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Published by BANG Showbiz English Olivia Rodrigo and Kanye West won big at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. The annual ceremony returned to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday night (15.05.22), and this year half of the winners were unveiled on TikTok and the other half during a live broadcast on Peacock and NBC in the US. Teenage pop superstar Olivia, 19, and rap legend Kanye, 44, took home the most prizes. Olivia won seven accolades for Top New Artist, Top 100 Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Billboard Global 200 Artist and Top R B Female Artist, while ‘SOUR’ was crowned Top Billboard 200 Album. As for Kanye, the ‘Jesus Walks’ rapper dominated the gospel and Christian categories, with ‘Donda’ taking home both Top Christian and Top Gospel Album. He also named Top Christian and Gospel Artist, while ‘Hurricane’ from ‘Donda’ was named Top Christian and Gospel Song, giving him a total of six prizes. Doja Cat walked away with three prizes for Top R B Artist, Top Viral Song for ‘Kiss Me More’ with SZA and Top R B Female Artist. The Weeknd was the most-nominated going into the ceremony, with 17 nods, but the ‘Blinding Lights’ hitmaker only walked away with a single prize for Top R B Male Artist. The star-studded bash was hosted by Diddy and featured performances from Megan Thee Stallion, Silk Sonic, Burna Boy, Florence + The Machine, Ed Sheeran and Machine Gun Kelly. Before the ceremony started, organisers caused controversy by allowing country star Morgan Wallen to make an appearance despite him being banned last year for use of a racial slur. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter performed right after civil rights activist Tamika Mallory gave a speech about social justice and anti-racism, which raised a few eyebrows. Travis Scott also performed, six months after the Astroworld tragedy, which saw 10 people lose their lives in a crowd surge at the rapper’s festival. Before the event, host Diddy addressed the booking of Morgan and Travis. He said: “To have Morgan and Travis be able to come back and touch the stage again with the mindset of getting a second chance at life. “Everybody in the room is getting a second chance at life, you know, because we’re back outside with no masks on. We need love and I’m excited about celebrating that.” An abridged list of the 2022 Billboard Music Awards winners: Top Artist Drake Top New Artist Olivia Rodrigo Top Male Artist Drake Top Female Artist Olivia Rodrigo Top Duo/Group BTS Top Billboard 200 Artist Taylor Swift Top Hot 100 Artist Olivia Rodrigo Top Streaming Songs Artist Olivia Rodrigo Top Song Sales Artist BTS Top Radio Songs Artist Olivia Rodrigo Top Billboard Global 200 Artist Olivia Rodrigo Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist Ed Sheeran Top Tour The Rolling Stones (‘No Filter Tour’) Top R B Artist Doja Cat Top R B Male Artist The Weeknd Top R B Female Artist Doja Cat Top Rap Artist Drake Top Rap Male Artist Drake Top Rap Female Artist Megan Thee Stallion Top Country Artist Taylor Swift Top Country Male Artist Morgan Wallen Top Country Female Artist Taylor Swift Top Country Duo/Group Dan + Shay Top Rock Artist Glass Animals Top Rock Tour The Rolling Stones (‘No Filter Tour’) Top Latin Artist Bad Bunny Top Latin Male Artist Bad Bunny Top Latin Female Artist Kali Uchis Top Dance/Electronic Artist Lady Gaga Top Christian Artist Ye Top Gospel Artist Ye Top Billboard 200 Album Olivia Rodrigo, ‘SOUR’ Top Rap Album Drake, ‘Certified Lover Boy’ Top Country Album Taylor Swift, ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ Top Rock Album twenty one pilots, ‘Scaled and Icy’ Top Latin Album Karol G, ‘KG0516’ Top Dance/Electronic Album Illenium, ‘Fallen Embers’ Top Christian Album Ye, ‘Donda’ Top Gospel Album Ye, ‘Donda’ Top Hot 100 Song The Kid LAROI Justin Bieber, ‘Stay’ Top Streaming Song The Kid LAROI Justin Bieber, ‘Stay’ Top Selling Song BTS, ‘Butter’ Top Radio Song Dua Lipa, ‘Levitating’ Top Collaboration The Kid LAROI Justin Bieber, ‘Stay’ Top Billboard Global 200 Song The Kid LAROI Justin Bieber, ‘Stay’ Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song The Kid LAROI Justin Bieber, ‘Stay’ Top Viral Song Doja Cat ft. SZA, ‘Kiss Me More’ Top R B Song Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), ‘Leave The Door Open’ Top Rap Song Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow, ‘Industry Baby’ Top Rock Song Måneskin, ‘Beggin” Top Latin Song Kali Uchis, ‘telepatía’ Top Dance/Electronic Song Sir Elton John Dua Lipa, ‘Cold Heart – PNAU Remix’ Top Christian Song Ye, ‘Hurricane’ – winner Top Gospel Song Ye, ‘Hurricane’ View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Emeli Sandé hopes to start a family with her new girlfriend. The ‘Next To Me’ hitmaker – who was married to university lecturer Adam Gouraguine from 2012 to 2014 – announced last month that she is now dating female classical pianist Yoana Karemova, and she has admitted she would love to have a child with her partner in the future. Speaking to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column, she said: “I’d love to have a child one day. “It’s that balance – you want to get better at what you do, you want to keep pushing at your career, but at the same time you are a woman. “If it happens then fantastic. But if I’m supposed to dedicate myself to my music, then so be it. “Hopefully one day we can start a family.” Last week, Emily admitted she finally felt like she could “breathe” after letting everyone know her sexuality and having such a positive reaction from her supportive fanbase. She said: “Yeah, it’s been amazing. You know, I wasn’t sure especially coming out and talking about my new relationship. I wasn’t sure how people would see that. But it definitely got to a point in my life where I felt I have to be me. You know, I really have to be because it’s killing me not to be my real self. So now the reaction was so lovely. “My fans have just been so supportive and I just feel finally I can be myself and breathe.” The 35-year-old singer feels like she is “floating on a cloud” she’s so smitten with her girlfriend. She gushed: “I think I have such a physical reaction falling in love. You just feel like you’re floating on a cloud. Everything’s good. I remember just you know, a few months after just knowing her, life is really nice. Like everything seems good. I feel optimistic. And I think since I met Yoana, I think your body tells you and life becomes just like a dream.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Apple is planning it put a USB-C in the iPhone 15, says an Apple analyst. The tech giant is thought to be swapping out their Lightning -which was first added in 2012 to the iPhone 5 – port out for a USB-C one, which some expecting the next model to be portless and rely on wireless charging. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst who looks at Apple wrote on Twitter: “My latest survey indicates that 2H23 new iPhone will abandon Lightning port and switch to USB-C port. USB-C could improve iPhone’s transfer and charging speed in hardware designs, but the final spec details still depend on iOS support.” In a follow-up tweet, the often right analyst added: “It’s expected to see existing USB-C-related suppliers of Apple’s ecosystem (e.g., IC controller, connector) become the market’s focus in the next 1-2 years, thanks to vast orders from iPhones and accessories’ adoption of USB-C ports. According to Mark Gurman, a fellow analyst writing for Bloomberg, the innovative company is indeed working on adding a USB-C to their new model – which is expected out in 2023 – after they already added to their other product line-up such as the iPad and their Macbook models. Last week, Apple discontinued their last iPod product, the iPod Touch after the original – and revolutionary – product made its debut in 2001, more than 21 years ago and 400 million sold worldwide. On their website, they said: “Since its introduction over 20 years ago, iPod has captivated users all over the world who love the ability to take their music with them on the go. Today, the experience of taking one’s music library out into the world has been integrated across Apple’s product line — from iPhone and Apple Watch to iPad and Mac — along with access to more than 90 million songs and over 30,000 playlists available via Apple Music.. “Among the incredible ways to enjoy music across a range of devices, including a wide variety of models from the new iPhone SE to the latest iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone is the best device for streaming Apple Music or storing an entire music library on the go.