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Published by Reuters By Tom Hals and Hyunjoo Jin (Reuters) – The judge overseeing Twitter Inc’s $44 billion lawsuit against Elon Musk has a no-nonsense reputation as well as the distinction of being one of the few jurists who has ever ordered a reluctant buyer to close a U.S. corporate merger. Kathaleen McCormick took over the role of chancellor or chief judge of the Court of Chancery last year, the first woman in that role. On Wednesday, she was assigned the Twitter lawsuit which seeks to force Musk to complete his deal for the social media platform, which promises to be one of the biggest legal showdowns in years. “She already has a track record of not putting up with some of the worst behavior that we see in these areas when people want to get out of deals,” said Adam Badawi, a law professor who specializes in corporate governance at the University of California Berkeley. “She is a serious, no-nonsense judge.” In contrast to Musk’s brash and volatile behavior, she is known as soft-spoken, approachable and amiable — but a person who also stands her ground. She advocates respect among litigants and integrity at legal conferences. “We’ve always had each other’s backs, we’ve always gone out for drinks after arguments and maintained this level civility,” she told a gathering at the University of Delaware this year. After weeks of confrontational tweets suggesting Twitter was hiding the true number of fake accounts, Musk said on Friday he was terminating the $54.20-per-Twitter share acquisition, worth $44 billion. On Tuesday, the social media platform sued. Judges have ordered reluctant buyers to close corporate acquisitions only a handful of times, according to legal experts and court records. One of those was McCormick. Last year, McCormick got the attention of Wall Street dealmakers by ordering an affiliate of private equity firm Kohlberg & Co LLC to close its $550 million purchase of DecoPac Holding Inc, which makes cake decorating products. She described her ruling as “chalking up a victory for deal certainty” and rejected Kohlberg’s arguments that it could walk away because of a lack of financing. The case has many parallels to the Twitter deal. Like Musk, Kohlberg said it was walking away because DecoPac violated the merger agreement. Like Musk, Kohlberg argued in part that DecoPac failed to maintain ordinary operations. There are also differences. Musk’s deal is magnitudes bigger, involves a publicly traded target company in Twitter and might have implications for Tesla Inc, the electric vehicle maker that is the source of much of Musk’s fortune. In other cases, she has come down on the side of shareholders when they clashed with management. Last year, she prevented energy company The Williams Cos Inc from adopting a so-called poison pill anti-takeover measure, saying it breached their fiduciary duty to shareholders. Last month, she said shareholders of Carvana Co could sue the board for a direct offering of stock to select investors when the share price was depressed during the early pandemic. A graduate of Notre Dame Law School, McCormick started her career with the Delaware branch of the Legal Aid Society, which helps low-income people navigate the court system. She went into private practice “mainly for financial reasons,” she told the Delaware Senate during her confirmation hearing, joining Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, one of the state’s main firms for business litigation. She joined the Court of Chancery in 2018 as a vice chancellor and became the first woman to lead the Court of Chancery last year. Despite her mild manner, Eric Talley, who specializes in corporate law at Columbia Law School, said he doubts McCormick would be cowed by Musk. “I would not be placing my bets on Chancellor McCormick suddenly becoming weak-kneed,” he said. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware and Hyun Joo Jin in San Francisco; editing by Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Armie Hammer reportedly ditched his job as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands after his new gig was exposed online, Radar has learned. Now, the embattled actor is reportedly living with Robert Downey Jr. in Los Angeles. The shocking development was revealed on Thursday, and according to Vanity Fair, RDJ is not only letting Hammer live at one of his L.A. properties, but the Iron Man actor also supported Hammer and funded his six-month stay in a Florida rehab facility. Mega As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Hammer entered rehab in May 2021 – reportedly under the guidance of Downey Jr. – after a number of women accused the Death on the Nile actor of sexual assault beginning in January 2021. But while the embattled 35-year-old actor has tried to control and resolve his substance abuse issues – including penchants for sex, drugs and alcohol – insiders close to Hammer insisted the Social Network star’s problems stem from unresolved trauma. “Everyone looks at Armie thinking that he’s had some sort of privileged life—and that must mean there were no problems in his youth and everything was peachy keen,” one of Hammer’s closest friends told the outlet. “But that’s not necessarily the way things go,” the insider spilled further. “Just because you come from an upbringing where financial resources are plentiful doesn’t mean life isn’t without problems.” Mega As RadarOnline.com also recently reported, Hammer attempted to keep a low profile and work as a timeshare salesman for a Cayman Island’s resort getaway called Morritt’s Resort. The Call Me By Your Name actor’s attempt to lay low was ultimately exposed after someone posted a tweet claiming Hammer was their friend’s parents’ concierge. “My friends’ parents went on vacation in the Cayman Islands and Armie Hammer was their concierge I’m still not over it,” the individual claimed, although she deleted the post shortly thereafter. Hammer was reportedly working at Morritt’s Resort not only because he wanted to remain close to his ex-wife, Elizabeth Chambers, and their two children, Harper,7, and Ford, 5, but also because he allegedly lost his entire fortune following last year’s series of sexual assault allegations. “The reality is he’s totally broke, and is trying to fill the days and earn money to support his family,” another one of Hammer’s close friends spilled after it was revealed he was working at Morritt’s Resort. Mega Before Hammer ditched his gig in the Cayman Islands and returned to L. A. with the help of Downey Jr., the 35-year-old actor’s lawyer slammed the media for trashing the actor for working a “normal job.” “I can’t confirm or deny the report because Armie hasn’t addressed it,” Hammer’s attorney said on Wednesday. “I just think it’s shitty that, if he is selling timeshares, the media is shaming him for having a ‘normal job.’” