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Published by Reuters BUCHAREST (Reuters) – The United States will ask the U.N. General Assembly to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Monday, after Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing dozens of civilians in the town of Bucha. A two-thirds majority vote by the 193-member assembly in New York can suspend a state from the council for persistently committing gross and systematic violations of human rights. Speaking in Bucharest on Monday, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “Russia’s participation on the Human Rights Council is a farce. “And it is wrong, which is why we believe it is time the UN General Assembly vote to remove them.” Thomas-Greenfield told Reuters she aimed to put the move to suspend Russia to a vote in the General Assembly this week. Since the Ukraine invasion began on Feb. 24, the Assembly has adopted two resolutions denouncing Russia with at least 140 yes votes. Moscow says it is carrying out a “special military operation” to destroy Ukraine’s military infrastructure. “My message to those 140 countries who have courageously stood together is: the images out of Bucha and devastation across Ukraine require us to now match our words with action,” Thomas-Greenfield, visiting Romania to see how it is coping with an influx of Ukraine refugees, told reporters. Russia is in its second year of a three-year term on the 47-member Geneva-based council. Moscow’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The council cannot make legally binding decisions but its decisions send important political messages and it can authorise investigations. It last month set up an investigation into alleged rights violations, including possible war crimes, in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. Thirty-two members voted in favour of the resolution, brought by Ukraine. Russia and Eritrea voted against while 13, including China, abstained. Bucha’s deputy mayor said around 50 bodies found after Kremlin forces withdrew were the victims of extra-judicial killings carried out by Russian troops. Reuters could not independently verify that information. Ukrainian authorities said they were investigating possible war crimes there. The Kremlin categorically denied any accusations related to the murder of civilians in the town. The United States has said war crimes have been committed in Ukraine and U.S. experts were gathering evidence to prove it. The General Assembly has previously suspended a country from the Human Rights Council. In March 2011, it unanimously suspended Libya because of violence against protesters by forces loyal to then leader Muammar Gaddafi. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, editing by John Stonestreet) View the full article

Published by DPA A Taliban security guard plays with a whip while standing in front of Afghan men waiting outside a bank to withdraw money. Oliver Weiken/dpa The majority of Afghans would leave their country if they had the chance, according to a survey conducted last year as the US withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban returned to power. The poll was conducted by the US public opinion research firm Gallup between August 9 and September 29. The results, released on Monday, were based on interviews with a random sample of more than 2,000 adults aged 15 and older in Afghanistan. The percentage of Afghans who said they wanted to leave their home country for good rose to a record high of 53% in the survey. “This percentage, one of the highest in the world in 2021, is potentially even higher now, with millions on the brink of starvation since the Taliban’s takeover,” the research institute added. Turkey, Germany, Canada and the United States top the list of desired destinations. The wish to migrate is strongest among men and those with at least a primary education. Since the hardline Taliban seized power in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled, with many viewing the crisis-ridden country as a giant prison for its more than 30 million inhabitants. View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Los Angeles court has found a California law mandating that publicly traded companies include people from underrepresented communities on their boards unconstitutional, ruling in favor of a conservative group seeking an injunction against the measure. Los Angeles County Superior Court granted summary judgment to Judicial Watch on Friday. The conservative legal group had argued the law violates the equal protection clause of California’s constitution. The ruling did not provide Judge Terry Green’s reasoning behind the decision. The law, passed in 2020, required that publicly traded companies with a main office in California appoint at least one member of the Asian, Black, Latino, LGBT, Native American, or Pacific Islander communities to their boards by the end of 2021 through either filling a vacant seat or creating a new one. “This historic California court decision declared unconstitutional one of the most blatant and significant attacks in the modern era on constitutional prohibitions against discrimination,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. California’s governor, secretary of state, and attorney general did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The law intends to give minorities a voice within powerful corporation, Governor Gavin Newsom said when he signed it. It passed following the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer during an arrest, which galvanized a national protest movement against racism and the disproportionate use of police force against Black Americans. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Joe Exotic plans to marry a man he met in prison. The ‘Tiger King’ star has filed for a divorce from husband Dillon Passage, and he now hopes to marry his new love interest. Autumn Blackledge, Joe’s lawyer, has told TMZ that he dreams of trying the knot with John Graham, after meeting him in prison. Joe and Dillon were estranged for more than a year before the 59-year-old star – who shot to fame in the hit Netflix series – filed for a divorce. Joe met John in February 2021, when they were both behind bars in Fort Worth, Texas. John has subsequently been released, but his relationship with Joe remains strong and they’re keen to tie the knot one day. Dillon, on the other hand, has also got another man in his life and is now looking to the future after his split from Joe. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Joe was resentenced to 21 years in prison. The controversial star had his prison term reduced by one year by a federal judge, after he was convicted in a murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin. Joe – whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage – was resentenced after a federal appeals court determined in 2021 that improper sentencing guidelines were previously used. The former zookeeper was initially sentenced to 22 years in prison. But his attorneys campaigned to have his sentence reduced, alleging “imperfect entrapment, sentencing manipulation, and outrageous government conduct”. In a sentencing memorandum, they previously said: “From decisions made in the initial stages of the investigation to charging decisions to overzealous sentencing recommendations, one thing remains clear: this case was about doing whatever it took to put Mr. Maldonado-Passage behind bars for as long as possible.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Adds Russia calling for UN meeting; Guterres calling for investigation; other details) By Simon Gardner BUCHA, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukraine on Sunday accused Russian forces of carrying out a “massacre” in the town of Bucha, while Western nations reacted to images of dead bodies there with calls for new sanctions against Moscow. Russia’s defence ministry denied the Ukrainian allegations, saying footage and photographs showing bodies in Bucha were “yet another provocation” by the Ukrainian government. The images from the town, 37 km (23 miles) northwest of Kyiv’s city centre, emerged after Ukraine said on Saturday its forces had reclaimed control of the whole Kyiv region and liberated towns from Russian troops. They prompted outrage in Ukraine and abroad, adding to pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin by increasing the likelihood of further Western sanctions. Western nations have already sought to isolate Russia economically and punish it for the invasion, which began on Feb. 24. “Bucha massacre was deliberate,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the images as “a punch in the gut,” while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an independent investigation. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Russia must pay for “war crimes.