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -A gunman opened fire in a Southern California church during a lunch banquet on Sunday, killing one person and wounding five, before churchgoers detained the suspect and hog-tied his legs with an electrical cord, authorities said. Police responded to the incident that unfolded at about 1:30 p.m. local time (2039 GMT) at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods and arrested an unidentified suspect in his 60s, Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock told a news conference. “That group of churchgoers displayed … exceptional heroism and bravery in intervening to stop the suspect. They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities,” he said. One person died at the scene while four other victims were critically wounded. Another person suffered minor injuries, he said. All of the injured were taken to hospitals. About 30 to 40 people were in the church when the shooting occurred, Hallock said. “At this time, we do not know what the suspect’s motive may be or whether he had an intended target, or whether this is even a hate-related incident,” Hallock said, adding that authorities believe the suspect does not live in the area. Two handguns were found at the scene. “No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event,” Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said on Twitter. It was at least the second mass shooting of the weekend in the United States, which has been plagued with gun violence in recent years. In Buffalo, New York, on Saturday, a white 18-year-old man opened fire at a supermarket in a mostly Black neighborhood, killing 10 and wounding three in what authorities described as a purely racist attack. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, Kanishka Singh in Washington and Brendan O’Brien in Chicago; writing by Kanishka Singh; editing by Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English JK Rowling has mocked transgender activists who dressed up as ninjas and tried to stop a group of women’s rights activists. The ‘Harry Potter’ author took to social media to lament the Manchester Trans Rise Up protestors, who came dressed in balaclavas and tried to stop the women from speaking out in front of a statue of the founder of the Suffragette movement, Emmeline Pankhurst, at Manchester’s St Peter’s Square. She tweeted: “There is no conflict between women’s rights and our ideology. “To prove it, we’ve dressed up as ninjas to block public access to a statue of a suffragette. “We’re confident this has done wonders for our cause and definitely isn’t an unintentionally hilarious own goal.” In an other post, Rowling added: “I never expected the right side of history to include so many people in masks intimidating and assaulting women, did you? “But she never have dropped her flag. Emmelline would be proud.” Rowling has been in an opposing ideological battle with the transsexual community since she made her stance on biological sex clear in a social media post made a few years back. Commenting on a headline which read: “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.” The writer wrote: “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” Although Rowling has made her opinion on the importance of biological sex clear, the philanthropist insists she supports the trans community, but she has to defend the rights of women as a feminist. She previously posted: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth. (sic)” Rowling also revealed she’s researched the issue over the “last three years” and rubbished suggestions she doesn’t have any knowledge of the subject. She said: “I’ve spent much of the last three years reading books, blogs and scientific papers by trans people, medics and gender specialists. I know exactly what the distinction is. Never assume that because someone thinks differently, they have no knowledge. (sic)” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nathan Layne and Kia Johnson CUMMING, Ga. (Reuters) – When a Forsyth County, Georgia, man last week challenged the eligibility of 13,000 voters, a power that a new state law gives individual citizens, it set Democrats and voting-rights activists scrambling, calling in a high-powered law firm to protest. County election officials rejected his request, but party organizers expect to be doing more of this kind of quick mobilization as the Nov. 8 midterm elections approach, fearing Republicans will tap provisions in the state’s 2021 election law to try to suppress the vote. “Because of Georgia’s new trash election laws, one man was allowed to challenge the right to vote for 13,000 voters,” Nsé Ufot, chief executive of the New Georgia Project, a voting-rights group based in Atlanta, said in an interview. “That is what is at stake in these November elections: The material rights that we enjoy as Americans.” Forsyth County officials voted unanimously at a Thursday meeting in Cumming, a city about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Atlanta, to dismiss resident Frank Schneider’s challenge ahead of the May 24 primary. Equal to 8% of the county’s registered voters, it was one of the largest challenges yet under the 2021 state Senate Bill 202, which critics say was designed to make it more difficult for people of color to vote and supporters say is intended to prevent fraud. Georgia’s law was one of nearly three dozen in 2021 that curbed ballot access across 19 states, most of them controlled by Republicans. That push carried into this year, with legislators in at least 27 states having introduced, pre-filed, or carried over 250 bills with restrictive provisions, according to the Brennan Center for Justice’s latest tally. Many of the backers of these measures cited former President Donald Trump’s false claims that his 2020 election defeat was the result of widespread voter fraud, claims that multiple courts, state election officials and members of Trump’s own administration have rejected as false. In addition to giving individual Georgians the power to challenge an unlimited number of voters at once, the state’s law limited the use of dropboxes, narrowed the window for submitting absentee ballots and criminalized a variety of election-related activities, including giving water to voters in line. At a meeting in Atlanta last week, the New Georgia Project’s chief legal officer, Aklima Khondoker, trained lawyers volunteering to help voters navigate the new law. Khondoker told the group the new legislation has added a new level of confusion for already overstretched election officials, adding, “That confusion can lead to disenfranchisement.” The pro-bono lawyers will escalate cases for potential litigation to the Elias Law Group, the Washington-based firm led by prominent Democratic attorney Marc Elias, which authored a letter protesting the voter challenge in Forsyth that was sent to the county’s election board. “Folks who attempt to go vote this fall are inevitably going to encounter some issues, some by design,” said Michael Jones, one of the firm’s attorneys in Atlanta. “They are going to need help on the ground to navigate those challenges.” CRITICAL STATE Georgia will be critical to Democrats’ hopes of keeping control of the U.S. Senate, with a November match-up expected between incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock and Trump-backed former football star Herschel Walker. Since early voting for the primary began on May 2, over 400,000 ballots have been cast, more than three times the level during the same period in 2018. Of all the new law’s measures, decreased drop box access will likely have the biggest influence on turnout, said Charles Bullock, professor of political science at the University of Georgia, though he reckons the impact will be small. “It doesn’t look to me that it will be that big of a deal,” Bullock said. “The Democrats will make it an issue and run on it and it’s smart to do that.” Democrats in neighboring Florida are also assembling a network of hundreds of lawyers to respond to a new law, while incorporating messaging about its various restrictions on ballot access into their get-out-the-vote campaigns, Ben Tyler, general counsel for the state party, told Reuters. Tyler said he is also bracing for partisan challenges allowed by the new law. In Georgia’s Forsyth County, officials expect more challenges like Schneider’s. Schneider, a resident of the county who could not be reached for comment, created his target list by comparing county voter rolls with a change of address database maintained by the U.S. Postal Service. The county election board decided the data was insufficient and the challenge too close to the primary, but a Republican board appointee, Joel Natt, encouraged Schneider to try again after conducting more research. “It’s a lot of data and a lot of research that has to be done and if you make a mistake somebody may get mad,” Natt told Reuters. “I encouraged him to bring it back another time when we have more time to digest all this.” Anita Tucker, a Democratic member of the board, said she was worried the challenges would breed distrust of voting. “We have been promised more challenges,” Tucker told Reuters. “It is ironic that the justification for the challenges is to create voter confidence.” Democrats and their allies are also pouring resources into boosting turnout. The New Georgia Project has knocked on 417,000 doors in the past 10 weeks, hoping to get new voters to the polls for the primary, knowing that increases the chances they will cast a ballot in November. On a hot and sunny afternoon last Thursday, canvasser TunDe Hector appeared to win over a 27-year-old man in a south Atlanta neighborhood who had no plan to vote in the primary. After their conversation, the man, who only gave his first name of Devontae, said there was an 85% chance he would cast a ballot. “They count on us not being out here,” Hector said. “I’m here to make sure, you know, you