’s something to it, it’s about leaning into your own weirdness and that being a way of finding your own happiness.” Radcliffe continued: “(Yankovic) is so authentically himself and that has led to this wonderful film, as well as his incredible career.” Evan Rachel Wood portrays pop icon Madonna in the film but doubts the singer will react to the movie. She said: “I don’t think she’s going to respond at all. She has other things on her mind and other things to do.” The 35-year-old actress continued: “I love Madonna. I’ve met her before. We’ve been very friendly. So I think we’re cool. I’m hoping we’re cool. And the good news is nothing in this movie actually happened, so I’m a little safe there.” View the full article

Published by DPA Costumed revellers take part in the rainbow train and solidarity march, organized by the Oslo Pride, two and a half months after the mass shooting in Oslo. Originally, Oslo Pride was to hold its traditional parade on 25 June 2022, but on the night of this Saturday, two people were killed and several injured in the shooting at a pub in central Oslo. Beate Oma Dahle//dpa Tens of thousands of people marched though the Norwegian capital Oslo on Saturday in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community following a fatal shooting at a gay bar in June. A large Pride parade was originally supposed to take place in Oslo on June 25, but the night before an attacker suddenly fired shots outside the popular venue. The march on Saturday was not meant to replace the cancelled parade, but rather be a colourful parade dedicated to love, organizers said. The organizers spoke of an estimated 60,000 participants in the march, which also passed by the bar in question, Norwegian radio reported. The crowd included Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, several of his Cabinet members and other politicians. “We’re taking back the streets,” Støre told the NTB news agency. The 43-year-old perpetrator is remanded in custody under suspicion of terrorism. The attacker opened fire outside the London Pub, an LGBTQ+ nightclub, as well as other venues, in the early hours on June 25. Many were gathered on the street in expectation for the Oslo Pride parade. Two people died and 21 others were injured. Norwegian intelligence agency PST classified the incident as an Islamist terrorist attack. The man, a Norwegian with Iranian roots, was arrested just minutes after the first shots were fired. Police are investigating, among other possibilities, the theory that the attack was explicitly directed at the gay community. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (C) takes part in the rainbow train and solidarity march, organized by the Oslo Pride, two and a half months after the mass shooting in Oslo. Originally, Oslo Pride was to hold its traditional parade on 25 June 2022, but on the night of this Saturday, two people were killed and several injured in the shooting at a pub in central Oslo. Beate Oma Dahle//dpa People take part in the rainbow train and solidarity march, organized by the Oslo Pride, two and a half months after the mass shooting in Oslo. Originally, Oslo Pride was to hold its traditional parade on 25 June 2022, but on the night of this Saturday, two people were killed and several injured in the shooting at a pub in central Oslo. Beate Oma Dahle//dpa View the full article

Published by DPA US director Laura Poitras holds the Golden Lion for Best Film for “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” during the closing ceremony of the 79th edition of the Venice Film Festival. Gian Mattia D’alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” a documentary by US filmmaker Laura Poitras, has won the the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the jury announced Saturday evening. The film centres on the life and work of photographer Nan Goldin. Poitras, 58, is best known for “Citizenfour,” an Oscar-winning documentary about whistleblower Edward Snowden. Poitras is the seventh woman to win the Golden Lion since 1949. “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” tells of Goldin’s life, her artistic work and her fight against the Sackler family, which is known for marketing the addictive opioid OxyContin. Goldin herself has said she was addicted to OxyContin. The 68-year-old became famous with intimate photographs that deal with topics such as sexuality, illness, desire or violence. This year’s Grand Jury Prize went to Frenchwoman Alice Diop for “Saint Omer.” Jailed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was honoured with the Special Jury Prize for “No Bears.” Italian director Luca Guadagnino received the Silver Lion for Best Director for “Bones and All,” while the Best Actress award went to Cate Blanchett for her role in “Tár.” Colin Farrell won Best Actor for the black comedy-drama “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The Venice Film Festival, which opened on August 31, is one of the three most important in the world, alongside the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival. In this year’s competition, 23 works competed for the prizes. The awards were presented by an international jury chaired by US actress Julianne Moore. British director Martin McDonagh holds Osella award for Best Screenplay during the closing ceremony of the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Gian Mattia D’alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Australian actress Cate Blanchett holds the Coppa Volpi award for best performance during the closing ceremony of the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Gian Mattia D’alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa View the full article

