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Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — Chicago moved one step closer to becoming a “Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City” Thursday when a City Council committee advanced a proposal to ban local police from assisting out-of-state law enforcement with investigating people who travel here for abortions. The Health Committee voted unanimously Thursday to send the proposed ordinance to the full council floor, where it’s expected to receive a vote later this month. The move comes as progressive aldermen and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have ramped up efforts to safeguard reproductive rights in the past two months, after the Supreme Court ove… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Travis Gettys Donald Trump has been promoting QAnon conspiracy theories on his Truth Social platform, and researchers say that’s a sign that he’s stressed out. The former president faces multiple criminal and civil investigations, including a two-pronged probe of his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection and a Department of Justice inquiry over his apparent theft of classified materials, and he has stepped up his amplification of QAnon content online since the FBI searched his home at Mar-A-Lago, reported The Daily Beast. “There always seems to be a correlation between the amount of times Trump i… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News They came in closer… to the top. Elton John and Britney Spears’ hotly anticipated collaboration, “Hold Me Closer,” debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, according to the music outlet Tuesday. The mashup of 75-year-old John’s “Tiny Dancer,” “The One,” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” debuted on Aug. 26 and hit the charts at No. 6. The duet marks the first new track for newly remarried Spears, 40, in nearly six years — a milestone following last year’s termination of the pop star’s more than decade-long conservatorship initiated by her father. News of the “Tiny Dancer” remix first s… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Dietrich Knauth (Reuters) – The Boy Scouts of America secured approval of a $2.46 billion reorganization plan from a bankruptcy judge on Thursday that will allow the youth organization to exit Chapter 11 and settle decades of claims by more than 80,000 men who say they were abused as children by troop leaders. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein in Wilmington, Delaware signed off on the restructuring plan after the Boy Scouts made changes to address portions of a previous settlement proposal she had rejected. The biggest change in the amended plan was the removal of a $250 million settlement payment from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which Silverstein refused to approve. Silverstein said that part of that settlement proposal went too far in attempting to protect the Mormon church from abuse claims that were only loosely connected to scouting activities. The Irving, Texas-based organization, has said the reorganization will allow it to continue its scouting mission free from the threat of costly litigation. “Today’s order means abuse survivors will get the compensation they deserve and millions of youth will benefit from scouting for years to come,” said Richard Mason, an attorney representing local Boy Scouts councils that contributed to the settlement. The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, which represents the majority of abuse claimants in the case, said the bankruptcy ruling would set up the largest sexual abuse settlement fund in history. Coalition attorney Anne Andrews said she was “overjoyed for survivors…. They wanted Boy Scouts to survive, and they wanted to ensure this never happened to another child.” The Boy Scouts said it was “enormously grateful” to abuse survivors who helped craft the settlement. The Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy in February 2020 after being hit by a flood of sexual abuse lawsuits as several U.S. states passed laws allowing accusers to sue over allegations dating back decades. Those claimants became creditors of the organization, who had to sign off on any plans to restructure and exit bankruptcy. The Boy Scouts lined up support for the settlement plan from 86% of claimants who voted on it and from its two largest insurers. Some abuse victims and insurers continued to oppose the settlement, and a group of insurers has said they are likely to appeal. The appeals must be addressed in order for the Scouts to emerge from bankruptcy. The Boy Scouts organization said it will work to resolve the appeals in federal district court to complete the settlement. The amount of money individual abuse survivors stand to gain from the bankruptcy plan ranges from $3,500 to $2.7 million, depending on the severity of the alleged abuse, where and when it occurred, and other factors. The money for the settlement comes from the Boy Scouts, local councils, insurers and organizations that have chartered Scouting units and activities, including churches. Lawyers had warned the 112-year-old organization might not survive without a wide-ranging settlement of abuse litigation. Silverstein voiced concern earlier in the bankruptcy that the litigation had “the potential to end the Boy Scouts as it currently exists.” The organization has apologized and said the organization is committed to fulfilling their “social and moral responsibility to equitably compensate survivors.” (Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Al-Araby The Iranian government is looking to use facial recognition technology in public places to catch women who breach the Islamic Republic’s hijab laws. Mohammad Saleh Hashemi Golpayegani, the secretary of Iran’s Headquarters for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, said in a recent interview that there are plans to use surveillance technology to find women who refuse to adhere to laws that regulate women’s clothing. The plans come after a decree signed by hardline President Ebrahim Raisi in mid-August, which further curtailed women’s freedom of dress. Wearing the hijab and modest clothing became… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby Hundreds of Google and Amazon workers across the US are expected to walk out of work on Thursday, to protest the tech giants’ recent billion-dollar deal with Israel and alleged anti-Palestinian sentiments at the companies. It comes after Amazon and Google agreed ‘Project Nimbus’, a $1.2 billion deal to supply the Israeli government with artificial intelligence and cloud storage facilities. Strikes against the deal and an alleged crackdown on pro-Palestinian workers at Google and Amazon are planned in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and Durham on Thursday afternoon, including the tech giants’… Read More View the full article

