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Published by AlterNet By David Badash Christina Pushaw, the divisive far right press secretary to Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has submitted her letter of resignation as she moves to head rapid response on his re-election campaign. The Florida Standard, first to break the news, published her resignation letter. “You gave me latitude to respond to media narratives in direct and often unconventional ways, allowing me to redefine this role for a leader whose actions speak for themselves,” she wrote. Among those unconventional ways was to popularize against LGBTQ people the dangerous label of “groomer,” during … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Matthew Chapman On Thursday, The Guardian reported that a private religious school in Louisiana expelled a five-year-old kindergartner — because her parents are a same-sex couple. “Emily and Jennie Parker said they were informed by school officials at the Bible Baptist Academy in DeQuincy, Louisiana, during a meeting with the school’s director and a pastor that their same-sex relationship did not follow the teachings of the school and that they would need to find a new school for their daughter, Zoey,” reported Gloria Oladipo. ‘We got called into the principal’s office for a meeting, they i… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan on Friday blamed “political considerations” for the cancellation of WorldPride 2025 Taiwan after it said the organisers had insisted the word “Taiwan” be removed. Taiwan participates in global organisations like the Olympics as “Chinese Taipei”, to avoid political problems with China which views the democratically-governed island as its own territory and bristles at anything that suggests it is a separate country. Taiwan’s southern city of Kaohsiung had been due to host WorldPride 2025 Taiwan, after winning the right from global LGBTQ rights group InterPride. Last year, after an outcry in Taiwan, it dropped a reference to the island as a “region”, wording that suggests it is not a country. But the Kaohsiung organisers said InterPride had recently “suddenly” asked them to change the name of the event to “Kaohsiung”, removing the word “Taiwan”. “After careful evaluation, it is believed that if the event continues, it may harm the interests of Taiwan and the Taiwan gay community. Therefore, it is decided to terminate the project before signing the contract,” said the Kaohsiung organisers. InterPride did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the event would have been the first WorldPride event to be held in East Asia. “Taiwan deeply regrets that InterPride, due to political considerations, has unilaterally rejected the mutually agreed upon consensus and broken a relationship of cooperation and trust, leading to this outcome,” it said. “Not only does the decision disrespect Taiwan’s rights and diligent efforts, it also harms Asia’s vast LGBTIQ+ community and runs counter to the progressive principles espoused by InterPride.” Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019, in a first for Asia, and is proud of its reputation as a bastion of LGBTQ rights and liberalism. While same sex relations are not illegal in China, same sex marriage is, and the government has been cracking down depictions of LGBTQ people in the media and of the community’s use of social media. (Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna was warned her career was “over” when she accidentally flashed her butt on stage. The 63-year-old singer was one of the performers at the very first MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in 1984 when she caused a sensation when her dress flipped up and she flashed her backside while singing ‘Like a Virgin’, and though the wardrobe malfunction was accidental, her management team were convinced the brief flashing of flesh would spark enough outrage to ensure she’d never work again. Speaking to Jimmy Fallon on ‘The Tonight Show’, she said: “I did that show and I walked down the very steep stairs of the wedding cake and I got to the bottom and I started dancing around in my white stiletto pumps fell off. “And I was trying to do this smooth move like, dive for the shoe and look like it was choreography. And my dress flipped up and my butt was showing. Can you imagine? “Those were the days when you shouldn’t show your butt to have a career. Now it’s the opposite. “It happened by accident and when I didn’t even know my butt was showing. It wasn’t even like the whole butt it was just like a butt cheek, like half a butt cheek. “Yeah, when I went backstage, my manager told me my career is over with.” The ‘Beautiful Stranger’ singer also recalled how much it “blew [her] mind” when she saw people dancing to her music for the first time at a club called Danceteria. She said: “I want to tell you when I finally got this guy, Mark Kamins, to play my cassette, it’s a song called ‘Everybody’. “It’s on his record and I swear to god, I had to promise everything to him to get it played. And when he played it, everybody got up and started dancing to it and it blew my mind I mean, seriously, like that was everything to me.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dame Olivia Newton-John will receive a state funeral. The ‘Grease’ legend will be laid to rest with a state memorial service in Australia after her family accepted the offer days following her tragic death aged 73 earlier this week. Speaking on ‘A Current Affair’, her niece Tottie Goldsmith confirmed: “We will [accept], on behalf of not just our family, but I think Australia needs it. She was so loved. “I think our country needs it so we’re going to accept it.” A venue and date is yet to be revealed, but discussions will continue between the family, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his department. He commented: “The family were quite touched at the prospect of Victorians being able to come together and celebrate Olivia’s life. “As tough as this time is… it’s made a little easier by all the outpouring of grief and support, and the very fond memories people are sharing of such an amazing person.” Premier Andrews had previously confirmed his government would approach the late actress’ family about the official farewell. He told news.com.au: “As for celebrating her life… her music and film and all the other amazing contributions that she made, we would, of course, want to speak to the family and be as respectful as we can. “She took her cancer journey and used that to save lives and change lives, and that’s just a deeply impressive thing. “The research that’s done there [at the cancer and wellness centre], the treatment, the care, the love and support that is central to that place is a lasting legacy to the person that she was.” Olivia’s husband of 14 years, John Easterling, shared a statement across the star’s social media channels on Monday, confirming she had passed away. It read: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time. “Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation “Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.” View the full article