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer PHILADELPHIA — The last weekend of August, party promoter Jeremy Taylor hosted a dance at a Broad Street club in Philadelphia featuring tracks from Beyonce’s latest album and cards telling guests where to get monkeypox vaccinations. Protecting people from a new virus spreading rapidly over the summer was a priority for Taylor, who hosts events under the name JayLaTay. His dances draw many people who identify as Black and LGBTQ — a population in Philadelphia that’s more likely to contract monkeypox, and less likely to be vaccinated against it. Warnings about the virus transmitting through sust… Read More View the full article

Published by Taste of Country Country legend Dolly Parton is paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sending prayers to the British royal family in the midst monarch’s death on Sept. 8, 2022. In a post, shared Friday (Sept. 9), Parton recalls meeting the Queen and performing for her on a trip to London in 1977. She also including a photo of momentous day, showing herself smiling brightly as she meets the Queen. “I had the honor of meeting and performing for Queen Elizabeth II on my trip to London in 1977. She carried herself with grace and strength her entire life. May she rest in peace. My thoughts are prayers are with h… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet By David Badash,The New Civil Rights Movement Mike Pence is being mocked and highly criticized for attacking President Joe Biden and the primetime speech he delivered more than a week ago. Pence, who is clearly positioning himself for another run at the White House, this time on the top of the ticket, went after the President’s remarks in which he urged Americans to “defend” and “protect” democracy, while warning them that “MAGA Republicans” are a threat to the republic. Despite what the pundits, CNN and Fox News hosts, and far right wing media say, President Biden was very clear in his commen… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP In the wake of Matthew Shepard's infamous murder, the city of Laramie, Wyoming has become an unexpected haven for the LGBTQ community Laramie (United States) (AFP) – Nearly 25 years ago, the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard — a gay college student in Wyoming who was beaten, tied to a fence and left to die — shocked America. Today, the small city of Laramie — the scene of the infamous hate crime — has become an improbable refuge for sexual minorities in the ultra-conservative mountain state. “It’s always funny to say that I didn’t come out until I came to Wyoming, because people just don’t think that’s possible,” says 27-year-old Ray Kasckow, a transgender person living in the city of 30,000, nestled between two mountains. In Wyoming, a state known for being the least populous in the nation and for giving Donald Trump a thunderous victory in 2020, Kasckow’s story seems anomalous. For many Americans, the city is forever known as the place where Shepard was killed. On October 6, 1998, the 21-year-old University of Wyoming student was driven away from a bar to a secluded area by two young men. They savagely pistol-whipped him before leaving him for dead. Shepard was found 18 hours later by a cyclist who initially mistook him for a scarecrow. He never regained consciousness and died in hospital a few days later. ‘Support system’ Shepard’s killing served as a wake-up call, shining a cold light on homophobic violence in America. In 2009, a federal law named for Shepard went into effect, expanding existing hate crimes legislation to include crimes motivated by a victim’s gender or sexual orientation. But in Laramie, people did not want to wait around for change. “Folks in Laramie left — professors left, students left, residents left out of fear,” recalls Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother. With husband Dennis at her side, Judy founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation “to try to make life better for Matt’s friends and peers in the community.” A New York theater troupe came to town multiple times to develop “The Laramie Project,” a play that recounts how the sleepy city became a scene for murder, depicting a fatal brew of toxic masculinity, cowboy mentality and isolation. In Laramie, where life is punctuated by the passage of long freight trains, the local LGBT activist network sprang up little by little. Then in 2015, the city was the first in the state to adopt an ordinance banning workplace or housing discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. Two years later, Laramie held its first Pride parade. Rainbow flags fly in front of most businesses in Laramie, and all around the bar where Shepard was kidnapped. Young people walk in the streets with buttons reading “they/them” — pronouns used by those who do not identify as a man or woman. “People come here to Laramie because they know that there are communities present, and they know that they have friends and they have a support system,” Kasckow says. ‘Lots of stigma’ The welcoming atmosphere in Laramie is in stark contrast to how LGBTQ people feel they are treated in the rest of the state, according to Tyler Wolfgang, member of the Laramie Pridefest group. “Wyoming has a long way to go as a LGBTQ-friendly state,” Wolfgang says, explaining that local legislatures have attempted to push through so-called “anti-trans bills” affecting transgender people over school athletics and bathroom usage. “We see lots of stigma and a lot of transphobic thoughts or comments,” the non-binary activist adds. Beyond Wyoming, other conservative-leaning US states have seen what activists say are efforts to single out transgender people, with primarily Republican lawmakers redoubling their efforts as national midterm elections set for November draw near. “We’re right back where we started, essentially, in the community,” Judy Shepard says, slamming what she calls the “terrible attitude of ignorance and hate directed at the gay community, as is being directed at all the marginalized communities ” across the country. But since 1998 and Matthew’s death, Judy Shepard says the community is organized. “So many more people are out and comfortable as who they are… I think that we’re making attempts to erase us more difficult,” she says. Matthew Shepard’s ashes were interred at the National Cathedral in Washington to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. In Laramie, a bench was erected in the middle of the University of Wyoming campus where he studied political science. The plaque on it reads: “He continues to make a difference.