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Published by OK Magazine mega Less than two weeks ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which affects access to abortion, and since then, Madonna has continued to raise her voice to support women’s rights. On the Fourth of July, the singer shared an uncomfortable black-and-white video that showed a woman being dragged around a prison by security guards who eventually toss her on the floor. At the end of the video, a quote by Jean Paul Sartre appears on the screen: “Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” mega The superstar, 63, captioned her post, “This is what life looks like if you’re a woman in America………….It’s not Independence Day For Us. Let’s start A Revolution!” Fans were excited to see the Grammy winner expressing her opinions, with one writing, “MADONNA IS A TRUE AMERICAN. ,” while another commented, “Let’s fix #America – Let’s get to work!” The “Like a Prayer” crooner has always been one to make her views known, and just a few months ago, she pushed the envelope when she released a NFT that portrayed her in the nude and giving birth to butterflies. Unsurprisingly, the image ruffled more than a few feathers, but the mom-of-six defended the saucy artwork. “I wanted to investigate the concept of creation, not only the way a child enters the world through a woman’s vagina, but also the way an artist gives birth to creativity,” she reasoned. “Most importantly we wanted to use this opportunity to benefit mothers and children who are most in need right now.” MADONNA’S WILDEST MOMENTS THROUGH HER YEARS OF FAME — SEE THE LEGENDARY PHOTOS mega “But on a more existential level, I’m giving birth to art and creativity and we would be lost without both,” added the star. “I think it’s really important that a lot of thought and conversation went into creating these videos.” Despite her risqué antics, she recently made a plea to try and meet Pope Francis. “Hello @Pontifex Francis —I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear,” she tweeted. “It’s been a few decades since my last confession. Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters? I’ve been ex communicated 3 times. It doesn’t seem fair.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega He’s just that nice! After Keanu Reeves hopped off his flight, he was approached by an adoring fan, and instead of brushing him off, the actor was nothing but kind. “Keanu Reeves was on my flight from London to NYC today. A young boy asked for an autograph at baggage & then began to fire off a series of rapid-fire questions. Keanu happily responded to every single one…” TV producer Andrew Kimmel wrote alongside a photo via Twitter. “Kid: Why were you in London? KR: Filming a documentary. Kid: I saw online you were at the Grand Prix (pronouncing the x) KR: Yes, the Grand Prix (in a French accent, without correcting him). F1! Race cars! Kid: Do you drive? KR: Not F1, but I like riding motorcycles,” Kimmel said of the conversation. mega “Kid: Do you live in NY? KR: I live in LA,” Kimmel continued. “Kid: How long are you gonna be in New York? KR: Four days! No… five. Five days! Kid: Why are you in NY? KR: Gonna see a broadway show! Kid: What broadway show? KR: American Buffalo! Mamet! Kid: Where are you staying in NY? KR: Midtown! By this time the kid was running out of questions, so Keanu started grilling him Why were you in Europe? What galleries did you go to in Paris? What was your favorite?” Despite the interrogation, the Matrix star, 57, “, especially after an international flight,” Kimmel shared. “I thought I’d share this because the dude is a class act and little moments like this can make such a big difference in people’s lives. We need more Keanus!” mega Of course, people couldn’t help but gush over the sweet interaction. One person wrote, “Keanu Reeves is a wonderful human being. The best part of this interaction is that he also asked the kid questions and listened to his answers. He treated this boy like an equal,” while another added, “This is so keanu! Possibly the most patient, humble, humorous person crossed paths with. He doesn’t take himself seriously & zero ego. You literally can’t offend him if you tried. He could have been a monk ;). You feel at ease around him. Thank u God 4 gifting him to humanity.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By John Shiffman (Reuters) – A former Colorado funeral home owner pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal charge of defrauding relatives of the dead by dissecting their family members’ corpses and selling the body parts without permission, a practice exposed in a 2018 Reuters investigative report https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-bodies-funeral. Megan Hess, who operated a funeral home called Sunset Mesa and a human body parts business called Donor Services from the same building, entered the plea to the charge of fraud at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gordon Gallagher in Grand Junction, Colorado. Gallagher scheduled Hess, who had previously pleaded not guilty, to be sentenced in January, with the prosecution calling for 12 to 15 years in prison. Hess, 45, admitted on Tuesday that through her funeral home, located in the town of Montrose in the western part of the state, she defrauded at least a dozen families seeking cremation services for deceased relatives. Instead of cremating the bodies, court records show, her body broker company harvested heads, spines, arms and legs and then sold them, mostly for surgical training and other educational purposes. Hess had been scheduled to go on trial in three weeks along with her mother, Shirley Koch, who also previously pleaded not guilty. Koch’s change-of-plea hearing is set for July 12. After Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Chaffin made his sentencing recommendation, the lawyer for Hess, Dan Shaffer, urged a lighter sentence of about two years in prison. Hess has been free on bond since her arrest. During the hearing, the judge asked Hess to describe in her own words the crimes she committed. Hess initially called the whole affair a “legal travesty.” When prodded by the judge, Hess agreed with the prosecution that she defrauded her victims, though she declined to go into detail. Two family members and one friend of deceased people whose body parts were sold without