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Published by Reuters LONDON (Reuters) – British finance minister Rishi Sunak and his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland walked out of an International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington on Thursday when Russia’s delegate spoke, a British finance ministry spokesperson said. “(Sunak) described Putin’s assault on Ukraine as an assault on the rules and norms that are the foundation of our economic way of life,” the spokesperson said. Earlier on Thursday, Britain ramped up trade sanctions on Russia, targeting luxury goods including caviar, silver and diamonds through import bans and higher tariffs, seeking to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by William Schomberg) View the full article

Published by Hong Kong Free Press A Hong Kong law firm which handled multiple cases related to the 2019 protests is to cease practising soon, the umbrella group representing the city’s solicitors announced on Thursday. The Law Society of Hong Kong notified members that Vidler & Co. intended to cease practice on June 3 after 19 years of operations. The firm, which specialised in human rights issues, had handled several controversial incidents, including an alleged police gang rape and the case of Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah, who was allegedly shot in the face with a police projectile. See also: Interview: Defending th… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — On the heels of the state’s so-called ”Don’t Say Gay” law, the Florida Department of Education has quietly dropped out of a 31-year-old CDC survey of students that includes questions of mental well-being, suicidal thoughts, sexual orientation and gender identity. Mental health advocates called the move “an incredibly dangerous precedent” and said the data produced by the survey is essential for understanding the struggles of adolescents and teens and guiding public policy. The department did not respond to a request to explain the decision. Norín Dollard, a senior policy analys… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online netflix Who can forget the chiseled abs, strong whiff of cologne, and mega-watt smiles when being greeted at the door? Abercrombie & Fitch was a clothing brand staple in the late 1990s that has since become overshadowed by claims of toxic work culture. The highly anticipated White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch documentary premieres on Netflix tonight, detailing the dark side of one of America’s most popular retail companies that was once a “pop-culture phenomenon.” netflix “Ambercrombie rooted themselves in discrimination at every single level,” one interviewee said. “There’s a reason people liked that brand. Exclusion is part of our society.” Former employee Carla Barrientos, who was 19 when she scored a job at her local A&F in the Valley Plaza Mall, echoed those statements. “The whole culture of what’s cool and who’s cool, it’s all fluff, it’s not important. The culture at the time really was exclusion, it looks so different than where we are, and good thing times have changed,” she explained as the doc dived into the brand’s past controversial hiring and firing practices in addition to their workplace culture. Ryan Daharsh in White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitchnetflix “I mean this was the practice,” she added. “To go into a store, and I started to notice I was hired to work on the floor and everyone who worked on the floor was white. There was something that was happening and it didn’t mirror my real life.” Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of A&F, also faced criticism for admitting they were going “after the cool kids” in terms of their marketing strategy, stating, “A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.” He later apologized for the remarks, clarifying “we are completely opposed to any discrimination, bullying, derogatory characterizations or other anti-social behavior based on race, gender, body type or other individual characteristics.” netflix The doc notes that Barrientos along with several other ex-employees were plaintiffs in a 2003 class action lawsuit against A&F alleging discrimination. The lawsuit was settled for $40 million the next year. Abercrombie & Fitch later hired Fran Horowitz-Bonadies as CEO in 2017, who reportedly told CNBC that “we are no longer the brand that we used to be” and will be moving forward in a positive direction. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nathan Frandino OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) – Walking into the Good Hop craft beer bar in Oakland, California, Alison Heller looks like any other patron thirsting for happy hour. But instead of heading to the bar, she goes straight to the bathroom, opens her backpack and pulls out a plastic bag with fentanyl test strips. She puts 25 strips in a jar for anyone to take for free. “If you’re going to use drugs here, you can test them,” said Heller, a co-founder of the harm-reduction nonprofit FentCheck. Strips to test drugs for the presence of the deadly synthetic opioid are becoming more commonplace in bars, restaurants and venues as the country grapples with the opioid epidemic and soaring death toll. Fentanyl has flooded U.S. streets and contributed to nearly 500,000 U.S. opioid overdose deaths over two decades, with the COVID-19 pandemic worsening the situation. Fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than morphine, produces effects similar to other opioids, like sedation, drowsiness and nausea. Overdosing can cause respiratory failure leading to death. Fentanyl overdoses are now the top cause of death among U.S. residents ages 18-45, surpassing suicide, car accidents and COVID, according to an analysis of federal data by opioid awareness organization Families Against Fentanyl. To prevent such deaths, Heller, FentCheck co-founder Dean Shold and a team of volunteers regularly visit a network of businesses in Oakland, San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia to replenish stocks of the test strips. “We’re done with dead kids. We’re done with accidental overdoses. We are also serving people who are struggling with drug addiction,” Heller said. “They cannot make it to rehab, they cannot make it to the next step in their sobriety if they die that night.” FentCheck staples the strips from Canadian company BTNX to simple instructions for users to test their drugs. The results show up – like a pregnancy or COVID-19 test – with lines indicating