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Published by Reuters (Reuters) – A Florida judge on Wednesday said the state’s new congressional map, championed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, unconstitutionally dilutes Black citizens’ voting power. During a virtual hearing, Circuit Court Judge J. Layne Smith said the map that passed the legislature last month at DeSantis’ urging “diminishes African Americans’ ability to elect the representative of their choice” in a north Florida district in violation of the state constitution. Smith indicated he planned to issue a formal order on Thursday or Friday striking down the map, which would then likely be appealed by the state. Voting rights groups challenged the map in a lawsuit focused on the majority-Black district, which is currently held by U.S. Representative Al Lawson, a Black Democrat. The DeSantis-backed map eliminated that district while ensuring Republicans have the edge in 20 of the state’s 28 U.S. congressional seats, giving Republicans a substantial boost as they seeks to retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections. DeSantis, who is running for reelection, is considered a potential front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The governor previously vetoed maps that lawmakers had passed and ordered the legislature into a special session to approve new boundaries. Smith was appointed by DeSantis to his current position. (Reporting by Joseph Ax) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration has drafted an executive order that would give the Department of Justice vast powers to stop foreign adversaries like China from accessing Americans’ personal data, according to a person familiar with the matter and excerpts seen by Reuters. The proposal, which is being reviewed by government agencies, would also direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prevent federal funding from supporting the transfer of U.S. health data to foreign adversaries, according to the excerpts. The draft order reflects an effort by the administration to respond more aggressively to national security threats allegedly posed by Chinese companies that acquire reams of U.S. personal data, after failed bids by the Trump administration to bar Americans from using popular social media platforms TikTok and Wechat. Former President Donald Trump tried to ban the apps in 2020 alleging data collected by them could be given to Beijing and used to track users and censor content. China and the apps have denied any improper use of U.S. data. But the courts halted implementation of the bans and U.S. President Joe Biden eventually revoked them. Spokespeople for the White House, the Department of Justice and the Commerce Department declined to comment. HHS did not respond to requests for comment. The document is an initial draft that does not include input from government agencies and may change, according to another person familiar with the matter. If implemented, the draft order would grant U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland the authority to review and potentially bar commercial transactions involving the sale of or access to data if they pose an undue risk to national security, one of the people said. The proposal would also instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to get started on writing a rule “to ensure that federal assistance, such as grants and awards, is not supporting the transfer of U.S. persons’ health, health-related or biological data…to entities owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of foreign adversaries,” according to an excerpt. U.S. intelligence has warned about the risks posed Chinese companies collecting Americans’ personal data by investing in U.S. firms that handle sensitive healthcare information. China’s BGI purchased U.S. genomic sequencing firm Complete Genomics in 2013 and in 2015, Chinese WuXi Pharma Tech acquired U.S. firm NextCODE Health, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center noted in a 2021 fact sheet. The draft order comes as administration officials have grown frustrated with the Commerce Department over delays in rolling out rules and investigating threats under similar powers granted to that department by Trump in 2019, according to three people familiar with the process. Those powers allow the Commerce Department to ban or restrict transactions between U.S. firms and internet, telecom and tech companies from “foreign adversary” nations, including Russia and China. But so far, the department has failed to publish long-awaited rules fleshing out a safe harbor process for companies or announce the results of investigations into firms including Russia’s Kaspersky and China’s Alibaba, as previously reported by Reuters. The Commerce Department was also explicitly directed by a June executive order to use the new tools to protect Americans’ sensitive data from foreign adversaries via transactions involving apps, but has not made public any progress related to the measure. The new draft order gives the Department of Justice the express authority to “monitor compliance with and enforce any prohibitions, licenses, or mitigation agreements” issued under the prior executive orders, “thereby supporting the authority given to the Secretary of Commerce.” It also tasks the Secretary of Commerce with establishing which classes of transactions are outright prohibited and which are exempt, another excerpt shows. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld; Editing by Chris Sanders and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sharon Bernstein SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) -In New York, lawmakers have introduced a bill to expand funding for abortion care. California legislators will soon vote on measures aimed at increasing the number of abortion providers. And Connecticut just enacted a law intended to protect providers from lawsuits in states where abortion is banned. With new urgency, Democratic lawmakers are moving to preserve abortion access in their states after a leaked draft last week showed the U.S. Supreme Court poised to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. “There is no more critical issue,” said California Senate Leader Toni Atkins, a Democrat who ran reproductive health clinics before entering politics. “I hope it becomes a key issue of importance to everyone.” The efforts to shore up abortion rights contrast sharply with those in conservative states, where lawmakers are vowing to pursue further restrictions. Abortion will be banned or restricted in an estimated 26 Republican-led states should the Supreme Court reverse federal constitutional protections in a decision expected by the end of June. As expected, legislation to make abortion legal throughout the United States was defeated in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. All 50 Republicans and one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin, voted to block the bill. At the state level, however, liberal and moderate politicians have succeeded in enacting laws to expand and protect abortion access in anticipation of the court’s ruling. In Connecticut last week, Democratic Governor Ned Lamont signed a law aimed at protecting providers who perform abortions for patients who travel from states where the procedure has been banned or restricted, as well as the patients themselves. A constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights will go before Vermont voters in November, and similar constitutional proposals are being considered in Washington state and California. Some of the most aggressive steps to protect abortion rights have come in New York and California, both Democratic strongholds. On Monday, Democratic lawmakers in New York announced a bill to set up a program that would fund abortion care not covered by insurance and award grants to groups that help women travel from other states to obtain abortions. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, on Tuesday directed the state’s Department of Health to create a $25 million fund to support abortion providers. The Division of Criminal Justice would offer another $10 million for security grants for reproductive health centers, she said. Next week, California’s legislature will hear a slate of abortion bills that include a measure that would protect providers and patients from civil actions and financial retaliation for obtaining a legal procedure in the state. The legislation also would allow nurse practitioners to perform some abortions, expanding the ranks of providers at a time when thousands of women are expected to travel to California from other states seeking care. But the actions to increase abortion protections in Democratic-led states have been dwarfed by new restrictions passed in states controlled by Republicans, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights advocacy group. Conservative lawmakers passed 37 bills to restrict abortion access in 10 states this year, while just 14 measures to protect abortion were approved in eight states, Guttmacher’s data showed. Restrictive measures also far outweighed protective laws in 2021, the institute said. Some conservative lawmakers and anti-abortion activists have said they want to go further – eliminating medication abortions via pills often obtained online, and finding ways to extend abortion bans to states where the procedure remains legal. Not all Republicans oppose abortion rights. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a moderate Republican, said last week he was “open” to discussing protections for women who come to his state from others to seek abortions. Sue Dunlap, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles, said policymakers need to move beyond broad-brush state laws to consider the details of how women will actually be able to access abortion if they live in states where it is outlawed. Much of that will come at the local level, she said, as city officials find themselves called upon to provide services such as police protection for patients and providers. “California and Los Angeles and others across the country have taken very important first steps,” Dunlap said, “but I don’t feel we have really grappled with what is around the corner.” (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; additional reporting by Maria Caspani; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Rosalba O’Brien and Cynthia Osterman) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Euphoria’ lead the nominations at the MTV Movie TV Awards. The final movie in the Tom Holland-led trilogy – that included cameos from previous title holders Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield – leads the list of nominees in the Film section with seven nods, including Best Movie and Best Hero. The HBO teen drama – that follows Zendaya’s character Rue and her high school friends played by Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer and Maude Apatow – dominates the TV half after being tipped for six awards, including Best Show and Best Fight for the much memed smackdown between Maddy and Cassie in the season finale. Elsewhere, in the Unscripted award leader is ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ after they snagged four nominations, including Best Unscripted Series. Other contenders for the coveted accolade include ‘The D’Amelio Show’, ‘Teen Mom: Family Reunion’, and ‘The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip’. The groundbreaking eight-part series ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ – which was directed by Peter Jackson – is up for the new category Best Music Documentary, along with ‘Oasis Knebworth 1996’ and ‘Janet Jackson’, ‘Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’, ‘Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u (a SOUR movie). In the film categories, ‘The Batman’ – which stars Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz – has received four nods, including Best Performance for Robert. The remake of ‘Dune’ – starring Timothee Chalamet – also received award nominations. The Movie TV Awards are being staged at the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles on 5 June from 8pm ET, a move away from their two night bonanza. The event has not yet announced a host to lead the proceedings. Fans can vote for the awards – which includes 26 gender neutral categories – including the new categories, such as Best Song, “Here for the Hookup, Best Reality Return, Best Music Documentary, Best Reality Romance, Best Reality Star Fan voting for the awards is now open at vote.mtv.com and it will remain until May 18. Movie TV Awards: Scripted nominations BEST MOVIE Dune Scream Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Spider-Man: No Way Home The Adam Project The Batman BEST SHOW Euphoria Inventing Anna Loki Squid Game Ted Lasso Yellowstone BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE Lady Gaga House of Gucci Robert Pattinson The Batman Sandra Bullock The Lost City Timothée Chalamet Dune Tom Holland Spider-Man: No Way Home BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHOW Amanda Seyfried The Dropout Kelly Reilly Yellowstone Lily James Pam Tommy Sydney Sweeney Euphoria Zendaya Euphoria BEST HERO Daniel Craig No Time to Die Oscar Isaac Moon Knight Scarlett Johansson Black Widow Simu Liu Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Tom Holland Spider-Man: No Way Home BEST VILLAIN Colin Farrell The Batman Daniel Radcliffe The Lost City James Jude Courtney Halloween Kills Victoria Pedretti You Willem Dafoe Spider-Man: No Way Home BEST KISS Hunter Schafer Dominic Fike Euphoria Lily Collins Lucien Laviscount Emily in Paris Poopies the snake Jackass Forever Robert Pattinson Zoë Kravitz The Batman Tom Holland Zendaya Spider-Man: No Way Home BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE Brett Goldstein Ted Lasso John Cena Peacemaker Johnny Knoxville Jackass Forever Megan Stalter Hacks Ryan Reynolds Free Guy BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE Alana Haim Licorice Pizza Ariana DeBose West Side Story Hannah Einbinder Hacks Jung Ho-yeon Squid Game Sophia Di Martino Loki BEST FIGHT Black Widow vs. Widows Black Widow Cassie vs. Maddy Euphoria Guy vs. Dude Free Guy Shang-Chi bus