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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

Published by AFP A Ukrainian soldier stands on the wreckage of a burnt Russian tank outside of the village of Mala Rogan, east of Kharkiv, on April 1, 2022 Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine refused Friday to deny it had carried out an airstrike on Russian soil, as hopes of de-escalation faded in President Vladimir Putin’s war and evacuation operations for besieged Mariupol failed. Peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials resumed via video, but the Kremlin warned the helicopter attack on a fuel depot in the town of Belgorod would hamper negotiations. Kyiv would not be drawn on whether it was behind the attack, with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba saying he did “not possess all the military information”. With the prospect of war expanding across Ukraine’s borders, little progress was reported in one of the country’s most pressing humanitarian disasters, in the shattered southern city of Mariupol. The international Red Cross said a team heading to the city was forced to turn back Friday after “arrangements and conditions made it impossible to proceed”. It was the latest among several collapsed missions to establish safe corridors for civilians to escape ferocious Russian shelling in Mariupol, although the Red Cross said its team will try again Saturday. After five weeks of a military campaign that has reduced parts of Ukraine to rubble, Moscow said this week it would scale back attacks on the capital Kyiv and the city of Chernigiv. Russia regrouping? But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was consolidating and preparing “powerful strikes” in the east and south, joining a chorus of Western assessments that Moscow troops were regrouping, not withdrawing. Zelensky on Friday played host to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Kyiv, hailing her “heroism” for visiting the war zone. “We are glad that you are on the side of the light and the good,” Zelensky told Metsola. “Courage, strength, resolve,” Metsola said on Twitter, posting a photograph of her and Zelensky shaking hands. The airstrike in Russia hit energy giant Rosneft’s fuel storage facility in the western town of Belgorod, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Oleksiy Arestovych, an aide to Ukraine’s president, said in a Twitter video that “for what’s happening on Russia’s territory, the responsibility lies with Russia, and it’s up to them to deal with.” But the consequence on peace negotiations was swiftly made clear by Moscow. “This is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of negotiations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Russia launched its invasion on February 24, expecting to quickly take Kyiv and topple Zelensky’s government. A ferocious Ukrainian fightback and Russia’s logistics and tactical problems scuppered such plans, with Russia also battling unprecedented Western sanctions that have led multinationals to quit the country en masse. US officials Friday gave a grim assessment of Russia’s economy, warning it will tumble into a “deep” recession and shrink by 10 percent. On the ground, Ukraine’s troops were beginning to reassert control including around capital Kyiv and in the southern region of Kherson — the only significant city that Russia had managed to occupy. ‘Common grave’ Russian troops “are continuing their partial retreat” from the north of Kyiv towards the Belarusian border, said Ukraine’s defence ministry. Civilians have trickled out of devastated areas as Ukrainian forces liberated areas around Kyiv and Chernigiv. Three-year-old Karolina Tkachenko and her family had walked an hour through a field strewn with burnt-out Russian armoured vehicles to flee their village outside Kyiv. “The shops are closed, there’s no delivery of supplies. The bridge is also blown up, we can’t go for groceries through there,” said Karolina’s mother Karina Tkachenko. “I hope all this will end soon, and I will go back to my work,” she told AFP. In Mariupol, Viktoria Dubovytskaya, who had sheltered in the theatre where 300 people are feared to have been killed in Russian bombardments, said she only grasped the extent of the destruction as she fled. Bodies lay in the rubble, and small wooden crosses were planted in the ground, she told AFP. “When people find their loved ones, they just bury them wherever they can. Sometimes where roses used to bloom,” she said. “The city is now a common grave.” An estimated 160,000 people are still desperately trapped in Mariupol with little water, food and electricity. Radiation risks The UN’s cultural agency said Friday it has confirmed at least 53 Ukrainian historical sites, religious buildings and museums have sustained damage during the invasion. Ukraine also warned that Russian forces who left Chernobyl nuclear plant — site of the world’s worst nuclear accident, in 1986 — after weeks of occupation may have been exposed to radiation. “Russia behaved irresponsibly in Chernobyl” by digging trenches in contaminated areas and keeping plant personnel from performing their duties, said Foreign Minister Kuleba. With his economy crippled by unprecedented international sanctions, Putin has sought to leverage Russia’s status as an energy power. Warning that EU members will need to set up ruble accounts from Friday to pay for his country’s gas, he said existing contracts would be halted if the payments were not made. burs-hmn/mlm/bgs View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Travis Gettys Abigail Disney said she was “delighted” by the right-wing attacks on the iconic entertainment company founded by her grandfather and his brother because the campaign might finally force businesses to confront their support for bigotry. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signaled support for ending the Walt Disney Company’s special status as an independent government around its Orlando-area theme park, and the granddaughter of co-founder Roy Disney took aim at the “radical ideologues” attacking the company for its opposition to anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state. “Like all radical ideo… Read More View the full article