positive or negative. “They are cheap, they are super easy to use and read and they give you a yes or a no that you can then use,” said Dr. Kathleen Clanon, medical director of Alameda County, which supports the distribution of fentanyl test strips and funds. “They are very sensitive, meaning that the comparison tests have shown that they are likely to show fentanyl if it’s there and I’m comfortable with that as a community test.” Melissa Myers, owner of the Good Hop, called it a “no brainer” to offer the strips to her customers and train her staff to use naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses the effect of opioid overdoses. “We fought to stay alive through COVID and I want them to be able to keep coming here, not die on the street or die at home because they’ve decided to try some new drugs,” said Myers. Some cities have gone even further in the fight against drug overdoses. One of the nation’s first supervised drug-injection sites opened last year in New York City, allowing users to inject drugs under the supervision of trained staff. Critics say the strips enable drug users. Some states treat them as illegal drug paraphernalia. Legislation to decriminalize the strips is underway in Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee, among others. Dr. Joey Hensley, a state senator and physician who runs a private practice in Tennessee, voted against the bill there. “I just don’t think it’s a good policy to make it easier for people addicted to drugs to use drugs,” he said. Hensley doubts that providing fentanyl test strips would affect drug users’ behavior. “If there are studies that show differently, maybe I would change but I just didn’t think that was a good policy,” he said. Jason Lujick, owner of The Legionnaire, where test strips sit out on the bar, said lawmakers need to face the facts. “If you actually care about your constituents and if you actually look at the data that your health departments are throwing out there and you actually care one iota, grow up,” he said. (Reporting by Nathan Frandino; Writing by Richard Chang; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA A longtime pal of Liza Minnelli claims the Hollywood icon was ambushed and forced to use a wheelchair during the Hollywood broadcast. The friend insisted the star’s health fine, and the flustering in the moment was over being “sabotaged,” according to a report. During the Oscar 2022 broadcast, Minnelli appeared on stage alongside Lady Gaga to present the Best Picture award. But Minnelli was seated in a wheelchair, seemed discombobulated, and missed many of her lines. That led to speculation that Minnelli was in poor health. Gaga even told Minnelli at the end of their presentation, “I got you,” which was captured on a hot-mic and included in the broadcast. However, pal Michael Feinstein claimed on Sirius XM’s Jess Cagle Show that Minnelli had only agreed to appear if she sat in a director’s chair because of a bad back, PageSix reported. Minnelli said she wanted to look good and didn’t want people to worry about her, Feinstein said. MEGA But, minutes before going on the broadcast, a stage manager said Minnelli had to use a wheelchair, Feinstein claimed and PageSix noted. The academy declined to comment to PageSix about the claims. Minelli’s reps also did not speak about the report. “I guess they were all shaken up because of everything that had happened earlier,” Feinstein said about the infamous slap. Though, several awards were handed out between the slap and Minnelli going on the stage. Feinstein said Minnelli initially refused to sit in the wheelchair, but then relented. “[She was] so shaken that she was discombobulated,” Feinstein claimed, and PageSix reported. ` Feinstein told the Jess Cagle Show that the star was disappointed with what happened, but she is doing well. “Can you imagine being suddenly forced to be seen by millions of people the way you don’t wanna be seen?” Feinstein told the show. “That’s what happened to her.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Bill O’Reilly was caught having a meltdown in a shocking new video that shows the former Fox News host cursing out and threatening a JetBlue employee because his flight was delayed, Radar has recently learned. In a surprising development that marks just the latest incident involving the 72-year-old, O’Reilly is getting ready to board a flight set for the Turks and Caicos Islands on Sunday, April 3 before the trip is delayed for five hours – and the conservative commentator and author take out his frustration on a seemingly innocent employee. Mega That is the scene shown in a recently released clip by Daily Mail that captures the entire incident on video, shocking not only the bystanders but also the viewers seeing the clip for the first time. “What you’re gonna do…it’s three hours late,” O’Reilly can be heard saying before snapping at the airline employee. “No, no, no, you’re gonna find out.” “You f—— s——,” O’Reilly continues, jabbing his finger towards the JetBlue employee aggressively while the worker tries to calm the hot-headed talk show host down. “Don’t talk to me like that.” Making the video even more jarring is the fact that O’Reilly then attempts to identify the JetBlue individual he is talking to before allegedly threatening the worker with violence and claiming he is going to lose his job. Mega “You’re threatening me with violence, man,” the worker says at one point in the video while holding up his name tag so the struggling former The O’Reilly Factor host could read it more easily. “No, I’m not,” O’Reilly replies. “You’re gonna lose your job.” “You’re going to get that information,” O’Reilly demands, before ultimately storming away from the JetBlue counter and the airline worker. The passenger who recorded the interaction between O’Reilly and the employee recently revealed that he was taken aback by the tense incident. “I couldn’t believe how arrogant he was,” he said. “That poor JetBlue guy just works there, it’s not his fault the flight was delayed, he was just trying to do his job.” Mega But when Radar reached out for comment, O’Reilly admitted that although the situation was heated, it was the JetBlue employee who was arrogant and who falsely accused the host of threatening him. “We already referenced the situation on my broadcast: the No Spin News. Five hour delay on the Jet Blue flight JFK to Turks-Caicos. The guy was arrogant and falsely accused me of threatening him and I said: ‘your lucky I didn’t do that…’” O’Reilly told Radar. “Heated, for sure. Hope you will accurately report.