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Published by NJ.com The gay Pride flag seems to be hanging everywhere at the front of Passaic Preparatory Academy – everywhere except the flagpole out front. Students at the Passaic school hoisted the LGBTQ+ banner up the flagpole without a hitch last year, when there was no school board policy that covered ceremonial flag displays. This year, there is a policy. It only allows the American flag, the New Jersey state flag or a school flag to flown. A student group, the Gay Straight Alliance, says the policy is discriminatory and staged a demonstration in March. But the Board of Education says the policy applies to… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Jurors considering opposing lawsuits brought by Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are set to meet Tuesday to continue deliberating on whether either actor was defamed and deserves millions of dollars in damages. Depp, the 58-year-old “Pirates of the Caribbean” star, sued ex-wife Heard in Virginia for $50 million and argued that she defamed him when she called herself “a public figure representing domestic abuse” in a newspaper opinion piece. Heard, 36, countersued for $100 million, saying Depp smeared her when his lawyer called her accusations a “hoax.” The seven-person jury deliberated for about two hours Friday before adjourning for the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend. Depp has denied hitting Heard or any woman and said she was the one who turned violent in their relationship. At the center of the legal case is the December 2018 opinion piece by Heard in the Washington Post, in which she made the statement about domestic abuse. The article did not mention Depp by name, but his lawyer told jurors it was clear that Heard was referring to him. Heard’s attorneys argued that she had told the truth and that her comments were covered as free speech under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. Depp and Heard met in 2011 while filming “The Rum Diary” and wed in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized about two years later. Over six weeks of proceedings, jurors listened to recordings of the couple’s fights and saw graphic photos of Depp’s bloody finger. He said the top of the finger was severed when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him in 2015. Heard denied injuring Depp’s finger and said Depp sexually assaulted her that night with a liquor bottle. She said she struck him only to defend herself or her sister. Testimony was livestreamed widely on social media, drawing large audiences to hear details about the couple’s troubled relationship. Once among Hollywood’s biggest stars, Depp said Heard’s allegations cost him “everything.” A new “Pirates” movie was put on hold, and Depp was replaced in the “Fantastic Beasts” film franchise, a “Harry Potter” spinoff. Depp lost a libel case less than two years ago against the Sun, a British tabloid that labeled him a “wife beater.” A London High Court judge ruled that he had repeatedly assaulted Heard. Depp’s lawyers filed the U.S. case in Fairfax County, Virginia, because the Washington Post is printed there. The newspaper is not a defendant. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kevin Spacey is “confident” he will clear his name after being charged with four counts of sexual assault. The former ‘House of Cards’ star was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK over a number of incidents, which were alleged to have taken place between March 2005 and August 2008 in London, and in April 2013 in Gloucestershire, and following claims he was set to be formally extradited from the US to face the charges, the 62-year-old actor has now insisted he will “voluntarily” fly to England to appear in court. He said in a statement released to ‘Good Morning America’: “I very much appreciate the Crown Prosecution Service’s statement in which they carefully reminded the media and the public that I am entitled to a fair trial, and innocent until proven otherwise. “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.” It was announced last week Kevin would face charges of four counts of sexual assault against three men, and an additional charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent – is facing the allegations following a review of evidence collected by the Metropolitian Police. The alleged incidents took place between March 2005 and August 2008 in London, and in April 2013 in Gloucestershire. Rosemary Ainslie – head of the CPS Special Crime Division – said in a statement: “The CPS has authorised criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men. “He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. “The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.” The ‘American Beauty’ actor has denied all allegations against him. The charges come after a series of legal battles for the actor after allegations of sexual assault and misconduct were first made public in 2017 by actor Anthony Rapp, who alleged the star assaulted him when he was just 14 years old, after inviting him to his apartment for a party. In the lawsuit, he claimed Spacey grabbed his backside without permission and then lifted him onto a bed, before climbing on top of him and said he still suffers from extreme emotional distress as a result. In a statement in March, Spacey said: “I met [Rapp] several decades ago. I never had a sexual encounter with Mr. Rapp. Nor did I harbour any sexual interest or desire in Mr. Rapp at that time or any time.” The lawsuit is set to go trial on October 4. View the full article

