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Published by ScreenCrush As evidenced by the fact that Paramount made a sequel more than 30 years later, Top Gunremains one of the 1980s most popular and iconic movies. These days it is remembered as this watershed film for Hollywood. It was the breakthrough role for Tom Cruise, the first big hit for director Tony Scott, and the production that cemented Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson as major hitmakers. It’s easy to forget all these years later that the movie was not a sure thing, and that it very nearly didn’t happen several different times, and for several different reasons. At first, Paramount didn’t even want t… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — The field of the nominees for the 75th annual Tony Awards was set in stone on Monday morning, as the theater industry shakes off the coronavirus pandemic and prepares to celebrate a season packed with powerful plays. “A Strange Loop,” a new, meta musical about a Black gay dramatist creating a musical, led the field with 11 nominations, including a nod in the best new musical category. “Paradise Square,” a new musical spun from a neighborhood of Irish immigrants and African Americans in Civil War-era lower Manhattan, picked up 10 nominations, as did “MJ,” a musical drawn from the son… Read More View the full article

Published by Knewz By Richard Horgan Los Angeles (Knewz) — The fourth annual “National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health” by the Trevor Project is the most expansive one yet, encompassing just under 34,000 LGBTQ youth across the United States ages 13 to 24. The main study findings are harrowing, with 45 percent of respondents saying they seriously considered suicide in the past year and 14 percent (4,760 individuals) stating they made an unsuccessful attempt. The suicide-attempts rate has, sadly, held steady the past few years among LGTBQ youth, registering at 14 percent in 2021 and 15 percent in 2020. Suicide… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Will Young knew he couldn’t “save” his twin brother. The ‘Leave Right Now’ hitmaker’s sibling Rupert took his own life in August 2020 following a long battle with alcoholism and depression and the 43-year-old singer revealed he’d reported his brother as a trespasser and thrown him out of his house just a week before his sad passing but he insisted he’d done all he could to help. Will said: “At the end, he would be drinking 24 hours a day. You’ve got this monster who’s not moving. So the only thing was to throw him out but also to be aware he might end up killing himself. I was OK with everything I’d done to try to help him… “I had a big moment where I realised I couldn’t save him and that brought a whole lot of grief.” Will also revealed he hit Rupert the last time he saw him. He added: “I don’t have a problem with that because he deserved that.” Rupert had moved in with his famous brother in 2016, and the ‘Evergreen’ singer was effectively his carer. He recalled in upcoming Channel 4 documentary ‘Will Young: Losing My Twin Rupert’: “My day would start. Either he was sick or he would have peed on the sofa, so I’d have to clear that up, then go get more beers and codeine because he was addicted to painkillers.” Rupert had managed to get sober for three years, and his brother had his initials tattooed on his arm to mark the milestone and to show how “proud” he was. He added: “I do think it meant a lot to him.” But after breaking up with his girlfriend, Rupert hit the bottle again. Will said: “Rupert piled shame on top of shame because he’d let me down again.” Rupert was admitted to hospital after threatening to jump off Westminster Bridge, but managed to discharge himself before taking his own life at the same location three days later. The former ‘Pop Idol’ winner hopes sharing their story will help other people. He said: “It’s important to tell my story, to tell Rupert’s story, to tell my family’s story and to tell the story of 20 years living with my twin, who was an alcoholic. Other people will be experiencing this and I don’t want them to feel alone.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration has secured commitments from 20 internet providers including Verizon, Comcast and AT&T to cut prices or increase internet speeds for millions of U.S. families, administration officials said. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will unveil the agreements on Monday at a ceremony with executives from companies that provide internet services. The commitments are part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is an aspect of the infrastructure law passed with support from Republicans and Democrats last year. It helps eligible American families reduce their internet bills by as much as $30 a year, the White House said. With the new commitments, tens of millions of households that are eligible for the ACP will receive internet service free of charge, it said. Households with low incomes can qualify for the program. Receiving federal assistance through other programs, such as food subsidies or the Medicaid low-income health insurance programs, also makes a household eligible. A senior administration official told reporters on a conference call that the companies had made the commitments voluntarily. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Bradley Perrett) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Diane Keaton thinks Reese Witherspoon’s 18-year-old son is “gorgeous”. The 76-year-old actress recently mistook a photo of Deacon Phillippe – whose father is the ‘Legally Blonde’ actress’ ex-husband Ryan Phillippe – for one of the young Leonardo DiCaprio but despite the confusion, she stands by her initial assertion that he’s very attractive. After talk show host Ellen DeGeneres pointed out her gaffe, Diane replied: “Oh I made that mistake, whoops, but look at him. That’s gorgeous. How old is he now?” Ellen quipped: “Too young for you, he’s a child, look at him.” Diane replied: “Maybe he’d like to know me. No, no, no… Shall I leave?” Deacon isn’t the only young man to have caught Diane’s eye as she’s known to be a fan of Justin Bieber and had a great time recently filming the “gorgeous and genius” star’s ”Ghost’ music video. She said: “So much fun, you guys. No, he’s a great man. Young man! Gorgeous and genius. “It was one of the most pleasant experiences of my life. “I loved it. He’s adorable, he’s the greatest guy. Special, sweet.” While the ‘Book Club’ star insisted she isn’t dating at the moment, she suggested she’s previously dated a 20 year old. She said: “The youngest age of a man I’ve gone out with? I don’t go out. “Let’s pretend I have. Probably someone like 20. Not recently! I haven’t been out.” The ‘Poms’ actress – who has two adopted children, Dexter, 27, and Duke, 22 – has previously dated the likes of Woody Allen, Warren Beatty and Al Pacino but never married and doesn’t regret the fact she didn’t. She previously said: “I think I’m the only one in my generation and maybe before who has been a single woman all her life. “[I’m not sad] because I think that I needed more of a maternal aspect. I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to have married, and I’m really glad I didn’t, and I’m sure they’re happy about it, too.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Joe Alwyn has insisted writing songs with Taylor Swift was “accidental”. The ‘Conversations With Friends’ actor has two co-writing tracks on his girlfriend’s ‘Folklore’ album and three on the follow-up ‘Evermore’ under the pseudonym William Bowery, but he insisted the pair didn’t deliberately set out to forge a musical partnership. Speaking to the new issue of GQ Hype magazine, he said: “It was really the most accidental thing to happen in lockdown. “It wasn’t like, ‘It’s three o’clock, it’s time to write a song!’ It was just messing around on a piano and singing badly and being overheard and then thinking, you know, ‘What if we tried to get to the end of it together?’ “ Joe found it particularly “surreal” having Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon singing ‘Exile’ with Taylor, but described it as a “perk” of the coronavirus pandemic. He added: “Sending it to Justin with the idea of doing a duet and getting voice notes back of him singing over the top and stuff was surreal. It was a perk of lockdown.” The 31-year-old actor’s collaboration with the ‘Shake It Off’ hitmaker was originally kept secret because they didn’t want their relationship to overshadow the music. Joe explained: “The idea was that people would just listen to the music rather than focus on the fact that we wrote it together.” And though the songs were well received, Joe has no plans to write any more with his girlfriend, though he enjoyed the experience. He said: “It was fun to do it together, and I was proud of it. It was nice getting such a positive reception.” The ‘Harriet’ actor confirmed there’s likely to be a version of ‘Exile’ with him on it somewhere, but he hopes it’s never made public. He exclaimed: “Jesus, there’s probably a voice note somewhere that should be burned.” Read the full feature online at GQ Hype now: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/joe-alwyn-interview-2022 View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega CNN has benched the partner of newly appointed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre from covering certain topics connected to politics in an effort to avoid conflict of interest problems following Jean-Pierre’s new role in the Biden Administration, Radar has learned. In a development resulting from the mounting backlash against CNN, President Joe Biden’s White House, Press Secretary Jean-Pierre and her longtime partner Suzanne Malveaux, the major news network ultimately decided to bar Malveaux from covering politics and a number of other topics as long as Jean-Pierre is serving as Biden’s press secretary. Mega “Suzanne Malveaux will continue in her role as CNN National Correspondent covering national/international news and cultural events but will not cover politics, Capitol Hill, or the White House while Karine Jean-Pierre is serving as White House Press Secretary,” Matt Dornic, CNN’s spokesperson, recently confirmed in a statement. Malveaux’s move away from politics and towards “national/international news and cultural events” comes as an understandable, albeit shocking, decision from CNN given the 55-year-old correspondent’s 20-year history at the news network covering not only politics and the White House, but also a stretch hosting The Situation Room – a program focusing largely in part on political news. As RadarOnline.com reported, on Thursday President Biden announced Jean-Pierre as his pick to take over as White House Press Secretary following Jen Psaki’s departure from the role on May 13. “Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people,” Biden said in a statement on Thursday after Psaki welcomed Jean-Pierre as her successor. Mega But shortly after Jean-Pierre was confirmed as the next White House Press Secretary, and it was revealed that her partner was a correspondent for CNN, the pair came under substantial scrutiny over the potential conflict of interest problems such a relationship would no doubt create. “As I reported in Breaking the News, Karine Jean-Pierre is married to CNN anchor and national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux,” Breitbart News editor-in-chief Alex Marrow tweeted shortly after Thursday’s announcement. “This is one of many examples of the corporate media LITERALLY in bed with the government it covers.” “What is the name of the Universe where this is not a Conflict of Interest?” another surprised citizen tweeted. “As of 2020, Jean-Pierre lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her partner, CNN correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.” Besides the backlash over her relationship to a CNN correspondent, and the network’s decision to bench Malveaux from covering politics to avoid conflict of interest problems, Jean-Pierre also made headlines as the first Black woman and openly gay person to be appointed White House Press Secretary – a monumental feat that Jean-Pierre touched upon when her new role was revealed on Thursday. Mega “I am still processing it because, as Jen [Psaki] said at the top, this is a historic moment, and it’s not lost on me,” Jean-Pierre said. “I understand how important it is for so many people out there, so many different communities that I stand on their shoulders and I have been throughout my career, and so, it is an honor and a privilege to be behind this podium.” “That is something that I will honor and do my best to represent this president and this first lady the best that I can, but also the American people.” View the full article

