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Published by Reuters By Andrew Galbraith and David Stanway SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China’s financial hub of Shanghai launched a two-stage lockdown of its 26 million residents on Monday, closing bridges and tunnels and restricting highway traffic in a scramble to contain surging COVID-19 cases. The snap lockdown, announced by the local government late on Sunday, will split China’s most populous city roughly along the Huangpu River for nine days to allow for “staggered” testing by healthcare workers in white hazmat suits. It is the biggest COVID-related disruption to hit Shanghai, and sent prices of commodities including oil and copper lower on fears that any further curbs could hurt demand in China, the world’s second-largest economy. Residents east of the Huangpu were confined to their homes. Some said healthcare workers arrived to conduct tests as early as 7 a.m. on Monday. Those in the west rushed to stockpile food and other goods as they prepared for a similar fate from April 1. Delivery services were overwhelmed and supermarkets ran low on supplies. Several social media users posted images of what they had managed to buy. “Many wholesale markets are now closed,” Bi Yingwu, a 50-year old stallholder, said. “Some vendors are reluctant to buy in vegetables. If we cannot get vegetables from wholesalers or the wet market is closed, we are finished.” The curbs mark a turnaround for Shanghai’s authorities, who as recently as Saturday denied the city would be locked down as it pursued a more piecemeal “slicing and gridding” approach to try to rein in infections. Wu Fan, a member of Shanghai’s expert COVID team, said recent mass testing had found “large scale” infections throughout the city, triggering the stronger response. “Containing the large scale outbreak in our city is very important because, once infected people are put under control, we have blocked transmission,” she told a briefing. Infection and death numbers are low by global standards. But China has imposed a zero-COVID policy that has all but closed its borders to travellers for two years, and rushes to shut off every chain of infection. Shanghai recorded a record 3,450 asymptomatic COVID cases on Sunday, accounting for nearly 70% of the nationwide total, along with 50 symptomatic cases. RESTRICTIONS Shanghai said earlier this month its daily testing capacity was around 3 million, but Chen Erzhen, a doctor in charge of a city quarantine facility, warned it still might not be enough to outpace the spread of the virus. “When case numbers reach a certain level, the difficulty of relying upon previous staff deployments increases by a large degree,” he told government newspaper Liberation Daily. The new lockdown should at least ensure the “stillness” required to bring the outbreak under control, he added. Wu had told a briefing on Saturday that Shanghai could not be locked down for long because of the important role it played in the national and even global economy. But following Sunday’s about-turn, mass testing disrupted transport, healthcare and a wide range of economic activities, with citywide land sales also halted on Monday. Shanghai’s Public Security Bureau said it was closing cross-river bridges and tunnels, and highway tollbooths concentrated in the city’s east until April 1. However, ports and the city’s two airports remained open. Shanghai also ordered firms to shut, exempting those offering public services or supplying food, although factories that managed to put in “closed-loop” systems could continue production. Some hospitals also suspended services as they release staff and other resources to assist with mass testing. U.S. automaker Tesla is suspending production at its factory, located in a district impacted by the first stage of the lockdown, for four days, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Volkswagen, however, whose Shanghai plant is in a part of the city that is set to be tested in the second stage, said its production in the city was ongoing. [nP8N2VV00E] (Reporting by Andrew Galbraith, David Stanway, Xihao Jiang and the Shanghai newsroom; Additional reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Jane Wardell, Robert Birsel, Louise Heavens and Andrew Heavens) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jessica Chastain reassured those who feel “hopeless and alone” they are “unconditionally loved” as she picked up the Best Actress Oscar on Sunday (27.03.22). The 45-year-old actress won the statuette for her performance as televangelist Tammy Faye Bakkar in ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ and she admitted she has been “inspired” by her big screen alter ego’s compassionate nature. She said: “Right now we are coming out of some difficult times that have been filled with a lot of trauma and isolation. So many people out there feel hopelessness and they feel alone and suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, it’s touched many families, it’s touched mine. And especially members of the LGBTQ family who oftentimes feel out of place with their peers. There is… We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. “There’s violence and hate crimes being perpetuated on civilians all over the world. “And in times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love. I’m inspired by her compassion, I see it as a guiding principal that leads us forward. “It connects us all in the desire that we want to be accepted for who we are, accepted for who we love and to live a life without the fear of violence or terror. “For any of you out there who do feel hopeless or alone, I just want you to know you are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you.” Jessica also paid tribute to her fellow nominees, Olivia Colman (‘The Lost Daughter’) Penelope Cruz (‘Parallel Mothers’), Nicole Kidman (‘Being the Ricardos’) and Kristen Stewart (‘Spencer’). She said: “Penelope, Nicole, Olivia, Kristen – I just have to say your names because I love you, I love you guys so much and to be included in a conversation with you is such an honour.” She then went on to thank director Michael Showalter who “created a space that inspired creativity and love and courage”, the hair and make-up team, and producers, before paying tribute to co-star Andrew Garfield. She said: “My scene partner and collaborator, the brilliant Andrew Garifeld, Thank you so much for bringing out the best of me by showing up every day with the best of you.” View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Ben Kellerman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Ariana DeBose won her first Academy Award on Sunday for her supporting role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s remake of classic musical “West Side Story.” A relative newcomer to feature films, 31-year-old DeBose earned mainstream acclaim for her lively portrayal of Anita, an outspoken Puerto Rican woman who showcases her singing and dancing talents in the song “America.” She also won a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild award and British Academy Film Award for her performance. “It was the summer of a lifetime and I am most privileged and grateful to spend i… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Basketball legend Lisa Leslie said she was told not to make a “big fuss” over the arrest of WNBA great Britney Griner in Russia. Speaking in a recent episode of the “I Am Athlete” podcast, Leslie opened up about the “heartbreaking” situation