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kelly Clarkson thinks Dolly Parton is “an inspiration to all women”. The 40-year-old singer has joined forces with Dolly, 76, to record a brand-new duet version of ‘9 to 5’ – which Dolly first released as a single in 1980 – and Kelly has heaped praise on the music icon. She shared: “I am so honoured that Dolly asked me to re-imagine this iconic song, ‘9 to 5’, with her! She is so talented, an inspiration to all women, and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet!” Kelly relished the experience of working with the award-winning country singer. In a statement, she joked: “I hope y’all like what we did, but even if you don’t, remember I got to sing a duet with the magical Dolly Parton, and now have bragging rights til the end of time!” Similarly, Dolly also loved the experience of working with Kelly, admitting that she can make any song “come alive”. She said: “Nobody sings like Kelly Clarkson. She makes any song come alive. I love her voice on ‘9 to 5’ and I am so proud I got to sing with her on it.” Meanwhile, Kelly recently revealed that she plans to explore her split from Brandon Blackstock on her new album. The ‘Behind These Hazel Eyes’ hitmaker confirmed that some of her new material will focus on the breakdown of her marriage. Kelly – who has River, eight, and Remington, six, with her ex-husband – said: “When my ex and I first separated, there were many emotions. It was hard. My producer and I were laughing yesterday because I was like, ‘Remember that time we wrote, like, 25 songs in a week?’ “A lot of those are the ones that are on the album. I literally wrote most of these almost two years ago. Then I told my label, ‘I can’t talk about this until I’ve gone through it’, and it’s just taken some time to do that.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The leaders of two congressional committees want a federal probe into whether airlines used government pandemic money to fund pilot buyouts and early retirements that may have fueled current pilot shortages, according to a letter released on Friday. Congress approved $54 billion in three rounds covering much of U.S. airline payroll costs for 18 months that ended in September 2021. Airlines accepting government assistance that funded payroll costs were prohibited from furloughs or firing workers and faced limits on executive compensation and bans on stock buybacks and dividends. Major airlines, after losing thousands of employees during the pandemic, now have more pilots than before COVID-19 and are flying fewer flights but face higher absentee rates driven by COVID cases. Regional airlines are still struggling to hire enough pilots, while airlines cut back on flights this summer to improve performance. “As a result of pilot shortages, thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled, wreaking havoc on travel plans for millions of American taxpayers,” House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Coronavirus Crisis Committee Chairman James Clyburn wrote in a Sept. 8 letter to the Treasury Department’s inspector general. The committee wants the inspector general to “complete a thorough review of the federal funding Treasury has disbursed to airlines to sustain their operations during the coronavirus pandemic, including an accounting for how the funds were disbursed and used by each airline recipient.” A group representing major airlines did not immediately comment. Out of $54 billion, airlines must repay $14 billion, or 26.2%. American Airlines received $12.6 billion, Delta Air Lines $11.9 billion, United Airlines $10.9 billion and Southwest Airlines $7.2 billion, according to a U.S. Senate panel. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg faces pressure from Congress to do more to hold airlines accountable for tens of thousands of flight cancellations and delays this summer. A group of 36 state attorneys general on Aug. 31 called on Congress to give them new authority to investigate passenger complaints. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Alex Padilla have urged the Department of Transportation to fine airlines that delay or cancel flights because of staffing or operational issues. (Reporting by David Shepardson; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Al-Araby The United Nations voiced alarm Friday at thedeath sentences issued by Iran against two female gay rights activists on charges of promoting homosexuality, in unusual verdicts that have alarmed campaigners. The two women, Zahra Sedighi Hamedani, 31, and Elham Chubdar, 24, were sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolution Court in the northwestern town of Urmia, the UN said. “We are deeply concerned at the death sentences issued against twoLGBT activists in Iran,” Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the UN rights office, told AFP in an email. She lamented that the two had been sentenced “on the vague… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet By Alex Henderson Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York City hasn’t been shy about calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to either be impeached or resign, arguing that the activism of his wife — far-right MAGA Republican and conspiracy theorist Ginni Thomas — presents a major conflict of interest. After the 2020 presidential election, Ginni Thomas was heavily involved in MAGA efforts to get the election results overturned and promoted the Big Lie in a series of text exchanges with Mark