Published by Reuters MANILA, (Reuters) -An unofficial vote count in the Philippines presidential election showed a huge early lead for Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the notorious late dictator who ruled the country for 20 years. Marcos had 15.3 million votes, more than double the number those of his nearest rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, with 46.9% the number of eligible ballots counted, according to an unofficial count by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) . The big early lead raises the prospect of a once unthinkable return to rule of the Marcos family, 36 years after its patriarch’s overthrow in a “people power” revolution and his family’s humiliating retreat into exile. It closely tracks the outcome of all opinion polls this year, which showed Marcos, a former senator and congressman, with a huge advantage over Robredo, who is allied with the movement that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Despite its fall from grace, the Marcos family returned from exile in the 1990s and has since been a powerful force in politics, retaining its influence with vast wealth and far-reaching connections. The vote was also a chance for Marcos to avenge his loss to Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential election, a narrow defeat by just 200,000 votes that he sought unsuccessfully to overturn. Marcos has presented no real policy platform but his presidency is expected to provide continuity from outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose ruthless, strongman approach proved popular and helped him to consolidate power rapidly. (Reporting by Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Nick Macfie) View the full article

Published by Relaxnews Queer Britain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum, opened its doors in London this week, promising to bring the history and culture of the community to a wider audience. Housed in a 19th-century building in a redeveloped area behind King’s Cross railway station, the museum has been four years in the making and is entirely financed by private donations. A major exhibition is slated for the coming months combining photos, artworks and costumes. Visitors can already discover the history of the community in the UK, from cross-dressing Victorians to more recent Pride marches. Pioneers honoured include ra… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to return to the U.K. to take part in Her Majesty’s celebration of 70 years on the throne. Although the royal couple are rumored to play big roles in certain events, according to sources, Netflix won’t be getting the coveted footage. Staff at Buckingham Palace are reportedly already planning to ban all Netflix camera crews from filming at Queen Elizabeth II‘s Platinum Jubilee festivities as a way to avoid “tension” within the royal family. mega “Even if they accept that their Netflix crew can’t go into Buckingham Palace to film, they could cause problems – and at the very least cause a major distraction,” an insider spilled to The Sun. “Senior courtiers believe that Netflix will see it as one big opportunity to exploit their mega-millions agreement with the couple.” The insider explained a team of palace aides would be keeping a close watch on any crew in attendance, and stand at the ready to remind them that there will be no filming. This update comes after sources dished Netflix execs are becoming increasingly unhappy with the royal couple. The streaming service higher-ups reportedly felt snubbed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for choosing to give a bombshell interview detailing their meeting with the Queen to NBC. “Netflix would have loved the first comments about the visit to the Queen for the documentary,” the insider continued on the streaming giant’s recent tensions with Harry and Meghan. “There was a real sense of annoyance that they were made to another broadcaster.” mega Netflix’s irritation is said to stem from their preexisting multi-million dollar deal with the Sussexes to produce documentaries, docuseries, feature films and family programming. Netflix is upset they are paying them so much money for their content, but not being offered the opportunity to cover some of their best interviews. This isn’t Harry and Meghan’s first issue with their lucrative business deal with the streaming service. Netflix recently dropped their animated children’s seriesPearl. The family show was set to follow the many adventures of a young girl as she learns about some of the most important women in history. It is presently unclear if the royal couple plan to offer the series to a different streaming service, or if the show is dead in the water. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Hugh Dancy admits it was “surreal” stepping onto the ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ set. The 46-year-old actor – who plays fictional film director Jack Barber in the big screen sequel – insisted while he didn’t feel strange joining a long-term cast, the situation as a whole was “surreal” for everyone. Speaking to GuysUGuys.com, he said: “It was lovely! It wasn’t surreal – I know what you mean. “It was surreal a bit as it was for everybody because this was made slap bang in the middle of COVID and we’d all really been in full lockdown, and suddenly here we all were together in a room with people. “Some of them I knew from before, some of them I didn’t. I suppose the question was, ‘Are they gonna be nice to me?’ It was easy!” Dancy praised the atmosphere on set too, and noted he could instantly tell it was a happy crew, which has been passed down “right from the top”. He added: “I was thrilled, I was really happy to be coming in doing this part. You still don’t know – it’s funny, I think that with anything like this, the tone of it is set right from the top and you could tell as soon as you walked in that everyone was having a good time.” The ‘Hannibal’ actor was asked about any potential initiations for newcomers on set, and Michell Dockery – who has played Lady Mary Talbot since the period drama first launched as an ITV series in 2010 – joked they came up with a musical task. She quipped: “We made him sing the theme tune for Downton Abbey and make up his own words and score them.” Dancy teased: “And it’s in the movie!” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are reportedly planning to make their official tours “less formal” and want to be addressed by their first names. Prince William and his wife Catherine – who was known as Kate Middleton before their marriage – are keen to “move with the times” and want to push plans for a huge shake-up of protocol following the criticism they faced on their Caribbean tour earlier this year. An insider told the Sunday Mirror newspaper that the couple want to scrap “stuffy” processes including people having to curtsy or bow when they meet. The source said: “They want to be more approachable, less formal, less stuffy and break away with a lot of the tradition. “When the team arrived back in London [from the Caribbean] the couple had a debrief with aides. “They went over everything and pinpointed specific things that went wrong and how to improve moving forward. “The general consensus was that the tour seemed out of date, out of touch, too formal and stuffy. “So now it’s more ‘Wills and Kate’ instead of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge… ‘Just call me Wills’ type of thing. “They want to try to avoid the bows and curtsies in public, be more approachable, less formal, less stuffy, and break away with a lot of the tradition and focus on a modern monarchy.” The couple’s Caribbean trip was hit by protesters campaigning to have Britain apologise for being involved in the slave trade in the past, while their stop in Jamaica came at a time when the country is considering following some of the other island nations and dropping Queen Elizabeth as head of state. They were also criticised for pictures showing them shaking hands with well-wishers who were standing behind a metal cage fence, and for echoing a previous visit made by the queen and her late husband, Prince Philip, and standing in an open-topped Land Rover during a Commissioning Parade. The insider said: “If they could wave a magic wand and go back in time, they would change almost everything about the Caribbean tour. “William and Kate are now both very aware that to certain parts of the world, and to the younger generations, the monarchy is a symbol of colonialism and a time gone by. “Now, it seems silly to have celebrated that and push royal traditions during the tour. “One of the big mistakes they pinpointed was echoing the Queen and Prince Phillip’s military parade, standing up in the open-top Land Rover. “In retrospect, the team decided that this was one of the main symbols that showed the Royal Family hadn’t changed and moved on with the times. It portrayed a very elitist and out of touch monarchy, and this can no longer be the image it should portray in order to survive. “It was a shock to them all. A real eye-opener. This is what prompted institutional change within the monarchy. Otherwise, they just wouldn’t survive.” While there are said to be plans for an “overhaul” of the “rules and traditions” the entire royal family are bound by, the focus is currently on William and Catherine – who have three children – because they are seen as representing “the future of the monarchy”. View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – An Alabama law that makes it a felony to provide gender-affirming medical treatment to transgender youth went into effect on Sunday while a federal judge weighs whether to grant a motion to put a temporary hold on it. The legislation makes it a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison to provide puberty blockers, hormones and medical procedures to transgender youth under 19. Governor Kay Ivey had signed the bill on April 8. A similar but not as far-reaching law in Arkansas was blocked by the courts last year before it could go into effect. After a two-day hearing concluded on Friday, U.S. District Judge Liles Burke gave no indication on when he will rule on the motion seeking to temporarily halt enforcement of the ban while a lawsuit is pending, according to local media reports. The lawsuit, brought by organizations including the Human Rights Campaign and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, argues the ban would cause “immediate and irreparable” harm to the plaintiffs and that the measure violates several of their constitutional rights. The groups filed the lawsuit on behalf of parents of four Alabama transgender youth, two physicians and a minister. The U.S. Department of Justice has joined the case, saying the Alabama law “violated the equal protection clause” of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment. Mainstream medical and mental health professionals say gender-affirming care saves lives by reducing the already high risk of depression and suicide among trans youth. Gender-reassignment surgery for people under 18 is extremely rare and would take place only after years of treatment in cases where the patient’s wishes are unwavering, according to medical experts. Transgender rights have emerged as a wedge issue in the culture wars ahead of the November midterm congressional elections. Republican lawmakers have introduced hundreds of bills across state legislatures, the majority