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall has promised people will find a “friend for life” if they adopt a rescue dog or cat. The 74-year-old royal hosted a reception to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home – from where she adopted her own canine companions, terriers Bluebell and Beth – in the walled garden of Clarence House on Thursday (14.07.22) – and as well as meeting staff, guests, trustees and ambassadors for the organisation, she also get to pet some of the pooches, who she described as “so sweet”. Camilla was particularly delighted by an eight-week-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Flora, who she admitted she would like to smuggle away in her handbag. She said: “I can’t imagine she’ll be stuck for a home for very long.” The duchess then made an appeal to urge people to adopt from Battersea. She said: “There are a lot of dogs and cats now at Battersea that need a home so if I could appeal to everybody listening, all of your friends, that if they want a dog or a cat, go along to Battersea and find a friend for life.” Peter Laurie, chief executive of Battersea, thanked Camilla for the “kind and generous” support she has offered in the five years she has been royal patron. Paul Marvell, Director of Global Programmes, admitted many pet owners have given up their animals due to the cost of living crisis, and he thinks the problem is set to get worse when gas and electricity bills go up again in the autumn. He said: “People are now citing financial pressures as one of the reasons they are rehoming their pets. When bills go up people will be more squeezed… “A lot of people got pets during lockdown. In the case of dogs, they didn’t have much interaction with other dogs and humans. “There are the inevitable problems with a lack of formal training and social interaction. “It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen. There are so many factors but the trajectory is looking like we will have more and more coming in. “But we have long waiting lists of people wanting to adopt dogs and cats. It’s finding the right home for the right animal. “We are very quick at rehoming. Dogs are here for four or five weeks at most.” Guests at the event struggled with the heat, with author Dame Jacqueline Wilson needing medical attention after fainting. When Camilla arrived, after being greeted by a “dog guard of honour”, she asked aides to move the lengthy receiving line into the shade so guests could be slightly more comfortable while they waited to speak to her. Later, the dogs were treated to bowls of Jude’s Ice Cream for Dogs – which donates 5%of profits to Battersea – with staff revealing the strawberry-flavoured treat had been the duchess’ idea. View the full article

Published by DPA Senior Conservator Lesley Stevenson views Head of a Peasant Woman alongside an x-ray image of the hidden Van Gogh self-portrait. The X-ray self portrait of Van Gogh, found on the back of the painting, is set to feature in an upcoming exhibition. Neil Hannah/PA Media/dpa The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh is set to display a newly-discovered sketch that is widely believed to be an unknown work by Vincent van Gogh later this month. The work shows a bearded man, his scarf loosely knotted, his face cast in shadow by the wide brim of his hat. “Yes, you read that right,” the Scottish National Gallery wrote in a jubilant statement. “We have discovered what is almost certainly a previously unknown self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh.” The art world is electrified by the image of the gentleman who gazes intently at viewers, thought to be by van Gogh, the famous Dutch painter who lived from 1853 to 1890. The drawing was revealed when the gallery carried out a routine x-ray of Van Gogh’s “Head of a Peasant Woman” of 1885 ahead an exhibition, called “A Taste for Impressionism“. Featuring modern French art from Millet to Matisse, the show runs from July 30 to November 13. The discovery of the van Gogh work was a complete surprise, the museum says. It is on the back of the canvas the painter used for “Head of a Peasant Woman” and was covered by several layers of glue and cardboard that were likely applied around 1905 for an exhibition. Van Gogh, who had little money, often used the back of canvases for new sketches and pictures. “That’s why pictures turn up from time to time, including self-portraits,” Cologne art historian and journalist Stefan Koldehoff told dpa. The museum is now working out how far it could reveal the unseen work more fully. “It may be possible to uncover the hidden self-portrait, but the process of removing the glue and cardboard will require delicate conservation work,” the statement says. For now, the world can enjoy the discovery through a ghostly and compelling x-ray image, in what curator Frances Fowle calls a unique gift for the cultural scene in Scotland. The gallery has created a special light box to reveal the work which is behind the painting, in order to share it with viewers at the exhibition. The artist’s left ear is clearly visible in the work, dating it to before 1888 when van Gogh cut it off. The gallery believes it is one of his first attempts at a self-portrait. However, the museum is reluctant to claim with 100% certainty that the sketch is a genuine van Gogh. It has consulted international experts but curators note that they are still only able to work with the x-ray image. Van Gogh was not alone in using the back of canvases to paint, with others including Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880-1938), central figure of the Brücke artists also working in this manner. However, critics have questioned the practise of presenting the back of canvases, saying this is in obvious violation of the artist’s will. However, it is precisely such sketches and works rejected by the artist that are considered to be especially revealing. And here, too, art historians are hoping to find clues. Van Gogh was highly experimental, especially in his Paris years from 1886 to 1888, says van Gogh biographer Koldehoff. Contrary to what is often portrayed, he was by no means a lone wolf, but made friends in the French capital with Impressionists such as Camille Pissarro or Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. “His paintings became more impressionistic themselves, brighter, more colourful,” Koldehoff says. “If this possible self-portrait, which we so far only know as a poor black-and-white X-ray, comes from this period, it could also show how van Gogh was learning.” But as long as the original work cannot be seen in full colour, that remains tantalising speculation. The Scottish National Gallery is preparing to exhibit a newly discovered sketch thought to be by (and of) Vincent van Gogh after the apparent self-portrait was accidentally discovered. National Galleries Of Scotland/PA Media/dpa View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Britney Spears would “rather hang out with homeless people than the people in Hollywood”. The 40-year-old singer – who recently tied the knot with Sam Asghari, 28, in a star-studded wedding – took to Instagram to hit out at Hollywood. She shared a picture with the words “God is not nice” and added a picture caption which read: “Does that mean the devil is EXTREMELY HOT AND NICE ??? I’d rather hang out with homeless people than the people in Hollywood … JUST SAYING !!!! (sic).” While Britney received support on her caption from some fans, others pointed out in the comments that Britney’s recent wedding included a number of celebrities, such as Madonna, Selena Gomez, Drew Barrymore, Paris Hilton and Ansel Elgort. One person wrote sarcastically: “I remember seeing how starved for Hollywood people your wedding was with all the homeless people there.” In another post, Britney – who was freed from her conservatorship last year – wrote about finally discovering her own “self-worth”. She wrote: “When you finally realize your worth and value … that MEANS way more than being liked … I have learned that up chatter resonates with different grounds … different awareness … different PRESENCE … I bring this up because I feel like there is a reason why I like the song ‘S.O.S’ by @off.indila … I think there’s a different meaning to it for everyone … we all have our perspectives so here I go … have you ever seen the movie ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ ??? Well I know the song is in French but I interpret the words my own way in my stupid 6 year old brain … after the word “SUN” I feel like she’s saying … SHE TOOK MY BANNER … I CALLED MY OWN !!! That’s probably not what she is saying but it’s what I hear … I feel like whenever there is a 3rd party with her son, husband or whomever she loves, the third party takes over and takes HER BANNER … meaning her identity called my OWN !!! Call me crazy, whatever … It’s been on my mind and if you only knew how many people … nannies, moms, friends have come in and chatted up my loves I think you would go see “To Kill a Mockingbird” !!! Depending on the 3 people indicates who goes away … To Kill a Mockingbird !!! I am grateful for today in finding my body … again reflecting and CLEARING and CLARITY this week !!! It’s good to reflect on where you have been before you know where you’re going !!! So s*** … I’ve done a lot so I have a lot of reflecting to do !!! I speak because I like to be heard … even if only one person hears me, that’s fine !!! As long as I feel heard … so whoever is reading this, hi and thanks for listening (sic).” View the full article