Published by uPolitics.com A controversial speaker took the stage at former President Donald Trump‘s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The line-up included Cynthia Hughes, who heads a legal defense funding group to help those charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots like her nephew, Tim Cusanelli. Cusanelli was convicted for his own role in the Capitol attack and is alleged to have Nazi views. He reportedly once said that Hitler “should have finished the job,” though he has since denied it. Cusanelli has since been imprisoned for nearly two years for taking part in the Capitol attack despite not being charged with… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States will boost its stockpile of at-home COVID-19 tests, ordering more than 100 million tests from domestic manufacturers, the White House said on Thursday, but warned it was a short-term solution. President Joe Biden’s administration has repeatedly and unsuccessfully asked Congress for more pandemic money. It said last week it would request $22.4 billion in emergency funding for COVID-19 relief ahead of a potential case surge in autumn. “The Administration is acting, within its limited funding, to increase the supply of at-home COVID-19 tests in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) by purchasing over 100 million additional at-home, rapid tests from domestic manufacturers,” the White House said in a statement. The administration has warned it would be unable to provide enough tests, vaccines and treatments without more funding. Thursday’s announcement comes a week after it suspended orders of free tests from its COVIDTests.gov website as of Sept. 2. “While insufficient to adequately replenish our existing stockpile of at-home tests, this procurement will help meet some testing needs in the months ahead and will put us in a better position to manage a potential increase in testing demand this fall and winter,” the White House said of the new tests. It did not say if ordering from COVIDTests.gov, through which 600 million tests have been delivered, would resume as a result. It said last week that orders through the website would resume if Congress provides funding. The administration is also launching a telehealth “Test to Treat” program that will allow people in 15 rural and high-risk communities to get tests delivered to their homes, use telehealth to consult a clinician, and get antiviral treatments prescribed and delivered if necessary at no cost, it said. There are currently 2,800 “Test to Treat” sites where people can be tested at a pharmacy and immediately receive free pills if they test positive. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in WashingtonAdditional reporting by Rami Ayyub and Susan Heavey in WashingtonEditing by Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) – The crowning achievement of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, who died on Thursday after 70 years on the throne, was to maintain the popularity of the monarchy across decades of seismic political, social and cultural change that threatened to make it an anachronism. A dignified, dependable figure who reigned longer than any other British monarch, Elizabeth helped steer the institution into the modern world, stripping away court ritual and making it somewhat more open and accessible, all in the glare of an increasingly intrusive and often hostile media. While the nation she reigned over sometimes struggled to find its place in a new world order and her own family often fell foul of public expectations, the queen herself remained a symbol of stability. She also tried to transcend class barriers and earned the grudging respect of even hardened republicans. To much of the world she was the personification of Britain, yet she remained something of an enigma as an individual, never giving an interview and rarely expressing emotion or offering a personal opinion in public – a woman recognised by millions but known by hardly anyone. “I think she’s brought life, energy and passion to the job, she’s managed to modernise and evolve the monarchy like no other,” her grandson Prince William, who is now the heir to the throne, said in a television documentary in 2012. THE YOUNG QUEEN Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in central London. The young princess never expected to ascend to the throne: it was only after her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 because of his love for American divorcee Wallis Simpson that the crown passed to her father, George VI, when she was 10. She was just 25 when her father died and she became Queen Elizabeth II on February 6, 1952, while on tour in Kenya with her husband Prince Philip. Winston Churchill was the first of 15 prime ministers who served during her reign. “In a way I didn’t have an apprenticeship, my father died much too young and so it was all a very sudden kind of taking on, and making the best job you can,” she said in a 1992 documentary. “It’s a question of maturing into something that one’s got used to doing and accepting the fact that here you are and it’s your fate. It is a job for life.” During her 70 years on the throne Britain underwent dramatic change. The austere postwar 1950s gave way to the swinging 60s, the divisive leadership of Margaret Thatcher in the 80s, Tony Blair’s three-term New Labour era, a return to economic austerity and then the COVID-19 pandemic. Labour and Conservative governments came and went, feminism changed attitudes to women, and Britain became a much more cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic society. Elizabeth was on the throne for most of the Cold War from the death of Soviet leader Josef Stalin. During her reign there were 14 U.S. presidents, from Harry S. Truman to Joe Biden, and she met all bar Lyndon Johnson. Britain’s vote to leave the European Union in 2016 exposed deep divisions in British society, while nationalists continued their push for a new referendum on Scottish independence that had the potential to rip apart the United Kingdom. “As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture,” the queen said ahead of a 2014 referendum on Scottish secession, in what appeared to be a message to politicians. Scots voted to remain in the United Kingdom. MORE EGALITARIAN Over time, Britain evolved into a more egalitarian