of them directed at trans youth. Many Republicans and conservative activists promote the laws as safeguards for children and parental rights. Opponents, including Democrats and LGBTQ organizations, say the legislation is harmful, unnecessary and would have dire consequences on an already vulnerable population. According to a recent survey by the Trevor Project, a non-profit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth, 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth said they have worried about trans people “being denied access to gender-affirming medical care due to state or local laws.” (Reporting by Maria Caspani; Editing by Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by AFP Abortion rights actvists gather outside the US Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on May 3, 2022 New York (AFP) – After carefully avoiding the taboo topic for decades, more and more US companies are taking a stand on the right to abortion, a sign of a new generation with growing influence and very different expectations than their predecessors. Mere hours after the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion indicating the national right to abortion would be overturned, a variety of American businesses began to react publicly. “Given what is at stake, business leaders need to make their voices heard and act to protect the health and well-being of our employees,” Levi Strauss said in a statement. “That means protecting reproductive rights.” Like the iconic denim brand, Apple has also pledged to cover costs for employees who have to travel to another state to get an abortion. Revoking the nationwide right to abortion “will jeopardize the human rights of millions of women,” the review platform Yelp told AFP, saying it would have “a seismic impact on our society and economy” and urging other companies to “step up to safeguard their employees.” Since Texas in September implemented a law banning abortion after six weeks — before many women even know they are pregnant, and with no exceptions for rape or incest — the stigma on speaking out has started to break. Amazon, Uber and even the bank Citigroup have all announced they will cover the additional costs that the Texas legislation might cause for their employees. “We’re in a very unusual political time where this issue’s come back up as a pressing political issue, and it will force companies to take a stand,” said Maurice Schweitzer, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton business school. “Businesses that are located in states that might overturn (abortion access), they have to make a decision one way or the other: Are they going to offer that benefit in terms of travel to a location where those services could be accessed? Or are they not?” said Neeru Paharia, a professor at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. “It kind of forces a lot of these (companies) to take a stand on this issue.” According to The New York Times, Tesla, which moved its headquarters from California to Texas, has also pledged to cover its employees’ abortion-related expenses. ‘New generational thing’ The newfound boldness of US businesses is also tied to the fact that “in this country, people who are pro-choice are larger in number than people who are anti-abortion,” said Paharia. The announcements by several leading companies are part of a “general trend” that has been developing for the past decade and “picked up steam” under former US president Donald Trump, she said. Immigration, LGBT rights, gun regulations, the Black Lives Matter movement, voting rights — hot-button issues keep coming up, in a climate of heightened polarization, and many companies have been pressured to respond by their employees. “This is a new generational thing,” explained Mark Hass, a journalism and communication professor at Arizona State University. “The millennial generation, Gen Z are… increasingly concerned about who they work for, the values of those companies.” “Companies like Apple, companies like Amazon, companies like Uber… rely on having the best employees,” he said. “So their employees are sort of their North Star,” or guiding force. Paharia agreed: “It’s a tight labor market, and certain kinds of job skills are hard to come by.” In a country where public confidence in elected officials has been eroding for many years, employees are also expecting more from their employers, she said. Schweitzer made a distinction between the new economy’s flagship companies, whose employees are better educated than average and often able to work anywhere, and more traditional companies, which are sometimes located in more conservative regions of the United States. The latter often have less mobile and less skilled workers, with a more limited influence on their employer. “That’s going to be a big part of why tech companies, for example, are going to react more strongly to this than other companies who would rather stay out of it,” he said. Unlike before, firms that have taken sides publicly have generally avoided backlash, calls for boycotts or smear campaigns. Republican Senator Marco Rubio did introduce a bill Tuesday that would prevent companies from receiving tax breaks on expenses tied to covering abortion-related travel, but the bill is unlikely to pass. However, “the groups that are interested in restricting abortion access, they’re a minority. And they seem to be winning on this issue right now,” said Schweitzer. “So I’m not surprised that they’re being a little bit quiet.