fight Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Spider-Men end battle Spider-Man: No Way Home MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE Jenna Ortega Scream Kyle Richards Halloween Kills Mia Goth X Millicent Simmonds A Quiet Place Part II Sadie Sink Fear Street: Part Two 1978 BEST TEAM Loki Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson Only Murders in the Building Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Martin Short Spider-Man: No Way Home Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire The Adam Project Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell The Lost City Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt HERE FOR THE HOOKUP Euphoria Never Have I Ever Pam Tommy Sex/Life Sex Lives of College Girls BEST SONG “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” Jennifer Hudson / Respect “Just Look Up” Ariana Grande Kid Cudi / Don’t Look Up “Little Star” Dominic Fike / Euphoria “On My Way (Marry Me)” Jennifer Lopez / Marry Me “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” Encanto Cast / Encanto Movie TV Awards: Unscripted nominations BEST DOCU-REALITY SERIES Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Love Hip Hop: Atlanta Selling Sunset Summer House The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills BEST COMPETITION SERIES American Idol Dancing with the Stars RuPaul’s Drag Race The Challenge: Spies, Lies Allies The Masked Singer BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW Bar Rescue Dr. Pimple Popper Making It Selena + Chef Queer Eye BEST UNSCRIPTED SERIES Hart to Heart Teen Mom: Family Reunion The D’Amelio Show The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Queen of the Universe BEST REALITY STAR Chris “CT” Tamburello The Challenge Chrishell Stause Selling Sunset Lindsay Hubbard Summer House Teresa Giudice The Real Housewives of New Jersey Willow Pill RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 BEST REALITY ROMANCE Joe Amabile Serena Pitt Bachelor in Paradise Loren Alexei Brovarnik Loren Alexei: After the 90 Days Nany Gonzalez Kaycee Clark The Challenge: Spies, Lies Allies Tom Sandoval Ariana Madix Vanderpump Rules Yandy Mendeecees – Love Hip Hop: Atlanta BEST TALK /TOPICAL SHOW The Daily Show with Trevor Noah The Drew Barrymore Show The Kelly Clarkson Show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon BEST HOST Charlamagne Tha God Tha God’s Honest Truth Gordon Ramsay MasterChef Kelly Clarkson The Kelly Clarkson Show Rob Dyrdek Ridiculousness RuPaul RuPaul’s Drag Race BEST BREAKTHROUGH SOCIAL STAR Bella Poarch Benito Skinner Caleb Hearon Khaby Lame Megan Stalter BEST FIGHT Bosco vs. Lady Camden – RuPaul’s Drag Race Candiace Dillard Bassett vs. Mia Thornton – Salad toss fight -The Real Housewives of Potomac Christine Quinn vs. Chrishell Stause Selling Sunset Danielle Olivera vs. Ciara Miller vs. Lindsay Hubbar – Summer House Margaret Josephs vs. Teresa Giudice – The Real Housewives of New Jersey BEST REALITY RETURN Bethenny Frankel – The Big Shot with Bethenny Kylie Sonique Love RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Paris Hilton Cooking with Paris Paris in Love Sher Ex on the Beach Tami Roman The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY Janet Jackson Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy Oasis Knebworth 1996 Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) The Beatles: Get Back View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] Published by BANG Showbiz English Emeli Sandé admits it was “killing her” not being able to be her true self before coming out. 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 Emeli finally felt like she could “breathe” after letting everyone know her sexuality and having such a positive reaction from her supportive fanbase. Speaking on Wednesday’s (11.05.22) episode of ‘Loose Women’, 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.” Emeli – who returned with the new album, ‘Let’s Say for Instance’, last week – admitted she didn’t have the nerve to have her hair cut how she liked it, and upon deciding to return to music as an independent artist after leaving a major label, it was vital that she could be herself, no matter what everyone else thinks. She explained: “There’s so much like you said the hairstyle, all of these things that I didn’t feel really represented who I really was. So I think, you know, cutting my hair and having the guts to do that. And when I decided to come back into the industry, I thought when I come back I want to be my true self. “Maybe I’m not as popular as before and maybe people don’t like the change but I need to present who I really am this time. “I feel really relaxed I just feel every time I go on stage now it’s this is me.” View the full article

Published by AFP John, who is struggling with a long term addiction to heroin, pauses on a street in Kensington on July 19, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Washington (AFP) – Drug overdoses killed more than 100,000 people in the United States in 2021, data showed Wednesday, as the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated a crisis driven by fentanyl and fake online pills. Experts say people with substance use disorders have been hit hard by daily life disruptions, while authorities are seizing record numbers of counterfeit and sometimes deadly medicines from Mexico. Provisional data from the National Center for Health Statistics showed there were 107,622 deaths in the calendar year, an increase of 15 percent from 93,655 in 2020. But there were signs that the explosion was tapering, with the 2021 increase half what it was a year ago. Overdose deaths rose 30 percent from 2019 to 2020. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid developed to treat the symptoms of chronic pain, was by far the biggest culprit, responsible for 71,238 deaths. It was followed by crystal methamphetamine (meth), cocaine and natural opioids (such as heroin and morphine). Last month, President Joe Biden’s administration announced a national drug control strategy to tackle the crisis focused on untreated addiction and trafficking. Survey figures from 2020 showed that among the 41.1 million people who needed treatment for substance use disorders (SUD), only 2.7 million (6.5 percent) had received treatment at a specialty facility in the last year. The administration is seeking to expand access to life-saving treatments such as naloxone, drug test strips and syringe services programs. It has also requested a budget increase for border control and drug enforcement agencies to stem the flow of illegal drugs. View the full article