she’s found herself in after she was asked not to bring too much attention to the case, to avoid Russia from capitalizing on the incident. “What we were told, and again this is all sort of passed along through hearsay, but what we were told was to not make a big fuss about it so that they could not use her as a pawn, so to speak, in this situation in the w… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden will propose a minimum tax on billionaires as part of the fiscal 2023 budget that is expected to be unveiled on Monday, a document released by the White House showed. Biden’s “Billionaire Minimum Income Tax” would set a 20% minimum tax rate on households worth more than $100 million, in a plan that would mostly target the United States’ more than 700 billionaires, according to a White House fact sheet released on Saturday. The plan would require such households to pay the minimum tax of 20% on all of their income including unrealized investment income that is now untaxed, the fact sheet said. The tax will help reduce the budget deficit by about $360 billion in the next decade, the fact sheet added. Senate Democrats last autumn had proposed a billionaires tax to help pay for Biden’s social and climate-change known as “Build Back Better” although the spending package did not move forward due to insufficient support in the Senate. (Reporting by Chris Gallagher; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by AFP Hollywood (United States) (AFP) – Here are the nominees in key categories for the 94th Academy Awards, to be handed out in Los Angeles on Sunday. Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog,” an eerie psychological Western about a repressed 1920s cattle rancher in Montana, leads with 12 nods, followed by sci-fi epic “Dune” at 10, and “Belfast” and “West Side Story” tied at seven. Best picture “Belfast” “CODA” “Don’t Look Up” “Drive My Car” “Dune” “King Richard” “Licorice Pizza” “Nightmare Alley” “The Power of the Dog” “West Side Story” Best director – Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast” Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car” Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza” Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story” Best actor – Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos” Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog” Andrew Garfield, “tick, tick…BOOM!” Will Smith, “King Richard” Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Best actress Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter” Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers” Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos” Kristen Stewart, “Spencer” Best supporting actor – Ciaran Hinds, “Belfast” Troy Kotsur, “CODA” Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog” J.K. Simmons, “Being the Ricardos” Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog” Best supporting actress Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter” Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” Judi Dench, “Belfast” Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog” Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard” Best international feature film – “Drive My Car” (Japan) “Flee” (Denmark) “The Hand of God” (Italy) “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” (Bhutan) “The Worst Person in the World” (Norway) Best animated feature – “Encanto” “Flee” “Luca” “The Mitchells vs the Machines” “Raya and the Last Dragon” Best documentary feature “Ascension” “Attica” “Flee” “Summer of Soul” “Writing with Fire” Best original screenplay – “Belfast” – Kenneth Branagh “Don’t Look Up” – Adam McKay and David Sirota “King Richard” – Zach Baylin “Licorice Pizza” – Paul Thomas Anderson “The Worst Person in the World” – Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier Best adapted screenplay – “CODA” – Sian Heder “Drive My Car” – Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe “Dune” – Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth “The Lost Daughter” – Maggie Gyllenhaal “The Power of the Dog” – Jane Campion Films with six or more nominations – “The Power of the Dog” – 12 “Dune” – 10 “Belfast” – 7 “West Side Story” – 7 “King Richard” – 6 View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sean Penn has threatened to publicly destroy his Oscars if Sunday’s (27.03.22) ceremony doesn’t give a platform to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. The 61-year-old star – who has Best Actor statuettes for his work on ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Milk’ – urged the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to ensure the actor-turned-politician is given a moment to shine a spotlight on his war-torn country, and called on guests to “walk out” of the show if it doesn’t happen. Speaking on CNN, he said: “If it turns out to be what is happening, I would encourage everyone involved, though it may be their moment, and I understand that, to celebrate their films, it is so much more importantly their moment to shine, and to protest and to boycott that Academy Awards. I myself, if it comes back to it, when I return, I will smelt mine in public. “I pray that’s not what happened. I pray there have not been arrogant people who consider themselves representatives of the greater good who have decided not to check in with leadership in Ukraine. So I’m going to hope that’s not what happened, and I hope everyone walks out if it is.” Sean – who is currently in Warsaw, Poland, for safety reasons – is shooting a documentary for Vice about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and met with Zelensky earlier this week. Amy Schumer – who will co-host the ceremony with Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes – previously admitted she thinks it would be a “great opportunity” to use the Oscars’ global platform to share a message from the Ukraine President. She said earlier this month: “I think there is definitely pressure in one way to be like, ‘This is a vacation, let people forget we just want to have this night,’ but it is like well we have so many eyes and ears on this show. “I think it’s a great opportunity to at least comment on a couple of things. I have some jokes that kind of highlight the sort of current condition. I mean, there are so many awful things happening that it seems hard to focus on which one. “I actually pitched, I wanted to find a way to have Zelenskyy satellite in or make a tape or something just because there are so many eyes on the Oscars. “I am not afraid to go there, but it’s not me producing the Oscars.