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Published by Al-Araby There’s little doubt that Lebanonhad led the LGBTQ+ revolution in the Middle East. One just has to walk around Beirut’s Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood to see this in effect. And yet, homophobia continues to prevail. LGBTQ+ rights have been a fraught battleground in Lebanon; public officials use their platform to spout prejudice, with the 2022 Lebanese elections often descending into a showcase of ignorance. Now, keen activists and NGOs are fighting this trend head-on by challenging stereotypes and social consequences in their quest to create an inclusive national atmosphere. “[Creating] safe spac… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK LONDON (Reuters) -British authorities are recommending gay and bisexual men at higher risk of exposure to monkeypox should be offered a vaccine, as the outbreak of the viral disease gathers pace mostly in Europe. Although anyone can contract monkeypox, data from the outbreak suggests the majority of transmission is occurring within the sexual networks of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). A person’s eligibility would depend on a plethora of factors but would be similar to the criteria used to assess those eligible for pre-exposure… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed more public funding of religious entities in an important ruling in favor of two Christian families who challenged a Maine tuition assistance program that excluded private schools that promote religion. In the latest in a series of decisions in recent years expanding religious rights, the justices in a 6-3 decision overturned a lower court ruling that had rejected the families’ claims of religious discrimination in violation of the U.S. Constitution, including the First Amendment protection of the free exercise of religion. The court’s conservative justices were in the majority in the ruling, authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, and its liberal members in dissent. The decision builds upon the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-court-religion-idINKBN2412HY in a case from Montana that paved the way for more taxpayer dollars to flow to religious schools. Maine provides public funds to pay for tuition at private high schools of a family’s choice in some sparsely populated areas of the northeastern state that lack public secondary schools. The schools receiving this tuition assistance under the program must be “nonsectarian” and are excluded if they promote a particular religion and present material “through the lens of that faith.” Roberts faulted the state’s program, which he said “operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise.” The ruling offered the latest example of the Supreme Court, with its increasingly assertive conservative majority, making the expansion of expanding religious liberty a high priority in recent years. The justices have been receptive to claims made by plaintiffs – often conservative Christians – of government hostility toward religion including in the educational context. The families in the Maine case sought taxpayer dollars to send their children to two Christian schools that integrate religion into their classrooms and have policies against gay and transgender students and staff. The First Amendment also prohibits government endorsement of any particular religion. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE Conservative and religious advocacy groups in recent years have been seeking through the courts more access to public funding for religious education, including through voucher or tax programs giving parents choice outside public school systems. As the Supreme Court narrows America’s separation of church and state, critics have said such rulings risk entangling government and religion in ways that the Constitution was crafted to prevent. Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent: “Today, the court leads us to a place where separation of church and state becomes a constitutional violation.” President Joe Biden’s administration backed Maine in the case, as did public school boards and teacher unions. Maine has said it excludes certain private schools from the tuition assistance program because they would use public funds to promote religious beliefs. The Supreme Court’s 2020 Montana ruling, which involved an educational tax credit, prevented states from disqualifying schools from public aid based on their religious status or affiliation. The Maine case went further, with the possibility looming of requiring states that subsidize private education to also fund religious activities. Two sets of parents – David and Amy Carson, and Troy and Angela Nelson – sued Maine in 2018. The Nelsons have said they wanted to use the tuition aid to send their son to a Christian school called Temple Academy in Waterville, but instead used it to send him to a secular private high school. The Carsons have said they paid out-of-pocket to send their daughter to Bangor Christian Schools in Maine’s third-largest city. The two schools describe themselves as seeking to instill a “Biblical worldview” in students, according to court records. They refuse to hire gay teachers or admit gay and transgender students. Bangor Christian Schools teaches that a “husband is the leader of the household” and includes a class in which students learn to “refute the teachings of the Islamic religion with the truth of God’s Word.” The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the families in 2020. The families were represented by the libertarian legal advocacy group Institute for Justice. Powered by its conservative majority, the Supreme Court in recent years has expanded individual and corporate religious rights while reducing the separation between church and state. In another case involving government funds, the court in 2017 found that churches and other religious entities cannot be flatly denied public money even in states whose constitutions explicitly ban such funding. The case involved a church that was denied access to a Missouri grant program that helps nonprofit groups make playground improvements. In other religious rights rulings this year, the justices on May 2 backed a Christian group that sought to fly a flag emblazoned with a cross at Boston city hall and on March 24 directed Texas to grant a convicted murderer on death row his request to have his Christian pastor lay hands on him and audibly pray during his execution. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Ian Ransom and Jill Gralow MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) – Rugby league banned transgender players from women’s international competition on Tuesday until further notice, following global swimming’s decision to restrict trans athletes’ participation at the elite level. The International Rugby League (IRL) said it needed to further consult and balance transgender participation against “perceived risk” to other players. “Until further research is completed to enable the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy, male-to-female (trans women) players are unable to play in sanctioned women’s international rugby league matches,” the IRL said in a statement. The ban, which comes after FINA voted on Sunday to restrict transgender athletes in elite women’s swimming, was condemned by transgender advocates and sportspeople. “It’s disappointing. We’re human beings the same as everyone else,” transgender woman Caroline Layt, who played elite women’s rugby league in Australia after transitioning, told Reuters. “It just tells trans kids and trans adults that you’re not worthy. Don’t even bother. Don’t even bother showing up. What’s the point?” Other sports have policies restricting transgender athletes in top women’s competition, including rugby union, cycling and Australian Rules football. The International Olympic Committee, however, said in November that no athlete should be excluded from competition on the grounds of a perceived unfair advantage, while leaving it up to sports federations to decide. The International