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Published by BANG Showbiz English Boris Becker is not appealing his jail sentence after hiding £2.5 million of assets to get out of paying his bankruptcy debts. The disgraced tennis ace was last month sentenced to two years and six months behind bars after a judge blasted him for his lack of remorse. Even though it was thought he was confident he would be freed by winter, he has now confirmed he will accept the verdict. In his first statement since sentencing, the six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, told the Mail: “I wish to make it clear that I accept the verdicts of the jury, I accept the sentence imposed upon me and that is why I have no intention of seeking any form of appeal. “I will serve my sentence in accordance with the court’s decisions.” The dad-of-four is a three-time Wimbledon winner and was convicted of flouting insolvency rules by concealing millions in cash, shares and property after being declared bankrupt in 2017. Judge Deborah Taylor said: “The obligation was on you to disclose these assets but you did not. I take into account your fall from grace. You’ve lost your career, reputation and all your properties. “However, you have shown no remorse. While I accept the humiliation you may have felt as a result of these proceedings, there has been no humility.” To claw back some money, Becker is said to be planning a tell-all memoir on his spectacular fall from grace. He was sentenced to two years and six months for removal of property, plus 18 months each for three charges of failing to disclose assets, with all terms to run concurrently. It was found he made £390,000 in payments from his business account following his bankruptcy to nine others. They included his ex-wife Barbara, 55, and estranged wife Lilly, 45, with whom he had his fourth child. Becker was cleared of a further 20 charges, which included nine counts of failing to hand over his tennis trophies and medals. He said all money transfers made were “commitments to his children and other dependents, medical and professional fees, and other expenses”. Becker was made bankrupt after failing to meet payments on a £3 million-plus loan on his lavish estate in Mallorca, Spain. His lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw told Southwark Crown Court, London: “Boris Becker has literally nothing and there is also nothing to show for what was the most glittering of sporting careers and that is correctly termed as nothing short of a tragedy. “These proceedings have destroyed his career entirely and ruined any further prospect of earning an income.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Andy Cohen found himself in hot water after the premiere of The Real Housewives of Dubai season 1 trailer. The show, which is set to air its first episode on Wednesday, June 1, has quickly become a controversial topic as human rights organizations continue to condemn the series and demand Bravo publicly declare they disagree with certain laws and practices in place in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. A group of 12 separate organizations banded together and sent a statement to Bravo, as well as executives from NBCUniversal and the Truly Original production company. mega “We are deeply concerned by your decision to produce and launch the latest edition of the Real Housewives series in Dubai,” the letter read. “Dubai is an absolute monarchy that is part of the dictatorship of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). By setting the Real Housewives franchise inside Dubai, you are helping the UAE dictatorship hide its male rulers’ misogyny, legalized homophobia, and mass violence against women.” The letter continued on to request that if the show is to move forward, the groups are asking the network to consider a series of steps to shed light on the problems in the UAE rather than sweep them under the rug with the glamorous reality series. The first step was to “reveal whether the rulers of Dubai and the UAE funded or financed the Real Housewives of Dubai in any way.” They also asked that Bravo “run a disclaimer” at the beginning of every episode stating Bravo opposes “the UAE and Dubai dictatorship’s misogyny, homophobia, women’s rights violations, and war in Yemen.” The letter also asked RHOD to donate some of their profits to independent human rights organizations that are currently fighting against the UAE and Dubai’s human rights issues, and to teach their fans how they can “stand up for women’s rights and LGBTQ equality.” The statement went on to detail several incidents of human rights violations including a Dubai ruler’s domestic abuse, an incident where a ruler kidnapped his own adult daughters who tried to escape the Emirates and how rape accusations are often ignored. mega “As these examples reveal, the dictatorship of the United Arab Emirates and Dubai is a deeply flawed choice for the Real Housewives series,” the letter said as it neared its conclusion. “By producing and launching the Real Housewives of Dubai, you risk providing the rulers of the UAE and Dubai with the soft propaganda they need to hide their human rights crimes from the world.” The statement was signed by Freedom Forward, Action Corps, Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues, CODEPINK, European Centre For Democracy and Human Rights, FairSquare, Health Advocacy International, Human Rights Sentinel, Just Foreign Policy, Last Mile4D, Peace Action and ReThinking Foreign Policy. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he would appoint 21 new cardinals in August, including an Italian leading the Church in Mongolia, again putting his stamp on the future of Catholicism. Of the 21, 16 are cardinal electors under 80 years old and thus eligible to enter a conclave to elect his successor after his death or resignation. After the Aug. 27 ceremony to officially install them, known as a consistory, Francis will have appointed about 83 of the some 133 cardinal electors, increasing the possibility his successor will be a man reflecting his position on key issues. By then Francis will have appointed about 63% of cardinal electors, further increased their presence in the developing world, and again loosening the grip Europe had on the College of Cardinals. The new electors include Archbishop Giorgio Marengo, an Italian who is currently the Catholic Church’s administrator in Mongolia. The country borders with China, where the Vatican is trying to improve the situation for Catholics. Other cardinal electors come from France, Nigeria, Brazil, India, the United States, East Timor, Italy, Ghana, Singapore, and Paraguay. Three Vatican officials to be made cardinals in August come from South Korea, Britain and Spain. Once again, Francis passed over archbishops of major cities that traditionally had cardinals before his election in 2013, preferring to appoint men in far-flung places where the Church is small or growing and more vibrant than in Europe. By appointing cardinals in Singapore, Mongolia, India and East Timor, Francis appears to be seeking to increase the Church’s prestige and clout in Asia, a growing economic and political powerhouse. New cardinals from other developing countries include archbishops in Ekwulobia in Nigeria, Manaus and Brasilia in Brazil, Goa and Hyderabad in India, Wa in Ghana, and Asuncion in Paraguay. The promotion to cardinal of Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, California, is significant because he has been an outspoken ally of Francis’ pastoral approach in issues such as protection of the environment and a more welcoming approach to gay Catholics. In making McElroy a