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A dark Western, “The Power of the Dog,” will battle feel-good deaf family drama “CODA” for the film industry’s top honor on Sunday when, free of last year’s pandemic restrictions, a large Hollywood crowd gathers for the Academy Awards. The films are front-runners for the best picture trophy at a red-carpet Oscars ceremony promising a few plot twists. Among them: a win by either movie would mark a milestone by handing the statuette to a streaming service. Netflix Inc released “Power of the Dog” while “CODA” streamed on Apple TV+. After past complaints about a lack of diversity, two of this year’s four acting accolades may go to people of color. Will Smith is likely to earn his first Oscar for “King Richard,” awards watchers say, as is Ariana DeBose for “West Side Story.” Comedians Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes will host, and it is the first time three women have guided the ceremony in its 94-year history. Beyonce and Billie Eilish will perform. In a bid to draw more viewers, especially younger ones, after years of declining ratings, the three-hour show starting at 8 p.m. ET (0000 GMT) will add two awards, the result of fan votes on Twitter for favorite film and scene. The ceremony, broadcast live on Walt Disney Co’s ABC, will also feature a moment of support for Ukraine. Producers want the show to be celebratory but said they could not ignore the crisis there. [L2N2VR2VN] In the best picture race, success hinges on whether the 9,900 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences back a gothic psychological thriller or an uplifting story. “The pundits have always said you never know who’s going to win,” said People magazine movies editor Nigel Smith. “This year, it actually seems to be the case.” “Power of the Dog,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a repressed cowboy who torments his brother’s new wife, outpaced all movies with 12 nominations. It had been considered the leader until “CODA” landed top honors from the Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild. “CODA” tells the story of a hearing girl who serves as interpreter for her deaf family but longs to pursue a career in music. CODA is an acronym for “child of deaf adult.” “I really haven’t spoken to anyone who doesn’t like CODA,” Smith said. ‘IMPORTANT STEPS FORWARD’ A traditional Hollywood studio could score an upset. Awards experts give an outside shot to Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast,” a film inspired by his childhood in Northern Ireland at the onset of the sectarian conflict known as the Troubles, or Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” remake. “King Richard” star Smith is the best-actor favorite for playing the determined father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. Competitors include Cumberbatch and Andrew Garfield for musical “Tick, Tick … Boom!” Best actress is the most unpredictable. Many experts say Jessica Chastain’s portrayal of TV evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker will triumph, though some give the edge to former “Twilight” vampire Kristen Stewart for playing Princess Diana in “Spencer.” Previous Oscar winners Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Olivia Colman also are in the running. While the acting field is not as diverse as last year’s, “it is certainly better than what we saw a few years back with #OscarsSoWhite,” said UCLA dean of social sciences Darnell Hunt, co-author of an annual Hollywood diversity report. “The academy has taken important steps forward.” In supporting actor categories, Afro-Latina actress DeBose is expected to prevail her portrayal of Anita in “West Side Story.” “CODA” star Troy Kotsur could make history as the first deaf man to win an Oscar. Jane Campion also could become the third woman in Oscars history to win best director for “Power of the Dog.” After a scaled-down ceremony at a train station last year, the Oscars have returned to the Dolby Theatre, which will be filled to about three-quarters capacity with 2,500 guests, allowing for some distancing. To streamline the show, winners of eight categories such as editing and sound will be announced before the live broadcast. Their speeches will be edited into the telecast. Spielberg and others criticized the move as an insult to film craftspeople. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Oleksandr Kozhukhar and Pavel Polityuk LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russia wants to split Ukraine into two, as happened with North and South Korea, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief said on Sunday, vowing “total” guerrilla warfare to prevent a carve-up of the country. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the West to give Ukraine tanks, planes and missiles to help fend off the Russian forces, which the Kyiv government said were increasingly targeting fuel and food depots. U.S. officials continued efforts to soften comments on Saturday from U.S. President Joe Biden, who said in a fiery speech in Poland that Russian leader Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power”. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had no strategy of regime change in Moscow and that Biden had simply meant Putin could not be “empowered to wage war” against Ukraine or anywhere else. After more than four weeks of conflict, Russia has failed to seize any major Ukrainian city and Moscow signalled on Friday it was scaling back its ambitions to focus on securing the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the Ukrainian army for the past eight years. A local leader in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic said on Sunday the region could soon hold a referendum on joining Russia, just as happened in Crimea after Russia seized the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014. Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to break with Ukraine and join Russia — a vote that much of the world refused to recognise. “In fact, it is an attempt to create North and South Korea in Ukraine,” Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, said in a statement, referring to the division of Korea after World War Two. He predicted Ukraine’s army would push back Russian forces. “In addition, the season of a total Ukrainian guerrilla safari will soon begin. Then there will be one relevant scenario left for the Russians, how to survive,” he said. Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson also dismissed talk of any referendum in eastern Ukraine. “All fake referendums in the temporarily occupied territories are null and void and will have no legal validity,” Oleg Nikolenko told Reuters. ‘CRUEL AND SENSELESS’ Moscow says the goals for what Putin calls a “special military operation” include demilitarising and “denazifying” its neighbour. Ukraine and its Western allies calls this a pretext for an unprovoked invasion. The invasion has devastated several Ukrainian cities, caused a major humanitarian crisis and displaced an estimated 10 million people, nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s total population. Tatyana Manyek, who crossed the Danube by ferry into Romania on Sunday with other refugees, said people in her home city of Odesa were “very afraid” but she would have stayed were it not for her daughter. “It would be very difficult to provide the child with basic living conditions. That’s why we decided to leave,” she said, clutching a pet dog in her arms. In his Sunday blessing, Pope Francis called for an end to the “cruel and senseless” conflict. “We must repudiate war, a place of death where fathers and mothers bury their children, where men kill their brothers without even seeing them, where the powerful decide and the poor die,” he said. Zelenskiy demanded in a late-night television address on Saturday that Western nations hand over military hardware that was “gathering dust” in stockpiles, saying his nation needed just 1% of NATO’s aircraft and 1% of its tanks. Western nations have so far given Ukraine anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles as well as small arms and protective equipment, without offering any heavy armour or planes. “We’ve already been waiting 31 days. Who is in charge of the Euro-Atlantic community? Is it really still Moscow, because of intimidation?” Zelenskiy said, suggesting Western leaders were holding back on supplies because they were frightened of Russia. Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Vadym Denysenko said Russia had started destroying Ukrainian fuel and food storage centres, meaning the government would have to disperse stocks of both in the near future. Appearing to confirm that, Russia said its missiles had wrecked a fuel deposit on Saturday as well as a military repair plant near the western city of Lviv, just 60 km (40 miles) from the Polish border. The British Ministry of Defence said Russian forces appeared to be concentrating their efforts on encircling Ukrainian troops directly facing separatist regions in the east. “The battlefield across northern Ukraine remains largely static with local Ukrainian counterattacks hampering Russian attempts to reorganise their forces,” the ministry said. HISTORIC STRUGGLE Biden drew criticism for his improvised remarks during a speech in Warsaw that sought to frame the war as part of a historic struggle for democratic freedoms. “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power,” Biden said of Putin. Earlier he called Putin a “butcher”. U.S. officials tried to walk back the president’s words. “As you know, and as you have heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in Russia – or anywhere else, for that matter,” Secretary of State Blinken told reporters during a trip to Jerusalem. The United Nations has confirmed 1,119 civilian deaths and 1,790 injuries across Ukraine but says the real toll is likely to be higher. Ukraine said on Sunday 139 children had been killed and more than 205 wounded so far in the conflict. Ukraine and Russia agreed two “humanitarian corridors” to evacuate civilians from frontline areas on Sunday, including allowing people to leave by car from the southern city of Mariupol, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. The encircled port, located between Crimea and eastern areas held by Russian-backed separatists, has been devastated by weeks of heavy bombardment. Thousands of residents are sheltering in basements with scarce water, food, medicine or power. (Reporting by Reuters journalists in Mariupol, Natalia Zinets and Maria Starkova in Lviv, Jarrett Renshaw in Warsaw and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Guy Faulconbridge in London and Matthias Williams; Writing by Aidan Lewis, Crispian Balmer and Lincoln Feast; Editing by William Mallard, Frances Kerry and Gareth Jones) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John was stopped from adopting a Ukrainian orphan because of his sexuality. The 75-year-old star and his husband David Furnish tried to adopt a child from an orphanage they visited, but they were told they wouldn’t be able to because they’re gay. The ‘Rocket Man’ hitmaker – who has Elijah, nine, and Zachary, 11, with David – said: “I was carrying this little boy around for hours. We had a press conference at the end and they said ‘You seem very fond of this little boy. Would you think of adopting him?’ and I went ‘I’d actually love to!’ “Of course, not thinking about social media, it went around the world straight away. It was ‘Elton John wants to adopt two children.'” Despite this, Elton and David weren’t allowed to adopt the boy at the time. He told the ‘Dua Lipa: At Your Service’ podcast: “Because I was gay I wasn’t allowed to anyway. “After that happened, David said, ‘Well, what do you think about having kids?’ I always said no but this little boy was telling me something. He was saying ‘C’mon you can be a dad,’ and that’s when we decided to have children, because of this little boy in Ukraine.” Elton celebrated his 75th birthday on Friday (25.03.22) and he thanked his “lucky stars” for his “wonderful family, friends and career”. The music icon – who is currently on the North American leg of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour – spent the day reflecting on his life and achievements in music. He said: “I’m not usually one to look back or get nostalgic, but 75 is such a milestone birthday. I’ll definitely find time today to take stock and thank my lucky stars for my wonderful family, friends and career. “I feel unbelievably lucky that at 75 I still love what I do so much – I’m still so energised about music and excited I get to play, listen and talk about this every single day. Being back on the road is a blast and the thrill of playing live is as amazing as it was 50 years ago.” View the full article

Le claws are out between Bosco and Camden on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Perhaps more than any other season before, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 is giving us the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. After a Snatch Game so horrendous it landed seven queens in the bottom, the surviving queens bounced back in a big way this week. Billed as “the most romantic Rusical,” Moulin Ru is actually the greatest Rusical of all time. Maybe that’s faint praise for what’s herstorically been a mixed-bag challenge, but this production stands heads and shoulder pads above the previous outings. There are a few contributing factors. For starters, the production budget feels higher than ever before. I guess the RuPaul Cinematic Universe is finally starting to turn some profits, because everything from the sets to the costume to honestly even the camera angles and transitions feel slicker than ever before. Perhaps there’s been some skill-sharing with the live Vegas revue? Plus, the music slaps, which is almost never the case in these challenges, especially when pulling from the deeper cuts of the RuPaul oeuvre. However, the spastic, proto-mashup stylings of the original Moulin Rouge is the perfect scaffolding on which a Rusical can be built. Composer Leland turns in some of his best work of the series here, and special guest director Leslie Jordan is every bit as delightful as you’d imagine. As an added bonus, both men feature in the live Rusical, which helps flesh out the story. However, what really makes Moulin Ru zing is the casting. That’s what also makes this episode so compelling: watching the queens once again clash over choice of roles. No Small Parts, But Plenty of Big Casting Drama Casting started with smiles but ended in bloodshed on RuPaul’s Drag Race. In an interesting reversal, once Ru lays out the challenge specifics and leaves the ladies to scrap over parts, it’s all the queens who have acquiesced in the past that suddenly are eager to claim their preferred role. DeJa is first out of the gate to brandish her Snatch Game win and the fact she compromised during ’60s Girl Groups week, so she wants a smaller part no one really is fighting for anyway. OK, easy enough. Then, Angeria and Jorgeous both try to lay claim to another smaller role, both reminding the rest of the queens they’ve been on their best behavior during previous scrambles for parts. Jorgeous is a bit more stubborn than Angeria, and Angie eventually relents. But those are just bit parts they’re fighting over. The real star of the show is Saltine, inspired by Nicole Kidman’s Satine from the original Baz Luhrmann film. Bosco sees herself in the sexy courtesan and needs a big comeback following the last few weeks of devastating losses. The theatrical Lady Camden wants to prove to Michelle she’s not too quiet to be noticed. Bosco and Camden dig in their heels. Tension begins to mount. Bosco isn’t just sticking to her guns; she’s aiming them right at Camden’s face. She comes out swinging, hard. She’s nasty and dismissive. As Jorgeous says, “It’s rude, honestly.” In an