Meadows (who served as White House chief of staff under President Donald Trump). Justice… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung and Nate Raymond (Reuters) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday permitted Yeshiva University to refuse to recognize an LGBT student club that the Jewish school in New York City has said violates its religious values, temporarily blocking a judge’s ruling ordering it to allow the group. Sotomayor put on hold the judge’s ruling that a city anti-discrimination law required Yeshiva University to recognize Y.U. Pride Alliance as a student club while the school pursues an appeal in a lower court. The liberal justice handles certain cases for the court from a group of states including New York. A stay Sotomayor issued of the judge’s injunction will remain in place pending a further order of the Supreme Court. Y.U. Pride Alliance formed unofficially as a group in 2018 but Yeshiva University determined that granting it official status would be “inconsistent with the school’s Torah values and the religious environment it seeks to maintain.” The dispute hinges in part on whether Yeshiva University is a “religious corporation” and therefore exempt from the New York City Human Rights Law, which bans discrimination by a place or provider of public accommodation. New York state judge Lynn Kotler in June determined that the school’s primary purpose is education, not religious worship, and it is subject to anti-discrimination law. Kotler also rejected the university’s argument that forcing it to recognize the club would violate its religious freedom protected under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. After higher state courts in August refused to stay the judge’s ruling, Yeshiva University turned to the U.S. Supreme Court, emphasizing its religious character, including that undergraduate students are required to engage in intense religious studies. “As a deeply religious Jewish university, Yeshiva cannot comply with that order because doing so would violate its sincere religious beliefs about how to form its undergraduate students in Torah values,” the school told the Supreme Court. The Modern Orthodox Jewish university, based in Manhattan, has roughly 6,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. Among the school’s values, according to its website https://www.yu.edu/about/values, are believing in “the infinite worth of each and every human being” and “the responsibility to reach out to others in compassion.” Powered by its increasingly assertive conservative justices, the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years has expanded religious rights while narrowing the separation between church and state. During its term that ended in June, the court backed a public high school football coach in Washington state who refused to stop leading Christian prayers with players on the field after games and ruled in favor of Christian families in Maine who sought access to taxpayer money to pay for their children to attend religious schools. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. In its upcoming term, which begins on Oct. 3, the court will decide a major new legal fight pitting religious liberty against LGBT rights involving an evangelical Christian web designer’s free speech claim that she cannot be forced under a Colorado anti-discrimination law to produce websites for same-sex marriages. (Reporting by Nate Raymond and Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Shepardson and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Thursday outlined six principles to reform Big Tech platforms and said it was encouraged to see bipartisan interest in Congress to rein in major U.S. tech companies. The six principles, entitled “Enhancing Competition and Tech Platform Accountability,” were released after Biden administration officials earlier in the day met with experts to discuss “the harms that tech platforms cause and the need for greater accountability.” The White House said the United States needs “clear rules of the road to ensure small and mid-size businesses and entrepreneurs can compete on a level playing field.” “These principles are the culmination of months of work by the administration and engagement with numerous stakeholders,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. “We’re looking forward to hearing any feedback from the tech companies.” A group of bipartisan lawmakers has introduced antitrust legislation aimed at reining in the four tech giants — Meta Platform’s Facebook, Apple, Alphabet’s Google and Amazon.com — that would bar the companies from favoring their own businesses in search results and other ways. The lawmakers have said they believe they have the 60 Senate votes needed to move forward, but no vote has yet been scheduled. Among issues discussed at Thursday’s meeting, which included numerous senior White House officials, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine and technology experts, were antitrust, privacy, algorithmic discrimination and other tech policy areas, the White House said. The six principles include promoting technology sector competition; adopting robust federal privacy protections, and tougher privacy and online protections for children; rescinding special legal protections for large tech platforms; increasing transparency about platforms’ algorithms and content moderation decisions; and ending discriminatory algorithmic decision-making. “The rise of tech platforms has introduced new and difficult challenges,” the White House said, “from the tragic acts of violence linked to toxic online cultures, to deteriorating mental health and wellbeing, to basic rights of Americans and communities worldwide suffering from the rise of tech platforms big and small.” (Reporting by Diane Bartz, Nandita Bose and David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Britney Spears has been offered millions to do interviews