don’t want to be scratched off the books because this is important for all of us.” (Reporting by Nathan Layne, Kia Johnson and Nathan Frandino; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nordia Tompkins was serving a seven-year sentence for a drug charge in June 2020 when the U.S. federal Bureau of Prisons released her to home confinement under the terms of a law passed by Congress to slow the spread of COVID-19. The 37-year-old mother of two began settling back into her life north of New York City, pursuing studies for a new career in cosmetology. That changed a year later when she stopped at a store to fix her broken cell phone, an errand the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) ruled violated the terms of her confinement, though Tompkins said she told officials of her plans. She was ordered back to prison. “I got my daughter out of foster care back into my care. I got a job and I re-enrolled in school,” she wrote to the BOP. “I have worked so hard to settle back into society the right way.” Tompkins is one of three federal inmates asking courts to release them back to home confinement under the terms of the 2020 Cares Act that authorized their release. They contend the New York halfway house run by GEO Group sent them back to prison over minor infractions without any chance to contest the allegations. The outcome of the three cases could open the door for future legal challenges by more than 300 other inmates whose home confinement was revoked over minor infractions, lawyers involved in the cases said. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment beyond the department’s court filings in the case, while a GEO Group spokesperson referred questions to the BOP. Prosecutors fighting to keep Tompkins locked up said she and similarly situated inmates have “no protected liberty interest” and that BOP’s placement decisions are “expressly insulated from judicial review.” But attorneys for Tompkins and two other women who were sent back to prison after testing positive one time each for marijuana said the BOP’s disciplinary approach is at odds with the Biden’s administration’s goal of lowering mass incarceration and reducing sentences for low-level offenders. “These cases could help shed light on the black box of how the BOP goes about deciding who to re-imprison, and a favorable ruling could certainly lead to additional litigation around the country,” said Marisol Orihuela, a Yale University law professor who along with Sarah Russell of Quinnipiac University represents Tompkins and the two other women. ‘THAT’S NOT AMERICA’ More than 10,000 inmates were released to home confinement under terms of the law, according to the BOP. As of May 3, 406 inmates released home under the law were returned to prison, 199 due to alcohol or drug violations and another 132 for various administrative violations, the BOP said. Virginia Lallave and Eva Cardoza, also represented by Orihuela and Russell, both reside in New York, where marijuana is legal under state law. Lallave, who is waiting for a court ruling, was permitted by a judge to stay home while her case is reviewed. Prosecutors said in court filings that she received advanced notice of the disciplinary charges against her. Cardoza, who has a teenage daughter and helps care for her fiance’s four children, has been back behind bars since June 2021. Her fiance, Eric Alvarez, said she had not used marijuana, and that he believes the test was inaccurate, but that she was not given a chance to contest it. “Her due process was violated. She wasn’t even given an opportunity to go to a hearing or to contest what she was being accused of,” Alvarez said in a phone interview. “That’s not America.” (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Scott Malone and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – Donald Trump will have to wait for six hours before reposting his messages from social media platform Truth Social on other platforms, a regulatory filing revealed on Monday. The platform was launched with the mission of standing up to Big Tech, after the former U.S. president was kicked off of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for allegedly inciting and glorifying violence during the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots. Billionaire Elon Musk, who has bid to buy Twitter for $44 billion, has said he would reverse Trump’s ban on the platform, calling it “morally wrong and flat-out stupid.” Trump, who averaged 18 tweets a day when he was president, has said he would not return to Twitter even if reinstated. He has revved up his messaging on the new platform to his millions of followers after a slow start. “President Trump is generally obligated to make any social media post on Truth Social and may not make the same post on another social media site for 6 hours,” Digital World Acquisition Corp said in a filing. DWAC, a special purpose acquisition company which will take Truth Social’s parent Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) public, filed the statement with U.S. regulators and said it expects to close the deal in the second half of 2022. It also said Trump is free to sign offers for any new video production, but TMTG holds the right to recreate a similar program for subscription video service TMTG+ and will have to pay him for exclusive content for subscribers. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday further undermined campaign finance restrictions and handed a victory to Senator Ted Cruz, striking down as a free speech violation part of a bipartisan 2002 law challenged by the Texas Republican that federal officials had called an anti-corruption provision. The justices, in a 6-3 ruling, found that a $250,000 cap on the amount of money political candidates can be reimbursed after an election for personal loans to their own campaigns ran afoul of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech by unjustifiably burdening political expression. In the ruling authored by Chief Justice Roberts, the court’s conservative justices were in the majority and liberal justices in dissent. Roberts wrote that the law in question “burdens core political speech without proper justification.” Roberts wrote that the government had failed to show that the measure “furthers a permissible anti-corruption goal, rather than the impermissible objective of simply limiting the amount of money in politics.” In a blistering dissenting opinion, liberal Justice Elena Kagan said the court was effectively aiding and abetting corruption in Washington by allowing donors to contribute to a campaign after an election in a way that benefits the candidate personally. “In striking down the law today, the court greenlights all the sordid bargains Congress thought right to stop,” Kagan wrote. Politicians will know that such payments will go directly to them via the campaign, Kagan added, and the donors will hope for something in return. “The politician is happy; the donors are happy. The only loser is the public. It inevitably suffers from government corruption,” Kagan said. Cruz had sued the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the agency that enforces election laws. Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration, acting on behalf of the FEC, had appealed a Washington-based three-judge panel’s 2021 ruling unanimously striking down the provision on free speech grounds. Cruz was backed by some fellow Republicans in the case. The provision at issue was part of a major campaign finance law that already has been chipped away at by the Supreme Court including in a landmark 2010 ruling https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-politics/landmark-supreme-court-ruling-allows-corporate-political-cash-idUSTRE60K3SK20100121 that allowed unlimited independent spending by corporations and unions during elections as constitutionally protected free speech. In finding that the limit was not justified to deter corruption, Roberts said restrictions already exist on how much money individuals can donate during an election cycle, currently capped at $2,900. Roberts added that the status quo likely benefited incumbents over challengers because new candidates often have to loan money to their campaigns and can find it more difficult to attract donations. Cruz, first elected to represent Texas in the Senate in 2012, sued the FEC after his successful 2018 re-election race against Democratic rival Beto O’Rourke. Cruz had lent his campaign organization $260,000 but was limited by the law to a $250,000 reimbursement from his campaign. The Supreme Court has struck down various provisions of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), often called the McCain-Feingold law in recognition of its main Senate sponsors, John McCain and Russ Feingold. Cruz unsuccessfully sought his party’s 2016 presidential nomination, later becoming a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Representative Liz Cheney called on fellow Republicans to reject white supremacism, days after a teenage gunman motivated by the right-wing “great replacement” theory allegedly killed 10 people in a racist shooting in western New York state. “The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism,” Cheney, an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump and his allies in the House