cardinal, Francis passed over the conservative archbishops of San Francisco and Los Angeles, two large cities that traditionally had cardinals in the past. (Reporting by Philip Pullella Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark Potter) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita are expecting another baby. The 46-year-old actor and Justin, 36, have made the announcement via social media, with Jesse describing it as a “little bit of good news”. Jesse – who already has Beckett, 22 months, with his husband – wrote on Instagram: “There is a lot of really horrible stuff going on in the world right now, so Justin and I wanted to share a little bit of good news with you. We are expanding our family.” The Hollywood star also hinted at the due date of his baby, saying Beckett is set to become a big brother “this fall”. Last year, meanwhile, Jesse joked that he’s raising his son “gay”. The actor – who is best known for playing Mitchell Pritchett in ‘Modern Family’ – explained that he and Justin were still trying to figure out the personality of their baby boy. Jesse – who married Justin in 2013 – explained: “It’s a new person in your life, and just like anyone new that comes into your life, you’ve gotta figure out if you like that. It takes a little time.” Jesse sang a series of popular songs to his baby boy for the first few months after his arrival, and the TV star joked that they’re “raising him gay until he decides he’s straight”. During an appearance on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ in 2021, Jesse quipped: “It’s a lot of show tunes because that’s what I like, so we’re raising him gay until he decides he’s straight! “On the way back from the hospital we played Britney Spears … so that was his first exposure to music.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Isabella Ronca and Hedy Beloucif GDANSK, Poland (Reuters) – Thousands of Poles marched to demand an end to homophobia on Saturday, as the northern port city of Gdansk hosted its seventh annual Equality March under the slogan “We have the power”. Waving the rainbow flags of the LGBTQ+ community and the blue, pink and white transgender flag, the marchers made their way through the city holding placards with slogans like “We make love not war” and “Jesus would walk with us”. According to a police spokeswoman around 7,500 people took part. “It’s very difficult to be queer in Poland, so it’s nice to find a place where you can be yourself,” said 24-year-old Sabina Joeck. Gay rights are a highly divisive issue in predominantly Catholic Poland, and the country’s ruling nationalists have made battling what they term LGBTQ+ “ideology” a key plank of election campaigns in recent years. Religious conservatives are bitterly opposed to what they say is an ideology bent on undermining the traditional family, while more liberal Poles say such attitudes result in widespread discrimination. A handful of protesters opposed to the march looked on holding Catholic rosary beads and a banner alleging that the LGBTQ+ “lobby” sought to sexualise children. “I am not against homosexuals, these are just ordinary people like us,” said a protester who gave her name as Margaret. “But I don’t want them to get to our children.” Human rights groups reject accusations that teaching about LGBTQ+ issues in schools seeks to sexualise children. For Nikodem Mrozek, a 40-year-old mathematician who has taken part in the annual march since its inception, attitudes to LGBTQ+ people in Poland are improving, but the community is still demonised by some politicians. “Society and the mentality (of people) is getting better and better, but the political situation is getting worse and worse,” he said, speaking before the march. (Reporting by Isabella Ronca and Hedy Beloucif in Gdansk, writing by Alan Charlish in Warsaw, Editing by Ros Russell) View the full article

Published by New York Daily News ALBANY, N.Y. — Nonbinary New Yorkers no longer have to identify as male or female on any state-issued IDs, including driver’s licenses. In accordance with the state’s Gender Recognition Act, which goes into effect on June 24, “X” is now available as a gender marker on a driver’s license, learner permit, or non-driver ID card at all New York Department of Motor Vehicle offices, Gov. Hochul announced on Friday. “Every person, regardless of their gender identity or expression, deserves to have an identity document that reflects who they are,” Hochul said in a statement. “My administration remains… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Chase Chrisley has sought out words of wisdom during his family’s difficult time. On Thursday, May 27, the Chrisley Knows Best star, 25, took to Instagram to share a video of fellow television personality Steve Harvey speaking about endurance and going through difficult times in life. mega “You can’t tell god how to bless you,” the Family Feud host said in the poignant clip. “You can’t tell him what you want and how to do it because it won’t ever go the way you want it to.” LINDSIE CHRISLEY DISOWNS FAMILY FOR ‘HARASSMENT AND THREATS’ AMID TODD & JULIE’S INDICTMENT FOR TAX EVASION & FRAUD “If god had showed you what you would have to go through to get to where you are today, you would turn back,” Harvey continued adding, there are many parts of life we would like to choose not to experience. However, the media mogul concluded his speech that we must go through the hard things to be the best versions of ourselves. This powerful message comes as the Chrisley family came under scrutiny after Todd Chrisley‘s former business partner Mark Braddock testified the two men allegedly had an affair years ago, and paid nearly $40,000 when a blackmailer threatened to expose them. As OK! previously reported, Mark alleged he and Todd — who has been married to wife Julie Chrisley since 1996 — evaded nearly $2 million worth of taxes prior to their falling out in 2012. After being let go from the reality star’s company Chrisley Asset Management, Mark was granted immunity after turning Todd and his wife into the FBI. SAVANNAH CHRISLEY REFLECTS ON LEARNING TO BE ‘BRAVE’ FOLLOWING EX FIANCE NIC KERDILES’ MENTAL HEALTH REVELATION mega Allegedly, the A&E star was also romantically involved with his business partner for nearly a year before ending things. The two stayed close friends, leaving Mark to allegedly continue to commit fraud by creating fake documents and sending them to banks for financial gain. Mark claims after receiving anonymous text messages threatening to expose the affair, they ended up handing over $38,000 in cash to the blackmailers. The patriarch spoke about the speculation around his sexuality in the past stating, “In order for it to disappoint me, it would mean that I don’t agree with someone being gay. I don’t believe that’s a choice that you make. I believe that you are the way that God has made you.