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Education has canceled student loan debt for 40,000 people and offered credits to help another 3.6 million pay off their loans under a plan announced on Tuesday designed to aid low-income borrowers and public servants. “Student loans were never meant to be a life sentence, but it’s certainly felt that way for borrowers locked out of debt relief they’re eligible for,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in the statement. The measures add to other steps taken by the administration of President Joe Biden, including a pause on nearly all student loan collection, but they stop short of demands from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party for comprehensive student loan forgiveness. In his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden called for canceling $10,000 in student loan debt for each borrower, a commitment of more than $400 billion. Since he was elected, the White House has said Congress must take action for wider student loan relief. The government said it was addressing “historical failures” to communicate to borrowers all the benefits they were eligible for in federal student loan programs. At least 40,000 borrowers will receive immediate debt cancellation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Several thousand borrowers with older loans will also receive forgiveness through income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness, plus another 3.6 million borrowers will receive at least three years of additional credit toward IDR forgiveness, the Education Department said in a statement. Those programs cap the amount lower-income borrowers are required to pay and forgive the remaining balance after a set number of years. Student loan debt is seen as a drag on the economy, burdening young professionals for years after graduation, while the wide availability of loans has contributed to rising tuition. Some 43.4 million borrowers are carrying about $1.6 trillion in outstanding student loans from the Federal Loan Portfolio, an average of more than $37,000 each, according to the Education Data Initiative. The Biden administration canceled more than $17 billion in debt for 725,000 borrowers in its first year in office while also extending a pause on loan repayment that has provided at least temporary relief for 41 million borrowers, the Education Department said. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Sandra Maler) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michela Moscufo (Reuters) – Columbia University will add historical markers to four residence halls to acknowledge legacies of slavery and racism and to commemorate African American students, a university professor said on Tuesday. The markers, part of a university-wide project initiated by President Lee Bollinger after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, include signs at residence halls John Jay Hall and 50 Haven Avenue, formerly Bard Hall, noting that slave owners John Jay and Samuel Bard had close ties to the university. A marker at Furnald Hall will tell the story of a morning in 1924 when men in Ku Klux Klan robes and hoods burned a seven-foot-tall wooden cross near the dormitory. Furnald was home at the time to law student Frederick W. Wells, the first Black student to live on-campus at Columbia during the academic year. While the cross burned, students ran outside his door shouting racist insults. The high percentage of students of color, among them poet Langston Hughes, who lived at Hartley Hall in the early 20th century will be commemorated with a plaque there, according to Columbia Professor Thai Jones, who taught a “Columbia & Slavery” course and has led the effort to erect the markers. Columbia will join Harvard Law School, Rutgers University, the University of Mississippi and the University of South Carolina in erecting plaques in recent years acknowledging the institutions’ relationship to slavery. Columbia’s markers will be installed in the fall initially as digital monitors and could become permanent plaques, according to Jones. (Reporting by Michela Moscufo; Editing by Donna Bryson and Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ezra Miller has been arrested after allegedly throwing a chair at a woman. The ‘Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore’ actor was apprehended by police in Hawaii at around 1.30am on Tuesday (19.04.22) morning for second-degree assault after being found during a traffic stop, 20 minutes after cops had responded to reports of an alleged incident at a get-together at a private residence in the Leilani Estates subdivision in lower Puna. The Hawaii Police Department issued a news release which read: “During the course of their investigation, police determined that the individual, later identified as Ezra Miller, became irate after being asked to leave and reportedly threw a chair, striking a 26-year-old female on the forehead, resulting in an approximate half-inch cut.” The woman refused treatment for her injury, while Ezra was released after 4am pending further investigation. The ‘Flash’ star’s arrest came three weeks after they were charged with disorderly conduct and harassment following an incident at a karaoke bar. At the time,police said: “Miller began yelling obscenities and at one point grabbed the microphone from a 23-year-old woman singing karaoke and later lunged at a 32-year-old man playing darts. The bar owner asked Miller to calm down several times to no avail.” On the same evening, the ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ actor was accused of “threatening to bury” a couple he’d been staying with. The unnamed couple also accused the star of stealing their belongings and filed for a restraining order against Ezra, but later dropped their application to order the actor to stay away. In addition, Ezra is also involved in a separate case relating to an alleged traffic violation in Hilo until April 26, where the actor was said to be being “uncooperative and refused to leave the area and continued to obstruct the sidewalk.” View the full article