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Guy Faulconbridge LONDON (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin will send a “doomsday” warning to the West when he leads celebrations on Monday marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, brandishing Russia’s vast firepower while its forces fight on in Ukraine. Defiant in the face of deep Western isolation since he ordered the invasion of Russia’s neighbour, Putin will speak on Red Square before a parade of troops, tanks, rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles. A fly-past over St Basil’s Cathedral will include supersonic fighters, Tu-160 strategic bombers and, for the first time since 2010, the Il-80 “doomsday” command plane, which would carry Russia’s top brass in the event of a nuclear war, the Defence Ministry said. In that scenario, the Il-80 is designed to become the roaming command centre for the Russian president. It is packed with technology but specific details are Russian state secrets. The 69-year-old Kremlin leader has repeatedly likened the war in Ukraine to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Adolf Hitler’s Nazis invaded in 1941. “The attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly,” Putin said on Feb. 24 when he announced what he called a special military operation in Ukraine. “We will not make such a mistake a second time, we have no right.” Putin casts the war in Ukraine as a battle to protect Russian speakers there from persecution by Nazis and to guard against what he terms the U.S. threat to Russia posed by NATO enlargement. Ukraine and the West dismiss the fascism claim as nonsense and say Putin is waging an unprovoked war of aggression. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, more than any other country, and Putin has railed in recent years at what Moscow sees as attempts in the West to revise the history of the war to belittle the Soviet victory. Beside the 1812 defeat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the defeat of Nazi Germany is the Russians’ most revered military triumph, though both catastrophic invasions from the west left Russia deeply sensitive about its borders. SHADOW OF UKRAINE The war in Ukraine will cast a long shadow over this Victory Day. Russia’s invasion has killed thousands of people and displaced nearly 10 million. It has also left Russia in the grip of tough Western sanctions, and has raised fears of a wider confrontation between Russia and the United States – by far the world’s biggest nuclear powers. Although 11,000 troops marching across Red Square along with what the Defence Ministry has said will be 131 pieces of military hardware will present a grand spectacle, the Ukraine conflict has exposed weaknesses in Russia’s armed forces despite Putin’s attempt in his two decades in power to halt the post-Soviet decline. The Kremlin has been denied a quick victory and the Russian economy – squeezed hard by sanctions – is facing the worst contraction since the years following the fall of the Soviet Union. Less than two decades ago, U.S. President George W. Bush joined Putin for the May 9 celebrations in Moscow. This year no Western leader was invited, the Kremlin said. The United States and its allies have ramped up supplies of weapons to Ukraine and Putin has faced calls from some in the Russian military to unleash greater firepower on Ukraine, two sources close to the armed forces told Reuters. Moscow has told the West that its arms supplies are legitimate targets. Ahead of May 9, speculation swirled across Moscow and Western capitals that Putin was preparing some sort of special announcement on Ukraine, perhaps an outright declaration of war or even a national mobilisation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed those suggestions on Wednesday, describing them as “nonsense”. The Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment on what Putin might say in his speech, to be delivered from the Red Square tribune in front of Vladimir Lenin’s Mausoleum. Last year, Putin jabbed at Western exceptionalism and what he said was the rise of neo-Nazism and Russophobia – trends he has returned to again and again when addressing the issue of Ukraine. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Reuters KABUL (Reuters) -Afghanistan’s Taliban government ordered women on Saturday to cover their faces in public, a return to a signature policy of their past hardline rule and an escalation of restrictions that are causing anger at home and abroad. A decree from the group’s supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, said that if a woman did not cover her face outside home, her father or closest male relative would be visited and face potential prison or firing from state jobs. “We call on the world to co-operate with the Islamic Emirate and people of Afghanistan … Don’t bother us. Don’t bring more pressure, because history is witness, Afghans won’t be affected by pressure,” Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the minister for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, told a news conference. The ideal face covering was the all-encompassing blue burqa, the group said, referring to the garment that was obligatory for women in public during the Taliban’s previous 1996-2001 rule. Most women in Afghanistan wear a headscarf for religious reasons but many in urban areas such as Kabul do not cover their faces. GROWING RESTRICTIONS The Taliban has faced intense criticism from Western governments, but also by some religious scholars and Islamic nations, for limiting women’s rights including keeping girls’ high schools closed. The United Nations’ mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement on Saturday that it would immediately seek meetings with the Taliban over the issue, adding it would consult with others in the international community on the implications of the ruling. “UNAMA is deeply concerned with today’s announcement by the Taliban de facto authorities … this decision contradicts numerous assurances regarding respect for and protection of all Afghans’ human rights,” the statement said. The United States and others have already cut development aid and sanctioned the banking system since the group took over in August, pushing Afghanistan towards economic ruin. The Taliban says it has changed since its last rule, but in recent months has added regulations limiting women’s movement without a male chaperone and banning men and women from visiting parks together. “It is interfering with women’s private lives,” Kabul-based women’s rights advocate Mahbouba Seraj said of Saturday’s decree. “Today we have lots of other