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s Catholic bishops said on Friday they would commission a report on clerical sexual abuse in the past two years and a separate analysis going back to 2000, disappointing victims who wanted a thorough investigation going back many decades. Earlier on Friday, victim groups held a small protest near the Vatican embassy to Italy, at which activists carried boards with pictures of men and women with blood-stained underwear. The bishops announced their decision in a statement on a number of issues at the end of a week of meetings, during which they elected Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna as the new president of their national conference. It said an unspecified academic research centre would issue an independent report on cases of abuse reported to Church authorities in 2020-2021. There would be a separate analysis of Church data on abuse between 2000-2021, adding that it would be carried out “in collaboration with independent research institutes”. Zuppi, who is seen as a progressive, told a news conference the two-year report would be ready by November but did not say when the two-decade analysis would start. Victims groups expressed frustration. They had called for an overarching independent investigation going back to at least part of the past century similar to those carried out in France and Germany.. Francesco Zanardi, 51, head of Rete l’Abuso (The Abuse Network), which has one of the largest digital archives on clerical sexual abuse in Italy, said starting the analysis from the year 2000 would exclude many cases like his. Zanardi was abused by a priest before 2000 in northern Italy who was later moved to other parishes, where he abused other minors. “The sensitivity the Church says it has for the suffering of victims falls flat on its face because this choice includes an automatic cutoff,” Zanardi said. “Our battle will go on,” said Ludovica Eugenio of ItalyChurchToo, a coalition of nine groups of victims and victims advocates. Zuppi said the analysis was not going back further because it was difficult to judge the past by today’s standards. “There is no desire to cover up anything … we are not running away from anything,” he said. Victims like Zanardi say there are hundreds of cases where Church authorities either failed to intervene, covered up, or acted too late to stop abuse from being repeated. The worldwide sexual abuse crisis has done the Roman Catholic Church massive damage to its credibility and cost hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements, with some dioceses in other countries declaring bankruptcy. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jodie Foster is to star in season four of ‘True Detective’. The 59-year-old actress – who shot to fame as a child star in Disney hits such as ‘Freaky Friday’ and ‘Candleshoe’ before going on to Oscar-winning success with more mature roles in ‘The Accused’ and ‘Silence of the Lambs’ – has been cast as Liz Danvers in the HBO crime drama for its upcoming season, according to Deadline. Jodie – who has not appeared in a regular role on television since ‘Paper Moon’ back in 1974 and most recently guest-starred on ‘The Simpsons’ as the voice of usually-silent character Maggie back in 2009 – will be investigating the mysterious disappearances of six people from a research station in Ennis, Alaska in the series. A description from HBO reads: “When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunting truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.” Jodie will also serve as executive producer for the upcoming series of the hit drama while scripts will be penned by Issa Lopez – who has previously worked on ‘Tigers Are Not Afraid’ and Secondary Effects’ – along with Alan Page Arriaga. Further details of the drama – which previously starred Matthew McConaughey, Rachel McAdams, and Carmen Ejogo – are not available but it has been reported that the series remains in the development process. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Mrinalika Roy and Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -Countries should take quick steps to contain the spread of monkeypox and share data about their vaccine stockpiles, a senior World Health Organization official said on Friday. “We think that if we put in place the right measures now we probably can contain this easily,” Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, told the U.N. agency’s annual assembly. Monkeypox is a usually mild viral infection that is endemic in parts of west and central Africa. It spreads chiefly through close contact and until the recent outbreak, was rarely seen in other parts of the world, which is why the recent emergence of cases in Europe, the United States and other areas has raised alarms. So far, there are about 300 confirmed or suspected cases in around 20 countries where the virus was not previously circulating. “For us, we think that the key priority currently is trying to contain this transmission in non-endemic countries,” Briand told a technical briefing for member states. Needed measures included the early detection and isolation of cases and contact tracing, she added. Member states should also share information about first generation stockpiles of smallpox vaccines which can also be effective against monkeypox, Briand said. “We don’t know exactly the number of doses available in the world and so that’s why we encourage countries to come to WHO and tell us what are their stockpiles,” she said. A slide of her presentation described global supplies as “very constrained”. Currently, WHO officials are advising against mass vaccination, instead suggesting targeted vaccination where available for close contacts of people infected. “Case investigation, contact tracing, isolation at home will be your best bets,” said Rosamund Lewis, WHO head of the smallpox secretariat which is part of the WHO Emergencies Programme. (Editing by Andrew Heavens) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jan Wolfe (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department on Friday extended its streak of victories in jury trials against rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, securing a guilty verdict in its prosecution of a New Jersey man facing a felony charge. After less than a day of deliberation, a federal jury in the District of Columbia found Timothy Hale-Cusanelli guilty of all five counts he faced, including obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony carrying a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden will sentence Hale-Cusanelli on Sept. 16. Hale-Cusanelli is a former member of the U.S. Army Reserves who works as a Navy contractor with a “secret” security clearance and access to weapons, prosecutors said. An informant told investigators that Hale-Cusanelli was “an avowed white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer” who posts online videos espousing extreme political opinions, the Justice Department alleged in court filings. Hale-Cusanelli was the fifth Capitol riot defendant to take his case to a jury trial. The Justice Department has secured convictions in all five cases. Prosecutors have been less successful in the two cases to culminate in non-jury trials. Both of those trials were overseen by McFadden, who partially acquitted one defendant while fully acquitting another. Video footage from the riot showed Hale-Cusanelli yelling at police officers outside the Capitol complex and entering the building after it was breached. Hale-Cusanelli’s defense lawyer argued that his client did not realize Congress was counting electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, and therefore lacked a criminal intent. Thousands of people stormed the Capitol that day to try to keep Congress from certifying current President Joe Biden’s victory over then-President Donald Trump, a Republican. More than 800 face criminal charges. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Johnny Depp is rumoured to be making his post-trial film comeback by starring in Beetlejuice 2. Fans have flooded social media with the claim after they noticed the embattled actor’s name seemed to appear on a call sheet found when they said they searched for the upcoming Beetlejuice 2, set for release in 2025, on Google. Alongside Depp are Michael Keaton, 70, and Winona Ryder, 50, both of whom are rumoured to be reprising their roles from director Tim Burton’s 1988 original. The rumours started making the rounds ahead of the jury in Depp’s defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard, 36, being dismissed to deliberate on the feud. The 1998 film revolved around a dead married couple – played by Alec Baldwin, 64, and Geena Davis, 66 – who are resurrected as gormless ghosts who become hell-bent on haunting an irritating family out of their dream home. Fans said they would be overjoyed to see Depp, 58, in the follow up – especially after his gruelling days in court fighting to prove he is not a domestic abuser. One said on social media: “Thrilled to see Johnny Depp added to the cast of Beetlejuice 2.” Another exclaimed: “I’m happy for Johnny!! Robert Downey Jr wants Johnny for the next ‘Sherlock Holmes’!” But other film fans cast doubt on the rumour, with one sceptic saying: “So you people did a Google search for ‘Beetlejuice 2’, saw his name pop up, and think that means he got cast in it? LMAO! I can see why you stand with him.” Ryder, who played goth Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice and was engaged to Depp for three years from July 1990, has defended her ex-fiancé Depp throughout his legal battles. She said her experience with the actor Depp is “wildly different” than the allegations that Heard has made. Ryder said in court in July 2020: “I truly and honestly only know him as a really good man – an incredibly loving, extremely caring guy who was so very protective of me and the people that he loves, and I felt so very, very safe with him “I do not want to call anyone a liar but from my experience of Johnny, it is impossible to believe that such horrific allegations are true. I find it extremely upsetting, knowing him as I do.” Ryder – who also starred alongside Depp in ‘Edward Scissorhands’ – has said she is “hopeful” Beetlejuice 2 will go ahead. She confirmed on Tuesday (24.05.22) in an interview with USA Today she would be appearing in the cast by declaring: “I’m in! I’m definitely excited and I’m really hopeful that it’ll happen. “The only way we would do it is if everything was perfect and we had all the people – obviously Michael and obviously Tim,” The movie would again reunite Depp with his long-standing collaborator director Tim Burton, 63, who has cast Depp in eight of his films including ‘Ed Wood’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Abba are said to need £140 million to cover the costs of their hologram concerts after splashing out on ‘Abba-tars’ made by George Lucas’ special effects firm. The Swedes returned to stage on Thursday (26.05.22) for the first time in 40 years with an avatar-led show in their purpose-built arena at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. Bandmate Benny Andersson’s son Ludvig Andersson, 40, who is the project’s music producer, told ‘The Telegraph’ newspaper no band had tried a virtual performance before as “it’s so bloody expensive”. He added: “We also need lots of people to come and see it for a very long time.” ‘The Times’ estimates the band will need to recoup £140 million to cover costs of their immersive digital show, which is already critically acclaimed by the world’s leading music writers. The 95-minute high-tech concert was created by the four members of Abba – Agnetha Fältskog, 72, Björn Ulvaeus, 77, Benny Andersson, 75, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 76 – dressing up in motion-capture suits to pre-record the performance. The voices and movements are the real quartet, but the performers onstage at the 3,000-capacity venue are their digital avatars, created using motion capture and other technology by Industrial Light and Magic, founded by ‘Star Wars’ director George Lucas, 78. The show could run in London for three more years or go elsewhere to regain its costs. Andersson told ‘Variety’ about future plans for the show: “We’ll see. This has to get on its feet first. We have to see how attractive it is. We’ve sold 380,000 tickets or so. “It’s good for a couple months. We need to see if it sells more tickets. But there will be promoters coming in from the US to see if there’s something that will be suitable for their market. “I think we’re exactly in the right spot here in London. The English people have always treated us like we were theirs for some odd reason, for which I’m very humbly grateful.” The band took a risky but “very appealing” decision to shun corporate sponsors after a bad experience when the band were in their pomp. Ulvaeus said: “The last commercial we ever did was 1975. It was for a Japanese TV brand called National, and we did some ludicrous changes to Fernando. We felt so ridiculous doing it, so never again.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) – While nearly all attention will be focused next week on Queen Elizabeth as she celebrates her 70th anniversary on the throne this year, for those with eyes on the future of the British monarchy, attention is switching to her grandson Prince William. The British royals have suffered a bruising couple of years with the U.S. sex abuse lawsuit against Elizabeth’s son Andrew, Prince Harry, William’s younger brother, quitting duties to move to the United States in 2020, and police investigating alleged wrongdoing at the main charity of son and heir Prince Charles. With the health of the popular 96-year-old queen an increasing source of concern, forcing her to pull out of public engagements, her Platinum Jubilee will mark not just a time to reflect on her past, but to look ahead. Most polls show a majority of the British public support the monarchy, and, while his 73-year-old father commands less popularity, William – the second in line to the throne – and his wife Kate are the most liked royals after the queen. But, surveys also suggest those aged under 50 are far more ambivalent about the institution. “The future does rest on Prince William,” Matthew Dennison, a biographer of the queen, said. “And we all know that public opinion can be unkind.” A decade ago, amid celebrations for Elizabeth’s then Diamond Jubilee, there was a notable moment when she greeted crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace accompanied by Charles, his wife Camilla, William and his wife Kate, and Harry. It reflected the long understood plan of Charles to slim down the monarchy effectively to his immediate family when he became king. But the shock exit of Harry and his wife Meghan to the United States has put paid to that, placing even more pressure on William, 39, and his young family to maintain the institution’s long term viability and popularity while navigating a rapidly changing society. ‘LAST OF THE MOHICANS’ “William is the key person because William is going to be king one day,” said Charles Rae, a former royal correspondent at the Sun newspaper. “He’s the last of the Mohicans, basically. I think an awful lot rests on William’s shoulders for the future of the monarchy.” William and Kate, 40, have enjoyed highly positive media coverage over the last five years as one of the world’s most glamorous couples with Hollywood star appeal. The prince has shaken off the “work-shy Wills” nickname British tabloids gave him in the last decade when they suggested the couple were lazy. “To be honest I’m going to get plenty of criticism over my lifetime and it’s something that I don’t completely ignore but it’s not something I take completely to heart,” he said in a 2016 interview to mark the queen’s 90th birthday. William has also received much praise for his work on mental health, homelessness and the environment, but the couple’s recent tour of the Caribbean was a wake-up call after they faced protests over Britain’s imperial past and criticism that some of the tour