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Published by Reuters (Reuters) -A gunman opened fire at an elementary school in South Texas on Tuesday, killing 14 students and one teacher, Governor Greg Abbott told reporters. Abbott said the suspect, who he identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was himself killed, apparently by police officers responding to the scene. Official details on the circumstances of the midday shooting remained sketchy in the immediate aftermath of the violence, which unfolded at Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde, Texas, about 80 miles west of San Antonio. “He shot and killed horrifically, incomprehensibly, 14 students and killed a teacher. Mr. Ramos, the shooter, he himself is deceased and its believed that responding officers killed him,” Abbott told a news briefing. The gunman drove up to the school and entered with a rifle and a handgun, CNN reported. University Hospital in San Antonio said on Twitter it had received two patients from the shooting in Uvalde, one child and one adult. Both patients, a 66-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl, were listed in critical condition. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los AngelesEditing by Grant McCool) View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Sarah K. Burris Esquire columnist Charlie Pierce is reminding voters that former Vice President Mike Pence is no savior for the mainstream GOP, even if he’s going up against Trump in Georgia with a battle of endorsements. Pence, he explained “is such a political maladroit that he makes Willard Romney look like Pericles.” Pence tens to “yammer” about Jesus a lot, wrote Pierce, but other than that he’s generally doing the worst possible things at the worst possible time. Pierce remembered the time Pence signed the anti-LGBTQ bill on the same weekend as the Final Four basketball tournament. Th… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA Dolce & Gabbana “hosted” Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker‘s top-of-the-line wedding over the weekend, so it’s safe to say the famous family put their awkward history with the fashion label behind them. Fans of the reality TV moguls watched as Kourtney’s loved ones showed up and showed out in expensive Dolce & Gabbana outfits leading up to the ceremony on Sunday. MEGA The worldwide coverage is set to give “millions of pounds worth of free publicity” to D&G, Daily Mail reported as Travis and Kourtney celebrated their next chapter together. “As part of the deal, guests will be ferried from their hotels to Portofino harbor in a fleet of four classic wooden Riva speedboats, furnished with Dolce & Gabbana accessories,” the outlet added. Perhaps the Kar-Jenners have chosen to squash any lingering tension with the fashion house years after its co-founder, Stefano Gabbana, once labeled them the “most cheap people in the world.” Instagram account Diet Prada spotted the shade at the time. MEGA The designers also sparked fury in 2015 when they spoke out against gay fathers having children through surrogate mothers — with many fans pointing out that Kim has welcomed two of her children via surrogate. “The only family is the traditional one,” Domenico Dolce and Stefano said at the time. “No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.” Some have also labeled the brand as racist over a series of controversial ads they shared featuring a Chinese model, who later said “it nearly killed my career.” Despite the backlash the brand has faced over the years, Kourtney proudly wore a one-of-a-kind Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda lace and satin corset mini dress for her star-studded wedding in Italy this weekend. MEGA “Designing my dresses with Domenico and Stefano has been a dream come true in every way,” the blushing bride gushed to Vogue. Travis was also donning a black double breasted suit from the fashion label. Kourtney and her Blink-182 rocker beau tied the knot three times in recent weeks, first getting hitched in Las Vegas without a marriage license before making it official at a Santa Barbara courthouse. Their lavish nuptials in Portofino served as the grand finale. View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune The TV landscape tends to feel pretty dismal when “Saturday Night Live” is the only sketch comedy game in town. And often that’s the case. Over its four-plus decade run, it certainly has outlasted so many others — from “SCTV” to “In Living Color” to “MADtv” to “Key & Peele” and more — but that doesn’t make it the funniest or most creative. Just the longest standing. Which brings us to the return of “The Kids in the Hall” on Amazon, and it’s as if the clouds of gloom have parted to make way once again for their particularly sunny sense of the absurd. Even with “SNL” head honcho Lorne Michaels a… Read More View the full article

Published by NJ.com Let’s start this post off with a small bit of objective truth: There is no such thing as the widespread use of sexual education curriculum to groom young children. None. It doesn’t exist. It’s not happening, nor has it ever happened. It’s a right-wing fever dream used as a vehicle for the airing of grievances and imposing the will of the few on the many. It’s how the right has decided they can influence the conversation. Purposely misinterpret vague curriculum guidelines and use the ensuing manufactured rage to gain a seat at the table in the name of parental choice. It’s nonsense and it’s tim… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tan France gets parenting tips from Gigi Hadid. The 39-year-old star and his husband Rob France welcomed their son Ismail into the world via surrogate last July and he’s been turning to his ‘Next in Fashion’ co-host – who has 20-month-old daughter Khai with Zayn Malik – for baby-related advice. Tan told Us Weekly magazine: “Love! She’s one of my closest friends. I love her so much. “It makes the show really, really fun. It’s probably the best time I’ve ever had in a show. “She’s an amazing mom. I’ve gotten so many tips from her.” And the 27-year-old model sent Tan and Rob a “care package” to welcome Ismail into the world. He added: “She was a mom before I was a parent, like, seven months before [my son was born]. And so, she was the first person