society, where the ruling class had to make way for a burgeoning middle class, where aristocrats no longer dominated the top universities and the majority of hereditary peers lost their seats in parliament’s House of Lords. At first, Elizabeth relied heavily on her father’s old circle of advisers but gradually she brought in more career diplomats and business executives to the royal court as she and her husband Philip sought to modernise the monarchy. “She’s shrewd, she’s compassionate, she has a good deal of insight, and she has the typical and traditional virtues that you associate with the British,” former Prime Minister John Major said amid celebrations to mark her 90th birthday. “If you were designing someone to be monarch here in Britain, I think you would design someone exactly like Elizabeth II.” In 1992, the queen responded to criticism about royal wealth by offering to pay income tax and cutting the number of her family members on the state payroll. But her years on the throne were often far from smooth sailing. She spent much of the early part of her reign saying farewell to the British Empire amassed under her forebears, from Kenya to Hong Kong. Barbados was the most recent country to dispense with her as head of state in November 2021. However, she remained the monarch of 15 countries and head of the Commonwealth. Her marriage to Philip, a Greek prince she wed aged 21, stayed solid for 73 years until his death in April 2021, but her sister, daughter and two of her sons were – very publicly – not so lucky in love. She famously described as an “annus horribilis” the 40th anniversary of her accession in 1992 after three of her four children’s marriages failed and there was a fire at her Windsor Castle residence. PRINCESS DIANA’S DEATH The death in 1997 of Princess Diana, the divorced wife of Elizabeth’s eldest son Charles, inflicted even more damage on the family’s public prestige. It was the only occasion during her reign when there was any serious suggestion that the monarchy’s days might be numbered. The period was famously captured in the 2006 Oscar-winning film “The Queen”, when Elizabeth was portrayed as earnest but misunderstood. But while her children and other royals at times blundered in and out of tabloid headlines with marital woes and public indiscretions, Elizabeth’s own behaviour remained above reproach. “It’s not that she’s never put a foot wrong, it’s more positive than that – she understands the British people,” said Professor Vernon Bogdanor, an expert in British constitutional history. The main criticism levelled against her was that she was too solemn, distant and aloof. Critics said the only time she had shown real emotion in public was when the royals bid a tearful farewell to their magnificent yacht Britannia, months after her stoical response to Diana’s death. But according to those who worked closely with her, in private she was not the detached public figure most saw, but perceptive, funny, and keenly aware of the nation’s mood. LESS FORMALITY In the last 20 years, backed by a far more professional and sophisticated media operation, there was still pomp and pageantry, but less formality around the queen and her family. Millions turned out for celebrations to mark her 50th, 60th and 70th years on the throne, while her starring role in a spoof James Bond film became the highlight of the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. In the short sequence she greeted Bond actor Daniel Craig at Buckingham Palace, uttering just four words before visual effects showed her apparently joining him on a helicopter and parachuting into the stadium. A decade later at the start of a Platinum Jubilee pop concert, she again won huge plaudits for a pre-recorded comic sketch with Paddington Bear, in which she told the famous fictional character that she always kept his favourite snack – a marmalade sandwich – in her ever-present handbag. The queen was said to crack jokes with world leaders, enjoy an easy familiarity with long-serving Commonwealth heads of government, and relish a wager on race horses. Racing was an enduring passion. She was also accompanied for most of her reign by her corgi dogs, which earned a reputation for snapping at the heels of royal retainers and were descended from the dog called Susan she received as an 18th birthday gift from her parents. “What we actually know about the queen is remarkably little,” said Matthew Dennison, a biographer of Elizabeth. “We know that she enjoys racing. We know that she likes corgis. We know that she prefers blankets and sheets to duvets. But beyond that, we know almost nothing about her.” During World War Two she learned to be a driver and a mechanic while serving in the women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. Her love of the outdoors and of animals was well documented and commentators said she came across as more at home in tweeds than tiaras. “I do rather begrudge some of the hours that I have to do instead of being outdoors,” she once said. Prince William’s wife Kate said that behind closed doors, the queen eschewed royal pomp. “You would expect a lot of grandeur and a lot of fuss… but actually what really resonates with me is her love for simple things, the lack of fuss and I think that’s a special quality to have,” Kate told a TV documentary to mark Elizabeth’s 90th birthday. CORONATION Elizabeth became queen in 1952 and was crowned on June 2, 1953 in a televised ceremony in Westminster Abbey, becoming the first queen in her own right since Queen Victoria and the 40th monarch in a royal line that traces its origin back to William the Conqueror in 1066. “Horrible,” she said of the carriage ride which took her from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey. “It’s only sprung on leather, not very comfortable.” In September 2015, she overtook Victoria to become the country’s longest ever reigning monarch, an achievement to which she said she had never aspired, and the following year there were more celebrations for her 90th birthday. She ascended the throne at the same age as Elizabeth I, but while the first Elizabeth saw her country attain the status of an important trading nation in the 16th century, her namesake presided over a Britain slipping from its position as a world leader in industry and technology. As Britain’s place shifted, so the queen came to stand for unity, and the pomp around her family – with gilded carriages and spectacular royal weddings – a source of national pride for many. Prince William’s marriage in 2011 to commoner Kate Middleton, which saw more than a million people throng London’s streets and drew an estimated two billion global