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Published by Reuters By James Oliphant (Reuters) – Last month, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds surrounded herself with members of the conservative parents-rights group Moms for Liberty when she signed a bill that outlawed transgender students from playing girls’ sports. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis invited a member of the group to stand alongside him weeks later as he signed a bill that allows parents more say in public school teaching materials. Just over a year ago, Moms for Liberty formed with a few parents upset over their school districts’ COVID-19 mask mandates and raced-based equity initiatives. The group has since grown in size and influence, capturing the attention of Republican officials who recognize it has become a fulcrum for culture war issues that dovetail with education. Moms for Liberty says it now has 80,000 members in 34 states, figures Reuters could not independently verify. Its leaders are looking to move beyond local school-board tussles and become a force in bigger political battles. At the same time, Republicans appear to be trying to harness the energy of the grassroots group and others like it to stoke voter enthusiasm in the coming November elections, when key governorships and control of Congress are at stake. A CNN poll in February found that 46% of voters, including about half of parents with children younger than age 18, said education will be extremely important to their vote for Congress in this year’s midterms. About one-fourth of those voters listed curriculum and content in school lessons as a concern. Former Trump administration official Ian Prior, who has launched a separate parents’ rights group in Virginia, says the movement could form the “biggest single-issue bloc of voters” in the country and potentially attract Democrats and independents. “We see this as the highest energy (among Republicans) since the Tea Party,” said Noah Weinrich, a spokesperson for Heritage Action, the political arm of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. The Tea Party, a grassroots movement born of the financial crisis of 2007-08 and opposition to Obamacare, helped steer Republican politics in a more populist direction in the 2010 midterms and beyond. The Republicans embracing Moms for Liberty’s activism are following the lead of Glenn Youngkin, who used education and cultural issues to propel himself to a stunning victory in the Virginia governor’s race last year. DeSantis and others are taking Youngkin’s approach a step further by partnering with Moms for Liberty on policy and affiliating themselves with the movement’s goals. In March, DeSantis named a member of the group, Esther Byrd, to Florida’s Board of Education. As the group’s profile has grown, so has the backlash. Teachers’ unions, school board organizations and Democrats say the movement promotes disruptive public behavior, anti-gay and trans ideologies, and book bans. The National Education Association, a top teacher’s union, says the group is “working to impose a dangerous agenda.” But some Democrats warn their party cannot afford to take the Republican push on education lightly, saying parents remain deeply frustrated in the wake of the pandemic and will support candidates they feel are listening to them. “Our party has lost significant support as the party that focuses on students,” said Shavar Jeffries, president of Democrats for Education Reform, an advocacy group that works with state and federal candidates on education issues. LOBBYING AND CANDIDATE FORUMS In February, more than 100 Moms for Liberty activists descended upon the Florida legislature in Tallahassee. They were advocating for the measure giving parents greater input in school curriculum, as well as what critics nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which prohibits classroom instruction for young children on gender and sexuality issues. Both bills passed, and DeSantis signed them into law. The latter bill’s sponsor, Representative Joe Harding, said Moms for Liberty members effectively warned lawmakers who opposed it that they would be “held accountable” in their districts. “They were a huge encouragement to me,” said Harding, a Republican who spoke at a dinner organized by the group. Across the aisle, however, Democratic Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith said the group preyed on unsubstantiated fears of teachers “grooming” young children for sexual abuse and promoted conspiracy theories that were once only on the party’s fringe. “Every single day, I am bombarded by baseless accusations of pedophilia by Moms of Liberty-type advocates that say I need to stay away from children,” said Smith, who is gay. “It’s unhinged.” In response, Tina Descovich, a co-founder of the group, said “Moms for Liberty is concerned about anyone that is opposed to a bill protecting children . . . from sexual content.” Moms for Liberty members also lobbied lawmakers in states including South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, New York and Ohio. The group says it plans to hire a series of paid state coordinators, who will organize local chapters into a more cohesive political force and engage with legislators, as well as a Hispanic outreach expert. Descovich said the group will endorse candidates for local school boards this year, not in state and federal races. But it will press candidates at every level to embrace its priorities ahead of the midterms, she said. Local chapters recently hosted events for Republican candidates such as Mike Gibbons in Ohio’s Senate race and Garrett Soldano in Michigan’s governor’s contest to speak to its members. “Mama Bears and Papa Bears are engaged like never before to reclaim our schools from power-hungry bureaucrats and the radical left,” Soldano tweeted after the March 21 meeting. Moms for Liberty has formed three federal PACs and one Florida state PAC to eventually support candidates and causes. According to federal and state records, the committees have received no contributions and made no expenditures. Ultimately, the PACs “can be a tool in our toolbox,” Descovich said. “We are making a difference. I don’t see an end in sight,” said Alexis Spiegelman, who helped organize the group’s legislative efforts in Florida. “You can’t manufacture what’s going on here.” (Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Reuters UK LONDON (Reuters) – Transgender women should not be competing in female sporting events, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told broadcasters on Wednesday. Johnson was speaking as the country looked set to abandon plans to hold a flagship conference designed to promote LGBT+ rights around the world. Charities and organisations are boycotting the event following a dispute over conversion therapy for transgender people. “I don’t think biological males should be competing in female sporting events. Maybe that’s a controversial thing to say, but it just seems to me to be sensible,” Johnson said. … Read More View the full article