attempt to stop the squirming, Camden offers to flip a coin, but Bosco instead demands to make the queens vote! How very dare she! Everyone seems thrown by Bosco’s Big Teresa Giudice energy, but Camden composes herself long enough to instruct the queens to just close their eyes, and … Not so fast. Bosco would rather they keep their eyes open. She wants to see. Savage. Yes, this puts all the queens in a very awkward position, but this has been dragging on, and, obviously Bosco’s not budging. Jorgeous and DeJa vote Camden, while Angeria votes for Bosco. Realizing where this is heading, Daya jumps in to throw her support behind Bosco, forcing Willow to break the tie in Bosco’s favor. (Say what you will about Daya, but she played this perfectly.) For a lot of queens, it comes down to Camden having a better shot at the other remaining role, the bearded Mama Z. Although she’s at first disappointed with the outcome, it’s not long before Lady Camden sees the potential in the role no one wanted. Remember, Camden already gave us that unforgettable Freddie Mercury runway, plus Shakespeare in Snatch Game. (Though the less said about the latter, the better.) With the roles finally settled, rehearsals with Leslie, Leland and choreographer Miguel Zarate fly by. Every queen looks strong, even if Angeria appears the least comfortable with the dancing. When rehearsals wrap, Leslie Jordan is most concerned for … RuPaul, because this going to be a tough decision. Curtains Up for Moulin Ru Moulin Ru is one of RuPaul’s Drag Race‘s best Rusicals. That’s an understatement. From the moment the lights go up, the show is fantastic. Camden especially is crucial, weaving the numbers together with slimy style, keeping the plot moving in a uniquely unctuous (but still sexy!) way. Her performance is fully dialed-in, adding tons of subtle character choices, like facial expressions, a twirl of the mustache, a flick of the wrist. It’s so fun to watch. It’s a wonder this wasn’t a more popular choice, because she features prominently throughout the Rusical, including the show-stopping “Covergirl” number that features Leslie Jordan and Leland. This could not have worked out better for Camden, after all. In truth, everyone is pretty good. Willow gives Camden a run for her marquee money as the Green Fairy, an absinthe hallucination that delivers an increasingly frenetic number while becoming increasingly exasperated. She knocks the manic musical number out of the park, but it’s a fairly contained part of the overall Rusical. Portraying four “Ru girls” dancers, Angeria, Daya, DeJa and Jorgeous play Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent (proxies for Maya, P!nk, Lil’ Kim and Christina, respectively). Daya truly understands the assignment, giving nods to the inspiration with a baby pink ensemble, complete with top hat. DeJa makes the most of the small part by killing a rap verse, while Angeria clearly is trying to make memorable moments out of a small part. She may have fought hard to play Talent, but Jorgeous flops under the big lights. It’s not bad, but it’s not the total slay it should be. She’s still better than Bosco. That’s right, after essentially holding the show HOSTAGE until she got her way, Bosco bites it. First, she keeps the signature Bosco brow, which does not fit the character. (Michelle is also quick to point this out later.) Unlike Daya, Bosco doesn’t even attempt to acknowledge the source material, opting for her usual black hair over a curly red or blonde in the style of Kidman. Most egregious of all, the performance is just fine. Camden as Mama Z is transcendent, so recalling just how ruthless Bosco was earlier in the episode makes the whole seem even worse. DeJa Has A Hard Look In the Mirror, Mirror DeJa’s Mirror, Mirror look failed to shine on the RuPaul’s Drag Race runway. A Mirror, Mirror themed runway is a great showcase for nearly everyone. DeJa’s haphazard iridescent cage over an ill-fitting dress fails to both live up to the brief and flatter the usually expertly tailored queen. Angeria especially rocks an iconic lewk, covered in holographic, mirrored scales cascading from a tall crown to the floor of a gorgeous gown. No one is wearing anything good enough to outshine Camden’s performance, which the judges rightly assert could be just as at home in Moulin Rouge, the actual Broadway musical. Coupled with a killer runway, she’s the clear winner this week. It’s well deserved and narratively satisfying, considering how poorly Bosco treated her earlier. Bosco’s payback isn’t complete though. Not only does Camden snatch the win, but, just as Bosco forced everyone to vote earlier, now Ru wants to hear from everyone who should go home and why. How you feelin’ about an anonymous vote now, Bosco? Predictably all the gals pick Bosco to go home because she demanded the role like a spoiled, little brat and then completely dropped the ball. Bosco picks Jorgeous, claiming “track record,” and that sets Jorgeous OFF. She tells Ru Bosco should go home due to her performance in the challenge, AND because she was needlessly nasty to Camden earlier, AND, while we’re talking about track record, Bosco was in the bottom three times just last week. Stop! She’s already dead! Ru goes with the crowd, leaving Jorgeous and Bosco to duke it out in the bottom two to the Hex Hector remix of Whitney Houston’s “Heartbreak Hotel.” It’s a blast of a lip sync, of course. Both Jorgeous and Bosco are giving their absolute all. Once again, Jorgeous is unconquerable. Bosco hit a string of rough luck and made some bad choices, but it still feels like it’s too soon to say goodbye to the Seattle weirdo. BUT! Luckily, we don’t have to! Pains me as it does to address this whole silly chocolate bar thing, this is the moment. Bosco unwraps her candy to reveal the coveted gold bar! Haha! Remember when RuPaul said only fate would decide going forward? And then she called like a bunch of non-eliminations? Anyway! Bosco gets to stay, and I think, really, for real this time, no more shenanigans from here until the finish. So where does that leave the queens? Willow‘s dominance continues. She was so funny this week, and her dancing was fantastic. No one else could do what she did with the role. On the runway, she describes her look as “Elton John, Joan Jett and Evel Kneivel got into a bunch of fireworks,” and I can’t do better than that. I think Snatch Game was a fluke. This is Willow’s race to lose.There’s a lot to love about Angeria. She’s got exceptional stage presence. She looks incredible on the runway. She has a magnetic personality. She may lack some performance polish in terms of singing, dancing and acting, but classical training is not required for America’s Next Drag Superstar. Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent IS, and Angeria has those in spades.I’m hesitant to give Lady Camden all the props she certainly earned this week, because she’s yo-yo’d so much this season. Her performance in the Rusical was possibly the best of any queen ever in the challenge. Her runway was strong, but not perfect. I still question her taste, and it’ll only take one whiff of “soft spoken” on the wrong week for Michelle to zero in for the kill.I hate to admit it, but, once again, Daya managed to impress in a large group challenge. In “The Daytona Wind,” ’60s Girl Groups and Moulin Ru, Daya took small parts and made sure she filled every moment with attitude. As severe as Daya may be offstage, onstage that killer instinct pushes her to the foreground. She followed up a strong performance this week with a great runway, inspired by KISS. The spike adornments, the cape and the high-shine material took it to the requisite drag place. Good week for Daya.DeJa‘s rap knocked it out of the park, though Ross was stretching to say she was in contention for the win. She didn’t come close to making the impact Camden or Willow did in the Rusical. The judges were justified in ripping her runway. Being off-theme is one thing, but to also be sloppy is just too much.Ru love Jorgeous, and so do I. Yes, her performance in the Rusical was a little flat, but Bosco took a bigger swing, and, thus, a bigger miss. Jorgeous had the stronger runway of the two, and, unsurprisingly, the stronger lip sync (though just by a hair). It’s strange that no one brought up how Miguel Zarate told Jorgeous to make sure she blends into the group. Jorgeous could have made the argument she was holding back, per Miguel’s suggestion, so she didn’t outshine everyone else.My how the mighty have fallen. In the span of three episodes, Bosco went from beloved, kooky frontrunner to persona non-grata. I’ve been saying it’s only a matter of time until Michelle came for Bosco’s predilection for undergarments on the runway, but it could not have come at a worse time for the struggling queen. To be clear, I definitely dig Bosco’s whole thing, but she bet big and lost. She would have rightfully gone home tonight, if not for the — ugh — chocolate bar. She’s got the goods to fight her way back, but she’s starting from the bottom.What did you think of the episode? Catch up on our RuPaul’s Drag Race coverage. View the full article

What is the new COVID Omicron variant BA.2, and will it cause another wave of infections in the US? BA.2, one of three main omicron sublineages, is sweeping the world. BlackJack3D/iStock via Getty Images Plus A new omicron subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19, BA.2, is quickly becoming the predominant source of infections amid rising cases around the world. Immunologists Prakash Nagarkatti and Mitzi Nagarkatti of the University of South Carolina explain what makes it different from previous variants, whether there will be another surge in the U.S. and how best to protect yourself. What is BA.2, and how is it related to omicron? BA.2 is the latest subvariant of omicron, the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. While the origin of BA.2 is still unclear, it has quickly become the dominant strain in many countries, including India, Denmark and South Africa. It is continuing to spread in Europe, Asia and many parts of the world. The omicron variant, officially known as B.1.1.529, of SARS-CoV-2 has three main subvariants in its lineage: BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3. The earliest omicron subvariant to be detected, BA.1, was first reported in November 2021 in South Africa. While scientists believe that all the subvariants may have emerged around the same time, BA.1 was predominantly responsible for the winter surge of infections in the Northern Hemisphere in 2021. The first omicron subvariant, BA.1, is unique in the number of alterations it has compared to the original version of the virus – it has over 30 mutations in the spike protein that helps it enter cells. Spike protein mutations are of high concern to scientists and public health officials because they affect how infectious a particular variant is and whether it is able to escape the protective antibodies that the body produces after vaccination or a prior COVID-19 infection. BA.2 has eight unique mutations not found in BA.1, and lacks 13 mutations that BA.1 does have. BA.2 does, however, share around 30 mutations with BA.1. Because of its relative genetic similarity, it is considered a subvariant of omicron as opposed to a completely new variant. Why is it called a ‘stealth’ variant? Some scientists have called BA.2 a “stealth” variant because, unlike the BA.1 variant, it lacks a particular genetic signature that distinguishes it from the delta variant. While standard PCR tests are still able to detect the BA.2 variant, they might not be able to tell it apart from the delta variant. Is it more infectious and lethal than other variants? BA.2 is considered to be more transmissible but not more virulant than BA.1. This means that while BA.2 can spread faster than BA.1, it might not make people sicker. It is worth noting that while BA.1 has dominated case numbers around the world, it causes less severe disease compared to the delta variant. Recent studies from the U.K. and Denmark suggest that BA.2 may pose a similar risk of hospitalization as BA.1. Does previous infection with BA.1 provide protection against BA.2? Yes! A recent study suggested that people previously infected with the original BA.1 subvariant have robust protection against BA.2. Because BA.1 caused widespread infections across the world, it is likely that a significant percentage of the population has protective immunity against BA.2. This is why some scientists predict that BA.2 will be less likely to cause another major wave However, while the natural immunity gained after COVID-19 infection may provide strong protection against reinfection from earlier variants, it weakens against omicron. As long as the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to infect people, it will have opportunities to produce variants.How effective are vaccines against BA.2? A recent preliminary study that has not yet been peer reviewed of over 1 million individuals in Qatar suggests that two doses of either the Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines protect against symptomatic infection from BA.1 and BA.2 for several months before waning to around 10%. A booster shot, however, was able to elevate protection again close to original levels. Importantly, both vaccines were 70% to 80% effective at preventing hospitalization or death, and this effectiveness increased to over 90% after a booster dose. How worried does the US need to be about BA.2? The rise in BA.2 in certain parts of the world is most likely due to a combination of its higher transmissibility, people’s waning immunity and relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. CDC data suggests that BA.2 cases are rising steadily, making up 23% of all cases in the U.S. as of early March. Scientists are still debating whether BA.2 will cause another surge in the U.S. [Climate change, AI, vaccines, black holes and much more. Get The Conversation’s best science and health coverage.] Though there may be an uptick of BA.2 infections in the coming months, protective immunity from vaccination or previous infection provides defense against severe disease. This may make it less likely that BA.2 will cause a significant increase in hospitalization and deaths. The U.S., however, lags behind other countries when it comes to vaccination, and falls even further behind on boosters. Whether there will be another devastating surge depends on how many people are vaccinated or have been previously infected with BA.1. It’s safer to generate immunity from a vaccine, however, than from getting an infection. Getting vaccinated and boosted and taking precautions like wearing an N95 mask and social distancing are the best ways to protect yourself from BA.2 and other variants. Prakash Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Russian troops reportedly ran over their own commander because they were upset with the number of casualties their unit was facing in their ongoing war against