Published by The San Diego Union-Tribune The American arrived at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow and was arrested after a luggage search found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil that was prescribed by a U.S. doctor to treat chronic pain. There were various detention facilities, a guilty plea, a hearing in front of Russian judge and an implausibly long prison sentence. We’re not talking about basketball player Brittney Griner. We’re talking about Marc Fogel, a 61-year-old history teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow that was created by the U.S., Canadian and British embassies to teach the children of diplomats stati… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Although Fox News has “largely refrained” from criticizing ex-President Donald Trump publicly, Lachlan Murdoch – the network’s chief executive – has slammed Trump behind closed doors, Radar has learned. The surprising development came days after numerous reports suggested both Lachlan Murdoch and his father, Fox News patriarch Rupert Murdoch, had given Trump “the cold shoulder.” Mega But now, according to disgraced CNN host Brian Stelter, the Murdochs have realized that while they disagree with how Trump acts and “behaves,” the ex-president and potential 2024 candidate hopeful is nonetheless still “good for business.” In fact, according to sources who spoke to Stelter and Oliver Darcy on Reliable Sources, Lachlan Murdoch has gone so far as to claim: “if Trump were to run again, it would be bad for the country.” Mega As RadarOnline.com previously reported, the New York Times published a report last week that claimed Rupert Murdoch “banned” Trump from Fox News airwaves over the former president’s “refusal to accept his [2020] election loss.” Although Fox News host Howard Kurtz quickly claimed Trump was the one ignoring the network and choosing not to appear on the network’s programs, Fox News’ reporting on Trump took center stage this week following the FBI’s raid on his Mar-a-Lago home. Fox News’s reporting on Trump following the raid has “shattered any such illusion” that the Murdochs were “steering” the network in an anti-Trump direction, seemingly proving the theory that although Lachlan and Rupert Murdoch may disagree with Trump privately, they won’t hesitate to cover the controversial politician when it is “good for business.” Furthermore, despite the Murdochs’ personal feelings towards Trump, their recent coverage of the ex-president suggests Fox News would rush to defend Trump when doing so provides an opportunity to cater to their pro-Trump viewers. Mega After Trump took to social media Monday night and confirmed the FBI raided his Palm Beach, Florida home, Fox News hosts rushed to the airwaves to slam the FBI and Dept. of Justice while portraying Trump as a “victim” of “deep state forces” trying to “damage” the ex-president. Such instances create a conundrum for the Murdochs and Fox News because, although they allegedly tear Trump apart behind closed doors, they cannot condemn Trump publicly without losing a large part of their core audience. Instead, the Murdochs have no choice but to air supportive coverage of Trump – meaning that, should he run for president again in 2024, Fox News will likely support him again like the network did in 2020, even if Lachlan Murdoch believes “it would be bad for the country.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Ex-Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes revealed she has secret recordings that she wants to release to the public as her nasty fight with Bravo and Andy Cohen continues in court, Radar has learned. The 54-year-old iconic reality star unleased this morning on Twitter on the network and her former boss. She said, “I am happy I was able to help all the other black women get job opportunities that are working for them. He stopped me from working because I was a threat to his career! Yet he was able to abuse me for years.” NeNe ended, “I want to release these voice recordings so bad.” Mega The reality star then re-tweet the message, “Andy used you until he wanted to kick you to the curb and then slander you so you couldn’t obtain any further work. It’s so disappointing and it is definitely different than how he treats other housewives he disagrees with or has parted ways with.” Another message she supported read, “Andy high key used her popular to benefit off of to build his celebrity up and when he didn’t feel like he needed Nene anymore, she was gone, and he’s started to strategically befriend other popular names instead until their popularity starts to fade away.” As RadarOnline.com previously reported, earlier this year, NeNe sued Bravo, Andy and the production companies behind Real Housewives of Atlanta accusing them of discrimination. NeNe said she complained about her white co-star Kim Zolciak making alleged racist remarks over the years but nothing was done. Instead, she claimed the execs took action against her and made life hard during filming. She said they also told her to stop speaking about Kim publicly after she called her out on Instagram. Mega In the lawsuit, Nene said Andy and the network went out of their way to “blackball” her in the industry after she spoke out about the incidents on RHOA. She said they refused to let her work on other projects, unlike other cast members. NeNe pointed to a specific deal she was working on with Sirius XM radio. She said Andy “interfered with, and sabotaged, this effort.” “Cohen has admitted that he told Sirius XM that Mrs. Leakes would demand a lot of money for any role on a radio show, an obvious effort to prevent her from getting such a deal,” the suit read. Mega As RadarOnline.com first reported, NeNe and the defendants are currently fighting on where the lawsuit will be fought. Andy and the other corporate defendants have demanded the battle be taken to arbitration which would be outside the public eye. The court has yet to rule. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Herschel Walker’s ex-wife recently accused the professional football player-turned-politician of threatening to kill her during their nearly 20-year-long marriage, Radar has learned. The shocking accusation was made by Cindy DeAngelis Grossman – who was married to Walker from 1983 to 2002 – during a scathing ad slamming the former NFL running back for allegedly threatening to put a gun to Grossman’s head. Mega “He held the gun to my temple and said he was gonna blow my brains out,” Grossman said in the shocking ad, which was put together by a group called the Republican Accountability Project in an effort to hurt Walker’s chances of winning Georgia’s upcoming Senate race. Grossman further claimed Walker’s eyes “would become very evil” when he became angry, and other alleged incidents between the former couple included “guns and knives” as well as “a few choking things.” Mega Although Walker previously acknowledged the shocking allegations against him, and admitted he suffered from mental illness throughout his marriage to Grossman, he maintained the claim he never threatened to kill his then-wife. Walker, who won the GOP primary for Georgia Senate candidate on May 24 after being endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is set to face off against Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) during the senatorial election on Tuesday, November 8. Senator Warnock is currently holding a “modest but steady lead” in the polls against Walker, and the allegation Walker once threatened to kill his ex-wife is just the latest scandal to come to light since the 60-year-old former New York Giants running back announced he was running for Georgia senator. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Walker was also forced to admit he fathered three “secret” children following a bombshell report published in June – just days after he won the Georgia GOP primary race. Mega Although Walker admitted he fathered a 22-year-old son, Christian, he was forced to admit he also fathered three children out of wedlock – a 10-year-old son, a 13-year-old son and another daughter born while the Georgia-native was still in college. “Herschel had a child years ago when he wasn’t married. He’s supported the child and continues to do so. He’s proud of his children,” Scott Paradise, Walker’s campaign manager, said in June regarding one of Walker’s “secret” sons. “To suggest that Herschel is ‘hiding’ the child because he hasn’t used him in his political campaign is offensive and absurd,” Paradise added. View the full article

Published by AFP A new survey says teen have fled Facebook in recent years San Francisco (AFP) – US teens have left Facebook in droves over the past seven years, preferring to spend time at video-sharing venues YouTube and TikTok, according to a Pew Research Center survey data out Wednesday. TikTok has “emerged as a top social media platform for US teens” while Google-run YouTube “stands out as the most common platform used by teens,” the report’s authors wrote. Pew’s data comes as Facebook-owner Meta is in a battle with TikTok for social media primacy, trying to keep the maximum number of users as part of its multi-billion dollar ad-driven business. The report said some 95 percent of the teens surveyed said they use YouTube, compared with 67 percent saying they are TikTok users. Just 32 percent of teens surveyed said they log on to Facebook — a big drop from the 71 percent who reported being users during a similar survey some seven years ago. Once the place to be online, Facebook has become seen as a venue for older folks with young drawn to social networks where people express themselves with pictures and video snippets. About 62 percent of the teens said they use Instagram, owned by Facebook-parent Meta, while 59 percent said they used Snapchat, researchers stated. “A quarter of teens who use Snapchat or TikTok say they use these apps almost constantly, and a fifth of teen YouTube users say the same,” the report said. In a bit of good news for Meta’s business, its photo and video sharing service Instagram was more popular with US teens than it was in the 2014-2015 survey. Meanwhile, less than a quarter of the teens surveyed said they ever use Twitter, the report said. The study also confirmed what casual observers may have suspected, 95 percent of US teens say they have smartphones, while nearly as many of them have desktop or laptop computers. And the share of teens who say they are online almost constantly has nearly doubled to 46 percent when compared to survey results from seven years ago, researchers noted. The report was based on a survey of 1,316 US teens, ranging in age from 13 years old to 17 years old, conducted from mid-April to early May of this year, according to Pew. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to run for president again in 2024, but his family is less than pleased about his decision, which is causing a feud between the brood. “They are a family divided,” a source told Radar, adding that Donald’s wife is adamant about him staying away from the White House, as she believes it will “make all of the family’s legal problems go away.” Meanwhile, Donald Jr. and Eric want their dad to be the leader of the U.S. again. mega As OK! previously reported, Donald’s Mar-a-Lago home was raided earlier this week, as the FBI believes there are classified documents that are being store there. “It’s obvious all of this craziness is happening because some people are scared Donald is going to run again in 2024,” the source stated. “Melania and Ivanka do not get alongabout much, but both are begging him to announce he will not be running. They believe all of this will disappear if he ends all of the speculation.” The insider said that the investigation isn’t “just affecting Donald, it affects the entire family,” the source said. “Melania and Ivanka are sick of the endless investigations and attention. They want to go back to their fabulous lives. They just want this all to end.” mega After the feds broke into his home, Donald spoke out about the incident via social media. “After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” he said. “It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections. Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries.” “Sadly, America has now become one of those countries, corrupt at a level not seen before. They even broke into my safe!” he continued. “What is the difference between this and Watergate, where operatives broke into the Democrat National Committee? Here, in reverse, Democrats broke into the home of the 45th President of the United States.” View the full article