Published by DPA A Ukrainian soldier walks past the body of a dead person on the street in the aftermath of the Russian retreat from Irpin and Bucha. Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the small town of Bucha on Monday to see first hand the death and destruction that has shocked the world. War crimes had been committed in Bucha, Zelensky told journalists in the community located some 25 kilometres north-west of Kiev. “The world will recognize this as genocide,” he said. Zelensky was accompanied by security guards and wore a protective vest as he took stock of the devastation. Bodies and burnt out Russian tanks litter the streets. When asked by a reporter whether it was still possible to negotiate peace with Russia, he answered in the affirmative: “Ukraine must have peace.” At the same time, he stressed that an early success in the negotiations was in Russia’s interest: “The longer the Russian Federation delays the talks process, the worse it will be for them.” Pictures of unarmed residents lying lifeless on the ground after Russian troops withdrew have been reverberating around the world since the weekend. Russian troops controlled the area for weeks. Ukraine, along with many world powers, say Russian soldiers committed the massacre. Moscow says it had nothing to do with the killings. Ukrainian soldiers inspect the body of a dead person on the street in the aftermath of the Russian retreat from Irpin and Bucha. Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A dead civilian is seen next to his bicycle on a road near the forest in Bucha, 20 km outside the capital Kiev. Nearly 300 civilians were killed along the road in Bucha. Most of the victims were trying to cross the Buchanka River to enter Ukrainian-controlled territory. Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Britney Spears‘ new assistant is in her corner. Vicky T wasted no time hitting back at critics, hours after it was revealed she scored the new gig. The pop star’s right-hand woman didn’t waste the opportunity to slam Britney’s so-called fans who want her to step in and control everything from the singer’s looks to what she posts on her social media accounts. Taking to her own social on Sunday after Britney shared a loving post revealing Vicky’s assistant role, the latter addressed all the haters who seemingly want the singer in a conservatorship all over again. Calling the DMs demanding Britney to make changes “the most obnoxious thing,” Vicky couldn’t wait to call out the hypocrisy. “The majority of you are cool as hell,” Britney’s new assistant began her rant while making it clear she doesn’t care for gossip. “The biggest thing is these comments and DMs saying, ‘She needs to change her makeup! She needs to do this! She needs to change her posts. She needs to do this, this, and this.” Vicky continued by asking, “Aren’t you the same people that were all ‘free her, she needs to be free,’ then simultaneously be like, ‘Oh! you be in charge of her. You control her. You do this. You do that. Change this. Change that.” @vickyt/Instagram According to Vicky, comments like that make her “wildly annoyed.” Laughing at the irony, she stated, “Those of you that are tagging me saying this stuff, I really think you need to look inside yourself and question why you are trying to control this person. Hasn’t she had enough bulls–t?” Reiterating her point, Vicky once again suggested haters look in the mirror to figure out “why the hell you were so a part of this freedom movement because you are trying to control this person.” Ending her rant, Vicky laughed, “You’re coming to me telling me that I should tell her how to live her life. That’s not what I’m here for.” Britney announced she made a new addition to her team on Sunday. Introducing Vicky to her fans, theToxic singer made it clear that they have formed an unbreakable bond. @britneyspears/Instagram “I swear my new assistant is f—ing unbelievable … She has so much grace and patience shooting my silly self … she’s my rock … Love ya mamacita … Pssss can I have some of your boobs,” Britney captioned a clip of them laughing and kissing on the cheek. Vicky reposted the video, calling Britney “a shining light” and insisting she has “nothing but love for this special human.” FYI — Britney’s assistant is no stranger to the spotlight. Vicky used to be in the band Cobra Starship. After being in a 13-year conservatorship, Britney was finally granted freedom in November. The Grammy winner is working closely with her attorney, who has a plan in place for her finances. Britney is also allegedly working on a memoir after scoring a reported $15 million book deal. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Two Russian soldiers have died and upwards of 28 more are reported to be “seriously ill” after being fed poisoned pies by Ukrainian civilians when the invading troops attempted to take over their town. This also comes as another 500 Russian soldiers reportedly ended up in the hospital for alcohol poisoning after ingesting poisoned beverages provided by other Ukrainian civilians in another Ukrainian town. Mega According to Daily Star, the first incident reportedly took place in the Eastern Ukrainian town of Izium. The two soldiers allegedly passed away immediately after eating the pies provided by the Izium civilians, while the remaining 28 soldiers in the unit reportedly became ill and were quickly taken to be treated. On Saturday, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence reportedly took to Facebook to warn the Ukrainian civilians of the invading Russian soldiers. The Facebook post also allegedly suggested that the Ukrainian civilians “resist” the invading soldiers “by all available means.” Mega “Ukrainians resist the occupiers by all available means,” the post began. “According to available information, local residents of the Izium district (Kharkiv region) ‘treated’ Russians from the 3rd Motor Rifle Division of the Russian Federation with poisoned pies.” “As a result, two occupiers died at once, another 28 were taken to the intensive care unit. Their current state is being clarified,” the post continued. “About 500 more servicemen of the 3rd Motor Rifle Division of the Russian Federation are in hospitals due to severe alcohol poisoning of unknown origin.” Ukrainian officials familiar with the situation have since claimed that Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin plan to write the poisoned troops off as “non-combat losses.” As Radar reported, while hundreds of troops are being poisoned in Eastern Ukraine, other Russian soldiers are abandoning their positions and giving up the fight against Ukraine because they no longer believe in the cause. Mega “We’ve seen Russian soldiers — short of weapons and morale — refusing to carry out orders, sabotaging their own equipment and even accidentally shooting down their own aircraft,” Sir Jeremy Fleming, the boss of the United Kingdom’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), recently revealed. “Even though we believe Putin’s advisers are afraid to tell him the truth, what’s going on and the extent of these misjudgments must be crystal clear to the regime,” Fleming continued. “It all adds up to the strategic miscalculation that Western leaders warned Putin it would be. It’s become his personal war, with the cost being paid by innocent people in Ukraine and increasingly, by ordinary Russians too.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega; @madonna/TikTok Has the Material Girl gone too far? Plastic surgeons are weighing in on Madonna‘s ever-changing face after the singer, 63, shocked her fans by debuting a bizarre new look on TikTok over the weekend. In the video shared on Sunday, it was hard not to notice Madonna’s dramatic features, which included a forehead that didn’t seem to move, plumped-up cheekbones, and an oversized pout. Wearing a see-through t-shirt without a bra, the superstar pulled her blonde hair back in braided pigtails and did not attempt to shy away from the camera. Pressing her large lips towards the phone she was recording on, Madonna got her followers all hung up. After sharing the video, the singer’s made it clear they were not impressed. “I’ve loved Madonna since I was little … huge fan… love her … but this is a hard pass… what has she done to herself?” one follower asked. “This honestly scared me I’m not gonna lie,” declared another. “Sometimes it’s best to just age,” a third quipped. “Girl, it’s becoming more than embarrassing at this point,” shared a fourth. Others couldn’t help but throw jokes her way with someone comparing her toJocelyn Wildenstein — the 81-year-old former socialite known for