Published by Sports Illustrated By Emma Baccellieri As the film passes its 30th anniversary and the new series awaits its premiere on Amazon Prime Video next month, the material feels as resonant as ever. Each summer Sports Illustrated revisits, remembers and rethinks some of the biggest names and most important stories of our sporting past. Come back all week for more WHERE ARE THEY NOW? stories. The ballfield is modest. Still, it’s clear that it is cherished. The grass is cut short and the dirt kept neat, and the wooden benches in the dugouts are new, installed by the local Boy Scouts. There are bleachers that can sit a fe… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting at the European Commission. The European Commission is taking Hungary to the European Court of Justice, to reverse both a law restricting access to information on LGBT issues and a decision to revoke the broadcast licence of the country's last independent radio station, Klubradio. Etienne Ansotte/European Commission/dpa The European Commission is taking Hungary to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), to reverse both a law restricting access to information on LGBT issues and a decision to revoke the broadcast licence of the country’s last independent radio station. The Hungarian legislation “discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity,” the commission said in a Friday statement announcing the move. The legal actions are the latest in a mountain of litigation the EU executive arm has pursued against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government due to what it says are violations of EU law. The commission has long deliberated taking Orbán’s government to court due to the controversial legislation adopted last June, but hesitated due to worries its interference could fuel Budapest’s anti-EU propaganda. Among other things, the law restricts children’s and young people’s access to books, films and other forms of content showing anything other than heterosexuality or birth-assigned gender identities. Orbán has repeatedly rejected charges that the legislation discriminates, arguing the rules enshrine parental control over what kind of sex education children receive at school. The commission under President Ursula von der Leyen refutes this. “The Hungarian bill is a shame,” she said last year, announcing the infringement process that culminated in Friday’s legal action. Hungary’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) law has also drawn strong criticism from EU member states. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Hungary should leave – or be made to leave – the European Union if it didn’t adhere to basic values of the bloc in the aftermath of the bill’s adoption. Hungary has refused to budge, however, and a series of correspondence with the EU executive arm failed to convince the commission of the legislation’s compliance with EU law. The commission views the law as disproportionate and puts “in place unjustified restrictions that discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation,” according to a previous statement. The EU executive arm monitors compliance with EU law in the bloc. Should Budapest not comply with the ECJ ruling on the matter, Hungary could face heavy fines. Similarly, the commission is pursuing legal action against Hungary regarding a decision not to award a broadcast licence to what is regarded as the country’s last independent radio broadcaster, Klubradio. In March 2021, Hungary’s media council, whose members are supporters of Orbán, declared Klubradio’s application to broadcast as invalid. The commission began infringement proceedings soon after, criticizing the decision as non-transparent and discriminatory, which culminated in Friday’s legal action. Hungary has also been the subject of commission legal action for the handling of asylum claims in the country. Budapest could also become the first EU member state to face a potential cut in EU funding due to rule-of-law violations after the commission triggered a legal mechanism to safeguard the EU budget. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English TJ Osborne joked that his brother John knew he was gay, when he saw his internet search history. The Brothers Osborne musicians have opened up about when TJ shared his sexuality with his brother and how John tried to break the tension with a joked. Speaking on SiriusXM’s ‘Exit 209 with Storme Warren’ podcast, John, 40, said: “As his older brother you just kind of know, but it’s not my place to ask.” TJ, 37, quipped: “When you saw my internet history you kind of knew,” and John laughed: “Yeah. I was like, wow. Interesting.” TJ revealed he wanted to tell John about his sexuality before they tied themselves into a contract with EMI Records Nashville in 2012. He said: “I was like, ‘Hey, before we sign this and we get kind of tangled up, contractually entangled in something, you need to know that this is a thing that I need to tell you about me that I think you might now, but I also want you to know that I do intend on coming out at some point. I don’t know when that is, but I don’t want to live my life closeted.’ “I knew that I wanted to tell John then and at that point I had come out to a couple people that I thought really needed to know, but beyond that, I just kind of just did my thing and so John was always obviously incredibly supportive of that.” John said: “It’s not my place to pry or ask, but I knew eventually he would have to tell me for him, you know, because the people that I’m closest to in my life are my brother and my wife [Lucie] and my family and you have to be honest and open with those people, which allows you to be vulnerable, which is where real life happens, right?” And John then joked to his brother that he would “balance” him out. He said: “To break awkward tension, I just remember saying, ‘Well, you don’t have to worry TJ because the other member in your band is a raging heterosexual, so I’m here to balance you out’. I just wanted to say something to make someone laugh and it was after that then we just had drinks and I felt so much happiness and joy for him and it was a beautiful, beautiful night.” TJ – who is dating Abi Ventura – came out publicly in Time magazine in February 2021, becoming the first only openly gay artist signed to a major country label. View the full article