Published by AFP Taget of an Iranian plot: former US national security adviser John Bolton Washington (AFP) – The US Justice Department said Wednesday it had uncovered an Iranian plot to kill former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton, and announced charges against a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Justice Department said 45-year-old Shahram Poursafi had offered to pay an individual in the United States $300,000 to kill Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations. The Justice Department said that plan was likely set in retaliation for the US killing of top Guard commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq in January 2020. The allegation came as Iran weighs a proposed agreement in Vienna talks to revive the 2015 agreement that aims to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. For months Tehran has held up the deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), demanding that the United States remove its official designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a sponsor of terrorism. “This is not the first time we have uncovered Iranian plots to exact revenge against individuals on US soil and we will work tirelessly to expose and disrupt every one of these efforts,” said US Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen. FBI informant According to the charges, Poursafi tried to arrange Bolton’s murder beginning in October 2021, when he contacted online an unidentified person in the United States, first saying he wanted to commission photographs of Bolton. That person passed the Iranian onto another contact, who Poursafi then asked to kill Bolton. He offered $250,000, which was then negotiated up to $300,000. “Poursafi added that he had an additional ‘job,’ for which he would pay $1 million,” the Justice Department said. But that second person, court documents say, was an informant for the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. The informant stalled, waiting for an initial payment, but only in late April did Poursafi send money, paying a total of $100 in cryptocurrency. Poursafi was charged with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, which brings up to 10 years in prison, and with providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot, which carries a 15-year sentence. Foreign policy ‘hawk’ Bolton, one of the leading “hawks” of the US foreign policy establishment and a strong critic of Iran, was national security advisor in the White House of president Donald Trump from April 2018 to September 2019. In the administration of president George Bush, he was ambassador to the United Nations from 2005-2006. He was strongly opposed to the 2015 JCPOA putting limits on Iran’s nuclear program, and supported the Trump administration’s unilateral pullout from the pact in May 2018. The court documents indicated Bolton was aware of the plot and cooperated with investigators, allowing photographs of himself outside his Washington office to be sent to Poursafi. The also reveal that Poursafi was receiving intelligence on Bolton’s movements from other sources inside the United States. In encrypted messages with the informant, Poursafi disclosed that the plot related to Tehran’s desire for revenge for the US killing of Soleimani. Soleimani was head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force and personally maintained its network of allies and proxies across the Gulf region. He was targeted by a US drone strike just after he landed at Baghdad’s airport on January 7, 2020. Since that strike Tehran has vowed to extract revenge, a security was ramped up for US official, including for Mike Pompeo, who was secretary of state at the time of the assassination of Soleimani, and before that director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In a statement Bolton blasted Iran’s government as “liars, terrorists and enemies of the United States,” and urged President Joe Biden to not restore the nuclear agreement. The European Union, which is brokering the talks, said Monday a final deal had been submitted to the United States and Iran. In March, the Washington Examiner reported that the department was investigating an Iranian plot against Bolton and that the case was delayed be the nuclear negotiations. The department denied timing the case according to the talks. “Should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences,” said current White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA Armie Hammer‘s alleged voice memos and messages are being exposed by his alleged victims following allegations of sexual abuse, Radar has learned. Hammer’s exes, Courtney Vucekovich, and Julia Morrison, sat down for one-on-one interviews detailing the actor’s alleged cannibalistic and sexual kinks. Vinnie Levine / MEGA Morrison said she had yet to fully “digest” the gravity of one message in particular. “I have a fantasy about having someone prove their love and devotion and tying them up in a public place at night and making their body free use and seeing if they will f— strangers for me,” it read. Another shocking voice memo from Hammer was even more unsettling. “My bet was going to involve showing up at your place and completely tying you up and incapacitating you and being able to do whatever I wanted to every single hole in your body until I was done with you,” he allegedly stated. Looking back on the past, Vucekovich described her relationship with the Social Network star as “perfect,” sharing how smitten she was with Hammer before their dynamic took a dark turn. Vucekovich said he would push her boundaries, a little bit at a time. [This post contains video, click to play] “You are mine! You hear me? I own you now. I’ll own you forever,” more of his alleged messages read. “I decide when you eat, when you sleep. when you —-,” another read. Vucekovich claimed at one point, he said I am “100 percent a cannibal.” She also alleged to have received a note that said, “I am going to bite the f— out of you.” Later in the trailer, Hammer’s aunt Casey Hammer, made an explosive appearance. “I’m about to reveal the dark, twisted secrets of the Hammer family,” she teased. Hammer’s alleged behavior first sent shockwaves in January 2021 after multiple women came forward to accuse him. GIOVANNI/ MEGA “I’m not responding to these bulls—t claims, but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for four months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic,” he told TMZ at the time. Hammer later checked into a rehabilitation facility in May 2021 for alleged drug, alcohol, and sex issues before leaving that December. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. star and wife Elizabeth Chambers announced their split in July 2020. House of Hammer premieres on Discovery+ on September 2. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Dr. Oz has failed to excite voters in Pennsylvania as he runs for governor and has been forced to pump his campaign with over $13 million from his own fortune. According to Federal Election Commission data, Oz loaned his campaign 70% of the $19 million raised. Political analysts call the numbers a sign of big trouble for Oz. mega Oz hopes to replace retiring Republican Senator Pat Toomey. His opponent is Democrat John Fetterman. However, Oz’s campaign finance records revealed he’s failed to bring in many small, one-time donations and has had to rely on his own funds. “In all of the metrics that I look at with how healthy you are based on your fundraising, he’s not doing great,” Republican political strategist Sam Chen told Go Erie. Letterman has raised over $26 million with 1 million individual donations. The average amount raised per donor came to $30. The current polls also show Letterman beating Oz by a large margin. Oz doesn’t have much time to improve his chances with the election scheduled for November 8. As RadarOnline.com first reported, sources tell us high-ranking Republican officials are furious with Oz and accused him of running a lazy campaign. Oz has been vacationing in Florida and Ireland instead of holding rallies in Pennsylvania. “To the G.O.P. establishment — a club that Dr. Mehmet Oz is eager to join — the aspiring senator from Pennsylvania is running a lazy man’s campaign,” one insider dished to the website Puck. mega We’re told former President Donald Trump — prior to the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago — had been watching Oz’s campaign with disgust. “Donald Trump thinks Oz is running a terrible campaign, which doesn’t make sense, because like Trump, he graduated from the school of television,” a source told RadarOnline.com. Oz doesn’t have a television career to fall back on after ending his long-running daytime show in December. Oz’s decision to run for Senate caused Fox stations to pull his program in certain markets due to laws. His daughter Daphne took over his timeslot with a cooking show The Good Dish but that was canceled months later due to poor ratings and a lack of celebrity guests. mega Back in March, before he won the primary, a source close to Oz told RadarOnline.com, “Like any good doctor, he is already looking for alternatives to keep his career alive if he doesn’t win. Fortunately for him, his appearances on Fox News and Newsmax have impressed the bosses. There is no doubt that he is a very gifted communicator on TV. Which is why there has already been talk about him becoming a primetime opinion host.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA People in Brazil, seemingly confused, have started to kill monkeys thinking they are spreading the monkeypox virus, Radar has learned. But it’s just in a name. The reason the monkeypox virus is so named is because it was first identified in a group of monkeys in Denmark. That namesake association is now costing monkeys lives. In Sao Jose do Rio Preto, a Brazilian city in the state of Sao Paulo, police are investigating the poisoning of at least 10 monkeys, seven of whom died. There have been three confirmed cases of monkeypox in Sao Jose do Rito Preto. Elsewhere in the South American country, there have been reports of people throwing stones at monkeys. “What people need to know very clearly is the transmission we are seeing is happening between humans,” said WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris during an Aug. 9 press conference in Geneva, according to the Daily Mail. “The concern should be about where it’s transmitting in the human population and what humans can do to protect themselves from getting it and transmitting it. They should certainly not be attacking any animals.” “The monkeypox virus is in a number of different animals,” she added. “It’s much more commonly in various rodents.” Brazilians previously attacked monkeys during an outbreak of yellow fever. Locally, Lt. Fábio Leme of the Brazilian Environmental Police is similarly trying to educate the public about the fact that capuchin monkeys are not the transmitters of monkeypox. The Environmental Police rescued eight monkeys. The animals were taken to a local zoo, but five died. So far, the substance being used to poising the animals has not been identified, according to the Latin Post. According to the latest CDC data, Brazil has recorded 2,131 confirmed cases of monkeypox. That total places it at sixth on the worldwide list, behind the United States, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Karen Freifeld NEW YORK (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he refused to answer questions during an appearance before New York state’s attorney general in a civil investigation into his family’s business practices, citing his constitutional right against self-incrimination. Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr. and daughter Ivanka Trump had fought unsuccessfully to avoid appearing for testimony in state Attorney General Letitia James’s probe into whether the Trump Organization inflated real estate values to obtain favorable loans and understated asset values to get tax breaks. “I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution,” Trump said in a statement issued roughly an hour after he arrived in a motorcade to the attorney general’s office in lower Manhattan for the deposition behind closed doors. The Constitution’s Fifth Amendment protects against self-incrimination. Trump’s decision not to answer questions still could carry consequences. Should the investigation lead to a trial, jurors could take his silence into account. Politically, it also could give adversaries ammunition about whether Trump has something to hide as he mulls another run for the presidency in 2024. James has said her investigation has uncovered significant evidence that the Trump Organization, which manages hotels, golf courses and other real estate, gave banks and tax authorities misleading financial information to obtain benefits. Trump did not leave the attorney general’s office until about six hours after he arrived, suggesting he faced questions for much of the day. Trump, a Republican, in his statement again denied wrongdoing and sought to portray the investigation by James, a