Published by Sports Illustrated By Lia Assimakopoulos Jasmine Thomas and Natisha Hiedeman. Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. How do they make it work? When Jasmine Thomas was traded to the Sun in 2015, she had plans. She planned to avenge getting swept in the ’13 WNBA Finals with the Dream and not making it the year after. She planned to earn more minutes at guard and up her game, coming off the worst statistical season of her career. But Natisha Hiedeman’s showing up at training camp in ’19 was something Thomas hadn’t planned for. “We got close playing the same position, spending a lo… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel The Seminole County School Board scrapped a plan Tuesday to put stickers over yearbook photos of students protesting against Florida’s so-called “don’t say gay” bill, responding to a public backlash against the move. The school board voted 5-0 not to obscure the photos and captions of a walkout protest featured in Lyman High School’s yearbook. Instead, a sticker will be placed on the page that explains the protest was student-led and not sponsored by the school. Amy Pennock, the school board chair, and other board members said they would purchase the new stickers that wouldn’t cover the yearbo… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jennifer Aniston will appear on the last ever episode of ‘the Ellen DeGeneres Show’. The former ‘Friends’ star coming on the finale on 26 May will bring her time on the show full circle as she was interviewed on the debut episode of the week day talk show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres in 2003, nearly 20 years ago. The 53-year–old actress will be joined by the pop singer Pink, who penned the series’ Emmy-winning theme song, one of 61 won throughout its 19 seasons. In the run up to their appearances, a star-studded list of people is expected to grace the legendary daytime sofa that includes Zac Efron, Kate McKinnon, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Luke Bryan, Kerry Washington, Brad Paisley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Oprah Winfrey, Mila Kunis, and Bruno Mars. The cute cousins Sophia Grace and Rosie – who gained traction after their cover of Super Bass’ by Nicki Minaj – went viral – will also appear on the show after Ellen featured them on the show in 2011. News of the show’s end was shared by Ellen in May 2021, calling the show “the greatest privilege of my life”. The 64-year-old comedian – who is gay – said: “When we started this show in 2003, the iPhone didn’t exist. Social Media didn’t exist. Gay marriage wasn’t legal. We watched the world change, sometimes for the better, sometimes not.” “But whatever was happening, my goal was always for the show to be a place where we could all come together and laugh for an hour,” she added. “Being invited into your lives has been the greatest privilege of my life and has brought me incredible joy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Last month, Ellen reflected on her 90s eponymous sit-com’s coming-out episode, which led her to being blacklisted in Hollywood for a couple of years. In the show’s opening monologue, she said: “When I came out, people warned me that it was going to ruin my career, and they were right for a while. Actually, for exactly three years, I lost my career. But look at me now.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Cait Fairbanks is “honoured” to be involved with ‘The Young and The Restless’ first same-sex wedding. The 28-year-old actress – who brings to life Tessa Porter on the CBS soap opera that has since ran since 1973 – says she cherishes “the importance” of the plot point that sees her character tie the knot to her girlfriend of five years Mariah Copeland because of its historical significance and how it shows an unrepresented community. Cait told PEOPLE magazine: “I feel especially honored to be a part of this moment because I understand the importance of it.It’s like the best coffee you could ever have going into a scene because you know what this isn’t just a couple talking, it’s also representing on screen so many people who haven’t really had that opportunity to be themselves, and every time I come to work I am reminded of that.” She added: “This is a really proud moment for the show, and I hope there will be some really juicy storylines to keep the connection going strong on screen.” Camryn Grimes – who plays Mariah – gushed about being involved in the story was “such a joy” due to being a fan-favourite couple. The 32-year-old actress said: “Our relationship has been incredibly supported by the fans so far, and that’s what makes this such a joy.” She added: “We feel like we get to give this gift back to them, and they get to watch our characters just be happy and in love, and it’s a huge culmination of their relationship’s journey.” Camryn – who came out as bisexual in 2019 – says her experiences have made her “understand the weight” of moments such as these. She said: “I’ve been so moved over the years about how many different stories I’ve heard — that a fan had a family member watch ‘Teriah’ and now they are able to explain their own relationship to them better, or our love helped them come out. It has been really beautiful and humbling because you really understand the weight of what you do.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Days before James Ijames’ “Fat Ham” makes its off-Broadway debut at the Public Theater, the play is the recipient of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The award honoring an exceptional American play staged in the last year was announced Monday by the Columbia University-based organization that has celebrated excellence in journalism and the arts since 1917. “Fat Ham,” which had its world premiere as a streaming production via Philadelphia’s Wilma Theater, is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a queer Black college student named Juicy as its protagonist. The two othe… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby The UK Home Office acknowledged that asylum seekers who identify as LGBTQ+ are more likely to face discrimination in Rwanda, but has not ruled out the deportation of vulnerable people to East Africa. In a 101-page report published last week, the British government set out a “Review of Asylum Processing” as part of its plans, formally announced in April, to sendindividuals trying to seek UK refuge to Rwanda. The paper documented incidents of LGBTQ+ individuals facing discrimination in employment, health and the justice sector in the East African country. “In relation to Rwanda…there are conce… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday said eliminating women’s access to abortion would have “very damaging effects” on the U.S. economy, keeping some women from completing their educations and reducing their lifetime earnings potential and participation in the labor force. Yellen’s comments at a Senate Banking Committee hearing came just over a week after the leak of a draft Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. The pending decision has raised fears that many more states would enact far-reaching abortion restrictions. The issue dominated a hearing about Treasury’s Financial Stability Oversight Council annual report. Yellen, the first female Treasury secretary, said in response to a senator’s question that research has shown that Roe v. Wade had a favorable impact on the well-being of children and that denying women access to abortions increases their odds of living in poverty or on public assistance. “I believe that eliminating the rights of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades,” Yellen said. Yellen’s comments