Published by Taste of Country Ty Herndon remembers the details. He’ll describe the exact moment he knew he was bound for a relapse and what it felt like to decide he was going to die. Then, he’ll recall the sudden quiet that came when an undiagnosed mental illness was diagnosed and then properly medicated. Only a songwriter could share these details like poetry. Only a country music songwriter could turn that poetry into a story every single person in America can relate to. As the COVID-19 pandemic raged in 2020 and 2021, it made sense to think a body of art would emerge afterward that summed up this experience in America…. Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Keith Coffman DENVER (Reuters) – A county clerk who was indicted on felony charges of tampering with voting equipment and then lost a bid for the Republican nomination to Colorado’s top election-management post has become a fugitive from justice, court records showed on Thursday. In a written court order, Mesa County District Judge Matthew Barrett revoked a $25,000 cash bond for Tina Peters, who is the county’s Republican elected clerk and recorder, and issued a warrant for her arrest. Court records show Peters left the state without permission, violating the terms of her bail bond that permitted her pre-trial release from jail in March. Peters’ lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, filed court papers later on Thursday seeking to block the bench warrant for her arrest. The motion acknowledged Peters had gone to Las Vegas, Nevada, this week to speak at a sheriff’s conference but asserted she misunderstood the court-ordered travel restrictions she faced. In March, Peters was indicted by a Colorado grand jury on election tampering charges stemming from an alleged breach of Mesa County’s voting equipment, and was barred by Colorado’s secretary of state from overseeing elections in the western Colorado county this year. According to the 10-count indictment, which included charges of criminal impersonation, conspiracy, identity theft and official misconduct, Peters gave unauthorized personnel access to the county’s election computer server. Two of her deputies have also been criminally charged in the case, which gained national attention in part because Peters was outspoken in her support for former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against him. Peters has denied any wrongdoing, and blamed her legal troubles on her political adversaries, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat. Undaunted by her indictment, Peters sought the Republican nomination to challenge Griswold, who is up for re-election in November. But Peters, who was permitted to travel outside Colorado while she was a candidate for statewide office, lost the Republican primary last month. Investigators learned that Peters had filed a document with Griswold’s office this week, requesting a recount of the primary election and that it was notarized in Las Vegas. That revelation led Mesa County District Attorney Daniel Rubinstein to file a motion to revoke Peters’ bond. “Ms. Peters has less motivation to appear in court now that she is no longer a candidate,” Rubinstein wrote. “Additionally, she has evidenced through her travel prior to the election that she has the means to flee if she wants to.” Peter’s defense lawyer denied she was a flight risk and argued she believed she still had permission to travel out of state with 72 hours advance notice, as she did during her election campaign, and that her failure to provide such notice before going to Las Vegas was an oversight. Peters was in Las Vegas on July 12 to address a symposium on election fraud held by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a conservative group of elected local law enforcement officials and their allies. The criminal investigation of Peters was opened last year after images of Mesa County’s election equipment passwords were on a right-wing blog site. The suspected computer breach was pinpointed during a software update in 2021 and did not involve any actual election or voting irregularities, authorities said. (Reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver; Editing by Steve Gorman and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Demi Lovato suffered a bloody face injury after hitting their head on a crystal. The singer, 29, posted a video on TikTok on Wedesday (13.07.22) showing a forehead gash and said it would need stitches ahead of an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s chat show. Demi, who is non-binary and changed her gender pronouns to they/them, said: “Guess who hit their head on a crystal and has to get stitches before Kimmel tomorrow???: The clip shows the singer covering her forehead with their hand as a man could be heard saying: “How are they gonna know?… nobody’s gonna know.” They then revealed the wound and appeared to mouth the word “f***”. Demi posted it before she was set to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday. (14.07.22) They added a string of hashtags to their post, including one referencing their new single ‘Substance’, from Grammy nominee Demi’s forthcoming album ‘HOLY FVCK’, due out August 19. The ‘Let It Go’ singer said about the record: “The process of making this album has been the most fulfilling yet, and I’m grateful to my fans and collaborators for being on this journey with me. “Never have I been more sure of myself and my music. And this record speaks that for itself.” The release comes after the singer’s 2018 brush with death after they said they suffered three strokes, a heart attack and “brain damage” after a drug overdose that year. It was believed to be caused by heroin and fentanyl-laced oxycodone, with the brain damage leaving Demi unable to drive as they said they were stricken with “blind spots in my vision”. In the documentary ‘Dancing With the Devil’, Demi admitted about the incident: “My doctors said that I had five to 10 more minutes.” Demi also said they still drank and smoked marijuana after 2018, but they have apparently got totally clean after entering rehab again in 2021 They say they now feel “sober is the only way to be”. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Ivana Trump, the first wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump and the mother of his three oldest children, who helped her husband build some of his signature buildings including Trump Tower, has died at age 73, Donald Trump said on Thursday. “I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City,” Trump said in a post on the social medial platform Truth Social. The couple married in 1977 and divorced in 1992. They had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. “Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination,” the Trump family said in a statement. She grew up under Communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia. Neither the Trump family statement nor the post from the former president mentioned the cause of death, but a police spokesperson said she was found dead on the stairs and that foul play was not suspected. The New York Times, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, said it appeared accidental and she may have fallen down the stairs. The Fire Department of New York said paramedics responded to a call to her apartment for a cardiac arrest. Born Ivana Zelnickova, she grew up in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia, a town near Prague that is now known as Zlin, according to her biography posted by CMG Worldwide, a business agency for celebrities that represented her. She spent much of her youth in competitive skiing for the Czechoslovakian national system, later competing for Charles University in Prague, where she earned a master’s degree in physical education and languages, the CMG biography said. After university, she followed her love interest at the time, professional skier George Syrovatka, to Canada, and later began modeling for the Audrey Morris agency in Montreal, CMG said. While on a modeling trip to New York in 1976, she met Donald Trump, CMG said, and they were married nine months later. Ivana Trump played a role in building up the Trump media image in the 1980s, when they were one of New York City’s most prominent power couples. While Donald Trump took the credit for his early success breaking into the highly competitive Manhattan real estate market, Ivana Trump also filled an important