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his government would step up sanctions, as well as military and humanitarian support for Ukraine. “Putin and his supporters will feel the consequences,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that Western allies would agree on further sanctions in the coming days. Germany’s defence minister Christine Lambrecht said the European Union must discuss banning the import of Russian gas – a departure from Berlin’s prior resistance to the idea of an embargo on Russian energy imports. Russia requested that the U.N. Security Council convene on Monday to discuss what Moscow called a “provocation by Ukrainian radicals” in Bucha. The defence ministry in Moscow described photos and videos from the town as a “staged performance.” Russia has previously denied targeting civilians and has rejected allegations of war crimes in what it calls a “special military operation” aimed at demilitarising and “denazifying” Ukraine. Ukraine says it was invaded without provocation. On Saturday, Reuters saw bodies in a mass grave and still lying on the streets, while on Sunday the mayor of Bucha, Anatoliy Fedoruk, showed reporters two corpses with white cloth tied around their arms, one of which appeared to have been shot in the mouth. Oleksiy Arestovych, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Ukrainian troops had found the bodies of women who had been raped and set alight as well as the bodies of local officials and children. Bucha’s mayor said 300 residents had been killed during a month-long occupation by the Russian army. Reuters could not immediately verify the allegations by Arestovych and Fedoruk. Ukraine’s foreign minister called on the International Criminal Court to collect evidence of what he called Russian war crimes, while the foreign ministers of France and Britain said their countries would support any such probe. However, legal experts say a prosecution of Putin or other Russian leaders would face high hurdles and could take years. Human Rights Watch said it had documented “several cases of Russian military forces committing laws-of-war violations” in the Ukrainian regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kyiv. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said prosecutors investigating possible war crimes by Russia had found 410 bodies in towns near Kyiv, of which 140 had been examined. FIGHTING IN SEVERAL AREAS Russia has pulled back forces that had threatened Kyiv from the north, saying it intends to focus on eastern Ukraine. Fighting was reported on Sunday in several parts of Ukraine. The governor of the eastern Donetsk region said shelling had continued throughout the night and day. Russian shelling killed seven people in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to the regional prosecutor’s office. Missiles struck near the southern port of Odesa, with Russia saying it had destroyed an oil refinery used by the Ukrainian military. The Odesa city council said “critical infrastructure facilities” were hit. Dmytro Lunin, governor of the central Poltava region, said the Kremenchug oil refinery, 350 km (220 miles) northeast of Odesa, had been destroyed in a separate rocket attack on Saturday. Two blasts were heard in the Russian city of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine on Sunday, two witnesses told Reuters, days after Russian authorities accused Ukrainian forces of striking a fuel depot there. Ukraine evacuated 2,694 people from conflict zones in the southeastern port of Mariupol and the region of Luhansk on Sunday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. Ukrainian officials were in talks with Russia to allow several Red Cross buses to enter Mariupol, she added. The Red Cross abandoned earlier attempts due to security concerns. Russia blamed the charity for the delays. Mariupol is Russia’s main target in Ukraine’s southeastern region of Donbas, and tens of thousands of civilians there have been trapped for weeks with scant access to food and water. There was little sign of a breakthrough in efforts to negotiate an end to the war, although Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said talks were due to resume on Monday via videoconference. Medinsky said that while Ukraine was showing more realism by agreeing to be neutral, renouncing nuclear weapons, not joining a military bloc and refusing to host military bases, there had been no progress on other key Russia demands. “I repeat again and again: Russia’s position on Crimea and Donbas remains UNCHANGED,” he said on Telegram. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has recognised declarations of independence by the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine which rose up against Kyiv’s rule. (Additional reporting by Zohra Bensemra and Abdelaziz Boumzar in Bucha, Pavel Polityuk in Lviv, Issam Abdallah in Odesa, Natalia Zinets in Mukachevo and Reuters bureaus in Europe and Washington; Writing by Estelle Shirbon and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Frances Kerry and Paul Simao) View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA; @MADONNA/TIKTOK Madonna decided to post a new bizarre TikTok that has her fans completely “unsettled” by the pop star’s odd complexion and off-putting kiss. Mega The TikTok featured the 63-year-old Material Girl wearing an overly revealing sheer black top and several silver necklaces and chains layered on top of one another. As slow and sensual music played in the background, a seemingly smoothed out filtered Madonna slowly leaned in close to the camera giving people the vibes of a horror film instead of the playful “sexy” tone the popstar originally intended. As soon as her face was only an inch or two away from the camera, the former cover model shut her already half closen eyes … puckered her lips … and gave the viewer the most unsettling kiss they’ve ever seen. @MADONNA/TIKTOK The comments on the video read more like the reviews of the latest Blumhouse feature calling the short clip “unsettling” with the top comment reading, “This honestly scared me, I’m not gonna lie.” Other comments act as if Madonna was a monster out in the middle of the woods repeating over and over again, “Stay Back! Stay Back!” A third comment wrote that they’re choosing to “remember how fabulous [Madonna] was in the 90s” pointing out how she used to be “an icon.” Mega There have been worries about the popstar’s heath for quite some time. In recent photos of the aging music legend fans have pointed out how “frail” and “unrecognizable” she looks compared to her highly filtered photos she’d post on Instagram smoothing out her skin and de-aging the singer digitally. Madonna Seen Out In Public Without The Instagram Filter To Give Her The Youthful Appearance She Displays On Social Media Mega The mother of six has had a rollercoaster life and received hundreds of awards and accolades. She has released 14 albums with dozens of #1 hits amongst them, as well as boasting a successful acting and directing career starring in some of the most iconic movies in history such as A League of Their Own and Dick Tracy. The Like a Virgin singer is currently holding auditions for a biopic about her life set to be directed by the legend herself. Besides reportedly running a “Madonna Bootcamp” for the actresses aiming for the role, some have gone on to call the Grammy winner difficult to work with leading up to the production of the film. “This project has been in development for two years and it’s not even close to getting off the ground,” an insider told OK! Magazine. “It’s baffling that Madonna can’t get her act together ether — and worse, she’s making it torture for everyone else.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA The 64th Annual Grammy Awards are finally here, bringing together several of the most famous stars in the world as they prepare to celebrate music’s biggest night. This year, the ceremony is being held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and the A-listers made sure to show out in true Sin City fashion on Sunday. From gorgeous gowns to suave suits and over-the-top looks, the stars are always bringing the heat when it comes to dressing up for the star-studded affair. Aside from the notable red carpet moments, there is plenty to look forward to this evening, considering Trevor Noah will be serving as the ceremony’s host a second time while many other stars will be taking the stage as presenters. Plus, several big performers will be rocking the house including Billie Eilish, BTS, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow, Olivia Rodrigo as well as Bruno Mars. Scroll through the gallery to see all of the show-stopping glamor on the Grammys red carpet. Elle King The Ex’s & Oh’s singer looked red-hot in a matching set paired with a wide-brimmed hat. JIM RUYMEN/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency Doja Cat The Streets performer looked ethereal in a sparkling blue Versace gown. JIM RUYMEN/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency Tiësto and Annika The expectant couple stunned while he sweetly kissed her baby bump on the red carpet. JIM RUYMEN/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency Chrissy Teigen Can’t go wrong with a bright fit! The cookbook author and model is pretty in pink. Courtesy @chrissyteigen/Instagram Questlove The musician added a splash of color to his suave ensemble with bold red glasses. JIM RUYMEN/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency View the full article