Cycling Union said last week it had tightened its eligibility rules. Other sports are reviewing their policies. World soccer governing body FIFA said it is in a consultation process over transgender participation while World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe praised FINA for its stance. ‘CRUEL DECISION’ A top medical official at FINA told Reuters on Monday he hoped other sports would follow the organisation’s lead. “To my mind, FINA’s approach to this was very enlightened, it was very balanced, it was informed,” FINA’s Sports Medicine Committee vice chairman David Gerrard said. However, U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medallist, said the FINA decision was “disgusting” and “cruel”. “We’re (framing) everything through ‘God forbid a trans person be successful in sports’. Get a grip on reality and take a step back,” she told Time magazine. The IRL said it would work with the eight nations competing at the women’s Rugby League World Cup hosted by England in November to obtain data to inform a transgender policy in 2023. “The IRL will continue to work towards developing a set of criteria, based on best possible evidence, which fairly balance the individual’s right to play with the safety of all participants,” the organisation added. Ian Roberts, the first elite rugby league player to come out as gay, said transgender athletes should be welcomed into the sport and likened concerns about their participation to the homophobia he experienced in the 1990s. “This is almost like the modern day equivalent,” the 56-year-old told Reuters. [L4N2Y80YL] “I would have hoped we would have matured as a community and as a society beyond that. Equal is equal.” The ban is unlikely to affect many international players in women’s rugby league. There are no transgender players competing at international level in the sport’s heavyweight nations Australia and New Zealand. The governing body of Australia’s domestic National Rugby League (NRL) competition declined to comment on the international ban and said it was still formulating its own transgender policy. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne and Jill Gralow in Sydney; Editing by Peter Rutherford) View the full article

Published by BOOM Live By The Conversation Disney-Pixar’s latest animated escapade is about to hit our cinema screens. It’s the origin story of one of their most beloved characters – Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear. In the lead-up to its release, online speculation soared after it was confirmed that Lightyear would include the company’s first same-sex kiss. The film’s producer, Galyn Susman, stated that the female character Hawthorne, voiced by Uzo Aduba, is in a “meaningful” relationship with another woman and a kiss occurs between them. In response, several countries – including the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Egyp… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Florida Governor Ron DeSantis doesn’t appear to know who the richest man in the world is. The Republican politician proved just that when he responded to Elon Musk‘s support, calling the Tesla billionaire an African American. FYI — Musk, 50, is white and from South Africa. DeSantis’ blunder happened after the Space X founder tweeted that he voted Republican for the first time and was leaning towards supporting the governor for president in 2024. “Massive red wave in 2022,” Musk wrote on Wednesday after telling his followers he checked the box for Mayra Flores. Mega When asked if he’d continue to vote red, Musk — whose net worth is around $219 billion — said he’s not committing yet. “Tbd,” he responded. That’s when another follower questioned who he was leaning toward as the next President of the United States. “DeSantis,” Musk tweeted. When DeSantis heard the news, he was flattered; however, his response left many people shaking their heads in disbelief. “I’m focused on 2022,” DeSantis, who has not confirmed if he plans to run, responded. But no one was ready for what he said next. Mega “But with Elon Musk, what I would say is, I welcome support from African Americans, what can I say?” he added. While some thought the slip was hilarious, others took offense and let their disapproval be known, including The View co-host Ana Navarro and MSNBC host Joy Reid, both Black women. “Is there a joke somewhere in here? I don’t get it,” Navarro said. “If [sic] said before that @GovRonDeSantis is a humorless, more openly fascist version of Trump. Here he is displaying the former quality in that for him, ‘humor’ means mocking Black Americans with his own, idiotic and offensive version of replacement theory. Black Floridians take note,” Reid tweeted. Mega CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen also addressed DeSantis’ comment, writing, “I understand the ugliness of what he‘s doing here because I am a member of a minority too. We are not a punch line & neither are Black Americans. Jokes about skin color & physical features have no place. This is sick.” At the time of this post, Musk has not responded to the politician’s gaffe. View the full article

Published by Al-Araby Kuwait wants its general public to report to authorities if they see the pride flag, as part of an ongoing campaign to crack down on any LGBTQ+ symbolism in the Gulf state. The Arabic hashtag “Take part in monitoring” went viral on Twitter and other social media platforms as the Ministry of Trade and Industry shared a picture of a rainbow alongside the multi-coloured pride flag, telling people to recognise the difference. #شارك_في_الرقابة pic.twitter.com/ShONk09NmA — وزارة التجارة (@mociq8) On the right the poster reads in Arabic “the flag which violates public morals includes only six colours… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Todd and Julie Chrisley are going through a “heartbreaking” time after being found guilty of tax fraud. The ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ stars were found guilty of 12 counts of tax evasion, bank and wire fraud and conspiracy earlier this month and though they are unable to talk about the details of the case, they admitted they have been going through a testing time but are getting through it with their faith. Speaking on their ‘Chrisley Confessions’ podcast, Todd said: “I know all of you guys are wanting to know every detail that is going on in our lives, and I have to ask that you respect that we’re not allowed to talk about it at the present time. There will come a time. “We did want to come on today and let everyone know that it’s a very sad, heartbreaking time for our family right now but we still hold steadfast in our faith and we trust that God will do what he does best because God’s a miracle worker.” Todd is dad to Lindsie, 32, and Kyle, 30, from his first marriage, and he and Julie also have Chase, 26, Savannah 24, and 16-year-old Grayson, and their brood have found the situation difficult. Todd said: “A lot of tears, a lot of heartache, a lot of sorrow, a lot of trying to understand how this is where we are right now. But we are here.” The couple then thanked fans for their support. Julie said: “We’re alive and kicking and we appreciate all the support we have received from everyone.” Todd added: “Tens and thousands of messages every day — from mail to gifts being delivered to our home to people delivering food.” But though the food, flowers and gifts have been well-received, he urged fans not to drive from far distances or to send them things, even though it is a “tough time” right now. He urged fans not to drive from far distances and that while the food, flowers and gifts are very much appreciated it’s also very much not necessary, even though “it’s a tough time right now.” And the pair – who are under house arrest until they are sentenced in October, where they face up to 30 years in prison – vowed to continue with their podcast until it is no longer possible. Todd said: “We’re going to continue ‘Chrisley Confessions’ for as long as we get to do it, and then Chase and Savannah will take it over and at that point they will be the ones that can fill you in on everything that’s going on in our lives at that point.” After being found guilty earlier this month, Todd and Julie’s legal team vowed to launch an appeal. The charges relate to the couple allegedly falsifying documents to secure up to $30 million in bank loans for personal use. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Meta is launching a virtual fashion store with designer clothes. The social media giant – which is owned by entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg and comprises Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – are to offer users brands sucha s Prada, Balenciaga, and Thom Browne to dress their virtual avatars in, In an Instagram post, Zuckerberg said: “Proud to be launching our Avatars Store on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger where you can buy digital clothes to style your avatar. Kicking it off with @balenciaga, @prada and @thombrowne!”(sic) The billionaire CEO went on to explain that digital goods are way for users to “express” themselves and teased that more news is on the way. Alongside an image of a series of avatars dressed in smart clothing, he added: “Digital goods will be an important way to express yourself in the metaverse and a big driver of the creative economy. We’ll add more brands and bring this to VR soon too! More to come soon…” Meanwhile, MetaNewsroom alerted fans to the news on Twitter, explaining that they could give their virtual selves a “fresh fit” with the up-and-coming clothing range They tweeted: “Need a fresh fit for your avatar? We’re launching our Avatars Store on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger so you can buy digital clothes!” Following the news, ,Eva Chen – the director of fashion partnerships at Instagram – started a live stream and showed off one look featuring a cropped T-shirt, low-rise jeans, and a white belt, worn by Mark Zuckerberg. Mark quipped: ““I don’t know that I ever could have pulled that off!” View the full article

Published by DPA Belgian shepherd Filou was among those used in new research that has demonstrated that sniffer dogs can detect cases of Long Covid. Ole Spata/dpa Sniffer dogs, which have been trained to detect people infected with the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, can also tell when a person has Long Covid, researchers in Germany have found. A team led by the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) found that certain compounds that remain present in Long Covid patients long after the initial infection can be picked up by dogs. Sniffer dogs have already been used at airports and public events to help detect coronavirus infections and prevent super-spreader events, and researchers now hope dogs will be able to help spot unidentified Long Covid cases. “It is known that infectious respiratory diseases can release specific volatile organic compounds,” said Holger Volk, head of the TiHo clinic for small animals, who published the study in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. Dogs in their trials were able to detect these compounds, the researchers said, even when PCR tests are negative and antibody tests can no longer provide information about the disease. In mid-2020, the TiHo researchers published a first study on sniffer dogs that had been trained to identify infected people through samples of saliva and respiratory secretion. A follow-up study showed that sweat and urine are also suitable sample material. According to TiHo virologist Claudia Schulz, the sniffer dogs’ extraordinary diagnostic ability makes it possible to optimise the treatment of those affected. In various test scenarios, the scientists in the new study showed nine sniffer dogs samples from Sars-Cov-2 infected persons, with Long Covid samples as well as with negative samples. When the dogs were presented with samples from Long Covid patients and, for comparison, samples from healthy people, they recognised the patient samples in over 90% of the tests. In addition to helping identify Long Covid, dogs are increasingly being used to recognise different types of cancer, malaria and some bacterial and viral infections. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Britney Spears has been branded “ridiculous” for refusing to sit for a deposition with her father’s legal team. Jamie Spears is filing court documents in a bid to have the ‘Toxic’ hitmaker ordered to be questioned by his lawyers and has argued there is “no legitimate legal basis” to object because not only has the 40-year-old pop star spoken about her experiences of being under a conservatorship for 13 years on Instagram, she’s also set to receive a $15 million pay cheque for writing her life story. According to ‘Entertainment Tonight’, Jamie’s lawyers argued: “Britney’s counsel has no legitimate legal basis to object to Britney’s deposition… “[She] continues to make public social media posts containing incendiary allegations of various factual matters. “Britney’s own publicly-posted Instagram posts aimed at Jamie and soon to be publicly-published book directly contradict Britney’s counsel’s claim that Britney has no admissible evidence and that her testimony is not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.” Jamie’s legal team claim the ‘Sometimes’ hitmaker – who was released from her conservatorship last November – didn’t want to testify because she would have to speak about “emotionally difficult topics”, but they argued she has already covered the subject. The documents continued: “Britney cannot avoid testifying as a witness because her testimony may delve into emotionally difficult topics…Even a showing of some impact on Britney’s health is not a bar to her deposition in its entirety. “That Britney can speak about the very issues she publicly raises (including to cash a $15 million cheque) but suddenly would be ‘unduly burdened’ by the litigation her counsel initiated is ridiculous.” Jamie’s lawyers insisted he has a “right to prepare his case and depose Britney” as she is making “inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims against him” in some of her social media posts. The documents continued: “Jamie has a right to prepare his case and depose Britney (just as the Court of Appeal already found in another case where Britney was a party) as she is the individual making inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims against him. “Britney’s testimony is directly relevant, reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, and well within the proper scope of discovery… Britney’s counsel has done nothing to meet the high burden to show good cause to prohibit Britney’s deposition.” Britney’s own lawyer filed a motion last month to compel a deposition from Jamie, claiming the 69 year old had failed to agree to “numerous” proposed dates or offered any alternatives. However, according to Jamie’s team, the patriarch has offered “multiple times” since January to be deposed but claimed Britney’s team would not agree to his request he and his daughter give their depositions in the same week. A court date for Jamie’s motion has been set for 13 July. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English George Michael’s personal piano is to be auctioned off for charity. The ‘Praying for Time’ hitmaker – who died in December 2013 aged 53 – kept the Bechstein Grand piano in his home in Highgate, north London, for many years but his estate have now donated the instrument to music therapy organisation Nordoff Robbins, and it will be sold during the O2 Silver Clef Awards ceremony on 1 July. Not only will the auction be available to the artists, stars and supporters attending the event, fans from across the world will be able to place a bid via The Auction Collective at https://theauctioncollective.com/auctions/george-michaels-piano/. George Michael’s estate said: “We are proud on behalf of George Michael to be able to continue his support of Nordoff Robbins. “George supported many charitable and philanthropic causes during his lifetime which his Estate will continue to do in his memory. “We hope that the return of the O2 Silver Clef lunch after a two-year absence will be a huge success and that the piano will raise a substantial amount of money to help continue this vital work after the toughest couple of years for the sector that most of us can remember.” George’s friend and collaborator, David Austin, is creating a short film to showcase the piano, including footage of the ‘Careless Whisper’ singer playing the instrument at home, while Derek Paravicini – who is autistic and blind – will give a special performance of one of the former Wham! star’s most famous songs at the ceremony. Sandra Schembri, CEO of Nordoff Robbins said: “We are extraordinarily grateful to George Michael’s Estate for donating such a wonderful instrument. George Michael’s legacy is huge – not only in terms of his contribution to music, but also his kindness and generosity when it comes to helping others. “We were proud to honour George with our Silver Clef Award back in 1989 and he continued to support us throughout his career. This auction will be made extra special by Derek’s performance – ensuring that those in the room and across the world can hear George Michael’s beautiful music being played once again on his piano. “Derek shows us how much music matters to connect everyone and help fulfil their human potential. We hope this year’s auction and ceremony will be our biggest fundraising event yet, as our work with vulnerable and isolated children and adults is needed now more than ever.” Honourees at this year’s ceremony, which will take place at Grosvenor House, London – will include Frankie Valli, Jools Holland, and Peter Gabriel. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dave Chappelle’s old high school are to rename their theatre in his honour. The 48-year-old comic will be honoured by Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. because of his “ongoing commitment and service to the school”, just months after he was heckled on his last visit there. Last November, Dave visited the facility at a time when he was facing criticism for his jokes about the transgender community, and one student branded him “childish” and a bigot after he invited pupils who disagreed with him to speak during an assembly. With some students wanting the school to reverse their decision to rename the performance theatre after Dave, the comic challenged both his supporters and critics to raise money for the education establishment – and if his opponents raised more, he’d gladly forego the naming honour, TMZ reports. Dave’s supporters ultimately raised the most, and so the building will be known as the Dave Chappelle Theatre. Last month, Dave was performing during the ‘Netflix Is a Joke’ festival in Los Angeles when Isaiah Lee rushed the stage and attempted to tackle the comic to the ground, and later claimed he had been “triggered” by the star’s jokes. Lee said: “I identify as bisexual … and I wanted him to know what he said was triggering, I wanted him to know that next time, he should consider first running his material by people it could affect,” Speaking from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, the 23-year-old went on to explain that he is also a single father to a five-year old son so felt offended when the former ‘Buddies’ star joked about people who live on the streets. He added: “I’m also a single dad and my son is five. It’s a struggle and I wanted Dave Chappelle to know [homelessness] not a joke.” Lee is now facing four misdemeanor charges as a result of altercation, which was caught on video. View the full article

Published by DPA We all know the problem of too much stress at work. But what happens when you are chronically underchallenged in your job? Monotony can also bring stress and frustration. Those suffering from "boreout" often think their lives are meaningless. Christin Klose/dpa Having lots of time on your hands at work may sound appealing. You could watch YouTube videos for hours and file your nails instead of rushing from meeting to meeting or struggling to meet deadlines. But just as chronic overwork can cause burnout, so too can chronic underwork cause “boreout.” People with boreout syndrome have many of the same symptoms as those with burnout syndrome. They feel drained, listless and empty. Paradoxically, boreout is quite stressful, particularly when you try to appear busy so that you’re not saddled with additional tedious tasks, or to give the impression that you’re really immersed in important work. “Not doing anything meaningful means [in your mind] that you yourself are meaningless,” says business psychologist Andreas Hemsing, noting that many people have a strong need to perform meaningful work – and to do it well. Having the notion that “if you don’t perform, you’ll lose your place in society” has health effects, he goes on. “It’s been clear for many years that feeling empty inside is emotionally damaging,” Hemsing says. You’re not only bored and uninterested, but also discontented, frustrated and on edge. And these feelings aren’t confined to the workplace. “Boreout really shows its nasty character after work,” remarks Peter R. Werder, who, together with fellow Swiss business consultant Philippe Rothlin, introduced the term in 2007 in a book whose German title translates as “Underworked: Diagnosis Boreout – When Boredom Makes You Ill.” You can’t simply switch off the feelings like a lamp when you leave the office. A lot of people don’t realize that the malaise, listlessness, irritability, tiredness and withdrawal they feel in the evening may be connected to their work. “Many boreout sufferers quit their job emotionally at some point and develop a kind of resigned acceptance of their working conditions,” says Dirk Windemuth, director of the Institute for Work and Health at the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance), the umbrella association of workers’ compensation insurers for both the private industrial and public sectors. In other words, they know their job is actually crap but tell themselves, “It’s OK. I don’t have any problems: I get regular holidays and make good money.” But they’re only fooling themselves, which in the long run doesn’t work. Instead of playing down the job’s shortcomings, it’s better to change things, Windemuth says. This is possible only by being honest with yourself and conveying your concerns to your boss. “Address the issue, change your duties within the company, get further training or leave your job. These are your options, none of which is very easy,” Werder says, especially because you’ve likely been doing your current work for quite some time. “You could tell your boss something like, ‘I’d like to do something else now and then, for which I need further training.’ Or, ‘I’d like to remain with the company, but can I work in a different department?'” Job rotation, in which workers’ activities change hourly or daily, can help, according to Windemuth. Or you could try to expand your responsibilities, for example by taking on tasks that either precede or succeed your current ones in the work process. Hemsing recommends reducing your emotional attachment to your job “to offset the monotony and nourish your self-esteem with something other than your work.” It could be a hobby, learning a foreign language, travelling, a sport activity or volunteer work, for instance. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Vera Eckert and Francesca Landini FRANKFURT/MILAN (Reuters) – Europe’s biggest Russian gas buyers raced to find alternative fuel supplies on Monday and considered burning more coal to cope with reduced gas flows from Russia that threaten an energy crisis in winter if stores are not refilled. The crisis and surge in gas prices add to challenges policymakers face as they tackle inflation and a worsening economic outlook. Italy’s Eni said it was told by Russia’s Gazprom that it would receive only part of its request for gas supplies on Monday, pushing the country closer to declaring a state of alert that will trigger gas saving measures. Germany, which has also experienced lower Russian flows, announced on Sunday its latest plan to boost gas storage levels and said it could restart coal-fired power plants that it had aimed to phase out. “That is painful, but it is a sheer necessity in this situation to reduce gas consumption,” said Economy Minister Robert Habeck, a member of the Green party that has pushed for a faster exit from coal, which produces more greenhouse gases. “But if we don’t do it, then we run the risk that the storage facilities will not be full enough at the end of the year towards the winter season. And then we are blackmailable on a political level,” he said. Russia on Monday repeated its earlier criticism that Europe had only itself to blame https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-gas-idAFL1N2Y70JT after the West imposed sanctions in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a gas transit route to Europe, as well as a major wheat exporter. The Dutch front-month gas contract, the European benchmark, was trading around 124 euros ($130) on Monday, down from this year’s peak of 335 euros but still up more than 300% on its level a year ago, before prices started rocketing higher. FILLING INVENTORIES SLOWLY The chief executive of Germany’s largest power producer RWE, Markus Krebber, said power prices could take three to five years to fall back to lower levels. Russian gas flows to Germany through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, the main route supplying Europe’s biggest economy, were still running at about 40% of capacity on Monday, even though they had edged up from the start of last week. Ukraine, another transit route for Russian gas, said its pipelines could help to fill any gap in supply via Nord Stream 1. Moscow has previously said it could not pump more through the pipelines that Ukraine has not already shut off. Eni and German utility Uniper were among European companies that said they were receiving less than contracted Russian gas volumes, although Europe’s gas inventories are still filling – albeit more slowly. They were about 54% full on Monday against a European Union target of 80% by October and 90% by November. Germany’s economy ministry said bringing back coal-fired power plants could add up to 10 gigawatts of capacity in case gas supply hit critical levels. A law related to the move goes to the upper house of parliament on July 8. Alongside a shift back to coal, the latest German measures https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/germany-announces-fresh-measures-cut-gas-consumption-2022-06-19 include an auction system starting in coming weeks to encourage industry to consume less gas and financial help for Germany’s gas market operator, via state lender KfW, to fill gas storage facilities faster. German utility RWE said on Monday it could prolong the operation of three 300 megawatt (MW) brown coal power plants if required during the gas supply crisis. RUSSIA BLAMES WEST Austria’s government agreed with utility Verbund on Sunday to convert a gas-fired power plant to use coal should restricted gas supplies lead to an energy emergency. Energy group OMV said Austria was set to receive half the usual amount of gas for a second consecutive day. Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom cut capacity last week along Nord Stream 1, a major pipeline supplying Germany and others, citing the delayed return of equipment being serviced by Germany’s Siemens Energy in Canada. “We have gas, it is ready to be delivered, but the Europeans must give back the equipment, which should be repaired under their obligations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. German and Italian officials have said Russia was using this as an excuse to reduce supplies. Italy, whose technical committee for gas is expected to meet on Tuesday, has said it could declare a heightened state of alert on gas this week if Russia continues to curb supplies. The move would trigger measures to reduce consumption, including rationing gas for selected industrial users, ramping up the production at coal power plants and asking for more gas imports from other suppliers under existing contracts. The European Union eventually aims to shift to renewable energy to cut carbon emissions but, for now, it faces surging prices and a return to more polluting fuels. “If there is a path to rapidly reducing Russian gas dependence without inducing further inflation and a severe energy price induced recession … we can’t see it,” Timera Energy analysts wrote. ($1 = 0.9508 euros) (Additional reporting by Susanna Twidale in London and Nora Buli in Oslo; Writing by Barbara Lewis; Editing by Edmund Blair) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Keke Palmer considers ‘Lightyear’ to be “progress” for representation in films. The 28-year-old actor voices Izzy Hawthorne in the new Pixar movie, which serves as an origin story for ‘Toy Story’ icon Buzz Lightyear, and is impressed with the diversity in the film – which has been banned in some Middle Eastern countries for a same-sex kiss. Keke told the i newspaper: “Disney, Pixar, there’s a wide audience, and a lot of their audience is obviously LGBTQ+, women, Black women… people that want to be represented in films. “So, yes, 100 per cent, I think it is progress. Obviously, we can’t expect for film and television to always be the reason why people decide to respect one another. But I think it’s a step in the right direction. And I think the way that it’s illustrated in the film is normal… we’re just depicting life and love the way that exists in our world.” Keke is also set to feature in Jordan Peele’s top-secret new horror movie ‘Nope’ – which is slated for release next month – and can’t wait for the film to be released. She explained: “I’m happy that I’m getting one step closer to not having to hold on to this big secret! But it was one of the most extraordinary experiences I’ve had in my life. I think Jordan Peele is 1,000 per cent a genius. “I think everybody’s going to be entertained, freaked out, and also impressed.” Keke landed her debut screen role as the niece of Queen Latifah’s character in the 2004 film ‘Barbershop 2: Back in Business’ and she explained how the star has become a “fairy godmother” to her. The ‘Hustlers’ actress said: “She went from rapping to singing to producing to acting to hosting. She’s done it all. “She always made me feel like I was just vaudevillian-ish. I could do many things, from singing, dancing, or whatever… she would bring people like Sammy Davis Jr and Judy Garland: ‘You could do what they did. They didn’t just do one thing, so never feel afraid or feel like you have to choose.'” View the full article

Published by DPA Reggaeton – a mixture of rap, reggae and other Caribbean sounds – has often been slammed for its highly charged lyrics, which many see as clearly sexist or misogynistic. But a growing number of queer and trans artists are trying to make the genre more inclusive. Meet Niña, a Miami-based duo who aren’t looking to come across as your average reggaetoneras. Daniel A. Varela/Zuma Press/dpa A hard reggaeton beat blasted through the speakers on the streets of Little Havana’s Calle Ocho as a crowd danced around two local reggaetoneras. It was a standard night of Gay8, the annual LGBTQ festival. Then came the milk. The reggaeton duo was performing their new song, a catchy old-school bop called “Dame Leche,” when two grown men dressed in diapers did just that. They poured jugs of milk on themselves and danced as Liz Ferrari and Maripussssy sang the suggestive chorus, “Dame dame dame leche, tengo tengo tengo hambre.” The crowd ate it up. “I want more!” they yelled. This is Niña, a Miami-based, queer, femme reggaeton duo with a penchant for childlike aesthetics. They perform in tutus, glitter eyebrows and butterfly hair clips. They’re not your average reggaetoneras. They don’t want to be. “Que tu crees, niñas!” (What do you think, girls!) Maripussssy shouted into the mic. Niña is the brainchild of visual and performance artists Liz Ferrer and Bow Ty, otherwise known as Liz Ferrari Ouch and Maripussssy, respectively. In a male-dominated genre often criticized as misogynistic, Niña creates reggaeton songs from a feminine, queer point of view. The story behind Niña is as unique as Liz and Bow’s outfits. Niña is just one of several art