drew a rebuke from Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who said her framing of the economic consequences of the abortion debate were “harsh” and inappropriate for such a painful social issue. “I think people can disagree on the issue of being pro-life or pro abortion. But in the end, I think framing it in the context of labor force participation, it just feels callous to me,” said Scott, adding that he was raised by a Black single mother in poverty. Yellen responded by saying that reproductive rights allow women to plan “fulfilling and satisfying” lives, which includes having the financial resources to raise a child. “In many cases, abortions are of teenage women, particularly low-income and often Black, who aren’t in a position to be able to care for children, have unexpected pregnancies, and it deprives them of the ability often to continue their education to later participate in the workforce,” Yellen said. “So there is a spillover into labor force participation, but it means the children will grow up in poverty and do worse themselves,” Yellen said. “This is not harsh. This is the truth,” she added. Fellow Democrats came to Yellen’s defense, including Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who admonished Scott not to “impose your experience and your circumstances on others until you walk in their shoes.” Senator Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat and another member of the banking panel, told CNN that Yellen was expressing a fundamental truth about women’s autonomy. “She was expressing what I believe almost every woman knows: If you don’t have control over your reproductive life, you don’t have control over any aspect of your life, including your economic opportunity,” Smith said. (Reporting by David Lawder, additional reporting by Susan Heavey;Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Halsey has revealed they have been newly diagnosed with numerous health conditions. The ‘Control’ hitmaker – real name Ashley Frangipane -has discovered they were being made unwell in part by undetected Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome after they “started getting really, really, really sick” from allergies. The 27-year-old pop star – who has nine-month-old son Ender with Alev Aydin – told fans via her Instagram Story: “Obviously my health has changed a lot since I got pregnant and gave birth. I started getting really, really, really, sick… I was hospitalized for anaphylaxis [a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction] a few times and I had some other stuff going on.” Halsey said that after “basically, after seeing a hundred thousand doctors” she was given the news. These conditions add to the ‘Closer’ hitmaker’s well-documented journey with health complications surrounding their endometriosis but Halsey has “been looking for answers” to what was causing the problems for a long time. Halsey said: “I’ve been looking for answers to the root cause of some of these things, which may be an autoimmune disease. And I know I’ve had autoimmune issues for most of my life, especially having endometriosis.” Halsey says “worrying” about her was not necessary as she shared that she was in rehearsal for their upcoming ‘Love and Power’ tour. They said: “I don’t want anybody to be worrying,” before detailing that “I’m really excited and I’m really confident that I’ll be able to do it in a way that’s healthy where I can perform my best for all of you.” Halsey quipped: “I’m here, I’m ready to go. The tour is going to be f****** crazy.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Patricia Zengerle, Idrees Ali and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russia’s war in Ukraine is at a “bit of a stalemate” and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be preparing for a long conflict, top U.S. intelligence officials said on Tuesday. Russia, which calls the invasion “a special military operation,” poured more troops into Ukraine for a huge offensive last month in the eastern part of the country but its gains have been slow. Russia’s assault on Kyiv was beaten back in March by Ukrainian resistance. “The Russians aren’t winning and the Ukrainians aren’t winning and we’re at a bit of a stalemate here,” Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He added that so far, between eight and 10 Russian generals have been killed. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that while Russia had made no major gains in Donbas, its troops were making incremental progress. The war has claimed thousands of civilian lives, sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing and reduced cities to rubble. Moscow has little to show for it beyond a strip of territory in the south and marginal gains in the east. Putin exhorted Russians to battle in a defiant Victory Day speech on Monday but was silent about plans for any escalation in Ukraine despite Western warnings that he might use his Red Square address to order a mobilization. During the same hearing, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said a Russian victory in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine might not end the war. “We assess President Putin is preparing for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine during which he still intends to achieve goals beyond the Donbas,” Haines told lawmakers. She said the United States had indications that Russia wanted to extend a landbridge to Moldova’s breakaway region of Transdniestria. “Combined with the reality that Putin faces a mismatch between his ambitions and Russia’s current conventional military capabilities … the next few months could see us moving along a more unpredictable and potentially escalatory trajectory,” Haines said. TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS Western concern at the risk of nuclear war increased after Putin launched the invasion on Feb. 24 with a speech pointedly referring to Moscow’s nuclear forces and warning that any attempt to get in Russia’s way “will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history.” Russia said last month it plans to deploy its newly tested Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of mounting nuclear strikes against the United States, by autumn. Asked about the prospect of Putin using tactical nuclear weapons, Berrier said: “Right now, we do not see that.” Haines said earlier that the intelligence community believes Putin would authorize the use of nuclear weapons only if he perceived an existential threat to the Russian state. U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said he was worried Putin did not have a way out of the Ukraine war. Biden said he was trying to figure out what to do about that. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Idrees Ali and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Mark Porter and Howard Goller) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tom Allard JAKARTA (Reuters) -The decisive victory of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines’ presidential election on Monday is set to re-shape the Southeast Asian country’s relations with China and the United States as he seeks closer ties with Beijing. Marcos, the son and namesake of the country’s former dictator, has long-standing ties with China and is seeking a new deal with Chinese ruler Xi Jinping over the contested waters of the South China Sea. Marcos’s relations with the United States, on the other hand, are complicated by a contempt of court order for his refusal to co-operate with the District Court of Hawaii, which in 1995 ordered the Marcos family to pay $2 billion of plundered wealth to victims of Marcos Sr.’s rule. The Philippines is a fulcrum of the geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China, with its maritime territory encompassing part of the South China Sea, a strategic and resource-rich waterway over which China also claims sovereignty. In 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under the International Law of the Sea ruled in favour of the Philippines over China’s claim, a decision seized upon by other claimant states, as well as the U.S. and its allies concerned by China’s construction of military installations on islands in the waters. But in interviews during the election campaign, Marcos said the ruling was “not effective” because China did not recognise it. He would seek a bilateral agreement with China to resolve their differences, he said. “If you let the U.S. come in, you make China your enemy,” he told DZRH Radio. “I think we can come to an agreement (with China). As a matter of fact, people from the Chinese embassy are my friends. We have been talking about that.” Antonio Carpio, the former Supreme Court Judge who led the Philippines’ legal team at the arbitral tribunal, said Marcos’s stance was a “betrayal”. “He’s taken the side of China against the Philippines,” he said. Rommel Banlaoi, a Manila-based security expert, said Marcos, also known as Bongbong, wanted friendlier ties with China but not at the expense of ceding territory. “He’s open to direct consultations and bilateral negotiations with China to settle their differences,” he said. “He is willing to explore areas of pragmatic co-operation with China, including the development of natural gas and oil in the West Philippines Sea.” The West Philippines Sea is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, but is also claimed by China. There have been repeated clashes between vessels belonging to the two countries in the area in recent years. ‘FOND MEMORIES’ Marcos is also keen to attract investment from China for his ambitious infrastructure agenda, said Banlaoi. “The Marcoses have very fond memories of their trips to China.” Marcos’s father ruled the Philippines for 20 years until 1986 and was a close U.S. ally but began engaging with China after diplomatic relations were established in 1975. A year earlier, Marcos Jr., then 18, accompanied his mother Imelda to Beijing in a historic trip that paved the way for the diplomatic detente. Footage of the trip shows the beaming youngster meeting Chinese leader Mao Zedong. It was the first of many visits. In a cable sent to Washington D.C. in March 2007, obtained by WikiLeaks, the U.S. embassy reported that Marcos “travelled frequently to the PRC in 2005 and 2006 to drum up business”. A month after the cable was written, China opened a consulate in Laoag City, capital of the family’s fiefdom in the province of Ilocos Norte, where Marcos was governor. Laoag City has a population of just 102,000 in a country of almost 110 million people and is one of two consulates outside the capital Manila. ‘COERCION AND AGGRESSION’ The United States has upped its engagement in Southeast Asia, and the Philippines, in recent months, to combat China’s “coercion and aggression” in the region. In March and April, more than 5,000 U.S. military personnel undertook exercises with their Philippine counterparts, the largest in seven years. Renato Cruz De Castro, an international affairs analyst at De la Salle university in Manila, said the manoeuvres highlighted how strategic imperatives had forced outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to build strong relations with Washington despite his hostility to the country’s former coloniser. Soon after he was elected, Duterte called for the Philippines’ “separation” from the U.S. and courted China. “Duterte realised that, whether you appease or challenge China, it doesn’t matter. They are still going to try to take your maritime territory,” he told Reuters. “Marcos might have some issues with the United States (but) he will face constraints from his bureaucrats and the armed forces who really value the alliance.” U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a press briefing on Tuesday it was too early to comment on the results of the Philippines election or the impact it might have on relations, but said “we look forward to renewing our special partnership” and working with a new administration in Manila. “As friends, as partners, as allies we’ll continue to collaborate closely to advance a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific region,” Price said. “We’ll also continue…to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law, which is fundamental to U.S. relations with the Philippines.” Marcos hasn’t visited the United States for 15 years, fearful of the consequences given he and his mother are facing a contempt of court ruling and a $353 million fine. That’s on top of the $2 billion payout he and his mother have been ordered to pay to 9,539 human rights victims, of which only $37 million has been recovered, according to the lawyer who launched the class action, Robert Swift. “Somebody might think and say, ‘OK, Let’s jail this person’. They can do that,” Marcos told a Philippines journalist, Anthony Taberna, in August. “We don’t take that risk anymore.” A spokesman for Marcos did not immediately respond to requests for comment on his U.S. travel plans as president. The U.S. State Department and Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment about whether Marcos would be granted diplomatic immunity if he visited. Swift, for his part, expected that he would get the customary immunity. “Bongbong Marcos’s apparent victory will be met with disappointment among many in Washington,” said Greg Poling, director of Southeast Asia Studies at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. “But it doesn’t change the fact that the U.S.