that sent me a care package of all the things that my baby might need. It was so sweet. “If you’re not a parent, you won’t know this, but [there’s a product] called a Baby Brezza, which is a machine that helps you make your formula really quickly. She included a sound machine, bibs, pacifiers, like, everything I could possibly need.” The ‘Queer Eye’ star previously spoke about his devastation at missing the birth of his son, who was born seven weeks early. He wrote on his Real Reality Bulletin page: “HOLY S***!! I’m writing this 2 days after the birth of our son, Ismail France (You can call him Ishmail). “This came out of nowhere, on the night of July 10th, 2021. I woke up to my alarm, at 7am, on July 11th (UK time), to a bunch of missed calls from Rob. Rob never calls at night, and texts if he needs me to call him. But, I was completely out of it and called him asking what was going on, not thinking it was probably baby related. Remember, I was super jetlagged, after traveling to the UK, from our babymoon. “He told me that about half an hour prior, our son was born. He came 7 weeks early. I couldn’t believe it. I cried so hard, at the thought of not being there for our son’s first moments. I cried because I knew Rob was alone and that he needed my emotional support. I cried because I was so jealous that he was there with Ismail, and I wasn’t. (sic)” The fashion designer also praised the pair’s surrogate. He wrote: “Our surrogate is such a warrior. She gave birth to him in a matter of minutes, and after a night’s stay, she said she was feeling totally fine and went back to normal life. She gave us the greatest gift, and the most immense joy, one could ever give another person. We are so grateful. She’s formidable. (sic)” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo and Naomi Ackie have joined the cast of Bong Joon-ho’s new film. The trio will join Robert Pattinson in the Oscar-winning director’s follow-up to the acclaimed ‘Parasite’. The untitled movie is based on the novel ‘Mickey7’ by Edward Ashton and Bong will write, direct and produce for his production company Offscreen. While the film will be inspired by the novel, insiders say that Bong’s past experience with adaptations could mean that his version may be slightly different from the novel’s. The story follows Mickey7 – a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonise the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there is a mission that is too dangerous – even suicidal – the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it. Meanwhile, Mark is also set to star in the movie ‘Poor Things’. The 54-year-old actor will feature alongside Emma Stone in the film from ‘The Favourite’ director Yorgos Lanthimos. The project is a reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic horror novel ‘Frankenstein’ and is based on a novel by Scottish author Alasdair Gray. According to Collider, the story has been described as both a “hilarious political allegory” and a “send-up of Victorian literature” as well as “a thought-provoking duel between the desires of men and the independence of women”. Emma will play the role of Bella Baxter, who is described as “a volatile, oversexed, emancipated woman and a female Frankenstein”. When she drowns herself to escape her abusive husband (played by Ruffalo), Bella’s brain is replaced by that of her unborn child. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Vladimir Putin reportedly “staged” a number of public appearances on Russian TV last week after he was unable to carry out his regular duties because of worsening health problems, Radar has learned. In a shocking development that comes amid mounting rumors and reports claiming the 69-year-old Russian leader is suffering from everything from blood, thyroid and abdominal cancer to Parkinson’s disease and dementia, the Kremlin is accused of utilizing old footage of Putin but airing it as if the footage is new. Mega Making the accusations even more startling is the fact that General SVR – the opposition source making the bombshell claims about Putin “staging” public appearances – also reported that the Russian president’s close ally and former FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev is in control of the Kremlin while Putin is incapacitated. “Let’s see how long this lasts, but the situation is getting tense,” General SVR said after claiming Putin has been absent from his duties since Tuesday. “The fact is that the elites are not ready to perceive Patrushev as a person who guarantees the current status quo,” the outlet continued while claiming to have obtained insider Kremlin information. “Everyone is well aware that if Vladimir Putin retires suddenly or gradually, then the situation will change radically.” General SVR’s report also suggested that two meetings said to have taken place on Wednesday and Thursday – the first with Rostech head Sergei Chemezov and the second with Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev – were actually filmed prior but aired “live” in an effort to make it appear Putin is still active and in charge. Nikolai PatrushevMega As RadarOnline.com reported, Putin’s deteriorating health has been a major subject of concern following a series of appearances in which the Russian leader looked bloated, shaky and seemingly not in control of his own movements. Last month, while being filmed meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, the ailing Russian leader was seen slouching in his chair, aggressively gripping a table and tapping his feet uncontrollably. Additionally, a top Russian oligarch referred to only as “Yuri” was recently caught on a secret recording claiming that Putin is “very ill with blood cancer,” a claim that has since been corroborated by General SVR’s newest report. “[Putin] is sick and has diseases that are incurable, such as oncology, which is at a stage that, today, cannot be cured, Parkinson’s disease and a schizoaffective disorder,” the outlet revealed. Mega “There is a general feeling, including among the attending physicians, that all this will not last very long,” they continued. “But, again, we have already said that many people think that now Putin will die and something will change radically.