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Published by BANG Showbiz English The Duchess of Cornwall is an obsessive Wordle player. Camilla made the admission in an interview to mark her upcoming 75th birthday, revealing she compares her scores on the online word-guessing game every day with her granddaughter via text. She told British Vogue: “She’ll text me to say ‘I’ve done it in three’. And I say, ‘Sorry, I’ve done it in two today’. “It’s very satisfactory when it tells you how brilliant you are.” Camilla – due to turn 75 on July 17 – went on to say she loves getting texts from her five grandchildren, all of whom are aged between 12 and 14. She added: “It’s very nice getting a text. We learn from very young people and they learn from us, too. That’s the way it’s always been.” The duchess also disclosed that her grandchildren had unsuccessfully tried to convince her to get her ears pierced. She described watching her granddaughters “beginning to get into clothes and makeup” as “rather frightening” – adding: “You see them coming out with pierced ears and a lot of new makeup and funny-coloured hair and stuff.” While preparing for her Vogue shoot, the magazine’s team proposed she wear an outfit matching the wisteria in the garden at Clarence House. The idea was immediately snubbed by the duchess who has called the colour “menopausal mauve”. She instead opted for an evening dress by Bruce Oldfield Couture from her own wardrobe, saying at the shoot: “I did have some (press-on) nails, but I lost them all gardening yesterday.” She also told how she and her and husband the Duke of Cornwall, 73, attempt to make time for each other. Camilla added about her relationship with Prince Charles: “Sometimes it’s like ships passing in the night, but we always sit down together and have a cup of tea and discuss the day. “When we go away, the nicest thing is that we actually sit and read our books in different corners of the same room. “It’s very relaxing because you know you don’t have to make conversation. You just sit and be together.” And she revealed how negative public reaction to her relationship with the Prince of Wales in the wake of his split with Princess Diana was a challenge, admitting: “I was scrutinised for such a long time that you just have to find a way to live with it. “Nobody likes to be looked at all the time and, you know, criticised and… but I think in the end, I sort of rise above it and get on with it.” View the full article

Published by AFP Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov poses with his Nobel Peace Prize medal, which he auctioned off for $103.5 million to benefit children in Ukraine New York (AFP) – Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, on Monday auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize gold medal for a whopping $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by the war in Ukraine. The medal was sold to an as yet unidentified phone bidder at the sale in New York organized by Heritage Auctions. The sale was a spirited one, with lots of applause and bidders egging one another on to increase the total. Muratov was seen recording videos of the bidding screen and those in the room. When the final bid came in, at tens of millions of dollars more than the previous offer, many in the room expressed shock, including Muratov himself. “I’m just like you in that regard,” he told AFP, speaking through a translator after the sale. Muratov won the prize in 2021 alongside journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines, with the committee honoring the pair “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.” He was among a group of journalists who founded Novaya Gazeta in 1993 after the fall of the Soviet Union. This year, it became the only major newspaper left voicing criticism of President Vladimir Putin and his tactics inside and outside the country. In March, more than a month into Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Novaya Gazeta suspended operations in Russia, after Moscow adopted legislation providing for tough jail terms against anyone criticizing the Kremlin’s bloody military campaign. In April, Muratov was assaulted on a train when a person threw oil-based paint mixed with acetone on him, causing his eyes to burn. Muratov’s medal was available to bidders both in person and online, with all proceeds going to UNICEF’s Humanitarian Response for Ukrainian Children Displaced by War. When asked why he chose UNICEF as the recipient of the funds, Muratov said: “It’s critical to us that that organization does not belong to any government. It can work above government. There are no borders for it.” ‘We must stay in our jobs’ Since 2000, six of Novaya Gazeta’s journalists and collaborators have been killed in connection with their work, including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya. Muratov dedicated his Nobel prize to their memory. On Monday, he hailed the persistence of journalists as an important check on governments, and one way that war can be prevented. “So no matter how many times each one of us wants to turn in our notice and quit, we must stay in our jobs,” he told AFP. Speaking in a video released by Heritage in connection with the sale, the prominent journalist said that winning the Nobel “gives you an opportunity to be heard.” “The most important message today is for people to understand that there’s a war going on and we need to help people who are suffering the most,” he said. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harry Styles has designed a line for Gucci. The ‘As It Was’ hitmaker has collaborated with the brand’s creative director Alessandro Michele to create a capsule collected HA HA HA – the play on the pair’s initials – debuted in Milan and will arrive in stores in October. Alessandra praised the 28-year-old musician’s – who is a noted fan of the Italian fashion house – “clear and precise point of view”. The 44-year-old fashion designer told GQ: “Harry has a very clear and precise point of view, on top of great instinct and he chooses his clothes with much care. The idea of this capsule is banal in its simplicity, and it’s an act of love, but it has value, it’s sophisticated and we paid a lot of attention to fabrics and sartorial details. It was a lighthearted activity and easy with this kind of relationship. But the result is serious. Alessandra told the magazine about the creative inspirations, such as “1970s pop” and “bohemian” shared between him and the ‘Golden’ hitmaker. He said: “I proposed creating a ‘dream wardrobe’ with him, starting from those small oddities that come together in childlike visions,” Michele continues. “We ended up with a mix of aesthetics from 1970s pop and bohemian to the revision of the image of the gentleman in an overturned memory of men’s tailoring.” In a statement, Alessandra gushed about Harry – who wore the brand on a 2020 cover of Vogue- and his “incredible sense of fashion”. He said: “Harry has an incredible sense of fashion.” “Observing his ability to combine items of clothing in a way that is out of the ordinary compared to the required standards of taste and common sense and the homogenisation of appearance, I came to understand that the styling of a look is a generator of differences and of powers, as are his reactions to the designs I have created for him, which he has always made his own; these reactions restore me with a rush of freedom every time.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Stephen Colbert endured an “interesting” weekend after staff at ‘The Late Show’ were arrested at the Capitol Building. The 58-year-old comedian explained that seven members of his show’s production team were arrested when they travelled to Washington DC to film a segment with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, a puppet character created by Robert Smigel. Stephen joked: “How was your weekend? I certainly had an interesting one, because some of my staff had a memorable one. “Triumph offered to go down to D.C. to interview some Congress people to highlight some January 6 hearings. I said, ‘Sure, if you can get anyone to agree to talk to you. Because, and please don’t take this as an insult, you’re a puppet.'” The comedian subsequently explained that his staff, including Robert Smigel, were arrested by police officers. However, Stephen conceded that the officers were “just doing their job” and he understood their cautious approach in light of the riot at the Capitol Building in January last year. He said: “[My staff] were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway, when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by Capitol Police, which actually is not surprising. “The Capitol Police are much more cautious than they were 18 months ago and for a very good reason.” Despite this, Stephen admitted it was a “very unpleasant experience” for his staff. The comedy star explained: “The Capitol police were just doing their job, my staff was just doing their job, everyone was very professional, everyone was very calm. My staffers were detained, processed and released. A very unpleasant experience for my staff.” Meanwhile, Capitol police confirmed that officers “observed seven individuals, unescorted and without Congressional ID, in a sixth-floor hallway”. The statement added: “The building was closed to visitors, and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Lawder ROSEBUD, South Dakota (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced his intention to appoint Mohegan Indian Tribe Lifetime Chief Marilynn Malerba as U.S. Treasurer, marking the first time a Native American’s signature will appear on U.S. currency. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is visiting the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota on Tuesday, also announced the creation of a new Treasury Office of Tribal and Native Affairs, which will report to the treasurer and administer tribal relations. Malerba’s appointment by Biden also will allow Yellen’s signature to be added to the U.S. currency, as this was prohibited without a U.S. treasurer in place. Dollar notes have been printed since Yellen took office last year with former Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin’s signature on them. The appointment helps reduce a long list of unfilled and unconfirmed senior positions at Treasury. The treasurer position has been vacant since January 2020, when Jovita Carranza left to become Small Business Administrator in the Trump administration. The U.S. Treasurer directly oversees the U.S. Mint, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, storage of about $270 billion worth of gold at Fort Knox and is a key liaison with the Federal Reserve. Malerba’s appointment to the position no longer needs confirmation by the U.S. Senate. “With this announcement, we are making an even deeper commitment to Indian Country,” Yellen said in prepared remarks to be delivered at the Rosebud Sioux reservation. “Chief Malerba will expand our unique relationship with Tribal nations, continuing our joint efforts to support the development of Tribal economies and economic opportunities for Tribal citizens.” Malerba, who had a lengthy career as a registered nurse, has been chief of the Connecticut-based Mohegan tribe since 2010 and previously chaired its tribal council and served as its executive director of Health and Human Services, according to the Mohegan website https://www.mohegan.nsn.us/explore/heritage/our-ceremonial-leaders/chief. The Treasury said Malerba will join Yellen at the Rosebud Sioux reservation on Tuesday, where Yellen will discuss the impact of some $30 billion in federal COVID-19 aid to tribal governments. Yellen’s visit to the Rosebud Sioux reservation marks the first time that a Treasury secretary has visited a tribal nation – department officials said they could find no record of a prior visit. Yellen will tour programs at the reservation that are using nearly $200 million in funds last year’s American Rescue Plan, including $40 million worth of affordable housing projects. The Treasury on Tuesday also announced that it has approved the tribe’s plan to use more than $160,000 to upgrade its broadband internet infrastructure under a $10 billion broadband fund for state, local and tribal governments. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Bradley Perrett and Angus MacSwan) View the full article

Published by AFP A pro-Trump mob attacked the US Capitol, pictured on on June 21, 2022, after vice president Mike Pence refused to overturn the election Washington (AFP) – Lawmakers investigating the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol are due to focus at a hearing Tuesday on the pressure that former president Donald Trump mounted on state officials to overturn the 2020 election. The presentation launches a third week of summer hearings in which the panel has set out its initial findings that Trump led a multi-pronged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election, culminating in the insurrection in Washington. Committee aides say they have evidence that Trump and his allies were personally involved in pushing Republican-controlled legislatures to flip the results in several swing states, away from Joe Biden and into Trump’s column. The panel will hear from several top Republican state officials who found themselves cajoled by the Trump campaign to thwart the will of millions of voters based on bogus claims of election fraud. “Donald Trump knew that there was no widespread fraud — he knew that those claims were baseless, he knew that the numbers simply weren’t there to potentially overturn the election — and he continued to drive these campaigns anyway,” a committee aide said. “He knew they were false and it became increasingly clear that this pressure campaign could lead to violence, and he continued to do it anyway.” ‘Fake electors’ US presidents are not elected directly by citizens, but chosen by “electors” named to a body called the electoral college. Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress and there are 538 in total. The parties in each state pick their own slate of potential electors and, in almost every part of America, the winning side in the statewide tally for president gets all the electoral votes for that state. The committee says a key plank of the plot to subvert the 2020 election was getting pro-Trump Republicans in swing states won by Biden to submit official-looking but fake certificates claiming they were the legitimate electors. The committee says it will demonstrate that the former president pressed his vice president Mike Pence to accept these “fake electors” when he was overseeing certification of Biden’s victory on January 6, 2021. Pence ultimately refused to recognize the pro-Trump slates and the president’s supporters rioted for hours at the Capitol in unprecedented scenes of brutality that led to at least five deaths. The committee will hear from Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, whom Trump infamously pushed to “find” enough votes to overcome Biden’s lead in the battleground state in a phone call that is the subject of a state-level criminal probe. Rusty Bowers, speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, is expected to testify about pressure to reverse his state’s results from Trump, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. ‘Death threats’ The committee has asked to speak with Ginni Thomas, who indicated to a conservative news outlet that