Published by AFP Marijuana is seen at the Sneaker Headz cannabis store April 15, 2022, in Washington, DC. Los Angeles (AFP) – Tens of thousands of Americans will gather in parks and city plazas under a fog of marijuana smoke on Wednesday to celebrate a drug that remains illegal in much of the country. April 20th has become synonymous with pot, a day when THC-infused clouds drift, people play bongos, and everyone feels a bit of love for each other. But why did 4/20 become so important? What is 4/20? Basically a day that celebrates all things Mary Jane. In more than a dozen US states where weed is legal, big rallies will take place in public spaces, with participants lighting up everything from regular spliffs to bongs to joints the size of a baby’s arm. If you can imagine it, there’s someone smoking it. Outside of the big gatherings, smaller groups of people will get together to indulge in a collective toke. Aficionados insist these more intimate smoke-ins are more in keeping with the origins of 4/20, which began as something off-the-grid but has grown into full-size festivals, complete with sponsors and the option of purchasing VIP tickets. Why April 20th? In the US system of dates, April 20 is 4/20, and the day-long celebration of reefer seems to have metamorphosed from the number. There are a few competing theories where the number came from, and none of them is commonly accepted. One holds that 420 is the number of chemicals in marijuana, though this seems to be an undershoot (it’s closer to 500, according to Vox), or an overshoot (“scientists have successfully isolated 113 discrete cannabinoids,” weed bible High Times reported.) Another theory has it that 420 is the California penal code for possession of the drug (it’s not; Penal Code 420 explains that it’s a misdemeanor to prevent access to public lands in the state, according to findlaw.com, a website for legal professionals). Many suggestions involve well-known pot heads The Grateful Dead in some way, and include the claim that 420 was the favored hotel room number on their psychedelic tours. Was it implausible for all six musicians (plus hangers-on) to be in the same room? Yes, and a band spokesman is widely quoted as saying it’s not true. Nor is 4/20 the date that Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, or Janis Joplin died. While they all passed at age 27, their deaths were in July, September and October, respectively. One of the more satisfying theories about 4/20 is that 4:20pm was the time that a group of stoners in 1970s California would gather to get high. The Waldos describe themselves as “a group of five wisecracking friends…who originated the term ‘420’ in 1971 at San Rafael High School.” Their website offers what they say is proof of the term being used as code for these gatherings and the act of smoking, in the form of letters exchanged after they left school. Whatever the truth, the term has entered the lexicon — the Oxford English Dictionary acknowledges that it is “North American slang” for marijuana, while the Encyclopaedia Britannica, no less, notes the expression is “in current use” (and also gives us “hippie lettuce” as an alternative term for the drug). View the full article

Published by AFP An activist smokes out of a glass pipe during the annual New York City Cannabis Parade and Rally in May 2021 Los Angeles (AFP) – As pot smokers prepare to light up for “4/20” — the annual counter-cultural celebration of cannabis held on April 20 — the United States’ legalization experiment blazes ahead. Here are five things to know about marijuana in America: Where is it legal? – Eighteen of the 50 US states, plus the capital Washington, have so far legalized recreational weed use for adults. Most states allow at least some medical use — ranging from oils with low levels of the active ingredient THC to near-legalization. Just a few conservative states such as Idaho, Wyoming and Nebraska have held off. Oddly, marijuana remains illegal under federal law — in fact, it is technically a “schedule one” controlled substance, on par with heroin. So in theory, a cannabis user is still breaking the nation’s laws. But in practice, federal prosecutors do not pursue people or businesses that are complying with their state’s marijuana laws, nor have they challenged those laws in court. Where could be next? – While New Jersey has already legalized recreational weed, legal sales will only begin this Thursday. Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Louisiana and Oklahoma are the states considered most likely to allow cannabis use next. But that could soon be moot, if efforts to decriminalize marijuana nationwide work out. A Democrat-led bill to eliminate punishments for possessing or selling the drug was approved by House lawmakers this month. It faces a sterner test in the Senate, where the Democratic majority is as thin as a rolling paper. It would also need President Joe Biden’s signature. How much is legal weed worth? Legal weed is already big business — worth around $25 billion in the United States last year — and is only expected to grow faster. Efforts are under way to clear financial red tape for legal cannabis operators, who often struggle to secure basic services such bank accounts, loans and even credit card machines at checkouts due to the sector’s “grey zone” legal status. States reported $3.7 billion in cannabis tax revenue from sales last year. And the recent House bill projected that annual legal sales will pass $40 billion by 2025. What about the illegal industry? As big as the legal sector has grown, it is still dwarfed by illegal marijuana sales. Illicit cannabis was estimated to be worth $65 billion in 2020 across the nation. This is not just confined to states where weed remains illegal. Even in California, the first US state to approve medical marijuana use back in 1996, as much as 80 percent of cannabis sales remains outside the law. These range from loyal customers sticking with their original dealers — either from preference for the product, or lower prices thanks to the lack of taxes — to counterfeit operations that consumers may assume are legitimate. Who supports it? Overall, the US public is strongly behind legalization. A Pew Research poll found last year that 91 percent of adults think marijuana should be legal, either medically, recreationally or both. Roughly half of US adults last year told Gallup they had tried cannabis, up from one-third in 1999. Legal cannabis companies have drawn celebrity funding or endorsements, from musicians Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa to actor Seth Rogen and former boxing champ Mike Tyson. Billionaire Elon Musk is also a fan, controversially lighting up a joint during a “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast livestream, and tweeting his outrage about prisoners who are still behind bars for the historical offence of selling weed. View the full article