viewers, was testament to that. Opinion polls showed the country still largely believed in the hereditary monarch as head of state. However, with her death, the monarchy’s future is set to face scrutiny like never before. Some commentators say the British public will not feel as strongly towards Charles, and polls suggest he is far less popular. The decision of Prince Harry, William’s younger brother, and his American wife Meghan, a former actress, to give up their royal roles has also robbed the institution of two of its most popular global figures, while their accusations of racism against the institution linger. The U.S. sex abuse civil lawsuit against second son Prince Andrew, which he paid to settle, has also inflicted damage on the family’s reputation. Andrew did not admit any wrongdoing in the case. He was not accused of criminal wrongdoing. FAMILY LIFE AND PUBLIC DUTY At her side for nearly all her reign was her husband, who she credited with being her “strength and stay”. “I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it,” she said in February 2022 when she marked 70 years on the throne. The couple had four children: Charles born in 1948, Anne in 1950, Andrew in 1960 and Edward in 1964. She had eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. During much of her reign she was often upstaged for attention by three flamboyant women – her popular mother, Elizabeth the Queen Mother, her younger sister Margaret and later Princess Diana. But the personal sorrow of losing her mother and sister – who died within weeks of each other in her Golden Jubilee year of 2002 – helped the queen establish her own position, leaving her the undisputed matriarchal figure of the nation. Her working life included thousands of official engagements, varying from trips to schools and hospitals, to the grand ceremonies of state visits and national occasions. She was famous for wearing brightly coloured outfits with a matching hat on royal engagements, to ensure she stood out from the crowds on her many “walkabouts”. “I have to be seen to be believed,” she is said to have quipped. She also took her religious duties as Supreme Governor of the Church of England very seriously, saying in 2012 the established Church was “commonly under-appreciated”. She travelled further than any previous monarch, undertaking more than 250 overseas visits to well over 100 countries. She was renowned for her stamina and began cutting back on a once hectic timetable of foreign tours only as she moved into her 80s. Even in her 90s she regularly carried out engagements. On one such event at the age of 93, she told officials she was still capable of planting a tree before shovelling the soil into the hole, and it was another two years after that before she needed to use a walking stick in public. When she was hospitalised in March 2013 with symptoms of gastroenteritis, it was the first time she had needed hospital treatment in a decade. It was not until October 2021 that she next spent a night in hospital, and she doggedly carried on with light duties even after testing positive for COVID in February the following year. Her enduring importance was demonstrated at the start of the pandemic in 2020. With an anxious nation under a rigorous lockdown, the government turned to the queen to provide reassurance in a televised broadcast. Usually she gave such addresses only in her annual Christmas broadcast. The queen had a few notable security scares. In 1981, a British youth fired blank shots near her during the military Trooping the Colour ceremony. Her horse shied but she was unhurt. The same year, a “severely disturbed” teenager tried to assassinate the monarch while she was on a visit to New Zealand but he missed with his rifle shot. In July 1982, an unemployed labourer called Michael Fagan made his way into her Buckingham Palace bedroom. He spoke briefly to Elizabeth, who was in her nightclothes, before being hauled off by security guards. THE FUTURE “It has been said that ‘the art of progress is to preserve order amid change and change amid order’, and in this the queen is unparalleled,” then-Prime Minister David Cameron said in a speech to parliament in 2012. “She has never shut the door on the future; instead, she has led the way through it.” The queen’s family and Britain’s political elite spoke in admiration of her ability to adapt without losing any of the dignity of her role. The future success of the monarchy could depend on how much Britons admire the next person on the throne. “Monarchy is only as good as the people doing the job,” said royal biographer Robert Lacey, who was historical consultant to the Netflix drama “The Crown”. “We are essentially, when you look at the structure and the way the country runs, a republic with this glorious bauble that we all enjoy on top. And we can always unscrew the bauble any time we want.” Elizabeth herself set out her life’s goal at an early age. “I declare before you all,” she said in a 21st birthday broadcast, “that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family.” (Writing by Michael Holden; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Andrew Heavens and Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Brad Reed Dozens of state troopers are being investigated after they posed in uniform for a photo with former President Donald Trump, which may have violated rules about troopers taking part in political activities without first getting permission. Penn Live reports that Democratic Gov. Tom Wolfe has launched a probe into the photo, which Trump has made the featured picture on his Truth Social profile even though it was supposed to have been a private photo. As Penn Live notes, the photo raises questions “about whether the photo violated department policies that require approval for officer… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a symbol of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday. She was 96. Buckingham Palace said she died at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland, where members of the royal family had rushed to be by her side. The BBC played the national anthem over a portrait of the queen in full regalia. With the death of the queen, her 73-year-old son Charles automatically becomes monarch, even though the coronation might not take place for months. It is not known whether he will choose to call himself King Charles III or so… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Days after Democratic President Joe Biden gave a fiery speech attacking former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies as an extremist threat, a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Wednesday found a majority of Americans believe Trump’s movement is undermining democracy. Fifty-eight percent of respondents in the two-day poll – including one in four Republicans – said Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement is threatening America’s democratic foundations. Biden’s Sept. 1 speech marked a sharp turn for his efforts to boost Democrats in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, when Republicans aim to win control of the U.S. Congress. Speaking in Pennsylvania, a key electoral battleground, Biden urged voters to reject Trump and extremism. Republican leaders, including House of Representatives minority leader Kevin McCarthy, responded by calling Biden divisive. The poll highlights the sharply polarized state of U.S. politics. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said Biden’s speech will further divide the country, though just about half of respondents said they didn’t watch or follow the speech at all. While Trump remains popular among Republicans, his standing within the party has suffered since a mob of his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a bid to stop lawmakers from certifying Biden’s election victory. The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 60% of Republicans don’t think Trump’s MAGA movement represents the majority of the party. Biden’s own approval ratings remain low, despite a string of recent legislative achievements. Just 39% percent of respondents said they approve of Biden’s job performance as president, a level not far above the lowest levels Trump had during his presidency. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted online in English throughout the United States, gathered responses from 1,003 adults, including 411 Democrats and 397 Republicans. It has a credibility interval – a measure of precision – of four percentage points. (Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by DPA When the BBC broadcast the first episode of the “Teletubbies” in March 1997, a new era of children’s television dawned. 25 years later Netflix is rebooting the show. Wildbrain/dpa Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po have a new friend. Among Netflix’s new preschool-centric shows announced Wednesday is a reboot of “Teletubbies,” the beloved British children’s show about four characters known for their gibberish language, their bright antennas and the TVs on their stomachs. “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” alum Tituss Burgess will narrate the show, which will premiere Nov. 14 on Netflix. “Join colorful friends Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po on wonder-filled adventures as they learn and grow in this 21st century refresh of the beloved preschool series,” reads a description from Netflix. “Each episode includes new, original ‘Tummy Tales’ songs that will have the entire family dancing along!” The “Teletubbies” reboot joins a slate of new programming aimed at Netflix’s youngest demographic. Here’s a full list of the new shows: “Spirit Rangers,” premiering Oct. 10 “Inspired by stories from Native American tribes and the majestic landscapes of national parks of America, Spirit Rangers explores the adventure and beauty of nature through the eyes of Kodi, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, Chumash/Cowlitz siblings who share a secret. This trio of kids are ‘Spirit Rangers’ who help protect the land and spirits of the national park that they call home in California. Taking on new perspectives as a grizzly bear cub, red-tailed hawk and spunky turtle, the Skycedar kids take on every challenge — from helping a lost thunderbird to waking a sleepy sun — with courage and compassion.” “Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant,” premiering Oct. 17 “Get bready for Waffles and Mochi to blast off on their tastiest adventure yet as they open their very own restaurant. As chefs, the two traveling taste-buddies serve up sweet, salty and spicy dishes inspired by the ingredients from their incr-edible explorations. The new season features familiar faces like Mrs. Obama and world-renowned chefs, home cooks, kids and celebrities from all over the globe who all share the same passion for food and fun!” “StoryBots: Answer Time,” premiering Nov. 21 “The StoryBots are back, answering tough questions and delivering so many laughs that kids won’t even realize they’re learning! From ‘how lasers work’ to ‘why people get dizzy,’ the StoryBots break down the most complex ideas into bite-size explanations that expand kids’ understanding and appreciation of the world around them.” Netflix promises “world-class art, animation, music, and celebrity guests like Danny DeVito, Chrissy Tiegen, Anne Hathaway.” “Princess Power,” premiering 2023 “Netflix’s new animated preschool series Princess Power is based on the No. 1 New York Times Bestselling book series Princesses Wear Pants by Savannah Guthrie (co-anchor of ‘Today’) and Allison Oppenheim. The show is a celebration of girl power and self-expression that follows princesses of four major fruit kingdoms: Kira Kiwi, Beatrice ‘Bea’ Blueberry, Rita Raspberry and Penelope ‘Penny’ Pineapple. These princesses embrace their differences and become stronger together to help their fellow fruitizens and make their world a better place. Princess Power’s whimsical, aspirational joy comes with a timely message: that it’s not just what you wear but what you do that makes all the difference.” “CoComelon Lane,” premiering 2023 “‘CoComelon Lane’ explores the lives of JJ and his best friends (Cody, Cece, Nina, Bella and Nico) as they experience life’s BIG moments for little kids. From the excitement of going to a friend’s house for dinner for the first time, or learning how to take care of a family pet, to the scaries that come from that first trip to a doctor’s office, JJ invites viewers (speaking directly to audiences for the first time!) to join their favorite CoComelon characters as they experience — and celebrate — life’s special milestones of growing up.” Among Netflix’s new preschool-centric shows is a reboot of “Teletubbies,” the beloved British children’s show about four characters known for their gibberish language, their bright antennas and the TVs on their stomachs. Netflix/dpa View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English David Furnish has dismissed comparisons to Yoko Ono. The 59-year-old producer infuriated his husband Sir Elton John’s long-term staff when he took over the management of the ‘Rocketman’ singer’s affairs and fired a number of employees, sparking comparisons with the activist, who was blamed for breaking up The Beatles