permission by Hess spoke at the hearing. They told the judge that while they were still emotionally reeling from the episode and wanted to learn more details about what occurred, they welcomed the news that Hess had decided to plead guilty. To increase sales, Hess targeted poor and vulnerable families as they grappled with a relative’s final days, according to government court filings. “Meeting with hospice on the 4th … opening the floodgates of donors,” Hess wrote to a prospective body-part buyer in 2014. “They have four or five deaths a day. Get ready!!!! … How about a deal on full embalmed spines … $950?” Selling organs such as hearts, kidneys and tendons for transplant is illegal in the United States. But the sale of cadavers and body parts for use in research or education, which is what Hess did, is not regulated by federal law. Few state laws provide any regulation, and almost anyone, regardless of expertise, can dissect and sell human body parts. After the Reuters 2018 investigation, Colorado’s legislature strengthened the state’s oversight. Hess charged families up to $1,000 for cremations that never occurred, prosecutors said, and she also offered others a free cremation in exchange for a body donation. Many families received ashes from bins mixed with the remains of different cadavers, authorities said, and one client received concrete mix instead of a relative’s ashes. FBI agents found that Hess forged dozens of body-donor consent forms. In court documents, a former employee accused Hess of earning $40,000 by extracting and selling the gold teeth of some of the deceased, an allegation first revealed in the 2018 Reuters report. The Reuters series https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/usa-bodies uncovered the actions of Sunset Mesa and Donor Services. Former workers told Reuters about questionable practices at the facility, including the dismembering of bodies without the knowledge or consent of families. About a month after the Reuters stories, the FBI raided the site and state regulators shuttered the funeral home and crematory. A federal grand jury indicted Hess and Koch in 2020. (Reporting by John Shiffman in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by AFP An art handler looks at a Gorgosaurus Skeleton measuring 10 feet tall (3.04 meters) at Sotheby’s in New York, on July 05, 2022 New York (AFP) – A skeleton of a Gorgosaurus dinosaur is going up for auction for the first time and is expected to fetch between $5 million and $8 million, Sotheby’s said Tuesday. The auction house will put the specimen, which is 10 feet tall (three meters) and 22 feet long, under the hammer in New York on July 28. Sotheby’s described the skeleton as “one of the most valuable dinosaurs to ever appear on the market.” The Gorgosaurus roamed the earth approximately 77 million years ago. A typical adult weighed about two tonnes, slightly smaller than its more famous relative, the Tyrannosaurus rex. Paleontologists say it was fiercer and faster than the T-Rex, with a stronger bite of around 42,000 newtons compared to 35,000. The skeleton was discovered in the Judith River Formation near Havre, in the US state of Montana in 2018. The sale will mark the first time that Sotheby’s has auctioned a full dinosaur skeleton since it sold Sue the T-Rex in 1997 for $8.36 million. “All of the other specimens of Gorgosaurus that have been found are in museums,” Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s head of Science and popular culture, told AFP. “This is the only one that you can actually buy so it’s an exciting moment, both for private collectors and institutions,” she added. Unlike other countries, the United States does not restrict the sale or export of fossils, meaning the skeleton could end up overseas. View the full article

Published by Radar Online APEX / MEGA Already a local hero in Yellow Springs, Ohio, comedian Dave Chappelle has solidified his standing with a most unusual real estate deal. Per the Daily Mail, Chappelle dipped into his own pockets to buy the full 52 acres of land in his community where a 140-home development was being planned. Much like when residents put up signs in their front yards supporting a favored local political candidate, in this case over the July 4 weekend, the signs popping up read simply, “Thanks, Dave!” MEGA When approached by a Mail reporter, Chappelle demured. “’I’d rather not talk about that,” he said. “I’m just out and about in the village, I’ve really nothing to say.” In the minority corner in Yellow Springs are people like Village manager Josue Salmeron. It was Salmeron who confirmed to the newspaper that Chappelle had snapped up the entire plot of land, rather than just the previously reported 19 acres. Photographer Group/MEGA “I’m unhappy on several fronts that this project isn’t going ahead,” the manager said. “We have housing goals that we have been trying to meet for years. There is a national housing crisis problem with the affordability challenge and in Yellow Springs it is even greater.” Unlike the tight-lipped Chappelle, the comedian’s publicist Carla Sims had much to say, suggesting that the move is actually something Salmeron should he happy about. “The houses they were going to build were not affordable to the people who live in the village,” she claimed. “It was going to attract interlopers.” LIROPE / MEGA “Dave was trying to make sure that the people that live in Yellow Springs can stay and afford to live in Yellow Springs,” she added. “This development was not going to do that.” “Dave is not at all against building in Yellow Springs and neither is the community,” Sims stated. “They want to see development that is aligned with maintaining the culture of the village.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is getting a live special, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Oscar nomination. The beloved 1991 Disney classic was the first ever animated feature to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture in 1992 and the anniversary is set to be celebrated with a two-hour, live-action/animated special, directed by Hamish Hamilton and executive produced by Jon M. Chu. Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment said: “‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a timeless story and we’re so fortunate to work with creative mastermind Jon M. Chu and veteran director Hamish Hamilton to bring a modern twist to this beloved classic for an unforgettable night of Disney magic. “Stacked with unforgettable performances, this will be a must-see special event for fans of the original and for the new generation being introduced to this cherished tale.” The special will feature a new cast and will air on ABC on December 15. It will be available to stream on Disney+ the following day. Chu said: “‘Beauty and the Beast’ was always a game-changing cinematic experience for me. When the animated movie came out, I watched it multiple times in the first weekend. It showed me the outer limits of what animated artists and storytellers could achieve, so the fact that I get to executive produce a tribute to all the creatives that made this masterpiece through our Electric Somewhere company is a dream I didn’t even think was possible. “With world-class creatives and talent to reinterpret the classic musical numbers (with a few surprises), I can’t wait for the audiences, in person and at home, to experience what we have in store for them. It’s a true celebration of creativity.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Brad Pitt suffers from prosopagnosia. The 58-year-old actor has never officially been diagnosed but believes he suffers from the condition, which is also known as face blindness, and he thinks it has led people to have the wrong opinion of him. Speaking to GQ Magazine, Brad explained that he often struggles to remember new people and he worries that people think of him as “remote, aloof, inaccessible and self-absorbed”. When author Ottessa Moshfegh told Brad that her husband believes he has the same condition, Brad said: “Nobody believes me! I wanna meet another.” Brad has struggled with his condition for years and in 2013, he admitted that a lot of people hate him because of it. He previously told Esquire: “So many people hate me because they think I’m disrespecting them. So I swear to God, I took one year where I just said, This year, I’m just going to cop to it and say to people, ‘Okay, where did we meet?’ But it just got worse. People were more offended. Every now and then, someone will give me context, and I’ll say, ‘Thank you for helping me.’ But I p*** more people off. “You get this thing, like, ‘You’re being egotistical. You’re being conceited.’ But it’s a mystery to me, man. I can’t grasp a face and yet I come from such a design/aesthetic point of view. I am going to get it tested.” Prosopagnosia occurs when there is a problem in the Temporo-Occipital area of the right side of the brain and symptoms and treatments vary among patients. View the full article

Justice HornNot Backing Down Kansas City political candidate Justice Horn is currently on the home stretch of a Jackson County Legislature campaign that could make him the only out LGBTQ county official in the state, but the continued defacing of a campaign banner over the last few days has drawn his attention on the campaign trail. Horn shared on Sunday that the banner, which featured a picture of Horn and the Progress Pride flag with the words “Equality,” “Accountability” and “Community,” was spraypainted with a homophobic slur. “I’ll admit, this one hurt,” Horn said in social media posts sharing images of the vandalism. “This word is used to harm us. Either way, I’m not going to back down and I’m going to hold my head high.” On Monday, Horn participated in the “We Are Not Free Freedom March” in Kansas City and shared thanks to those who reached out to him with encouragement in the wake of Sunday’s events. “You all empowered me to get back in the fight with your comments, messages and support,” he said in via Instagram. A Seat At The Table The continued vandalization of his campaign banner has only galvanized him more in his political and community efforts. “This happened in midtown Kansas City, Missouri,” Horn said. “My first reaction is one of shock, anger and energy to prove whoever defaced the banner wrong. It’s lit a fire in me to ensure that our community finally has a seat at the table.” Horn shared that he has received homophobic emails and multiple death threats previous to this week’s events. “It’s a big eye-opener to what it’s like running openly as a queer person,” he said. “This stuff is hard and we’re gonna face push back from folks who don’t change.” “What bothers me the most is that it happened in broad daylight. They were so emboldened to do this,” Horn told the Kansas City Star. “It was specifically a defacing to attack me not based on my policy or my candidacy but on me personally. It was the same as calling me the N-word.” Horn will continue his campaign ahead of the primary election on August 2. Kansas City: Previously on Towleroad FOLLOWING UP: DaBaby Apology Gone From Instagram; First Trans Model for Vogue; Sr. Executives Leave Activision Blizzard: Brian Bell August 10, 2021 Read More Kansas Lawmaker Arrested After Alleged Homophobic Harassment, Battery of High School Student; ‘He should be blocked from being around kids’ Brian Bell May 4, 2021 Read More 14 Victorious LGBTQ Candidates Who Made History in the 2020 Election Andy Towle November 4, 2020 Read More ‘Frat House Karen’ Taunts Motorist After COVID-Defying Partier Threw Drink on Him: WATCH Andy Towle August 24, 2020 Read More Ivanka Trump Rips ‘Cancel Culture’ After Kansas Universities Dump Her as Commencement Speaker: WATCH Andy Towle June 6, 2020 Read More Arsonist Burned Family’s LGBTQ Pride Flag as They Slept Inside Home Andy Towle September 23, 2019 Read More Image via Justice Horn/Twitter View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A special grand jury in Georgia probing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat there issued subpoenas to Senator Lindsey Graham and Trump’s former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. A judge also ordered the testimony of other Trump legal team members Jenna Ellis, John Eastman, Cleta Mitchell and Jacki Deason. Representatives of Graham and Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ellis, Eastman, Mitchell and Deason could not be reached for comment. The subpoenas were filed on Tuesday and signed off by Fulton Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who was overseeing the special grand jury. The special grand jury was selected in May to consider evidence in a Georgia prosecutor’s inquiry into Trump’s alleged efforts to influence the U.S. state’s 2020 election results. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had requested the special jury in January in part due to its subpoena power, which she argued was needed to compel witness testimony. The probe was launched after Trump was recorded in a Jan. 2, 2021 phone call pressuring Georgia’s secretary of state to overturn the state’s election results based on unfounded claims of voter fraud. During the phone call, Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, to “find” enough votes to overturn his Georgia loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The transcript of the call quotes Trump telling Raffensperger: “I just want to find 11,780 votes,” which is the number Trump needed to win Georgia. Trump has denied wrongdoing in the phone call. Legal experts have said Trump’s phone calls may have violated at least three state election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties. Separately, the vice chair of the congressional panel investigating last year’s attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters said on Sunday it could make multiple referrals to the Justice Department seeking criminal charges against the former president. (Corrects first name of Trump’s legal team member Jacki Deason in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Bette Midler didn’t intend to be “exclusionary or transphobic” with her tweet about the “erasure” of women. The 76-year-old actress has responded after backlash over a tweet in which she said “women of the world” are losing the rights to their bodies, lives and “even of our name”. After some followers claimed the comments were anti-trans, Midler has now shared a New York Times article which says “the word ‘women’ has become verboten” and sought to explain her position. She tweeted: “PEOPLE OF THE WORLD! My tweet about women was a response to this fascinating and well written piece in the NYT on July 3rd. “There was no intention of anything exclusionary or transphobic in what I said; it wasn’t about that.” The ‘Hocus Pocus’ star noted she has “60 years of proven love and concern” for marginalised people, and urged people to “unite” to save democracy. She continued: “I’ve fought for marginalized people for as long as I can remember. Still, if you want to dismiss my 60 years of proven love and concern over a tweet that accidentally angered the very people I have always supported and adored, so be it. “But the truth is, Democracy is slipping through our fingers. I’m all in on trying to save Democracy for ALL PEOPLE. “We must unite, because, in case you haven’t been paying attention, divided we will definitely fall.” Her original tweet – which comes after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, which removed the constitutional right to an abortion – has sparked criticism. Earlier this week, she wrote: “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! “They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators’, and even ‘people with vaginas’! “Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A new documentary about‘ Victoria’s Secret’ sex scandals will debut later this month. ‘Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons’ is set to follow the stream of sexual assault and harassment allegations following the iconic lingerie brand – who used to throw an annual fashion show with supermodel ‘Angel’s such as Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio – and its ex CEO Leslie H. Wexner and boasted the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a “close personal adviser”. Investigative journalist Matt Tyrnauer is set to focus on their dynamic and in a trailer for the Hulu documentary – which will drop on the streaming service on July 14 after a premiere at Tribeca Film Festival – reads “Truth is not what it seems as the underworld of fashion, the billionaire class, and Jeffrey Epstein are revealed to all be inextricably intertwined with the fall of this legendary brand” The ‘Valentino: The Last Emperor’ creator – and former Vanity Fair special correspondent – will also explore US corporate and shopping culture in the three-parter. Matt said: “It’s a very complex story that’s about not only fashion but the world of power and influence, and what I like to call the fashion industrial complex. It’s about the design era: the world of design and marketing, fast-fashion, but also the people behind it and the power and influence that they wield… Since a lot of my films are about power and influence in the way that certain people manipulate the various power structures, this became interesting to me.” The documentary will also feature contributions from former models, such as Frederique van der Wal and archive footage that shows a young Naomi Campbell. View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – Russia’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that detained U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner may appeal her sentence or apply for clemency once a verdict has been delivered. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Alexei Zaitsev said: “attempts to present the case as though the American woman was illegally detained do not stand up to criticism.” Griner was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 on drugs charges, after cannabis-infused vaporiser cartridges were allegedly found in her baggage. In May, the U.S. State Department designated Griner as “wrongfully detained”. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Beyonce has reportedly “run #MeToo checks” on potential collaborators. The ‘Break My Heart’ hitmaker is said to have vetted artists and producers for her upcoming album ‘Renaissance’ and rejected anyone who has faced allegations of harassment or abuse. An insider told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Her team now run #MeToo checks on any potential collaborators. “Two songs from high-profile artists have been rejected because of allegations they are facing. “Although neither has been found guilty, she’s sending a clear message to the industry in the wake of troubling cases from people like R Kelly and Harvey Weinstein.” It’s said the AGE-year-old star “wants to set an example”, and she “doesn’t care” how people react to her decision. The source added: “She’s rubbed some people up the wrong way but she doesn’t care. She won’t go anywhere near you if you’ve been accused of going after one of her peers. “Beyonce is a leader in her business and wants to set an example that any abuse shouldn’t be normalised. “This is why her new record is about empowering women.” The report comes after Beyonce recently revealed she wants to “create a safe space” through the music on her upcoming album, as well as a project “free of perfectionism and overthinking”. She wrote: “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. “It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. “My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. “It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in the music.” So far, Beyoncé has unveiled lead single ‘Break My Soul’, a house track that samples Robin S. hit ‘Show Me Love’ and Big Freedia’s ‘Explode’. She added: “I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican-led states have unleashed a policy push to punish Wall Street for taking stances on gun control, climate change, diversity and other social issues, in a warning for companies that have waded in to fractious social debates. Abortion rights are poised to be the next frontier. This year there are at least 44 bills or new laws in 17 conservative-led states penalizing such company policies, compared with roughly a dozen such measures in 2021, according to a Reuters analysis of state legislative agendas, public documents and statements. While some of the individual moves have been reported, the scale and speed at which such “anti-woke” state laws and policies are ballooning and the challenges they are creating for Wall Street companies is detailed here for the first time. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “woke” as being aware of and actively attentive to issues of racial and social justice, but it is often used by conservatives to disparage progressive policies. The term has gained traction as America has become more politically polarized over issues from racial justice and LGBTQ rights to the environment and COVID-19 vaccines. Reuters counted bills considered and state laws passed in 2021 and 2022, although some state officials are also using executive powers to punish Wall Street. The growing restrictions show how America’s culture wars are creating new risks for some of the most high-profile U.S. companies, forcing them to balance pressure from workers and investors to take stances on hot-button issues with potential backlash from conservative policymakers. West Virginia and Arkansas this year, for example, stopped using BlackRock Inc for certain services, due to its climate stance, according to West Virginia’s Republican treasurer Riley Moore and Arkansas media reports. In Texas, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs have been sidelined from the municipal bond market due to laws passed last year barring firms that “boycott” energy companies or “discriminate” against the firearms industry from doing new business with the state. In many cases, the measures target a range of companies, restricting their ability to conduct state business. But financial institutions have been primary targets due to the pivotal roles they play in the economy and the early stances many took on such issues as fossil fuel and firearms financing. Republicans say the policies of such companies deprive legitimate businesses of capital. “They’re using the power of their capital to push their ideas and ideology down onto the rest of us,” said Moore. He spearheaded a law, passed in March, refusing business to banks that “boycott” fossil fuel companies and has rallied officials from 16 other states to promise to adopt similar policies. With several major financial companies stepping in to cover travel costs for employees seeking abortions after the Supreme Court last month reversed federal abortion rights, the Republican push to sanction Wall Street for “woke” stances is likely to grow. Republican Texas lawmaker Briscoe Cain said he plans legislation to outlaw such coverage and prohibit companies that provide it from receiving any Texas state business or contracts. “No corporation doing business in Texas will be allowed to subsidize abortions or abortion travel in any manner,” Cain told Reuters in an email. NO BOYCOTTS The new curbs will make it harder for financial firms to do a range of state business, from bond underwriting to managing state funds, depository accounts and government credit cards, according to interviews with more than a dozen industry sources, bank lobbyists and lawyers. Such contracts can be worth several million dollars each, public procurement data shows. JPMorgan, for example, underwrote $3.2 billion worth of Texas muni bonds last year, compared with $210 million so far this year, Refinitiv data shows. Bank of America, which underwrote $3.7 billion in Texas muni bonds last year, has done none this year. Some smaller firms, including Ramirez & Co Inc and Loop Capital Markets, meanwhile, have jumped more than 10 places so far this year in the Texas muni bond market bookrunner rankings, based on deal values. To be sure, some Democratic-led states are also looking to tilt the scales. Washington state floated a “climate resiliency fee” for institutions that fund fossil fuel projects. California is considering a bill that would stop its pension plans, the country’s largest, from investing in fossil fuel companies. But states led by Democrats are not pursuing as many punitive measures, according to the review and sources. “We’re going to see a lot more of these statutes on one side of the coin or the other,” said John Crossley, a partner at K&L Gates who focuses on energy. “It’s going to make it more and more difficult for people to operate in these markets.” Spokespeople for the above financial firms declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment. Financial firms say they aim to provide comprehensive healthcare benefits. They also argue government restrictions will drive up costs for Americans, and they dispute the characterization of their policies as boycotts. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager and a frequent target of Republican attacks, for example, has told Texas officials that while it has joined various efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it supports fossil fuel companies. “The economy and financial system are best served when banks of all sizes can make their own banking and lending decisions about how to meet the needs of their communities based on their business model and risk tolerance,” said Joseph Pigg, senior vice president at the American Bankers Association. ANTI-WOKE PUSH The review shows “anti-woke” measures are gaining ground not only in traditional conservative strongholds such as Texas and Kentucky but also in so-called purple states – whose voters swing Democratic or Republican – such as Arizona and Ohio. The issues such measures target are also mushrooming. Guns and energy were the focus of the roughly dozen state laws and bills last year and of at least 30 legislative measures this year. But this year there were also more than a dozen bills relating to social and other issues, including “divisive concepts” like critical race theory – an academic theory that racial bias is baked in to U.S. laws and institutions – mandatory COVID-19 vaccines, or the use of “social credit scores,” the Reuters analysis shows. The latter is a theory that companies may take into account an individual’s political leanings when providing and pricing services. In April, for example, Florida made it illegal for companies to require training that might make staff feel “guilt” or “anguish” because of past actions by members of the same race. Unveiling the bill, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis flagged Bank of America as one company conducting such “woke” training. A bank spokesman said the materials were offered to hundreds of companies by a nonprofit and were not part of the bank’s training materials. While the measures reviewed do not target corporate abortion policies, Cain said he expected other Republican-led states to pursue business restrictions on companies with such policies. WALL STREET DIVISIONS The financial industry is struggling to repel the onslaught, the sources said. Its trade groups are mainly registered to lobby the federal government, while state-based groups are not always aligned with Wall Street companies’ priorities. Moore, for example, said West Virginia’s community banks supported his measures. The West Virginia Bankers Association declined to comment. The Texas Bankers Association said the group had not opposed the Texas curbs because its members were not in “consensus.” Wall Street’s adversaries, on the other hand, are united. Galvanized by what they say are efforts by Democrats in the federal government to push “woke” policies, oil and gas, firearms and conservative groups, including the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), are successfully pushing such curbs, according to industry sources and advocates. “Banks should stay out of making policy choices,” said Lawrence Keane, general counsel at the NSSF, which advocated for the Texas law targeting lenders’ firearms policies. The American Petroleum Institute, a major energy group, said it opposes discriminatory policies toward the industry. Jason Isaac, a former Texas lawmaker who leads energy advocacy for the Texas Public Policy Foundation and helped craft the Texas fossil-fuel law, said he was discussing similar laws with other states, adding: “This woke political ideology will continue unless we get it in check.” (Reporting by Pete Schroeder in Washington; Additional reporting by Chris Prentice in Washington and Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Michelle Price, Paritosh Bansal and Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by Al-Araby Turkish police used teargas and pepper spray to halt an LGBTQ+ Pride march in the capital Ankara on Tuesday, detaining at least 36 people after authorities banned such marches in cities across the country for security reasons. Reuters journalists saw police pepper spraying activists and dragging them across the ground before handcuffing them and putting them in buses. UniKuir, an Ankara based group of LGBTQ+ activists, said at least 36 people were detained. tetikleyici içerik: polis şiddeti Ankara Onur Yürüyüşü’ne polis saldırısı belgeleniyor, polisin yaptığı şiddeti unutturmayacağız!#AnkaraOn… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Macy Gray has insisted that the comments she made on gender were “grossly misunderstood.” The 54-year-old singer spoke out about her views on what constitutes a woman on Monday (04.06.22) where she noted that “changing body parts” does not make a person female and faced backlash online, so took to Twitter to explain that she “supports” the trans community. She tweeted: “i got nothing but love for lgbt+ and transgender communities. i’ve been a supporter since day one and never a fake one. my statement on piers morgan was GROSSLY misunderstood. i respect everyone’s right to be whoever they wana b” (sic) The statement came less than 24 hours after she said that while she would call someone by their chosen pronouns to appease them, it still does not change the facts and claimed that there can be “a lot of judgement” for those who “just say it how it is.” Speaking on ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’ on TalkTV, she said: “I will say this and everybody’s gonna hate me but – as a woman – just because you go change your parts, it doesn’t make you a woman, sorry. I know that for a fact. A woman is a human being with boobs. How about you start there? And have a vagina! “You want me to call you a ‘her,’ I will, Because that’s what you want but that doesn’t make you a woman just because I call you a ‘her’ and just because you got surgery. I don’t think you should be called transphobic just because you don’t agree. There is a lot of judgement and throwing stones at people for just saying what it is. Do you know what I mean? A woman goes through a completely unique experience and surgery and finding oneself doesn’t change that Being a little girl is a whole epic book, you know? You can’t have that just because you want to be a woman!” View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Matthew Chapman On Tuesday, writing for MSNBC’s ReidOutBlog, Ja’han Jones outlined how the Christian Right is facing renewed moral scrutiny and a crisis of “credibility” — at exactly the moment they have captured the Supreme Court and have begun striking down rights and protections they have long declared to be counter to moral society. Specifically, he argued, the latest rash of sex abuse allegations against conservative