Published by AFP Jon Batiste, who had 11 nominations at the 2022 Grammys, has already taken home four awards Las Vegas (AFP) – The star-studded Grammys kicked off Sunday with showstopping performances as pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo and jazzman Jon Batiste jumped out of the gate with a handful of awards each. The US gambling capital is hosting the ceremony for the first time ever, after organizers postponed the original January 31 event over a surge in Covid-19 cases and then moved it out of Los Angeles. Silk Sonic performed to open the show before winning the prestigious prize for Song of the Year, which celebrates songwriting, for their single “Leave The Door Open.” The win means Rodrigo can no longer sweep the top four categories in one night, which would have made her only the third artist to do so after Billie Eilish did in 2020 and Christopher Cross in 1981. But the 19-year-old, who arrived on the carpet in cleavage-baring Vivienne Westwood, won her first Grammys ever — two of them, the coveted Best New Artist prize and the award for Best Pop Solo Performance for “drivers license.” She performed that hit in a full 90s get-up of fishnets, platform boots and a white slip dress with tiered ruffle skirt, staged in a white Mercedes on a set made to look like a dark, stormy suburban street. And Lil Nas X delivered an unabashed celebration of sexuality and queerness, performing a medley of his hits “Dead Right Now,” “Industry Baby” and “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” which is up for awards including Record of the Year. The timing of the Grammys just one week after Will Smith stunned the world by slapping Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars has added an extra layer of unpredictability to what is already usually one of the edgier nights on the showbiz awards circuit. Host Trevor Noah used the incident for a gentle zing alluding to Smith’s words to Rock: “We’re going to be keeping people’s names out of our mouths.” Billie Eilish staged a stormy rendition of “Happier Than Ever” with her brother Finneas on guitar, backed by lightning bolt strikes and a finale of pouring rain. Eilish wore a shirt in homage to the late Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer who died unexpectedly just over a week ago. In the pre-show, the Foo Fighters won all three Grammys they were nominated for, but it was unclear if any of the band members would make an appearance at the gala. Batiste leading Music’s chaos agent Kanye West also did not appear to be in attendance even as he won two Grammys, one of which he shares with Jay Z. But in the competitive Best Rap Album category, it was Tyler, the Creator who won for “Call Me If You Get Lost.” Batiste, a 35-year-old born into a prominent New Orleans musical dynasty, made good on his status as the top nominated artist with 11 nods, winning four awards so far including one for Best Music Video. “I am so grateful for the gifts that God has given me, and the ability to share that for the love of humankind,” Batiste said onstage, wearing a flashy sequined suit that matched his megawatt smile. He is vying for Record of the Year and Album of the Year, which he’ll compete for against big-budget pop juggernauts including Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber along with Rodrigo and Eilish. Joni in the house Silk Sonic wrapped up the Song of the Year award but the rest of the Grammys field for the main prizes is wide open — especially after the Recording Academy expanded those top four categories yet again, this time to include 10 nominees, in a bid to improve diversity. The expansion resulted in one of the most eclectic crops of Best New Artist nominees in recent memory, even if Rodrigo took the prize. The Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist Arooj Aftab, who won her first Grammy ever for Best Global Music Performance for “Mohabbat,” was also nominated for Best New Artist. “I am beyond thrilled,” the artist told journalists backstage at the pre-gala ceremony, at which the vast majority of awards are handed out. “It feels great.” The Recording Academy will also include a special segment on Ukraine, in partnership with Global Citizen, encouraging awareness of the war as well as fundraising efforts for humanitarian aid. Among Sunday’s presenters was folk icon Joni Mitchell, who was honored at a moving tribute gala Friday. She won an award for Best Historical Album, appearing onstage in a red leather beret, sunglasses and floral pants, her long blonde hair in pigtails. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Justyna Pawlak and Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban scored a fourth consecutive landslide win in Sunday’s election, as voters endorsed his ambition of a conservative, “illiberal” state and shrugged off concerns over Budapest’s close ties with Moscow. Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine had appeared to upend Orban’s campaign in recent weeks, forcing him into awkward manouvering to explain decade-old cosy business relations with President Vladimir Putin. But he mounted a successful campaign to persuade his Fidesz party’s core electorate that the six-party opposition alliance of Peter Marki-Zay promising to mend ties with the European Union could lead the country into war, an accusation the opposition denied. Surrounded by leading party members, a triumphant Orban, 58, said Sunday’s victory came against all odds. “We have scored a victory so big, that it can be seen even from the Moon,” he said. “We have defended Hungary’s sovereignty and freedom.” Preliminary results with about 98% of national party list votes counted showed Orban’s Fidesz party leading with 53.1% of votes versus 35% for Marki-Zay’s opposition alliance. Fidesz was also winning 88 of 106 single-member constituencies. Based on preliminary results, the National Election Office said Fidesz would have 135 seats, a two-thirds majority, and the opposition alliance would have 56 seats. A far-right party called Our Homeland would also make it into parliament, winning 7 seats. His comfortable victory could embolden Orban, 58, in his policy agenda which critics say amounts to a subversion of democratic norms, media freedom and the rights of minorities, particularly gay and lesbian people. Conceding defeat, Marki-Zay, 49, said Fidesz’s win was due to what he called its vast propaganda machine, including media dominance. “I don’t want to hide my disappointment, my sadness … We knew this would be an uneven playing field,” he said. “We admit that Fidesz got a huge majority of the votes. But we still dispute whether this election was democratic and free.” The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sent a full-scale election monitoring mission for the vote, only the second such effort in an European Union member state. ONE-PARTY RULE One of Europe’s longest-serving leaders, Orban has emerged as a vocal supporter of anti-immigration policies and an opponent of tough energy sanctions against Moscow. Critics say he has sought to cement one-party rule by overhauling the constitution, taking control of a majority of media outlets and rejigging election rules, as well as staffing key government posts with loyalists and rewarding businessmen close to Fidesz with lucrative state contracts. Still, he wins favour with many older, poorer voters in rural areas who espouse his traditional Christian values and with families who benefit from a host of tax breaks and price caps on fuel and some foodstuffs. The election comes at a time when global energy woes and steep labour shortages in the region have fuelled inflation increases throughout central Europe. Consumer price growth reached an almost 15-year high of 8.3% in February in Hungary. Critics say the public perception of the war has been influenced by state-controlled media which have amplified Orban’s accusations that an opposition-led government would support sanctions on Russian gas shipments and put Hungary at risk by shipping weapons to Ukraine. With voting under way throughout Hungary, Ukraine accused Russian forces of carrying out a “massacre” in the town of Bucha, while Western nations reacted to images of dead bodies there with calls for new sanctions against Moscow. Orban has condemned the Russian invasion, which the Kremlin describes as a “special military operation” and has not vetoed any European Union sanctions against Moscow even though he said he did not agree with them. But he has banned any transport of arms to Ukraine via Hungarian territory, facing criticism from his nationalist allies in Poland, and said benefits of close ties with Russia include gas supply security. His victory, however, is a relief for Warsaw’s nationalist Law and Justice government which has relied on his backing in Brussels to counter penalties over rule of law breaches. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Additional reporting by Anita Komuves and Gergely Szakacs; Writing by Krisztina Than and Justyna Pawlak; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Stephen Coates) View the full article

Published by uPolitics.com Former President Donald Trump mocked Sen. Lindsey Graham (D-South Carolina) by calling him a “progressive” at a fundraising event at Mar-a-Lago. Trump said “he’s a progressive, but he’s out progressive,” this follows reports that Graham wanted the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution invoked to remove Trump who was then President during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The word “out” was probably a dig at the widespread belief that Graham is gay. When the insurrection was going on, Graham was so angry that he called White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and threatened to support inv… Read More View the full article