Published by AFP 'Business is great!' declares Forest 'Ty' Hayward, 41, the proud co-owner of Sneaker Headz — one of several 'gifting shops' that have sprung up in a city now known for the everpresent fragrance of the flower Washington (AFP) – Buy a T-shirt, get a “gift” of weed: that’s how some stores operate in Washington, exploiting a perceived loophole to sidestep a ban on selling cannabis in the US capital. The situation is but one example of the hazy legality surrounding marijuana in America, despite a trend in recent years towards normalization. “Business is great!” declares Forest “Ty” Hayward, 41, the proud co-owner of Sneaker Headz — one of several “gifting shops” that have sprung up in a city now known for the everpresent fragrance of the flower. Many are African-American owned, and are seeing a lively trade ahead of national marijuana day on April 20. Hayward sees his work as “a turning point for the Black community,” which historically suffered a disproportionate rate of cannabis convictions. Since 2014, Washington residents have been allowed to possess paraphernalia and two ounces of weed, gift some to others, use it on private property, and grow up to six plants. But Congress — which approves the city’s budget — has barred legal sales. Instead stores sell items like T-shirts and stickers, starting at around $30, with which customers also receive “presents” in the form of weed buds or gummies. Cannabis was first outlawed at the federal level in 1937, “largely along racial reasoning, as well as to keep out immigrant workers or find ways to criminalize them,” Morgan Fox, political director of advocacy group NORML, told AFP. The 1970s brought the “War on Drugs,” which likewise disproportionately hit minorities — before the medical marijuana movement took root in the 1990s, and in 2012 the first states made recreational cannabis legal for adults. Today, 18 of the 50 US states plus Washington have legalized recreational weed use, while 37 have medical cannabis laws on the books. But since the drug remains a controlled substance at the national level, everyone involved is still technically breaking the law of the land. The ban makes it difficult to access banking services, stops federal funding for medical marijuana research, prevents interstate commerce, and federal regulation on best practices and protocols for marijuana. What’s more, a future presidential administration unsympathetic to legalization could go after businesses and consumers even in states where the plant is legal. Former president Donald Trump’s attorney general Jeff Sessions wanted to do this, but federal prosecutors ultimately decided it was a waste of their time. Legal trouble Still, sticky situations can arise. After Canada fully legalized cannabis in 2018, US Customs and Border Patrol officers began issuing lifetime entry bans to Canadians who answered “yes” when asked at checkpoints if they had ever consumed the drug. The same agency this month issued a warning to residents in New Mexico that it would continue to prosecute offenders caught with the substance at highway checkpoints, even after the state had legalized it. Native American nations also encounter raids with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, despite the fact they live on nominally self-governing territories. And in Washington, those caught smoking on federal grounds — including iconic monuments like the Lincoln Memorial — may have a run in with federal agents. That’s why it’s vital to pass legislation at the national level, said Fox. The House of Representatives has passed some bills, including as recently as this month, but it has yet to be brought before the Senate, where Republican opposition would likely nix it. Fox believes framing the issue in terms of states’ rights, personal freedoms, and increased tax revenue is the best way to win over Republicans, and younger conservatives who will eventually replace their elders are more cannabis friendly. For now, the community is celebrating the progress they have won. “I want to have a whole shebang, just remind everybody we’re still here to give back to the community, get high and have a wonderful life,” says Sneaker Headz’ co-owner Kashous Solomon, 22. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Bryan Cranston is set to be godfather to Aaron Paul’s newborn son. The ‘Breaking Bad’ star shared photographs of his little boy, who is named Rydin, during his appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on Tuesday (19.04.22), where he revealed his co-star and good friend has accepted his offer to take on the special role in his son’s life. Aaron told the host: “Yes, a new baby boy. Yeah, his name is Rydin, and I love him.” Fallon asked: “I know Bryan Cranston is a good friend of yours. Has he seen the baby yet?” To which Aaron replied: “He has. He has met the baby. “Ya know, I asked Bryan on his birthday if he would be our baby’s godfather.” Fallon reacted: “I’m assuming…” Aaron then quipped: “He said no.” Before he continued: “No, he’s very excited, very honoured. I love the man to death. He’s one of my best friends in the world, and, so yeah, it was just a no brainer.” Aaron’s spouse Lauren Paul – with whom he also has four-year-old daughter Story – announced they were set to welcome their second child in December. The 42-year-old actor previously admitted he couldn’t wait to have more kids, after fatherhood had changed his life. He said: “It’s easily the best chapter of my life. I think if I maybe was single, didn’t have a job and was struggling and I turned 40, it would be a lot harder, but I feel I’m in a good place. I can’t wait to have another baby, and I’m so excited to see what 40 has to offer. I’m just excited to be around, to be alive. I’m just happy to be here. Life is good. “Fatherhood has definitely changed me. Having a child is the closest thing to magic that anyone can have. I see why people rush home to be there when they get home from school. You don’t want to miss any of it.” The ‘Westworld’ actor gushed over his wife Lauren, too, saying his spouse – who he married in 2013 – is a “beacon of kindness”. He said: “[Lauren] completely changed my life, saved my life. She’s such a beacon of kindness and hope and love.” Aaron has also admitted that being a father is “a dream come true”. He said: “The fact that I have just a beautiful, healthy, happy daughter that runs and screams at me and throws her arms around me and calls me, ‘Daddy,’ is such a dream come true.