Christian institutions puts their moral authority on the line. The Catholic Church has long faced criticism for overlooking and shielding priests accused of molesting chil… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Monkeypox cases have doubled in New York City over the past week, according to local health authorities. A week ago, only a few dozen cases had been detected in the five boroughs, but the Health Department wrote on Twitter Tuesday that it has confirmed at least 111 people infected with the virus, which is known to cause blisters, fever and other symptoms. That’s up from 87 known cases this past Friday. “While anyone can get monkeypox, current cases are primarily spreading among social networks of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men,” the department tweeted. The city fa… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Eric Beech and Katharine Jackson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday sued the state of Arizona to block a state law that requires voters to provide proof of citizenship for some federal elections. Due to take effect in January, the law violates the National Voter Registration Act by requiring proof of citizenship to vote in presidential elections or vote by mail in any federal election, the department said. “This lawsuit reflects our deep commitment to using every available tool to protect all Americans’ right to vote and to ensure that their voices are heard in our democracy,” Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, told a press briefing. Arizona has been a flashpoint in the U.S. battle over voting rights. A Republican-led review of the 2020 presidential election failed to find that irregularities marred Democrat Joe Biden’s narrow victory over Republican Donald Trump. The suit said a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision rejected an earlier attempt by Arizona to impose a similar documentary proof of citizenship requirement on applicants seeking to vote in federal elections. It contends the state law violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act by requiring election officials to reject voter registration forms based “on errors or omissions that are not material to establishing a voter’s eligibility to cast a ballot,” the department said in a statement. (Reporting by Katherine Jackson and Eric Beech; editing by Andy Sullivan and Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $100,000 Fox News ad on Monday urging Floridians to “join the fight” against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis “or join us in California” has drawn a muted response from state Democrats and dismissals from Republicans. But it’s just the latest signal that as DeSantis’ national profile as a potential GOP presidential candidate increases, he can expect more attention from national Democrats and possible presidential opponents, whether in 2024 or 2028. “It’s an acknowledgement that DeSantis is a is a serious political threat to the Democrats,” … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Marta Kauffman has admitted ‘Friends’ bosses made a “mistake” by using the wrong pronouns to describe a transgender character. In the show, Chandler Bing’s parent is referred to as his “dad” despite identifying as a woman and executive producer Marta has insisted bosses on the show should have done better but errors were made due to a lack of understanding at the time. Speaking on BBC World Service, Marta said: “We kept referring to her (Chandler’s transgender parent) as ‘Chandler’s father’, even though Chandler’s father was trans. Pronouns were not yet something that I understood. So we didn’t refer to that character as ‘she’. That was a mistake.” Marta went on to discuss the show’s lack of diversity which has attracted plenty of criticism over the years – describing the comments as “valid” and insisting she “feels stupid” for not recognising the problems. She said: “Friends has been criticised in a number of ways. The biggest one being that we did not have enough representation of Black people. And over the course of the last few years I’ve gotten to the point where I can say unfortunately yes, I am guilty of that. And I’ll never make that mistake again. I was clearly part of systemic racism in our business. I was unaware of that, which makes me feel stupid.” Marta went on to insist criticism of the show’s lack of diversity was justified, adding: “That was a very valid, extremely difficult criticism which still … I get emotional about. If I knew then what I know now, there are certain things I would have changed. But I didn’t know them and I have since learned.” View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — Speaking through tears, Rosemary Gamble returns again and again to the questions she would like to ask her granddaughter’s killer: Why did you do this? What could she have possibly done to you? Did you act out of hatred? Have you killed anyone else? “Before I leave this earth, I would just like to look them in the face and ask them, ‘Why? Why would you take my baby from me like this?’” said Gamble, 66, of Chicago. But five years after Gamble’s granddaughter, a transgender woman named Tiara Richmond, was shot to death at age 24, Gamble has yet to see justice, and a new analysis by the… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Darren Hayes was in a “dark place” before he came out as gay. The 50-year-old star – who is best known as frontman and singer of the pop duo Savage Garden alongside Daniel Jones – penned an op-ed for The Huff Post at the start of July explaining that he had been on the “brink of suicide” before coming out and has now claimed that his new album “saved [his] life.” He said: “I would say my new album honestly saved my life. I was in a dark place, emotionally, not understanding that just like my sexuality, my creative outlet is a huge part of the person I am, and by denying that, I was denying an essential part of me.” The ‘Truly Madly Deeply’ hitmaker – who has been married to Richard Cullen since 2013 and was previously married to Colby Taylor – released his comeback single ‘Let’s Try Being in Love’ in early 2022 and explained that his return to the public eye has been “more authentic” than in his initial heyday. He told PEOPLE: “I realized that I had never truly been myself at the height of my fame and commercial success. would have been a huge regret of mine to have retired from the public eye without having come back to the world as my true authentic self. Because I have embraced myself fully in my art, I no longer feel the shame and stigma around my sexuality or my mental health. I openly speak about both because I believe they are connected, and by speaking about what most embarrasses us, it’s my hope that bringing light to sadness drives away the darkness.