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. health officials are in the process of releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for use in monkeypox cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday, adding there are more than 1,000 doses in the national stockpile. CDC officials said they expect that level to ramp up very quickly in the coming weeks. (Reporting by Michael Erman and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chris Reese) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dame Angela Lansbury is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tony Awards. The 96-year-old actress – who has won five Tonys during her career – will be honoured at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 12. Charlotte St. Martin, the president of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, the president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said: “Angela Lansbury’s contributions to the stage are insurmountable. “From her groundbreaking role in ‘Mame’, to her iconic performances in ‘Deuce’ and ‘Sweeney Todd,’ and most recently, in the revival of ‘A Little Night Music,’ Ms. Lansbury has given us a lifetime of unforgettable performances, and it is a great honour to present her with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award.” The London-born actress has won a host of accolades during her career, including six Golden Globes and an Olivier Award. But Angela is perhaps best-known for playing Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote’, which is still the longest-running TV detective drama of all time. The Hollywood star previously admitted to being proud of the show’s success, explaining that her on-screen character was “a woman of [her] age and of [her] intellect”. Speaking about playing the TV detective, Angela shared: “It was a slice of my career that was totally unconnected to anything that I had done before. “Making Jessica Fletcher the character I ended up playing took me several years. She started off a little bit goofy, but I finally made her a woman of my age and of my intellect. I think that is what made her such an appealing character of the world – because she was somebody that people could understand and make part of their lives.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Voters in Georgia and Alabama will pick candidates for the U.S. Congress and other offices in Tuesday primaries testing former President Donald Trump’s power over his Republican Party ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections. Arkansas will also hold nomination contests while Texas will hold run-off elections for races that were unresolved in that state’s March 1 primaries. Here are seven races to watch: HERSCHEL WALKER’S U.S. SENATE BID In Georgia, Trump-backed Herschel Walker, a former professional football player with scant political experience, is expected to come in first in the contest against five other Republican hopefuls. But if he falls short of 50%, he will face the second-place Republican in a June 21 run-off. The eventual winner will likely face Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock. The November contest is widely seen as a toss-up. DAVID PERDUE VS BRIAN KEMP Trump-backed former U.S. Senator David Perdue has heavily trailed incumbent Republican Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp in polls. Perdue might not even force a run-off with Kemp, who sparked Trump’s ire by declining help the former president’s effort to overthrow Trump’s loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election. The winner will take on Stacey Abrams, the lone Democrat seeking her party’s nomination, in what is expected to be a close contest. MORE REVENGE: HICE VS RAFFENSPERGER Like the race against Kemp, Trump also backed a challenger to Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on grounds that he did too little to bolster his false allegations that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him. Trump-endorsed U.S. Representative Jody Hice, who has been close to Raffensperger in recent polls, could be Trump’s best chance at unseating an incumbent in Georgia. DEMOCRATIC DUEL: BOURDEAUX VS MCBATH Georgia’s newly-drawn 7th congressional district pits two Democratic U.S. Representatives – Carolyn Bourdeaux and Lucy McBath – against one another. Bourdeaux was the only Democrat to flip a Republican House seat in the November 2020 elections, while McBath was a gun control advocate before winning a congressional seat in 2018. The 7th congressional district is heavily Democratic. MO BROOKS HOLDS ON U.S. Representative Mo Brooks, a Republican firebrand from Alabama, has shown a recent recovery in the polls ahead of his attempt to return to the U.S. Senate. He was an early supporter of Trump, but the former president in March withdrew his endorsement of Brooks’ then-struggling campaign after Brooks told Alabama voters it was time to move on from Trump’s false claims of a stolen election. Katie Britt, a former chief of staff to retiring U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, is still the favorite, but Brooks has made it a race. MODERATE DEMOCRAT VS PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGER U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas, a moderate Democrat, will against face progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros in party nomination contest after neither garnered 50% in their March 1st primary election. The winner will compete in one of Texas’ few competitive House races in November. Cuellar is the House of Representatives’ sole Democrat who opposes abortion rights, which Cisneros has attacked along with his opposition to legislation making it easier for workers to get union representation. WILL PAXTON SURVIVE? Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has already won one re-election campaign since his indictment in 2015 on state securities fraud charges. This time around, he will face state Land Commissioner George P. Bush in a runoff after neither won 50% in a March 1st primary contest. Bush is the grandson of former President George H. W. Bush. (Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by AFP Shelves normally meant for baby formula sit nearly empty at a store in downtown Washington, DC, on May 22, 2022 Washington (AFP) – A US military plane bringing several tons of much-needed baby formula from Germany landed Sunday at an airport in Indiana as authorities scramble to address a critical shortage. Scarcity of medical-grade baby formula caused by production problems and supply-chain issues has created grave problems for thousands of parents whose infants rely on it, sending them in frantic searches for the product. The cargo plane took off from the US air base at Ramstein, Germany, carrying more than 70,000 pounds of powdered formula, the White House said. President Joe Biden posted about the flight on Twitter from Japan, where he is on a five-day Asia trip. “Our team is working around the clock to get safe formula to everyone who needs it,” he said. Biden tweeted an update later Sunday, saying more formula was on its way to the United States via a second shipment. “We have secured a second flight to transport Nestle specialty infant formula to Pennsylvania,” the president posted. “The flight and trucking will take place in the coming days, and I will continue to keep you updated,” he said. The first shipment will cover about 15 percent of the immediate need, presidential economics advisor Brian Deese said on CNN. He added there are “more flights in train that will be coming in early this week” as part of what the administration has dubbed “Operation Fly Formula.” The formula was flown to Indiana because it is a hub for Nestle, a major domestic producer. It will be quality-tested at a nearby lab before being distributed. The formula shortage has been developing for months, aggravated not only by supply-chain issues linked to the Covid-19 pandemic but by the closing of the largest US formula-making plant, a Michigan factory owned by Abbott Laboratories, amid concerns that contamination may have led to the deaths of two infants. “We had a manufacturer that wasn’t following the rules, and that was making formula that had the risk of making babies sick,” Deese said. “So we have to take action.” Another problem, he said, was that US formula production had become concentrated among just three companies. “We’re going to have to work” on ways to increase competition, he said. Abbott’s CEO, Robert Ford, apologized to consumers in a Washington Post op-ed Sunday, saying: “We’re sorry to every family we’ve let down since our voluntary recall exacerbated our nation’s baby formula shortage.” Deese was asked separately about growing concerns that the US economy — hit by high inflation, supply chain troubles and the war in Ukraine — may be headed toward a recession. “Well, there are always risks,” he said. “But there’s also no doubt that the United States is in a better position than any other major country around the world to address inflation without giving up all the economic gains that we have had.” The US inflation rate hit a 40-year high of 8.5 percent in March, but slowed slightly in April to 8.3 percent. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Courtney Love has apologised for “weaponising snark” and unintentionally “bullying” Amber Heard. The Hole frontwoman appeared in an Instagram Story post over the weekend showing her support for Johnny Depp amid his court battle with his ex-wife – who he is suing for defamation over an op-ed she wrote in 20118 about being a victim of domestic abuse, while she is countersuing him – but she insisted her comments were never meant to be made public and she is uncomfortable with the fact she may have accidentally encouraged people to target the ‘Aquaman’ star as a result. She wrote on her own Instagram account: “My side of the street, needs to stay clean; “I engaged in expressing thoughts online. The platform accidentally posted a story I didn’t want public (I’m sure it was not deliberate) in it I am weaponising snark (what else do we do with snark?)… “While I recover [from addiction], I borrow the values, moral compasses of those I look up to ( dogs, especially ) who do the right thing. “I certainly don’t always do the right thing. “My goal – emulate the human revolution of my mentor @daisakuikeda🪷 “I want to show neutral support for a friend. I dont want to bully. “I’ve been bullied enough. I did not want to express my own bias / internalized mysoginy. (Do give me a break on that one. Look at my JOB! I’m working on it) I want nothing to do with contributing more online bullying to someone enduring being bullied like noone ever has been online. Ever. “In my program of recovery, ‘when we were wrong, we promptly admitted it’ “I was wrong.(sic)” Courtney urged people to “show sincere empathy” towards both Johnny and Amber and not to take pleasure in the case. She added: “The only important takeaway, of what was posted, is that I expressed that we should all stop having ‘fun with schadenfraude’ (look it up: ‘Delight in another’s down fall’) show sincere empathy for both parties. “If I hurt anyone, please accept my amends.(sic)” In the original post, the 57-year-old singer recalled how the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star once saved her life after an overdose and praised the support he’d offered to her daughter Frances in the wake of Kurt Cobain’s suicide. She said: “I don’t really wanna make judgments publicly. I just want to tell you that Johnny gave me CPR in 1995 when I overdosed outside The Viper Room. “Johnny, when I was on crack and Frances was having to suffer through that with all these social workers, wrote her a four-page letter that she’s never showed me. “Then he sent limos to her school where all the social workers were crawling around, again, unasked, for her and all her friends to go to ‘Pirates [of the Caribbean]’. “He did it a bunch of times. He gave her her own seat [at the premieres] with her name on it. “I’ve never seen one of those ‘Pirates’ movies, but [Frances] loved them. You know, she said to me when she was 13, ‘Mama, he saved my life.’ And she said it again.