problems, like suicide attacks, poverty … People are dying every day, our girls can’t go to school, women can’t work … But they just think and speak and make laws about hijab (women’s Islamic dress).” (Reporting by Kabul Newsroom; Additional reporting by Jibran Ahmad in Peshawar, Pakistan;Writing by Charlotte GreenfieldEditing by Michael Perry, Andrew Cawthorne and Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tom Hiddleston hopes Loki coming out as bisexual was “meaningful to people who spotted it”. The 41-year-old actor plays the first bisexual lead character in the Marvel Universe – but Tom admits there’s “further to go”. Asked about starring in the Disney+ series ‘Loki’, Tom replied: “I was just really honoured to be asked. We all wanted to retain the integrity of the character – I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose the bits that people loved, while doing something new.” Tom – who previously played Loki in several Marvel movies, including ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ – acknowledges that Loki coming out as bisexual was still only a “small step”. But he maintains that it’s an “important” moment for the franchise. He told the Guardian newspaper: “I also hope Loki coming out as bisexual was meaningful to people who spotted it. It was a small step, and there’s further to go. But it was definitely important to all of us.” Loki’s sexuality is addressed in the third episode of the series. Sylvie, a female character, asks Loki: “How about you? You’re a prince. Must’ve been would-be princesses or perhaps another prince?” And Loki replies: “A bit of both. I suspect the same as you.” Marvel writer Kate Herron has also addressed the issue on Twitter. She previously wrote on the micro-blogging platform: “From the moment I joined @LokiOfficial it was very important to me, and my goal, to acknowledge Loki was bisexual. (sic)” However, the writer accepted that, at this stage, it’s just a “small step”. She said: “It is a part of who he is and who I am too. I know this is a small step but I’m happy, and heart is so full, to say that this is now Canon in #mcu #Loki (sic)” View the full article

Published by AFP Nicole Rye, 45, owner of a Trump-themed store which follows the former president to his campaign rallies, stands for a photo in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on May 6, 2022 Greensburg (United States) (AFP) – For the Donald Trump supporters attending a Pennsylvania rally, reports that the Supreme Court may soon end the federally protected right to abortion have been galvanizing. As one man summed up the feeling, “Life is precious.” The political shockwaves of a high court opinion — a draft of which leaked Monday in an exceedingly rare event — are expected to reverberate through US politics for months, especially with midterm elections set for November. Trump himself barely touched on the subject in a rally held under torrential rains in the city of Greensburg. But as he flirts more and more openly with the possibility of seeking a new term as president in 2024, the subject seemed to be on the lips of all his supporters. “I am a Christian, and so Biblically, the way our world is going just does not line up,” 45-year-old Nicole Rye told AFP. A Florida native, she and her husband have crisscrossed America for years attending as many Trump rallies as possible. They run a concession stand selling “Trump 2024” paraphernalia and offering a range of stickers insulting President Joe Biden in various colorful terms. “God gives children as blessings. They are; it’s Biblically written,” Rye said. She said she feels profoundly grateful to Trump for using his appointments to push the Supreme Court — which rules on some of the nation’s most sensitive issues — to the political right. With many Democrats defending abortion rights just as passionately as many Republicans reject it, the expected ruling is bound to deepen the nation’s already dramatic divisions. The emotion evoked by the issue could be seen on Rye’s face. “I have a past,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “There’s us women who have been through it. “But you can’t. Life is life. And I firmly believe that.” ‘The next Einstein’ Leroy Kinnan, a 47-year-old who lives in the area, had accompanied his daughter to her first Trump rally. “How do we know by aborting a baby that we didn’t terminate the next Einstein or a doctor who cures cancer?” he asked. He said abortion is sometimes used as “a form of birth control,” adding that he firmly opposes it except in cases of rape or incest. If the Supreme Court overturns the landmark 1973 ruling that established a federal right to abortion — as the leaked draft made clear it plans to do — each US state will be free to ban or allow abortion within its borders. More than 20 conservative-leaning states have already taken moves toward outlawing the practice. The court’s final ruling is expected in June or July. Trump, perhaps wary about proclaiming a premature victory, barely mentioned the court’s impending ruling, saying merely, “They’re making a very big decision now.” But the crowd of several thousands clearly knew what he meant. The billionaire politician was in Pennsylvania to support several Republican candidates in the legislative elections in November. Jason Killmeyer, a Republican who is running for the House of Representatives, was much more direct as he strode through the muddy fairgrounds where the rally was held, seeking support from Trump backers. “Eight hundred thousand dead babies a year is too many,” he said, referring to a widely circulated estimate of the number of abortions in the country. His language reflected the anti-abortion argument that fetuses, even in their earliest phase of development, are people. Killmeyer promised the voters he met that he would not shy away from taking on those Democrats who favor a woman’s right to choose. “Let’s jump into these cultural battles and no longer let the left wing set the tone and the pace of cultural engagement,” he said, promising that if elected he would work to outlaw abortion even in states that might want to allow it. John Roan, who is 52, agreed. He and his wife have adopted six children, now aged eight to 27. “We believe that life is precious,” said Roan, who wore a khaki baseball cap. Along with Trump, he added, he is willing to fight for his belief. View the full article