projects that Liz and Bow collaborate on, and the band’s ethos has captured the attention of Miami’s arts institutions, like Oolite Arts. Though the two artists may look different from their male counterparts, their do-it-yourself approach hearkens back to reggaeton’s underground, low-budget roots. After dropping “Dame Leche,” their first single and music video in March, the band is focusing on the rest of their upcoming visual album. This month, they’re dropping “Zap,” a dembow-inspired bop about zapping away your problems. “There’s all these genuinely fun and cool things about reggaeton,” Bow said. “We just want to do it without the feeling of machismo.” “It needs to open up a bit,” Liz added. Liz and Bow met at a party in Chicago in 2015. Liz, who studied theatre in college, was in town after an art residency and Bow was hired to perform at the party — as a human lamp. “I was just like, whoa!” Liz said. “Who is that lamp?” At the time, Liz was curating a performance art festival. She approached Bow and gushed over how cool they looked as a lamp and told them to come to Miami. It was a one-sided conversation, though. Bow, still acting like a lamp, didn’t say anything. But they were down. A mutual friend formally introduced them, and the two filled a spreadsheet with ideas for collaborations. Besides their individual art practices, Liz and Bow have dedicated much of their time to checking off that list. Liz and Bow share a nuanced relationship with gender identity, a theme they explore in their projects. Liz, who was born female, said she identifies as a girl but doesn’t really believe in gender as a construct. “There’s part of me that’s neither and part of me that’s a girl,” Liz said. Bow, who is trans nonbinary, also identifies as femme, or a queer person who presents feminine. When it comes to pronouns, Bow said that they don’t spend too much energy correcting random people who refer to them as a man. “I deal with the world in different genders in different situations,” Bow said. “In general, I think of myself as a girl or as femme, but a lot of other people might not see me that way.” The two laughed at how neither of them had a straightforward answer about their gender. “It’s complicated,” Bow said. Liz and Bow know how to make an entrance – even at a Nicaraguan restaurant. They walked in Yambo, a popular spot in Little Havana, in frilly pink and blue looks and got in line to order. Bow is 32, bearded, tall and soft spoken. Their hair was tied into pigtails with pink bows and they wore a unicorn sleeping mask as a headband. Their tutu had suspenders, their sneakers lit up and an old Christmas ornament dangled from their necklace. Liz is 37, Cuban American, short and louder than Bow. Her dark hair was tied into a high ponytail, her sleeves were puffy and her baby blue frilly socks matched her baby blue sneakers. Inside her gold hoop earrings was her stage name: Liz Ferrari. A little boy stared and smiled. His mom glanced over her shoulder. An old man on a bike wolf whistled. But Liz and Bow didn’t really care. Yambo is a chill spot, they said. Over a plate of queso frito and tostones, the two recalled the last few years of their friendship and collaboration. They had an art residency in Colombia working with children as family-friendly duo LizN’Bow. They ran an “experimental spa” in a formerly abandoned mall. They even made a telenovela starring Liz’s abuela Olga Ferrer, a natural performer who is not shy about her crush on their friend, Otto. But by 2018, they still hadn’t checked off one line on their list: girl band. Then came a phone call from Chicago. Liz and Bow’s love for reggaeton was sparked while driving around Miami. Liz used to be an avid classical music listener, but her favourite station switched to religious music. She started playing reggaeton instead. The two have been hooked ever since. They’d ride around in Liz’s car bopping their heads to Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Anitta, Wisin y Yandel and their favorite, Bad Bunny. Around that time, in the fall of 2018, some friends in Chicago called with a request. They were planning a queer art festival and were looking for submissions. That was the push they needed to finally start their girl band and finish the catchy chorus they came up with: “Dame dame dame leche.” “Dame Leche” was never supposed to be a real song, Liz said. It started out as a joke, but then they had one month to finish three songs and plan a performance. Niña was born. “With everything we do, it might start out as a joke,” Bow said, laughing. “There’s a funny, humorous element to it, but then we’re like, ‘no, we got to take this seriously.'” Niña continued to focus on live performances instead of recording and uploading their songs to streaming services, a practice most emerging artists do to gain a following. The shows they book have been “very varied,” Liz said, especially before the pandemic. They’ve performed at Gay8 for the LGBTQ community. They’ve performed at Miami’s Institute of Contemporary Art in the Design District and a local film festival for artsy audiences. They’ve been to bars like Gramps in Wynwood and Blackbird Ordinary, a Brickell spot with a young, straight crowd. When they travelled to Puerto Rico, they gave a show to a mixed group. Liz recalled a particularly strange gig when Niña was booked to perform at a bar with folk and indie musicians. Liz asked the event organizer, “Why would you book us, bro?” He replied, “Because I love Niña, man!” Regardless of the venue or audience, Liz and Bow said they’ve been well-received everywhere they go. The duo even planned a Caribbean tour that was cancelled because of the pandemic. “Kids have seen us, old people have seen us,” Liz said. “We want it to be varied.” In one performance, called Niñalandia, the duo threw a full-blown quinceañera party. Everyone was free to dress up in poofy gowns, sing, dance and eat birthday cake. Though Niña performances are joyful and youthful, the group also aims to subvert patriarchal traditions around femininity; Anybody can have a quinces, regardless of gender. “Femininity doesn’t look just one way and doesn’t come from just one source,” Liz said. Niña continues to subvert expectations with their songs. Naysayers may expect a feminist band to steer clear of raunchy lyrics, but “Dame Leche” doesn’t shy away from sexual innuendos. “Dame Leche” isn’t entirely about milk, kind of like how Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” isn’t an ode to fossil fuels. The song oozes with nostalgia, and the music video is a campy, over-the-top, overly saturated visual feast. In the video, edited by Bow, Liz Ferrari and Maripussssy are trying to buy milk at the corner store only to find the fridges empty. Miami’s supply of milk was stolen, and it’s up to them to find it. Cue the music. As homophobia and transphobia remain rampant in Latin America, artists like reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, known for experimenting with feminine clothing and acrylic nails, have promoted acceptance to a massive audience. In a 2020 performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Bad Bunny wore a black skirt and a T-shirt referencing the murder of a transgender woman in Puerto Rico. Some queer reggaeton artists have been able to make headway, like Villano Antillano, a transgender Puerto Rican rapper who performed at Wynwood Pride 2021. In Miami, Niña is one of a kind, said Esther Park, the vice president of programming at Oolite Arts, a local arts nonprofit. In 2019, Liz was granted $12,000 from The Ellies, Oolite’s annual awards for local artists, to create a video album for Niña. Park said that it’s unusual for visual artists to create a reggaeton band as a project, but “it’s very Liz.” Niña is part of a larger conversation about sexuality, gender and culture that younger generations are eager to have, Park said. “This project that Liz is doing with Bow is indicative to the times,” Park said. “If she did this project 10 years ago, it may not be well embraced, but now, I don’t know, maybe she’ll get a Billboard Top 100 hit.” Despite sexism, the tides are changing. Niña