Willow and Camden are gooped by this week’s twist on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Up until the very last moment of last night’s RuPaul’s Drag Race episode, I refused to believe anyone was going home this week, let alone two queens. I’ve been fooled too many times before by chocolate bars, lip sync battle royales and Ru’s whims throughout this seemingly never-ending season. But, indeed, this was our Red Wedding, and two queens were finally sent packing. Before we get to that, there’s a roast to be had, and this year’s target/honoree is Ross Mathews. We’ve got a funny bunch of queens this season, so this should be great, right? Not quite. Like Snatch Game, this week’s Drag Race proves once again that maybe it’s time to retire or retool some of the show’s signature challenges. Fourteen seasons in, they’re no longer season high-points. Instead, increasingly savvy queens seem to spiral by over-strategizing or trying to perfect the formula for a good performance. In some ways, Twitter (and probably to a lesser extent recaps like this) is partially to blame. What makes a good Snatch Game or Roast? Prepared jokes! No, loose improv! Be yourself! No, be a character! Be mean! Not that mean! Like art generated by A.I., these queens take in all these inputs and what comes out … isn’t quite right. Bosco is ready to roast on RuPaul’s Drag Race.Our more comedic queens — Willow, Camden, Bosco — are fine, but still not gut-busting by any stretch. Like DeJa’s winning Snatch Game, they’re clearly the top performers of the week, but no one landed a joke that will be remembered after this season. Bosco’s best line, “Ross isn’t a top, he’s a blouse,” is a solid joke, but one I’ve heard before. (My favorite being from queer comedian Oscar Aydin.) Still, Bosco’s energy at the top of the show started things off on the right foot an earned her the win. Willow and Camden brought their personalities to their roast (odd and cheeky, respectively), but the biggest laughs were no more than hearty chuckles. It’s a shame Camden didn’t heed Michelle’s and guest judge Dulce Sloan’s advice about a joke that involved Ross’ cavernous bussy. (Can I say bussy in print?) It’s a bold move to ignore the judges’ input when you get it, and it’s likely what cost Camden this week, despite a stunning “Tu-Tu Much” runway. Worse yet, DeJa also shook off suggestions for her set to her own detriment. DeJa’s penchant for dad jokes was her undoing, and the weak material immediately fell apart on stage. Daya too struggled to find her stride, offering overly-long intros to punchlines that fizzled. Jorgeous struggles to land jokes on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Jorgeous came into rehearsal defeated, and that’s how she stayed through the performance. To her credit, she tried to keep the standard roast cadence, but she was clearly uncomfortable. The judges could tell she was not having fun the whole time. Nothing worked. Everyone, including Jorgeous, couldn’t wait for it to be over. Maybe it all would’ve been better with a two-drink minimum? With the material and drama barely at a simmer, the episode doesn’t deliver any real excitement until the very end. After giving Bosco a much-needed win, Ru sent Willow and Camden to saftey. Angeria also made the cut, despite her comedy being poorly-written, but well-delivered. (Her flawless lime tu-tu gown also helped.) That left Jorgeous, DeJa and Daya in the bottom. Ru wasted no time telling us there would be only one told to shantay. Ok, but then the other two lip sync against each other? No? They check if they have a golden Skittle? No. They’re both sent to the Pork Chop Loading Dock? Not this time. Yes, Ru actually follwed through and finally thinned the herd a bit. The three queens bopped around to Olivia Rodrigo’s break-up banger, the grammar defying “good 4 u.” Three-way lip syncs are not typically my favorites. Having that many bodies on stage limits what each queen can do. If I’m being honest, Jorgeous was where my eye was drawn the most, though the song fit Betty best. (DeJa clearly was the most out of her element with this one, and it’s pretty obvious she’s one of the queens sashaying away.) But which other queen got the chop? After weeks of disappointing performances, even Ru’s love of Jorgeous wasn’t enough to keep the promising young queen around. Although it felt like we were never going to get there, we’ve finally got our final five, but who makes it to the top four? Check out our rankings below, and leave yours in the comments. Yes, Willow is still my pick to win it all, but this was another week where I went in really excited to see what she was going to do, and what she did was … fine. It was fine. Her roast wasn’t nearly as consistent as Bosco’s, though I do think her jokes were more interesting and had some higher highs. Extreme plastic surgery runways always tickle these judges (game recognizing game?), and Willow was no exception this week. She’s playing a very smart game.Maybe I’ve been hard on Camden (as one commenter was quick to point out recently). The roast wasn’t nearly as exciting as her turns in The Daytona Wind and Moulin Ru, but it was constructed and delivered with the poise and professionalism we’ve come to expect. I’ve been most skeptical about her runways, but this week she nailed the assignment. Of course, this should be her category, considering her ballet background. Michelle rightly pointed out what a difference the big, glam hair made for the overall presentation (versus, let’s a say a more traditional, ballet chignon bun). If she can keep bringing the same polish to the runway she gives her performances, she’s in good shape.Don’t call it a comeback, but maybe we call it the Bosco Bounceback? Things got downright scary for the Seattle queen the last few weeks, but here she came barreling back. She finally gave us something different on the runway, and it was killer. It was like a ballerina from the Netflix Fear Street series, and I lived. I’m sure all the horror gays were gagged. (And you know they’re into getting gagged.) Plus, having Bosco make it to the finals helps justify the otherwise brain-numbing chocolate bar gimmick.The top three feel like a lock, but the fourth spot could easily go to Angeria or a determined Daya. My money’s on Angie for her consistently beautiful runway presentations and infectious personality. Next week is a music video challenge, and we know choreo isn’t Angeria’s strong suit. If she can carry her segment on her charming presence, she should slip into the top four.You gotta hand it to Betty, she’s nothing if not driven. Ever since securing her return to the competition following an early elimination, she’s been ruthless. Her singular focus easily placed her as this season’s villain, but, especially over the course of the last few weeks, she’s proven herself distinct from Crystal Methyd. I’m impressed with her ability to make any role stand out, and she clearly saved some of her best runways for the end.We had to say goodbye to Jorgeous at some point, and I think even she knew this was the week. Undoubtedly, her time on the show already has boosted the Jorgeous brand, and Ru’s near-constant fawning will absolutely translate to more gigs and exposure. There’s no doubt she’ll turn up on an All Stars season sooner rather than later.For a queen who fancies herself a comedian and seamstress, DeJa did not have a great showing this week. It’s wild to me she didn’t know those jokes weren’t going to work, especially when they didn’t work for the other queens in the werk room, nor for Michelle and Dulce in rehearsals. The runway dress looked like a leftover from the season 13 cast promo photos. If Ru was looking to clean house this week, DeJa almost made the choice too easy.What did you think of the episode? Catch up on our RuPaul’s Drag Race coverage. View the full article

Published by Reuters (Editor’s note: Offensive language in 7th paragraph) By Joseph Tanfani HAGERSTOWN, Maryland (Reuters) – Melanie Disporto said she lost her job in a Tennessee psychiatric facility when she refused to wear a mask or take the COVID-19 vaccine. A week later, in early March, inspired by YouTube videos of truck drivers who were heading to Washington to protest COVID-19 mandates, she and her husband packed their Honda and joined them, camping out for weeks in a tent on the grounds of the Hagerstown Speedway in western Maryland. On Friday, as all but a few remnants of the so-called “People’s Convoy” departed the area, some heading to California to continue the protest, it is unclear what the coalition of drivers accomplished in Washington beyond intensifying occasional traffic jams on its notoriously crowded Capitol Beltway interstate highway. The group didn’t achieve its stated goal: overturning the federal emergency declaration for the COVID pandemic, first put in place by former President Donald Trump in March 2020 and extended twice by President Joe Biden. And no mask mandates were changed, for instance, as a direct result of the protest, which coincided with an easing of COVID measures around the country as the rate of the virus’s spread in the United States slowed. But experts on right-wing movements say the convoy of pickups, SUVs and tractor trailers gave momentum to a fast-growing universe of alternative conservative media, led by live-streamers and podcasters seeking to raise money and build followings. Others