of Representatives, wrote on Twitter. “History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far worse. @GOP leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them,” she tweeted. Political fallout from the weekend shooting could become a new hurdle for Republicans, as they try to minimize infighting over party fealty to Trump in the run-up to the Nov. 8 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. A 180-page manifesto that circulated online, believed to have been authored by the 18-year-old white man accused in the killing spree, outlined the “Great Replacement Theory,” a racist conspiracy theory that white people were being replaced by minorities in the United States and elsewhere. Cheney is one of two Republicans on a congressional committee that has subpoenaed House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and four other party lawmakers to testify about the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by hundreds of Trump supporters. Cheney was joined by Representative Adam Kinzinger, a fellow maverick Republican who is also on the committee, in blaming the party’s leadership for not condemning the racism that fueled the attack in Buffalo, New York, where 11 of the 13 wounded were Black Americans. “Here is my replacement theory: we need to replace @EliseStefanik, @GOPLeader, @RepMTG, @CawthornforNC and a number of others,” Kinzinger said Sunday in a tweet referring to McCarthy, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik and hard-line Trump supporters Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn. “The replacement theory they are pushing/tolerating is getting people killed,” said Kinzinger. Cheney and Kinzinger maintain that House leaders are pandering to Trump allies and supporters who advocate white nationalism as the party tries to take control of the House in November’s midterm elections. Stefanik’s office in a statement rejected that criticism. “Any implication or attempt to blame the heinous shooting in Buffalo on the Congresswoman is a new disgusting low for the left, their Never Trump allies and the sycophant stenographers in the media,” said Alex DeGrasse, a senior adviser to Stefanik. Stefanik, who represents a New York state congressional district, replaced Cheney as the No. 3 House Republican last year after Cheney condemned Trump for the January 2021 Capitol attack by his supporters. Greene on Twitter said that responsibility for the shooting lay only with the gunman. The offices of McCarthy and Cawthorn did not respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by AFP McDonald's in March closed all of its restaurants in the country, where it says it employs 62,000 people New York (AFP) – American fast-food giant McDonald said Monday it will exit Russia in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, ending a more than three-decade run begun in the hopeful period near the end of the Cold War. The restaurant chain, which launched in Moscow in January 1990 to great fanfare almost two years before the Soviet Union was dissolved, characterized the withdrawal as difficult but necessary. “The humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and the precipitating unpredictable operating environment, have led McDonald’s to conclude that continued ownership of the business in Russia is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values,” the company said in a statement. The chain is looking to sell “its entire portfolio of McDonald’s restaurants in Russia to a local buyer.” The burger giant is one of numerous foreign firms that have pulled out of the country or suspended operations following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in late February. Earlier on Monday, French automaker Renault announced it had handed over its Russian assets to the government, marking the first major nationalization since the onset of Western sanctions against Moscow’s military campaign. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into pro-Western Ukraine on February 24, triggering unprecedented sanctions and sparking an exodus of foreign corporations including H&M, Starbucks and Ikea. In March, citing “unspeakable suffering to innocent people,” McDonald’s closed all of its 850 restaurants in the country, where it says it employs 62,000 workers. But on Monday the “Big Mac” maker went a step further, saying the company “is pursuing the sale of its entire portfolio of McDonald’s restaurants in Russia to a local buyer.” After the sale, the restaurants would no longer be able to use the McDonald’s name, logo, branding or menu, though the company will retain its trademark in the country, the company said. Russia currently accounts for nine percent of the company’s revenue and three percent of its operating profit. McDonald’s expects to a one-time charge of $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion to write off the investment. A ‘new era’ The withdrawal offers a stark contrast to the optimism that surrounded the arrival of the quintessentially American brand in Russia in the waning days of the Cold War. The company began discussing the Russian business at the 1976 Olympics in Canada where the McDonald’s let Russian athletes use the “Big Mac Bus” in a sign of good will. That led to 14 years of negotiations, “culminating in the glorious day in January of 1990 when the first McDonald’s opened to so much hope and excitement in Pushkin Square,” recalled McDonald’s Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski in a message to employees. “In the history of McDonald’s, it was one of our proudest and most exciting milestones,” Kempczinski said. “After nearly half a century of Cold War animosity, the image of the Golden Arches shining above Pushkin Square heralded for many, on both sides of the Iron Curtain, the beginning of a new era.” In the subsequent decades, McDonald’s operations in Russia expanded far beyond Moscow as the company invested billions of dollars and grew its supply chain. But Kempczinski said the Russia investment was no longer viable in terms of business, or consistent with company values. Still, he closed his message on a hopeful note, saying, “let us not end by saying, ‘goodbye’… (but) ‘Until we meet again.'” The company’s decision to divest “underlines a view that relations with Russia will not soon be normalized,” said Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData. The conditions of the exit, including the financial challenges facing prospective Russian buyers means “it is unlikely the sale price will be anywhere near the pre-invasion book value of the business,” said Saunders, adding that the departure “will leave a hole” in McDonald’s growth plans “that is not easily filled in the near-term.” Shares of McDonald’s fell 0.4 percent to $243.24 in mid-morning trading. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega The 2022 Billboard Music Awards show is here! Streaming live from the MGM Grand Garden Area in Las Vegas and hosted by music legend Sean “Diddy” Combs, the annual awards event will be honoring some of the biggest names in music and feature performances from Travis Scott, Machine Gun Kelly, Ed Sheeran , Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Megan Thee Stallion, and more. Before the show started, these celebs hit the carpet in style! TRAVIS SCOTT RETURNS TO THE STAGE, DIDDY TAKES OVER AS HOST & MORE: EVERYTHING TO EXPECT AT THE 2022 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS Scroll through the gallery below to see some of the hottest celebs hitting the red carpet for the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. DJ Khaled mega DJ Khaled sported a lavender suit and matching purple sneakers as he prepared to present an award at this year’s show. Dove Cameron mega Liv and Maddie star Dove Cameron looked stunning in a floor length, strapless red dress showing off her toned abs. ‘POWERPUFF GIRLS’ STAR DOVE CAMERON REFLECTS ON HER STRUGGLES COPING WITH FAME & DATING AFTER COMING OUT AS BISEXUAL Ty Dolla $ign mega Ty Dolla $ign arrived at the show in a stylish metal Natalia Fender tank top and black jacket, accessorizing the look with a pair of black shades. Florence Welch mega “Drumming Song” singer Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine looked gorgeous in her ruffled purple gown and lacy black gloves. Jack Harlow mega Kentucky born rapper Jack Harlow arrived at the Billboard Awards in a sleek black Musika suit and tie. Lainey Wilson mega Country star Lainey Wilson — who was awarded Top New Country Artist Of 2021 last year — was feeling floral! She rocked a patterned jacket adorned with large cream and blue flowers. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Kris Humphries, who infamously was married to Kim Kardashian for just 72 days, is said to be “furious” that his ex-wife has again questioned his sexuality, Radar has exclusively learned. In the latest episode of the hit Hulu series The Kardashians, the three-times married reality star, 41, joked she hadn’t been to a gay wedding “since my second wedding.” “I love a gay wedding,” Kardashian, a mother of four, quipped to Scott Disick and friend Chris Reda in front of cameras. Humphries, a one-time NBA star who played for the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz, among others during a distinguished career, was left to relive a decade old feud, the insider added. In the wake of their 2011 divorce, Humphries was forced to swat away speculation that the reason for the quick demise of their marriage was because Kardashian began to question her husband’s heterosexuality when, after their Italian honeymoon, his interest in sex began to fade. “At first Kim thought that was ridiculous,” an insider reported, at the time. “But the more she thought about it, the more she wondered. There were signs.” “Kris has moved on,” a source close to him told RadarOnline.com. “He does not understand why Kim continues to think he’s gay. It’s infuriating. Kim needs to move on, just like he has. She really should not drag his name through the mud after all of these years.” On December 1, 2011, Humphries filed to annul the marriage on the grounds of fraud or a decree of legal separation rather than a divorce. Guests at Kardashian’s wedding to Humphries included Hollywood stars like Ryan Seacrest, Lindsay Lohan, Serena Williams, and Eva Longoria. Kim wore three different gowns designed by Vera Wang. She was previously married to rapper Kanye West and Damon Thomas. Kardashian filed for divorce from the “Gold Digger” rapper — they share kids North, 8, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 2 — in February 2021 after seven years of marriage. She’s been dating Saturday Night Live comic Pete Davidson since sparking rumors of romance late last year after her SNL hosting debut. View the full article

Published by AFP Demonstrators in New York march during the abortion rights rally in reaction to the leak of the US Supreme Court draft abortion ruling that would reverse a landmark statute guaranteeing federal abortion access New York (AFP) – Thousands of activists chanting, banging drums and wielding placards flooded streets across the United States on Saturday in a national day of action calling for safe and legal access to abortion. The mass demonstrations were a response to a leaked draft opinion showing the Supreme Court’s conservative majority is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 ruling guaranteeing abortion access nationwide. “Nobody has the right to make a decision on somebody else’s body,” said Hanna Williamson, 20, who drove three hours to join several thousand protesters in Washington. Thousands more people assembled in a central square in Brooklyn, New York, to carry a giant pink banner that read: “Our Bodies. Our Futures. Our Abortions.” The protestors, who included Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other influential Democrats, were of all genders and ages and many wore green, a symbolic color of abortion rights activism. “We’re gonna keep fighting until we win,” Schumer told AFP. “America is on our side.” Allison Easter, 58, called the turnout “encouraging.” “There’s so many young people, so many mothers wheeling their babies, so many people with their husbands or boyfriends, so many men — so many different kinds of people support this cause,” she told AFP. She said that the political push to restrict or ban abortion was “about power and control.” “There are a lot of people who have very traditional values, and are frightened by women who can make choices about their own body,” Easter said, as a crush of demonstrators flooded into lower Manhattan. “I know there are people who think it’s about religion, but if you look at the things they’ve done in the name of religion, it doesn’t bear true.” ‘Contrary to our founding’ Thousands of people also rallied in Texas and Kentucky, with smaller events elsewhere in the country. “These are a group of people in this country who are working to dismantle 60 years of civil rights and civil liberties of the United States of America,” Linda Sarsour, a prominent political activist, told AFP in New York. “We respect everybody’s right to hold whatever religious belief or whatever opinion they have on an issue like abortion,” she continued. “What we want you to know is that you can do you — and allow people to still have access to safe, affordable, women’s reproductive rights.” The leak of the draft opinion ignited fury over the potential rollback of abortion rights ahead of November’s key midterm elections, when control of both congressional chambers is at stake. Democrats have pushed to codify abortion rights into federal law, a bid to pin down Republicans on the divisive issue ahead of the polls. The House-passed Women’s Health Protection Act would assure health care professionals have the right to provide abortions and that patients have the right to receive them. But Republicans and one Democrat in the US Senate tanked the effort to advance the measure earlier this week. Nanette Rosenbaum, 64, told AFP she demonstrated in New York as an adolescent: “I never expected that 50 years later I’d be back on the streets again.” Calling the Supreme Court “too politicized and much too partisan,” Rosenbaum said that “in a country like America, who fought for individual rights,” restricting legal abortion access “seems contrary to our founding.” “I feel as strongly now as I did when I was a teenager, and I hope — I fervently hope — that we’ll make a difference.” ‘Women want choices’ A new Politico/Morning Consult poll has 53 percent of voters saying Roe should not be overturned, up three percentage points since last week, while 58 percent said it was important to vote for a candidate who supports abortion access. Republican-controlled states have taken steps to restrict abortion rights in recent months, and overturning Roe v. Wade would grant them greater latitude to restrict or ban the procedure. The right to access abortion has long triggered activism, but the Supreme Court leak has spurred an uptick in demonstrations, including outside the homes of justices. The largely peaceful protests have drawn Republican criticism over privacy rights of court members, but activists have responded by pointing to years of often violent protests outside abortion clinics and at the homes of doctors providing the medical procedure. In Washington, protesters, many dressed in pink and wielding placards, marched near the Supreme Court on Saturday. “It’s very important to be here to take a stand and really say to the people who are making these decisions that women want choices and they want freedom to have that choice,” said Viesha Floyd, 32. “The reason I’m here is for those women, the future generations.” View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — In a speech in Orlando on Saturday, U.S. Senate hopeful Val Demings touted her pro-choice stance and attacked Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s position on abortion as “radical.” Rubio, who’s seeking a third term, has long supported bans on abortion with no exceptions, most recently saying a failed Senate bill to codify Roe v. Wade would legalize ”the killing of unborn children right up to the day of delivery.” The 1973 Supreme Court ruling is on the cusp of being overturned, according to a draft opinion obtained by Politico. His campaign described his likely opponent in November a… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli police officers charged at Palestinian mourners carrying the coffin of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on Friday, before thousands led her casket through Jerusalem’s Old City in an outpouring of grief and anger over her killing. Packed around Abu Akleh’s coffin, dozens of Palestinians, some waving Palestinian flags and chanting, “With our soul and blood we will redeem you Shireen,” began walking toward the gates of St. Joseph’s Hospital. Israeli police officers, in an apparent bid to stop them proceeding by foot rather than taking the coffin by car, burst through the courtyard gates and charged at the crowd, some beating pallbearers with batons and kicking them. At one point the group carrying her coffin backed against a wall and almost dropped the casket, recovering it just before one end hit the ground as stun grenades detonated. The violent scenes, which lasted only minutes, added to Palestinian outrage over Abu Akleh’s killing, which has threatened to fuel violence that has surged since March. Abu Akleh, who had covered Palestinian affairs and the Middle East for more than two decades, was shot while reporting on an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. Palestinian authorities have described Abu Akleh’s killing as an assassination by Israeli forces. Israel’s government initially suggested Palestinian fire might have been to blame, but officials have also said they could not rule out it was Israeli gunfire that killed her. Israeli police said a group of Palestinians outside the hospital, whom they described as rioters, had begun throwing stones at officers. “The policemen were forced to act,” they added. The White House found the images disturbing, press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, and U.S. officials will remain in close contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities in the aftermath of Akleh’s funeral. Egypt, Qatar and Al Jazeera condemned the police’s conduct. Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said the scenes were “very shocking” and the EU said it was appalled. A few minutes after police intervened, Abu Akleh’s coffin was placed in a vehicle that headed toward the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin in Jerusalem’s Walled Old City, where the funeral ceremony proceeded peacefully. Crowds of Palestinians lined the narrow alleyways of the Old City as the coffin was carried to the Mount Zion Cemetery nearby. Her grave was covered in wreaths and the Palestinian flag draped over the grave cross as mourners surrounded it solemnly, paying tribute to Abu Akleh. “We’re here because we are screaming for justice. Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh and justice for Palestine,” said one mourner, who did not want to be identified by name. INVESTIGATIONS AND RAIDS The Israeli military said on Friday that its initial investigation “concluded that it is not possible to unequivocally determine the source of the gunfire which hit and killed Ms. Abu Akleh.” She may have been killed by shots fired by Palestinian militants shooting at Israeli military vehicles or been hit inadvertently by an Israeli soldier returning fire, it said. The Palestinian Attorney General’s office issued a statement on Friday in which it said initial investigations have found that the sole source of gunfire in the area where Abu Akleh was hurt was Israeli. Israeli forces on Friday resumed raids on the outskirts of Jenin, where Abu Akleh was killed, and the Palestinian Health Ministry said 13 Palestinians had been wounded. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group meanwhile claimed responsibility for the death of an Israeli police officer in an exchange of gunfire in Jenin. A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said events in Jerusalem and Jenin could push the sides into serious escalation. Abu Akleh’s death has drawn widespread condemnation. Video footage from the moments after she was shot showed Abu Akleh, 51, wearing a blue vest marked “Press”. At least two of her colleagues who were with her said that they had come under Israeli sniper fire and that they were not close to militants. Israel, which has voiced regret at Abu Akleh’s death has proposed a joint investigation with the Palestinians, asking them to provide the bullet for examination. The Palestinians have rejected the Israeli request and have called for an international investigation. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell and Rami Amichay in Jerusalem; Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Andrew Mills in Doha, Michelle Nichols in New York and Steve Holland and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Jon Boyle and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Brad Brooks and Maria Caspani LUBBOCK, Texas (Reuters) – The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled that neither Governor Greg Abbott nor the state’s attorney general had the authority to order child abuse investigations of families that provide certain medical treatment for their transgender children. In its ruling, the top court said the state could not investigate the family of a 16-year-old transgender child at the center of the case while the family’s lawsuit was pending before lower courts. The court did not go so far as to order a blanket ban on all such investigations, saying a decision on carrying out inquiries was up to the Department for Family and Protective Services (DFPS). “The Governor and the Attorney General were certainly well within their rights to state their legal and policy views on this topic, but DFPS was not compelled by law to follow them,” the court wrote in its ruling https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1454197/220229.pdf. The DFPS said in an emailed statement it was reviewing the ruling and had no comment. Texas is one of dozens of states where conservative politicians have sought to criminalize provision of medical treatments used to help young people transition away from the gender they were assigned at birth. Critics of such proposals have accused Republicans of seizing on gender identity as a wedge issue for political gain. In its ruling, the Texas Supreme Court noted that DFPS officials, through press statements the agency made, appeared to think it was bound by the Republican governor or attorney general’s opinions on the matter, but that “nothing before this Court supports the notion that DFPS is so bound.” After the decision did not result in a blanket ban, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the ruling was a victory. He wrote on Twitter that he had “just secured a win for families against the gender ideology of doctors, big pharma, clinics trying to ‘trans’ confused, innocent children.” Neither Paxton nor Abbott responded to requests for further comment. The ACLU of Texas and Lambda Legal — both of which represent the family of a transgender teenager targeted for investigation — applauded the ruling as “a win for our clients and the rule of law.” The child, identified in the ACLU and Lambda lawsuit only as “Mary Doe, a minor,” has taken puberty-delaying medications and hormone therapy. The lawsuit says no other state treats gender-affirming medical care as a form of child abuse. There is wide agreement among mainstream medical and mental health professionals that gender-affirming care saves lives by reducing the risk of depression and suicide. The DFPS has said it has opened at least nine child welfare inquiries under Abbott’s policy. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas, and Maria Caspani in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article

Published by DPA Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi was made famous around the world by the Hollywood film "The Beach". Carola Frentzen/dpa Traditional longboats bob up and down in the crystal-clear water, palm trees sway gently in the tropical breeze, a few white clouds drift lazily by in the sky. What sounds like a picture from a calendar is a real place: the Phi Phi Islands. The Ko Phi Phi archipelago in southern Thailand has long been on the bucket list of many a traveller. Mass tourism therefore hit the islands hard – but the long travel break caused by the pandemic has changed that. There are no plastic bottles or other rubbish to spoil the picture-perfect scene. This is surely one of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful spots. A face mask floating in the sea But wait, what’s that? As the passengers head ashore at Loh Ba Kao Bay, two signs of the times suddenly float into view: a negative coronavirus test and a green face mask. Bart Callens, general manager of the SAii Phi Phi Village hotel, fishes them out of the sea and shakes his head. “Corona has created a whole new kind of rubbish.” However, such finds around the islands are fortunately still rare. Tourism in Thailand is just starting up again, and the rules for entering have long been difficult and complicated compared to other places – even if they have been considerably relaxed as of May. So far, however, the new start, which is so important for the hospitality industry, has not quite succeeded. Those who have gone to the trouble of entering the country are richly rewarded. And they still have many a beach almost to themselves. Those looking for a party, however, will be disappointed: Tonsai Village, once known for its nightlife, still looks rather sleepy. The devastating consequences of “TheBeach” hype The islands became world-famous at the turn of the millennium. When the Hollywood drama “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio hit cinemas in 2000, the paradise-like ambience of Ko Phi Phi triggered a global hype. While director Danny Boyle tells the story of life away from civilisation, the film had exactly the opposite effect – with devastating consequences. For years, legions of tourists made the pilgrimage to the otherwise uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh to marvel at the heavenly Maya Bay. Around 6,000 people ended up coming every day. As so often happens to famous places, paradise became an overcrowded nightmare. Dozens of boats dropped their anchors into the once intact reef every day, the corals broke, the sharks disappeared, the rubbish piled up. In the end, even the selfies were no longer fun. When paradise closed Mainly at the insistence of prominent marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat, the bay was surprisingly closed in June 2018 – despite the financial losses involved. Guests from abroad are “very important for our country, but the most important thing are our national resources,” the environmentalist said at the time. “We have to preserve it and hand it over to the next generation.” The closure ended up taking considerably longer than initially planned because of the pandemic. But for Maya Bay, Corona was almost a blessing. The borders were closed and the beach got two more years of respite. Swimming forbidden in the dream bay After being closed for three and a half years, the natural wonder has only been open again since January – complete with newly planted corals, strict rules of conduct and limits on visitor numbers. Swimming is prohibited. Boats now moor on the opposite side of the island. For most, the visit lasts little more than 30 minutes. But at least we can now take photos like in Leonardo DiCaprio’s day. “The blacktip sharks came back after only one year. Nature recovering was like a miracle we had not expected,” says Sirithon Thamrongnawasawa, who