role in the family business soon after their marriage, the New York Times reported. She worked alongside her husband in developing Trump Tower, his signature building on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and other high-profile projects such as the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Times said. Ivana Trump was the vice president for interior design for the Trump Organization and managed the historic Plaza Hotel, which Trump acquired in 1988 all while raising their three children. Their divorce, which came after Donald Trump’s highly publicized affair with Marla Maples, whom he later married, was fodder for the New York tabloids. A New York judge cited “cruel and inhuman treatment” by Donald Trump in granting Ivana Trump’s request for divorce. She appeared in the 1996 film “First Wives Club,” in which she tells three women whose husbands dumped them for younger women, “Don’t get mad. Get everything.” In her divorce settlement, Ivana Trump received $14 million plus $650,000 per year to support their three children, a 45-room mansion in Connecticut, an apartment in Trump Plaza, and use of the Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida for one month a year, the New York Times reported. Ivana Trump is survived by her mother, her three children and 10 grandchildren, the family statement said. She married three other times, including once before she met Trump in what she described as a Cold War marriage to obtain an Austrian passport. Her two later marriages also ended in divorce. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Diane Craft) View the full article

Published by PopCrush Kehlani is now speaking out on an incident that occurred between them and Christian Walker. On July 13, conservative influencer Walker – who is the son of former football player and current Republican Senate nominee for Georgia, Herschel Walker – filmed himself nearing Kehlani at a Starbucks drive-thru. However, he accused the singer of criticizing him to the baristas. Walker posted the exchanged to his Twitter and said alongside the post: “This mediocre singer that everyone’s forgotten about, Kehlani, told my baristas at Starbucks that I was an ‘a–hole’ and to be ‘safe around me.’ Well, I set… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Moira Warburton and Rose Horowitch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Republicans in Congress are lining up behind legislation that critics say would roll back protections for transgender people, setting a playbook for action on a divisive social issue should they take control of Congress this fall. The bills have no chance of becoming law this year, as Democrats narrowly control both chambers of Congress. But they are a sign that Republicans aim to elevate a battle over transgender rights that has so far largely played out at the state level. Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would block federal funding to colleges where transgender women are allowed to participate in sports with cisgender women. A separate bill would allow transgender people to sue medical personnel who helped them transition as minors. Another bill would block funding to schools that disobey state laws regarding “materials harmful to minors,” mimicking state laws that have been used to remove books discussing history around race and LGBT themes. The bills have support from key Republicans in the House and Senate. Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has promoted the sports bill at a press conference and in a conservative newspaper. It is backed by 127 of 211 House Republicans. In the Senate, five Republicans have sponsored a version of the bill targeting medical providers, including Senators Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley and Marco Rubio. Republicans would be in a position to advance those bills next year if they win control of the House or the Senate in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, which analysts say is likely. “I hope these are legislative initiatives that we can pass when we get the majority back,” said Representative Jim Banks, who sponsored the medical providers bill and represents a district in Indiana, which banned transgender students from playing on girls’ sports teams at schools this May. FEARS OF DISCRIMINATION Critics say the legislation proposed by House Republicans would reduce access to care needed by transgender people to transition. Transgender people are significantly more likely to attempt or commit suicide, often due to lack of access to gender-affirming medical care, according to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy group. Banks called such criticism “outrageous” and said he did not see how his legislation would contribute to an unsafe environment for transgender people. Violence against LGBT people has also increased fourfold between 2020 and 2021 in the United States, according to ACLED, a nonpartisan organization that tracks violence globally. The increase occurred during a three-year uptick in anti-LGBT bills introduced in state legislatures, according to the Human Rights Campaign. “There has always been fringe voices who oppose LGBTQ equality, but now, unfortunately, that fringe has grown loud and is being given national platforms,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD, a LGBT advocacy group. Sixty-four percent of Americans support protecting trans people from discrimination, according to a June poll from Pew Research Center; 10% oppose protections. Eighteen Republican-led states have enacted bans on trans girls and women participating in publicly funded women’s sports, while more than a dozen have introduced legislation mimicking Florida’s law limiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender, according to the Human Rights Campaign. President Joe Biden has taken steps to counter those state laws, including issuing a proposal to expand current gender discrimination protections to transgender people in college sports. Advocates are pushing Democrats to do more to enshrine protections into law before the November elections, but they face uncertain prospects in the evenly divided Senate. “If we lose the House or the Senate I think it’s really unlikely we’ll be able to prevent discrimination” at the federal level, said Fran Hutchins, executive director of Equality Federation. (Reporting by Rose Horowitch and Moira Warburton; editing by Andy Sullivan and Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by AlterNet By Alex Henderson Civil libertarians have been warning that if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, contraception and gay rights would be next on the Christian nationalist chopping block — and sure enough, when the High Court overturned Roe with its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, far-right Justice Clarence Thomas called for the Court to “reconsider” 1965’s Griswold v. Connecticut (which made contraception a constitutionally protected right for married couples), 2003’s Lawrence v. Texas (which struck down anti-gay sodomy laws as unconstitutional) and Obergefel… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP This undated electron microscopic handout image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention depicts a monkeypox virion New York (AFP) – New York City has stressed to the US government the “urgency” with which it needs monkeypox vaccines amid a rise in cases, its mayor said Wednesday. America’s biggest metropolis has recorded 336 infections but that is unlikely to reflect the true numbers, according to the city’s department of health. Official cases rose from 267 on Tuesday, up from 223 the day before. Anyone can get and spread monkeypox but many cases have been found in men who have sex with men. The city of around nine million people