Published by Reuters BERLIN (Reuters) – It is not clear yet whether the spread of monkeypox can be contained completely, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, adding that its goal was to contain the outbreak by stopping human-to-human transmission to the maximum extent possible. “Tools to manage it – including readily available diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics – are not likely to be immediately or widely accessible to countries,” it said in a statement. Over 20 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with more than 300 confirmed or suspected infections mostly in Europe. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Madeline Chambers) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ellen DeGeneres is on vacation in Morocco with her wife Portia DeRossi just days after ending her talk show. The 64-year-old comedienne – who has been married to the 49-year-old actress since 2008 – completed the last episode of her eponymous ABC talk show last Thursday (26.05.22) after 19 years on the air and was spotted with her wife in the city of Marrakech. in the new photos obtained by ETOnline, Ellen can be seen wearing khaki pants and a white linen shirt instead of the blazer and shirt TV audiences would recognise her in, while Portia opted for a blue and white striped dress complemented with a patterned scarf. When the veteran TV host played out her final show – which saw the return of very first guest and former ‘Friends’ star Jennifer Aniston on the special episode as Portia was seated in the audience – she explained that almost two decades ago, it was a struggle to sell the concept because she was “different” and reflected on everything that has changed culturally since the show debuted. She said: “20 years ago when we tried to sell this show, no one thought this would work. Not because it was a different kind of show — it was because I was different. Very few stations wanted to buy the show and here we are 20 years later, celebrating this amazing journey together. When we started this show I couldn’t say ‘gay’ on the show. … I couldn’t say ‘we,’ because that implied that I was with someone. Sure couldn’t say ‘wife,’ that’s because it wasn’t legal for gay people to get married. And now I say ‘wife’ all the time!” “Thank you so much for this platform. I hope that what I’ve been able to do in the last 19 years has made you happy. … And I hope I’ve been able to inspire you to make other people happy and do good in the world. To feel like you’ve had a purpose.” Meanwhile, a source explained that while Ellen was indeed “emotional” to be moving on, she is eager to move on to the next “chapter” in her life. A source said: “Ellen’s last show was emotional for her. It feels like an end of an era, but she is ready for the next chapter of her life. It feels bittersweet.” View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Renee Maltezou and Deborah Kyvrikosaios ATHENS (Reuters) – Raised in rural Greece, queer artist and author Sam Albatros recalls how their mother tried to console them about the bullying at school. “My mom said: ‘Don’t worry, when you grow up you are going to marry a woman, you are going to have kids and you will show them’… The worst thing is that she said this to actually comfort me,” Albatros said. Last year, Albatros (their artistic name) published ‘Faulty Boy’, a book describing the challenges that gender queer children face in Greece, a largely conservative country where the influent… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Individuals who are more sensitive to disgust are more likely to hold negative attitudes towards gay men and lesbian women, according to new cross-cultural research published in the journal Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. The findings provide evidence that antigay prejudice is related in part to pathogen avoidance. “I became interested in prejudice towards gay men and lesbian women a couple of years after I became familiar with evolutionary psychology, maybe around 2010,” explained study author Florian van Leeuwen, an assistant professor at Tilburg University. “I could understand expla… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kevin Spacey is facing being extradited to Britain over four sexual assault charges. British authorities are reportedly seeking the return of the ‘House of Cards’ actor from the US to the UK after he was charged with the alleged sex offences last week. The incidents involve three men, now in their thirties and forties, and allegedly took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and in Gloucestershire in April 2013. Spacey, 62, as also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Nick Vamos, former head of extradition at the CPS, said US Department of Justice officials would study papers sent from the UK. They would have to be satisfied there was “probable cause” the offences may have been committed and if so police officers would be instructed to locate and detain Spacey. Vamos told The Guardian: “They will be under an obligation to arrest him. The US Department of Justice will task US marshals to find Mr Spacey and take him to a federal court. He always had the option of surrendering and not contesting extradition.” He added Spacey could be extradited in weeks if he does not contest the move – and months if he does resist. A special unit of the Home Office, the international criminality directorate, would act on behalf of police authorities and prosecutors. Spacey cannot be formally be charged until he returns to Britain. The charges follows a review of evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police from its previous investigation into sexual assault claims against ‘The Usual Suspects’ actor, which started in 2017. The actor has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS special crime division, said the service had “authorised criminal charges” against the Hollywood veteran, who was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London from 2004 to 2015. The actor’s new film ‘Peter Five Eight’ is his first leading role in five years and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month. Producers of the drama have defended the actor against the charges when they were announced on Thursday (26.05.22.) They told The Hollywood Reporter: “While it’s unfortunate that increased negative press is timed with Kevin returning to work, it’s also to be expected. “There are those who wish for him not to act, but they are outnumbered by fans worldwide who await an artist they have enjoyed for decades returning to the screen. “The production has no knowledge or comment on the various swirling allegations, and believe it’s a matter for the courts to determine validity if it exists. ‘Peter Five Eight’ is a film for fans who care more for the art than the scandal.” View the full article

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