her extensive cosmetics surgery operations. “Gen X. Look away. This shall not tarnish out totally tubular memories of the ’80s. Look away,” another fan wrote. Mega Following Madonna’s Facegate, Dr. Steve Fallek told OK! he believes he’s cracked the case. It’s worth noting that the New York-based surgeon has not worked on the singer. He declared there are “lots of issues” with Madonna’s altered look. “Starting from the top, she’s had a bunch of Botox so her forehead doesn’t move at all,” Fallek alleged. “Her upper eyelids are also significantly dropped, what we call ptosis, and should be fixed,” he claimed. “The cheeks are way too filled with filler and she might have had too much buccal fat pad reduction to narrow her face too.” Dr. Fallek also believes her lips are “out of proportion and too big for her.” Mega Madonna’s looks have changed throughout the years, but her tweaks haven’t been as noticeable as on Grammy day. While the music icon was not at the award show in Las Vegas, she gave plenty of people something to talk about. Keep scrolling to see Madonna’s transformation over the years! Mega Madonna captured hearts because she was never afraid to push the envelope. In 1990 (shown above), she sported short bleach blonde hair and deep red lips. Mega Madonna made grunge work in the ’90s at the 12th Annual American Music Awards. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Sister Act 3’ will “hopefully” begin production in 2022. The comedy franchise – which stars Whoopi Goldberg as singer Deloris Van Cartier who was forced to go undercover as a nun after witnessing a crime – will return for a third instalment with director Tim Federle noting that Whoopi is “really excited” to return to her iconic role and that the project is a “big priority” for Disney. He said: “I hope we are starting this year, I think the ‘Sister Act’ franchise is a big priority to the studio scripts coming along and I think Whoopi is really excited.” The ‘Better Nate than Ever’ director went on to explain that development of the movie – which is set to have a script penned by Regina Y. Hicks and Karin Gist – is dependent on “scheduling” matters. He told Collider: “Now it’s just about schedules and chips falling where they may. [Scheduling] is literally everything. It’s literally like the availability of a convent and the availability of a an EGOT!” Tim – who recently directed the Disney+ movie ‘Better Nate Than Ever’, which sees a 13-year-old boy fantasise about a career in Broadway musicals and stars Lisa Kudrow as his actress aunt – went on to explain that in the future he would “love” to continue making ‘Nate’ movies and noted that he is constantly inspired by the work of Rob Marshall, who directed Oscar-winning movie musical ‘Chicago.’ He said: “I would love to expand the ‘Nate’ cinematic universe. I will say you know Rob Marshall’s kind of my hero when I was 12 years old Rob Marshall directed me in a production of ‘Oliver!’ in my hometown of Pittsburgh. And I have been quietly following in his footsteps and in his shadow for almost 30 years. And so what he’s been able to do creating these beautiful visual musical event films is kind of my dream to.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Gloria Dickie (Reuters) -Drastic cuts to fossil fuel use. Growing forests and eating less meat. These are just some of the actions needed in this decade to contain global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures, a major report by the U.N. climate science agency said Monday. Despite climate change warnings issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg3/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FinalDraft_FullReport.pdf since 1990, global emissions have continued to rise in the last decade, reaching their highest point in history. The result: global emissions are on track to blow past the 1.5 degrees C warming limit envisioned in the 2015 Paris Agreement and reach some 3.2 degrees C by century’s end. “We left COP26 in Glasgow with a naive optimism, based on new promises and commitments,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said with the report’s release. “But current climate pledges would (still) mean a 14% increase in emissions. And most major emitters are not taking the steps needed to fulfill even these inadequate promises.” At this point, only severe emissions cuts in this decade across all sectors, from agriculture and transport to energy and buildings, can turn things around, the report says. Even then, governments would also need to bolster efforts to plant more trees and develop technologies that could remove some of the carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere after more than a century of industrial activity. “It’s now or never,” IPCC report co-chair Jim Skea said in a statement with the report – the last in a three-part series by the IPCC, with the next review cycle not expected for at least another five years. DRAMA AND DELAY While other recent IPCC reports addressed the latest findings in climate change science as well as ways for the world to adapt to a warmer world, Monday’s tackled ways of curbing emissions – making it one of the more contentious reports of the pack for governments. Some scientists described the process as “excruciating,” and the IPCC was forced to delay the report’s public release by six hours on Monday. Final approval of the report’s key summary for policymakers – which requires sign-off from all countries – followed a marathon weekend overtime session as government officials quibbled over the wording. “Different countries have different interests,” IPCC co-author and climate scientist Jan Minx. “Everyone wants to make sure that their concerns are addressed … but scientists have the last word.” Upon the report’s release, EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans urged European policymakers to redouble efforts to end reliance on Russian coal, gas and oil. “The war in Ukraine has only increased our sense of urgency because now nobody can find an excuse, in my view, to not speed up the end of the overuse of fossil fuels,” Timmermans told the European Parliament. “We cannot continue to import massive amounts of fossil fuels.” CUTTING DEMAND While past IPCC reports on mitigating carbon emissions tended to focus on the promise of sustainable fuel alternatives, such as solar and wind power, the new report uniquely highlights a need to cut consumer demand. “Most people assumed that demand reduction could be accomplished through efficiency improvements,” said economic anthropologist Jason Hickel at the London School of Economics. “But the evidence we have now suggests that will not be enough in and of itself.” Without shrinking energy demand, the report notes, reducing emissions rapidly by the end of this decade to keep warming below 1.5 degrees C will be almost impossible. “Accepting a lower consumption lifestyle is almost the only fast-acting policy move we have left to prevent the disastrous impacts of climate change,” said Daniel Quiggin, an environmental researcher at the UK policy institute Chatham House. This “demand-side mitigation,” as the report puts it, places the onus on governments to pass policies that incentivize sustainable choices. One example would be investing in bike lanes and public transport while blocking cars from city centres to sway public choice. Such action may slow economic growth by a few percentage points in the short term, the report said, but those losses would be outweighed by economic benefits from preventing extreme climate change. A decade ago, demand reduction was “politically unpalatable,” Quiggin said. “But now, with both the pandemic and Russia-Ukraine crisis, we’re seeing … the beginning of political willingness. When people truly appreciate the scale of a crisis and the problems it can create, they are willing to reduce consumption.” (Reporting