isn’t a criticism of reggaeton as a genre, Bow said, but rather an inclusive addition to the culture. “It’s a good moment to do it,” Bow said. “People are ready to start accepting that machismo itself is not the greatest thing.” Niña is a testament to reggaeton’s ubiquity. The genre is for everybody, not just cisgender straight men. Liz and Bow’s girly lyrics and visuals are a reminder to not take life too seriously, even when you’re all grown up. With the power of glitter and friendship, Liz and Bow do much more than challenge gender norms. They entertain. “We want it to be for everyone,” Liz said. “It’s a celebration of reggaeton as a whole, and it’s opening doors for other possibilities of who can be in that world.” Bow Ty, left, and Liz Ferrer of Niña pose at Yambo, a beloved Nicaraguan restaurant in Miami, on March 29, 2022. Daniel A. Varela/Zuma Press/dpa View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star KANSAS CITY, Mo. — State health officials in Missouri on Saturday identified the first local case of monkeypox, a viral infection that has now been reported in nearly 20 states, the largest outbreak in U.S. history. But monkeypox has been here before, including the Kansas City metro. The first outbreak in the United States, in 2003, affected six Midwestern states, including Kansas and Missouri, when people became sick after coming in contact with pet prairie dogs that had been infected by animals imported from Africa. The current outbreak is also linked to Africa, where monkeypox is endemic in… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in Texas formally rejected President Joe Biden’s election in 2020 as illegitimate and voted in a state-wide convention that wrapped up this weekend on a party platform that calls homosexuality an “abnormal lifestyle choice.” The party’s embrace of unfounded electoral fraud allegations in a bedrock Republican state came as a bipartisan congressional committee seeks to definitively and publicly debunk the false idea that Biden did not win the election. Biden received 7 million more votes than rival Donald Trump. Biden also received 306 votes from the Electoral College, more than the 270 needed to win. The congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol is building a case that Trump’s efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election — including by denying he lost — amounted to conspiracy to illegally hold onto power. Trump, the 45th U.S. president, has denied any wrongdoing. “We reject the certified results of the 2020 presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States,” the Texas party said in a resolution, passed in a voice vote at its convention. Texas is a major player in U.S. national politics, with 38 electoral votes, the second highest after California. Voters there have backed Republican presidents for the past four decades. The White House had no comment. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, about two-thirds of Republicans believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. State and federal judges dismissed more than 50 lawsuits brought by Trump and his allies challenging the election while reviews and audits found no evidence of widespread fraud. PLATFORM ATTACKS ‘CHOICE’ OF HOMOSEXUALITY One of the proposed principles in the latest Texas Republican party platform https://texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/6-Permanent-Platform-Committee-FINAL-REPORT-6-16-2022.pdf also includes new language criticizing homosexuality and voicing opposition to “all efforts to validate transgender identity.” “Homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice,” it reads, a statement that is not in the 2020 platform https://texasgop.org/platform. Votes on the provision are being tallied and certified following the bi-annual state party convention, a party spokesperson said. The Log Cabin Republicans of Houston, an organization that represents LGBT conservatives, said it was once again denied a request to set up a booth at the party’s convention this week, as it has been for past conventions. The group called the Texas Republican Convention’s actions “not just narrow-minded, but politically short-sighted.” However, the group is seeing “no evidence” of other state Republican conventions adopting similar bans or exclusionary language, Charles Moran, Log Cabin Republican managing director, told Reuters. “If anything we are being more included” than in the past, he said, noting that the 2020 Republican presidential campaign had an official pride coalition, and the gay Republican vote doubled between 2016 and 2020. “President Trump was the most pro-gay Republican that we have ever had,” he added. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Heather Timmons and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by AFP An image of former Vice President Mike Pence on the night of January 6, 2021 is displayed during an earlier hearing of the US House panel investigating the attack that day on the US Capitol Washington (AFP) – A new round of hearings this week by the congressional committee probing the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot promises further drama, with one member saying former vice president Mike Pence might be subpoenaed. As the House select panel works to focus attention on what it says was an illegal scheme backed by Donald Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 elections, a new poll shows most Americans believe the former president should face charges. In three earlier hearings, a series of Trump advisers were shown saying they had warned him of the illegality of attempting to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s victory by persuading Pence to block a normally pro forma process. One committee member, Adam Schiff, told CNN on Sunday that subpoenaing Pence was “certainly a possibility,” adding, “We’re not excluding anyone or anything at this point.” Pence faced intense pressure from Trump to break with history and refuse on January 6 to formally certify Biden’s victory. But even after Trump supporters violently stormed the building, with some chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” he refused to leave the complex and returned to the Senate chamber late at night to carry out the certification. ‘A hero’ The committee would be keenly interested to hear from Pence exactly what pressure Trump placed on him in their private contacts. It is not clear how the former vice president might respond to a subpoena. While the conservative Pence was never a favorite of Democrats, “on that day he was a hero for resisting all the pressure campaigns,” Jamie Raskin, a committee member, told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “In a time of absolutely scandalous betrayal of people’s oaths of office and crimes being committed all over the place, somebody who does their job and sticks to the law will stand out as a hero.” The pressure campaign, Schiff said, “put the vice president’s life in danger.” The committee, in hearings Tuesday and Thursday, will also explore “how a similar pressure campaign directed against state and local elections officials put their lives in danger.” Trump, in a taped call, famously called Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, and asked him to “find” enough votes to overturn Biden’s victory in that key Southern state. Raffensperger, who refused to do so, is to be among the committee’s witnesses this week. Divided public Raffensperger is among several election officials who have received anonymous death threats for refusing to alter vote outcomes in Trump’s favor. Committee member Adam Kinzinger — one of two Republicans on the committee, and one of 10 who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial — said Sunday he had received a menacing message only days ago. “It threatens to execute me, as well as my wife and 5-month-old child,” he told ABC’s “This Week.” Trump remains as divisive a political figure as ever, inspiring furious loyalty among followers and equally passionate disdain from his critics. The public’s division came through starkly in a new ABC News/Ipsos poll about the committee’s work. The poll, taken June 17 and 18, found that 58 percent of Americans believed Trump should be charged with a crime for his role in the January 6 events, up from 52 percent in April. It also found that 60 percent of respondents believed the committee was conducting a fair and impartial inquiry, up substantially from 40 percent in April. But while nearly all Democrats said Trump bore considerable responsibility for the January 6 riot, only a quarter of Republicans agreed. And significantly, only nine percent of Americans said they were following the hearings very closely. View the full article