used the convoy to pull in viewers to channels sharing government conspiracy theories and false information on vaccines. Not long after the protesting truckers arrived on March 4 in Hagerstown, about an hour-and-a-half drive to Washington, the crowd inside the racetrack grounds began to reflect a much wider array of right-wing grievances and causes than vaccine mandates and wearing surgical masks. Disporto, 40, and others protesting the mandates mingled with members of white nationalist groups like the Proud Boys, along with hardcore Trump supporters who boasted of their role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Some flew the Confederate flag or ones that read: “Fuck Biden.” Supporters of QAnon conspiracy theories, which cast Trump as a savior figure and elite Democrats as a cabal of Satanist pedophiles and cannibals, camped beside people urging the citizen’s arrests of Biden and the top U.S. infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Many expressed belief in a theory that COVID mandates — and attempts to crack down on disinformation — are the first steps in a plot from “globalists” to impose a tyrannical government. In the protest, Disporto and her husband Paul said they found a community of fellow believers with a common cause: pushing back at mandates they believe are stealing their freedom –and their jobs. “I actually loved that job, and I was good at it,” Disporto said, pulling her jacket close against a blustery wind at the convoy’s campsite. “This is America – I should be able to work a job that I love.” When the convoy left for California, they went along. ‘HARD TO KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE’ An offshoot of a truckers’ protest in Canada, the convoy set up a makeshift camp at the racetrack after traveling cross-county. Leaders addressed the crowd from a trailer-bed and organized daily rides into Washington, 70 miles to the south. Over time, the number of participants dwindled, but the convoy isn’t dead, its organizers said. About 100 vehicles are now heading back to California for an April 10 protest in Los Angeles against a series of proposals aimed at containing the pandemic. On Friday, the caravan traveled from North Carolina to another racetrack campground site in Greenbrier, Tennessee. “A lot of people felt like we abandoned our mission in DC, and we’re not. We’re coming back,” said Mike Landis, a co-organizer of the protest, in an interview on Friday. “We’re chipping away at it.” The protest illustrates the rise of an alternative media system populated by live streamers and right-wing commentators. While traditional media portrayed the convoy largely as traffic-snarling protests with a vague agenda, right-wing outlets cast it as a rallying point for Americans convinced that media and government are lying to them about COVID-19, the vaccines and the results of the 2020 election – and angry about tech companies that scrub such opinions as disinformation. Kecia Pettey, of Annapolis, Maryland, said she lost her 30-year career as a flight attendant over her refusal to wear a mask. Wearing a pink “Trump 2024” hat, she had a sign next to her Jeep showing Fauci with a Hitler mustache. Convinced Trump really won the 2020 election, she says she gets news from right-wing streamers, along with Newsmax and One America News — networks that have provided platforms for vaccine skeptics and false theories that Trump really won the election. “It’s hard to know who to believe,” she said of mainstream sources. Caroline Orr Bueno, a researcher at the University of Maryland who studies right-wing movements, said the convoy’s lack of success thus far on policy goals hasn’t dampened the fervor of its online supporters, who have long ago quit paying attention to mainstream news coverage. “They feel their voices are being suppressed and the media is ignoring them,” she said. “It feeds into that sense of grievance that fuels a lot of what they’re doing.” Since it began, the convoy has also spawned its own media system: nearly two dozen live streamers embedded with the protest, documenting morning meetings, speeches and the often mundane daily life at the campground, while asking their supporters for donations. At least a dozen are still with the convoy, on the trip to California. One trucker, Stan Sasnak, has 127,000 YouTube subscribers. “To me, that’s my media,” said Chuck Jones, of Indianapolis, as his wife Jennifer grilled hot dogs over a wood fire in Hagerstown, saying he has been watching videos and livestreams of the protest since it started in Canada. “You show me live footage, I’m a believer. Then I know you’re not telling me a story.” Brian Brase, another co-organizer of the convoy, said the role of the live-streamers in their movement now is “massive.” “They’re the ones showing the actual story,” he said in an interview. “People are only going to pay attention to the livestreamers going forward.” He said the convoy plans to return to the Washington area and has no intention of stopping anytime soon. “It’s no longer a protest. It’s a movement at this point,” he said. (Editing by Jason Szep and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by uPolitics.com Fox News Media inked a deal with Caitlyn Jenner as a contributor and commentator, the media giant announced. The former Olympian, reality TV star and 2021 California gubernatorial candidate made her first appearance on Hannity with Sean Hannity on Thursday night. “Caitlyn’s story is an inspiration to us all,” said Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott. “She is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community and her illustrious career spans a variety of fields that will be a tremendous asset for our audience.” Jenner responded with a statement of her own, “I am humbled by this unique opportunity to speak dire… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Will Smith ‘is “resigning” from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Sciences after smacking Chris Rock. The 53-year-old actor struck comedian Chris, 57, – who made a joke about Will’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaven head – across the face less than an hour before he picked up his Best Actor statuette for his role in ‘King Richard’ at Sunday’s (27.03.22) Oscars ceremony but has now resigned from the Academy following backlash. In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, he said: “I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home.” The ‘Bad Boys’ star – whose wife Jada, 50, suffers from hair-loss condition alopecia – went on to claim that through his actions he has “betrayed the trust of the Academy” and will “accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate” following his resignation but noted that he is “committed” to changing his ways. The statement continued: “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate. Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.” Kanye West has told his ex-wife Kim Kardashian that he is “going away to get help.” The 44-year-old rapper – who was married to the reality star, 41, from 2014 until 2021 and has North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, with her – caused controversy earlier this year with a stream of Instagram posts harassing Kim and her new partner Pete Davidson, 28, but will now reportedly step away from the limelight “for the sake of their kids,” A source told The New York Post’s Page Six column: “Kanye told Kim that he’s going away to get help. For the sake of the kids, Kanye has told Kim he’s not making any public appearances or inflammatory social media statements, and he will go away somewhere to get better” However, it is reportedly “unclear” whether the ‘Stronger’ hitmaker will go into a treatment facility or will simply stay at home out of the spotlight. A representative for the ‘DONDA’ rapper – who legally changed his name to Ye towards the end of 2021 – insisted that he is currently just focussing on having a “healthy co-parenting relationship” with Kim. The rep said: “At this time, Ye is committed to a healthy co-parenting relationship with Kim and is and focused on raising their beautiful children.” The news comes just a month after Kanye released a music video which appeared to show him decapitating and burying ‘Saturday Night Live’ star Pete and before that had implied that Kim had stopped “allowing” him to see their children after the divorce. She responded: “Please stop with this narrative, you were just here this morning picking up the kids for school.” Jerrod Carmichael has come out as gay. The 34-year-old comedian – who has previously discussed having relationships with both men and women – admitted that after his father had had an an affair while married to his mother he was left with a “secret” that he kept from everyone in bis life. Speaking on his new HBO special ‘Rothaniel’, he said: “After [the affair] was out in the open, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret,” he says. “One that I kept from my father, my mother, my family, my friends, and you. Professionally, personally. And the secret is that I’m gay.” The former ‘Carmichael Show’ star was met with applause from the studio audience upon his announcement and while he was appeciatve, he went on to explain that he had spent his whole life “rebelling against” his sexuality and never thought he would “come out.” He added: “I’m accepting the love, I really appreciate the love. My ego wants to rebel against it. “I rebelled against it my whole life. I thought I’d never, ever come out. At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that, to actually say it to people. Because I know it changes some people’s perceptions of me. I can’t control that.” Jerrod went on to explain that while his mother still has her religious views and as a result his relationship with her has become more “fraught” with her since coming out, he now feels more “free.” He said: “As much as she believes in God, I believe in personal growth and feeling free. And I do feel freer.