by Gloria Dickie; Additional reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Katy Daigle and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @madonna/Instagram Madonnais back at it again with alarming social media posts. The Queen of Pop — who recently ignited concern from fans after posting an eerie video of herself to her TikTok page — just shared a new graphic clip of herself getting inked. @madonna/Instagram In the clip shared to her Instagram page, the 63-year-old is seen sitting at table while being tatted with the phrase “Maman,” which means “Mom” in French, as a tribute to her mother, Madonna Louise Ciccone. FANS REACT TO MADONNA’S UNRECOGNIZABLE LOOK AS POP LEGEND TEASES RUMORED MESSY BIOPIC “I’m doing this for my mother,” she says in the graphic clip, which shows her bleeding from her wrist while getting inked up. “Cause when you give birth, what do you do? You bleed,” she states in the clip, which she captioned: “My turn to bleed for my mother……………… .” “This is all connected,” she added in the video. @madonna/Instagram Madonna went on to explain that she chose the word “Maman” instead of her mother’s first name, since they both have the same moniker. “It would look like I put my own damn name on my arm,” she quipped. “My mother bled for me and so I’m bleeding for her,” she says at the end of the video while cryptically adding: “It’s a family affair.” The video comes in the wake of fans’ concern for the “Material Girl” songstress, as she recently had her TikTok followers creeped out with a strange clip of herself. The TikTok post — which was shared to her account over the weekend — features a filtered Madonna slowly leaning in closer and closer to the camera and pursing her lips. As OK! reported, fans in the comment section called the video “scary” and “unsettling,” with one user writing, “This honestly scared me I’m not gonna lie,” while another person chimed in to say: “Great! How am I supposed to close my eyes and fall asleep now.” @madonna/TikTok Other commenters couldn’t help but notice how much the singer’s face has changed over the years, with one asking: “What has she done to herself?” Following the avalanche of confusion, New York-based plastic surgeon Dr. Steve Fallek weighed in on Madonna’s look, exclusively telling OK! that there are “lots of issues” with the “Like A Virgin” artist’s transformed face. MADONNA UNDERGOES BIZARRE MEDICAL PROCEDURE DURING HER MADAME X TOUR In addition to the Botox preventing her forehead from moving, Dr Fallek explained, “Her upper eyelids are also significantly dropped, what we call ptosis, and should be fixed. The cheeks are way too filled with filler and she might have had too much buccal fat pad reduction to narrow her face too. The lips are also out of proportion and too big for her.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Joseph Ax (Reuters) – Georgia’s legislature approved a bill expanding law enforcement’s power to investigate election fraud over the objections of voting rights groups, adding to a wave of Republican-backed legislation passed after former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was rigged. The legislation passed late Monday would give the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the state’s top investigative agency, the authority to initiate probes of election crimes. Under current law, the secretary of state’s office looks into allegations of irregularities and can ask the GBI for assistance as needed. Trump has fiercely criticized Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, both fellow Republicans, for their refusal to overturn the results of the 2020 election, in which President Joe Biden became the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to win the state. Raffensperger and state election officials have said there were no major problems with the election results after conducting multiple audits and investigations. Trump has endorsed Republican challengers to both Kemp and Raffensperger and held rallies with them in Georgia on March 26. The legislation, which passed the state Senate along party lines, was significantly pared back from a version that earlier passed the state House of Representatives. That bill included several other provisions that were stripped out, including restricting nonprofit grant money to local elections officials and added ballot security measures. The bill now goes to Kemp for either his signature or veto. A spokesperson for the governor did not comment on the bill specifically, saying only that he has 40 days to consider the legislation. Voting rights groups and Democrats have pointed out that election fraud is extremely rare in the United States and argued that greater law enforcement involvement in elections could intimidate voters, particularly those of color. The proposed state budget includes approximately $580,000 to fund four election investigators at the GBI. “This year’s rushed process looks likely to cost Georgia taxpayers $580,000 a year – which will be spent chasing conspiracy theories,” Aunna Dennis, the executive director of Common Cause Georgia, a good government group, said in a statement. The bill’s supporters have said it simply ensures that any allegations are fully investigated, which will improve public confidence in the results. Republican lawmakers in Florida last month approved a measure creating a first-of-its-kind elections police force to investigate allegations of fraud. Georgia and Florida last year passed sweeping voting restrictions, along with several other states controlled by Republicans. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; editing by Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka was to testify remotely on Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports. Her husband, Jared Kushner, spoke to the Select Committee last week, as the investigation of the attack on the Capitol expands to include close relatives of the former president. Ivanka Trump and her husband both served as advisers in the Trump White House. A committee spokesman declined to confirm the reports, from media including ABC and NBC. Aides to the Trump family did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nivedita Balu (Reuters) -Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk vowed “significant” improvements at Twitter Inc on Tuesday, after the micro-blogging site announced plans to name him to the board. The appointment, however, will potentially block chances of a takeover bid from Musk as he cannot own more than 14.9% of Twitter’s stock either as an individual shareholder or as a member of a group as long as he is on the company’s board. Musk’s disclosure of a 9.2% stake in Twitter on Monday stoked widespread speculation of his intentions as the company’s biggest shareholder that varied from a full takeover of the platform to taking an active position. “I’m excited to share that we’re appointing @elonmusk to our board,” Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet. “He’s both a passionate believer and intense critic of the service which is exactly what we need on @Twitter, and in the boardroom, to make us stronger in the long-term.” In response, Musk tweeted: “Looking forward to working with Parag & Twitter board to make significant improvements to Twitter in coming months.” Musk did not provide any details of his plans for the company, which is struggling to boost active users on its platform, even as it pursues new projects to end long-running stagnation. Musk, who calls himself a free-speech absolutist, has been critical of the social media platform and its policies, and recently ran a Twitter poll asking users if they believed the platform adheres to the principle of free speech. After disclosing his stake on Monday, Musk put out another poll on Twitter asking users if they want an edit button, a long-awaited feature on