Democrat, as part of a years-long vendetta against him by her and others including the news media. “I once asked, ‘If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?'” Trump said in his statement. “Now I know the answer to that question.” Trump added, “When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice.” In the statement, Trump also made disparaging comments about James and violent crime in New York state. Trump attempted to link the state attorney general’s investigation to Monday’s FBI search of his Florida home Mar-a-Lago, which represented an escalation a federal probe into whether he illegally removed records from the White House as he left office in January 2021. A spokeswoman for James declined to comment on the deposition. A lawyer for Trump did not respond to requests for comment. Trump agreed in June to testify in the three-year investigation, but only after court decisions rejecting his argument that he should not have to do so because the probe was politically motivated. His lawyers also argued that Trump’s words could be unfairly used against him in a related criminal probe led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in which James also is involved. Two top prosecutors in that case resigned in March, with one saying Bragg was skeptical of bringing charges against Trump. A Bragg spokeswoman on Wednesday said that criminal probe continues. Trump raised his fist as he left Trump Tower on Wednesday morning, wearing a blue suit with a flag pin on his lapel, before heading to the attorney general’s office. New York City police officers and Secret Service personnel stood guard as the motorcade transporting him arrived. ‘THE MOB TAKES THE FIFTH’ Trump has in the past disparaged people for exercising their Fifth Amendment rights. “The mob takes the Fifth,” Trump said during a 2016 campaign rally. “If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?” In that instance, he was discussing people who had exercised their Fifth Amendment rights in a probe relating to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for official correspondence during her time as secretary of state. Clinton was Trump’s opponent in the presidential election that year. Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump also testified in recent weeks in James’ probe, according to a person familiar with the matter. Reuters could not determine whether they also refused to answer questions. Their brother Eric Trump invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 500 times when he testified in October 2020. Monday’s FBI search related to the National Archives and Records Administration, which safeguards presidential records that belong to the public, and whether classified documents were kept at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, according to a person familiar with the matter. Trump has faced a slew of legal troubles since leaving office. He also continues to claim falsely that the 2020 election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden was stolen through widespread voting fraud. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York; Additional reporting by Jon Stempel and Randi Love in New York and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham and Noeleen Walder) View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — The New York Film Festival will celebrate its 60th anniversary this fall with movies featuring big-name stars and ties to the Big Apple. “Tar” starring Cate Blanchett and the Paul Schrader-directed “Master Gardner” help headline the 2022 festival’s 32-movie main slate, which was unveiled Tuesday by the Film at Lincoln Center organization. Organizers had already announced several of this year’s selections, including “Armageddon Time,” a Queens-set drama depicting a pursuit the American dream that’s directed by New York native James Gray. Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins star in the … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rosie O’Donnell “feels bad” for making fun of Anne Heche. The ‘Volcano’ star is currently in a “critical condition” in a coma in hospital after being involved in a fiery car crash last Friday (05.08.22) and the 60-year-old comic admitted the incident has made her reflect on a past incident when she mocked the actress. Speaking in a TikTok video, Rosie said: “I can’t stop thinking about this Anne Heche accident and how horrifying the whole thing is and feeling bad that I made fun of her when she was talking to Barbara Walters about having a relationship with space aliens.” The ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ star branded the crash a “tragic tale” and seemingly suggested Anne was driving under the influence. She said: “If we have an honest discussion about drunk driving, we find out just how prevalent it is and that’s terrifying, isn’t it? “I think it’s a miracle that she didn’t kill anyone … and I hope she survives. But wow, what a tragic tale. That car was on fire for a long time, they say.” Rosie then urged fans to seek help for alcoholism if they needed to. She said: “Try it before it’s too late. Try it before you’re at your lowest.” Rosie was referring to a 2001 interview in which Anne said she had created a second personality and a “fantasy world” as a form of escapism after being molested by her father, Donald Heche. Anne said at the time: “I had a fantasy world that I escaped to. I called my other personality Celestia. “I believed I was from that world. I believed I was from another planet. I think I was insane.” A year later, the ‘League of their Own’ star branded the interview a “train wreck” and joked about Anne’s past relationship with Ellen DeGeneres. She said: “What the hell kind of train wreck was that? “She couldn’t just say, ‘I was a lesbian for two years, it didn’t work out for me?’” View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — The reason Lauren Weisberger’s satirical memoir “The Devil Wears Prada” became famous was not just because of the juicy schadenfreude-y movie with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. It’s because Weisberger was self-aware enough to see that the thirst for power included herself. On the one hand, she took out her knives and dissected the terrifying tastemaker Miranda, a stand-in for Anna Wintour, a bourgeois feminist survivor with veiled vulnerability. On the other, she knew that the very act of writing the memoir meant that her alter-ego Andy was no different from Miranda, even though sh… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kevin Bacon wants to help end conversion