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Cybill Shepherd “will always love” Bruce Willis. ‘Die Hard’ legend Bruce, 67, has stepped away from the big screen after finding it increasingly difficult to manage his lines on set after being diagnosed with aphasia, which affects language and speech and can also impact reading and writing, and his former ‘Moonlighting’ co-star has sent her support. She told US TV show ‘Extra’: “I will always love Bruce.” Speaking at the Race to Erase MS benefit gala in Los Angeles, Cybill fondly recalled working with the Hollywood veteran on their 1980s TV show and admitted she was always “very attracted” to him. She added: “I just have to say one thing about Bruce. No one else was ever considered for the part when he walked in the room. “My temperature went up 10 degrees. That meant two things to me: one, I was very attracted to him, two, I would never act on it, ’cause we were both very attracted to each other.” During her interview with Extra, Cybill also explained she was keen to attend the gala to help raise awareness of multiple sclerosis (MS) as her daughter Clementine has been diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition. She said: “I remember the day when I went with my daughter Clementine up to University of California San Francisco, to one of the experts on multiple sclerosis, and it was a positive. She’s done great though. I couldn’t ask for more. My darling Clementine.” Bruce announced his decision to walk away from Hollywood in a statement released by his family earlier this year, which read: “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities … “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him … “ View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The World Health Organization does not have evidence that the monkeypox virus has mutated, a senior executive at the U.N. agency said on Monday, noting the infectious disease that is endemic in west and central Africa has tended not to change. Rosamund Lewis, head of the smallpox secretariat which is part of the WHO Emergencies Programme, told a briefing that mutations are typically lower with this virus, although genome sequencing of cases will help inform understanding of the current outbreak. The more than 100 suspected and confirmed cases in the recent outbreak in Europe and North America have not been severe, the WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonoses lead and technical lead on COVID-19, Maria van Kerkhove, said. “This is a containable situation,” she said. The outbreaks are atypical, according to the WHO, as they are occurring in countries where the virus does not regularly circulate. Scientists are seeking to understand the origin of the cases and whether anything about the virus has changed. (Reporting by Josephine Mason in London; editing by John Stonestreet and Ed Osmond) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Mike Pence recently expressed interest in running for president in 2024, leading former-President Donald Trump to trash his former-vice president and claim that Pence is just “desperate to chase his lost relevance.” When asked by The New York Times on Monday about potentially battling his old boss in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Pence did not rule the possibility out. Mega “We’ll go where we’re called,” the former-VP told the outlet. “That’s the way Karen and I have always approached these things.” Although Pence has expressed satisfaction with “the record” he and Trump had in office together, the 62-year-old politician has also started catering to the Republican voters who might not plan on voting for Trump should he decide to run again in 2024. Mega “I have been very moved traveling around the country how much people have made a point to express appreciation, it has been very humbling to me,” Pence recently said, referencing the appreciation he has received from the voters unhappy with Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election after it was called in Joe Biden’s favor. Additionally, the divide between Trump and Pence since they left office has only grown more substantial, because even Trump himself has started to harden his stance against his former-VP now that they may go head-to-head in the Republican primaries. “Mike Pence was set to lose a governor’s race in 2016 before he was plucked up and his political career was salvaged,” former-President Trump’s spokesman, Taylor Budowich, recently said. “Now, desperate to chase his lost relevance, Pence is parachuting into races, hoping someone is paying attention,” Budowich added. “The reality is, President Trump is already 82-3 with his endorsements, and there’s nothing stopping him from saving America in 2022 and beyond.” Mega Surprisingly, Budowich slamming Pence on behalf of Trump is very different from the respect Trump expressed towards Pence just this month when he even went so far as to call his former-VP a “nice man.” “I haven’t spoken to him in a long time, and he’s a nice man,” Trump admitted on May 4 after being asked about his working relationship – or lack thereof – with Pence. “He disappointed me on one thing because I think he should have sent the votes back to the legislatures.” View the full article

Published by AFP Starbucks, which had previously suspended activities in Russia, said Monday it would totally exit the market New York (AFP) – Starbucks said Monday it will cease operations in Russia, shuttering its 130 cafes in the country in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. The move comes a week after another iconic US brand, McDonald’s, also departed Russia, part of a wave of Western companies cutting the country off following the assault. “Starbucks has made the decision to exit and no longer have a brand presence in the market,” the company said. “We will continue to support the nearly 2,000 green apron partners in Russia, including pay for six months and assistance for partners to transition to new opportunities outside of Starbucks.” The coffee chain suspended its operations in early March after Russia sent troops across the border into Ukraine in late February. Former chief executive Kevin Johnson at the time condemned Russia’s “unprovoked, unjust and horrific attacks on Ukraine.” Starbucks had a relatively modest operation in Russia compared with McDonald’s, which owned 850 restaurants in the country employing 62,000 workers. McDonald’s, which had operated in Russia since 1990, said its exit would result in one-time costs of $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion. The fast-food chain on Thursday said it reached a deal to sell the business to Russian investor Alexander Govor, a McDonald’s licensee. French automaker Renault also left the country last week, handing over its assets in