is home to a large gay community and health authorities had to apologize this week after its vaccine reservation website crashed when it was overwhelmed with people trying to book appointments. Some 1,250 slots were available but many social media users expressed frustration at being unable to book an appointment. Mayor Eric Adams said he had had a telephone meeting with the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We discussed the supply constraints that New York City is facing and the urgency to expand our vaccine access footprint to more people, in more neighborhoods, through more partners and providers,” he said in a statement. New York is due to receive 14,500 doses from the US government this week, adding to the nearly 7,000 it has received since June 23. Health services are prioritizing the two-dose vaccination for gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, as well as for transgenders and non-binary people. Monkeypox is a viral illness endemic in West and Central African countries that causes symptoms such as fever and rash. It is similar to but less severe than smallpox, but can be riskier in immune compromised people. It is primarily spread through close contact. View the full article

Published by Radar Online @@ChristianWalk1r/instagram;mega Herschel Walker‘s son Christian got into an explosive yelling match with singer Kehlani at a Starbucks in Los Angeles, Radar has learned. The ex-NFL star turned Republican senate candidate’s 22-year-old son started filming in the drive-thru after becoming upset with pride flags hanging in the store. He said, “These flags from hell should have been removed 13 days ago. Pride month is over. Where is my American flag? You are intolerant of how I identify as a freakin’ American.” He then proceeded to tell his followers he was going to ask the staff if they needed an American flag. In a video posted on his Instagram Story, he asked an employee if they had an American flag but they were unsure. Christian then lost it shaking his head several times. Then moments later, he posted a video of him in his car yelling at the car in front of him. A woman in the other car pops out and is revealed to be singer Kehlani. @ChristianWalk1r/instagram She can be heard telling him, “you are so obnoxious” while he shouts at her. Christian then filmed himself getting out of his car and approaching her car window. “You don’t need to tell baristas I am an a—— because I have an opinion. Get your drink and go away,” he said while Kehlani looked on calmly. The barista can be heard apologizing to the singer who shakes her head telling him it’s okay. “If you can have an opinion, I can have an opinion,” he continued yelling while she laughed at him while chatting on FaceTime with a friend. Christian captioned the post, “This LOVING TOLERANT INCLUSIVE woman told the baristas I was “that a-hole from tiktok” So yes, I got out of the car.” @ChristianWalk1r/twitter Kehlani has yet to comment on the matter. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Herschel has been fighting off a separate scandal for weeks. Last month, a bombshell report broke revealing the ex-NFL star had three “secret” children. mega Herschel has only publicly claimed Christian. The report said the politician also had a secret 10-year-old son with one woman and another 13-year-old son with another individual. He also had a daughter who was born while he was in college. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jane Lynch is “so glad” that Lea Michele is getting to star in ‘Funny Girl’ on Broadway. The 61-year-old actress believes her former ‘Glee’ co-star, 35, is going to take the role of Fanny Brice – which was originated by Barbra Streisand in the 60s and earnt her a Tony and an Oscar- and “make it her own” after she takes the reins from the musical’s current leading lady, Beanie Feldstein. Jane – who is departing the role of Fanny’s mother as Lea joins and being replaced by veteran performer Tovah Feldshuh – told Deadline: “We have been in touch about it. You know, it was just a really strong idea to have Feldshuh and Lea premiere together. That’s the only reason [we won’t appear together.] 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 – who played noted Barbra Streisand fanatic on the Ryan Murphy musical comedy-drama – confirmed the news on her social media She wrote on Instagram: “A dream come true is an understatement. I’m so incredibly honored to join this amazing cast and production and return to the stage playing Fanny Brice on Broadway. See you September 6th.” Last month, Beanie first revealed that she would be departing the show in September but on Sunday (10.07.22), the 29-year-old actress announced that she was leaving earlier following “the production decided to take the show in a different direction” and will now be doing her final performance on July 31 after her interpretation was met with mixed reviews. The ‘Booksmart’ star called playing the role “a lifelong dream”. Beanie said: “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. Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated. 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.” She 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 on July 31st.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ex Studio 54 owner Mark Fleischman has died by assisted suicide at Dignitas, according to his former business partner. The 82-year-old nightclub legend – who ran the Manhattan hotspot frequented by names such as Truman Capote, Liza Minnelli, Andy Warhol, Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger between 1980 and 1986 -passed away in the Swiss city of Zurich after unidentified illness robbed his ability to walk or do other independent tasks. Daniel Fitzgerald, the co-owner of Los Angeles’ Century Club with Mark in the 90s and 00s told BBC News: “I guess he was in more pain than we knew.” Daniel has arranged for a “living wake” for Mark and wanted him to delay his trip to Switzerland, where assisted dying is permitted by law and the charity – which aids terminally ill people to end their life on their own terms – has been operating since 2002. He continued: “I thought maybe we could convince him not to [go]. “We had a really nice party for him and a lot of his friends came, and everyone thought, ‘he’s going to postpone it a month and we’ll see what we can do’. But he was set on doing it.” Daniel said that when they worked together at their California night spot as a pair they “worked really well together for a long time and had a lot of fun together.” He added: “He would be able to have fun but be really smart at the same time, and be really intelligent about figuring things out. He taught me a lot. He was a great mentor for me.” In June, Mark explained that his illness – which first manifested in 2016 – took away his ability to dress himself and how he needed to rely on his wife, Mimi for everything. He said: “I’m taking the gentle way out. It is the easiest way out for me.” The ‘Inside Studio 54’ author penned his in memoir about how he took over the club in the 80s after the original owners of the club – which first opened in 1977 – were imprisoned for tax evasion. Mark wrote in the 2017 tome: “From the very first night we opened, in 1981, I was swept up in a world of celebrities, drugs, power and sex, “Every night, celebrities and stunning women made their way through the crowd, up the stairs to my office to sip champagne and share lines of cocaine using my golden straw or rolled-up $100 bills.” “I was the guy in control, the owner – the host of the party. It was my duty, my job, to make sure everyone had a good time. It was a responsibility, a heady feeling, one that I gave myself over to wholeheartedly. It was an exclusive world where anything could happen.