which the social media platform has been working. “News that he is taking a board position will lead to expectations that he wants, and will have, greater involvement in decision making at the social network,” said Susannah Streeter, senior an analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown “This may lead to some nervousness about Mr Musk getting too much influence about the way Twitter is run, with a view to bolstering his own personal brand and that of his companies.” Twitter shares surged 4% in early trading, after closing up over 27% on Monday. Musk, a prolific user of Twitter, has made a number of announcements to his over 80 million followers on the social media platform. Musk will participate in the director benefits arrangements applicable to non-employee directors and serve as a Class II director, with the term expiring at Twitter’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, the company said. The world’s richest man will also be a board member of UFC-owner Endeavor until June 30 but has exited the board of tech non-profit OpenAI, which he co-founded, in 2018. He is also the founder and CEO of SpaceX, and leads brain-chip startup Neuralink and infrastructure firm the Boring Company. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Chavi Mehta; Editing by Anil D’Silva) View the full article

Brothers Osborne won their first Grammy and had quite a night in Las Vegas. [This post contains video, click to play] Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne Is ‘Boring’ at Afterparties: ‘I’ll Be Well-Rested’; TJ Osborne Partner Have Other Ideas Published by The Boot Brothers Osborne closed down the 2022 Grammy Awards on Sunday night (April 3), performing their fast-paced and catchy “Dead Man’s Curve” to end the show after the last trophy was handed out. But after the curtain fell on that performance, brothers and bandmates T.J. and John Osborne apparently went on to have two very different kinds of nights. “As soon as the show’s over, trust me, we’re gonna find a party,” T.J. told Laverne Cox on the red carpet for E! News Online. “You know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so I can’t say too much more.” John, however, said he had a different kind of … Read More Brothers Osborne Get Emotional After Winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance at 2022 Grammy Awards. Answers The Big Question, “Is T.J. Osborne in a relationship?” Uh. Yes. Published by Taste of Country Brothers Osborne won their first-ever Grammy Award on Sunday afternoon (April 3), and they gave an emotional acceptance speech that had both men seemingly on the verge of breaking down at the podium. The sibling duo of John and T.J. Osborne took home Best Country Duo/Group Performance honor in a ceremony prior to the televised portion of the Grammy Awards on Sunday for their song “Younger Me,” beating out Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd and Miranda Lambert and Elle King. They took the stage in disbelief, with John Osborne exclaiming, “What the … what t…Read More Brothers Osborne Perform ‘Dead Man’s Curve’ at the 2022 Grammy Awards Published by The Boot Brothers Osborne took the stage at the 2022 Grammy Awards on Sunday night (April 3) to perform “Dead Man’s Curve,” delivering an energetic rendition. The sibling duo of guitarist John Osborne and singer T.J. Osborne gave a high-energy and engaging performance of the song to close out the 2022 Grammys, taking the stage after a night of all-star awards and performances. The winning performance followed their triumphant Grammy Awards win, when their song “Younger Me” won Best Country Duo/Group Performance during a special afternoon ceremony prior to the televised nighttime show on Sunday, beating… Read More Previously on Towleroad — Brothers Osborne Grammy Night Love Wins CMAs: ‘Younger me’ Live, ‘Best Vocal Duo’ Award Cap Osborne Brothers Gay Year; Acceptance, Emotions, A TJ Osborn Boyfriend Kiss TJ Osborne, One Half of ‘Brothers Osborne’ Country Duo, Comes Out as Gay View the full article

Published by Reuters NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced the launch of digital billboards across Florida denouncing that state’s law that bans most classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity and urging the LGBTQ community to move to New York City. Signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on March 28, the Republican-backed law takes effect in July and prohibits classroom discussion on sexual orientation or gender identity for children in kindergarten through third grade, or from about ages 5-9, in public schools. Adams, a Democrat, called the Parental Rights in Education law – dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents – “the latest shameful, extremist culture war targeting the LGBTQ+ community.” He assured Floridians that New York City welcomed the LGBTQ+ community. “Come to a city where you can say and be whoever you want,” Adams said in a statement. “Today, we say to the families living in fear of this state-sponsored discrimination that you will always have a home in New York City.” Adams made the announcement at New York’s City Hall while standing beside an example of one of the billboards, which he said have been donated and will not cost taxpayers. “People say a lot of ridiculous things in New York. ‘Don’t say gay’ isn’t one of them,” reads a black and white billboard with “Don’t say gay” in the rainbow colors of the LGBTQ Pride Flag. DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw said on Twitter that the law was “defending parental rights” and if those opposed leave for New York City, which she called “a crime-ridden dystopia,” that would only benefit Florida. DeSantis and other Republican politicians across the United States say they want to give parents more control over what young children learn in school. The outdoor digital billboards will run for eight weeks starting April 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, Adams said. Florida parents filed a lawsuit to block the measure, saying it will have the effect of discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students. They claim it not only violates students’ First Amendment right to receive information and ideas, but also is unconstitutionally vague and fails to define what discussion is and is not allowed in schools. (Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Peter Eisler, Alexandra Ulmer, Anita Komuves and Andrew R.C. Marshall (Reuters) – America’s most prominent conservative gathering, founded on ideals of personal liberty and limited government, convenes in Budapest next month to celebrate a European leader accused of undermining democracy and individual rights. The May meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is seen by some Republicans as a test of how closely American conservatives are willing align themselves with a global movement of far-right, Russia-friendly strongmen embraced by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The event’s keynote speaker is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a longtime supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The European Union has accused Orban, who won re-election by a large margin on Sunday, of curbing media and judicial independence, enriching associates with public funds and recasting election laws to entrench his power. Hungary joined in the EU sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But Orban has stopped short of criticizing Putin directly, barred weapons shipments through Hungary to neighboring Ukraine and opposed proposals for EU sanctions on Russian natural gas. The Hungary meeting reflects a years-long push by CPAC’s organizers, the American Conservative Union (ACU), to promote Trump’s divisive brand of nationalist populism to foreign audiences. Last fall, a similar CPAC-branded meeting was