the country to the Russian government. Pariah Retail analyst Neil Saunders of GlobalData said the actions show “that Russia will become more of a commercial pariah as companies turn their backs on a country that represents things they do not wish to be associated with.” But he predicted some other brands would probably stay put. “Some will follow, but other consumer packaged goods and retail firms will likely hold out as, unlike Starbucks and McDonald’s, they have extensive exposure to, and interests in, Russia,” he said. “This includes luxury brands which, before the invasion of Ukraine, made good money from the lucrative market for high-end goods.” Starbucks opened in Russia in 2007, with operations managed by a Kuwait-based licensing company. In December 2010, executives highlighted the country as a key emerging market for the brand, along with China, Brazil and India. Starbucks did not disclose the financial impact of leaving the country, but Saunders said the chain’s limited operation in Russia means the hit to the bottom line likely will be modest. Shares of Starbucks rose 0.8 percent to $73.96 near midday Monday. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia’s invasion. Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old tank commander, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on Feb. 28, four days after the invasion. Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, carrying out a “criminal order” by a soldier of higher rank, had fired several shots at the victim’s head from an automatic weapon. “Given that the crime committed is a crime against peace, security, humanity and the international legal order … the court does not see the possibility of imposing a (shorter) sentence,” he said. Shishimarin, wearing a blue and grey hooded sweatshirt, watched proceedings silently from a reinforced glass box in the courtroom and showed no emotion as the verdict was read out. He stood with head bowed, listening to a translator. Shishmarin’s lawyer, Viktor Ovsyannikov, said he was not surprised by the sentence because there had been “certain pressure from society” and said he would launch a legal appeal. The trial, which began only last week, has huge symbolic significance for Ukraine and an international lawyer told Reuters it could be the first of many. Kyiv has accused Russia of atrocities and brutality against civilians during the invasion and said it has identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes. Russia has denied targeting civilians or involvement in war crimes while it carries out what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine. The Kremlin did not immediately comment on the verdict. It has previously said that it has no information about the trial and that the absence of a diplomatic mission in Ukraine limits its ability to provide assistance. BAR SET ‘VERY HIGH’ Ukrainian state prosecutors said Shishimarin and four other Russian servicemen stole a car to escape after their column was targeted by Ukrainian forces. After driving into Chupakhivka, the soldiers saw Shelipov riding a bicycle and talking on his phone. Shishimarin was ordered to kill Shelipov to prevent him reporting on their location, the prosecutors said. In court last week, Shishimarin acknowledged he was to blame and asked the victim’s widow to forgive him. The court reached its verdict five days after holding its first full hearing. Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association, said the verdict was “not surprising” and could be the first part of “a large puzzle also involving Ukrainian soldiers being held in Russia.” “If this is the baseline trial … it sets the bar very high,” he said. “For most other war crimes cases in Ukraine I suspect we’ll see similar sentences because this is the baseline trial.” (Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague, Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Frank Jack Daniel) View the full article

Published by Reuters (In story dated May 22, corrects 2nd paragraph to say “information” instead of “secrets.” In 6th paragraph, updates to say statement was joint and adds name of official. Refers throughout to ‘Convention’ rather than ‘church’) By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) -For decades, complaints of sex abuse by pastors and staff in the largest U.S. Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, were either ignored or covered up by top clergy, according to an internal report released on Sunday. The nearly 300-page report details how complaints were kept as “closely guarded information” within the Convention to avoid liability, “to exclusion of all other considerations,” it said. “In service to this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved,” the report said, with leaders covering up accusations and allowing accused clergy members to remain pastors or in other positions of authority. Lawsuits against the Convention were denigrated as “opportunistic” and not having merit, it said. The year-long investigation was initiated by the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2021, when a stream of complaints were raised at its annual meeting. The complaints focused on sexual abuse by pastors and volunteers and the lack of response by the religious body’s executive committee. “We are grieved by the findings of this investigation,” Rolland Slade, chairman of the Convention’s executive committee, said in a joint statement with Willie McLaurin, an interim leader of the executive committee. “We are committed to doing all we can to prevent future instances of sexual abuse in churches, to improve our response and our care, (and) to remove reporting roadblocks,” the statement read. The Southern Baptist Convention claims more than 13 million members in the United States and more than 40 million worldwide. The scandal echoes the one faced by the Roman Catholic Church, which has been rocked by allegations of sexual abuse, when the Boston Globe newspaper revealed in 2002 that church hierarchy covered up sexual misconduct by its clergy for decades. The U.S. Catholic Church has paid out an estimated $3.2 billion to settle clergy abuse cases, according to BishopAccountability.org, which tracks the issue. In 2019, the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News reported that more than 700 victims had been abused by pastors, leaders and volunteers in Southern Baptist congregations. The Southern Baptist investigation was carried out by Guidepost Solutions LLC. (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Paul Simao and Tom Hogue) View the full article