-Philippines alliance is more vital than ever and the United States needs to continue working to deepen it.” Banlaoi said Marcos would seek to preserve the U.S. alliance but keep his options open. “Depending on how the bilateral relationship of the Philippines and the U.S. proceeds under BBM, renegotiating the mutual defence treaty remains an option,” he said, using another nickname for Marcos. (Reporting by Tom Allard; additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Nick Macfie) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sheila Dang (Reuters) – Billionaire Elon Musk said Tuesday he would reverse Twitter’s ban on former U.S. President Donald Trump when he buys the social media platform, the clearest signal of Musk’s intention to cut moderation of the site. Musk, the world’s richest person and chief executive of Tesla Inc, has inked a $44-billion deal to buy Twitter. He has called himself a “free speech absolutist” but given few specific details of his plans. Musk is expected to become Twitter’s temporary CEO after closing the deal, Reuters previously reported according to a source familiar with the matter. The question of reinstating Trump has been seen as a litmus test of how far Musk will go in making changes. Musk, speaking to the Financial Times Future of the Car conference, added that he and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey believe permanent bans should be “extremely rare” and reserved for accounts that operate bots or spread spam. Musk said the decision to ban Trump amplified Trump’s views among people on the political right, and he called the ban “morally wrong and flat-out stupid.” The suspension of Trump’s account, which had more than 88 million followers, silenced his primary megaphone days before the end of his term and follows years of debate about how social media companies should moderate the accounts of powerful global leaders. Trump was permanently suspended from Twitter shortly after the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol. Twitter cited “the risk of further incitement of violence” in its decision. Musk has also said the platform must limit speech as required by law, and he told a European Union official on Monday that EU policy was “exactly aligned” with his own thinking, referring to a new law that levies hefty fines on companies that do not control illegal content such as advertising aimed at children. ‘OUGHT TO BE EVERYWHERE’ Conservatives, who have accused San Francisco-based Twitter of bias against right-leaning views, have cheered the prospect of Trump’s return. “He (Trump) ought to be everywhere he can,” Republican Senator Rick Scott told reporters when asked about Musk’s comments. “We shouldn’t have social media companies that are restricting people’s ability to get their message out.” Democrats have said Trump’s potential reinstatement could constitute a threat to democracy, although some hope that a frequently-tweeting Trump could upset their base and rev up turnout in the November midterm congressional elections. Twitter declined to comment. Trump had previously told Fox News that he would not return to Twitter if allowed, preferring his own social media app, Truth Social, a Twitter-like platform that launched on the Apple app store in lat February and in which users post “truths” instead of tweets. Trump has revved up his messaging on the new platform after a slow start, posting about 50 times, mostly in the last week, to his 2.7 million followers. He averaged 18 tweets a day when he was president. There was no immediate comment from a Trump spokesperson. Trump is chairman of the company that owns Truth Social, which is merging with blank-check acquisition firm Digital World Acquisition Corp. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday Twitter’s ban on Trump was a matter for the company to decide. The Biden administration wants online platforms to protect freedom of speech but also ensure they are not forums for disinformation, she said. During the conference, Musk said the deal to acquire Twitter could be done in two to three months in the “best case scenario.” Earlier on Tuesday, Twitter shares fell to a level that indicated the stock market believed it was unlikely that Musk would make the acquisition for $44 billion, as he originally agreed. Musk’s decision to go after Twitter has concerned some Tesla investors and put pressure on the stock. Musk on Tuesday added that he would stay at Tesla “as long as I can be useful.” (Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer, David Morgan, Eva Mathews, Jeff Mason, Nandita Bose, Greg Roumeliotis and Peter Henderson; Editing by Nick Zieminski) View the full article

Published by Knewz By David Wetzel New York (Knewz) — More than 100 members of Congress are calling for ending the filibuster as abortion rights are in jeopardy. In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, members of Congress are urging the elimination of the filibuster, which would eliminate a minority party’s ability to essentially veto legislation through endless debate. The request comes after a leaked Supreme Court draft suggested the high court is poised to reverse the historic Roe v. Wade decision that allows abortion and protects other women’s rights. “This decision has given people safer a… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Jesse Williams is baring it all on stage in “Take Me Out,” but one theatergoer decided to share it with the world. Video and photos taken from inside the Hayes Theater leaked online Monday, showing the “Grey’s Anatomy” star fully naked in the Broadway play about a gay professional baseball player. The images are not just an invasion of privacy but also against the rules: “Take Me Out” requires its audience to lock up their phones in felt pouches with magnetic security tags to protect its stars, including Williams, who was nominated for a Tony for the role Monday, and Patrick J. Adam… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dave Chappelle’s Hollywood Bowl show won’t be included in Netflix’s upcoming comedy specials. The 48-year-old comedian appeared to be tackled to the ground as he performed as part of the ‘Netflix Is A Joke’ festival, with LAPD officers later confirming they were holding 23-year-old Isaiah Lee in custody in connection with the incident. The controversial performance isn’t set to appear on the streaming platform, although The Hollywood Reporter notes this isn’t down to the alleged attacked. Before the festival, the company explained the four sold-out shows wouldn’t be filmed for a special. However, Chappelle did have his own cameras there to shoot the set – which comedians often do when it comes to testing new material – so it’s likely professionally shot footage of the incident does exist. n Thursday (05.05.22), the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Isaiah Lee has been charged with battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorised access to the stage area during a performance and commission of an act that delays an event or interferes with a performer following the incident during Chappelle’s show. City Attorney Mike Feuer said: “This alleged attack has got to have consequences.” Dave previously insisted he wouldn’t let the “unfortunate and unsettling” attack “overshadow” his history-making Hollywood Bowl show. His spokesperson said: “This run ties Chappelle with ‘Monty Python’ for the most headlined shows by any comedian at the Hollywood Bowl, reaching 70k fans of diverse backgrounds during the first Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival, and he refuses to allow last night’s incident to overshadow the magic of this historic moment. “As unfortunate and unsettling as the incident was, Chappelle went on with the show.” Footage shared online showed a man in a black hoodie rushing toward the stage and pushing the comic before being stopped by security guards and members of the star’s team as he attempted to flee. The would-be attacker was removed from the venue on a stretcher and an LAPD spokesperson said Lee was treated for injuries before being charged and booked. Meanwhile, Netflix has instead announced a roster of specials featuring the likes of David Letterman, Amy Schumer, Pete Davidson and Snoop Dogg, as well as ‘The Hall: Honouring the Greats of Stand-Up’ paying tribute to Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers and George Carlin. There will also be ‘A Tribute To Bob Saget’, ‘Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration’ and more. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Camila Cabello has launched her Protect Our Kids Fund. The 25-year-old singer has teamed up with Equality Florida and Lambda Legal on the initiative, which will offer resources to students, teachers, and families impacted by Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law – which restricts schools on their teaching of sexual orientation and gender issues in the state – because she is “appalled” by the legislation and insisted “every” family deserves respect. Camila – who launched the fund with a benefit concert at the San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood on Sunday (08.05.22) – said: “As someone who grew up and still lives in Florida, I am appalled that my home state is putting the health and lives of young Floridians at risk by passing this law and inviting discrimination into our schools. We must protect every student and respect every family. “I am so grateful to all of our founding partners who are standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth and families, and raising money for the Protect All Kids Fund to help Lambda Legal and Equality Florida stop this hateful law.” Additional founding members of the Protect Our Kids Fund include Lance Bass, Casey Bloys, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita, Lilly Singh, and Sara Gilbert. The initiative has already raised over $550,000 and further donations can be made at the Fund’s website. Equality Florida insisted there is an “overwhelming” need for the fund as the “chilling effect” of the legislation can already be seen in the state’s schools. Their executive director, Nadine Smith, said: “The need for support is overwhelming — this cruel law is already having a chilling effect on Florida schools. “Anti-bullying resources have been removed by the Florida Department of Education. Books that include gay parents or any LGBTQ+ characters are being challenged and yanked from school bookshelves. Even And Tango Makes Three, the true story of two penguins raising a chick together at a zoo has been challenged as ‘obscene’ because the adult penguins are both male.” “This law emboldens a small, angry cadre of anti-LGBTQ+ adults to intimidate school districts and incentivises them to sue for $10,000 no matter how frivolous or extreme their claims. “As a parent I believe our laws must ensure our children’s safety, protection, and freedom. But now politicians are cynically rejecting those values and advancing legislation that targets LGBTQ+ kids for bullying and mistreatment, just because of who they are. “Our schools should protect all students — including LGBTQ+ students — so they can learn and thrive in a safe environment. These bills will force schools to violate that most basic trust. “We will continue to stand with the families who have fought to be recognised and the students who demanded to be included and respected.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Azealia Banks has claimed Lady Gaga asked her to feud with Nicki Minaj. The ‘Licorice’ hitmaker was unimpressed when a fan suggested she collaborate with the ‘Poker Face’ singer, insisting she has no “respect” for the ‘Star is Born’ actress after she allegedly asked her to get involved with her “beef” with Nicki. She replied in a series of tweets: “Lastly, no. That woman has zero respect for Black women. I cannot ever respect her for literally asking me to beef with Nicki Minaj on her behalf, I refuse and send a less incendiary song, insinuates that were gonna spill Nicki’s *human blood* (f****** eye roll)… “The gays have been falling for her hodge podge pseudo bs for years. At least Lana has the balls to admit that she’s a whites only water fountain confederate sally American lynch-mob romanticist…. “Like her deep deep jealousy and hatred for Nicki Minaj and the sneaky s*** she was saying and trying to do behind the scenes was just gross. If I want to beef or pop s*** about Nicki I will do so on my own accord. I will never do a white woman’s bidding for her. TUH.(sic)” The ‘212’ hitmaker insisted she had proof of Gaga “s*** talking” Nicki written in an old phone. She wrote: “I definitely have those Lady Gaga shit talking Nicki Minaj reciepts in an old phone, telling me she wanted to drink my blood…(sic)” And Azealia hit back at Twitter users suggesting she was just upset the ‘Bad Romance’ singer had rejected her for a collaboration. She replied: “Pfffft . I never EVER sent the girl a collab. She sent me TWO, I turned in ONE , and she will STILL never EVER beat “212,” … Azealia Banks is the Diva who outwhitegirled all the white girls and they are STILL PRESSED.(sic)” View the full article

Published by The Bangkok Post SAN FRANCISCO: Social network Grindr on Monday said it has hooked up with a special purpose acquisition company to become a publicly traded company valued, out of the gate, at $2.1 billion. Los Angeles-based Grindr expected to raise $384 million when it combines with Tiga Acquisition Corp and becomes Grindr Inc. “Grindr is the leading platform focused on the LGBTQ+ community for digital connection and engagement,” said chief executive Jeff Bonforte. “Grindr is well positioned to be a public company and will continue to expand the ways it serves the LGBTQ+ community.” Grindr had an average of 1… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — The city of Chicago will spend $500,000 to support abortion access for residents and people from neighboring states in anticipation of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Monday. The money will go toward transportation, lodging, care “and, if necessary, safe and legal access to an abortion procedure,” Lightfoot said. Lightfoot’s pledge comes after a leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling previewed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case. Reiterating a concern she first expressed after the opinion leaked, Lightfoot said the case’s rep… Read More View the full article

Published by PopCrush Footage of people waving Nazi flags outside an entrance to Disney World has gone viral on TikTok. TikTok user @pcdevv captured a brief clip of what appears to be at least two people holding flags emblazoned with swastikas in front of a sign welcoming visitors into the Disney park in Florida. Another person in the group appears to be holding a megaphone. “Happening right now at Walt Disney World,” text on the video reads. “Things are starting to get crazy,” the TikTok user captioned the 5-second clip. Watch the video below: @pcdevv Things are starting to get crazy.. #SearchForWonderMom #news #d… Read More View the full article