held in Brazil, spotlighting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right leader and Putin admirer. A Trump spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. An Orban spokesperson called the EU’s criticism of him “politically-ideologically based” and part of a long-running “provocation campaign and witch hunt” by liberal elites. The Hungary gathering spotlights an emerging split among Republicans. While some have grown more tolerant of Putin and other foreign leaders with authoritarian tendencies, others are alarmed at the association. Al Cardenas, who served as ACU’s chairman from 2011 to 2014, called CPAC’s embrace of Orban troubling, noting the Hungarian leader’s close ties to Putin, “the most dangerous adversary of the free world.” “Orban is no friend of democratic nations, and any gestures or cooperation with USA nonprofits sends the wrong signal to the rest of the world, especially in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war,” said Cardenas, who was also once head of Florida’s Republican Party. On one side of the Republican split are traditional anti-authoritarian conservatives, who value personal freedoms, limited government and free markets, says Gregg Keller, who was ACU’s executive director from 2011 to 2014, working alongside Cardenas, and now heads the Atlas Strategy Group, a political consulting firm. Keller describes this typically older group as “Reagan internationalist-type folks.” Their ideology increasingly clashes with Trump’s strongest supporters, who Keller describes as “more populist, younger, isolationist folks,” who view Putin’s attack on Ukraine as “none of our concern.” Many Trump backers admire Orban for using his political dominance to push a conservative cultural agenda, from immigration crackdowns to restrictions on LGBTQ rights. With CPAC Hungary, Keller said, “you’re seeing those two opposing views very much go head-to-head.” The ACU, which has condemned Putin’s war, has received requests to host similar CPAC gatherings in dozens of other countries where like-minded groups have offered to co-sponsor events, said ACU Executive Director Daniel Schneider. He said the organization has heard from potential sponsors in Slovakia, Kenya, Mongolia, Guatemala and other locales. The foreign co-hosts of CPAC events cover the cost of the offshore meetings, Schneider said. The Budapest conference is co-hosted by a Hungarian think tank that receives funding from Orban’s government; the Brazil meeting was co-hosted by a Brazilian think tank owned by Eduardo Bolsonaro, the president’s son and a far-right Brazilian lawmaker. CPAC Hungary, scheduled for May 18-20, marks its first meeting in Europe and its fifth foreign gathering since the ACU first took the conference abroad to Japan in 2017. Some U.S. conservatives are concerned about CPAC’s reliance on foreign sponsors and the exposure those groups get to influential conservative officials and leaders. In February, a Republican strategist filed an anonymous complaint to the U.S. Justice Department, alleging that the ACU and its leaders have violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by failing to report money they accept from foreign organizations while promoting those groups’ interests to U.S. audiences. The written complaint, reviewed by Reuters, essentially serves as a formal request for a federal investigation. The Justice Department declined to confirm or deny whether it was investigating. The complaint charges that foreign hosts of at least three overseas CPAC meetings, including CPAC Hungary, provided more than $150,000 in sponsorships for CPAC’s marquee U.S. meeting in February in Orlando, Florida. The complainant, a longtime CPAC attendee, expressed disappointment in an interview with Reuters over “how ACU has monetized CPAC to foreign actors” and given them a platform in the United States. The ACU’s Schneider called the allegations “ludicrous.” CPAC’s international outreach, he said, aims to forge bonds with fellow conservatives around its “freedom and liberty” philosophy and has nothing to do with promoting foreign interests. RIGHT-WING ‘REALIGNMENT’ Launched in 1974, the annual CPAC conference has grown from a confab of conservative thinkers and politicians to a jamboree of right-wing celebrities and activists. With Trump’s rise to power, the conferences morphed from a bastion of traditional conservatism into a promotional vehicle for the populist president. The ACU has continued touting Trumpism since he lost the 2020 election and launched his campaign to overturn the results based on false voting-fraud claims. “We’re almost seeing a political realignment in real time” on the American right, said Erick Erickson, a prominent conservative commentator, “and so much of it is in Donald Trump’s shadow.” While old-school conservatives are deeply skeptical of government power, Erickson said, Trump has inspired national populists “who want a strong central government that can impose their will on the country.” Many of them believe traditional conservatism has failed to stop the advancement of left-wing culture, Erickson said, and “they want to move on to something new.” Orban was the first European leader to endorse Trump’s 2016 presidential bid. He is among an array of hardline leaders, including Putin, whom Trump has publicly admired. Trump recently endorsed Orban in the April 3 Hungarian election, which Orban won with 53% of the vote against a six-party coalition. The Ukraine war initially was seen to have harmed Orban’s campaign because of his cozy relationship with Putin. Orban prevailed after arguing that the opposition’s promises to mend ties with the EU could lead Hungary into war with Russia. Orban’s politics and policies appear to clash with CPAC’s principles, detailed in a founding charter that celebrates the “inherent rights of the individual through strictly limiting the power of government.” The Hungarian leader has pushed to replace independent news outlets with state-aligned media and installed loyalists to oversee institutions such as the judiciary and chief prosecutor’s office. Orban’s opponents depict him as an authoritarian who exploits power to weaken democracy and reward cronies, accusations Orban denies. The European Union recently froze 7.2 billion euros ($7.9 billion) in subsidies to Hungary and has threatened to halt billions more unless it institutes reforms such as strengthening judicial independence. Orban’s spokesperson called the withholding of EU funds “outrageous and unjustifiable,” particularly as Hungary confronts the effects of a war just over its border. Many U.S. conservatives have come to envy Orban’s use of government power to impose a conservative cultural agenda, said Kim Lane Scheppele, a Princeton University professor of sociology and international affairs who studies Hungarian politics. “Hungary has become, for the Trumpist Republicans, what Sweden used to be for the social democrats – it’s proof of concept,” Scheppele said. Orban touts what he calls “illiberal democracy” and depicts himself as a Christian defender of European heritage. He uses anti-immigration policies to repel Muslim migrants and rejects liberal European positions on social issues, such as adoption by gay couples. Rod Dreher, a columnist at The American Conservative, sees Orban’s Hungary as a model for post-Trump conservatism. Dreher, whose latest book, “Live Not By Lies,” was translated into Hungarian, took a selfie with Orban on a recent visit to Budapest and tweeted it with the message, “Hey haters!” “Orban, unlike so many of our own conservative politicians, understands that we are in a battle to defend our civilization – and he fights like it,” Dreher said, adding that CPAC Hungary will show American conservatives “what nationalist, populist conservative governance can be.” FUNDING FROM ORBAN’S OFFICE Miklos Szantho heads the Center