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Lea Micheleis both a blessing and a curse for Broadway. Radar has learned that since she announced that she’s replacing fired Beanie Feldstein, ticket prices have gone through the roof! RadarOnline.com told you first — Beanie was axed from the Broadway show Funny Girl due to low ticket sales and bad reviews, but she flipped the script on production. Now that the Glee star has stepped in to replace her as Fanny Brice, it’s a whole different ball game. Mega Lea’s opening night on September 6 will cost you a pretty penny. On SeatGeek, tickets for the production are retailing between $570 to $2,250. The most expensive is $2,500, and that’s before taxes and fees. With Beanie as Fanny until the end of this month, tickets are only going for about $69. “She signed a year contract but after the negative reviews and huge drop in ticket sales, producers asked her to leave in September when Jane Lynch was scheduled to leave,” a well-placed informant dished to RadarOnline. “They were doing her a favor, letting her leave when Jane left so it wouldn’t look like she was fired.” But Beanie decided to take matters into her own hands, taking to her social media and pulling the plug even sooner. Meg The 29-year-old Lady Bird actress “blindsided” production on Sunday night when she announced she’d be leaving Funny Girl at the end of July, leaving those in charge angry. “She will never work on Broadway again,” our source said. As RadarOnline.com reported, Beanie was slated to keep the role until September 25 — which was already earlier than the end-of-the-year date she had signed. Soon after Beanie decided on her July 31st departure, the production announced her replacement. Mega It didn’t take long for Lea to express her excitement. “A dream come true is an understatement,” Lea wrote on Instagram. “I’m so incredibly honored to join this amazing cast and production and return to the stage playing Fanny Brice on Broadway. See you September 6th.” Lea might bring in higher ticket sales but let’s not forget her reputation isn’t clean. Several Glee stars have spoken out about how she allegedly treated them on set, with Samantha Ware calling her experience with Lea “a living hell.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Bill Gates‘ youngest daughter is firing back at a group of angry, racist trolls by doubling down with her hot mystery man! Phoebe Gates, 19, went public with her boyfriend, who happens to be a fine Black man, last week, and triggered some of her prejudice followers who thought it was okay to come out of the woodworks and start popping off rude comments. After collecting a serious of ridiculous racist backlash, Phoebe proved she’s unbothered by sharing another adorable couple’s shot. Gates’ daughter has not revealed his identity, despite looking pretty in love with her new man. The Stanford student posted their second photo together on Tuesday. Mega Taking to her Instagram Stories, Phoebe was seen with her arms wrapped around her boyfriend as he sweetly kissed her cheek. Wearing a gorgeous floral dress with cut-outs to expose her skin, the brunette bombshell looked beyond happy to be held by her boyfriend during the romantic night out. Billionaire Bill Gates Trolled After 19-Year-Old Daughter Phoebe Debuts New Boyfriend In PDA Shot Armed with her powdered blue Chanel bag, Gates’ youngest child completed her dressed-up look with red lips and diamond earrings. Meanwhile, her date looked pretty spiffy in an all-black suit. Mega The two are getting serious. It appears the recent photo was taken in London, where Phoebe has been vacationing with her mother, newly-divorced Melinda Gates French. While she’s been posting her unnamed boyfriend all over social media, the two have not been seen out in public together yet. As RadarOnline.com reported, Phoebe was met with crude remarks after she debuted her new romance on Instagram, with many bringing her billionaire father into the cringe-worthy conversation. Mega “Bill Gates said he isn’t leaving any inheritance for his children. He’s donating all of it to charity,” one Twitter user wrote, referring to his divorce from Melinda. “Major bag alert!” added another, referencing Gates’ estimated $124.1 billion fortune. “Thissss isn’t the dream he’s talking about,” someone else wrote, including a photo of Martin Luther King Jr. While Phoebe hasn’t addressed the trolls directly, the latest kissing shot with her mystery man proves she’s not paying attention to the social media goblins. View the full article

Published by AFP President Donald Trump met with outside advisers at the White House on December 18, 2020 to discuss ways to remain in office after losing the election Washington (AFP) – A White House lawyer described the late-night meeting in the Oval Office as “nuts.” A presidential aide said it was “unhinged.” President Donald Trump was huddled with three outside advisers proposing outlandish schemes to overturn the results of the 2020 election and keep him in power. The House panel probing the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters has unearthed stunning new details about what committee member Jamie Raskin called the “craziest meeting of the Trump presidency.” Participants in the December 18, 2020 strategy session at the White House were Trump, Sidney Powell, a campaign attorney actively pushing conspiracy theories, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Patrick Byrne, the former chief executive of Overstock.com. According to the committee, they arrived with a draft Executive Order for Trump to sign that would authorize the defense secretary to seize voting machines and for Powell to be appointed a special counsel to investigate the November election won by Democrat Joe Biden. After Powell, Flynn and Byrne were let into the executive mansion by a junior staffer, White House lawyers were alerted to their unscheduled presence. Powell said the group were alone with the president for 10 to 15 minutes before White House counsel Pat Cipollone rushed over to the Oval Office, setting a new “land speed record.” “I didn’t understand how they had gotten in,” Cipollone told the committee. “I was not happy to see the people who were in the Oval Office. “I don’t think any of these people were providing the president with good advice.” Cipollone said he was “vehemently opposed” to Powell being named special counsel, and that seizing voting machines was a “terrible idea.” Raskin said there was a “heated and profane clash” between Cipollone, other White House staffers and the outside advisers lasting more than six hours. The group was joined at one point by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, who had been energetically pushing discredited theories of electoral fraud for weeks. ‘Throwing insults’ “It was not a casual meeting,” White House staff secretary Derek Lyons said. “There were people shouting at each other, throwing insults at each other.” Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, could hear the commotion in the Oval Office and texted to another staffer that the West Wing is “UNHINGED.” Cipollone, the chief White House counsel, said the outside advisers were “attacking me verbally” for not showing loyalty to Trump by investigating claims of election fraud. “We were pushing back and we were asking one simple question as a general matter: ‘Where is the evidence?'” he said. Eric Herschmann, another White House lawyer who was there, said Flynn at one point sought to demonstrate alleged election irregularities with diagrams showing “Nest thermostats being hooked up to the internet.” “It got to a point where the screaming was completely, completely out there,” Herschmann said. “It was late at night. It had been a long day and what they were proposing I thought was nuts.” Herschmann said he pointed out that all of Trump’s legal challenges to the election results had been tossed out of court, to which Powell replied: “Well the judges are corrupt.” “And I say ‘Every one?'” Herschmann said. “Every one of them is corrupt? Even the ones we appointed?” Herschmann said at one point that Flynn, a retired general, “screamed at me that I was a quitter.” “So, I yelled back: ‘Either come over, or sit your effing ass back down,'” he said. Lyons said the meeting ended after midnight having “landed where we started.” “Which was Sidney Powell was fighting, Mike Flynn was fighting — they were looking for avenues that would enable, that would result in President Trump remaining President Trump for a second term.” Shortly after the meeting broke up, Trump sent a tweet urging his millions of followers to attend a rally in Washington on January 6, promising it “will be wild.” View the full article