is responsible for sustainability concepts at the local Singha Hotel Group. To preserve the paradise for posterity, more and more hotel complexes around the 390 square kilometre “Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi Marine National Park” are now also focusing on sustainable tourism. “Consumer behaviour has changed fundamentally in recent years,” says hotel general manager Bart Callens. “Holidaymakers today are increasingly paying attention to environmental friendliness.” Hotels and resorts in particular need to set a good example. Solar power, sustainable water and waste management, and possibly electric speedboats for transfers in the future – these are some of the approaches for the Phi Phi archipelago. And, most importantly, outreach and education. To promote it, SAii Phi Phi Village has opened a Marine Discovery Centre on its grounds. It is the only one of its kind in the region. The fragile habitat of the ocean is explained in vivid detail, including its diverse inhabitants from sharks to coral. But overfishing and the dangers of ocean warming are also addressed. Hopes for an enlightened tourism Many Thai people have lost their entire livelihoods due to the pandemic and the shutting down of the important tourism sector. They hope that visitors will soon return in droves. And so the balance between mass and quality tourism remains a difficult tightrope walk in the Phi Phi islands. The pandemic has given nature a chance to heal. But what will happen when visitors from all over the world start flocking to paradise again? “We need the tourists, no question,” says hotel manager Callens. “But we need enlightened tourism that is in harmony with nature.” Where there were once crowded parties, holidaymakers now have the beach of Loh Ba Kao Bay on Phi Phi Don almost to themselves. Carola Frentzen/dpa Maya Bay has reopened after being closed for several years. However, boats now have to anchor on the opposite side of the island. Carola Frentzen/dpa The traditional longboats are also often used for diving trips. Carola Frentzen/dpa The underwater world of the Phi Phi archipelago is a paradise for snorkellers. Carola Frentzen/dpa Tourists still have most of Loh Ba Kao Bay's dream beaches to themselves. Carola Frentzen/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Billionaire Elon Musk made clear on Thursday that even though he wants Twitter to lift its permanent ban on former President Donald Trump, that doesn’t mean he supports Trump in a prospective 2024 presidential campaign. Musk, the world’s richest person and CEO of Tesla, is attempting to close a deal to acquire Twitter. Musk told a Financial Times conference on Tuesday that Twitter’s decision to ban Trump was “morally bad.” He followed up on those remarks in a tweet on Thursday evening, stressing he does not back Trump as a presidential candidate. “Even though I think a less divisive candidate would be better in 2024, I still think Trump should be restored to Twitter,” he said. Trump has said he does not want to return to Twitter, but instead wants to build up his own Truth Social platform. He was banned from Twitter permanently in January 2021 because of the “risk of further incitement of violence” following the storming of the U.S. Capitol, the company said then. Trump is considering another run for the presidency in 2024 after losing his re-election bid in 2020. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Bradley Perrett) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jarrett Renshaw and James Oliphant PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – The Democratic Party’s hopes of picking up a much-needed U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania are likely tethered to a 6-foot, 8-inch tall tattooed and goateed liberal who eschews suits for hoodies and once met with President Joe Biden wearing basketball shorts. John Fetterman, 52, the state’s lieutenant governor, is surging in opinion polls ahead of the May 17 Democratic Senate primary, shocking political observers who had predicted a close contest with U.S. Representative Conor Lamb, a moderate who party insiders view as having the best chance against Republicans in November’s general election. The state presents Democrats with perhaps their best opportunity for adding an additional Senate seat in November and blocking Republicans from winning a majority. The Senate is currently split 50-50, but Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote gives Democrats a majority. “People right now don’t want a typical candidate. They want a rock and roller, and he’s a rock and roller,” Ed Rendell, a former governor of Pennsylvania, said of Fetterman. Fetterman’s favored campaign outfit of a hoodie and gym shorts makes him relatable in rural working-class regions of the state – areas that Democrats had largely ceded to Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump. He has also proven to be an adept fundraiser and is a social media force, with more than 420,000 followers on Twitter, where he has cultivated a punchy persona. He recently used the platform to ding fellow Democrat Senator Joe Manchin for blocking the party’s legislative agenda in Washington. The Harvard University masters graduate sports tattoos on both arms, including a long list on his right arm of the dates of people killed in the small town of Braddock when he was mayor from 2006 to 2019. “I do not look like a typical politician, nor do I look like a typical person. I don’t mean to look scary, it’s just kind of what I have to work with,” Fetterman said in a blog post last year. He declined to be interviewed for this story. When Fetterman met with Biden at the site of a bridge collapse in Pittsburgh in the midst of winter earlier this year he wore his trademark shorts and hoodie, drawing attention on social media. He supports a long list of progressive items, such as government-run universal healthcare and taxing the wealthy to pay for expanding the social safety net. He is a long-time supporter of legalizing marijuana and backs suspending the federal gas tax to help consumers wrestling with inflation. The state party establishment views Lamb, a former federal prosecutor and ex-Marine, as a safer choice to take on the Republican nominee in the battle to replace retiring Republican Senator Pat Toomey. Lamb received major endorsements from party stalwarts, while Fetterman has received almost none. But a statewide poll by Franklin & Marshall College in May had Fetterman up almost 40 points over Lamb, with 22% still undecided. Lamb has tried to paint Fetterman and his more progressive views as an easy target for any Republican opponent. A super PAC supporting Lamb derided Fetterman as a “democratic socialist” in the mode of progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, although Fetterman does not describe himself that way. One clear sign of the grassroots enthusiasm for Fetterman is in the almost $15 million he has raised for his campaign. About 64% has come from donors contributing $200 or less, according to the Federal Election Commission. Of the $5.7 million Lamb has raised, only about 12% came from small donors. CELEBRITY OPPONENT? Should Fetterman win the primary, he could face celebrity surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz in the general election, making it a race of two anti-establishment candidates. Polls show the Trump-endorsed Oz with a slight lead over Republican challengers, who include political commentator Kathy Barnette and former hedge fund manager David McCormick. Jared Leopold, a Pennsylvania-based political consultant, said Fetterman was presenting himself as an “underdog outsider who talks about ignored communities.” A Fetterman TV ad refers to “ghost towns” in the state, with the candidate saying, “No one deserves to be abandoned.” “His outsider message is a good message for Democrats in a tough year,” Leopold said, adding that Fetterman’s down-to-earth persona has helped him to bridge a gap in his party between moderate and progressive voters. “His campaign has been focused on telling a story rather than getting in ideological fights.” One question dogging Fetterman is whether he can galvanize Black voters, a critical voting bloc for any Democrat hoping to win statewide in Pennsylvania. Black leaders and his rivals for the nomination have questioned a 2013 incident when Fetterman chased a black jogger with a shotgun after hearing gunshots outside his home in Braddock. Fetterman held the man until police arrived. Fetterman has said he thought the individual might be fleeing a shooting and did not know the race or gender of the jogger at the time. He noted that he was re-elected afterward as mayor of Braddock, a majority-Black community. The jogger, Christopher Miyares, who is serving time in prison, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last month that he hopes Fetterman wins the Senate race. Rendell said Republicans might think Fetterman will be easier to beat than Lamb because they can characterize him more easily as a leftist. “But if they think he’s gonna be easy to beat, they are sadly mistaken,” he said. (Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw and James Oliphant; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Paris Jackson says her “free-love, hippie-type dude” father, the late Michael Jackson, inspired her to keep an “open mind” when it comes to beauty. The 24-year-old musician-and-model – who is the daughter of The King of Pop and Debbie Rowe – says it was drummed into her that “beauty comes from the inside”, and so she’s always up for experimenting with her appearance. Speaking to POPSUGAR, she said: “I try and always keep an open mind – not just with makeup, but with everything. “I was raised by a free-love, hippie-type dude, so we were taught that beauty comes from the inside – and to this day, I still believe that.” Paris’s signature look is a smokey eye. She shared: “My go-to look is just a little bit of eyeliner at the very edge of my eye, like a wing, but I don’t really touch the eyelids as much. “I feel like a smokey [eye] is somewhere between that and ’80s rock and roll.” Meanwhile, the ‘Let Down’ singer – who is the face of KVD Beauty’s latest campaign – admitted it’s only more recently that she’s felt “good about myself and my body” as a result of practicing self-love. She said: “Recently, I’ve learned how to cope with it all by practicing self-love and affirmations and diving deeper into my spiritual life. “It wasn’t until the last couple of years that I’ve started feeling really good about myself and my body, and feeling comfortable and everything. Those moments of self-love aren’t 24/7, but the bad moments are fewer and further between.