therapy. The 64-year-old actor was horrified when he began researching the practice – in which emotional or physical therapy is used to try to stop or suppress someone from being gay, or from living as a different gender – for his new movie ‘They/Them’ and is keen to raise awareness of the horrors is can cause. As a result, a new campaign has been launched through his charity, SixDegrees.org to raise funds to support Born Perfect – a scheme from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which works within the legal system to keep LGBTQ+ people safe – and to end conversion therapy altogether as at present, more than half of the US’ LGBTQ+ population lives in a state which has not outlawed the practice. Kevin hopes to raise at least $50,000 with the initiative and to “spread awareness of these practices and shine a light on Born Perfect, which is looking to dismantle any legitimacy they have.” To date, more than $20,000 has already been raised through a raffle for a premiere experience with the ‘Footloose’ star. Kevin reflected on how he first came across the “dumb” practice. He told People magazine: “I remember thinking this is not only dumb it’s hurtful. To put anyone — especially a young person — through such a shameful, painful process when there is no chance of it working is terrible. Why? Where’s the threat? Why is anyone else’s sexual orientation your problem?” The veteran actor thinks the “timing is really good” for his new horror film, which is set in a conversion therapy camp, and he was inspired by the rest of the ‘They/Them’ cast. He said: “While I was really in the head space of the character, there was also a part of me that was feeling very moved by the fact that here was this group of our future, of young people who identify in all different kinds of ways, who have come together and are going to be represented in this film in hopefully a way that they haven’t often been in the past. “People need to be left alone to be who they are. To love who they want to love and marry who they want to marry. That is the backbone of a strong and peaceful society.” The film’s executive producer Scott Turner Schofield – the first trans man to be nominated for an Emmy award – praised Kevin for taking a stand. He said: “It’s really meaningful that he would choose to help raise awareness about the abuse that LGBTQ+ youth face in so-called ‘conversion therapy’ because the reason why it’s still happening at such a large scale is because there is so much silence about it.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ethan Coen is set to direct a lesbian road trip comedy. The film will star Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanatha, both 27, with the plot centring around a party girl and her “buttoned-down” friend. It comes after it was confirmed Ethan, 64, would be going solo without his long-time directing partner Joel, 67, who last year directed ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ without his younger sibling. Ethan wrote the road movie script for the as yet untitled road trip film, which has reportedly been inspired by American director Russ Meyer, alongside Joel’s wife Tricia Cooke in the early 2000s. A synopsis says: “The story centred on a party girl who takes a trip from Philadelphia to Miami with her buttoned-down friend. Cruising bars ensues as does the potpourri of a severed head in a hatbox, a bitter ex-girlfriend, a mystery briefcase and an evil senator.” Production is set to begin this autumn after being initially announced for summer. Qualley recently starred in Claire Denis’ Cannes feature ‘Stars at Noon’, while Viswanathan is due to start promoting ‘The Beanie Bubble’. Joel said last year about working without his brother Ethan on ‘Macbeth’: “I spent 40 years looking over at Ethan after each shot or looking at him if there was a problem. And, so, I missed him because that wasn’t there.” Long-time Coen Brothers composer Carter Burwell, 67, has claimed the brothers may never again make another film together. He said: “They also have a ton of scripts they’ve written together that are sitting on various shelves. I hope maybe they get back to those. “I’ve read some of those, and they are great. We are all at an age where we just don’t know… we could all retire. It’s a wonderfully unpredictable business.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kylie Minogue has hailed Olivia Newton John as “an inspiration” since childhood. The 54-year-old singer and actress has paid tribute to the late ‘Grease’ legend – whose family moved to Australia when she was six years old – following her tragic death on Monday (08.08.22) aged 73 after a long battle with cancer. Alongside a black and white professional photo of them together at an event, Kylie wrote: “Since I was ten years old, I have loved and looked up to Olivia Newton John. And, I always will… “She was, and always will be, an inspiration to me in so many, many ways. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. x ONJ4EVER” Kylie’s sister Dannii responded with a broken heart emoji in the comments. Other stars have continued to remember the big screen star after her passing, including Sir Rod Steward, who even credited Olivia with inspiring his own style. He tweeted: “My great friend Olivia Newton John has passed away. She was the perfect Lady, gorgeous, with great poise and with a certain Aussie sophistication. “Her spandex trousers in Grease were my inspiration for my ‘Da ya think I’m Sexy‘ era. RIP Olivia (sic)” And Stockard Channing – who appeared alongside Olivia in ‘Grease’ as Betty Rizzo – joined her fellow stars in paying tribute to their late cast mate. In a statement to PEOPLE magazine, she said: “I don’t know if I’ve known a lovelier human being. “Olivia was the essence of summer – her sunniness, her warmth and her grace are what always come to mind when I think of her. I will miss her enormously.” Meanwhile, John Travolta – who played Danny Zuko to her Sandy Olsen in ‘Grease’ – also paid his respescts. He wrote on Instagram: “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Jane Lynch will be leaving the Broadway production of Funny Girl in mid-August as opposed to early September. The actress, who had been playing Mrs. Brice, a.k.a. Fanny’s mother, last show will be on August 14, as she is going on a planned vacation. She was originally going to leave from August 15 and return on August 23, but the producers agreed to let her depart ahead of her getaway. The production originally noted that the Glee alum‘s last performance would have been on September 4. Tovah Feldshuh will take