Published by Reuters UK JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia summoned Britain’s ambassador on Monday to explain the raising of a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) flag at its embassy, and urged foreign missions to respect local “sensitivities” following a backlash among conservatives. Barring the sharia-ruled province of Aceh, homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, although it is generally considered taboo. The rainbow LGBT flag was flown alongside the British flag at the country’s embassy in Jakarta on May 17 to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biph… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dave Chappelle’s alleged attacker was “triggered” by his jokes. The 48-year-old comedian appeared to be attacked by Isaiah Lee, who attempted to tackle him to the ground as he performed as part of the ‘Netflix Is A Joke’ festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles back in early May and now Lee has explained that he was unhappy with his jokes about gays, bisexuals and homelessness. He said: “I identify as bisexual … and I wanted him to know what he said was triggering, I wanted him to know that next time, he should consider first running his material by people it could affect,” Speaking from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, the 23-year-old went on to explain that he is also a single father to a five-year old son so felt offended when the former ‘Buddies’ star joked about people who live on the streets. He told The New York Post: “I’m also a single dad and my son is five. It’s a struggle and I wanted Dave Chappelle to know [homelessness] not a joke.” Lee is now facing four misdemeanor charges as a result of altercation – which was caught on video – also told the outlet that security at the event had given him two black eyes when restraining him and broke his arm. He added: “They spat on me and twisted me as if on purpose.” Lee’s comments come just days after it was revealed that he had been charged with attempted murder for an unrelated incident. Prosecutors alleged that Lee stabbed his roommate during a fight at a transitional housing apartment back in December 2021 and the victim reported the incident to police, identifying Lee as the perpetrator shortly after the incident with Dave. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement obtained by Entertainment Tonight: “As a result of the publicity generated by Mr. Chappelle assisted police in solving this crime, the stabbing victim recognized Lee from the coverage of Chappelle’s attack, according to the District Attorney’s statement, and the police used that information to track him down.” View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] Published by BANG Showbiz English Hayley Kiyoko and Becca Tilley appear to have confirmed that they are in a relationship. The 31-year-old pop star and ‘Bachelor Nation’ alum Becca, 33, shared a Reel of themselves on Instagram which showed intercut clips of their time together, with a series of interpolating romantic shots. Alongside the post, Becca wrote: “hard to say if this is a hard or soft launch, but it is a launch” (sic) Several famous faces were quick to congratulate the couple as they appeared to announce their relationship, with Becca’s former co star Colton Underwood writing: “We love a good launch. SO HAPPY FOR YOU” (sic), while her ex-boyfriend Robert Graham added: “YESS! I love this so much”(sic) The post came just hours after Hayley marked the release of her latest song ‘For the Girls’ by dropping the accompanying music video, which saw the ‘What I Need’ hitmaker searching for soulmate before Becca closes out the video by arriving in a limousine as a surprise. Upon sharing the video, Hayley said in a statement: “I love being a woman, and women have always been a massive influence on my life. ‘For The Girls’ is an anthem celebrating that love, highlighting our strength, beauty and vulnerability. The music video is meant to reflect that celebration with a sense of humor and an expansive take on whose romantic story gets told. It was so much fun to direct, especially since it’s a nod to one of my favorite reality shows of all time. No matter how you identify or who you love, I hope this summer bop makes you feel sexy and empowered.” Prior to the release of the music video, the pair attended the Elle Hollywood Rising event together on Wednesday (18.02.22) Hayley Kiyoko For the Girls Becca Tilley View the full article

Activists calling for Thailand Marriage Equality protectionsOn May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia(IDAHOT), activists held a rally for LGBTQ+ rights and called for marriage equality by rewriting the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Thai marriage law. On November 17, 2021, the Thai Constitutional Court ruled that Article 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code, which states that marriage can only be contracted between a man and a woman, does not violate Section 27 of the Constitution, which states that all persons are equal, and equally protected, under the law. The ruling sparked public outrage, as the full text was found to be archaic, sexist, and homophobic, such as when it defines marriage as “when a man and a woman are willing to live together, to build a husband and wife relationship to reproduce their offspring, under the morals, traditions, religion and the laws of each society,” and that it is, therefore, reserved only for a man and a woman. The ruling also mentions that LGBTQ+ people cannot reproduce and that such marriage is against the natural order, and that LGBTQ+ people cannot form the same “delicate bond” as that of heterosexual families. It also stated that legalizing LGBTQ+ marriage would place a greater “burden” on the government to provide welfare and benefit to those couples. Another part of the ruling also compared LGBTQ+ people to animals with strange behaviour. On March 8, International Women’s Day, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) and