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) -The Ohio city of Akron declared a state of emergency on Monday, setting a curfew and canceling Independence Day fireworks, after protests over the police killing of an unarmed Black man turned unruly on Sunday night. The protests broke out after police released body camera video that showed eight officers shooting at Jayland Walker, 25, as he fled a traffic stop last week. Walker’s body was found to have some 60 gunshot wounds. Daytime protests on Sunday were peaceful but, despite pleas from the Walker family that demonstrations remain peaceful, Akron police declared an unlawful assembly once property was damaged. Officers in riot gear fired about a dozen canisters of tear gas to scatter protesters, WKYC-TV said. Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said a curfew for downtown Akron was in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice, and a pair of Fourth of July fireworks displays also were canceled. “There was significant property damage done to downtown Akron. Small businesses up and down Main Street have had their windows broken. We cannot and will not tolerate the destruction of property or violence,” Horrigan said in a statement. The Jayland Walker shooting marks the latest in a series of police killings of unarmed Black men, raising questions about police use of force and equal justice for African Americans, and contributing to increased polarization in the United States. White House spokesman Andrew Bates told Reuters the Justice Department, including the Civil Rights Division and the FBI field office in Akron, is closely monitoring and evaluating the situation surrounding Walker’s death. “This footage is disturbing,” Bates said. “And no family should ever have to endure the horrific pain and loss of a loved one that the Walker family is experiencing right now.” Police said Walker had a gun in his car but left it on the front seat as he fled on foot. Officers believed he fired a round from inside the car before fleeing, police said, and that Walker was “moving into firing position” when he got out of his car, prompting them to react to him as a potential threat, Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett said. VOW OF ‘FAIR’ INVESTIGATION The mayor praised the peaceful protests, which were led by the Akron chapter of the NAACP. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in the streets of the city of about 200,000 people, waving “Black Lives Matter” flags and chanting, “We are done dying,” and “Justice for Jayland.” Horrigan said the trouble began after nightfall, a pattern that was seen in the turbulent summer of 2020, when protests spread across the United States over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died when a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes. Officers were later convicted of various charges including murder and civil rights violations in the Floyd case. On Sunday, the attorney for the Walker family, Bobby DiCello, told reporters he was “very concerned” about the police accusation that Walker had fired at officers from his car, adding that there was no justification for his violent death. “I ask you, as he’s running away, what is reasonable? To gun him down? No, that’s not reasonable,” DiCello said. The Ohio attorney general and Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating, and the file will be made public at the conclusion of the case, Attorney General Dave Yost said on Sunday. “People want and deserve answers, and they shall have them. BCI will conduct a complete, fair and expert investigation,” Yost said in a statement The eight officers directly involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, the Akron police chief said. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason.Editing by Mary Milliken and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Mega Barbie and Ken never looked so good! Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling took to the streets in Venice Beach, California, on Monday, June 27, as they continued to film scenes for the upcoming Barbie movie. The Suicide Squad star and the La La Land actor hit the ground running in coordinating multicolored neon outfits. Gosling rocked a combo of spandex shorts and a tank top, as Robbie stunned in a one-piece body suit. EVA MENDES & RYAN GOSLING GO ON RARE PUBLIC OUTING WITH THEIR KIDS TO DISNEYLAND The main duo in the film, set to hit movie screens next summer, have been shooting multiple scenes alongside the likes of Will Ferrell and America Ferrera. “People generally hear Barbie and think, ‘I know what that movie is going to be,’ and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they’re like, ‘Oh, well, maybe I don’t…’ ” Robbie told British Vogue about signing on to the project. The blonde beauty added that playing the famous Mattel doll “comes with a lot of baggage,” considering some historical controversy over the doll. “And a lot of nostalgic connections,” Robbie continued. “But with that come a lot of exciting ways to attack it.” MARGOT ROBBIE & RYAN GOSLING DON COWBOY HATS AND WESTERN-INSPIRED COSTUMES WHILE FILMING ‘BARBIE’ MOVIE — SEE PHOTOS Scroll through the gallery to see Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling rocking matching looks as they film the Barbie movie: Mega Gosling looked handsome from head to toe as he turned heads in the eccentric short, tank top and vest combo. Mega The Notebook star and the I, Tonya actress were joined by another costar as the two stayed in step while rocking matching roller skating gear. Mega Robbie smiled for the cameras as photographers snapped away at the two Hollywood stars filming their upcoming flick. Mega The Wolf of Wall Street actress stunned as she threw a white button-up over her multicolored workout set. Mega The two appeared to be deep in character as they seemed to be listening to a director in front of them. View the full article