following the end of her conservatorship, however, the troubled singer never wants to do an interview ever again, RadarOnline.com has learned. “Britney has always hated doing interviews and has never been happy with the end results. Even when her book comes out, she won’t do a single interview to promote it,” sources tell RadarOnline.com. “After what she’s been through, Britney is still very fragile and doesn’t trust reporters or strangers.” mega Insiders reveal that the press rollout for her book will be very carefully planned out, and does not include a single big tell-all with Robin Roberts, Gayle King, or anyone else. “If you want to know what Britney is thinking buy her book,” said a publishing source. “They are not going to give the content away for free to some TV host. Let’s be honest, Savannah Guthrie needs Britney more than Britney needs her.” Sources close to Britney said her memoir has been completed but the release has been delayed due to the paper shortage. Her publisher Simon & Schuster was aiming for a January release but that has been postponed. As RadarOnline.com, last month, Britney hinted at her disdain for interviews in a 22-minute audio recording where she bared her soul. In the since-deleted clip, Britney told her fans that she had a lot on her mind but wasn’t interested in a sit-down with Oprah. She didn’t like the idea of being paid to express her emotions, Britney said. mega A source close to Oprah told RadarOnline.com, “they 100% did not offer Britney money for an interview. Oprah does not pay.” The insider added, “She didn’t pay Meghan and Harry and wouldn’t pay Britney.” Britney has continued to speak out on her own terms and without the need for a one-on-one interview. After the initial audio recording was deleted, she then posted a second clip days later. The pop star addressed remarks from her ex-husband Kevin Federline and their son Jayden. The singer said, “Like I said, God would not have let this happen to me. I don’t believe in god anymore because of the way my children and my family have treated me. There is nothing to believe in anymore. I’m an atheist y’all.” mega View the full article

Published by Reuters By Gabriella Borter (Reuters) -Michigan’s top court ruled on Thursday that voters should get to decide whether to amend their state constitution to protect abortion rights, handing a win to advocates who petitioned to put the measure on the November ballot. Reproductive Freedom for All, an abortion-rights advocacy group, amassed more than 730,000 signatures in support of putting a state constitutional amendment affirming the right to abortion on the general election ballot. The group appealed to the Democratic-leaning state Supreme Court last week after the state canvassing board deadlocked over whether to allow the issue to go before voters. The two Republicans on the canvassing board voted against putting the amendment on the ballot, while the two Democrats supported it. Anti-abortion groups objected to the ballot measure largely on technical grounds, saying the language of the petition contained multiple errors. Michigan abortion rights advocates began a campaign to put the issue on the 2022 ballot months before the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June that overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that granted nationwide constitutional protection for abortions. (Reporting by Gabriella BorterEditing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John is glad Queen Elizabeth is “at peace”. The ‘Candle in the Wind’ singer took the time to pay tribute to the late monarch at his concert in Toronto on Thursday (08.09.22) night, hours after it was announced she had passed away at the age of 96. Elton – who was knighted by the queen in 1998 – told the Canadian crowd the queen “deserved” to be at rest having led her subjects through “some of our greatest and darkest moments.” He said: “She was an inspiring presence to be around … she was fantastic. She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and a genuine caring warmth. “I’m 75 and she’s been with me all my life and I feel very sad that she won’t be with me anymore, but I’m glad she’s at peace, and I’m glad she’s at rest and she deserves it. “She worked bloody hard. I send my love to her family. She’ll be missed.” Elton then sang his 1974 track ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ while images of the queen in a bright purple coat and hat were displayed on screens. Before the gig, the ‘Made in England’ hitmaker – who famously sang a reworked version of his song ‘Candle In The Wind’ at Princess Diana’s funeral – had taken to Instagram to express his “deep sadness” at the passing of the queen, who was on the throne for 70 years. He wrote: “Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. “She was an inspiring presence to be around and lead the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth. “Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day and I will miss her dearly.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harry Styles led his fans in a round of applause for Queen Elizabeth on Thursday (08.09.22) night. The ‘Watermelon Sugar’ hitmaker took to the stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden hours before it was announced the 96-year-old monarch had passed away after 70 years on the throne, and the former One Direction singer made sure he took the time to honour her during the concert. He told the crowd: “From my homeland, there was some very sad news today: the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.” He then asked the 20,000-strong audience to “join me in a round of applause for 70 years of service”. After the crowd joined in, Harry said: “Thank you, Madison Square Garden.” Buckingham Palace announced at around 6.30pm on Thursday that the queen had died and her son is now King Charles. A message on the official royal family website said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” Earlier in the day, it had been revealed doctors had grown “concerned” for the Queen’s health and she was placed under “medical supervision”. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” Shortly after the queen’s death, Charles paid tribute to his “beloved mother”. He said: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. “I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. “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.” View the full article