Published by AFP Abortion rights activists protest against the Supreme Court abortion rights ruling, in New York on July 9, 2022 Washington (AFP) – Ohio police have confirmed a 10-year-old rape victim crossed state lines to terminate her pregnancy, local media reported Wednesday, in a case drawing broad attention after the US Supreme Court overturned a federal right to abortion care. The girl’s startling ordeal of allegedly being forced to travel to neighboring Indiana to end her pregnancy after Ohio’s trigger law came into effect was highlighted by President Joe Biden recently as he signed legislation aimed at helping women seeking abortions. It was also questioned by conservative-leaning media outlets and Ohio’s attorney general, who cast doubt on the story’s veracity. But Columbus, Ohio police detective Jeffrey Huhn testified in court early Wednesday that the unidentified girl underwent an abortion in Indianapolis on June 30, the Columbus Dispatch reported. According to the paper, Huhn was testifying at the arraignment of a man arrested Tuesday by police who say he confessed to raping the child. Huhn also told the court that DNA samples obtained from the Indiana clinic were being tested against the 27-year-old suspect, the Dispatch said. Franklin County, Ohio court documents confirm that a Gerson Fuentes, 27, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of rape of a person under 13. The disturbing story, first reported by the Indianapolis Star, has drawn international scrutiny and become a flash point in the deeply divisive issue of abortion rights in America. Biden spoke of the Ohio rape victim during a July 8 ceremony where he signed reproductive right protections into law and urged Congress to codify Row v Wade, the 1973 ruling that established the nationwide right to abortion. “Just last week it was reported that a 10-year-old girl was a rape victim in Ohio — 10 years old — and she was forced to have to travel out of the state, to Indiana, to seek to terminate the pregnancy,” Biden said. “Just imagine being that little girl.” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, strongly suggested to Fox News late Monday that case was a fabrication, and that there was “not a whisper” of evidence to back up the claims that a 10-year-old rape victim had left Ohio to have an abortion. On Wednesday he reversed course, saying in a statement after the arrest that he praised the Columbus Police Department for “securing a confession and getting a rapist off the street.” Thirteen states have already passed trigger laws to ban abortion, in some states even in the case of rape or incest. Biden, a Democrat and staunch Catholic turned abortion rights proponent, has not contained his anger, calling the abortion bans in the case of rape or incest ‘extreme.” A majority of Americans — 56 percent, according to an NPR/Marist poll — oppose the overturning of Roe v Wade. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A documentary series about David Beckham is in the works at Netflix. The series will feature a mixture of unseen personal archive footage of the former England captain from the past 40 years, as well as interviews with friends, family and figures from the world of football who have been part of his career. The streamer revealed that the multi-part documentary will explore Beckham’s humble beginnings in East London as well as the drive and determination that saw him become one of the most recognisable and scrutinised athletes on the planet. The series will be directed and executive produced by Oscar-winner Fisher Stevens, along with Emmy-winning producer John Battsek. David, 47, took to Instagram to share his enthusiasm for the project. He wrote on the social media platform: “I’m excited to confirm that I am partnering with @Netflix on a documentary series about my life and career… “The series will feature unseen archive, untold stories as well as interviews with the people who have been a part of my journey.” David enjoyed a hugely successful football career where he represented clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid. He also made 115 appearances for England, while his marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has kept him in the celebrity spotlight. The former footballer was involved in Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last month when his face was beamed onto Buckingham Palace as he sent a video message to the 96-year-old British monarch during the star-studded Jubilee concert. He said: “For 70 years you have worked so incredibly hard, not just for the people of this country but also for the whole Commonwealth. “Thank you ma’am for your dedication, your service and for everything that you represent. Our country owes you so much.” View the full article

Published by AFP People visit a makeshift memorial to 19 children and two teachers who were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Washington (AFP) – Survivors of recent mass shootings in America and relatives of people killed in them pleaded with lawmakers Wednesday to ban the powerful assault weapons used in those massacres. “I want you to picture my face, my husband’s face, as we read our daughter’s death certificate,” said a tearful Kimberly Rubio, whose daughter Lexi was killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on May 24. A total of 19 children and two teachers died in the attack in Texas by a young gunman armed with a military-style semiautomatic rifle. Rubio was one of a group of people touched forever by such violence who gathered outside the US Capitol on Wednesday. “There is one question that should be on the forefront of their minds,” Rubio said of US lawmakers. “What if the gunman never had access to an assault weapon?” A video released Tuesday shows the gunman walking calmly into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde before he heads to two classrooms and starts shooting. It shows how police milled around in hallways for more than an hour until they finally moved in and killed the gunman. The video has infuriated the parents of kids who were killed in the massacre. “Our country has a problem, a big problem,” said Abby Brosio, who survived a mass shooting in Highland Park outside Chicago on July 4. That time a gunman with a semi-automatic rifle and shooting from a rooftop on an Independence Day parade killed seven people and wounded more than 30. In 1994 Congress passed a 10-year ban on assault rifles and certain high-capacity magazines. But lawmakers let it expire in 2004 without renewing the ban and sales of those weapons have soared since then. After the Uvalde shooting, President Joe Biden appealed to lawmakers to again ban assault rifles or at least raise the minimum age for buying them from 18 to 21. But Republican lawmakers, who see such a restriction as going against the constitutional right to bear arms, refused to go along with Biden’s proposal. View the full article