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Queen Elizabeth reportedly chose to skip the first day of the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show, opting instead to pay a “secret visit” to her own horses who are set to compete in the show this coming weekend, Radar has learned. In a surprising development that came amid growing concerns regarding the 96-year-old queen’s heath and mobility issues, Her Majesty called off her appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Thursday at nearly the very last minute. Mega But while many suspected the queen’s failure to appear for the event was a result of her ongoing mobility issues, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace insisted Queen Elizabeth “simply changed her mind” and sent Princess Beatrice in her place instead. That is the startling revelation from a recent Daily Mail report that claimed Queen Elizabeth has not missed the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show in 79 years, and while she skipped the week-long show’s first day on Thursday, the queen is fully expected to make an appearance for the show’s competition and activities Sunday night. Mega Princess Beatrice, who is expected to remain in the queen’s place until Elizabeth changes her mind, said she was “delighted to be asked to play the role of the Queen” and would make sure the horse show proceeds “without a hitch should Her Majesty wish to attend the Royal Windsor Horse Show in this way.” As RadarOnline.com reported, this is just the latest event Queen Elizabeth has missed in recent weeks and it came just days after Her Majesty was forced to forgo the State Opening of Parliament for the third time in more than 60 years. Buckingham Palace cited the queen’s ongoing mobility issues as the reason for the sudden withdrawal, and Prince Charles – accompanied by Prince William – read Elizabeth’s speech instead. “At Her Majesty’s request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of Wales will read The Queen’s speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance,” Buckingham Palace’s statement said Mega The statement also admitted that Queen Elizabeth “continues to experience episodic mobility problems” and she “reluctantly” agreed with her doctors to skip the State Opening of Parliament out of an abundance of concern for her health. Concerns over Elizabeth’s health and mobility also come just weeks before her Platinum Jubilee celebration – marking 70 years on the throne – is set to kick off in June. Her Majesty is fully expecting to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebration and festivities, and is reportedly “looking forward” to the highly-anticipated and historic event. View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star It’s becoming clearer by the day that the Republican Party is betting that animus toward LGBTQ Americans is a big winner this election year. Now Kansas’ junior senator is taking his culture war fight to Hollywood — and making it about kids. Roger Marshall led four fellow GOP senators in sending a letter to the board of the TV Parental Guidelines — a congressionally mandated consortium that provides content ratings for television shows — asking it to update its criteria for the warnings it puts on children’s programming. Citing “parents raising legitimate concerns on sexual orientation and gend… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden (center) and leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pose for a group photo on the South Lawn of the White House Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed Southeast Asian leaders to Washington with promises to support clean energy and maritime security, hoping to showcase a US commitment as China makes wide inroads. Top leaders from eight of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flew to Washington for the two-day summit, which opened with a closed-door White House dinner of thyme poached chicken and vanilla ice cream. The Biden administration, which took office describing China as the top international challenger, is eager to prove it is still prioritizing Asia despite months of intense focus on repelling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The White House announced some $150 million in new initiatives — a modest sum compared with a $40 billion package for Ukraine and with the billions pumped into the region by China, which has also flexed its muscle in the dispute-rife South China Sea. But the United States said it was working with its private sector and it plans to unveil a broader package, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, when Biden travels next week to Tokyo and Seoul. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, welcoming ASEAN leaders to lunch earlier in the day, drew a link as she encouraged Southeast Asia to stand firm against Russia’s invasion. “If left unchecked, we leave the door open to additional aggression, including maritime issues and other issues in the South China Sea,” she said. ‘Candor’ over rights Pelosi called the summit “another manifestation of America’s commitment to be a strong, reliable partner in Southeast Asia.” In a contrast to China’s hands-off approach, Pelosi said she believed in “candor” and urged the Southeast Asian leaders to respect human rights, voicing particular concern about LGBTQ people. “Let me be clear: when we hear about torture of LGBTQ people, that is unacceptable to the American people — and continues to be an obstacle to the full respect in our relationship,” she said. Pelosi did not single out countries but Brunei and Indonesia’s Aceh province have both triggered uproars with laws that allow for physical punishment over consensual gay sex. In the biggest chunk of the new funding, the White House said it was committing $60 million to new maritime initiatives that will include the deployment of a Coast Guard cutter and personnel to fight crime including illegal fishing. The White House said it was also devoting $40 million to invest in clean energy in the climate change-vulnerable region and was working with the private sector to raise up to $2 billion. Another initiative — launched as Biden separately held a virtual summit on Covid — includes a project to test for emerging respiratory diseases through a new office in Hanoi of the US Centers for Disease Control. “I hope this meeting can build a momentum for the return of the US presence in the region,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo told a sideline forum of the US-ASEAN Business Council. Meeting Myanmar opposition Southeast Asia has often been seen as a victim of its own success, with the United States focused elsewhere for lack of pressing problems in the region. But in Myanmar, once hailed as a democratic success story, the United States has been ratcheting up pressure since the junta in February last year toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. The United States symbolically represented Myanmar with an empty chair at the summit. The democratic leadership in exile was invited to Washington and met Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman but did not represent Myanmar in talks. The Philippines also did not send its leader and was represented by its foreign minister after holding elections on Monday. Leaders who are participating include Cambodia’s veteran strongman Hun Sen, who is ASEAN’s current chair, and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, the former army chief who led a 2014 coup. Human Rights Watch said the United States needed to raise democracy in more countries than Myanmar. “If the US doesn’t publicly raise human rights concerns during meetings, the message will be that human rights abuses are now tolerated in the name of forging alliances to counter China,” said John Sifton, the group’s Asia advocacy director. View the full article

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