Published by AFP Cast members of the first season of Netflix's The Crown, including Claire Foy, who portrayed a young Queen Elizabeth II, are seen in 2018. Netflix says it has suspended filming on the show's latest season out of resepect for the late monarch Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Netflix suspended filming of its British royals drama “The Crown” on Friday following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the company said. The acclaimed show is currently filming its sixth season, having charted the late monarch’s life through multiple decades over the course of its previous seasons. “As a mark of respect, filming on ‘The Crown’ was suspended today,” a Netflix spokeswoman said in a statement to AFP. “Filming will also be suspended on the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral.” The multiple Emmy-winning series began in its first season with Queen Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip in 1947. A fifth season is due to be released in November, and is expected to chronicle 1990s events involving the monarchy including the death of Princess Diana, with Imelda Staunton stepping into the role of the Queen. Netflix has not released details about season six, but it is expected to portray more recent events including the aftermath of Diana’s passing in a fatal car accident, and its impact on the royal family. The announcement came as Hollywood stars and executives from Netflix and other major studios gathered in Toronto for the city’s international film festival. Theaters turned off their illuminated marquees in the Canadian city on Thursday to mark the death of the Commonwealth monarch, while flags were lowered and the famous CN Tower also dimmed its lights. Former “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe was among the stars to address the Queen’s death at the festival, telling reporters that her absence felt “weirdly inconceivable and surreal right now.” “My parents and I, nobody of my age or their age has ever lived in a country without her,” he said on the red carpet for his new movie “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” Later on Friday in Toronto, Stephen Frears and Steve Coogan will introduce the world premiere of their monarchy-themed “The Lost King,” about the discovery of King Richard III’s remains. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Luke Evans is determined to get the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ spin-off series “absolutely right”. The 43-year-old actor has confirmed that the much-anticipated series is still in the works – but Luke doesn’t want to rush the project. Luke – who played Gaston in the 2017 ‘Beauty and the Beast’ movie – told Variety: “We get one chance at this. We just need to get it absolutely right before those cameras start rolling.” The upcoming series is set to follow the stories of Gaston and LeFou, who is being played by Josh Gad. The Disney show was put on hold in February, amid delays with creative elements and scheduling conflicts for the cast. Despite this, Disney has always maintained that the series will come to fruition eventually. The show is expected to be a six-episode series and Briana Middleton has already been cast as LeFou’s stepsister, Tilly. Last year, Luke insisted he’s been “sworn to secrecy” about the spin-off series. However, the actor also revealed that Disney remain “very excited” about the show. Asked when production work will start, Luke said: “I’m sworn to secrecy. We are not allowed to talk about it, but it’s progressing very well. “There have been some very exciting decisions made recently. Josh and I speak on a regular basis. Disney is very excited about it. Everybody is excited about it.” What’s more, Luke confirmed that the upcoming series will feature “many new characters”. He said: “I think it’ll be a very entertaining journey through the past story of these characters, and also there will be many new characters that you’ve never met before, which is very exciting. It’s coloured with incredible characters and creatures that we are very excited about bringing to life.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Tom Boggioni With the November midterms looming and Republican hopes of taking control of both chambers of Congress slipping away, GOP campaign consultants are scrambling because their traditional appeals to voters are now falling flat and they’re not sure what to do about it. According to a report from Politico’s David Siders, Republicans have normally banked on culture war issues to drive the base to the polls but in 2022 “God, guns and gays” isn’t playing well with voters in large part because the electorate and attitudes on those three hot-button issues have evolved. As Siders wrote, “F… Read More View the full article

Published by Global Voices Image by Sharaf Nagiyeva. Shared under partnership agreement. This article was first published on Chaikhana Media. An edited version has been republished here under a content partnership agreement. In recent years, dozens of queer Azerbaijani citizens have fled their homeland due to persecution for who they are. There are no official statistics on LGBTQ+ people leaving Azerbaijan, however anecdotal evidence indicates they seek safety in countries near and far. Pari Banu (she/they), a queer activist and artist, is one of those who recently resettled in Tbilisi, in the neighboring country of Geo… Read More View the full article