resisting Ukrainian forces. The alleged intentional killing of the Russian colonel by his soldiers also comes as Vladimir Putin’s forces as a whole are facing heavy losses, and a substantial number of his generals are reportedly either going missing or being declared dead at the hands of Ukrainian soldiers as the Kremlin continues their vicious and violent invasion into their neighboring nation. Mega According to The Post, Colonel Medvechek of the 37th Motor Rifle Brigade was pronounced dead Friday after succumbing to fatal injuries caused when soldiers from his brigade crushed him with a tank. Although a similar incident happened Thursday, it is unknown at this time if the colonel most recently pronounced dead is Colonel Yury Medvedev, who was also run down by a tank driven by his troops before being subsequently evacuated to a hospital in Belarus for his injuries. Mega These reoccurring incidents come not only as Russia continues to face heavy losses in the war they chose to wage against Ukraine, but also as multiple reports claim the Russian forces are quickly losing morale in their fight against the nation led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “Basically, it’s a s—show here, I’ll put it that way,” one Russian soldier recently revealed to a fellow fighter in a recording that was obtained earlier in the week by Ukraine’s Security Service. The Russian soldier then reportedly went on to describe how their Ukrainian adversaries “tore apart” a fleet of Russian forces before also revealing how nearly half of his unit was suffering from frostbite on their feet because they weren’t provided proper gear to fight in Ukraine’s harsh climate. “But they don’t plan to treat them in the [field] hospital,” the soldier added, claiming that those suffering from frostbite have no way to treat the affliction. Mega In the same recently obtained phone call, the Russian soldier went on to recall a conversation another soldier had with their general in which he tried to inform the commander that their unit’s Kevlar vests lacked adequate panels to provide sufficient protection. “Comrade General, damn it, I have this situation,” the soldier recalled. “And he just says, ‘Son, be strong,’ and then he f—ed off. It’s such trash here…Our own plane dropped a bomb on us.” As Radar reported, as Russian soldiers are quickly losing morale and even allegedly going so far as to kill their own superior officers, other top generals are either being killed or captured by Ukrainian forces as Russia’s Ministry of Defense tries to fudge the numbers regarding how many casualties their forces truly have endured. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by President Joe Biden’s administration to let the Navy decline to deploy SEALs and other special operations forces personnel who refused mandatory COVID-19 vaccination due to religious objections. The court put on hold part of a federal judge’s ruling stating that 26 members of the elite Navy SEALs and nine other special operations forces personnel were entitled to a religious exemption to the vaccine requirement under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, which protects the free exercise of religion, as well as a law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. “In this case, the district court, while no doubt well-intentioned, in effect inserted itself into the Navy’s chain of command, overriding military commanders’ professional military judgments,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion. The court — which has a 6-3 conservative majority — was divided, with three conservative justices saying they would have denied the request. In a dissenting opinion, conservative Justice Samuel Alito said that the court “does a great injustice” to the Navy personnel who “appear to have been treated shabbily.” Under another part of Texas-based U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor’s ruling not affected by the Supreme Court action, the service members cannot be disciplined or discharged as a result of refusing the vaccine. Besides the SEALs, the other nine plaintiffs include specialist naval craft crewmen, divers and a bomb disposal expert. On Feb. 28, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a similar request from Biden’s administration. The administration is contesting O’Connor’s Jan. 3 decision in favor of the servicemembers, in which the judge wrote that their “loss of religious liberties outweighs any forthcoming harm to the Navy.” (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; editing by Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Judy Greer has said that Lily Tomlin has “very soft lips.” The 46-year-old actress shared a kiss with Lily, 82, in the 2015 comedy film ‘Grandma’ and when asked about on-screen kisses from her career, she was quick to name her smooch with the ‘Grace and Frankie’ star as the best. Speaking on ‘Watch What Happens Live’, she said: “Lily Tomlin [was the best], hello! I kissed her in a movie that I love called ‘Grandma’. Paul Weitz wrote and directed it for her and I have to say she has very soft lips!” Judy – who has also kissed the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Gerard Butler, George Clooney, Nicolas Cage and David Duchovny on screen – starred as Olivia in the movie – who was the short -term girlfriend of Lily Tomlin’s character Elle. Judy has previously described her on-screen smooch with the ‘9 to 5’ actress as “awesome” She said: “My role in’ Grandma’is very’out’in terms of dealing with women. This is great. And in terms of making out with a woman – it is awesome. Especially when the woman is Lily Tomlin!” Judy’s comments about the kiss come just months after she spoke out about ageing in the industry as she noted that her forties were turning out to be such an “interesting time” in her life. Back in January, she told PEOPLE: “I feel very lucky to be an actress in my 40s right now because there are great roles for us. There are great directors and writers out there. And so I think that we’re just getting served better material than those women were when I was in my 20s. This is such an interesting time in my life. You’re starting to really know yourself and you’re starting to really see what we thought was really important, like being busy all the time, I’m really starting to see that that’s not special.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Britney Spears says ‘Euphoria’ made her “anxiety go away.” The 40-yeaar-old pop star – who regained control of her assets after a conservatorship governed by her family was terminated last November – is a fan of the hit high school drama and claimed that watching it was “like meditation.” She said: “For MENTAL AWARENESS WEEK a little while ago I watched this insane amazing show @euphoria … Good God it’s too good !!!! I’m a little behind anyways. Watching this and being entertained by these crazy plots I suddenly felt all my anxiety go away … the show was like meditation !!!!”(sic) The ‘…Baby One More Time’ hitmaker went on to tell her 40 million followers that the show – which stars the likes of Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney as students who navigate their way through high school – put a “huge grin” on her face as she urged her fans to “keep smiling.” Writing on Instagram, she added: “It put a HUGE grin on my face … and if you want to be zen … there’s sound therapy … stillness … yoga … monk retreats … but last but definitely not least, train your thoughts to think things that make you SMILE … YES you know THOSE!! YOU GOT IT ???? KEEP SMILING!” It comes just a day after the ‘Toxic’ singer had taken to the social media platform to claim that she wasn’t allowed to “drive herself” at times during her 13-year-long conservatorship. She wrote: “I used to not be able to drive myself even with 8 different guards driving me daily !!!! Each one a different speed and I’m the one that had to adjust to THEIR TIMING IN MY F****** CAR … not to mention … the four months I wasn’t able to drive at all or walk out the f****** door by myself !!!!”(sic) View the full article