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jerrod Carmichael has come out as gay. The 34-year-old comedian – who has previously discussed having relationships with both men and women – admitted that after his father had had an an affair while married to his mother he was left with a “secret” that he kept from everyone in bis life. Speaking on his new HBO special ‘Rothaniel’, he said: “After [the affair] was out in the open, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret,” he says. “One that I kept from my father, my mother, my family, my friends, and you. Professionally, personally. And the secret is that I’m gay.” The former ‘Carmichael Show’ star was met with applause from the studio audience upon his announcement and while he was appeciatve, he went on to explain that he had spent his whole life “rebelling against” his sexuality and never thought he would “come out.” He added: “I’m accepting the love, I really appreciate the love. My ego wants to rebel against it. “I rebelled against it my whole life. I thought I’d never, ever come out. At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that, to actually say it to people. Because I know it changes some people’s perceptions of me. I can’t control that.” Jerrod went on to explain that while his mother still has her religious views and as a result his relationship with her has become more “fraught” with her since coming out, he now feels more “free.” He said: “As much as she believes in God, I believe in personal growth and feeling free. And I do feel freer.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dame Joan Collins says modern men are “suffering from the rise of anti-maleness” in the wake of the #MeToo movement. The 88-year-old acting legend is a supporter of the campaign – originally created by activist Tarana Burke in 2006 to empower women from black communities who had endured sexual assault to speak out – which saw women all over the world share their painful experiences of sexual abuse and misconduct by men online in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal which broke in 2017 revealing the now imprisoned movie producer to be guilty of multiple sexual assaults on numerous women in Hollywood. However, Collins believes that the current climate is making decent men become wary around women because they fear being accused of perpetuating toxic masculinity. In an interview with The New York Times newspaper, she said: “Sadly, I think that now young men are suffering from being labelled toxically masculine because of this rise of anti-maleness.” Collins is aware that her opinion could lead to her being branded an anti-feminist but she insists nothing could be further from the truth. She stated: “I believe that women are equal to men in every single way. Except physical strength. “People say you didn’t burn your bra, you wear lipstick. So what? I’m very proud of being a woman.” The former ‘Dynasty’ star – who is married to Percy Holm, her fifth husband – wants women to be at the forefront of the acting business and across all parts of society and she thinks that shifts towards gender neutral language could have dangerous consequences for ladies and girls all over the world. When asked if she wants to see more gender-neutral terms, she replied: “What’s wrong with actress? “What’s wrong with mother? What’s wrong with woman? Girl? I don’t like having that word taken away.” Back in 2019, Collins addressed the #MeToo movement claiming that many actresses who had become victims of sexual harassment could have done more to thwart their abusers. In an interview with The Observer magazine, the ‘These Old Broads’ star – who previously has spoken of how she was drugged and raped by her first husband, actor Maxwell Reed – said: “When people ask why I wasn’t speaking out about this – I’ve been speaking out about it for 40 years. “It seems to me actresses who are saying, you know, ‘I went up to this producer and he took his d*** out and I froze.’ I mean, I’m sorry, you don’t freeze you go, ‘Stop that, I’m leaving.’ I just gave them a knee in the groin. It’s hardly suffering. You just didn’t put up with it.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Vladimir Putin has reportedly spent the better part of a year being followed around by a thyroid cancer doctor, suggesting that the Russian president is only “seriously ill.” Not only has his health come under scrutiny, but it’s being reported that he’s also lashing out and is experiencing symptoms of “steroid rage” as a result of his ongoing thyroid cancer treatment. According to Daily Mail, a surgeon and specialist from Moscow’s Central Clinical Hospital named Dr. Yevgeny Selivanov has visited Putin at least 35 times over the past year to administer treatment for the Russian leader’s alleged ailment. Mega Selivanov, who is widely considered one of the most competent and respected doctors and surgeons throughout all of Russia, reportedly focused both his medical thesis and his medical expertise as a whole on “the peculiarities of diagnostics and surgical treatment of elderly and senile patients with thyroid cancer.” This has led many to believe that not only is Putin potentially suffering from thyroid cancer but that the Russian despot is also becoming increasingly senile in his old age and as his condition worsens. Proekt, an independent Russian media outlet that focuses specifically on investigative journalism, recently released a report claiming that Putin was suffering severely from his thyroid cancer and was subsequently treated with a substantial dose of steroids when he ordered the invasion of Ukraine and declared war on the nation on February 24. “We promised to reveal to you the main secret of the Kremlin,” the Russian outlet – which has been banned in Russia and has since operated from abroad – said in their report. “Of course, we are talking about the health of Vladimir Putin.” Mega “Putin has publicly shown interest in the problem of thyroid cancer,” the report continued. “There is indeed talk in medical circles about the president’s health problems. Especially these conversations intensified in the early autumn of last year, when Putin behaved especially strangely.” Proekt’s report then goes on to claim that Putin has suddenly disappeared from public view at least five times over the past year due to medical-related emergencies and that besides Dr. Selivanov, Putin has also been regularly accompanied by Dr. Alexey Shcheglov – a surgeon who reportedly “follows Putin so relentlessly that during public events he allegedly gets into joint photographs with the head of state.” Dr. Shcheglov allegedly follows Putin so “relentlessly” that the surgeon has reportedly visited the ailing Russian president at least 59 times totaling a whopping 282 days together. As Radar reported, this isn’t the first time officials have speculated Putin’s increasingly erratic behavior is a result of “steroid rage” from his alleged thyroid cancer treatment. Mega In early March, sources closed to the Kremlin reportedly revealed that not only is Putin suffering from thyroid cancer, but he may also be suffering from dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The sources also suggested that his increasingly aggressive behavior – namely his decision to invade Ukraine – is most likely a result of his various conditions and the steroid treatment he is allegedly receiving for the various conditions. “It is only human sources that can offer you the sort of rich picture that we have of Putin’s psyche,” one source familiar with Putin, Moscow, and the Kremlin spilled at the time. “There has been an identifiable change in his decision-making over the past five years or so. Those around him see a marked change in the cogency and clarity of what he says and how he perceives the world around him.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ has been renewed for a third season. The 47-year-old actress began hosting her self-titled daytime talk show back in 2020 and is “honoured and grateful” that it will be returning for the 2022-23 season but aims to “take the show higher” this time round. She said in a statement: “I am honoured and grateful but I also want to take this show higher and continue to innovate and be a game changer in the daytime space. Rising to the occasion of finding people in the diverse way they watch is what I want to challenge myself with. Our show wants to be a bright spot not a blind spot and we just want to make people feel good. And I thank all the people who helped us get here.” The show will now be produced and distributed by CMV in a format that will allow it to be aired either as two half-hour half-hour episodes that stations can run together back-to-back or be split apart to air separately and the first 30 minute segment will follow the local news casts on all CBS stations. In a statement, CBS president Steve LoCascio said: “Stations have always had a finite amount of shelf space, so we’re evolving the syndication model to meet the needs of our partners. We could not be happier to continue our relationship with CBS Stations and our other station partners to deliver more of ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ through this innovative new idea. From Drew’s unique take on everyday news to headline-generating celebrity interviews to lifestyle how-tos, Drew is a force of nature who has brought a fresh optimistic viewpoint to daytime television. We love having her as part of the CBS family.