for Fundamental Rights, the Orban-backed think tank hosting the conference. In an interview with Reuters, Szantho ticked off shared interests of conservatives internationally: “our Judeo-Christian heritage, national identity, state sovereignty, the family, the created nature of Man and Woman.” The Budapest-based center said it first approached the ACU about three years ago to discuss hosting CPAC. The center, which describes itself as a research institute, focuses largely on promoting Orban’s policies. Its website decries “overgrown human rights-fundamentalism and political correctness,” and its director, Szantho, appears regularly on Hungarian TV as a pro-Orban pundit. The center received large donations from Orban’s government, according to public records reviewed by Reuters. It is run by a company called Jogallam es Igazsag Nonprofit Kft (JIN Kft). JIN Kft is owned by Szantho, who set it up in 2013 with the help of funding from a foundation linked to Orban’s ruling party, Fidesz. In 2020, the Prime Minister’s Office gave the company 2.3 billion forints ($7.2 million), according to the office’s annual report. The same year, JIN Kft received 720 million forints ($2.3 million) from a foundation also funded by Orban’s government, according to the documents. Neither the center nor the Prime Minister’s Office responded to requests for comment on the organization’s funding or its relationship to Orban’s government. Some U.S. conservatives are wary of CPAC’s association with foreign groups underwriting its conferences. “There are downsides to going international,’’ David Keene, the ACU’s chair from 1984 to 2011, said in an interview. Citing controversies surrounding Orban’s policies and his ties to Putin, Keene said such partnerships risk aligning CPAC with groups and agendas that run counter to its principles. Schneider, the current ACU executive director, said foreign co-hosts are assessed for “philosophical alignment.” Szantho said CPAC Hungary will attract “preeminent conservative politicians and intellectuals” worldwide. The center has revealed only a few speakers, including Orban, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the Brazilian president’s son, and Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s far-right Vox party. Reuters could not confirm whether the announced speakers would attend or whether they would be joined by any prominent U.S. conservatives. Orban remains the biggest draw. “In my eyes,” said Szantho, “if a prime minister attends a conference, that shows (the) conference is important.” (Reporting by Peter Eisler, Alexandra Ulmer, Anita Komuves and Andrew R.C. Marshall; additional reporting by Krisztina Than and Gabriel Stargardter; editing by Jason Szep and Brian Thevenot) View the full article

Randy Rainbow Gay[This post contains video, click to play] You knew this was coming… Randy Rainbow says Gay! Lyrics: We are back and i’m joined now by Ron Desantis governor of the great state of wait which is the one that shaped like a big … florida right florida sir you recently signed into law the controversial parental rights and education bill which some have called the “Don’t say gay’ bill Randy Rainbow not Ron DeSantisand others have called the girl [ __ ] that bill. i think it’s probably the most comprehensive piece of legislation i’ve seen Critics say that this bigoted legislation will rob kids of a safe space to have a healthy discussion about their identities i mean how would you feel if we signed a bill prohibiting everyone from talking about slimy self-interested douchebag politicians Randy Rainbow gay as a drag queen’s brassierewith no sex appeal who buy all their suits off the clearance rack at burlington coat factory we at the state can stop that i look and see how this media operates as corporate media what about all the people they’ve smeared over the years who are not governors S omeone’s being an [ __ ] that’s no way to be honey d here’s the t gosh i’d hate to upset your republican peers so let me say the soft so no one Randy Rainbow Gay as an Easter Bouquethears i’ve always been here’s an interesting fact oops i said it i’m gay you can bet it’s a badge that i wear with a fabulous flair because i’m Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay Honey, I’m queer as a drag queen’s brassiere and although you might think that i’m flawed hey i’m gay as a broadway premiere [Applause] All your thinly veiled hate is a dangerous trend It’s such a vile cliche But you’d rather talk straight And i’d hate to offend So I’ll try not to say that i’m as Gay Randy Rainbow Gay as a Sephora displayAs an Easter bouquet I’m as gay as the cast of euphoria Or a Sephora display [Applause] You Go to the jail. Gurl I’m as fruity as Gaga in Gucci And gorgeously [Music] i almost said it again god i’m sorry i don’t know what came over me [Music] GAY Hey Ron Desantis … Gay-Gay-Gay Hey Ron Desantis … Hey Gurl Hey C’mon why can’t ya say it too? Come on Desantis say it too! There’s nothing naughty or risque There’s nothing wrong with gay ’bout LGBTQ i’m not backing down [Music] That’s why I slay I’m incredibly gay Though you’d rather i said it much less I can’t help but express it all day today stop And should you say, “Why not tuck it away…?” kindly f**k yourself I’m gay and you’re gay I’d say we need more gay Let’s bask int he splendors of all shades and genders So sing it out loud, Ma’am And let’s say it proud, Fam I am so damn GAY! Gay, gay, Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay i thought that went really well it was disgraceful okay stop that Credits: Parody Written and Performed by Randy Rainbow (Based on “Shy” by Mary Rodgers from Once Upon a Mattress) Song Produced, Orchestrated, Mixed, Mastered By Michael J Moritz Jr @michaeljmoritz Vocal Arrangement: Jesse Kissel Piano:Michael J Moritz Jr Guitar :Jakob Reinhardt Bass: Adam DeAscentis Drums: Tom Jorgensen Sax: Ryan Saranich Engineer:Jakob Reinhardt Pre-order Randy’s new MEMOIR “Playing with Myself” (Available 4/19/22): TICKETS TO SEE RANDY LIVE! (Book Tour & Pink Glasses Tour) Book Randy Rainbow on CAMEO Buy official t-shirts and other fun merch here Randy Rainbow Gay on Towleroad Lady Gaga moved to tears as she performs Tony Bennett tribute at Grammys More JoJo Siwa teases identity of new partner More Major study confirms ivermectin ineffective against Covid-19 More Billy Porter wore the ‘colour of the season’ at the Grammys More U.S. poor died at much higher rate from COVID than rich – report More U.S. pushes to suspend Russia from Human Rights Council More Millions of Afghans want to leave country, survey finds More LA court rules state corporate diversity law unconstitutional More Joe Exotic ‘plans to marry former prisoner’ More Ukraine accuses Russia of civilian ‘massacre’; Moscow denies it More Madonna Post ‘Unsettling’ TikTok Which Has Viewers Comparing The Video Of The Pop Star Blowing A Kiss To A Horror Film More Grammy Awards 2022 Red Carpet Fashion: Stars Dress To Impress On Music’s Biggest Night More Early wins for Olivia Rodrigo, Jon Batiste as Grammys kick off More Load More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lady Gaga paid an emotional tribute to Tony Bennett at the Grammys. The ‘Born This Way’ hitmaker took to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday night (03.04.22) to perform two tracks from their pair’s award-winning jazz LP ‘Love for Sale’; the title track and ‘Do I Love You’. Tony could not attend in person due to his health issues, however, he introduced the 36-year-old pop legend to the stage virtually in a pre-recorded message. The 95-year-old singer suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and retired from performing in 2021. As the ‘A Star is Born’ actress belted out ‘Do I Love You’, footage of herself and Tony recording and performing together was displayed on screens behind her, and Gaga choked up looking at them. After hitting the final note, she said: “We love you Tony, we miss you.” The duo took home Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and Tony made history as the second-oldest Grammy winner and the oldest in the general categories. Tony’s son Danny Bennett recently confirmed that his dad would be absent from the ceremony. He said: “Although the producers had invited both Tony and Gaga to perform in Sunday’s Grammys broadcast, it is unfortunate that due to his continuing struggle with Alzheimer’s, he was not able to accept. “It was decided that it would be fitting for Lady Gaga to perform on her own to represent for both of them.