Published by Reuters BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Swimming’s world governing body FINA on Sunday voted to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions and create a working group to establish an “open” category for them in some events as part of its new policy. The decision was made during FINA’s extraordinary general congress on the sidelines of the world championships in Budapest after members heard a report from a transgender task force comprising leading medical, legal and sports figures. The new policy will require transgender competitors to have completed their transition by the age of 12 in order to be able to compete in women’s competitions. The policy was passed with a roughly 71% majority after it was put to the members of 152 national federations with voting rights who had gathered for the congress at the Puskas Arena. Transgender rights has become a major talking point as sports seek to balance inclusivity while ensuring there is no unfair advantage. The debate intensified after University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle earlier this year. It followed New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard becoming the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year. (Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rowan Atkinson thinks comedians should be allowed to make jokes “about absolutely anything”. The 67-year-old star has hit out at cancel culture, warning that comedy will suffer if current trends continue. He explained: “It does seem to me that the job of comedy is to offend, or have the potential to offend, and it cannot be drained of that potential. Every joke has a victim. That’s the definition of a joke. Someone or something or an idea is made to look ridiculous.” The ‘Mr. Bean’ star thinks it’s imperative that comedians don’t worry too much about the consequences of their own jokes. He told the Irish Times newspaper: “I think you’ve got to be very, very careful about saying what you’re allowed to make jokes about. “You’ve always got to kick up? Really? What if there’s someone extremely smug, arrogant, aggressive, self-satisfied, who happens to be below in society? They’re not all in houses of parliament or in monarchies. There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. “In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.” On the other hand, Rowan remains undecided about the influence of social media. The actor thinks it’ll take “quite a long time” to understand its real impact on society. He said: “It’s terribly young. “In terms of the history of man, it’s been around for a very, very short time and we’re still adjusting. Here, in [the UK], we’ve got something called an Online Safety Bill, which is only possibly coming into the Houses of Parliament soon. And you think ‘Isn’t that sort of 20 years late?’ But you’ve got to live with something for quite a long time to find out how you’re going to live with it.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Billie Eilish thinks she “tried too hard to be desirable”. The 20-year-old singer showcased a radical change of image when she shed her baggy clothes and dyed her green hair blonde to pose on the cover of British Vogue magazine last summer in a pink silk corset but now she feels very detached from the pictures and was horrified by some of the backlash she received. She reflected to Sunday Times magazine: “No matter what you do, it’s wrong and right. “Wearing baggy clothes, nobody is attracted to me, I feel incredibly unlovable and unsexy and not beautiful, and people shame you for not being feminine enough. “Then you wear something more revealing and they’re, like, you’re such a fat cow w****. I’m a s*** and I’m a sell-out and I’m just like every other celebrity selling their bodies, and woah! What the f*** do you want? It’s a crazy world for women and women in the public eye. “Looking back at all of the promo and stuff we did before the album [in 2021], I’m, like, don’t know who that is, but that is not me! I didn’t have any time to think. I just decided who I was. I just became that vibe. And I don’t know if that was necessarily what I really was feeling. I was just grasping on to anything. “I honestly don’t feel desired, ever. I do have this worry that I felt so undesirable that I may have occasionally tried too hard to be desirable. It makes me sad to think about.” But the ‘Ocean Eyes’ singer now has a much more “solid” confidence in herself. She said: “In the past couple of months I feel far more solid in who I am. I feel different now, like I’m desirable. I feel like I’m capable of being as feminine as I want to be and as masculine as I want.” And Billie views her body as her “ugly friend”. Asked how her relationship with her body is, she said: “Nowhere good. My relationship with my body has been a truly horrible, terrible thing since I was 11. “I love that my body is mine and that it’s with me everywhere I go. “I kind of think of my body as my friend. My ugly friend! It’s complicated. But what are you gonna do?” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) – With street parties, the trumpets and drums of marching bands, speeches and a few political rallies, people across the United States marked Juneteenth this weekend, a jubilee commemorating the end of the legal enslavement of Black Americans. Events started on Friday and continued through Sunday featuring concerts at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, freedom walks in Galveston, Texas, and jazz music in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. “This is America’s holiday, not just African Americans’ holiday,” said Gerald Griggs, the Georgia state president of the NAACP civil rights organization. “It’s the true Independence Day, the day when all Americans were free.” Juneteenth, or June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when a Union general informed a group of enslaved people in Texas that they were free. President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became effective in 1863, during the Civil War, but could not be implemented until Union troops wrested areas from Confederate control. In 2021, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday, and most states and many companies give it recognition and hold celebrations. In a proclamation on Friday, Biden remarked on the 10 people slain in a racist mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. “We must stand together against white supremacy and show that bigotry and hate have no safe harbor in America,” the proclamation said. Griggs said Juneteenth – commemorated by Black people for generations – is a somber moment to reflect on the need for reforms on voting rights, prisons and law enforcement seen by many Black Americans as discriminatory. But he also urged all Americans to “go have fun, enjoy the party.” Atlanta began with a festival in the heart of the city on Friday and a parade beginning at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. preached. Caroline Ware, 64, a homemaker, was wading through the crowds and colorful tents and bandstands in Atlanta to reach a food truck for a jerk chicken and curry snack. “I’ll be honest, this is great fun, but I worry the young people don’t think enough about what it means,” Ware said. “I lived here through the Civil Rights movement, heard the Rev. King here. He’d say we have more work in front of us.” (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; editing by Grant McCool) View the full article