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Olly Alexander is smitten with his mystery man. The Years and Years star previously revealed he has a “paramour” and though he wouldn’t name his partner, he revealed he had known him for years before they got together romantically. The ‘It’s A Sin’ actor – who was previously in a relationship with former Clean Bandit star Neil Milan – gushed that he’s never felt love like this before. He said: “I’m in love. I feel like this is a new feeling for me as well, even though I’m with someone who, we were together quite a long time ago, but now we’re kind of in a sequel. “This one has turned out to be really, really good. It’s also a bit of a pandemic rekindle.” The 31-year-old singer-and-actor loves having someone to “lean on” after years of being single. Speaking on ‘Charli XCX’s Best Song Ever’ podcast, he spilled: “I haven’t been in one place for so long, so just having this experience with someone I really love and being able to lean on someone has been amazing. “I was single for quite a while.” Olly feeling secure with his partner comes after he admitted he finds it harder to “trust” people because it’s difficult for him to have any sort of anonymity – while he also struggled to form intimate relationships. Discussing the inspiration behind the songs on his most recent album, ‘Night Call’, he said: “I was lacking a lot of things in my life like fun and connections with strangers, sex, intimacy in general. “[The songs talk about how] a hook-up could be the most transcendent, beautiful experience. I felt like it was just something that I couldn’t experience any more in my life for different reasons. Trusting people became harder . . . there are definitely places in the world where I’m anonymous, but it can feel like that’s sort of taken away from you. “It was almost getting into character and saying things that I would never have said in real life. Just pushing this more confident part of my personality.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Pamela Anderson says starring in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway is a “pretty hard” workout. The former ‘Baywatch’ actress – who is mother to model Dylan, 24, and Brandon, 25, with ex-husband Tommy Lee – is now starring as Roxie Hart in the classic musical, and she’s revealed how she keeps in shape for the energetic dance routines. Asked what her fitness regime is, the 54-year-old star replied: “I get regular massage, body work. I love Pilates. I’m working out pretty hard on Broadway right now. My walks in the park and some stretching is enough for me to keep up my stamina.” When she is in need of some self-care, the former Playboy bunny heads to her favourite facialist in the Big Apple. She told E! Online: “While we push our limits out of our comfort zone, self-care is important. I’m lucky. I go to Klara Beauty Lab anytime I’m in New York. She’s the best. She takes great care of me. Her facials are custom- always different- nurturing, rejuvenating, cleansing.” The blonde bombshell also opened up about her mantras on life and is a firm believer beauty comes from “within”. She said: “I believe all beauty comes from within. Happiness is the best beauty trick. Being brave is sexy. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Fighting for freedom starts with one’s own freedom. It is a condition when fighting for others freedom. It is a political statement to be happy, to be alive. Life is a privilege not to be taken lightly.” Pamela’s son Dylan recently congratulated his mother on her stellar opening night. He wrote: “Mother killed it.” And the ex-glamour model’s oldest son Brandon shared a snap of his world-famous mother as she posed for photos with fans at the stage door and signed autographs. Pamela previously spoke about how her role in ‘Chicago’ – which tells the story of two women who end up in jail accused of murder and become tabloid sensations – could be the beginning of a “new career” in theatre as she thanked her sons for their support. She said: “This is the beginning of the rest of my career — maybe. It is a real big deal but I’m leaning on my support system and my kids.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn is in hot water with his own constituents after it was revealed the young politician spent upwards of $5,000 in what he claims was “legislative planning food and beverage” while at a luxurious North Carolina hotel over the summer. In a surprising development that has left North Carolina citizens outraged, the 26-year-old representative reportedly spent $2,950 on August 9 while residing at Skylaranna – an opulent getaway resort in Cawthorn’s hometown of Hendersonville. Mega That is the bombshell revelation from a recent Washington Examiner report that obtained the North Carolina representative’s expense reports and analyzed the amount of money spent using funds from Cawthorn’s Members’ Representational Allowance, an allowance authorized to Cawthorn for what should only be used for official and representational duties. Making the Examiner’s report even more stirring is the fact that Cawthorn billed taxpayers in his district upwards of $2,000 that very same week for “food and beverages” from establishments like Chick-fil-A, Bojangles chicken, Joey’s NY Bagels, as well as a number of non-detailed payments to the politician’s government credit card. The grand total for the “legislative planning food and beverage” expenses added up to just under $5,000, causing many of citizens Cawthorn represents to question what exactly was going on that week in August and if the expenses were professional – as Cawthorn claims – or actually personal and picked up by the taxpayers. Furthermore, in just another shocking development to the story, while Cawthorn was spending thousands of dollars in taxpayer money he also took the time to write a tweet complaining about the Democrats and how they “love wasting” our “hard-earned tax dollars.” Mega “Democratic politicians certainly love wasting your hard-earned tax dollars while forcing your businesses to shut down,” he tweeted while reportedly relaxing at the luxurious North Carolina resort. Following the backlash for the recently analyzed expense report from early August, a spokesperson speaking on behalf of Cawthorn released a statement reiterating the claim that the expenses were used for a “district retreat.” “Our district retreat occurred on those dates; those expenses were for the district and D.C. staff on the retreat,” Cawthorn’s spokesperson, Luke Ball, told the outlet. “Nearly every office on Capitol Hill has a district retreat and a budget specifically designated for one.” This is just the latest controversy surrounding Cawthorn who, just weeks ago, was forced to backtrack on claims he made suggesting that he was once invited to an orgy at a fellow congressman’s home. Mega “The sexual perversion that goes on in Washington…being kind of a young guy in Washington where the average age is probably 60 or 70, I look at all these people – a lot of them who I’ve looked up to throughout my life…then all of a sudden you get invited to like, ‘well hey we’re going to have kind of a sexual get together at one of our homes. You should come,’ like, what did you just ask me to come to?” Cawthorn claimed last month. “And then you realize they’re asking you to come to an orgy,” he added, before admitting he had exaggerated his claims after mounting backlash from House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and other members of Congress. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kaley Cuoco reveals Sharon Stone “b**** slapped” her three times during ‘The Flight Attendant’ filming. The 36-year-old actress has recalled working with the 64-year-old star on her series, and Sharon – who plays her mother on the show – improvised a slap during an intense scene. Appearing on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’, Kaley said: “Before we started the scene, she sat me down and said, Hey how do you feel about me touching you in this scene?’ “I said, ‘Whatever you want to do, you are Sharon Stone.’ “ The ‘Big Bang Theory’ actress explained that they did the scene, and Sharon said her line as planned before grabbing her co-star’s face. She added: “Then she whacks me… It was real. First of all, the reaction was about as real as you could get. “I had snot coming out and I’m crying, and literally shaking and ‘Cut’. No one moves. No one makes a sound. “No one knows if Kaley is happy, did she tell Sharon to slap her?” Sharon apologised and told the actress she loved her, insisting the slap “just felt right for the scene”. Kaley quipped: “I just got b**** slapped.” Producers then came over and suggested telling Sharon they got everything in the first take, but Kaley suggested they just went again. She explained: “I said ‘Listen, I’m going to bet that woman is not slapping me again’. Do not tell Sharon Stone not to slap me. She is not going to do it again. “We do another take. I’m crying. She comes up to me and she wails on me again and they get another incredibly real reaction because I just got slapped a second time. “She comes back and she’s like ‘I’m sorry it just felt right for the take.’ “ Her team joined her outside while she was holding her face and suggested saying something, but Kaley was adamant Sharon wouldn’t slap her “a third time”, joking that “there’s no way”. She found herself pulling back during the third take, and added: “‘Just get in there Kaley, she is not going to slap you again’. Get in there, she slaps me again. Three times I got slapped… “Now I need to ice. It was insane but one of the best stories I have ever had.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The Biden administration will no longer enforce a U.S. mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida ruled that the directive was unlawful, overturning a key White House effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Airlines welcomed the move on Monday by saying they would no longer require masks: ALASKA AIRLINES “Face masks have been like boarding passes for nearly two years — you couldn’t fly without one. But, as of today, masks are optional in airports and onboard aircraft, effective immediately.” “While we are glad this means many of us get to see your smiling faces, we understand some might have mixed feelings. Please remember to be kind to one another and that wearing a mask while traveling is still an option.” AMERICAN AIRLINES “Face masks will no longer be required for our customers and team members at U.S. airports and on domestic flights. “Please note face masks may still be required based on local ordinances, or when traveling to/from certain international locations based on country requirements.” DELTA AIR LINES “Effective immediately, masks are optional for all airport employees, crew members and customers inside U.S. airports and onboard aircraft.” “We are relieved to see the U.S. mask mandate lift to facilitate global travel as COVID-19 has transitioned to an ordinary seasonal virus. Thank you for your support in complying with the federal mask mandate and keeping each other, and our customers, safe during the pandemic.” UNITED AIRLINES “Effective immediately, masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country’s mask requirements) or at U.S. airports. “While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear a mask – and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public – they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit.” JETBLUE “Mask wearing will now be optional on JetBlue. While no longer required, customers and crewmembers are welcome to continue wearing masks in our terminals and on board our aircraft.” SOUTHWEST AIRLINES “Southwest employees and customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask, and we encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing.” ALLEGIANT TRAVEL CO “Allegiant will no longer enforce the federal mask mandate. Should the guidance change, we will adjust our policy accordingly. Passengers and employees still have the option to wear masks in airports and on aircraft if they so choose.” HAWAIIAN HOLDINGS INC “Effective immediately, face masks are optional for our guests and employees onboard Hawaiian Airlines flights.” SPIRIT AIRLINES “Face coverings are now optional for Spirit Team Members & Guests onboard our flights following the federal court ruling and TSA guidance.” [https://bit.ly/3xDZAXp] FRONTIER GROUP HOLDINGS INC “Masks are now optional on domestic flights, however, certain airports or countries may still require masks,” [https://bit.ly/3OmQF2D] AIRLINES FOR AMERICA (INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP) “The high level of immunity and widespread vaccine accessibility in the U.S. coupled with the hospital-grade cabin air on aircraft provide a strong, science-based foundation for passengers to travel with confidence as restrictions are lifted on our nation’s airlines.” “We look forward to welcoming millions of travelers back to the skies this summer to reunite with loved ones, attend conferences or to take a vacation.” (Compiled by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago, David Shepardson and Costas Pitas in Los Angeles, Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Edited by Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates, Bernard