Published by DPA The logo of the human rights organization Amnesty International is pictured in Berlin. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa Human rights group Amnesty International released a report on Friday accusing Russia of over 60 cases of war crimes around the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Labelling the move by Amnesty as “historic,” secretary general Agnès Callamard made a presentation in Kiev documenting the allegations. Amnesty believes more than 40 civilians were killed by airstrikes in Borodyanka and there were 22 cases of unlawful killings in and around Bucha. Callamard stressed that in her view, the attacks on civilians were deliberate decisions and therefore unacceptable. Russia invaded Ukraine nearly two and a half months ago. Areas north and north-west of Kiev were under Russian occupation for just under a month before Moscow switched its focus to the east of the country. According to Ukrainian figures, more than 1,200 civilians have been killed in the Kiev area, about a third of them in Bucha alone. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Adele insists she has “never been happier” as she celebrates her 34th birthday. The ‘Easy on Me’ hitmaker turned 34 on Thursday (05.05.22) and reflected on the positive changes in her life as she thanked fans for their well-wishes on her special day. Sharing two bare-faced photos of herself in a Carolina Herrera minidress on Instagram taken by photographer Raven B. Varona, she wrote: “What a difference a year makes! If time keeps healing and smoothing out all the creases in my life like it does as the years fly by, then I can’t wait to be 60! I’ve never been happier! So many lessons, so many blessings to be grateful for. This is 34, and I love it here! Thank you for the birthday love as always x (sic)” Adele – who has nine-year-old son Angelo with ex-husband Simon Konecki and is in a relationship with Rich Paul – later donned matching striped pyjamas to celebrate with friends including Raven, stylist Jamie Mizrahi, travel writer Jedidiah Jenkins and Crown + Conquer founder April McDaniel. Jedidiah shared a post on Instagram Story featuring a smiling Adele and the rest of the group sleeping. He wrote: ” ‘We’re all gonna watch Sleeping with the Enemy. I think I’m entering my Julia Roberts era?’ – Birthday girl. “‘Oooh I’ve never seen it. Perfect, we’re in.’ ” – us.(sic)” The ‘Chasing Pavements’ singer recently teased she’s planning to have another child. Discussing her delayed Las Vegas residency, she said: “Imagine if I have to cancel because I am having a baby! “We are now working our a**** off, but I don’t want to announce a new set of dates until I know everything will definitely be ready. “The sooner I can announce the better, but I just can’t in case we are not ready in time. It is absolutely 100% happening this year. “It has to happen this year because I’ve got plans for next year.” The ‘Hello’ hitmaker is keen to add to her brood but admitted motherhood has been exhausting. She said: “It takes me a while to recharge, and I would like to have more children – I only just feel like I’ve caught up with my sleep from nine years ago when I had my son.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna has asked Pope Francis to meet her. The 63-year-old singer – who was criticised for blasphemy by the Vatican following the release of her controversial 1989 video ‘Like a Prayer, which featured burning crosses, a black Jesus and statues crying blood – has reached out to the head of the Catholic church because she wants to discuss “important matters” with him and insisted her treatment by the religious organisation hasn’t been “fair”. She tweeted: “Hello @Pontifex Francis —I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear,” Madonna tweeted at the Pope. “It’s been a few decades since my last confession. Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters? “I’ve been ex communicated 3 times. It doesn’t seem fair.” The Pope has yet to respond to Madonna. In 2006, Madonna was also accused of blasphemy following a controversial performance in Rome, when she was “crucified” on stage. At the time, the late Cardinal Ersilio Tonini spoke with the approval of then-Pope Benedict XVI, saying the ‘Vogue’ hitmaker had gone “too far”. He said: “To crucify herself during the concert in the city of Popes and martyrs is an act of open hostility. It is nothing short of a scandal and an attempt to generate publicity,” the cardinal said at the time. “The time will come when this woman will realise that Christ died on the cross for her as well, that he spilt his blood for her. I feel pity for her.” The mother-of-six previously reached out to the Pope in 2019 because he was keen to talk to him about women’s rights. She said: “Let’s talk about Jesus’ point of view about women. Let’s talk about it. “What do you really think he thought of women? And don’t you think Jesus would agree that a woman has the right to choose what to do with her body? “One day he might invite me. I think this one might… I think he would be open to having that conversation with me.” The ‘Ray of Light’ singer previously admitted that her religious upbringing has left her carrying a feeling of guilt throughout the rest of her life. The American star – who has been married to Sean Penn and later, Guy Ritchie – shared: “Once you’re a Catholic, you’re always a Catholic – in terms of your feelings of guilt and remorse and whether you’ve sinned or not. “Sometimes I’m wracked with guilt when I needn’t be, and that, to me, is left over from my Catholic upbringing. “In Catholicism, you are born a sinner and you are a sinner all of your life. No matter how you try to get away from it, the sin is within you all the time.” View the full article