Published by Reuters NASSAU (Reuters) – Britain’s Prince William has said he supports and respects any decision Caribbean nations make about their future, as Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica consider cutting their ties with the British monarchy. At the end of a tour with his wife Kate that has been marked by protests about the legacy of the British Empire, William, Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, acknowledged the relationship between the three Caribbean states and the Crown was changing. “Next year, I know you are all looking forward to celebrating 50 years of independence – your Golden Anniversary,” he said in a speech in the Bahamas capital Nassau. “And with Jamaica celebrating 60 years of independence this year, and Belize celebrating 40 years of independence last year, I want to say this: We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future. Relationships evolve. Friendship endures.” His speech is the clearest indication the royal family would back the three nations ditching the queen as their head of state, echoing the decision taken by Barbados last November. Usually, Buckingham Palace says such matters are for the local people and politicians to decide. During her 70 years on the throne – a landmark that the tour was to designed to mark – Elizabeth has watched as former British colonies have cut their ties, but she remains queen of 15 realms, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. However, the tour by William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, has thrown a spotlight on the waning support for the monarchy in the Caribbean. During the trip there have been protests and calls for reparations payments by Britain and an apology for slavery. Meanwhile the Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told William directly at a meeting on Wednesday that his country wanted to be “independent”. Some British media have also criticised public relations mistakes which have seen the royals shaking hands with Jamaican children through wire fences and other appearances, described as “tone-deaf” blunders by the Daily Mirror tabloid because it said they appeared to be a throwback to colonial times. The tribulations of the tour have reflected wider questions about the role and future of the royals back in Britain following the scandal of a U.S. sex abuse lawsuit involving the queen’s second son Prince Andrew – settled last month – and criticism of the institution from William’s younger brother, Prince Harry. (Writing by Michael Holden; Editing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Million Dollar Listing star Josh Flagg is dating again only a few weeks after announcing his divorce from Bobby Boyd following nearly five years of marriage. The real estate mogul shared the happy news of his unexpected romance on Friday, March 25. mega “After Bobby and I split, I did start to see somebody,” Flagg explained in an interview with People. “I was not looking to date anybody because I was married,” he continued, noting they “never went on a date until after Bobby and I left our marriage.” Although he didn’t elaborate on exactly who his new mystery man is, he did confess he was a friend he’s known for a long time, and that he was also “in real estate.” ‘MILLION DOLLAR LISTING’ STAR JOSH FLAGG DROPS $9 MILLION ON L.A. MANSION AMID BOBBY BOYD DIVORCE “We were friends for a while. It just happened organically. I like him very much, and he’s a very nice guy,” the celebrity real estate broker added. mega As OK! previously reported, Flagg took to Instagram to announce the end of his marriage on Friday, March 4. OK! EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: JOSH FLAGG PRANKS JOSH ALTMAN WITH MYSTERY PACKAGE IN MILLION DOLLAR LISTING LOS ANGELES CLIP “Bobby and I are divorcing,” he wrote to friends and fans via social media. “This might sound abrupt but I felt I should be transparent from the top rather than bury the headline.” “It was not a lack of love but rather the two of us growing in different directions and wanting very different things for ourselves,” Flagg went on, assuring fans he cares “deeply” about his ex and that their split happened with respect for each other as they part ways to go on separate paths in life. @joshflagg1/Instagram Part of that new journey for Flagg was purchasing a brand new home! The reality television personality shelled out a whopping $9.2 million on a sprawling Beverly Hills mansion located on North Bedford Drive. The property boasts seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a three-car garage and a total of 7,100 square feet of living space. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jarrett Renshaw and Karol Badohal WARSAW (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday that Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” in a fiery speech pushing the world’s democracies to unite to support Ukraine, though the White House later said Biden was not calling for regime change in Moscow. “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power,” Biden told a crowd in Warsaw after condemning Putin’s month-long war in Ukraine as an assault on global freedom and security. The comments sharply escalated conflict between Moscow and the West over its invasion of Ukraine. But a White House official said the remarks did not represent a shift in Washington’s policy that it is not seeking regime change in Russia. Still, they came on a day of escalating rhetoric as Biden also described branded Putin a “butcher” during a meeting with refugees who have fled the war in Ukraine to the Polish capital. “The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbours or the region,” the White House official said. “He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.” On Saturday, Biden said the West was united against Russia’s invasion but also added that NATO was a defensive security alliance which never sought Russia’s demise. Biden’s speech was delivered at Warsaw’s Royal Castle before hundreds of Polish elected officials, students and U.S. embassy staff, many holding U.S., Polish and Ukrainian flags. “The West is now stronger, more united than it has ever been,” Biden said. Calling the fight against Vladimir Putin a “new battle for freedom,” Biden said Putin’s desire for “absolute power” was a strategic failure for Russia and a direct challenge to a European peace that has largely prevailed since World War Two. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Karol Badohal in Warsaw and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington, Additional reporting by Natalia Zinets in Lviv, Nandita Bose in Washington, Humeyra Pamuk, Alan Charlish, Justyna Pawlak and Joanna Plucinska in Warsaw and Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Writing by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Grant McCool, Frances Kerry, Timothy Heritage, Andrea Ricci and Nick Zieminski) View the full article