over on September 6 — the same day that Lea Michele, who also appeared on Glee alongside Lynch, will replace Beanie Feldstein as the leading lady. “As I embark upon my last week in Funny Girl, my heart is filled with gratitude for this wildly talented company led by Beanie Feldstein and our wonderful audiences for keeping theater alive!” Lynch said in a statement. “I offer a special thanks to my current scene partner Julie Benko and will be back to see my friend Lea Michele light up the lights.” Unfortunately, Lynch and Michele won’t be able to have a Glee reunion in the Big Apple, but the former wishes her nothing but the best. “We have been in touch about it,” Lynch said. “You know, it was just a really strong idea to have [Tovah] Feldshuh and Lea premiere together. That’s the only reason [we won’t appear together].” The Only Murders in the Building star added, “I adore her. She’s just going to take this show and make it her own. I’m so glad she’s getting the opportunity in real life to do the show and not just on Glee.“ LEA MICHELE, BEANIE FELDSTEIN & MORE STARS CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF CODE (RED) TO FIGHT COVID-19 WITH A NIGHT OUT ON BROADWAY mega Feldstein revealed via social media that she was walking away from the role. “Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine, and doing so for the last few months has been a great joy and true honor,” she said in mid-July. “I will never forget this experience and from the bottom of my heart.” “I want to thank every single person who came to the August Wilson for the love and support you have shown me and our amazing cast and crew,” Feldstein added. “The people I have had the great joy of bringing Funny Girl to life with every night, both on and off the stage, are all remarkably talented and exceptional humans and I hope you continue to join them on Henry Street after I depart.” People reported the news about Lynch’s departure. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Demi Lovato has a new man in her life! The “Skyscraper” vocalist, who recently changed her pronouns back to she/her, has reportedly found love with a mystery musician. mega “It’s a really happy and healthy relationship,” a source close to Lovato explained of the private romance. “He’s a super great guy.” Insiders have yet to reveal the man’s identity. DEMI LOVATO RETURNS HOME FROM UTAH REHAB FACILITY AFTER REJECTING THEIR PAST ‘CALIFORNIA SOBER’ LIFESTYLE This will mark the Camp Rock actress’ first relationship since her September 2020 engagement to Max Ehrich, whom she began dating in March of that year. Despite a whirlwind romance, the pair ended their partnership a mere month after getting engaged. Though Lovato appears to now be in a solid relationship, the Grammy Award nominee recently threw shade at her former romance with Wilmer Valderrama, who is twelve years her senior, in her new song “29.” The exes, who spent six years together, began dating when the actor was 29 and she was 17. mega “Finally 29 / Funny, just like you were you at the time,” Lovato croons in the tune. “Thought it was a teenage dream / Just a fantasy / But was it yours or was it mine?” “Just five years of bleeders, student and a teacher / Far from innocent / What the f**k’s consent? / Numbers told you not to / But that didn’t stop you,” she sings. DEMI LOVATO GETS A ‘STANDING OVATION’ FROM AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL ENTITY IN NEW SERIES: WATCH As Lovato continues to navigate her love life, she recently revealed she is using she/her pronouns once again after coming out as non binary in May 2021. “I’ve actually adopted the pronouns of she/her again,” the former Disney star revealed on a recent episode of the “Spout Podcast.” “So for me, I’m such a fluid person that I don’t really… I don’t find that I am… I felt like, especially last year, my energy was balanced and my masculine and feminine energy, so that when I was faced with the choice of walking into a bathroom and it said, women and men, I didn’t feel like there was a bathroom for me because I didn’t feel necessarily like a woman. I didn’t feel like a man,” Lovato explained. “I just felt like a human. And that’s what they/them is, is about for me, it’s just about, like, feeling human at your core,” she noted. People was the first to report Lovato’s new relationship. View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA; Chris Kleponis – Pool via CNP / MEGA Ivanka Trump looked carefree during a low-key date night with husband Jared Kushner on Monday, smiling and laughing just hours after her father Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago club and personal home were raided by the FBI. Radar has learned the former First Daughter, 40, and her spouse of nearly 13 years hit up Bleu Duck Kitchen in Minnesota, which boasts of its seasonal American dishes served in an upscale space. MEGA The casually dressed couple appeared to be in good spirits as they enjoyed a private table and wine, reportedly “keeping to themselves” amid the outing. A beaming Ivanka and Jared, 41, were later seen taking an afternoon stroll in downtown Rochester, embracing while they engaged in conversation. Their blissful outing came not long before the FBI descended upon her father’s personal home and Mar-a-Lago property. RadarOnline.com has discovered the Department of Justice and FBI investigation is not regarding the investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, nor is it about the Jan. 6 insurrection probe. It was instead focused on seizing classified documents the former president was supposed to turn over to the National Archives. MEGA Eric Trump said during an interview with Fox News that he was the one who alerted their dad about the FBI’s search of the Florida property, revealing officials had broken “into a safe.” He claimed the underlying motive is politically charged. “They do it for one reason, because they don’t want Donald Trump to run and win again in 2024 and, Sean [Hannity], that’s what this is about today,” he said. Trump himself also denounced the raid in a statement. MEGA On Monday night, Trump said Mar-a-Lago was “under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.” “After working and cooperating with the relevant government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” he continued, calling it “prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024.” Last evening, #45 also posted a campaign-style ad to Truth Social hinting at his plans to run again, calling America “a nation in decline” and promising “the best is yet to come.” View the full article