had echoes of a colonial throwback. “I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future,” William said in a highly unusual statement issued at the end of their visit. According to the Sunday Mirror newspaper the visit has prompted William and Kate to rethink how the monarchy should look, with the couple saying they wanted to be known by their names and not their titles – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. “They want to try to avoid the bows and curtsies in public, be more approachable, less formal, less stuffy, and break away with a lot of the tradition and focus on a modern monarchy,” an unnamed source told the paper. Miguel Head, who was a key aide for the prince for a decade until 2018, said while William did not like ceremony, he understood its importance. “When he gets the top job he won’t do away with it all,” Head told the Sunday Times. “He’s mindful the monarchy represents something timeless that’s above all of us, and many people like the magic and theatre of it.” William accepts the monarchy needs to move with the times to stay relevant, something the queen has been praised for. The prince in 2016 called her his best role model for the job. “That’s the challenge for me is how do I make the royal family relevant in the next 20 years time, and it could be 40 years time, it could be 60 years time… I hope that’s something that I can do.” (Additional reporting by Sarah Mills; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) View the full article

Published by Reuters MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) – Pro-choice U.S. lawmakers visiting Mexico said Americans are turning to their southern neighbor to access abortions as some states tighten restrictions on the procedure and with the Supreme Court expected to strike down the right to an abortion. “As Texas has taken a step back into the dark, I am so grateful that so many people here in Mexico have opened their arms to pregnant Texans and helped them access the care they need,” said Texas state representative Erin Zwiener at a news conference in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Friday. Texas has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country, banning the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy. The state lawmakers visited Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey this week to meet with pro-choice advocates, who have made gains in relaxing Mexico’s abortion restrictions even as the United States has moved in the opposite direction. “We have a lot to learn … from this Mexican model,” said Colorado state senator Julie Gonzales. In Mexico, activists have for years helped women skirt abortion bans by providing information about how to induce a medication abortion using easily accessible pills. In the United States, where these pills are less widely available, litigation over medication abortion is likely to take center stage should the Supreme Court gut or overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. For women living along the border, Mexico offers another option, said Arizona state senator Stephanie Stahl Hamilton. “Viagra is much cheaper in Mexico, and men are willing to come across the border to get their prescriptions,” she said. “One would wonder, if it’s okay for men, why wouldn’t it be okay for women?” (Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener and Daniel Becerril in Monterrey; Editing by Sam Holmes) View the full article

Published by AFP Country musician Lee Greenwood addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference 2022 in Orlando, Florida on February 27, 2022 New York (AFP) – Country music has long been closely linked to America’s pro-gun lobby, but several stars have distanced themselves from the National Rifle Association following the mass shooting at a Texas school. At least five country musicians, including “God Bless the USA” performer Lee Greenwood, pulled out of the NRA’s annual convention that opened Friday in Texas. “American Pie” singer-songwriter Don McLean also withdrew. Their initial billing highlights the close links between country music and the gun-supporting right in the United States, but experts say their withdrawal is indicative of shifting attitudes. McLean, 76, said it would be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform at the convention’s “Grand Ole Night of Freedom” concert scheduled for Saturday after 19 students and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in the small town of Uvalde. Greenwood, whose patriotic signature song regularly rings out at Donald Trump rallies, said he canceled “out of respect” for those mourning, while Larry Gatlin said he couldn’t perform “in good conscience.” T. Graham Brown and Larry Stewart, lead singer of country band Restless Heart, also withdrew, according to statements carried by USA Today. ‘Not monolithic’ Conjuring up images of stetson hats, cowboy boots and the Stars and Stripes flag, country has traditionally been the favorite music of conservative white Americans. Its fan base is predominantly white, with roots in the largely Republican southern US states. “Country music is not monolithic by any means,” Professor Mark Brewer, who teaches a class on music and American politics at the University of Maine, told AFP. “But I think it’s safe to say that the predominant themes over the years have been more conservative, maybe with a hint of libertarian populism mixed in.” Brewer says there have been “longstanding connections” between country music, conservative politics, and gun culture. One of the reasons is geography. “There’s a big regional overlap. Country music has its origins in the American south and southern American politics have always been conservative. “The United States as a whole has a pretty prevalent gun culture, but it’s even more pronounced in the south,” he added. Professor Joel Schwindt, who teaches country music history at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, said the genre was “very specifically marketed” to white America from the start. Adding to its appeal amongst white working class groups was a “firm support for the military.” -2017 Las Vegas shooting – Unlike Hollywood and the US pop music industry, which lean left, country music has plenty of conservative artists. The musicians who withdrew from the NRA convention were careful not to criticize the gun body in their statements. Stewart praised it as a “great organization” as he defended the US constitution’s famous Second Amendment right to bear arms. Numerous country musicians have called for more gun regulations though, including Eric Church, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves. Several spoke out after a man opened fire from his hotel on a Las Vegas country music festival in 2017, killing 60 people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. Rosanne Cash, singer-songwriter and daughter of late country musician Johnny Cash, wrote an Op-Ed in the New York Times later that year calling on country musicians to stand up to the NRA. “I think we’ve had more genuinely progressive stands in the last decade than we’ve probably ever had before,” including on LGBTQ issues, said Brewer. Although there are no conclusive studies, he thinks this might be because younger performers tend to be more progressive, as are the fans they are trying to attract. Schwindt notes that while country music’s fan base is primarily white, “regular listenership among non-white listeners, Black listeners and Hispanic listeners in particular, has grown pretty significantly over the past 10 to 20 years.” Could that lead to more country stars taking progressive stances in the future? “It’s something we’re seeing more of,” said Brewer. “I don’t know if I’d say that’s the dominant position still by any means. But it’s becoming more and more visible,” he added. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) -Protesters holding signs and crosses with photos of victims from the Texas elementary school shooting protested Friday outside the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Houston, as the gun lobby came under pressure after the massacre. Attendance was dampened and speakers and featured musical acts stayed away as about 500 protesters, some shouting “NRA go away,” and “Shame, it could be your kids today,” jeered attendees outside the George R. Brown Convention Center. Tuesday’s fatal shooting of 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, by an 18-year-old gunman equipped with an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle again focused attention on the NRA, the nation’s biggest gun lobby and a major donor to Congress members, mostly Republicans. Uvalde is about 280 miles (450 km) west of Houston. Video of the main auditorium in Houston, which holds about 3,600 people, showed it to be about half-full as former President Donald Trump took the stage late Friday afternoon. “The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law abiding citizens,” Trump told the audience to cheers, echoing speakers who rejected background checks or bans on semiautomatic weapons. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a Republican, urged attendees not to back down in their fight against gun control. “Now would be the worst time to quit. Now is when we double down,” she said. Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick dropped out of making in-person remarks at the event. Patrick said he withdrew so as not to “bring any additional pain or grief to the families and all the suffering in Uvalde.” The headliners at a weekend concert, Don McLean, Larry Gatlin and Lee Greenwood, canceled their appearances. Gatlin issued a statement supporting background checks, calling it a “step in the right direction.” U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, said in a speech to the meeting that communities needed weapons to stay safe. “Taking away guns will not make them safer.” The NRA’s decision to proceed with its largest annual gathering is part of a decades-long strategy of standing up to pressure for gun control that dates to the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado. Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive director, addressed the school killings but said gun owners “love our nation, love our children and grandchildren. … That’s why we will always cherish and protect our fundamental right to defend ourselves and our communities.” At a park near the convention center, protester Harper Young, a 15-year-old Houston student, held a poster and choked back tears. “It’s completely unacceptable that gun violence is happening again and again. It’s horrific,” he said. Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, rejected suggestions that teachers be armed to thwart future shootings. “More guns equal more violence,” she said. “Assault weapons should be banned,” she said outside the meeting. Houston activist Johnny Mata called on the NRA to halt the convention and hold a memorial service for the Uvalde victims. “They have the audacity not to cancel in respect of these families, said Mata, who represented advocacy group Greater Houston Coalition for Justice. The NRA should “quit being a part of the assassination of children in American schools.” Tim Hickey, a Marine Corps veteran attending the event, dismissed the protests. “These people are puppets and sheep to the media. They are not changing anyone’s mind,” he said. On the convention center’s exhibit floor, attendees handled rifles, handguns, hunting and assault-style rifles at dozens of booths, and browse Sierra Bullets and other firms’ ammunition displays. The weekend convention was the five million-member group’s first annual get together after two prior cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Posters celebrating its 150th anniversary hung over the exhibit hall. In a pre-recorded video, Abbott said, “as Texans and as Americans we grieve and mourn with these families.” But he said existing gun laws did not stop the Uvalde shooter and pushed back at calls for new legislation, saying “laws will not stop evil madmen from committing these atrocities.” (Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar, Shannon Stapleton and Callaghan O’Hare; Writing by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by AFP A police officer stands near the makeshift memorial for the shooting victims outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 28, 2022 Uvalde (United States) (AFP) – Fresh harrowing accounts emerged Saturday of the ordeal faced by survivors of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, fanning public fury over the massacre even as the deeply traumatized town prepared for a visit Sunday by US President Joe Biden. The haunting stories told by young students who were forced to play dead as a heavily armed gunman continued a methodical spree — killing 19 students and two teachers — have been underscored by accounts of the slow reaction by police during the drama. Ten-year-old Samuel Salinas was sitting in his fourth-grade classroom when the shooter, later identified as Salvador Ramos, 18, barged in with a chilling announcement: “You’re all going to die.” Then “he just started shooting,” Salinas told ABC News. Texas authorities belatedly admitted Friday that as many as 19 police officers were in the school hallway for more than an hour without acting, thinking the shooter had ended his killing. “From the benefit of hindsight… it was the wrong decision, period,” said Texas Department of Public Safety director Steven McCraw. Ramos, who carried two assault-style rifles, was finally killed by police. Uvalde survivors have described making desperate, whispered pleas for help in 911 phone calls during his assault. Many played dead to avoid drawing the shooter’s attention. Eleven-year-old Miah Cerrillo even smeared the blood of a dead friend on herself as she feigned death. Samuel Salinas said he thinks Ramos fired at him, but the bullet struck a chair, sending shrapnel into the boy’s leg. “I played dead so he wouldn’t shoot me,” he said. Another student, Daniel, whose mother would not provide his last name, said he saw Ramos fire through the glass in the classroom door, striking his teacher. The bullets were “hot,” he told the Washington Post, and when another bullet ricocheted and struck a fellow student in the nose, he said he could hear the sickening sound it made. Though his teacher lay on the floor bleeding, she repeatedly told the students, “‘Stay calm. Stay where you are. Don’t move,'” Daniel recalled. He was finally rescued by police who broke the windows of his classroom. Since then, he has had recurrent nightmares. A troubling timeline President Joe Biden will visit Uvalde on Sunday to again make the case for gun control, as activists set about galvanizing voters on the issue in the run-up to November’s midterm election. Despite the scourge of mass shootings, efforts at nationwide gun control have repeatedly failed, though polls show broad support from Americans. Speaking at a University of Delaware commencement on Saturday, Biden — himself a grieving father twice over — evoked the image of parents preparing to bury their children in Texas, and lamented “too much violence. Too much fear. Too much grief.” “We have to stand stronger,” he told the graduates at his alma mater. The Uvalde shooting was the deadliest since 20 children and six staff were killed at the Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012. McCraw revealed a series of emergency calls — including by a child begging for police help — that were made from two adjoining classrooms where the gunman was barricaded. But he said the on-scene commander believed at the time that Ramos was in there alone, with no survivors, after his initial assault. “I’m not defending anything, but you go back in the timeline, there was a barrage, hundreds of rounds were pumped in in four minutes, okay, into those two classrooms,” McCraw said. “Any firing afterwards was sporadic and it was at the door. So the belief is that there may not be anybody living anymore.” McCraw separately told reporters, however, that a 911 call received at 12:16 pm reported eight or nine children still alive. As many as 19 officers were outside the classroom door at that time, according to McCraw’s timeline. McCraw said one caller — a child who dialed 911 multiple times — begged for police to come. Her final call was cut off as she made it outside. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott told journalists who grilled him during a testy news conference Friday that he was given inaccurate information in the wake of the massacre. “I was misled,” Abbott said. “The information that I was given turned out in part to be inaccurate, and I’m absolutely livid about that.” View the full article

Published by AFP War has ravaged the eastern Donbas region, including this school in the town of Bakhmut Kramatorsk (Ukraine) (AFP) – Russia pressed its onslaught on eastern Ukraine Saturday, saying it had captured the strategic town of Lyman and had successfully tested hypersonic missiles in the Arctic. Ukrainian forces battled to repel Russian forces from the outskirts of the key city of Severodonetsk, a Ukrainian official said, however denying claims it had been surrounded. Russia is waging all-out war for the eastern Donbas region — Ukraine’s industrial heartland where President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of carrying out a “genocide”. “The town of Krasny Liman has been entirely liberated from Ukrainian nationalists,” the Russian defence ministry said, using the Russian name for Lyman and confirming an announcement made a day earlier by pro-Moscow separatists. Lyman lies on the road to the urban centres of Severodonetsk and Kramatorsk. Russian forces have been closing in on Severodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk in Lugansk province, with conflicting reports about the extent of their advance. Regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said Russian shelling continued on Severodonetsk as Ukrainian soldiers fought to oust the invading forces from a hotel on its edges, but rejected claims the city had been encircled. “Severodonetsk has not been cut off… there is still the possibility to deliver humanitarian aid,” he told Ukrainian television. A Lugansk police official, cited by Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, late Friday said Severodonetsk was “now surrounded” and Ukrainian troops could no longer leave the city. France, Germany urge talks Three months after Russia launched its invasion on February 24, leaving thousands dead on both sides and forcing 6.6 million people out of the country, Moscow has gained control over swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, including port cities Kherson and Mariupol. Other Ukrainian ports have been cut off from the world by Russian warships, preventing key grain supplies from being transported out. Russia and Ukraine supply about 30 percent of the wheat traded on global markets. Russia has tightened its own exports and Ukraine has vast amounts stuck in storage, driving up prices and cutting availability for importers across the globe. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected any responsibility, instead blaming Western sanctions. But on Saturday he told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone call Russia was “ready” to look for ways to allow more wheat onto the global market. “Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports,” the Kremlin reported him as saying. He called for the lifting of sanctions to allow “an increase in the supply of Russian fertilisers and agricultural products” onto the global market. Macron and Scholz urged Putin to hold “direct serious negotiations” with Zelensky, the German chancellor’s office said. And they demanded Russia free 2,500 Ukrainian fighters taken as prisoners of war after surrendering earlier this month at a sprawling steelworks in the ravaged port city of Mariupol. More weapons ‘dangerous’ Zelensky late Friday said his country was doing everything to defend the Donbas from intense artillery and missile strikes. “We are protecting our land in the way that our current defence resources allow. We are doing everything to increase them,” he added. To further help the Ukrainians, Washington was preparing to send advanced long-range rocket systems, US media reports said. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby did not confirm the plans to deliver the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, highly mobile equipment capable of firing up to 300 kilometres (186 miles) that Kyiv has said it badly needs. But he said Washington was “still committed to helping them succeed on the battlefield”. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged his country’s continued support “including helping provide the equipment they need” in a call Saturday with Zelensky, his office said. But Putin warned Macron and Scholz that ramping up arms supplies to Ukraine would be “dangerous” and risk “further destabilisation”. He spoke after his army said it had successfully fired one of its Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles some 1,000 kilometres (625 miles) across the Arctic. Ship docks in Mariupol As he seeks to ramp up international pressure on Moscow, Zelensky will speak to EU leaders at an emergency summit Monday as they try to agree on an embargo on Russian oil, which is being held up by Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban has close relations with Putin. “We need to act until they stop their policy of aggression,” Zelensky told a think tank in Indonesia. But Moscow said Russia expects to receive one trillion rubles ($15 billion) in additional oil and gas revenues this year, a windfall from the sharp rise in oil prices caused in part by its invasion of Ukraine. In Ukraine, a spokesman for the Russian-controlled Mariupol port said a first ship had docked there on Saturday. “It will be loaded up with 2.7 tonnes of steel,” he told Russian state news agency TASS. There was however no official announcement from either the Russian or separatist authorities. burs-ah/ach View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ellen DeGeneres is Portia de Rossi’s “idol”. The ‘Arrested Development’ star heaped praise on her wife as she hosted her last-ever episode of her long-running chat show. Portia, 49, shared a slideshow of photos on Instagram and captioned the images: “To my utterly beautiful, supremely talented, insanely accomplished wife on the day of your final show. I married an icon. I married my idol.” Ellen opened her final show with a clip from the first-ever episode in 2003. She later closed the landmark show with a monologue celebrating the changes in LGBTQ representation in showbiz. Ellen explained that she “was not allowed to say gay” at the start of her TV career. She said: “I was not allowed to say ‘gay.’ I said it at home a lot. Like, you know, ‘What are we having for our gay breakfast’ or ‘Pass the gay salt? Has anyone seen the gay remote?’ Things like that, but we couldn’t say ‘gay’. I couldn’t say ‘we’ because that implied that I was with someone, sure; couldn’t say ‘wife’ and that’s because it wasn’t legal for gay people to get married – and now I say ‘wife’ all the time. “Twenty-five years ago, they cancelled my sitcom because they didn’t want a lesbian to be in primetime once a week, and I said, ‘OK, then I’ll be on daytime every day. How about that?'” Ellen also thanked her viewers for the support they’ve shown her over years. She added: “I hope I’ve been able to inspire you to make other people happy and to do good in the world, to feel like you have a purpose. And I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: If I’ve done anything in the past 19 years, I hope I’ve inspired you to be yourself – your true, authentic self. “And if someone is brave enough to tell you who they are, be brave enough to support them, even if you don’t understand. They’re showing you who they are, and that is the biggest gift anybody can ever give you. And by opening your heart and your mind, you’re going to be that much more compassionate – and compassion is what makes the world a better place. “Thank you so much for being on this journey with me. I feel the love, and I send it back to you.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English David Beckham doesn’t think it should be “strange” for gay footballers to come out. The former England captain – who has Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 19, Cruz, 17, and 10-year-old Harper with wife Victoria – thinks it was a “shame” that it was still a big deal for Blackpool player Jake Daniels to become the first current UK male professional footballer to reveal he’s attracted to other men earlier this month. He said: “It’s a shame that when someone does come out that it’s such a strange thing. I’ve always felt that way about when someone does come out… it shouldn’t be. “At the end of the day there will be a huge amount of gay people in sports and why should they be any different from anyone else.” David hung up his boots in 2013 and thinks there’s a lot less prejudice in the game now than there was in his playing days, though he warned there’s still improvements to be made. He told the Evening Standard newspaper: “I played for 22 years, I saw a lot of racism and homophobia and do think it has changed. But there’s still a lot of work to be done.” Meanwhile, the Inter Miami owner and his family are planning to spend this summer in Florida to be with Romeo, who currently plays for his MLS soccer side. He said: “Usually we love to be in Europe for the summer, but we like to be together as a family. “[Romeo is] getting older now, so at some point he’s going to want to be with his girlfriend or mates and not want to spend the summer with us but he has no choice.” And after Brooklyn married Nicola Peltz Beckham last month, David is hoping the couple will join their family over the summer too. He said: “Brooklyn will be hopefully in Palm Beach. He’ll be able to hopefully come down with his new wife.” View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune Illinois legislators and advocacy group Equality Illinois issued a joint statement Thursday calling out State Farm after the insurance giant pulled support for a gender identity school book program. Facing backlash, Bloomington, Illinois-based State Farm ended its partnership this week with the GenderCool Project, a “youth-led” nonprofit organization that distributes children’s books about being transgender, inclusive and nonbinary to schools and libraries. Now the insurance company is feeling the heat from LGBTQ advocates. “When it came to our attention that State Farm had reversed this partn… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — A state investigator who looks into teacher misconduct demanded to know who in Orange County Public Schools authorized the purchase of the book “Gender Queer,” a controversial memoir the district pulled from several high school libraries in late October, according to emails between the employee and the school district. “This office is trying to find out who approved the book,” wrote Ian Dohme, a Florida Department of Education employee, in an email to an OCPS administrator on April 13. Dohme’s request was alarming because he works for the department’s Office of Professional Pra… Read More View the full article

The Sims 4How Do You Say “Binary Breaker” In Simlish? After more than a year, fans’ wishes for a Sims pronouns update is here. The long-running simulator video game series “The Sims” broke new ground for trans and gender-diverse players on Tuesday by adding the ability to provide customizable pronouns for created characters in the series latest entry, “The Sims 4.” According to a Maxis blog post, the update prompts players to choose the gender of their character (or Sim) when entering Create a Sim mode. Among the options are he/him, she/her and they/them, but the update also adds a custom option that allows players to enter any pronoun choice they desire. Players may change the gender of their Sims at any time and the game automatically updates to properly gender the character in in-game text. After banging the drum for over a year, the trans nonbinary agender streamer got the chance to take an emotional victory lap during a stream from the It Gets Better Project’s official Twitch channel. Fighting back tears, Momo Misfortune introduced the update and spoke the update’s importance to the game’s large LGBTQ fan base. “Last year, it took 84 days of me tweeting, creating a campaign, and I just want to say thank you to everybody. Whether you shared the campaign, whether you signed it, talked about it – look, it’s here,” they said. “We made a difference. I may have started the campaign, but we all did this together.” “I think this just really shows how much the Sim Gurus care about our opinions and what we think is important, because this is so important,” they continued. “I’m just thinking about how when I was younger and I started playing ‘The Sims,’ it was a way for me to safely explore my sexuality. And now that we have customizable pronoun options in the game, this is going to help so many kids be able to safely explore their identities. That’s so important because, for a lot of us queer folks, ‘The Sims’ is an escape for us to be able to be who we really are and who we wish we could be out in public, out in the open, to our friends, to our family.” The Sims Pronouns: Previously on Towleroad The Sims Pronouns Update Is Here: ‘The Sims 4’ Adds Customizable Pronouns To In-Game Characters Brian Bell May 28, 2022 Read More EA, Paradox Heed Calls For Same-Sex ‘Crusader Kings’ Weddings; And To Keep Them in ‘Sims 4’ Russia Editions; Plus Gayming Award Noms — ROUNDUP Brian Bell February 18, 2022 Read More Writer Of Bisexual Superman Has Perfect Way Of Dealing with Those Protesting Too Much; Also Brockhampton Splits Up; G4 Host Blasts Boys Who Belittle and Sexist Viewers: Entertainment Roundup Brian Bell January 18, 2022 Read More Wonder Woman’s 1st Trans Amazon; ‘Battlefield’s 1st Non-Binary Specialist; ‘Superman’ Colorist Quits Offended By New Motto. Brian Bell October 26, 2021 Read More China Bans Games With LGBTQ, Effeminate Men or Nazi Characters; Activision Blizzard Settles; ‘Life Is Strange’ Promotion Benefits Community Brian Bell October 4, 2021 Read More ‘Frat Boy’ Culture at Activision Blizzard: Groping, Junk-Grab ‘Gay Chicken’ Game, ‘The Cosby Suite,’ Cited in California Suit. Employees Walk Out Brian Bell July 28, 2021 Read More Image via Electronic Arts/Maxis View the full article