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dua Lipa will present an award at the Grammys. The 26-year-old pop star – who last year took home the coveted gong for Best Pop Vocal Album for her sophomore LP ‘Future Nostalgia – will take to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday (03.04.22) to present an award at the annual ceremony, along with fellow musicians Megan Thee Stallion and Joni Mitchell as well as ‘House of Gucci’ star Jared Leto in what The Recording Academy has called a “diverse roster of artists.” The Academy wrote on Instagram: “#GRAMMYs got the sweetest pie. #DuaLipa and #MeganTheeStallion will be returning to the GRAMMY stage, this time as presenters Tune in to Music’s Biggest Night this Sunday on @CBStv.” The ‘Sweetest Pie’ hitmakers will be joined by fellow stars Lenny Kravitz and ‘Pose’ actors Billy Porter and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez. Country musician Keith Urban, as well as past Grammy nominee and ‘Sk8er’ Boi’ hitmaker Avril Lavigne will also be on hand to give out the prestigious awards, along with ‘8 Mile’ star actor Anthony Mackie. The Grammys will be hosted by ‘Daily Show star Trevor Noah and will feature performance from the likes of Lady Gaga – who is nominated for five awards – as well as H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, Nas, , BTS, Billie Eilish, Brothers Osborne, Olivia Rodrigo and leading nominee Jon Batiste who is up for eight awards. Viewers around the world will be able to tune into music’s biggest night as the event is being streamed internationally in an “unprecedented” broadcast. The Recording Academy said: “Music fans will be given unprecedented digital access to GRAMMY Awards content with GRAMMY Live, which will stream internationally on live.GRAMMY.com and on Twitter @RecordingAcad. GRAMMY Live features exclusive red carpet interviews, fashion and thank you cams, pre-show interviews, and highlights from the 64th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony and Music’s Biggest Night. GRAMMY Live will stream on Sunday, April 3, from 6:30-8 p.m. ET/3:30-5 p.m. PT” A full list of presenters is as follows: Kelsea Ballerini Lenny Kravitz Avril Lavigne Jared Leto Dua Lipa Ludacris Anthony Mackie Megan Thee Stallion Joni Mitchell Billy Porter Bonnie Raitt Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Keith Urban Questlove View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Princess Diana‘s personal photographer Patrick Demarchelier died on Thursday at the age of 78. His unexpected passing was announced in a post on Demarchelier’s official Instagram page, revealing that the famed cameraman died with his wife, Mia, and their three sons by his side. The post shared three photos of Demarchelier in different stages of his life and career. The first of the three black-and-while pics shows the iconic photographer adjusting lights for what could be assumed as one of his many famous photoshoots throughout his decades-long career. The second photo shows a much younger Demarchelier and this time, he was the model. The snap shows someone taking a photo of him while he’s looking through a handheld camera. Demarchelier is seen surrounded by a bare bush while wearing a professional outfit, including slacks, a tie, and a jacket. The final pic is a headshot of the famous photographer, showing the grandfather of three holding his beloved pup inside his fashionable denim jacket. Mega The post was captioned with the tragic news, reading, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patrick Demarchelier on March 31st 2022, at the age of 78,” the statement read. “He is survived by his wife Mia, his three sons Gustaf, Arthur, Victor and three grandchildren.” Demarchelier reportedly passed away on the island of St Barts. The cause of death has yet to be revealed. The professional photographer worked for some of the biggest publications such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. His talent caught everyone’s attention, even Princess Diana’s. She brought him onto her team as her personal photographer before her untimely death in 1997. The French artist was also the first non-British cameraman to be asked to photograph the royal family. The amount of celebrities he shot is several miles long and includes iconic names like Madonna, Gisele Bündchen, Hillary Clinton, Nicole Kidman, Cara Delevingne, and Kate Moss. Mega American fashion model Bella Hadid posted an image on her Instagram account of the cover of Vogue which Demarchelier took of her and fellow model Chu Wong back in 2017. She wrote, “I am grateful to have been lucky enough to be in front of your lens. Most gentle, most legendary, soft but full of life. You will be missed Patrick. Rest In Peace.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Professor Abraham Buunk and Professor Mark van Vugt argue whether Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s “Napoleon Complex” could be a factor as to why he’s flexed his military muscle in an attempt to take over the neighboring nation of Ukraine. Mega The “Napoleon Complex” is a psychological syndrome that exists in shorter men who believe they need to show their strength and power to counteract being perceived as weaker than taller individuals. Its name comes from the infamous French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte who was reportedly only 5 foot 4 inches. Many historians believed he used his spreading empire as a way to compensate for himself internally. A claim many also are applying to Putin. The leader of Russia is extremely private and seems a bit self-conscious about his public image, especially when it comes to the people of his own country. Putin’s official height is listed as 5 foot 7 but some reports suggest that the Russian president could be as short as 5 foot 2 inches. The estimates were reported after comparing the foreign leader to other elected officials he has stood beside such as Turkish laderRecep Tayyip Erdogan or former U.S. President Donald Trump. Several pics of the Russian president show Putin wearing high-rising clunky shoes, with some theorizing that the footwear is meant to boost his height. Others believe he uses lifts in the shoes themselves. Mega Professor van Vugt has said that the tyrant adopting ruthless tactics such as poisoning is trying to “compensate for his lack of physical strength.” He continues to warn world leaders to be “very careful that … [pushing him] doesn’t start a third world war.” In an interview with the Sun, the professor claims that Putin “wants to come across as a strong leader.” “The way he poses for the camera, all these pictures of him bare chested, playing ice-hockey, hunting … They are all the kind of things you see in someone who is not secure in their power position and that may be the result of his short stature – the more dominant, authoritarian kind of strategies to be taken seriously.” Mega Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has gone on for well over a month, exceeding every predicted estimate with many within Putin’s inner circles believing the taking of Kyiv would take only a matter of days. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tyler Clifford and Nathan Layne (Reuters) -A federal jury will begin deliberations on Monday in the trial of four men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, as one of the most closely watched trials involving what prosecutors called acts of domestic terrorism neared its conclusion. The 12-person jury was presented with dueling narratives during closing arguments that concluded on Friday afternoon. A prosecutor described the defendants as “filled with rage” and bent on sparking a civil war, while defense attorneys accused the FBI of entrapping their clients, who were often high on drugs and prone to “crazy talk” rather than concrete action. The case stands as one of the most high-profile prosecutions of alleged members of right-wing organizations that have risen in prominence in the years since former President Donald Trump’s election in 2016. It also highlights the extent to which the pandemic and government efforts to control it have become a wedge issue in U.S. politics, pushing some people to extremes. In his closing argument, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler sought to portray the men as hatching a concrete plan of attack over several months, which included collecting firearms and conducting reconnaissance on Whitmer’s vacation home. “They trained to kidnap the governor, they cased her house in the middle of the night, they mapped it out, they planned it, they gathered weapons and bombs,” Kessler said in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “That is the conspiracy that they are charged