after she married John Lennon. David is quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper’s Eden Confidential column as saying: “That was more when I took over the management role. “Inevitably, when you write a business plan, you look at the team. Do we have the right team to bring this vision to life? Because we’re moving into new media and skillsets. “I had to make some changes to the team and that’s never a popular thing to do.” Of the Yoko nickname, he added: “It wasn’t so much Elton saying it as what other people were saying. “Elton doesn’t call me that now. We have a wonderful team, everyone is sharing the vision.” David admitted he initially had reservations about taking on the task but ultimately knew he and his 75-year-old spouse – who have sons Zachary, 11, and nine-year-old Elijah together – would work well together and their relationship has proven to be a “real advantage”. He told the i newspaper: “I did have a lot of second thoughts about becoming his manager. It takes up so much of our time. But we worked well together in the past on films like Billy Elliot. I think it’s a real advantage because I have a better insight than anyone about where he’s at, at any time. “Elton is very decisive, if you provide him with the rationale and do your analysis properly, he gives you a quick Yes or No and then let’s you get on with it.” View the full article

Published by DPA A general view of a plaque reading "Cour de Justice de l'Union Europeene" in front of a building of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Harald Tittel/dpa The sexual orientation of a self-employed person in the European Union cannot be a reason to terminate a contract, even if national laws say otherwise, a top EU lawyer argued on Thursday. The opinion of an advocate general at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is meant to provide impartial guidance to the judges. Justices are not obliged to follow their opinions, though they often do. The case refers to the complaint of a Polish freelance TV editor whose short-term contract was terminated after he published a Christmas music video with his partner online promoting tolerance, the court said in a statement. The self-employed worker had been working on short-term contracts for a Polish TV station for seven years at the time of the publication when his current contract was terminated, according to the court. The Polish court dealing with the complaint asked the ECJ to clarify whether an EU law on equal treatment at work would overrule a national Polish law allowing the “refusal to conclude a contract with a self-employed worker because of the sexual orientation of that person,” the court writes. Thursday’s opinion states “that the freedom to choose a contracting party cannot be usefully relied on to justify discrimination based on sexual orientation,” adding that the applicable EU law applies “to both employment and self-employment.” Should the judges follow the top lawyer’s advice, the Polish court would be obliged to set aside national legislation and rule in accordance with the EU legislation. A date for the final ECJ ruling has not yet been set. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden and Russell Cheyne BALMORAL, Scotland (Reuters) -Britain’s royal family rushed to be with Queen Elizabeth after doctors said they were concerned about the health of the 96-year-old monarch on Thursday and said she should remain under medical supervision. The queen, Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign and the world’s oldest monarch, has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year. “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 palace said in a statement. “The queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” Her eldest son and heir Prince Charles and his wife Camilla travelled to her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, where she is staying, along with his eldest son Prince William, officials said. Her other children – Anne, Andrew and Edward – were also at the castle. A spokesperson said Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, in Britain for a number of events, would also travel to Scotland. Such a family gathering, outside of holiday events such as Christmas or Easter or major public events, is extremely rare. The BBC interrupted its normal schedule to switch to constant coverage of the queen. “My prayers, and the prayers of people across the @churchofengland and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today,” Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said on Twitter. Last October, Elizabeth spent a night in hospital and she has been forced to cut back on public engagements since then. On Wednesday she cancelled a virtual meeting with senior ministers after being advised to rest by her doctors. The previous day she had been pictured appointing Liz Truss as the country’s new prime minister at Balmoral, the 15th premier of her record-breaking reign. A palace source played down speculation that the monarch had suffered a fall. RECORD-BREAKING REIGN Elizabeth has been queen of Britain and more than a dozen other countries since 1952, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and earlier this year marked her 70th year on the throne with four days of national celebrations in June. “I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come,” she said at the time. Elizabeth came to the throne after the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was just 25. She was crowned in June the following year. The first televised coronation was a foretaste of a new world in which the lives of the royals were to become increasingly scrutinised by the media. She became monarch at a time when Britain retained much of its empire. It was emerging from the ravages of World War Two, with food rationing still in force and class and privilege still dominant in society. Winston Churchill was the first prime minister who served during her reign, Joseph Stalin was leader of the Soviet Union, the Korean War was raging. The prime minister said: “My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.” Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the House of Commons, interrupted an energy debate in parliament to say he sent his best wishes to the monarch. “Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply worried by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter: “All of us are feeling profoundly concerned at reports of Her Majesty’s health. My thoughts and wishes are with the Queen and all of the Royal Family at this time.” (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton and Janet Lawrence) View the full article