Published by The San Diego Union-Tribune Harvey Mason Jr. had a singular when he became a dues-paying member of the Recording Academy, under whose auspices the Grammy Awards are presented. “I joined because I really wanted to win a Grammy, and I wanted to vote for myself!” the veteran songwriter and record producer said, laughing heartily. Over the course of his career, he has worked with everyone from Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé to Whitney Houston, John Legend and Justin Bieber. Although Mason has five Grammy nominations to his credit, he has yet to take home one of the coveted trophies — despite voting for himself…. Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Emeli Sande is in a relationship with a woman. The ‘Read All About It’ hitmaker has come out and revealed she is dating a female classical pianist. Speaking to Metro.co.uk, she said: “We met through music. And I definitely feel happier than ever. It feels great. “For me, true love and having love in your life makes everything fit into place.” The 35-year-old singer was previously married to marine biologist Adam Gouraguine between 2012 and 2014, while she had a brief romance with rapper Jonathan Kabamba, which ended in 2020. When asked if this means she is bisexual, Emeli replied: “I’m not sure what I identify as but I guess so. I just feel like I should fall in love with whoever I fall in love with.” Emeli previously admitted she would like to start a family at some stage, although she insisted she was waiting for the “right person” to come along. The ‘Next to Me’ hitmaker – who releases her new album, ‘Let’s Say For Instance’, next month – shared: “I’d like to have children – with the right person. I’m a bit shy, so we’ll see what happens. I’m definitely getting back out there. Let’s put it that way.” Meanwhile, Emeli “doubted” whether she should continue as a musician while battling anxiety and depression after she split from her ex-husband. She explained: “I doubted whether I wanted to continue being a musician. I questioned whether people wanted to hear me, because people were saying I was on TV too much. People said I was overexposed, and then I thought, ‘Maybe I don’t have a place in this music industry, and if people don’t want to hear it, what shall I do?’ I was going through my separation, and really trying to get my head around the industry and where I sat in it.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News The U.S. Department of Justice is reminding all states that there are federal constitutional and statutory provisions in place to protect transgender youth against discrimination, including when they are seeking gender-affirming care. In a letter Thursday addressed to all U.S. state attorneys general, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, reinforced federal nondiscrimination obligations afforded to trans youth. “(The DOJ) is committed to ensuring that transgender youth, like all youth, are treated fairly and with dignity in accordance wi… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK LONDON (Reuters) -The UK government will ban conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales, but not for transgender people, ITV reported on Thursday. Hours earlier the government had confirmed an ITV report it would drop a plan to introduce legislation to ban LGBT conversion therapy and would instead review how existing law could be utilised more effectively to prevent it. That prompted an angry response from LGBT groups and some lawmakers. “The Prime Minister has changed his mind off the back of the reaction to our report and he WILL now ban conversion therapy after all,”… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — LGBTQ advocacy groups are seeking to block what they call the “don’t say gay” law from taking effect, arguing in a federal lawsuit that it is discriminatory, vague and runs afoul of the free speech rights of students and teachers. Equality Florida and Family Florida filed the suit Thursday against Gov. Ron DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and the Florida State Board of Education in the Northern District of Florida. The groups assert the law violates the First Amendment and the equal protection and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Their legal action… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Caitlyn Jenner has joined Fox News as a contributor. The 72-year-old reality star – who was born as Bruce Jenner and became known for winning Olympic gold in Decathlon during the 1976 games in Montreal before transitioning into a woman whilst starring on ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ – is “humbled” to become part of the news network and to be able to “speak directly” to Americans. In a tweet, she said: “I am humbled by this unique opportunity to speak directly to @FoxNews millions of viewers about a range of issues that are important to the American people.” The former Republican candidate – who ran as a replacement candidate for Gavin Newsom in the state of California but lost out with only 1% of the vote – is thought to be a “tremendous asset” for the news channel because of her “inspirational journey” and impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement: “Caitlyn’s story is an inspiration to us all. 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. She will offer commentary and analysis across Fox News Channel programming and various Fox News Media platforms.” Caitlyn – who has daughters Kylie, 24, and Kendall, 26, from former marriage to Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, as well as Burt and Cassandra with first wife Chrystie Scott and Brandon and Brody with second spouse Linda Thompson – is set to make her first appearance on the broadcaster as a guest on Sean Hannity’s programme on Thursday (31.03.22). View the full article