Orr and Anil D’Silva) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – Russia launched its long-awaited all-out assault on east Ukraine, unleashing thousands of troops in what Ukraine described as the Battle of the Donbas, a campaign to seize two provinces and salvage a battlefield victory. FIGHTING * Ukraine’s defence ministry said the aim of Russia’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine was to seize all of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, establish a land link between those territories and Crimea, and destroy Ukraine’s armed forces. * An aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine will fail because Moscow’s forces lack the strength to break through Ukrainian defences. * A senior U.S. official said the latest offensive was the prelude to a much larger assault. * Russia’s defence ministry said it had opened a corridor for Ukrainian forces who wanted to lay down their arms and safely leave the Azovstal steel works in the besieged city of Mariupol. * Russian forces seized Kreminna, a city of over 18,000 people in eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian forces withdrew, the regional governor said. * Russia handed over 60 soldiers and 16 civilians to Ukraine in the fifth such exchange of prisoners of war, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said. * At least three people were killed and 16 wounded in Russian shelling of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, the regional governor said. DIPLOMACY * U.S. President Joe Biden held a nearly-90-minute video call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Poland, Japan and Italy. * “There was broad consensus on the need to step up pressure on the Kremlin, including by adopting further sanctions, and to increase Moscow’s international isolation,” the Italian government said. * German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the allies were cooperating to provide more financial and military support to Ukraine, including long-range artillery and anti-tank and air defence weapons. * Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters it was hard to say when the next direct peace talks would be possible as Russia was now “seriously betting” on its offensive in eastern Ukraine. * U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a four-day humanitarian pause over the Orthodox Easter to allow civilians to leave areas of conflict and humanitarian aid to reach hard-hit areas. ECONOMY * Russia’s invasion has damaged or destroyed up to 30% of Ukraine’s infrastructure at a cost of $100 billion, a Ukrainian minister said, adding reconstruction could be achieved in two years using frozen Russian assets to help finance it. * World Bank President David Malpass will host a meeting on Thursday with Ukraine’s prime minister and finance minister to discuss further financial assistance. He said Ukraine’s debt burden had to be “reduced substantially” because of the pressures from Russia’s invasion. * Russia flagged a likely further cut in interest rates and more budget spending to help the economy adapt to biting Western sanctions as it heads for its deepest contraction since 1994. QUOTES “Of course there are morons who draw ‘Z’, but 10% of any country are morons. 90% of Russians are AGAINST this war! … Dear ‘collective West’ please give Mr Putin a clear exit to save his face and stop this massacre” – wealthy Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov “What has Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cost? A crisis on top of a crisis, with devastating human costs and a massive setback for the global economy,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina told a food security panel. (Editing by Kevin Liffey) View the full article

Published by Miami Herald TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday he has expanded the Legislature’s special session on redistricting this week to cut to the core of his latest political enemy and announced he wants lawmakers to repeal the law that allows the Walt Disney World Resort to operate as a self-governing body. “I am announcing today that we are expanding the call of what they are going to be considering this week,’’ DeSantis said at a news conference in The Villages. “Yes, they will be considering the congressional map, but they also will be considering termination of all special districts that… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA Going strong! Hugh Jackman‘s wife of 26 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, squashed longtime rumors that her husband is gay, even laughing off the speculation about his sexuality. “I mean, hello guys — if he was gay, he could be gay!” Furness, 66, said on the Not an Overnight Success podcast. LRNYC / MEGA The actress pointed out that Hugh could get whoever he wanted and would know “he didn’t have to hide in the closet anymore,” she continued. “And he’d be dating Brad Pitt, or whatever. Not that Brad’s gay, but you know what I’m saying!” “It’s so silly, and then people perpetuate silly things and it’s boring,” the Australia-born star added. The Wolverine actor, 53, has often celebrated his relationship with Deborra, calling it “destiny” for them to end up together after crossing paths nearly three decades ago. Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA “Every single day is filled with so much laughter, joy and backgammon!!!! Deb, you light up my life. I love you with all my heart!” he gushed alongside a photo of them cozying up at the beach together while ringing in their 26th wedding anniversary this April. Deborra and Hugh met on the set of the Australian TV series Correlli back in 1995 and quickly hit it off. They tied the knot in 1996 and went on to welcome two children together: Oscar, 21, and Ava, 16. The mom of two said it has been awkward to see each other in sex scenes over the years, but they both know how to keep it strictly business. RCF / MEGA “It’s so weird — I suppose because I’ve done it so many times before, it’s not really romantic,” she said of herself, revealing it’s not as steamy as one may think. “You’ve got the light in your face, you’ve got to hit a mark and so, it’s not really sexy.” The same goes for Hugh when his character is getting handsy on the big screen. “When I’m sitting in the theater watching — especially if I’m with the kids — I feel a little uncomfortable,” she admitted. “Also, a lot of the time, I’m very good friends with the actress he’s making out with as we’re making a film, we all get to know each other.” View the full article