Published by Factinate There is something so raw and timeless about Frida Kahlo’s paintings that we can probably all identify with. For many Kahlo is an icon of feminism, Mexican identity, living with a disability, and political activism. Although she had some success and recognition in her life, Kahlo was most celebrated years after her death and she never got to witness her worldwide fame. What follows are painful and beautiful facts about one of the most inspiring and motivated artists in history.Newsela Frida Kahlo Facts1. Lightning Strikes TwiceFrida Kahlo spent years recovering from a childhood stricken by ill… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby Seventy-six lawmakers in the Kurdistan Parliament of northern Iraq have signed a bill “banning the promotion of homosexuality”, subsequently any explicit promotion of LGBT rights or media coverage on the issue is punishable by financial fine and imprisonment. The bill was proposed by Ismail Ali Taha, a lawmaker from the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), and has been signed by 75 other Kurdish MPs from the different secular and Islamist parliamentary blocs. The majority of Iraq’s population, including the Kurdistan region, are Muslims and according to the Iraqi constitution, the Islamic Sharia law… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP People line up to speak with healthcare workers with New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at intake tents where individuals are registered to receive the monkeypox vaccine Washington (AFP) – US health authorities announced Thursday they would carry out a clinical trial to test different dosing strategies of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, amid uncertainty over its effectiveness. The trial will enroll 200 adults aged 18-50 across the country, and is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Jynneos vaccine, manufactured by Denmark-based Bavarian Nordic, has been approved by the United States for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox in people aged 18 and older. But while the highest-risk group, men who have sex with men, are encouraged to get the vaccine, there is no clear picture of how well it works in real world settings. The new trial isn’t designed to produce an efficacy estimate, but rather measure the immune response of different dosing levels and administration methods. “NIAID’s trial of JYNNEOS will provide important information on the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of alternative dosing approaches that would expand the current supply of vaccine,” said NIAID director Anthony Fauci in a statement. Among the participants, one group will be injected subcutaneously — that is, under the skin. The vaccine is based on attenuated virus that is modified so it can’t replicate, and is given in two doses 28 days apart. A second group will receive their shots intradermally, meaning between the layers of the skin. This strategy is meant to expand the availability of vaccines because it uses one-fifth of the standard dose. A third group will also receive their shots intradermally, but at half the dosing level of the second group. Scientists will test the peak immune responses and compare the side effects across the groups. President Joe Biden’s administration has bet heavily on the Jynneos vaccine to stem the spread of monkeypox, which has affected more than 20,000 people in the United States since May. But the question of how well the shot prevents infection versus minimizing disease would require further study to answer. The current global outbreak is primarily affecting gay and bisexual men. Historically, the virus has been spread via direct contact with lesions, body fluids and respiratory droplets, and sometimes through indirect contamination via surfaces such as shared bedding. But in this outbreak, there is preliminary evidence that sexual transmission may also play a role. The virus causes painful skin lesions and flu-like symptoms. Most people fully recover, but the disease can cause serious complications, including bacterial infections, brain inflammation and death. View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Brad Reed The Miami-Dade School Board this week overwhelmingly voted down a proposal to designate October as “LGBTQ History Month” amid protests from angry parents who said it would amount to “indoctrination” of children. The Miami Herald reports that the proposed measure wouldn’t have just designated October as LGBTQ History Month, but also would have taught lessons to 12th grade students about two landmark Supreme Court cases in American LGBTQ rights: Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage, and Bostock v. Clayton County, which barred employers from firing people for being… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Penny the Polar Bear and her two mothers have become the first family with same-sex parents to appear on the widely popular children's show "Peppa Pig". Channel 5/PA Media/dpa Children’s TV show “Peppa Pig” has added a lesbian couple to its cast of characters for the first time. In episode 41 of season seven, titled Families, which aired on the UK’s Channel 5 in September, Penny the polar bear introduced her two mothers. In the scene, Peppa Pig and her classmates are asked by their teacher to sketch pictures of their families to be put up on their classroom wall. Each student has their turn to introduce the family members they have drawn and describe their job and characteristics. Penny sketches a portrait of her family and draws two female polar bears wearing dresses. As she draws, she tells her classmates: “I’m Penny Polar Bear. I live with my mummy and my other mummy. One mummy is a doctor and one mummy cooks spaghetti. I love spaghetti.” Teacher Madame Gazelle responds: “Lovely, Penny.” Penny’s mothers are then shown at the end of the episode arriving with the other parents to pick up their children after school has finished. Many viewers took to social media to praise the decision to show an LGBT+ family for the first time in the cartoon show’s history. One twitter user wrote: “THIS is how young children should be taught about inclusion. We don’t need to talk to them about sexuality. Just show all types of families. They’ll understand the rest when it’s appropriate.” Another person tweeted: “An autistic character in Thomas the Tank Engine and a kid with two mums in Peppa Pig … it’s been a good day for representation!” Children’s TV show “Thomas & Friends” is introducing its first autistic character who has been created in collaboration with autistic