the activist group Feminist’s Liberation Front Thailand launched the “People’s Judgement” project with a panel discussion on marriage equality, during which panelists said the Constitutional Court’s ruling showed a lack of understanding and connection with the people, and damages gender justice in the country. Tyrell Haberkorn, Professor of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said during the discussion that the project aimed to provide an opportunity for the public to criticize the Constitutional Court’s ruling in order to imagine a more equal future by rewriting the ruling. Haberkorn said that the project took inspiration from activists and feminist lawyers in other countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK, which use this method to push for changes in the legal system. Meanwhile, TLHR lawyer Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, another panelist, said that Thai law had never defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but there is a stipulation under Article 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code, which is being challenged on whether it is discriminatory, and she is not sure where the Constitutional Court got its definition of marriage. She also said that, according to the Constitutional Court, Thai tradition is different from that of other countries and that a law would be sustainable only if it doesn’t go against the views of the people, and questioned how the judges could say what the public’s opinion was on any matter. Meanwhile, gender equality activist Chumaporn Tangkliang said during the panel discussion that the public had the right to write a ruling because everyone is human and equal, and that, while judges have law degrees and a job, people in the LGBTQ+ community must live with not being allowed to register their marriage, so they have the right to write their own ruling. Doing so would return to them their power and human dignity. Activists gathered on the Pathumwan Skywalk for a rally during the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. Photo from iLaw Activism for Thailand Marriage Equality in Marriage LawsOn May 17, activists gathered on the Pathumwan Skywalk for an IDAHOT rally, during which they presented a rewritten version of the Constitutional Court ruling on marriage law, which was written by activists and members of the public who signed up to participate in the People’s Judgement project. It states that Article 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code violates Sections 4, 25, 26, and 27 of the Constitution, noting that even though Section 27 states that men and women have equal rights, it does not mean that anyone with a different gender identity or sexual orientation does not have equal rights. The rewritten ruling said that not discriminating on the basis of gender includes everyone regardless of their identity or orientation, and a law limited to sex as assigned at birth would lead to discrimination against a group of people in the society on the basis of gender, which would disrespect their human dignity. Currently, two bills on marriage for LGBTQ+ couples are already waiting to go before parliament. One is the Civil Partnership bill proposed by the Ministry of Justice and approved by the Cabinet in June 2020. It has previously been criticized by NGOs and activists for not giving LGBTQ+ couples the same rights as heterosexual couples and for being unclear about whether certain rights are granted. Activists also questioned the need for separate legislation legalising LGBTQ+ marriages, and raised concerns that this would deepen the stigma against the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand. Another bill proposes amendments to the sections on marriage and family in the Civil and Commercial Code, or the Marriage Equality bill, initiated by MPs from the Move Forward Party, which will change the terminology used in the law to “spouse” instead of “husband” and “wife,” and “person” instead of “man” and “woman.” The bill went before parliament in February 2022 and was forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration. On March 29, the Government House website reported that Cabinet voted to reject it. Nevertheless, the Marriage Equality bill can still go before parliament. According to the 2019 Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives, a bill proposed by an MP or by civil society can be forwarded to the Cabinet for a 60-day consideration period and must be returned to parliament after the time has lapsed. The House Speaker may also put it on the parliament agenda even though it has not been returned. Meanwhile, signatures are being collected for another Marriage Equality Bill to be proposed to parliament. On November 28, 2021, during a protest at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok, the Rainbow Coalition for Marriage Equality, a network of over 40 civil society organizations and activist groups, launched a petition proposing amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code. The petition proposes to amend Article 1448 to allow marriage registration between two people of any gender. It also proposes to replace the terms “man” and “woman” in every article of the Civil and Commercial Code relating to marriage with “person,” as well as to replace “husband” and “wife” with “spouse” and “father” and “mother” with “parents.” The amendments, if passed, will grant LGBTQ+ couples the same rights, duties, and legal recognition as heterosexual couples, including the right to adopt a child and be recognized as the child’s parents; the right to have the power of attorney to make medical decisions of behalf of one’s partner and to press charges on behalf of one’s partner; the right to use one’s partner’s last name, and the right to inherit property from each other without the need for a will. Within 24 hours of its launch, the petition gained over 150,000 signatures, 10 times the number legally required for a bill to be put before parliament. As of May 20, it has gained over 304,000 signatures. Activists On Thailand Marriage Equality This article was originally published by Prachatai, an independent news site in Thailand, and an edited version is republished by Global Voices under a content-sharing agreement. View the full article