with and in America it’s a crime.” All four of the defendants – Adam Fox, Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft Jr. and Daniel Harris – have been charged with kidnapping conspiracy. Fox, Croft and Harris were also charged with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction. If convicted the men could spend the rest of their lives in prison. The attorney for Fox, who prosecutors have accused of being the ringleader of the plot, argued that his client was lured into action by FBI informants, who he also accused of taking advantage of the group’s heavy use of marijuana. “Somebody rattles the keys, somebody beats the drum and gets ’em all worked up,” said the attorney, Christopher Gibbons. “That’s unacceptable in America. That’s not how it works. You don’t make terrorists so we can arrest them.” Two other men initially charged in the alleged plot struck plea deals. The pair, Ty Garbin and Kalen Franks, served as star witnesses for prosecutors, who sought to prove that the four defendants planned to break into Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan, hog-tie her and take her away at gunpoint for a “trial” on treason charges over her COVID-19 mandates. Garbin is currently serving a six-year sentence, while Franks is awaiting sentencing. The four on trial are among 13 men who were arrested in October 2020 and charged with state or federal crimes in the alleged kidnapping conspiracy. Seven of them are facing charges in state court. The FBI said it had begun tracking the group’s movements after seeing online discussions that included posts about the violent overthrow of some state governments. The group’s goal was to end pandemic restrictions, as well as trigger a second American civil war as adherents to the “boogaloo” anti-government movement, Kessler said. Harris, Caserta and an undercover informant who testified at the trial were members of the Wolverine Watchmen, a militia group, prosecutors say. Croft and Fox were members of the “Three Percenters,” a similar far-right organization. In charging documents the men are accused of discussing Whitmer’s kidnapping and planning to meet in Wisconsin to train with assault rifles. The men were also alleged to have discussed buying supplies to be used in the kidnapping and putting Whitmer’s vacation home under surveillance, prosecutors say. Fox ordered $4,000 worth of explosives from an undercover FBI agent posing as a co-conspirator, according to the indictment. The document also accused Fox and Harris of making payments for the explosives. (Reporting by Tyler Clifford; Editing by Frank McGurty, Aurora Ellis and Mark Porter) View the full article

Published by AFP White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not confirm reports that she will step down soon to move to a television job Washington (AFP) – White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Friday there are no ethical problems in her remaining in her role after reports that she is in advanced negotiations to switch to a high-profile television job. Multiple US media reports said the chief spokeswoman for President Joe Biden is set to leave soon for a lucrative position on cable news. According to The New York Times, Psaki could host shows for MSNBC and NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming platform, as well as appearing on the cable network’s news shows. CNN had also been chasing Psaki, the report said. At her daily briefing, Psaki would not confirm the move. “You can’t get rid of me yet,” she quipped to reporters. “I have nothing to confirm about my length of public service.” “My focus every day continues to be speaking on behalf of the president answering your questions,” she added, without denying the reports. Asked whether there was a conflict of interest in speaking from the powerful podium while possibly lining up a well paid job with one of the outlets covering her, she said “I have always gone over and above the stringent ethical and legal requirements.” “I hope that all of you… would judge me for my record and how I treat all of you both in the briefing room and otherwise,” she said. Get some sleep Psaki has previously said she did not want to remain in the grueling job, which makes her the most visible face of Biden’s team, for more than about a year. CNN reported that she would stay through the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner, scheduled for April 30. Psaki, 43, has been in the press secretary role since the start of Biden’s administration in January 2021, when he took over from Donald Trump. Psaki restored the tradition of daily live briefings with White House reporters, saying she wanted to rebuild trust between the administration and the media after the tumultuous Trump years, when briefings were ultimately abandoned. Under Barack Obama, she served in the less visible White House communications director role and also as State Department spokeswoman. No likely successor has been floated by the White House. Psaki’s immediate deputy, Karine Jean-Pierre, is one possibility. Born to a Haitian immigrant family, Jean-Pierre became in May last year only the second Black woman to lead a White House press briefing. Another potential candidate could be Kate Bedingfield, the White House communications director. She filled in at the briefing room podium this week when both Psaki and Jean-Pierre were absent for Covid-19 quarantining. As for Psaki, she said her real priority was more simple. “At whatever time I leave the White House, I can promise you the first thing I’m going to do is sleep and spend time with my three- and six-year olds, who are my most important audiences.” View the full article

Published by AFP The US House of Representatives passed a bill to decriminalize cannabis nationwide, but it stands little chance in the Senate Washington (AFP) – US lawmakers backed the decriminalization of marijuana nationwide in a vote Friday that will eliminate punishments for providing or possessing the drug if is signed into law by President Joe Biden. The Democrats’ Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act would remove its categorization as a dangerous “schedule 1” controlled substance alongside much harder narcotics that attract severe sentences, like heroin and LSD. The bill cleared the House by 220 votes to 204, with three Republicans crossing the aisle, but analysts are skeptical about its prospects in the Senate, where Democrats would need 10 opposition lawmakers to overcome a 60-vote hurdle. The US government is out of line with three-quarters of states that have legalized marijuana for medical use and a third of states, like California and Washington, that have freed it for recreational use, too. “If states are the laboratories of democracy, it is long past time for the federal government to recognize that this experiment in legalization has been a resounding success,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, one of the bill’s sponsors. Cannabis is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, with sales hitting $25 billion in 2021, according to influential cannabis website Leafly, and projected to reach $40.5 billion by 2025. A report released in February by the Seattle-based company said the legalized cannabis industry provides work for more than 400,000 Americans and created some 280 new jobs a day last year. California, the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, made $1 billion in tax revenue in the first two years after expanding to full recreational use in 2018. But marijuana remains illegal under federal law, posing significant hurdles for businesses that find themselves barred from accessing financial services and unable to secure loans or open bank accounts. ‘Shattered neighborhoods’ The MORE Act would provide loans to help small businesses “owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals,” the bill reads. Many people arrested for marijuana use would see their records expunged, and those jailed on federal cannabis charges would have their sentences reviewed. A federal tax would begin at five percent, with proceeds funding substance abuse treatment and legal counseling for the overwhelmingly Black communities harmed by the war on drugs. “For over 50 years, the failed war on drugs has deepened racial injustice, shattered neighborhoods, and decimated communities,” said Aamra Ahmad, senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union. The reform is hugely popular among Americans. A Pew Research poll found last year that 91 percent of adults think marijuana should be legal, either medically, recreationally or both. But Republicans argue that decriminalization will increase use and create another layer of bureaucracy in the Treasury Department. A similar bill passed the House in 2020 in a vote divided largely along party lines — but went nowhere in the then-Republican majority Senate. Campaigners for legal reform applauded the vote, noting that Black people are almost four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession as whites, even though usage statistics are similar. “Now is the time for the Senate to act on sensible reform legislation so that we can finally end the failure of prohibition and foster a well regulated marketplace for cannabis,” added Aaron Smith, the CEO of the country’s largest marijuana trade association, the National Cannabis Industry Association. View the full article