writers and organisations. The character called Bruno the Brake Car will be voiced by nine-year-old autistic actor Elliott Garcia and will be seen in future episodes of “Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go!” from September 21 at 7am. Peppa Pig first aired in 2004 on Channel 5 Milkshake and Nick Jr, and has since become available in more than 180 territories. View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune I am part of a generation — Generation Z — that has a faint recollection of 9/11, if any at all. We weren’t even teenagers during the 2008 recession. And ever since, our lives have been slammed by a series of seemingly never-ending tribulations. We grew up living in constant fear of gun violence. We worry about the state of our planet because of delayed action on climate change. We are still struggling due to the impact COVID-19 has had on social interactions and education. Yet, we have also been a generation deeply hungry for something different. Something that deviates from the traditional s… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Matthew Chapman On Wednesday, Rolling Stone reported that former President Donald Trump told White House officials that he would protect documents that he believed would expose the Russia investigation as a hoax and reveal a “Deep State” conspiracy to destroy his presidency. “The documents related to the federal investigation into Russian election meddling and alleged collusion with Trump’s campaign. At the end of his presidency, Trump and his team pushed to declassify these so-called ‘Russiagate’ documents, believing they would expose a ‘Deep State’ plot against him,” reported Adam Rawnsle… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Matthew Chapman On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that the FBI sought to interview a personal aide to former President Donald Trump as part of their investigation into events leading up to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. “This week, F.B.I. agents in Florida tried to interview William S. Russell, a 31-year-old aide to Mr. Trump who served as a special assistant and the deputy director of advance in the White House and continued to work for Mr. Trump as a personal aide after he left office, one of a small group of officials who did so,” reported Adam Goldman and Maggie Haber… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Landing the world premiere of Steven Spielberg's Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Steven Spielberg will lead a host of Hollywood A-listers across the border to Toronto this week for North America’s biggest film festival, which organizers say will celebrate a breakthrough year for LGBTQ cinema. The Harry Styles-led drama “My Policeman,” about a closeted gay policeman, and Universal’s “Bros” starring Billy Eichner — the first major LGBTQ rom-com from a top Tinseltown studio — are among a starry and 200-strong feature film lineup for the festival starting Thursday. Renowned for drawing large cinephile crowds to its glitzy premieres and red carpets, the Toronto International Film Festival was hit hard by the pandemic and is seeking to return to full scale after two muted and pared-back editions. “Jurassic Park” and “Schindler’s List” director Spielberg often skips the film festival circuit entirely with his new releases, so landing the world premiere of his deeply personal “The Fabelmans” marks a major coup for TIFF. “I think Steven Spielberg… and Universal know the power of the Toronto audience, in terms of how we respond to movies here,” festival CEO Cameron Bailey told AFP. “The knowledge and the passion for movies that we bring here — I think that made a lot of sense to bring this into a festival, and to start here in Toronto.” Based on Spielberg’s childhood in Arizona, the coming-of-age drama explores the family secrets of a young man with an early passion for filmmaking, and stars Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Seth Rogen. “This is a really unique story for him… he’s really shied away, for the most part, from being directly personal in his films, unlike so many other filmmakers,” said Bailey. “But he’s gone there for the first time with ‘The Fabelmans.’ It’s powerful. If you know Spielberg’s films as an adult, to see how this artist was formed as a boy is fascinating.” The Spielberg premiere on Saturday evening is one of several celebrating the significance of cinema itself, and the collective experience of watching movies together, along with “Empire of Light” by Sam Mendes. The “American Beauty” and “1917” director will receive a career-honoring Tribute Award at a Sunday gala, before his latest movie about a romance at a beautiful old cinema in 1980s England premieres Monday. LGBTQ ‘breakthrough’ Elsewhere, stars expected to grace Toronto red carpets include Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne in “The Good Nurse,” Jennifer Lawrence in “Causeway,” Viola Davis in “The Woman King,” and Nicolas Cage in “Butcher’s Crossing.” Director Rian Johnson launches “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” a whodunit sequel in which Daniel Craig’s sleuth meets a star-studded cast including Edward Norton, Ethan Hawke and Jada Pinkett Smith. And in his first film since the 2018 best picture Oscar winner “Green Book,” Peter Farrelly brings “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” starring Zac Efron. But few are likely to draw more screaming fans and scrambling photographers to the carpet than Styles, whose high-profile arthouse film “My Policeman” premieres Sunday. Emma Corrin and Rupert Everett also star in the film about a secretive affair between two men in 1950s England, at a time when homosexuality was still illegal. Meanwhile “Bros” marks “the first time, in my knowledge anyhow, that a major Hollywood studio has made a film that is unapologetically and proudly queer,” said Bailey. Other similarly themed films at TIFF include “The Inspection,” about a young Black man who enlists in the Marine Corps after being thrown out of his mother’s home for being gay. “There’s a breakthrough this year… you’re seeing LGBTQ stories being told in maybe places that they haven’t been before, and in a much more mainstream way,” said Bailey. “The biggest companies that make films have often been the most cautious, shall we say, when it comes to this kind of representation,” he added. “That seems to be changing.” The festival kicks off Thursday with “The Swimmers” — the true story of sisters leaving Syria to pursue a new life in Europe and the chance to swim in the 2016 Summer Olympics — and ends September 18. View the full article