she was looking forward to the opportunity to “clear up misconceptions.” Also appearing in person will be Shaye Moss, a former Georgia election official who processed ballots in 2020. Trump and Giuliani falsely accused Moss and her mother Ruby Freeman of “rigging” the presidential election count in Georgia with “suitcases” full of ballots for Biden. Moss and Freeman — who received death threats after Trump publicly named them — are suing Giuliani in federal court. A committee aide said that Moss would detail how “being targeted by the former president has upended her life and that of her mother.” “They were called professional vote scammers, they were subjected to death threats, intimidation, coercion, forced to go into hiding,” the aide said. He added that the panel would show that threats to election workers continue and the danger to democracy posed by “lies about the 2020 election and lies about future elections” is ongoing. Trump continued to rail against the committee “of political thugs who have criminalized justice to a level never seen before in our country” on his social media platform Tuesday, reprising debunked conspiracy theories about voter fraud and spying on his 2016 campaign. The hearing begins at 1:00 pm (1700 GMT). View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator John Cornyn, the lead Republican negotiator in bipartisan gun legislation talks, told Reuters on Tuesday that negotiators expected to introduce a bill to address mass shootings later in the day. The Texas Republican said negotiators, including his fellow Republican Senator Thom Tillis and Democratic Senators Chris Murphy and Kyrsten Sinema, spoke early in the day by phone and were now waiting for staff to produce legislative text. “I think we’re on a glide path, and hopefully it will land shortly,” Cornyn said in an interview shortly after speaking with his fellow negotiators. He added that he expected the bill to be introduced on the Senate floor later in the day but gave no specific time. Introducing the bill on Tuesday would improve the odds of Senate passage before lawmakers leave for their two-week July 4 break at the end of this week. The bipartisan group has been working on a deal to curb gun violence since a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, less than two weeks after a racist shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, left 10 dead. Talks have bogged down in recent days. The group announced a framework deal more than a week ago. But talks had bogged over a few issues, including whether to include “Hyde Amendment” language to prevent the proposal from being used to pay for abortions. Asked if the abortion impasse had been overcome, Cornyn said: “Yes. I believe so. Hyde applies.” The measure does not go as far as Democrats including President Joe Biden had sought, but, if passed, would still be the most significant action to combat gun violence to emerge from Congress in years. Lawmakers had also been negotiating over a provision to encourage states to adopt “red flag” laws, in which guns can be temporarily taken away from people who are deemed dangerous; and a “boyfriend loophole:” authorities can block abusive spouses from buying firearms but not “intimate partners” who are not married. Cornyn walked out of the talks on Thursday, demanding that the red flag provision also allow funding for states that opt for other intervention methods instead. The next day, at his state’s Republican convention, he was booed as he discussed the bill in a speech. (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) -The law enforcement response to the Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers was “an abject failure” in which a commander put the lives of officers over those of the children, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said on Tuesday. “There is compelling evidence that the law enforcement response to the attack at Robb Elementary was an abject failure and antithetical to everything we’ve learned,” McCraw said at a Texas Senate hearing into the May 24 mass shooting. Police actions after the gunman entered Robb Elementary School and began shooting have come under close scrutiny amid anguished parents’ anger over the response. “Three minutes after the subject entered the west building, there was a sufficient number of armed officers wearing body armor to isolate, distract and neutralize the subject,” McCraw added. “The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering Room 111, and 112, was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children,” the director said in the hearing. Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo said earlier this month he never considered himself the incident commander of the scene of the shooting, and that he did not order police to hold back on breaching the building. Community members along with parents of the victims urged Arredondo to resign during an impassioned school board meeting on Monday night, ABC News reported. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Brendan O’Brien in Chicago; Editing by Doina Chiacu) View the full article

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