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English JoJo Siwa has suggested she has known her new partner for some time. The 18-year-old dancer revealed a few days ago that she’s in a new relationship and now the former ‘Dancing With the Stars’ contestant – who split from Kylie Prew in October after nine months of dating – has revealed they have been together for “a few months” after she opened her eyes to what was in front of her. She gushed to E! News: “I’m very, very happy. “I will say that I have made some choices. You know, I didn’t really have my eyes open. “I am lucky to be in love. I think love is a very special thing that sometimes can be taken for granted. And I’m very lucky to have unconditional love.” And JoJo teased her fans ill be thrilled when they find out who her new mystery woman is. She added: “I’ll say the world is going to be very happy when I say who it is.” It seems fans won’t have to wait too much longer to find out who the YouTuber is dating. She said: “I told my girlfriend, I said six months, but we both know I’m not gonna keep it a secret for that long. So, I don’t know, when it feels right. “Odds are it’ll slip out soon who it is.” JoJo revealed last week she is “not single” and is a “loyal lady” when she’s in a relationship. She confirmed: “We’re not single. I say ‘we’re’ because it’s me and my multiple personalities within myself… I am not single and I don’t want to mingle. No, I’m a loyal lady.” She also said: “I was gonna erase my whole bio but just put the lock [emoji],” to which ‘Rachel Uncensored’ host Rachel Ballinger replied: “She’s exclusive, ladies and gentleman.” View the full article

Published by DPA A large study from Brazil has now confirmed that the drug ivermectin does not help against Covid-19. Rodrigo Urzagasti/dpa A new study from Brazil has confirmed that ivermectin – the drug hoarded from pharmacies after vaccination sceptics made unfounded claims of its effects – does nothing to help against Covid-19. The study, published in the renowned New England Journal of Medicine, concludes that this drug does not reduce the risk of hospitalisation after a coronavirus infection compared to a placebo. Ivermectin, which can be used against certain threadworms and scabies mites in humans, had previously gained a notable popularity, especially among vaccination opponents, who saw the drug as a miracle cure. In some countries, pharmacy shelves were even emptied of the drug amid claims of its effects in combatting Covid-19. The hype was fuelled by dubious websites that referred to supposedly promising results, especially from smaller studies – the quality and general validity of which, according to experts, was in part questionable. In the double-blind study that has now been published, neither doctors nor the patients assigned by lot knew who had received the drug and who had received a placebo. The 3,500 participants had an increased risk of severe Covid due to their age or previous illnesses. 679 of them received ivermectin, the same number received a placebo, and the remaining 2,160 patients were treated differently. In the study, ivermectin was found to be clinically ineffective – in terms of risk of hospitalisation, length of hospital stay and recovery after infection. “This should put this topic to bed,” infection immunologist Leif Erik Sander from the Berlin Charité hospital said on Twitter in response to the study. In the past, meta-analyses that combined individual studies and laboratory experiments did not come to a clear conclusion about an claimed benefit of ivermectin. To date, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have spoken out against the use of the drug in the pandemic. If used in the wrong dosage, the drug can be highly toxic. In Austria, the manufacturer MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) even advised against taking the drug without medical advice, noting there was “no meaningful evidence” for the use of ivermectin against Sars-CoV-2. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Billy Porter wore the “colour of the season” to the Grammy Awards 2022. The 52-year-old star – who is known for his flamboyant statement-making red carpet looks – wore his hair in braids and painted his lips blue as he donned the fuchsia Valentino number, which had been chosen specially for him from the runway. He told E! News: “The colour of the season I hear is fuchsia and Valentino sent this over for me to wear from the runway. So you have to say yes to that!” The ‘Pose’ star – who completed his look with a pair of silver heels – was asked if he ever envisioned himself being able to wear such a diverse outfit way back when he won ‘Star Search’ in 1992. He said: “Actually yes to part of it, but not to the part to where I get to be myself. I was trying to be somebody else. I was trying to be masculine enough to fit in. That didn’t work out so well, so when I started to be authentic and be myself, stuff started to happen. So I am happy. It’s nice.” The Broadway actor – who was attending the event to hand out an award – went on to explain that he and Laverne Cox – who is transgender – are “living proof” of how power can enforce change. He said: “We are living proof of that. It’s only inside of us, standing inside the power of our authenticity and truth, that we can change the world for other people. We in this space give the whole world permission.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Americans living in poorer counties died during the pandemic at almost twice the rate of those in rich counties, a study released Monday by the Poor People’s Campaign showed. The study, based on income and death data from over 3,200 U.S. counties, shows an even bigger gap during the Delta variant that made up the U.S.’s fourth coronavirus wave, when people living in the lowest income counties died at five times the rate of those in the highest income counties. The 300 counties with the highest death rates have an average poverty rate of 45%, and household median incomes on average $23,000 lower than counties with lower rates. Many of the top twenty counties were sparsely populated areas in Georgia, Texas and Virginia, the report and an accompanying map of death rates and income https://sdsn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/5f63359b4889476380d12b1cb5299f3d online show. “The neglect of poor and low-wealth people in this country during a pandemic is immoral, shocking and unjust, especially in light of the trillions of dollars that profit-driven entities received,” said William Barber, director of the Poor People’s Campaign, an activist group that aims to correct the United States’ income inequality. The United States is the only wealthy nation not to guarantee health services for all, and witnessed the biggest decline in male life expectancy during the COVID-pandemic of 29 nations studied by Oxford University. More than 980,000 Americans have died of COVID, the most of any country in the world. Vaccine hesitancy that left one-fourth of all American adults unvaccinated likely accounts for hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths, public health experts say. (Reporting by Heather Timmons) View the full article